Michael had been meaning to complete his Veterans Affairs Canada paperwork. Retirement, however, had brought new responsibilities, and the forms kept slipping down his to-do list.
After a military career spent flying, teaching and working in operations and intelligence, he was now building businesses. He wanted someone who could manage the practical details of the claims process, keep things moving and let him know when his attention was needed.
A career built around flying
Michael’s interest in flying began long before he joined the military. His father took him to airshows, and he started flying as a teenager. Even after completing a business degree and working in advertising, flying kept drawing him back.
His military career included Sea King helicopter operations, pilot instruction, C-130 transport, and search and rescue. He deployed to several parts of the world before later moving into staff and intelligence roles.
Search and rescue brought particular demands: late-night calls, difficult weather and missions that could continue until morning. Looking back, Michael speaks with respect for the crews doing that work and the physical and mental demands that came with it.
When he retired in 2022, he already had a real estate business underway. A technology venture with family members soon followed. His next chapter was already busy.
A conversation at a boat show
Michael first met 270 West at a boat show in Halifax, where he spoke with Barry. At the time, he knew little about the company or the support it could provide.
About a month later, he arranged a meeting with Barry and Kym. The conversation was relaxed and informal. They asked about his military service, his health and the concerns he had been putting off, while giving him space to decide whether he wanted to move forward.
“There was, like, no pressure on me.”
Michael initially came to the meeting thinking primarily about his hearing. As the conversation continued, other service-related health concerns emerged. He began to understand that there were claims and benefits worth exploring that he had not had the time to investigate on his own.
Taking a closer look at injuries he had learned to live with
Some of Michael’s injuries had become part of everyday life. A knee injured during training had never fully stopped bothering him. He had also learned to manage ongoing back and hip problems.
270 West arranged appointments with health-care professionals who could assess those conditions and provide the medical documentation needed to support his claims.
An audiology assessment also helped Michael look differently at his tinnitus. Questions about following conversations in crowded spaces and hearing over background noise helped him identify effects he had gradually become accustomed to living with.
Having the appointments arranged and the required documentation organized removed much of the administrative burden.
“They had my back.”
Not every claim resulted in the decision Michael had hoped for. His hearing-loss claim was not approved. Several other claims were approved, while additional claims were still being assessed when we spoke with him.
Michael also had friends who had prepared and filed their VAC claims on their own. Comparing their experiences and outcomes with his own reinforced the value he saw in having experienced support behind the preparation of his claims.
“One of the first things I did was call up two of my buddies who had done their process themselves and compared notes, and I’d done far better than those guys did.”
For Michael, the difference was not simply having someone complete paperwork. It was having people who understood the VAC system, knew what questions to ask and could help bring the right information together while keeping him involved in the decisions.
Communication that suited the way he worked
Michael did not want an update every time something changed in his file. He preferred concise summaries that told him what had happened, what it meant and whether he needed to do anything next.
270 West adjusted its communication to match that preference.
“Kym made sure that I was in the loop on everything and what it was going to mean.”
Through the claims process, Michael also learned about benefits connected to his approved conditions, including treatment coverage for expenses he had previously been paying himself.
He later connected with a Veterans Affairs Canada caseworker, an experience he describes positively.
“They opened the door to Veterans Affairs for me.”
For Michael, the value of working with 270 West was practical. Medical appointments were arranged, documentation was organized, questions were followed up and updates were explained clearly. He had experienced support navigating a process he had been putting off, while still remaining involved in what was being prepared on his behalf.
Instead of allowing his Veterans Affairs paperwork to keep slipping down his to-do list, Michael could focus on the businesses and responsibilities already filling his time, knowing someone was helping keep the details moving.