Veteran's Voice: 'It’s Not Too Late to File'
Many veterans filed once, hit a wall, and never went back. Survivors often assume that if nothing was in place at the time of death, there are no options now.
One of the most common things we hear when someone finally sits down with us is this:
“I tried to file once. It was awful.”
“I was denied, so I figured that was the end of it.”
"Someone else deserves this more."
We hear this every day. For many of the veterans we work with, that last claim was filed in the 1970s. At that time, the Veterans Affairs claims process was rigid, limited, and far less informed about long-term health impacts related to service. Many veterans filed for benefits once, hit a wall, and never went back. Survivors often assume that if nothing was in place at the time of death, there are no options now.
That assumption costs families stability, healthcare access, and long-term support.
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The System Changed in 2022
The PACT Act, signed into law in August 2022, significantly expanded access to VA disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during service. If your last claim was filed before 2022, you are comparing your experience to a system that no longer exists.
One of the most important changes is the expansion of presumptive conditions.
A presumptive condition means the VA presumes your illness is connected to your military service based on where and when you served. Veterans are no longer required to prove the exact cause of an illness when service and exposure criteria are met. The burden of proof shifts away from the veteran.
Conditions that were routinely denied decades ago are now often considered service-connected, particularly those tied to burn pits, Agent Orange, asbestos and other toxic exposures. A prior denial does not mean a claim cannot succeed today.
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Why Filing Now Still Matters
Disability ratings affect far more than monthly compensation. They impact access to healthcare, caregiver support, education benefits, burial benefits, and survivor benefits such as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
We regularly see cases where service connection established late in life changes outcomes for surviving spouses and families. Filing now can improve quality of life today while also protecting loved ones in the future.
The risk is minimal.
The worst outcome is that nothing changes. No benefits are taken away. No penalties apply for trying again.
The best outcome is improved healthcare, increased financial stability, and long-term protection for the people you care about.
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Use an Expert
Many veterans tell us they tried to file on their own. That experience is common, and it is often where claims go off track. VA disability claims depend on evidence, timelines, medical language, and how conditions are connected. Missing or misframed information can derail a valid claim.
Working with a trained Veterans Service Officer (VSO) matters.
In Virginia, the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) provides free, expert assistance to veterans and survivors filing disability and survivor claims. VSOs stay current on changes like the PACT Act and understand how to reopen denied claims or strengthen older filings.
You can schedule a VSO appointment here:
www.dvs.virginia.gov/benefits-services/disability-claims-pensions
If you last filed in the 1970s, 1980s, or even the early 2000s, it is worth another look. Laws change. Medical understanding evolves. Systems improve.
Filing again might reopen old wounds, but it may also open doors that didn't exist before.
Author of the "Veteran's Voice" column, Kathryn Whittenberger is a retired Navy Senior Chief, the Executive Director of Mountain Valor Services, and a Floyd County resident.
Do you have a question or idea you’d like to see covered in a future column? Email us at support@mtnvalor.org — your input helps us share the information our community needs most.