Moe

I have no problem at my VAMC. My Doc just requires the Doctors notes to see why the meds are prescribed.

Three years ago I went to see about SSDI and was told I had to have worked five of the last ten years. I hadn't so they told me to hit the road. When I applied for regular SS I received extra credit for service time.

When I started this thread I said I would regret it. This seems to be too emotional a subject for most people and I understand that. I certainly don't suggest that people don't deserve compensation. Just the opposite. The majority will never receive close to what they deserve for their pain and suffering and much too late. Joy and relief should be the feeling when the "envelope" arrives. I know because I have experienced it myself. Then it is time to use the retro to try and get ones life back in order after years of going without and losing a lot their possessions. That is what it is for.. it is not the lottery but just compensation earned by suffering painful injuries. What I was trying to say but apparently failed to do is the ones that don't need it do a diservice, in my opinion, to those who have suffered monetarily and painfully for years waiting on their just compensation when they act like they won the lottery. Yes, it is their money and they can do with it whatever they want. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth when they talk about all the expensive toys they can go buy, rather than like most, have to use it to put together a shattered life. I just don't feel they need to be reminded of that fact. This is simply my opinion and if I have still failed to articulate my thoughts you will just have to, as one poster suggested, stone me. I am a big boy and can handle it. Last but not least, I spent all of my young adult life in uniform. I have great respect for all Veterans, disabled Vets in particular. If I have once again failed to get my thought across I'll just leave it be..

I will be stoned for what I am about to say but I have never won a popularity contest. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when people act like they have won the lottery when granted a disability award. This is evident at all vet forums not just here. I know it is a long and torturous process from personal experience and everyone should feel relief and joy at finally getting the "Envelope." But when folks say "now I can go buy this and that toy" it doesn't sound right. Almost like they beat the system out of something... I am rated 70% and feel like it is simply compensation for the loss of physical ability to perform meaningful employment. It defrays the cost of having things done that I can no longer do myself. I will not seek IU because in my case 70% is adequate compensation. This not meant to suggest that others do or feel the same, I encourage everyone that feels he/she deserves IU to pursue it. I will even assist if I can. Guess being retired military gives me a different slant. Also, I am not painting with a broad brush. Not all, not even most fit the description I have drawn. But when I see it I get a bad feeling.. This is just MHO and I probably will regret saying it, but had to get it off my chest..

This is long but I think important. It certainly isn't out in the mainstream. I just got it from Col Dan's news letter. It is worth subscribing to as he has a lot of contacts for inside info.. From: Robert P. Walsh [mailto:rpwalsh@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 11:45 AM To: Roger Kehrier (rlkehrier@hotmail.com) Cc: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (info@iava.org) Subject: Emailing: areyoureallyaveteran Military.com article from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org <http://www.vawatchdog.org> Are You Really a Veteran? Rep. Steve Buyer is redefining your status Opinion by Larry Scott Are you really a veteran? Better check it fast. I did. I've got my DD-214 that says "honorable discharge." I've got the red-white-and-blue VA identification card complete with lousy picture and the "service-connected" rating. So, I must be a veteran. Right? Not if Rep. Steve Buyer <http://stevebuyer.house.gov/> (R-IN), chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, has his way. Buyer is trying to rewrite the definition of "veteran" in a cold and calculated manner that could cost millions of veterans their benefits. Buyer recently won a political tug-of-war and replaced Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) as chairman of HVAC. Smith was known as a true friend of veterans and often broke ranks with his party to forward legislation favorable to the veteran community. Not so with Buyer. In a recent interview <http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/03/12/100bus_philpott001.cfm> with journalist Tom Philpott, Buyer stated, "While some veterans' organizations like to create a theme, that `A veteran is a veteran [and] there is no difference,' I disagree." Shortly after winning the chair at HVAC Buyer said, "Some of the veterans service organizations, they are having this belief that everyone should have open access to the VA system, when in fact I believe that the VA system should follow its core constituency and the intent of Congress when we laid out our priorities, and that was in fact to take care of our disabled and indigent veterans first." (This subject was covered in my Military.com article <http://www.military.com/Opinions/0,,Scott_Index,00.html> on "Welfarizing the VA.") So, what is happening here? Buyer is trying to redefine "veteran" and in so-doing reshape benefit programs to meet his new definition. In short, this means fewer benefits for fewer veterans. The two keys here are Buyer's references to "intent of Congress" and "core constituency." By rejecting the "intent of Congress" when they passed legislation defining benefits and eligibility Buyer is telling us Congress was wrong and he is going to change it. By referring to the VA's "core constituency" as "disabled and indigent veterans" he is eliminating veterans who do not fall into those categories. This is just plain absurd! And it is wrong! As Buyer continues to redefine who is really a veteran here is some of what's at stake. The bipartisan Veterans' <http://speaker.house.gov/library/retirement/040325veterans.shtml> Disability Benefits Commission will hold its first meeting soon. The Commission will review whether Congress went too far by allowing concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability payments. Also on the table is a change in the way disability ratings are determined and a restructuring of the definition of "service-connected." Buyer says he cannot guarantee veterans who currently have disability ratings that they will be exempt from Commission findings. Buyer also wants the Commission to consider offering lump-sum payments to veterans with current disability ratings of 20 percent or less. These "cash now" settlements would deny veterans the right to pursue any compensation claims in the future. A veteran with a progressive condition, one that causes degenerative disability with age, would have no right to further compensation. What's really on the table when it comes to redefining a veteran and available benefits? Buyer says, "I think everything should be on the table." Everything! Buyer is even suggesting that service-connected disabilities be combat-related only. This would eliminate treatment and compensation for injuries received while on active duty but not directly related to combat. Buyer also took aim at the veterans' service organizations saying their view that all veterans should have access to VA healthcare abandons values like duty and sacrifice. He chided the service organizations for using inflammatory rhetoric. "I asked them to be very careful with the words they select because.they have an impact all over the country. It is upsetting to me when someone refers to veterans as whiney," Buyer stated. Well, there you have it in his own words. The chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee calling our service organizations "whiney" and accusing them of abandoning values like duty and sacrifice. It would be easy to dismiss Buyer as part of some lunatic fringe on Capital Hill trying to stick it to veterans. But that is not the case. Buyer speaks for the majority in Congress who speak for the current administration. And, Buyer is the one guilty of inflammatory rhetoric. Demeaning our service organizations and their attempts to preserve veterans' benefits is a slap in the face to ALL veterans. Our service organizations have, in the past, often done too little too late. Sometimes we wondered where they were as the VA budget took hit after hit. Now they find themselves in the position of doing what they were meant to do and being castigated for it. Fellow veterans, if this is not a call to action, I don't know what is. We cannot allow Congress to redefine who is a veteran. We cannot allow Congress to restructure veterans' benefits and reshape the definitions of disability. We have worked too hard for too long to receive proper recognition for our service to our country. It's time to put severe pressure on Congress. Recently 400 disabled <http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5497> veterans did just that when they jammed http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5497 Committee hearings, booing and jeering Buyer and others who want to cut benefits. This new level of activism must increase if we are to preserve our benefits and guarantee a properly funded VA for the veterans of the future. In 1789 President George <http://www.juliacarson.house.gov/statements2.cfm?id=160> Washington said, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars and how they were treated and appreciated by this country." If we do nothing now we will only be able to say that we did nothing. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/

