Entitlement - Veterans Compensation Benefits Claims

1,281 questions in this forum

1. Establishing Service Connection For Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation

   Establishing Service Connection for Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation: There are two types of service-connection Direct and Presumptive There are three requirements to establish Direct service-connection for residuals of injuries and diseases; In-service documentation of an injury or disease. A current condition with a medical diagnosis. "Before November 2000, when the VCAA was enacted, veterans had to obtain a medical diagnosis of a current disability on their own. The VA was not generally obligated to help them in obtaining this medical evidence. Some veterans, who could not afford a private doctor, were placed in a no win situation…

   Asked by Tbird, August 11, 2008

   0 votes
   1 answer
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3. Chapter 35 for Spouse. How does that affect my disability payment?

   Two of my kids are already using Chapter 35 for college, so I know that I lost the extra disability compensation for the kids out of my disability payments. My question is if my wife uses the Chapter 35 for college, does that mean my disability payment will decrease as well? If so, how much?

   Asked by JaeT.21, February 18

   • chapter 35
   • disability comp
   • spouse benefits
   • spouse
   0 votes
   1 answer
4. VA Retroactive pay

   Hello, I have a claim that was closed last week and i got back pay before i actually recieve my rating but then my rating got updated and it matched the back pay. My issue that i have now is that my claim was closed and i have back pay pending again but this time is seems that that pending back pay and the pay i have already recieved is more than what my closed rating is. So will my closed claim update to a higher rating or is it possible that the va had messed up and is giving me to much?

   Asked by Turks, February 14

   0 votes
   6 answers
5. Tremor presumtive

   I have had hand tremors for a few years now (i don't remember exactly when they started). I was recently told by a doctor to see a neurologist, which I did last month. I was told that she believes they are physiologic tremor. With no known history tremors in my family and no abnormalities in my blood work, I am curious if this is a condition that I could apply for as presumptive to service in the gulf war? I did 3 deployments to Iraq (2005,2006, 2007), I am also already presumptively service for IBS from gulf war service. Has anyone had experience with this?

   Asked by SPO, February 5

   • presumptive
   0 votes
   3 answers
6. Backdated LOD's

   Hello all, I injured my back on 2018. The doctor who examined me did a quick "movement" check or a similar exam that the VA does for limitation of motion. I was in pain the whole time and he prescribed me muscle relaxers and sent me out the door. I asked for an X - ray and MRI and I was denied. This injury due to negligence or anything like that. I was performing a assisted lift with a buddy and he dropped his side of the weight we were carrying (several hundred pounds) I had an informal LOD investigation and received a LOD for lumbosacral strain because that is what the Doctor diagnosed. This was all effective service connected in August 2019. In Februar…

   Asked by Tiago, January 24

   • lod
   0 votes
   2 answers
7. Depression Secondary To Hearing Loss

   I went to the va mental health a year ago. told them I was depressed because of my hearing loss. Made me do all kinds of testing. my GAF score was an 55. On axis 1 the doctor wrote depression secondary to medical condition plausable. Do I have a shot at a depression claim?

   Asked by killemall, June 10, 2013

   0 votes
   29 answers
8. 100% Disabled

   My husband is 100% permanent disabled. He is 72 years old and also gets retirement and social security and I work full time. He has a rare lung condition called pulmonary Fibrosis. He has been in the hospital for 3 weeks and is still not stable enough to come home. But when he does get to come home I would like to know if he would be eligible for home healthcare? And if so where do I go to apply? income guidelines? I hope to be able to keep him home and take care of him but what if he will need to go to a facility because he can't walk? Would he be eligible for a VA Hospital?

   Asked by Jmgonzales1966, January 4

   • home healthcare
   0 votes
   15 answers
9. Smc and tbi question

   Hi I am a army vet that was recently awarded 100% for paranoid scitzophrenia with traumatic brain injury ....as a single rating anyone ever herd of this ...it says on the award letter that symptoms overlap they can’t differentiate the two ...I don’t know if I should be happy or pissed any thoughts

   Asked by Crazy section 8, December 1, 2020

   0 votes
   7 answers
10. Am I actually service-connected for this or is this a CUE?

