Brian Palermo - Veteran Coach

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Brian Palermo - Veteran Coach Navy veteran. I educate other vets on how the VA disability process works. I write children's books and host the Faith, Money & Mental Health Podcast.

No claim representation or legal advice provided.

Maybe you filed years ago and haven't looked at it since. Or you've been thinking about a first claim and don't know whe...
11/05/2026

Maybe you filed years ago and haven't looked at it since. Or you've been thinking about a first claim and don't know where to start.

A strategy session gives us time to talk about where you are and what you want to understand. That's the point of the conversation.

I'm a fellow veteran who educates veterans on the VA disability process. We can talk through the general process and the questions you've been putting off.

Book a free 30 minute strategy session with me to talk about the VA disability process and your options.
https://calendly.com/brianpalermo/30-minute-strategy-session-with-brian-palermo

Got a veteran buddy you haven't talked to in a while? Send the message.It doesn't have to be anything deep. Ask what the...
11/05/2026

Got a veteran buddy you haven't talked to in a while? Send the message.

It doesn't have to be anything deep. Ask what they've been up to. Bring up that old story you both still laugh about.

We all get busy. You don't need a reunion or a special occasion to stay in touch.

VA doesn't simply add your individual disability percentages together. It uses a combined ratings method. That's why the...
11/05/2026

VA doesn't simply add your individual disability percentages together. It uses a combined ratings method. That's why the total can look different from the math you expected. Understand how the combined rating is calculated before using an extra percentage to predict a new total.

We can discuss the difference between individual ratings and a combined rating without predicting an outcome.

Book a free 30 minute educational strategy session: https://calendly.com/brianpalermo/30-minute-strategy-session-with-brian-palermo

If you're considering my VA disability education services, the free 30 minute strategy session is where we start. We'll ...
11/05/2026

If you're considering my VA disability education services, the free 30 minute strategy session is where we start. We'll discuss where you are in the process and what you're trying to accomplish, then see whether working together is a fit.

Comment STRATEGY to request a private message with the booking link for a free 30 minute educational strategy session.

Your service treatment records and your VA medical records cover different parts of your history.Service treatment recor...
11/04/2026

Your service treatment records and your VA medical records cover different parts of your history.

Service treatment records document care during military service. VA medical records document care through VA. A recent VA appointment doesn't, by itself, show what was documented while you were serving.

That matters when you're trying to understand a request for evidence. Check which records the notice actually names rather than assuming one set replaces the other.

Comment EVIDENCE to request a private message with the booking link for a free 30 minute strategy session with me. Let's talk about the VA disability process and your options.

Moving? Don't assume a forwarding address takes care of your VA records.Changing your address in your VA.gov profile upd...
11/04/2026

Moving? Don't assume a forwarding address takes care of your VA records.

Changing your address in your VA.gov profile updates disability compensation, claims and appeals, and several other VA services. It doesn't update every program.

Home loans, life insurance, CHAMPVA, and the Foreign Medical Program keep separate contact records. If you use one of those, VA says to contact that program directly.

It's worth checking which services you use so notices keep reaching the right place.

Book a free 30 minute strategy session with me to talk about where you are in the VA disability process.
https://calendly.com/brianpalermo/30-minute-strategy-session-with-brian-palermo

A VA decision letter or exam report can contain personal information you didn't intend to share. Keep claim numbers, Soc...
11/04/2026

A VA decision letter or exam report can contain personal information you didn't intend to share. Keep claim numbers, Social Security numbers, addresses, and medical details out of public comments and screenshots. You can ask a general question without uploading your records for strangers to read.

A spouse, friend, or someone who served with you may have firsthand observations relevant to a claim. VA accepts lay or ...
11/04/2026

A spouse, friend, or someone who served with you may have firsthand observations relevant to a claim. VA accepts lay or witness statements from the veteran and other people. The writer should describe what they actually observed in their own words. Different kinds of evidence serve different purposes.

We can discuss what lay evidence is and how it differs from medical evidence.

Book a free 30 minute educational strategy session: https://calendly.com/brianpalermo/30-minute-strategy-session-with-brian-palermo

Will VA gather evidence for your claim? Yes, but VA needs to know where to look.For an initial claim or Supplemental Cla...
11/03/2026

Will VA gather evidence for your claim? Yes, but VA needs to know where to look.

For an initial claim or Supplemental Claim, VA has a duty to make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant records. That can include service records, VA records, and private medical records.

You still need to identify the records, where they're held, and the relevant dates. Private records also require authorization.

When VA sends a request, read what it's asking you to provide. A duty to gather evidence doesn't mean every record you had in mind is already in the file.

Comment CLARITY to request a private message with the booking link for a free 30 minute strategy session with me. Let's talk about the VA disability process and your options.

Filed a fully developed claim and still got a C&P exam request? That can happen.With a fully developed claim, you send y...
11/03/2026

Filed a fully developed claim and still got a C&P exam request? That can happen.

With a fully developed claim, you send your supporting evidence, including relevant private medical records, with the application. You also identify federal records VA can request and certify that you have no more evidence to submit.

VA can still need an exam or medical opinion to answer a medical question before deciding your claim. The exam request alone doesn't mean you submitted the claim incorrectly.

If VA schedules an exam, attend it. Filing a fully developed claim doesn't remove that requirement.

Book a free 30 minute strategy session with me to get more clarity on the claims process and what to expect.
https://calendly.com/brianpalermo/30-minute-strategy-session-with-brian-palermo

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Clinton, IA

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