Sorry, there has to be a service connection.

Shouldn't Gary's post be post #1??

Just got a pair from the VAMC at Alexandria, La. Best I've ever had and got them in about two weeks.

At another Veterans site they are predicting over 3%. As high as 3.8%.

Good idea about bringing a paper with talking points with you to the hearing. They are used by the best and brightest and will keep you on track and focused. You only get one shot so don't blow it. I would go over all points with my rep prior to the hearing.. Good luck.

I have had one and what Pete said is true..

Found this recent article regarding the back pay issue. Getting a little clearer but not specific enough. Since I just got an increase with retro to may 2001 and am retired military it sounds encouraging. DFAS has always said they didn't pay us retro. This and other recent articles seem to say different. Would be nice.. http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,109299,00.html

Most of my ratings have come as a result of BVA decisions. My most recent resulted in a 20% increase. It was a video session with a suit in DC. It was conducted in New Orleans which is about a 200 mile drive. It was very informal and when he was done asking questions he said it was my turn and to take as much time as I needed. Since I live with my disabilities 24/7 it wasn't hard to relate how they impacted on my quality of life. Like I said, it was very informal and he didn't talk down to me. I also had my American Legion rep with me. The BVA will have your C-file before hand with all pertinent info. The bad news is it was almost a year before I got the decision. It was made retro to 2001 but I am retired military so no back pay. I can file amended tax returns for three years but don't know if I want stir up the beast. Last, go for it. Don't miss an opportunity to present your case at the BVA level. They seem to favor the vet more times than not.

This was in the latest DFAS newsletter. Potential Retroactive Pay Due as a Result of CRSC/CRDP Potential retroactive pay is due for approximately 100,000 retiree accounts. The accounts affected are those entitled to Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) or Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and have been awarded a retroactive increase in a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) rated disability. DFAS has developed procedures with the DVA to provide retirees full entitlement to both DVA compensation and CRSC or CRDP for the DVA retroactive award determination period. We have worked closely with the DVA to resolve logistical issues required to make the payments. Payments will begin to those eligible in September 2006. The method to support the large number of eligible retirees through the payment process required may take up to 12 months to complete. Until the systems are enhanced, manual calculations are being made to determine the appropriate payment amounts for those retirees entitled to additional money from DFAS. Please be patient as we work through the process with the DVA and simultaneously enhance our systems to calculate these payments automatically. In some instances, recipients may be entitled to additional compensation from the DVA. In such instances, the DVA is responsible for the payments and will notify the affected retirees. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

I got this in my DFAS newsletter the other day. I guess we would have to pay taxes on any back pay since monies received from DFAS is taxable income.. Potential Retroactive Pay Due as a Result of CRSC/CRDP Potential retroactive pay is due for approximately 100,000 retiree accounts. The accounts affected are those entitled to Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) or Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and have been awarded a retroactive increase in a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) rated disability. DFAS has developed procedures with the DVA to provide retirees full entitlement to both DVA compensation and CRSC or CRDP for the DVA retroactive award determination period. We have worked closely with the DVA to resolve logistical issues required to make the payments. Payments will begin to those eligible in September 2006. The method to support the large number of eligible retirees through the payment process required may take up to 12 months to complete. Until the systems are enhanced, manual calculations are being made to determine the appropriate payment amounts for those retirees entitled to additional money from DFAS. Please be patient as we work through the process with the DVA and simultaneously enhance our systems to calculate these payments automatically. In some instances, recipients may be entitled to additional compensation from the DVA. In such instances, the DVA is responsible for the payments and will notify the affected retirees. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.