In my personal experience, DAV was completely useless when it came to helping with my VA disability claim. I started at 0% and got myself to 90%, and the guidance that actually helped me came from my own research and using ChatGPT to better understand the process, not from DAV. When I needed meaningful assistance, strategy, or advocacy, they provided nothing of value.
What frustrates me most is that organizations like this raise money using the image of helping veterans, but in my case I did not receive real help when it actually mattered. I was left to navigate a confusing and stressful claims system on my own while DAV added no meaningful support. Based on my experience, I would not recommend them to any veteran expecting hands-on help with a disability claim.
Veterans deserve real advocacy, real guidance, and real results. My experience with DAV was the opposite.
Recommendation: Do it yourself. Organizations like the DAV and VFW are a scam.
I and my family has been using DAV for awhile. In 1994 after my hearing with the BVA Judge he ask for the evidence to approve my claim, I summited the evidence to my DAV rep who didn't summit the evidence to the Judge. When I received the Judges ruling stating he never received the evidence and denied my claim. I learned then to summit my evidence myself and give them a copy. 2000 + I and Amy mother was fighting the VA to receive my father's DIC n others who passed in 1968 denial of his service connection.my mother passed in 2024 90 yrs old. I was accepted as the substitute claiment as their son . The BVA judge granted 2026 service connected death back to 1968 death For A/A and DIC. I filed a HLR ( CUR) because of my father denial in 1964 the Judge ruling made him100% Service connected.. Jacob Drost the supervisor called yelling at me telling me I will never get the benefits( the Judge granted me) And they wouldn't represent me in this frivolous HLR , telling me to shut up there's nothing I can say and he didn't want to hear nothing I had to say., I reported him actions to the Inspector general of the VA,, he called back and stated he is the one who handles the complaint. Smirking. .They Ties cut never answer the phone in Cleveland DAV and never return calls. But he used the VA1000 line to get through to me these times.Ties Cut. According the the VA regulations I have a great chance in getting an Early effective date. And because I'm a recognized claimant and son by the VA and BVA, I am eligible for all benefits. Disrespectful arrogant and working for the VA