    I've got a question concerning my ratings code sheet. The info enclosed below is depicted on all three of my Ratings Code Sheet (Original - 2013; IU - 2019 & PTSD RFE 2020). Does this mean that I'm service-connected for Sinusitis at 0% or is this just a VARO mistake (maybe a CUE)? Is there any additional action that I should or could take? Thanks in advance.

    Asked by IGottaKnow, December 12, 2020

    • code sheet
    • cue
    0 votes
    3 answers
11. avoiding reduction

    I am mildly worried about the VA wanting to reduce my IBS rating at some point in the future, which is currently at 30% . I went to see my VA PCP and he noted that I had "dramatic improvement" when he asked me how it was. This is not what I told him. I said it was a little better at the moment, but it is absolutely not dramatic. I want use these records, which contain information on another condition, when I submit for another claim, but I don't want the VA to think this issue is getting better, I just happen to be on a short stretch where it wasn't at its worst. Should I avoid submitting these records now, or just send a message and/or get another appointment when …

    Asked by SPO, December 17, 2020

    • reduced rating
    0 votes
    11 answers
12. Smc and tbi question

    Hi I am a army vet that was recently awarded 100% for paranoid scitzophrenia with traumatic brain injury ....as a single rating anyone ever herd of this ...it says on the award letter that symptoms overlap they can’t differentiate the two ...I don’t know if I should be happy or pissed any thoughts

    Asked by Crazy section 8, December 1, 2020

    0 votes
    6 answers
13. I need help with what to do with my child's education costs

    Hi, Regarding education benefits retroactive for my child. (retroactive 100% P&T after she had filled out all the VA education benefits forms with the va during her schooling before my appeal awards for 100% P&T). I am trying to figure out how to state my problem and not mess it up in explanation. Those that have had experience with this and navigated successfully I hope can figure it out. I was only at 50% VA disability (I was filing disagreements and permanently disabled, with SSDI, but not the 100% benefits for dependents) while my daughter went to school, she was born 1992. She graduated high school 2010. Went to community college…

    Asked by retiredat44, November 19, 2020

    • child education benefits
    0 votes
    3 answers
14. Chapter 35 and DIC

    I was recently given 100% P&T and started filling out the Chapter 35 benefits for my wife as she has wished to continue her education, however i noticed that it says "If you are over the age of 18 once you receive either the DEA or FRY SCHOLARSHIP benefits, you will no longer receive payments of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) or Pension and you may no longer be claimed as a dependent in a Compensation claim. If you are under the age of 18, on your 18th birthday you will lose eligibility for DIC or Pension payments and you will no longer be claimed as a dependent in a Compensation claim. CAREFULLY READ THE INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS ON PAGE 6, ITEM 22 BE…

    Asked by USMC_VET, November 18, 2020

    • chapter 35
    • dic
    0 votes
    5 answers
15. Hearing loss increase

    In 1996 I was SC for hearing loss 0% and Tinnitus 10%; after an ENT consult I was fitted with my first pair of VA issued hearing aids. Since that time I’ve gotten a new pair every 3-5 years with several adjustments at the walk-in clinic with each pair. I keep telling them my hearing is getting worse but it never gets to a compensation level. A few months ago The VA audiologist is concerned over a sudden drop in my R ear conductive hearing and referred me to ENT. They can’t schedule me for several months so they referred me to a non VA ENT. (This was my 2nd visit to an ENT???) I was dx with Cholesteatoma in both ears, surgery is my only option, besides allowing it to gro…

    Asked by x020574, October 19, 2019

    0 votes
    6 answers
16. SMC-S and SMC-K

    Hi Everyone! I want to thank you all for the great job, that you are doing. Your "wealth" of information has help me a great deal, getting claims approved, which I am throughly grateful for. I have a question. I am receiving SMC-S as a result of 100% diaphragmatic paralysis, 80% for vision, and several other disabilities. My eye doctor, who used to work at the VA informed me, that I am now "legally blind" in my left eye, and that i meet the criteria for SMC-K. He has written two letters stating just that. My VSO says that SMC-K, is included in the SMC-S. My eye doctor says "hell no", that SMC-K is separate from SMC-S, and that I meet the criteria the VA established…

    Asked by Jimmer, October 3, 2020

    • confused!
    0 votes
    6 answers