Jaluluah11B

I called Peggy and did my "5103 Notice Response" over the phone. It is 100% out of my hands now. They will make a decision on an increase to 100% or TDIU based solely on me being granted SSDI for my mental health condition. I don't know if they will schedule another C&P. I have never seen exactly what was written in my SSA decision. They denied me once then I won on my first appeal. I called for any paperwork they could give me and it just has down 1 item = 12.06 Mental Health Anxiety Related Disorder.

Today a new claim was initiated on Ebenefits! Claim date 6/16/2014 Gathering evidence PTSD, Unemployability What do we still need from you? Automated 5103 Notice Response ( This is just going to be a letter sent asking me if I have anything else to submit right? ) I looked at my NOD status and it is still in stage 1. So I have a NOD pending while also getting my 70% reevaluated for an increase due to my new additional evidence (SSDI) ? Regardless I am just happy it finally shows up in Ebenefits. Makes me feel like it's actually moving towards some decision.

I am almost positive that my SSDI is solid enough evidence to eventually raise my rating. I am just not sure if they will grant it right away or deny me and drag out a multiple years long appeal. Either way I should have an answer within the next couple months since it's a very simple 1 contention claim with 1 piece of additional evidence.

70% PTSD, SSDI I was rated 70% last year and sent in my application for TDIU. I was given another C&P and was denied an increase. I then decided to submit a NOD. While my NOD was sitting in limbo on stage 1 on ebenefits for months I was approved for SSDI based on my service connected mental health disorder. I called Peggy and they said I can submit my "New Evidence" and ask them to reconsider my denied increase. I put together a pretty simple request to reopen my denied claim and consider my new evidence. It has been exactly 40 days since they received my request at the regional office. I am either on the verge of massive success and quality of life or I am about to be punched in the gut. Either way there is nothing I can do about it now besides wait.

Yep down in Florida

Down in Florida for me also.

Thank you. I have a sit down with that outside the VA doctor in 2 hours. I'm not feeling great about having to go through with this. Ugh. I'm afraid after I pour my heart out and tell the full truth about what I'm dealing with that her final assestment and notes she will send to me will say nothing about my condition how it relates to ability to work. So I will have spent xxx amount of money on nothing but a medication recommendation. Guess we will see.

Received the official packet today. Denial of increase and denied TDIU. I have set up an appointment with a Mental health specialist outside the VA for this Saturday who is going to evaluate, diagnose, and send me a print out of her eval and recommendations. Question - Do I need to find someone with a certain specific title to do my eval? Like md, phd, psychiatrist, psychologist? There are a lot on my area and everyone has a different title. The Dr who is seeing me on Saturday is a licensed certified social worker who specializes in Anxiety, Bi-Polar, PTSD. Her website has a ton of stuff she does on top of that. One line says "Referrals to Social Security Disability". Dr. ____ ____. MA, MSW, LCSW, Ed. D.

Congrats!

Claim closed and finished. Letter in the mail. No updated AB8. Looks like a total denial. Ugh.

Like a psychiatrist outside the VA? I am living at the poverty line with my 70% pay so I don't have enough money to afford any outside help. I see my regular psychiatrist once a month but I can't just come out and say "hey please put in your notes that I can't work" She knows about and talks to me about my extreme social anxiety and social phobia that my PTSD has evolved into and how it's influences everything I do. **sighs** I just don't know which way to go with this.

Well I have the copy. And she has in her final notes my TDIU denial. " Based on the veteran's PTSD alone, veteran should be able to obtain and maintain gainful employment in the sedentary and physical sectors". I just don't get how she made that determination given the questions asked. What books do you read? What movies do you watch? Do you have a girlfriend? What is the current relationship with your parents and family? ( no and no relationship ) That was the entire C&P. It took 5 min.

Thank you. Yeah I was rated 70% on my original claim but from looking at my 2nd C&P notes for the inferred TDIU it looks like this issue will be denied. Unless they increase the PTSD to 100 then it will be a flat out denial on both fronts. I'm very frustrated by that since the C&P was a 5min Q&A about what movies and books I like to read and other general questions. There was nothing related to how my current condition hinders my ability to work. So it feels like a general systematic denial which I will have to appeal. I called Peggy and they said the decision has been made and they are crossings T's dotting I's and will send the decision packet out soon.

I know how you feel. I'm getting ready to put an appeal together and just started researching what steps to take next. I don't have a VSO so maybe I need to get one and discuss it with him. If you have a VSO he will know exactly what to do I'm sure.

Claim moved to "Pending decision approval" Moving really fast now.