The Only Guide For VocRehab

This How To Guide Gives You STRATEGIES That Win, Written By An Attorney

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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Who Founded VocRehab Facebook Group?

They Facebook group called Disabled Veterans - Chapter 31 VocRehab was founded by me, Benjamin Krause, in 2009.

I created the group after filing my first appeal with VocRehab when Disabled American Veterans refused to publish a story about it.

As a direct result of the group, CBS Evening News with Katie Couric exposed massive problems within the program. VocRehab Counselors were misleading veterans about the program, and Couric's team exposed the scandal on national TV in 2010.

READ IT: VocRehab Exposed By CBS Evening News

Did VRE Pay For Founder Ben's Law Firm?

Yes. While in law school, I decided I wanted to become a veterans rights attorney rather than work in business law. VocRehab basically said, "Hell no!" and it took another two years to get it approved after VocRehab destroyed evidence and made fraudulent misrepresentations about my claim.

I only bring this up to highlight how hard it can be to get approval for self-employment after an education.

VocRehab paid around $315,000 for my education overall. The program paid another $35,000 for my start-up law firm.

Did VRE Pay For Ben's Law School?

VocRehab paid for me to attend law school after I exposed the program for lying to veterans. Katie Couric and her team exposed it on CBS in 2010. Immediately after CBS contacted VR&E about my claim, they approved my IWRP request to attend law school.

To get it done, I used some unique strategies to push the ball forward. I cover this and some perspectives about my own law school experience in the VocRehab Survival Guide.

My Rating Is 10%, Do I Quality?

How Do I Apply For VocRehab Benefits?

What Is Contact For VRE Central Office?

After many years, I was able to secure contact information for two individuals VocRehab selected to answer general questions about the program.

While these two individuals are unable to answer specific claims questions, they can answer hypothetical questions about policies possibly affecting your claim.

To use this resource effectively, ask general questions affecting your claim such as, "Are there instances where VocRehab will approve medical school for qualified veterans?" Or, "Does VocRehab provide financial support for veterans seeking self-employment?"

Questions like these are a good place to start. You can then drill down into those questions to help give you insight into whether your local counselor may be deceiving you.

The identities and names of these individuals may change over time. I encourage you to ping me in our Facebook group if you have a difficult time reaching either of the following.

Both individuals, called ombusdmen, can be reached at the VRE Central Office call center number 202-461-9600. You can email either of the following:

Anthony Estelle - - [email protected]
Sabrina Barry - - [email protected] (202-461-9618)

I Used VocRehab Once, Can I Get Back In?

What Is The First Meeting Like?

The first meeting is a mixed bag. Some veterans have an easy time. Most veterans do not.

The biggest thing you need to realize is that the first meeting is a forensic examination where the counselor is making note of legal facts to decide whether you qualify for benefits or not. This is not a meeting with a buddy, so be ready to be asked specific questions that could be used against your request for benefits later.

My section on Seven Essentials To A VocRehab Win cover this and help veterans get prepared.

How Do I Appeal A Denial?

Presently, VRE offers numerous forms of review for veterans seeking to challenge an adverse decision about their claim.

You can request reconsideration of new evidence or argument so long as you are within the 1 month notice period before the decision becomes final.
After that point, you can request a "review" to change your training track or an "administrative review" of an adverse entitlement decision.
You can also file a Notice of Disagreement using either the standard form for disability benefits or by a normal letter to your counselor. This last option precludes a chance for an administrative review.

These are covered in-depth in the second half of the VocRehab Survival Guide.

Can I Get More Than 48 Months?

You can get more than 48 months of schooling if it is warranted by your kind of rehabilitation plan and if you have a "serious employment handicap." There are some other technical workarounds, supposedly, but having a "serious employment handicap" is the only one I have familiarity with.

I received services through VocRehab from 2003 to 2016, which is over 156 months. Many of the strategies I used are within the VocRehab Survival Guide.

Can I Use VocRehab After 12 Years?

The correct answer is, "It depends."

Each claim is different. The easy answer for veterans with a "serious employment handicap" is that you can get an extension. The 12-year limit goes away.

