The value of our service is the quality of our advocacy.
“We understand the sacrifices you have made in defense of our way of life because we, too, are disabled vets. It is our privilege to advocate for you.”
What Sets Us Apart
What sets us apart? Alpha advocates know how to help veterans obtain the highest level of compensation possible.
What will an Alpha-trained advocate do for you?
- Help you get started with your initial application with the Veterans Administration (VA) at no cost to you.
- Tell you what to expect and what you must do for the VA to develop your case.
- If you do not receive a fully favorable decision from the VA, Alpha advocates know what to do to appeal for more benefits.
- Analyze and develop a strategy to win a higher rating of benefits in the shortest amount of time.
The Alpha Team
- Our advocates are independently accredited through the VA Office of General Counsel.
- Our advocates undergo intensive advocacy training unique to the Alpha program.
- Alpha advocates are effective because of our specialized training and experience as veterans.
- Many of our advocates are disabled veterans. We hire vets to advocate for vets.
Allen Gumpenberger is the director of Veterans Disability Advocacy at Alpha. He is an experienced former Veterans Service Officer who has been advocating for veterans for over 16 years. Gumpenberger, a disabled veteran, is highly respected within the veterans disability community for his effectiveness in helping veterans with their disability claims.
“It’s been an honor for me to advocate for my fellow disabled veterans over the years. However, I’ve seen bureaucracy at the VA become more complex. Vets without good representation are missing out on benefits that meet their unique needs. Organizations such as the DAV can be overwhelmed with claims resulting in thousands of vets going without the full representation they need. I believe Vets deserve the best claims representation possible. My goal at Alpha Disability is to provide the highest quality advocacy service to meet that need.” – Allen Gumpenberger
Contact us to get started on your claim.
Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.
I served in the military from 1957 to 1977. I have been fighting with the VA since 2006 trying to get my sleep apnea claim approved. I have already appealed their decison several times and submitted more information also several time. I have submitted quite a few witness statements and two doctor statments to support my claim. Everytime I refute something the VA comes up with someting new. This time around they say SC for my sleep apnea was denied becsuse it was not diagnosed while I was in service or within one year after I was in servce. My SMRs does show that I complained of excessive daytime sleepiness and chronic sleeping while I was in service and withing one year following my service. But I was not give a polsomnogram or formal sleep tests either time. I was diagnosed with nacolepsy cold turkey within one year following my service Both doctor statements says that I had sleep apnea all along, and that my nacolepsy was a misdiagnosis. A 2001 nap study disclosed my sleep apnea. What do you guys think, and what can you do?
It is hard to tell.From what you have reported here it sounds like you may have something to work with. Would you like to speak with one of our advocates? Worth it to give us a call. 877.611.7724.
Dear Mr.Allen Gumpenberger, 8/31/2010
I Have Traumatic Brain Injury with short and long term memory loss ,consistent and ongoing Migraine headaches since my service connected injury in 1983 with other complications, and other disabilities. But before I get into toughs details, Besides having T.B.I. (only 10% service connected V.A.) I’ve had (service related ) four myocardial infarctions two stents implanted of which one collapsed and left knee and elbow dislocation with extensive surgeries and right ankle injury ( rated by State of Florida and Social security at 100% ) all of which was on the job injuries. Heard enough about the injuries? Well not quite finished! On top of all that I’m a type II Diabetic and insulin dependent. Also back last January I passed out hitting my head on the hard laminate floor from either taking double or none of my medications ( memory loss ) and in march was diagnosed to have a blood clot (8mm; now 4mm) on the left side of my brain ( on going ) You would think with all these problems I would be covered financially! I’m not! The V.A. only rated me at 10% (yeah, I know what a joke!) my time ran out for an appeal because I was in the hospital when I had one of the heart attacks. No excuse as far as the V.A. was concerned! Case has been presently reopened but the V.A. has since been playing the paper shuffle game. And a Psychiatric evaluation came out inconclusive so I have to wait six months to take it again? And the other is well; we all know Social security doesn’t pay much at all. Which leaves my wife to support the family and she needs a break soon. She works day and night seven days a week as a home health nurse which is an unforgiving job. She comes home and cries often, which has been breaking my heart for way to long. Needless to say that this is and has been a broken marriage and not what she signed up for. But, she stays because of the children and me. But also we divorced so my medication costs from the V.A. would be covered. I really think I could really use your teams help.
Mr. Joseph Frank Kuehn Jr.
Mr. Kuehn,
One of our most experienced advocates will be contacting you today at the phone number you provided. The rules governing the rating criteria for TBI residuals were recently changed to be more liberal and friendly to the veteran. I do recommend that you reopen your claim for this.
