If you are still serving in the Canadian Forces or you are about to be released medically, or you have been released medically, here are two check lists for applying to the Department of Veterans Affairs for a medical pension or trying to deal with the RED tape of Veterans Affairs.

CHECK LIST FOR THOSE ABOUT TO BE RELEASED MEDICALLY FROM THE CF
Item	Action	Comment
1	Send for you medical documents (your CF 2034- your large Medical File, CF 2016- sick parade book, any or all CF 2138s, Pharmacy Documents and any special medical test or specialist reports) by requesting them through the Privacy Commissioner. Your Unit or Base (Garrison) Orderly Room should have the correct forms (if not go to see Canada Post). You can also contact the Privacy Commissioner directly via the Internet: www.gc.ca and then click Index A-Z and then P. Also request all and any Veterans Affairs Files at the same time.	CF 2034 CF 2016 CF 2138 Privacy Commissioner www.gc.ca
2	Send for a copy of your Personal Military Files. This file will have all the administrative documents relating to your release and any Changes of Categories. It is a good idea to send for update copies of your medical and personal files yearly, especially if there have been changes or updates. Make sure you also request any old or new CF 98 Reports of Injuries. These have gone missing off medical files in the past. If you can, ask your Unit Medical Station or the Base-Garrison Hospital for copies of these files once they have been completed by you and witness by the medical staff. Make sure you lock these up in a secure place only you or your family have access to. You may need it in the future.	CF 98
3	Make sure you have everything explained regarding, and understand all Changes, in you Medical Category. Have the Medical Officer, Nurse, Physician Assistant or Medical Technician explain everything to you, including career restrictions and any special procedures or tests, specialist appointments (including Civilian appointments). Again, ask if you can obtain a copy or are able to have it written out for your own personal files.
4	Visit the Base - Garrison - Station Pharmacy (or Civilian Pharmacy) for lists of all medications you have taken through out your career. Have the Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician explain anything you do not understand. Each and every medication you have taken for conditions associated with you Medical Release will on these forms. So make sure your understand them enough. Most pharmacy stores can give you full information on each drug and all the information required to know.
5	If you know, or roughly know, when your medical release date might be, make copies of the military pharmacy document to your new civilian pharmacy (once you are out of the Military). This information may help you in the future when dealing with Veterans Affairs. This is also a good idea because it gives your new pharmacy your past medication history.
6	The final Medical Category for release from the CF: make sure you understand all the reasons for your release. Again, obtain any and all copies of your military medical history you can. Have the Medical Officer explain everything and write things down for clarity. The more you know, the more you empower yourself for now and in the future.	Med Category
7	Last: THE AGE FACTOR...The age for retirement is higher now than in the past. Once you reach age Sixty it is almost impossible to apply for a medical pension or to have changes made on you pension. Veterans Affairs uses this age to stop applications and appeals because the body start to breakdown much faster after age 60. I have tried to do applications and appeals after 60 for retired Service Members and have never been successful in my 25 years of volunteering to helping retired and serving CF Members.	Med claim before 60!

CHECK LIST FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN RELEASED FROM THE CF
Item	Action	Comment
1	Write for your medical documents (as in the Check list paragraph # 1, above for those about to be released from the CF). Once again you need to contact and request your military medical files (www.gc.ca then go to the index A-Zand Click P).	Privacy Commissioner www.gc.ca
2	Find a Civilian Physician (if you do not already have one for after your release). As so as your are released medically have copies of all of your medical files listed above for your civilian family doctor: CF 2034 (large medical file), CF 2016 (Sick Parade Book), CF 98 Reports of Injuries, CF 2138 Emergency Report, Pharmacy Files and your Personal Admin File).	CF2034 CF 2016 CF 98 CF 2138
3	Note: if your civilian Doctor does not understand the Military Medical Document, if possible, go to the nearest military base - station and have the medical staff explain the document further. You can also try to call the nearest military base or write for clarity to the Department of National Defence (or email: www.gc.dnd.ca).	DND www.gc.dnd.ca
4	If this is your first attempt for application for pension fails with Veterans Affairs APPEAL immediately (twice if you have to)! If Veterans Affairs has turned you down for the last time, they will then tell you have to appeal to the Federal Court of Canada. It would be a good idea to find out how to do this prior to your first application. Veterans Affairs gives you only 30 days to make your appeal to the Federal Court of Canada, so be ready for this and find out ahead how to do this. If you have exhausted your last appeal and only have 30 days to appeal, you are now have the impossible task of launching an appeal to the Courts. Be ready prior to your first application for appeal or just after you send in your final appeal. This might help get your case to be heard by the Court. You may be required to pay lawyer-legal fees up front for appeal to the Federal Court of Canada.	VRAB More to come to you in the future on VeteransVoice.info
5	Make sure you use all available resources and keep you physician, lawyer, the Royal Canadian Legion (if you decide to go this route - and again more to follow in future articles) and your family updated on any changes or new medical information. I hope in the near future to train all of you on how to red your medical documents, on how to understand your Military Medical files, veterans Affairs Files, you Military Pers file and any other files involved with your case.

Veteran Self Help

My Medical File

	Veteran Self Help