I’m a Navy vet. Paperwork scares me more than choppy seas. So when my knee got worse and my claim stalled, I walked into the VA office in San Antonio with a folder that looked like a sandwich. Messy. Overstuffed. A little sad.
That’s where I met Ashley Sanchez.
You know what? I walked out calmer than I walked in. Not perfect. Not fixed in a day. But better.
The first meeting: messy folder, steady help
Ashley greeted me with a small smile and said, “Let’s sort this.” Simple words, but I felt seen. It was July, hot as a skillet, and the waiting room was packed. I waited about 30 minutes. Not great. But normal.
She asked about my knee, my old MOS, and my last denial letter. She didn’t rush me. She didn’t talk down to me either. Big win.
Then she made a plan. One step at a time.
- Start a new supplemental claim on VA Form 20-0995
- Flag new medical notes from my last MRI
- Ask my old squad buddy for a short statement (aka a buddy letter)
She typed as we talked. I could see the actions right there on the screen. Clear is kind.
Little things that mattered more than I expected
Here’s the thing. It wasn’t magic. It was small, steady moves.
- She set me up on My HealtheVet and showed me where the “Blue Button” lives—turns out you can pull up your VA medical records anytime.
- She explained Priority Groups in plain talk. I land in Group 2 now. It affects co-pays. Good to know.
- She printed a simple checklist. Deadlines. Docs. Who does what.
- She spoke Spanish to my mom on speaker when my mom called mid-visit. My mom relaxed. So did I.
Feels tiny, right? But when your brain is foggy from pain and forms, tiny feels huge. If you need a quick dose of perspective and purpose, the tributes on Freedom Remembered can remind you why every claim and appointment is worth the effort.
Real outcomes, not fairy tales
Two months later, my rating went from 60% to 80%. It took 11 weeks to see the back pay hit. She told me it might take 8–12 weeks. That was spot on.
Talking money felt weird at first. I kept mumbling that I’d be happy with whatever bump the VA would allow. Ashley stopped me and said, “Know your worth and claim it.” That line reminded me of an eye-opening rundown on What's Your Price? that explains why putting a concrete dollar figure on your value isn’t greedy—it’s strategic, and the same mindset helps when you’re fighting for the benefits you’ve earned.
She also helped me push a Community Care referral for physical therapy when the VA clinic was booked out. It wasn’t fast. It was fair. I got my first outside PT session in about four weeks.
And travel pay? I kept messing it up on the kiosk. Ashley stood there and walked me through it once. Now I can do it on my own. I even taught another vet in line last week. Felt good.
The hiccups and the fix
It wasn’t perfect. The office phone kicked me to voicemail twice. She called me back the next day, but I wish the system worked better. Also, one letter from the VA had my address wrong. She caught it, filed a correction, and re-sent proof to me by email. Annoying? Yep. Solved? Also yep.
When the PACT Act came up
I served near burn pits for a stretch. Ashley asked me the toxic exposure questions I usually dodge. She kept it straight. No drama. We added those notes. I booked a screening. I wouldn’t have done it on my own. That matters.
How to work with Ashley (and make life easier)
If you go see her, bring this stuff. It speeds things up.
- DD214 (make a clean copy)
- Any private medical records on a thumb drive or printed
- Denial letters (all pages, even the boring ones)
- Short buddy statements with dates and plain facts
One more tip: use a simple binder with tabs. Claims. Appointments. Letters. Receipts. Mine is blue. It lives by the door. I feel less lost.
For an even deeper dive into this prep work—complete with downloadable checklists and screenshots—you can skim my full guide to meeting with Ashley Sanchez at Veterans Affairs.
Who she’s great for
- New vets who feel stuck on step one
- Caregivers who need clear steps, not jargon
- Spanish speakers who want to ask real questions in their own words
- Anyone who’s overwhelmed by forms, timelines, and portals
What could be better
The office needs more staff. The wait gets long at lunch. An online scheduler with text reminders would save a ton of calls. And a direct line that doesn’t loop to nowhere? Please.
If the wait drives you to seek a little stress relief afterward, Houston’s Montrose neighborhood is a popular spot for laid-back bars and last-minute meetups; you can scan the local classifieds on Backpage Montrose to find live-music listings, casual hangouts, and other low-key ways to decompress without adding more paperwork to your day.
My bottom line
Ashley Sanchez shows up. She listens. She explains. She follows through. Not flashy. Not fast every time. But steady, which is what I needed.
Would I go back to her? Yes. I already did.
I’d call it a strong 4.5 out of 5. If the phone system behaved and the wait times eased up, it would be a clean 5.
If you’re staring at a stack of VA forms that makes your chest tight, sit down with Ashley. Bring your folder. Bring your questions. You’ll walk out with a plan—and a little more air in your lungs.