For Sammy Valez Vander Beke, navigating the VA disability system felt overwhelming until he connected with Veteran Coach Henry Sosa. That’s when something shifted. “When I got clear guidance and direction from Coach Henry—like, this is what we’re going to do to accomplish what you need to increase your rating—it was very inspirational because I knew this was real,” he said. “It felt like a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Sammy describes Henry’s support as a turning point, especially after years of uncertainty. “I knew this was going to be what I needed to get the percentage that I deserve,” he shared.
A significant part of that change came from addressing mental health symptoms Sammy hadn’t fully connected to his claim. He explained that Henry walked him through the checklist of what he was experiencing. “He said, ‘Hey, you’ve got PTSD. Let’s not focus more on the physical side, but let’s focus more on the mental side of what can be accomplished here, because it’s in your records.'”
Sammy had previously gone to counseling and been diagnosed and treated for anxiety and depression—information that had been in his file all along. Henry helped him see how these documented conditions could support his claim. “Through his experience, there’s no reason why we could not get the overall rating that I got with being 100% permanently disabled,” Sammy said. “It’s all there. We just need to go through the steps to make sure this happens.”
As he reflected on the process, Sammy acknowledged a hesitation many veterans share. “A lot of veterans deep down inside are just fearing going through the process and possibly getting rejected or not getting the outcome they want,” he said. “Maybe that’s one of the big reasons why they hesitate on pursuing a claim through the VA.”
For Sammy, pushing through that hesitation—and having the right guidance—changed everything. “Coach Henry was a big part of that, and I’m just really thankful that he’s been here for me. It’s been life-changing.”
