How To Make Your VA Voc Rehab Counselor Love You

VA Voc Rehab Counselor

Benjamin KrauseThere is a very simple thing any disabled veteran can do to make their VA Voc Rehab Counselor love you the first day. Get educated.

The key to getting the most out of your VA benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is to get educated about the VA benefits you seek because that will, in most instances, make most VA employees love you. Why, you might ask?

The answer is simple. The less clueless your are and the more information you provide that is actually useful, the less work your counselor has to do to approve your case.

Contrary to what some politicians and VA employees believe, getting the full amount of the benefits you are owed is rarely a walk in the park. Even for the most veteran friendly VA employees, sometimes a veteran’s facts just do not line up nicely with the laws, regulations, and rules VA employees are supposed to follow.

A great way to work beyond this problem is to make sure you understand the benefits you seek by reading the rules VA requires its own employees to follow. By reviewing VA Voc Rehab rules in its M28R manual, you will learn:

  • Key terminology VA is familiar with
  • Key procedures VA is supposed to follow
  • Key pitfalls that uneducated veterans fall into

When I say “uneducated” above, I am merely referring to veterans who are uneducated about the VA benefits they are seeking. Many times, VA employees complain that most veterans coming to them are totally clueless about the benefit. This is particularly true with VA Vocational Rehabilitation since the VA’s website is so vague about the benefit.

Many VA Voc Rehab Counselors fall all over themselves when they meet with veterans who are goal oriented and educated about the benefit. This means that the key to success for many veterans is to differentiate themselves from vets who are uneducated about their VA benefits or the process.

That is why I wrote the guide, The VA Voc Rehab Survival Guide, and why I spent a ton of hours downloading and paginating VA’s own manual on the benefit, called the M28R.

[Go to our M28R page to download a free copy]

Do not get me wrong, there is a ton of stuff the M28R does not cover, and much of the 1,400 pages within the PDF are totally irrelevant. However, if you are seeking things like self-employment benefits, training for professional careers like being an attorney, doctor, etc, it is vital to at least have a copy of the M28R downloaded for quick reference.

It has been my experience that many Voc Rehab Counselors have never fully thumbed through the huge guide. And even if they had, it would be impossible to keep up with the constant updates VA Central Office pushes out.

Nonetheless, it is up to you to get educated about your benefits, to know the key terms, and to understand the process. For veteran new to the process of getting Voc Rehab benefits, the M28R will give you key insights as will the 38 CFR Part 21.1-420.

My guide, The Voc Rehab Survival Guide, will give you insights on how best to convey your retraining plan or to file a Notice of Disagreement when you are stuck. Veterans who review all these resources have a much higher chance at success than other veterans who wing it, guaranteed.

[Learn more about the Voc Rehab Survival Guide]

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5 Comments

  1. This is all great information; however, I uncovered all this material and the M28R; prior to coming across Mr. Krause surviving guide books. My VR&E counselor and Supervisors still ran me into the dirty, with having all the “RIGHT” information and utilizing all the “RIGHT” resources. From bottom to top they all know my situation, yet I’m still left with my vehicle and dog, when I reached out / cried out to Mr. Krause and other sources; I got a response that I’d have to pay a significant amount for their services. Which makes me think, they know the VA is screwing service members and veterans over; at the same time they deeply want to help services members and veterans because they know what it feels like to be mistreated, so they market that they have the answers that will stop the VA from screwing service members and veterans over but at significant amount of money the veterans don’t have. Therefore, who’s actions are worse; the VA for not providing the free information or Mr. Krause for charging the service members? Either way, they lie their heads down at night and sleep peacefully knowing they could be help those who deeply need their help; and their looking for a spot to park to get sleep with out being disturbed. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the SOLE/PRIMARY PURPOSE of this matter; is to HELP the service members and veterans? Not using the flaw of one, to turn around and charge them for it when they know what the service members or veterans are facing and feeling the same difficult obstacles they did. Regardless, Service Member and VETERANS are getting screwed, short end of the stick and are now in a worse place; feeling worse then ever, because they know their right but they don’t have the resources, power or authority to stand their ground.

  2. Federal Government Lost 115,000 Experienced Employees: Last year the federal government lost 115,000 employees, mostly through retirement and resignation. Among those who left, 75,200 of them were the most knowledgeable and experienced, having served between 10 and 40 years, according to new data. Among the occupations that lost most talents were operations, medical and public health, investigations and inspections, accounting and budgets, engineering and architecture and business and commerce. The Army, with its wrong-headed push to get rid of workers through buyouts, early outs, and layoffs, unsurprisingly posted the highest attrition rate of 8%. About one third of the employees the government lost since 2008 are veterans – not a surprise since one in four federal employees are veterans and nearly one in two Defense Department employees are veterans. While the number of people who leave the government has gone up most years since 2009, the number of new hires has gone down every year since 2009.
    “What does that mean to the American people?” asks AFGE National PresidentJ. David Cox Sr. “It means a much longer wait at a government office or a 1-800 number. It means fewer food inspectors, doctors, researchers, engineers, claims processors, psychologists. It means lower public safety and standard of living for every American.”
    Recent pay cuts, unpaid furloughs, a government shutdown, and a penalty for new hires have only made things worse, Cox said. “The American people need to stand up to Congress and demand that they stop giving away billions every year to corporations at the expense of public safety and services.”
    Great Article!!

  3. Benjamin, I just received a note from Nicole that I am going to copy and forward to you for not only is it going to make your lips but your heart smile…. I so appreciate you and am happy I know you so I can remind you to take the bestest care of you ~ I don’t know how to make a Fb Share Tab but think that might be an excellent suggestion of Ron Nesler’s above. You are changing not only Jason and Nicole’s life but their entire family ~ Benjamin, thank you and Angel hugs….

  4. You are a wealth of information. I can’t thank you enough for your guidance that contributed to my VA counselor approving me for Ch 31 benefits that are allowing me to finish up my undergraduate degree and attend law school.

  5. Another great article to help veterans. Just THINK how wonderful it would be, IF you just had a freakin’ FACE BOOK SHARE TAB, so that your readers could share the article with all of their friends. You are hiding you light beneath a bushel, Mr Krause.

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