Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland will be happy to answer your questions about VA benefits or filing a claim.     You can contact Jim here...

     This page contains links to all of the articles by Jim Strickland.  The newest article will be at the top of the page.

     Be sure to read Jim's Mail Bag columns to find answers to questions from vets like you.  To find an answer to a specific VA benefits question, use the VA Watchdog search engine...

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JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #36 FOR 2008 (05-16-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #35 FOR 2008 (05-14-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #34 FOR 2008 (05-12-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #33 FOR 2008 (05-09-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #32 FOR 2008 (05-07-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #31 FOR 2008 (05-05-08)

JIM STRICKLAND REPORTS: OHIO VETERANS SEE A WINNER (05-02-08)  
"Ohio now has the opportunity, maybe the burden, to follow through...
and set the standard for other states."

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #30 FOR 2008 (04-30-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #29 FOR 2008 (04-28-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #28 FOR 2008 (04-25-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #27 FOR 2008 (04-23-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #26 FOR 2008 (04-21-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #25 FOR 2008 (04-18-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #24 FOR 2008 (04-16-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #23 FOR 2008 (04-14-08)

VA'S FLAWED DECISION (04-13-08)   VA declares vet's liver was
removed, which it wasn't and which would cause death, and then
rates it at zero percent. But, there's more to this flawed decision.

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #22 FOR 2008 (04-11-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #21 FOR 2008 (04-09-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #20 FOR 2008 (04-07-08)

SPECIAL SERIES - UNDERSTANDING THE VA CLAIMS PROCESS -
PART 3 of 3 - SELECTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE (04-04-08)

SPECIAL SERIES - UNDERSTANDING THE VA CLAIMS PROCESS -
PART 2 of 3 - HOW THE STATE IS THERE TO HELP (04-03-08)

SPECIAL SERIES - UNDERSTANDING THE VA CLAIMS PROCESS -
PART 1 of 3 - THE VETERANS' SERVICE OFFICER (04-02-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #19 FOR 2008 (03-31-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #18 FOR 2008 (03-28-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #17 FOR 2008 (03-26-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #16 FOR 2008 (03-24-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #15 FOR 2008 (03-21-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #14 FOR 2008 (03-19-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #13 FOR 2008 (03-17-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #12 FOR 2008 (03-14-08)

VA DISABILITY SECRETS REVEALED - BACK TO THE BASICS (03-12-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #11 FOR 2008 (03-10-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #10 FOR 2008 (03-04-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #9 FOR 2008 (02-29-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #8 FOR 2008 (02-27-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #7 FOR 2008 (02-25-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #6 FOR 2008 (02-14-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #5 FOR 2008 (02-12-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #4 FOR 2008 (02-06-08)

VA'S MILEAGE INCREASE FOR VETERANS A MEATLESS BONE (02-03-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #3 FOR 2008 (01-31-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #2 FOR 2008 (01-22-08)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG: VOLUME #1 FOR 2008 (01-18-08)

THE NEXUS LETTER: A POWERFUL TOOL TO ESTABLISH A CLAIM (01-07-08)

2007

VETERANS' ADVOCATE JIM STRICKLAND HAS SOME YEAR-END THOUGHTS (12-24-07)

MORE GREAT ADVICE FROM JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG (12-21-07)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG (12-20-07)

HERE'S THE LATEST EDITION OF JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG (12-18-07)

YOU ASK, JIM ANSWERS -- IT'S JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG (12-14-07)

SPEAK SOFTLY...BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED A BIG STICK (12-12-07)

VBA'S NEW HIRING PLANS ARE JUST LIPSTICK ON A PIG (12-07-07)

JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG (12-06-07)

JIM STRICKLAND OPENS UP HIS MAIL BAG AND FINDS..... (12-04-07)

THE LATEST EDITION OF JIM STRICKLAND'S MAILBAG (11-27-07)

GIVING "VOICE" TO MISGIVINGS OVER CNN's COVERAGE OF VETERANS (11-20-07)

IT'S TIME, ONCE AGAIN, TO GO DIGGING THROUGH JIM'S MAILBAG (11-19-07)

JIM AND ED'S GREAT ADVENTURE: DIGGING OUT EVIDENCE (11-17-07)

HEY VETS, LET'S GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME! (11-02-07)

IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN FOR JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG (10-27-07)

VETERANS' ADVOCATE JIM STRICKLAND REMEMBERS DON (10-20-07)

COMMUNICATING WITH THE VA: "THINK BEFORE YOU WRITE ANYTHING." (10-16-07)

YOU NEED EVIDENCE WHEN FILING A VA CLAIM -- "JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM" (09-20-07)

BACK TO BASICS: THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR VA CLAIM (09-14-07)

COMMON SENSE, LOGIC AND PLAIN OLD GOOD ADVICE FROM JIM STRICKLAND (09-04-07)

MORE QUESTIONS FROM VA WATCHDOG READERS AND MORE ANSWERS FROM
JIM STRICKLAND (08-28-07)

ANOTHER LOOK INTO JIM STRICKLAND'S MAIL BAG (08-21-07)

WHEN YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS, JIM STRICKLAND'S GOT THE ANSWERS (08-17-07)

VETERANS WITH "BAD" DISCHARGES MAY STILL QUALIFY FOR
SOME VA BENEFITS (08-09-07)

MAIL CALL: MORE QUESTIONS FROM VA WATCHDOG READERS (08-07-07)

GATHER 'ROUND, GIs, IT'S MAIL CALL TIME WITH JIM STRICKLAND (08-02-07)

