In nearly four years, Thomas van Hees filed fifteen claims for his service-connected disabilities. Five claims were denied, and three of these five claims were denied more than twice. In his quest to receive compensation, he became a veterans advocate helping other veterans seek compensation for their service-connected injuries. In this four years, he learned how to negotiate the VA’s claim filing process. Thomas obtained valuable information and knowledge of every aspect of the claim-filing ordeal and of the appeals process. This down and dirty approach will guide the veteran through the claim-filing process without the veteran having to wade through useless information, case files and history of how the veterans from past wars received medical care.