VA Form 10-10208 DOCUMENT EVIDENCE SUBMISSION

Perhaps this form oughtta be titled just EVIDENCE SUBMISSION because you can use this form, and should though it's not technically required, to help ensure nothing gets lost or misfiled somewhere. Oh, they still can and will be, however, this form at least show that you submitted it, inasmuch as it can given the nature of the beast, the VA Machinery. In practicum, then, should someone ever claim it wasn't submitted, you can point to this form to help prove your contention that you did, in fact, send it in which would most likely result in resolution of the contested issue in your favor. Why? Because of the Reasonable Doubt Doctrine. Let's not get too far out in the docks doc.

Pro Tip: If you have handwritten material, personal journals or notes, drawings, sketches, old skool photographs or even pictures of shadow boxes showing awards and decorations, you can simply select  "OTHER" (Describe) and list them. Again, you may run out of letter squares in which to do that so yo must then think on your feet and come up with a solution. Although you could write: "See attached VA Form 21-10210 which you can download here for better results than the VA.gov site: 

https://helpdesk.vetsfirst.org/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=3449

As always, make sure you check the date because VA has been known to reject claims right out of the gate during the Gathering Facts and Evidence phase of claim development, which is performed by a Veterans Service Representative (VSR) before being routed to the Rating VSR (RVSR). What happens after that is outside the scope of this post but I'll address it in the near future probably. 

As should be coming into sharp clarity is the importance of what I write about the VA's Disability Claims Process no?

Let's press on.  

This is one of the 5 new forms that replaced the 21-4138 Statement in Support of Claim. Make sure you don't overwhelm the VA claims developer by bombarding them with more than a single issue per statement if at all possible. There are Notes to assist you in filling out this and probably all forms. They're just like instructions or explanations of what the particular form is used for. VA is shifting to an all digital all forms all day all night system if you catch my drift. It's no trend or fad either, it's here to stay. Very form-centric for what it's worth and more emphasis is on filing the correct form in a formal manner than the old ways which included napkins scribbled on and mailed in or off hand phone conversations with VA employees were accepted under the guise of "informal claims." There is also in place at most, if not all, an automated decision making process whereby a human inputs data from an official, current VA or VBA form (or a blank sheet of paper known as VA Form 1) into an algorithm in the computer and it spits out a result or recommendation. The worker then goes with that or they can, in the case of rating percentages, award the next higher level of benefits without a reason or lower the percentage with good reason. However that sausage is made, however, it  remains importantly at the forefront of assembling a successful claims package to do it right the first time. That's exactly where reading about it on my blog here will equip you with the knowledge you need to develop sound claim developing skills and doing your part to win your claim from the outset. Instead of just spinning your wheels. That said, let's continue cuz it's getting more interesting every minute.

It's been my experience that trying to fly high speed low drag in VA's Air Farce will only result in perennial frustration studded with the fitting though all too rare, fuck yeah gents, got that mission accomplished vibe to bejewel the rack. Snap! Back to work. Allll workers BACK TO WORK IMMEDIATELY! Anyone punching the company official time clock after EXACTLY 5:00:00 PM shall as soon as practicable, proceed to the blog I'm taking the time to read and absorb now, and to in no uncertain terms understand the gravitational pulling effect in context of arming oneself with the skills and knowlege needed to deftly navigate the mind numbing arena of the VADC. More on that thread later pry. Can't guarantee that, though, so don't put me to account for it. Well, you can do whatever you want but it won't weigh any in the process. Which is that of the decision making variety. Ahem. The DMP. Decision Making Process. But talk like that is out of contextual limits so I'll rejoin my missing wingman and go for the gusto. Like the old Schlitz beer ad.

Pshh.

What I was working towards is that you may be better off to edit your work in, say...a Google Doc or similar document creating whatchamacallit. Since it's so strategically sound to sail on this way, let's continue. Ok. So, remember you are best served by limiting each 10210 statement to just a single issue which, as I've historically asserted that the word issue can be thought of as "whether" and, drilling down even more, "whether or not" and, logically, the etymology of the "at least as likely as not" evidentiary standard of review paradigm. One could say paradigmatically speaking I suppose if they wanted to sound smarter than they used to be. 

An issue, in review, can be otherwise framed as a "whether it is at least as likely as not" or "50/50" that the...language just to keep things even keeled and on the rails. Meaning not drifting off into the too much detail weeds as it were. But this is no fishing expedition huh? Then why, rhetorically of course, are there 35 blocks to list that many separate disabilities for? Which begs the question, "do I need a current diagnosis for each one of them?" Let's tackle that one.

The Shedden Principles, aka the Caluza Three (Triangle) or the Hickson Elements, are the legal litmus test to meet in order to grant service connection. In some version or another they are 1. A current diagnosis 2. An event, injury or occurrence in service and 3. Medical evidence or medical opinion showing a nexus or link between 1 and 2. The inner spinning gears of that particular mechanism of VA Law will do just that, make your head fucking spin. And ache like a motherfucker too due to eyestrain because you dont take as many breaks as you probably should. Fuck man, whaddaya tryna prove something or something?

Kidding aside, it is pivotal that you address each issue just like it says, speaking about facts and circumstances you, yourself have observed or know that are relevant to the claim before VA. Just like the form says. Make sure you indicate or describe the claimed issue that you are addressing. Remember, only one issue per statement and the issue here is whether or not a current disability(ies) are at least as likely as not related to service, bearing in mind the 3 element test required to be met in order for service connection can be granted for each particular listed disability or condition. And when you think about it as I just did again for the umpteenth time, you realize that the information provided in the 4 boxes on each line satisfy that test; except for the last one, which helps VA establish an effective date inasmuch as I can guess.Think about it some more...I know it's amazing huh? Sure makes for a better claim this way because not all disabilities are so easily proven. Missing limbs or half your face is pretty obvious especially if you just got back from the battlefield yesterday. But it's not so Hollywoodishly cut and dried. In fact, it almost never is that easy. Because Bureaucracy IS the business, benefits for veterans is just a result of it. That said, if it even made any sense, the VA does a pretty good job, by and large, but you really have to know some hellaciously illogical tricks to jiggle the handle.

Cross-Reference with VA Form 21-526EZ SECTION V. DISABILITY 1: