The Veteran's Survival Guide: How to File and Collect on VA Claims »

Maj. John D. Roche, USAF (Ret.), served as a bomber pilot, had combat duty in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and held a variety of administrative assignments. Subsequently, he worked for sixteen years as a claims adjudicator specialist for the Veterans Administration and as a veterans’ service officer for Pinellas County, Florida, where he was a tireless advocate for veterans and their families. Roche enjoyed one of the highest rates of wins on appeal in the state. This book is based on his experience as a successful practitioner, many years of independent research, and personal consultations with some 80,000 veterans, widows, and dependents. Roche is also the author of The Veteran’s Survival Guide, Second Edition (Potomac Books, 2006) and The Veteran’s PTSD Handbook (Potomac Books, 2007). He lives in Palm Harbor, Florida.

The most comprehensive and current "do-it-yourself" handbook for veterans

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The author, a former claims adjudication specialist for the Veteran's Administration (VA), assembles the information veterans and their dependents need to file a claim for their federal benefits. According to Roche, the process is slow and complicated, and the VA is not helpful to those pursuing their rights. Roche concentrates on instructing readers in the key elements for securing benefits: constructing a "well-grounded claim" and complying with claims procedures. In plain language, he provides detailed descriptions of the steps involved and illustrates the discussion with examples and cautions. The author pulls no punches regarding the difficulties claimants encounter and succeeds in providing them with the information they need to work through a tangled system. Highly recommended for public libraries.-Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach LLP, Rochester, NY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.