MAIL CALL!  YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS, JIM STRICKLAND HAS ANSWERS (07-05-07)

SSGT. DARREN P. HUBBELL COMES HOME (07-02-07)

CHANGES IN THE VA DISABILITY SYSTEM - THIRD OF THREE PARTS (06-29-07)

CHANGES IN THE VA DISABILITY SYSTEM - SECOND OF THREE PARTS (06-25-07)

CHANGES IN THE VA DISABILITY SYSTEM -- FIRST OF THREE PARTS (06-21-07)

VA BENEFITS: DO YOU JUST NEED THEM, OR DO YOU REALLY DESERVE THEM? (05-21-07) 

EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT FILING A CLAIM FOR PTSD   (05-02-07)

CIVILIAN HEALTHCARE? VA HEALTHCARE? THE DEBATE CONTINUES   (04-23-07)

IT MAY SEEM LIKE TRIVIA, BUT IT'S NOT SO TRIVIAL   (04-19-07)

WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US   (04-11-07)

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE VA DENIES YOUR CLAIM   (04-03-07)

AND THE BEAT GOES ON   (03-20-07)

LISTEN UP, SENATOR CRAIG! (03-10-07)

I'M SHOCKED!  I'M OUTRAGED!  I'M APPALLED! (03-08-07)

VA CLAIMS FOR THE DO-IT-YOURSELFER, PART TWO (03-05-07)

MAIL CALL! SOME WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM JIM'S MAILBAG (02-26-07)

PERMANENT AND TOTAL? NOTHING IN THE VA IS PERMANENT AND TOTAL! (02-19-07)

VA CLAIMS FOR THE DO-IT-YOURSELFER (02-12-07)

VBA EMPLOYEES AND VETERANS' SERVICE OFFICERS
SPEAK ABOUT "THE PROCESS" (02-05-07)

YOUR VA CLAIM: SHOULD YOU FILE IT YOURSELF
OR USE A SERVICE OFFICER? (01-29-07)

YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS - JIM'S GOT ANSWERS (01-22-07)

VA GETS IT RIGHT WITH MYHEALTHeVET (01-16-07)

TAKING HIS CONGRESSMAN TO TASK (01-05-07)

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME (01-02-07)

2006

VA HEALTHCARE ACCESS (12-21-06)

SECONDARY CLAIMS AND AGGRAVATION OF PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS (12-11-06)

JIM STRICKLAND SOUNDS ALARM ON VETS' SURVEY (12-01-06)

VETERANS AND THE INTERNET: PROCEED WITH CAUTION (11-28-06)

YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE ANSWERS - ANOTHER Q&A ON
VETERANS' BENEFITS (11-17-06)

VETERANS DAY (11-10-06)

YOUR VETERANS' BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION AT WORK AND REWORK
AND REWORK SOME MORE (11-07-06)

INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY (IU) -- WHAT EVERY VETERAN NEEDS TO KNOW (10-31-06)

THE WALL EXPERIENCE (10-26-06)

PRIVATIZING THE VA IS BEING DONE FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES
AND A FAST BUCK (10-17-06)

(UN)-REASONABLE DOUBT -- DOES THE VA APPLY THE "REASONABLE DOUBT"
POLICY TO VETS' CLAIMS? (10-11-06)

HOW TO HANDLE THE "DOCTOR LETTER" WHEN FILING A CLAIM (10-06-06)

ANOTHER OVERLOOKED VA BENEFIT -- AID AND ATTENDANCE (09-29-06)

MORE "BENEFITS BASIC TRAINING" - THIS TIME, THE C&P EXAM (09-25-06)

CAN ONE PERSON MAKE A DIFFERENCE? YES! AND WE HAVE PROOF! (09-19-06)

"CAN WE TRUST THE INFORMATION WE'RE GETTING ABOUT OUR EXPOSURE TO
DEPLETED URANIUM?" (09-11-06)

VA USES CFR38 WHEN THEY WANT TO BLUDGEON YOU WITH THE FINE PRINT (09-05-06)

THE FUNERAL (08-28-06)

DAV "FLOGGING A DEAD HORSE" ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR VETERANS ISSUE (08-25-06)

HOW TO GET YOUR VA MEDICAL RECORDS IN ONE EASY LESSON (08-22-06)

ADVICE FOR "BLUE WATER NAVY" VETERANS WHO WISH TO FILE
AGENT ORANGE CLAIMS (08-18-06)

A CALL FOR REFORM AT THE VETERANS' BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION (08-16-06)

YOU HAVE QUESTIONS -- WE HAVE ANSWERS (08-10-06)

LET YOUR HOUSE REP. KNOW YOU WANT ATTORNEYS TO BE ABLE TO
REPRESENT VETS IN THE CLAIMS PROCESS (08-06-06)

THREE THINGS THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE RIGHT FOR VETERANS (08-01-06)

THE ONGOING DEBATE: SHOULD VETERANS USE ATTORNEYS FOR VA CLAIMS? (07-27-06)

SECONDARY SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES AND CLAIMS (07-22-06)

BASIC TRAINING ON VA DISABILITY BENEFITS (07-17-06)

HE STILL WANTS HIS ATTORNEY -- NOW, MORE THAN EVER (07-14-06)

WHEN APPLYING FOR BENEFITS, WORK WITH THE VA DON'T FIGHT IT (07-09-06)

NEXT TIME AROUND WITH THE VA, I WANT MY LAWYER!  (07-05-06)