Help with Effective Date of Disability Appeal-related Back Pay

[prophetmom]

Hi to All, 

In full disclosure, let me begin by saying that I am not the veteran in question...I am the 22-year wife of a veteran with Schizoeffective disorder. He served his country with distinction in both he Army and the Air Force. To make a long story short (I hope), he was so traumatized when he left the military (they gave him a psych discharge; he served in Desert Storm and had a breakdown over there) until he did not want to deal with anything military or veteran related for a long time. I bring this up because he waited until 2008 (when his condition had gotten unbearable, we were in financial dire straights, etc.) to even begin to look at getting benefits again. As luck would have it, at that time, the VA had just finished deducting from the benefits they WOULD HAVE given him had he been receiving a month check to pay them back for a large lump sum ($20,000 or so, I think) when he separated from the military (My apologies; I am a civilian; I do not know all the formal terms, etc.). Prior to 2008,they awarded him only 10%. In May 2008, that was increased to 30%. Ladies and gentlemen, this is where it gets all fuzzy for me...I had cancer during this time, we had a son with autism, my husband had highs and lows...I really do not remember all of what transpired because it took so long for anything to happen. The bottom line is we got a thick court case-looking document in the mail last month saying in the Conclusion of Law section the following: "For the entire period on appeal, the criteria for a disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for schizoaffective disorder are met." My question (finally) is...What is "the entire period on appeal"? I see a line in here that says, "In the June 2010 substantive appeal..." Is this the appeal on which this ruling is based? Then there were 2014 dates, too. It is all so confusing. Any help  you can give will be greatly appreciated.

[prophetmom]

5 minutes ago, Tbird said:

For calculating retro pay 1974 - 2004 I have those numbers here https://www.hadit.com/va-disability-compensation-rates-historic-for-retro-calculation/

Also these are available on Veterans Affairs 

VA Disability Compensation Rates 2012 | 2011 | 2010-2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999

Thank you so much! I am an English professor; math is not my strongest suit :D . I will work on this over the weekend.

[prophetmom]

1 hour ago, R3dneck said:

Sorry not been feeling well for few days. Berta is correct so don't let them get by with it.

Hope you feel better! Thanks!

[prophetmom]

Hi to All! 

I wanted to report back in to keep an accurate timeline for others who may follow this thread now and in the future. To recap, my husband won an appeal and his benefits will be increased from 30% to 70%. Waco is our RO. I got the packet (no award letter) on May 16. I still do not have an award letter. However, thanks to everybody on the board, I learned to keep checking eBenefits. I did, and today (July 27)I saw this (below). I assume the award letter will be coming soon (audit). I will review it and have some of you all review it with me. 

@Berta

[broncovet]

Congratulations!  It sounds like you are getting a big increase back to 2008.  (9 years).  

 

[prophetmom]

2 hours ago, broncovet said:

Congratulations!  It sounds like you are getting a big increase back to 2008.  (9 years).  

 

Thanks, @broncovet! I checked the mail after this, and the unofficial letter from the DAV came today. The official letter and money should be coming soon.

[prophetmom]

SUCCESS!!

The money - all six digits and change ;D - posted in the account today...along with the newly-increased monthly amount! We got what we were owed :D !

I wanted to thank everyone here who helped and encouraged us. I do so appreciate it. 

I don't know if this qualifies as one of the stories you all have in the Success forum, but, if so, I would be willing to post over there, too. 

Oh, and thanks, @demeat, for the tip about writing your DRO; I followed suit, and sent an email to the Assistant DRO as well. Being a writer really pays off sometimes :D . I was polite but direct. Not sure if that really helped to move the process along or not, but I did it :) .

Thanks and God bless!