VA Disability Claims Research

29,405 questions in this forum

1. Buddy Finder

   Veterans have asked about "buddy letters" sometimes to document an in service event which may have happened to them in miiltary service. This could be very useful to locate someone you served with, but are unable to locate. Your military friend could well have been a witness, for example to exposure to burn pitts, toxic substances, sexual assault, or many other things, that, if documented, could result in VA benefits. Your buddy COULD testify as an eye witness of an event (in sevice) he or she observed. (in a buddy letter). Remember the Caluza elements? Diagnosis, IN service event, and nexus. There cant be a nexus linking an in service event to your cur…

   Asked by broncovet, April 11

   0 votes
   0 answers
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3. SMC-S What does Separate and Distinct mean?

   When I first posted a question about SMC S it was very similar to this. However, in the examples I find in the code they're indicating that if one has lost a leg, they cannot also be compensated for losing the foot. My case is not like that. I have 6 distinct disabilities that are separately rated and affect different parts of my body. 1. brain damage with acquired psych disability 70% plus TDIU; 2. OSA and insomnia 50%; 3. intestinal conditions 30% 4. left leg neuropathy 20%; 5. right leg neuropathy 20%; 6. anal leakage 10%. Due in part to my lack of knowledge and understanding when I drafted the claim without help in 2014, and complete ignorance of SMC the…

   Asked by Otrgypsy, April 10

   0 votes
   3 answers
4. RATED 100% P&T IS THERE ANYTHING TO GAIN BY INCREASING RATINGS

   I am rated 100% P&T. I need to appeal because without medical evidence they claimed all my disabilities entitle me to TDIU. It can not be legitimately disputed that I am entitled to TDIU based on only the brain injury and its effects. No Doc addressing the TDIU mentioned anything but the brain injury. The raters through in everything else on their own. The medical evidence clearly entitles me to an increase in the Sleep disorders rating and/or a separate rating for chronic fatigue syndrome. But would that be off any tangible benefit to me? I believe if I make it a one issue appeal - entitlement to SMC S, I stand a better chance of both a quicker result and p…

   Asked by Otrgypsy, April 10

   0 votes
   3 answers
5. REGULATIONS PROHIBITING REFERENCE TO UNNECESSARY DISABILITIES WHEN GRANTING TDIU????

   Only two VA Neurologists authored C&P reports denying my CNS issues. Before the the last BVA decision one VA Neuro reversed her opinion and said my CNS issues were service connected (she never disputed unemployability for CNS reasons). The 2nd VA Neuro scumbag (LHI) issued a blanket retraction and admitted service connection (to protect his license). 4-5 others issued reports and med opinions saying I am unemployable strictly for CNS reasons (and resulting psych issues). Are there any VA regulations that prohibit a rater from making unnecessary reference to different disabilities, when they award TDIU? THE POINT IS I'M ENTITLED TO A FINDING OF TDIU BASED SOLEY O…

   Asked by Otrgypsy, April 4

   • regs
   • smc s
   0 votes
   9 answers
6. 2018 Farm Bill, CBD, CBG

   According to this site, the 2018 Farm Bill "removed hemp" from the legal defination of "cannibis" if it contains less than .3 percent THC. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cgb-vs-cbd#psychoactive Further, both CBD and CBG can have health benefits, for Veterans and others. Neither CBD nor CBG "get you high". CBG, on the other hand, can help with nuero disorders: According to my research, unfortunately, there are unscrupulous companies with "watered down" or even "fake" cbd oil, and you would not get their health benefits. As far as Marijuana, even tho many states have declared it "legal", at the VA its still classed as an ille…

   Asked by broncovet, February 22, 2023

   • cbd cbg
   0 votes
   4 answers
7. TDIU Vs Combined Ratings

   I was awarded 80% combined rating in Oct 2018. I was awarded TDIU P&T on Nov 17, 2021 granted by the Veterans Board of Appeals. The San Diego Regional Office said nI am not 100% but 80% but the VA is paying me at the 100% ratings. They keep my ratings listed at 80% when I log on and on E-Benefits there is no mentioning of the TDIU ratings. They keep showing my 80% combined ratings that is hurting me from getting what a 100% veteran is entitled to get like free vehicle registration and property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans. I wrote the IG on two occasions and he told me to take it to the regional office and let them correct it, and the second t…

   Asked by Ikey, April 5

   0 votes
   8 answers
8. VARO Processed An Incomplete Application

   Back in May of 2020 I logged in to VA.gov and initiated a claim for disability compensation and medical benefits for multiple conditions. However, i never completed the application and had never provided any kind of signature. I saved the incomplete application establishing an intent to file a claim under 38 CFR 3.155(1)(b)(i). I also submitted multiple FOIA’s requesting access to my C-file and have had no success in obtaining that. In August 2023, i received a correspondence letter from the VARO stating that a defect on the VA.gov platform had affected my previous application submission(which is a lie because I never signed or attempted to submit it). They also stated th…

   Asked by SlutherVandrose, April 8

   0 votes
   1 answer
9. ANYONE GOT CITATIONS THAT SAY FAILURE TO MAXIMIZE IS CUE

   Thanks to an anwer to my latest questions I just woke up to how the RO screwed me out of SMC-S. Due to my CNS issues (and all the boiler plate bullshit they fill decisions with), I never realized until tonight that they granted my claim for TDIU based in part on their verbal garbage saying that TDIU is based on my 70% CNS and all my other disabilities. The only problem with this is I have 4 or 5 separate legitimate medical opinions saying the CNS disability renders me unemployable. It is true the other disabilites render me further unemployable, But none of those are rated above 50%. One or two medical opinions medical say that my sleep disorders with or without chronic …

   Asked by Otrgypsy, April 4

   0 votes
   9 answers
10. How long from a CAVC panel hearing to decision?

    How long is the longest case you know of from a Hearing at the CAVC to a decision from the CAVC. This is the link to the hearing of Haskell v McDonough, 22-1018 on August 15,2023: haskell v mcdonough - Search Images (bing.com) The case, as suggested in the hearing, is now Laska v McDonough 22-1018 on the CAVC Docket search. There has been no actions since 11/23/2023 when Ms. Margaret Laska was substituted for Herbert N. Haskell in the original filing following Mr. Haskell passing on August 14, 2023. It is now almost 8 months without a decision being posted. My experience has been days not months. Is the CAVC backed up that much by recent CAFC re…

    Asked by Lemuel, April 4

    • caregiver
    • caregiver program
    • compensation
    • pcafc
    • smc
    • smc-t
    • tbi
    0 votes
    3 answers
11. Chronic Sinusitis Lay Statement example

    Looking to see if anyone has a example for chronic sinusitis lay Statement example

    Asked by Donald1985, April 2

    0 votes
    2 answers
12. Internet Broadband for Disabled Veterans

    Correct me if I’m wrong but there no internet broadband programs specifically for disabled veterans that’s separate from the ACP. As a 100% service connected disabled veteran, SMC for housebound status. Broadband is crucial for me to prevent further insolation, conduct business and shopping, and attend virtual medical appointments. That VA furnished tablet with a limited bottleneck hotspot is not sufficient. We need and deserve free or discount4ed services. I’ve written to public officials on the federal, state, and local levels. You should do the same, including both senators and congressional representatives.

    Asked by joman55, April 3

    0 votes
    0 answers
13. Lay Statement for Chronic Sinusitis

    I’m looking for a Lay Statement for chronic sinusitis if anyone can help me out. An example

    Asked by Donald1985, April 2

    0 votes
    1 answer