For other veterans, the answer to the question depends on when you first qualified for Voc Rehab benefits. This answer is the date of the disability rating that now is implicated by your employment handicap.

Did CBS Investigate VocRehab?

Yes, CBS Evening News With Katie Couric did investigate VocRehab in 2010. She and her team worked with me and my Facebook group members at Disabled Veterans - Chapter 31 Voc Rehab to expose a scandal in VocRehab.

The big scandal at the time was that counselors were knowingly misleading veterans about the program.

There are a lot of new people on here, and I want you to see the important role this Facebook forum plays not only in educating veterans about VocRehab but also exposing scandals. In 2010, I exposed that VocRehab counselors were lying to veterans about the program via CBS.

The first link is the NEWS VIDEO of the report that aired on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in 2010:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wounded-veterans-new-fight-the-va/

This “notebook” explains how I was involved in the investigation toward the end (just search for “Krause”):

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/notebook-reporting-on-disabled-vets/

Our VocRehab Facebook Group

Here are the simple terms of use of the Facebook group I created back in 2009.

Speak your mind but do not be abusive or rude to other members.
Avoid posting topics not directly related to VocRehab without permission from the moderators (me or Gretchen).
Look out for the best interests of your brothers and sisters in the veteran community to the best of your ability.
No porn or overtly political comments.

We reserve the right to delete any members or posts as we see fit without explanation. No Facebook group members have any rights conferred or implied in the DisabledVeterans.org website or its content in any manner. Likewise, the same holds for the Facebook group.

By using this website or the Facebook group, you agree to and accept these terms of use.

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Whether fighting for a higher disability rating or filing your disability claim with Dept. of Veterans Affairs, this article has insider tips that win. How To Manage Your VA Claim For Disability Compensation Filing disability claims with the Dept of Veterans Affairs is tricky. Getting documentation together for one disability claim can be a full-time […]

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Go straight to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. There are 3 main ways that qualified disabled veterans fail to get approval to use the benefit. The purpose of this article is to point out some specific “don’t say that, moron,” type issues during your first meeting with a Voc Rehab professional. […]

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By Benjamin Krause | October 25, 2017

This survey is aimed to see how many VA Vocational Rehabilitation offices are honoring the general rule to meet with a veteran within 45 days of applying. According to policy, the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program is required to meet with applicants and provide an entitlement determination within 45 days. “As a general rule, whenever […]

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By Benjamin Krause | October 25, 2017

Numerous veterans in our Facebook group, Disabled Veterans – Chapter 31 Voc Rehab, have been reporting problems and confusion from their counselors this week. In response, I held this linked Facebook Live session addressing one of the most common games Voc Rehab Counselors play that cost unsuspecting veterans thousands in lost funding for retraining. WATCH: […]

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By Benjamin Krause | September 26, 2017

I am proud to announce our VocRehab Facebook group focusing on breaking through bureaucratic roadblocks has his 20,000 members. I created the group, Disabled Veterans – Chapter 31 Voc Rehab, back in 2009 to expose agency lies and problems veterans face when seeking VocRehab benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. You see, at the […]

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By Benjamin Krause | June 19, 2017

This year’s VA Vocational Rehabilitation conference was the first of its kind held at the newly remodeled St. Paul Regional Office, but that was not the only first. The conference also held the first veterans panel for the benefit of conference attendees, which was made up of senior leadership within Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VRE […]

Law School Opens Door To Qualified Veterans, Free Law Degree

By Benjamin Krause | June 9, 2017

One Minnesota law school just opened its doors to veterans in a bold, new way. Mitchell Hamline School of Law will now allow veterans to get a free law degree. According to the school’s website, veterans qualified for law school who are also eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program can attend for […]

Say What? Benjamin Krause Invited To Sit On VocRehab Veterans Panel

By Benjamin Krause | June 8, 2017

The Department of Veterans Affairs VocRehab Program invited Benjamin Krause to sit on its veterans panel before an audience of 80 vocational counselors next week. All right, it is time for you to get a little ‘behind the scenes’ of what I have been working on for the five years until now that is starting […]

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DisabledVeterans.org Chapter 31 Voc Rehab Resource Page