It sounds as though you could use our help to establish service connection for your heart disease and mental condition. We excel in figuring out what evidence would be most helpful to prepare and present to make a claim more solid. While we can’t guarantee results, we can guarantee effort.
Hopefully, with the right approach to your case, our hope and goal for you would be to get you the compensation benefits you earned from the VA so that you can support your family and get back on your feet. We will be calling you shortly to discuss your particular situation in a more private venue.
Respectfully,
Allen Gumpenberger
Manager Veterans Advocacy
Why is it the VA can get away with not Compensating a Severly 100% service connected PERSON that can’t work and in a wheelchair with a OTHER THAN HONORABLE discharge.
Administrative discharges trump medical discharges. Congress determined that compensation is not payable to a veteran, even if a disability is service-connected, if the veteran had an Other than Honorable (OTH) discharge from service. There are some exceptions. The VA may review the circumstances behind the rationale for the OTH discharge to determine if the reason was consistent with VA rules. Please feel free to contact me directly to discuss the particulars in this case.
Got a question for you guys. I’ve been reading on this site about fella with sleep apnea applying for benefits. I has any study or anything ever been done on children of vets that have severe sleep apnea? My son has suffered from this since birth – about 16 months after his dad was discharged from the army. I often wondered if it was connected. By the way those orange covered clothes and bags were stored in the closet of the very room he was conceived in, we just didn’t know. His dad has since passed from cancer.
Barb,
At this time, we are not aware of any studies that indicate any relationship between sleep apnea in the biological children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange. However, Agent Orange is known to cause various forms of cancer. An un-remarried surviving spouse and/or dependent children under 18 years of age may be eligible for death benefits if the veteran had a type of cancer consistent with his Agent Orange exposure.
Hi,
I have read the above questions and your answers. Now I have a question. Why is it that you are denied if records cannot be found. The reason I ask this is due to the fact my husband was in the Army from 1967-68 and was given and Honorable Medical Discharged. However, since it was years ago the physicians are no longer alive so therefore, we are unable to get records and one more thing to think about. Even if the physician was alive the records are only kept 9 yrs. Back in 1970 he filed at one point for SC and was denied and never tried to appeal because in “those days” to fight the government was useless and now I seem to still believe that anything to do with the government is useless. We were told by some of your coworkers that they most likely would only be able to go back 10 yrs. Why? What would that prove to be SC when the actual injury acquired in 1967. I just feel my husband deserves to be compensated for the years he had to put up with the pain due to an injury sustained in the military.
Anonymous,
Great question. But actually, the absence of records shouldn’t affect the legitimacy of a VA claim. In fact, if records are missing the VA has a heightened duty to try to prove the claim. I actually suspect that your VA regional office has them. In your husband’s situation as you describe it, the issue is really about proving that his medical problems are directly connected to his service.
Here’s an example:
A veteran suffered a right knee injury during military service. He undergoes physical therapy and limited duty and recovers. Two years later, he is discharged and his right knee appears upon examination to be completely normal. Five years after discharge, his right knee begins to reveal signs of pain, instability, and limitation of motion. After visiting with his doctor, he learns that he has arthritis in his knee. He would not be entitled to service connection for the right knee, as the in-service injury would be considered an acute and transitory condition. However, if the veteran’s doctor thinks that the problem is related to the in-service injury, and the medical opinion is credible, service connection would be warranted.
You can read more about service connection here. It can be difficult to prove in some cases. But the absence of medical records is not a reason for denying a claim. If you both would like to pursue this further, please call us.
Hi,
Thank you for your quick reply.I should of mention in the above info that we did ask the physician to write a note stating that she felt his back/knee was due to his injury in the military and her statement was ” she could not do that as she was not there at the time the injury took place”. Therefore, we were back to square one.
FYI, my husband did make a call to your office and they will be sending out forms to fill out.
Thanks for your advice in this matter,
Spouse that cares.
Dear Alpha,
Almost a year ago, I signed over a Power of Attorney to DAV. I am not receiving any help on my claim. The representative is seldom in his office, and when I call, he tells me to send my paperwork over to the Regional Office. When I check E-benefits, it does not indicate that my paperwork has been received although I have a time stamp on my copy.
I am also one of those retired veterans that no one can find my medical records (1968-1991). I was blessed that I had a copy of my medical records.
I am really disappointed with the caliber of assistance that I have received from DAV. Is it possible to change representatives?
