Category Archives: Veterans Law

THE CAVC’S ROLE IN THE NEW AMA ERA

Posted on August 23, 2026 by asknod

Once upon a time in a…wait. Wrong story. Actually, I have about ten stories stacked up but I wanted to write this column for a long time. I’m sure I’ll end up stepping on someone’s feelings be they an attorney, … Continue reading →

Posted in Appeals Modernization Act, ASKNOD BOOK, BvA Decisions, Higher Level of Review (HLR), R1/R2, Special Monthly Compensation, Tips and Tricks, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, Service Connection, SMC Barry Bumps, VA claims, VA SMC, VA SMC for Mental Illness, VA SMC Mr. Potatohead, VA SMC Parkinsons, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 1 Comment

TOGETHER WE (NEVER) SERVED IN VIET NAM

Posted on August 16, 2026 by asknod

The other day, good friend Wes McCauley, a fellow VA litigator called me up with an interesting quandary. A surviving spouse is fighting for her DIC and asked him for help in accomplishing this. Now, for the record, I won’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Stolen Valor, Veterans Law, Vietnam Disease Issues, Vietnam War history | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, Service Connection, SMC, SMC Barry Bumps, SMC for aid and attendance, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 2 Comments

ARTIFICIAL IGNORANCE–BOLDLY GOING NOWHERE INSTANTLY

Posted on July 26, 2026 by asknod

First off this glorious Sunday, (68° and light breeze), I thank the Weather gods we’re not melting. Living here in the Pacific Northwest is, for the most part, a respite from all the global heat waves across our fruited plains. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, Artificial Intelligence in claims, Barry Bumps in SMC, BvA Decisions, DRO and BVA Hearings, Duty to Assist, Special Monthly Compensation, VA Agents, VA Motions for Reconsideration, VA special monthly compensation, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Gulf War Vets Help, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, Service Connection, SMC Barry Bumps, SMC for aid and attendance, VA claims, VA Independent Living Program, VA SMC Claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 2 Comments

CAVC–BUILDING THE PERFECT PUNJI PIT

Posted on July 19, 2026 by asknod

I’m probably going to upset some cadre of Veterans over at VBN who are still life members of the SMC Flat Earth Society. By that I mean those who cling to the Combat Craig mentality of “Don’t poke the SMC … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, Aid and Attendance, CAVC ruling, CAVC/COVA Decision, CUE, SMC, Special Monthly Compensation, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, VA special monthly compensation, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, CAvC/COvA Decisions, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get SMC Loss of Use, How to get VA SMC, Service Connection, SMC, SMC Barry Bumps, VA claims, VA SMC Claims, VA SMC Parkinsons, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 1 Comment

THE COMING VA DILEMMA

Posted on June 14, 2026 by asknod

I know the title above sounds like doom and gloom but I’m going to take you on a journey to the inevitable future-both of VA’s proposed Compensation haircuts as well as America’s too. Much of what I’m going to say … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, Artificial Intelligence in claims, §3.156(c) claims, C&P exams, IMOs/IMEs, Independent Medical Opinions, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, How to win SMC T, Service Connection, SMC Barry Bumps, SMC for aid and attendance, VA claims, VA SMC Claims, VA SMC Heart Disease, VA SMC R1, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 3 Comments

AOJ LA- FIELD OF DREAMS

Posted on May 31, 2026 by asknod

We live in interesting times. As most know, I’ve been making life miserable for countless VA Secretaries over the last several decades. I’ve come to expect a certain amount of pushback and recalcitrance to grant my clients’ rightfully earned benefits. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, Barry Bumps in SMC, BvA Decisions, CUE, How to Qualify for VA SMC, Special Monthly Compensation, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, How to win SMC T, Service Connection, VA claims, VA SMC Back Pay, VA SMC Claims, VA SMC Mr. Potatohead, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 4 Comments

MEMORIAL DAY 2026- 8 NEW SOULS TO COMMEMORATE

Posted on May 22, 2026 by asknod

Another trip around the Sun and my eighteenth article on the subject of Memorial Day. As the title suggests, I lost another eight clients over the course of 2025. Sadly, one was not currently married (with children) and was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Appeals Modernization Act, Artificial Intelligence in claims, Barry Bumps in SMC, C&P exams, Claims sharks, DIC, Legacy Claims, Memorial Day, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, Korean War Vets Help, Memorial Day 2026 with Asknod, Service Connection, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 2 Comments

VA’S NEW AI–§3.102(a) YOU NOW GET THE DOUBT OF THE BENEFIT

Posted on April 23, 2026 by asknod

No, you’re not reading a new regulation. You’re reading about VA’s new way of interpreting the old one. Pop a cold one and requisition a bowel of some Dot’s™ pretzels. This isn’t going to take a sixpak to explain. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% ratings, Agent Orange, Aid and Attendance, Blue Water Navy, BvA Decisions, C&P exams, How to Qualify for VA SMC, Reductions in rating, SMC, Special Monthly Compensation, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, VA Attorneys, VA Conspiracies, vA news, VA special monthly compensation, VA statistics, Veterans Law, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged Agent Orange, asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Gulf War Claims Help, Gulf War Vets Help, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, How to win SMC T, Korean War Vets Help, Service Connection, SMC Barry Bumps, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 3 Comments

SMC–THE NEW REDUCTION GAME

Posted on April 12, 2026 by asknod

Ever since the Fed. Circus determined (in Barry v. Denis the Menace) VA had been funning us and purposefully disremembering how many times you can be awarded half-step “bumps”, we’ve been hitting them up like Mormons on a broken one-armed … Continue reading →

Posted in Barry Bumps in SMC, BvA Decisions, CAFC Rulings, CUE, How to Qualify for VA SMC, SMC, SMC School, Special Monthly Compensation, Tips and Tricks, VA special monthly compensation, VBMS Tricks, Veterans Law | Tagged Agent Orange, asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Gulf War Vets Help, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, Service Connection, SMC, SMC Barry Bumps, sn, VA claims, VA SMC Back Pay, VA SMC Ratings, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 5 Comments

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION IN SAN DIEGO

Posted on April 11, 2026 by asknod

Every six months, we of the VA legal persuasion (legally accredited), descend on some unwitting city in sufficient numbers to accomplish absolutely nothing financially. Sure, the hotel will be filled to the gills but it probably would be anyway with … Continue reading →