Evening star., 1955-01-26
Veterans and
Druftees
BY Moi. Thomos N. Mol

There's nothing more discon-
certing when you apply for COM
pensation. for q service disability
than to find there is no record
of the disability among your mil
itary records.
Don't feel too bad II 1t hap
pens. Records of injuries or
treatment for them. In many.
cases. were either not kept at
all or kept inadequately
But you shouldn't give up Just
: because the Veterans Admini-
station says there is no record
Of your disability or treatment
for il. Official records aren't
the only way to prove that your
disability was received in service.
It's the easiest way. but thou
The evidence must be sound
established through other types
Of evidence.
The evidence may vary all the
way from affidavits and state
ments from a doctor who treated
you Ia service to those Of service
buddies, relatives, friends and
employers. This can be pre-
sented to the VA and considered
when a final decision on your
compensation payments is made.
and based on the known facts
sands OF disabilities have been
in your case.
Statement From Doctors.
As to statements and affldavits
from physicians, you should try
to get them both from doctors
who treated you in service and
doctors who've treated you for
your disability since you got out.
Chances are, the Veterans Ad-
administration win be able to sup
ply you with the names and
latest known address Of the serv-
ice doctors. Then, you can write
and ask for afiidayits Of what
they recall about your treatment.
The history Of your treatment
since you've been out Of uniform
will also be important. particu-
larly II 1t shows that you got
treatment for your disability very
soon after you came out Of serv-
ice. Be sure to have your doctor
mention the record Of your COM
plants, his findings and any kind
of treatment, such as -X-ray
and laboratory results and the
diagnosis.
All of the afiidavits and state
ments from doctors which you
received should be signed by the
doctors and, when possible, type
written on their letterhead sta
tionery.
In addition to the statements
from doctors, you should try to
get written evidence from serv-
ice buddies. If. you don't rem
member the exact names or ad-
dresses of such men, chances are
you can work through the Veter-
ans Administration or some
veterans organization to get this
information.
Verify Information.
Statements from these buddies
should show detailed illforma-
ton of their service and your
own. They should attempt to
verify, based on facts known to
the men, your eligibility to dis
ability payment and the circum-
stances surrounding the cause
of your disability.
For example. If you were in
jured while on an obstacle course
and one of your buddies helped
you get to a doctor. statement
from this man would be excel
lent. He should describe the
exact circumstances surrounds,
ing the injury and any details he
might know about the treatment
you received.
The afiidavits or statements
to get in touch with q veterans
ployers should cover such in
formation as how long they've
known you. whether you were
free from disability when you
entered service and other details
about your disability.
To aid you In pressing your
claim, it would be a good idea
to get in touch with a veterans
organization which can not only
advise you. but perhaps do some
Of the legal work for you.
(You may scrite Maj. Mai
In cars OF The Star about
pour seruice-connected prob.
lem. Please inclose a stamped.
seif-dddressed envelope and
20 cents I'm coinJ
- kxs, 4