Episode 7: Our VA Claim Journeys
You Gotta Wanna Know
Every veteran has a story behind their VA claim — a journey filled with uncertainty, frustration, lessons learned, and eventually clarity. In this episode, Tim Woods, 23-year vet, and Anthony Boyd, 9-year vet, open up about their own claim experiences and how each step shaped what they know today. Anthony shares his own story — navigating service connection, evidence gathering, delays, and the emotional weight of not knowing what would happen next. Tim follows with his story of how his claim unfolded, the mistakes he made early on, the setbacks he faced, and the turning...
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Episode 6: After You're Service Connected
You Gotta Wanna Know
Becoming service-connected is a major milestone, but it’s just the beginning of understanding what benefits, responsibilities, and long-term support are now available to you. In this episode, Tim Woods, 23-year vet, and Anthony Boyd, 9-year vet, walk you through what happens after you receive your service-connected rating — from healthcare access and ongoing treatment to managing your disability over time. They break down what to expect with regular check-ins, follow-up appointments, and why staying consistent with your medical care is essential. You’ll also learn...
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Episode 5: After Your VA Decision
You Gotta Wanna Know
Understanding what happens after you file your VA claim is just as important as the filing itself. In this episode, Tim Woods, 23-year vet, and Anthony Boyd, 9-year vet, break down what the VA’s decision really means — whether you receive a rating, get denied, or get referred for more information. They walk you through how to read your rating letter, what to do if your claim is denied, and how Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Reviews, and Board Appeals work. You’ll also learn what a deferral means, why the VA sometimes sends you for additional exams, and how to respond quickly to...
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Episode 4: Your C&P Exam: What to Expect
You Gotta Wanna Know
Your C&P exam is one of the most important steps in the VA claims process — and for many veterans, also one of the most confusing. In this episode, Tim Woods, 23-year vet, and Anthony Boyd, 9-year vet, walk you through what really happens when you go to a C&P exam, from who conducts it to what the examiner is actually evaluating. They break down what to bring, how to talk about your symptoms honestly, and why your prescribed medications, braces, mobility aids, and treatment notes matter. You’ll also learn what happens after the exam, how long it usually takes...
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Episode 3: What Happens After You File
You Gotta Wanna Know
After you submit your VA claim, the waiting begins — and for many veterans, this stage feels confusing, slow, and unpredictable. In this episode, Tim Woods, 23-year vet, and Anthony Boyd, 9-year vet, walk you through what happens next in the claims process, from evidence gathering and record requests to understanding the stages your claim moves through behind the scenes. They explain what to expect at each step, why the VA may request additional information, and how to prepare for your C&P Exam without missing critical deadlines. You’ll also learn the difference between private medical...
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Episode 2: Filling Your Claim Step by Step
You Gotta Wanna Know
Filing your first VA claim can feel like navigating a maze- one wrong turn and you're stuck waiting months or even years. In this episode, Tim Woods, 23-year vet, and Anthony Boyd, 9-year vet, walk you through the essential forms needed to file a claim from your Intent to File and Lay Statment to the primary documentation that keeps your claim moving forward. They break down what each form is for, why it matters, and how to avoid common mistakes when filling them out, whether you're doing it online at va.gov, with a VA Liaison, or by mail. You'll also learn what records to have ready,...
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Episode 1: Avoiding Filing Mistakes We Made For First Claims
You Gotta Wanna Know
Filing your first VA claim can feel like navigating a maze- one wrong turn and you're stuck waiting months or even years. In this episode, Tim Woods, 23-year vet, and Anthony Boyd, 9yr vet, open up about their real experiences with the claims process from missing documentation to misunderstanding VA communication. They walk through how to prepare properly, why documentation matters, and the key differnces a VA liaison can make when helping you file. You'll walk away knowing what to do before you hit "submit" and before filling with a VA liaison.
info_outlineYour C&P exam is one of the most important steps in the VA claims process — and for many veterans, also one of the most confusing. In this episode, Tim Woods, 23-year vet, and Anthony Boyd, 9-year vet, walk you through what really happens when you go to a C&P exam, from who conducts it to what the examiner is actually evaluating.
They break down what to bring, how to talk about your symptoms honestly, and why your prescribed medications, braces, mobility aids, and treatment notes matter. You’ll also learn what happens after the exam, how long it usually takes to hear back from the VA, and what to do if the VA requests more information while your claim is still pending.
This episode focuses on helping veterans understand the full C&P exam process and the steps to take before and after the evaluation.