Ret. Sgt Major
Arthur,
It certainly is possible to switch representation. You have that choice thanks to legislation that has given veterans more options. We will try to contact you to set up a time for you to talk to one of our advocates about your unique situation and how we can help you.
Hey Allen,
I was in the Air Force from 1997-1998 but was seperated due to a medical condition which my dd214 states existed prior to service. I never bothered to apply for benefits as I did not think I could be eligible. Just recently I was terminated from a fed job as I was not able to make it to work due to generalized anxiety disorder which I was recently diagnosed with. After speaking to my primary doc, he indicated to me that anxiety is often excacerbated by hypothyroidism.
I recently went in to my VA office and put in a claim for benefits for the thyroid issues I have had since I left the military.None of my med records prior to 98 indicate that I had anything wrong with my thyroid. I was initially diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and after radioactive iodine treatment I was then hypothyroid and have been since then. Generalized anxiety disorder is often a side manifestation caused by hypothyroidism. Unfortunately I am unable to locate my med records prior to 98 as evidence as the statue of limitations for maintanance of med records is 7 years. Do you have any feedback or advice? I am new to the process of applying for VA benefits but this medical condition continues to follow me around and I will be on life-long hormonal replacement for the rest of my life. Any feedback is appreciated.
HC
Henry,
You really need a medical opinion that supports that your hyperthyroidism was aggravated by your active service. Without that support and proof there may not be much that can be done to get service-connected compensation for your hyperthyroid condition.
For the anxiety condition, you might want to consider if some traumatic event during military service contributed to the development of your anxiety.
I was wondering if my situation is one that you guys would be able to help with? I was honorably discharged in 2000 with 30% disability(20% for right shoulder 10% for Hypertension) and since have issues with my right shoulder constantly almost. I had the surgery in the Navy that made it worse then was seperated, then 3 years ago had a private doctor operate on the same shoulder. Now the shoulder is worse again and i have been to the VA hospital and they said a 3rd surgery is what i will likely need but they won’t do it now becaause they said it may make it worse. Their answer is to give me painkillers for months and then look at it again, in the meantime i am addicted to percocet take 10-12 a day just to deal with the pain and function. I went back to the VA and thier answer they told me was to find a different job where i didn’t have to use my right arm.
In the meantime i have decided to go to a private doctor to have the shoulder fixed for the 3rd time because i am at the point where i can barely hold a job. The local VA officer rep will not return my calls and the VA hospital will not return my calls at this point either. I just want help being that i will be out of work and my disabilty percent to be higher. Should i wait to do anything untill after this next surgery or try and deal with it now?
You do not have to wait for the outcome to call Alpha to get advice. If you want answers from the VA you also shouldn’t have to wonder when you’ll get them. Please call 877.611.7724. Alpha would like to help if we can.
Allen.
I noticed that there is no live chat on this site. Is that something that you might implement in the future? I look forward to working with your company on my appeal.
I’m a retired veteran (2006). I was in the Gulf War and in OIF. After the Gulf, I was having problems with headaches, sleeping, bad sinuses, and memory loss. Eventually I was required to take a Gulf War Physical, which also showed that I had developed Asthma. Since returning from OIF, my sinuses have gotten worse, and so have the headaches, memory loss, sleeping problems, 4 herniated discs in my neck (P-3 profile), mood swings, anger, frustration, etc… Also, I developed skin cancer on my forehead during OIF. It was officially diagnosed upon returning, but I was so close to retirement, I was told that I couldn’t have it operated on in time. I had it removed and now have a new spot. I work 62 hours a week to make ends meet and live 60 miles from the nearest VA hospital, and can’t really afford to drive over there. My wife and daughter say they have noticed a significant change in me since returning from OIF (anger, frustration, depression, etc…) I know I’m rambling, but I tend to do that these days. This probably adds up to nothing but I was just curious.
JKG
You should call in to talk to an Alpha advocate. Your symptoms could be service-connected for disability compensation. If interested in our help or for more guidance please call 877-611-7724. We may be able to help you.
Good evening, my name is Wayne Smith. I’m currently 20%. 10 for lower back strain, and 10 for tenitus. I have extreamly bad PTSD, I have not left the house except to go to work for the last three years. I have extreme short term memory loss. I have a neurological compulsive tic (Tardive Tourretisim) and much, much more. I’ve been through 25-30 jobs in the last four years. I’m at a total loss, and at the point of exuastion and just giving up and moving away. I have no idea where to go with this, as the VA just keeps sending me in loops. My PSTD has been on a desk in Jacksnville, FL for 2.5 years now. AHHHH!!