Tag Archives: asknod.org

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 →

Posted in Continuing Legal Education (CLEs), Humor, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, asknod@wordpress.com, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get SMC Loss of Use, How to win SMC T, Service Connection, SMC, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 2 Comments

ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT AND I AIN’T GOT NOBODY

Posted on March 29, 2026 by asknod

Several Veteran have emailed me with the eternal quandary of how, or why, exactly, March 29th somehow became the “last day” of the geographical disagreement between the Republic of Viet Nam (RVN) and the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (DRV). … Continue reading →

Posted in Food for thought, Vietnam War history | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, Service Connection, SMC for aid and attendance, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help., war mementos | 4 Comments

MILESTONES–JOSEPH ALLEN McDONALD 1942-2026

Posted on March 8, 2026 by asknod

For Millennials, Gen Y and Z, this will be lost on you. In fact, I expect it would only have relevance to Baby Boomers. Country Joe was THE voice in the late-Sixties-early Seventies for the Vietnam Counterculture. I got to … Continue reading →

Posted in Food for the soul, Milestones, Vietnam War history | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, Inspirational Veterans, Service Connection, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help., war mementos | 3 Comments

REDUCING THE VA BACKLOG ONE MISTAKE AT A TIME

Posted on March 1, 2026 by asknod

Several days ago, I read that VA has miraculously managed to shrink the backlog to less than 100,000 claims for the first time since 2013. At first glance, most of you would think “Holy shit, Batman. That means my claims … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, Barry Bumps in SMC, SMC, Special Monthly Compensation, VA Agents, VA special monthly compensation, 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, Service Connection, SMC Barry Bumps, VA claims, VA SMC Back Pay, VA SMC Ratings, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 2 Comments

THE SUNDAY ROUNDUP/CHICKEN LITTLE REPORT

Posted on February 22, 2026 by asknod

I find all kinds of gems scattered across the Internet. One toy I play with is a word search tool to find out where my name is mentioned to make sure nobody is putting words in my mouth. As all … Continue reading →

Posted in CAVC Knowledge, Diagnostic Codes (DCs), Food for thought, Medical News, VA Agents | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, Service Connection, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | Leave a comment

BVA– DIC- DON’T WORRY BABY/ EVERYTHING WILL TURN OUT ALRIGHT

Posted on February 21, 2026 by asknod

This is another one of those DIC stories I love to make the telephone call to the widow on. Only this one dragged out for ten years and three months. Grab a brewskie and some chips, turn off the boob … Continue reading →

Posted in BvA Decisions, Camp Lejeune poisoning, Dependency allowance, DIC, Exposed Veteran Radio Show, Food for the soul, SC For Cause of Death, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, Camp Lejeune Water claims, DIC Claims for widows., Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Gulf War Vets Help, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, Service Connection, VA backlog, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 4 Comments

BVA– AND I’M FEELIN’. . GLAD ALL OVER

Posted on January 19, 2026 by asknod

In the news, we’re constantly bombarded by articles about the passing of the last Pearl Harbor Survivor, the last guy who came ashore at Omaha, the last Navajo Code Talker and more. Don’t get me wrong. I revere every one … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, Aid and Attendance, BvA Decisions, BVA Purplebook, Pickles, R1/R2, Special Monthly Compensation, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged ASKNOD BOOK, askNOD.com, asknod.org, asknod@wordpress.com, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, Inspirational Veterans, Service Connection, SMC for aid and attendance, VA claims, VA SMC, VA SMC Claims, VA SMC Ratings, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 1 Comment

MANSPLAINING THE ‘NEW’ VA AI

Posted on January 11, 2026 by asknod

Several decades ago, back in about 1973, it finally struck me that the VA embraced the core tenets of the UCMJ. Rule number 1 is, of course, the Veteran is probably a liar or grossly exaggerating this- ergo he’s not … Continue reading →