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I also wrote them a statement explaining that I could not afford care for my disabilities after I was discharged and lost tri care.

I am with PR on this evidence is evidence if it points to increase apply for it soon as you can so your not loosing benefits.

In my opinion Congress lost it power when they allowed Holder and the State Department run over them in the Libya and Fast and Furious issues.

http://news.yahoo.com/house-vets-chairman-va-impeding-congressional-oversight-230032109--politics.html

I went to therapy twice a week with the psychologist and monthly visits to the psychiatrist for eight months on top of taking Zoloft and trazadone. The meds only help for a short period of time before the doses had to be upped finally the large doses started to make me sick I would vomit and fell sick about an hour after taking them. I followed this up with group therapy which just pissed me off on most days, one the social worker expected me to be there 4 day a week which I could not do I actually like to see my kids and wife during the week all I was doing was going to VAMC and WORK. I hated the group environment it seem like everyone was trying to one up which I don't do because I don't give a crap enough to care.

My first year in the VA they had me on 8 meds I am down to two now I always felt unreliable, I really shy away from the VA mental health care as it is always a fight to not be on very many meds. Glad to hear you are on a regiment that you like and have faith in its important. My mental health doc retired and winged me of all meds but I have been declining as of late and will be seeing a doc at the VA hear soon and I have no doubt that I will be fighting to not be on a ton of meds.

Second appoint went well I just did not get the answer I wanted. I have to go thru about four months of a extended evaluation. I will be attending one class on campus along with regular mental health check ins and various others classes and briefing at my VAMC as part of the evaluation. I don't fell that this long of an evaluation is warranted plus if I was to go back to school full time I would reduce my hours at work so taking one class on campus while working full time and all the appointment at the VAMC is going to make things worse in the short turn. I applied to Voc Rehab hoping to cut back on work like I need to I think everyday I get a little closer to the edged of walking out or getting let go. Its the simple thing I cant handle anymore and I don't know why, I was dealing with a situation yesterday at work a co-worker asked me the same question twice about the situation I got a little fazed and tonged tied he started to question me like I was the suspect and lying I almost lost my mind, I got so mad I could feel my ears getting hot I finally told him to leave and went at it alone.

The only advice I can offer is read and research, I believe you will not be looked at as being able to work for going to school in the VA system if you have an Social Security award that is a different story from what I have been reading on hadit social security may view you attending school as having the ability to work. Congratulations on the IU hopefully this make thins a little easier on you now and at your review hopefully they make it P&T.

Congratulations 90% is a big hurdle to cross I was also moved up to 90 this years. way to hang in there good job.

cognates hopefully you diverted a major disaster with your email.

I have heard nothing but good about the Clarksburg and Martinsburg VAMC programs.

congrats 90 is a big hurdle to jump for most.

Same thing has happened to me a least 3 times a years as I am rated for sinusitis I get headaches and sinus pressure that last for months all my doc will do is a regular x-ray said he would only do a cat-scan if something shows on x-ray. The x-rays always comeback normal but my head and pain level says different.

Rpowell thanks for the info this is the kind of information I am looking for, Navy04 I can always count on your encouragement thanks.

I hate to beat a dead horse but I still do not understand when I will be re-exam if at all. The only reason I am bring this back up is because more likely then not I will get to go back to school thru voc-rehab but would not be able to afford it if I get down graded by the VA. I was awarded 70%in late 2012 and 90% in late 2014 all from an initial claim. I have read over all award letters and VA letters on ebenifits with no mention of re-exam.

Berta I plan on going fulltime on campus as there is a major state run college with in 45 min of my house. I have been considering social work, phycology, outdoor rec and leisure with a concentration in therapeutic recreation or repertory therapist as you can tell I am still in the research phase. I haven't been very successful going on line. I already have a degree in criminal justice but should no long work in Law Enforcement due to my sc condition and physiologist stating that work is a stressor for me.. I am not exactly sure what I am going to do as I made 38,000 last year I have three kids and a wife that count on me to provide. My wife and I just hit the 15 year mark and I have always worked and made sure they had insurance. The good news is if they do approve me I have followed your advice and got my finical affairs in order with my back pays and would be able to live comfortable on the school stipend and my compensation. I do believe that I would be able to apply for state health and dental for my children. Its a sticky situation because I am so young and really don't want to stop working but there is no way I should be doing my current job either I am going to screw up and get myself or someone else in a jam.

Buck52 thank you for your comments and kind words. I don't know enough about P&T or TDIU but since I work even thou it's a great struggle I thought that that would take both off the table.

I missed my appeal time as I was denied service connections on several contentions with the VA saying there was no prof in my STR. I never opened a new claim I emailed my RO and presented the evidence that was in my comp file all along and proved they had position of the evidence that would have proved service connection at the time of denial. The Ro opened those contentions back up it took them two years but they back paid to my original date of claim of 4 years prior.

Had my first appointment with a voc rehab councilor last week I think it went pretty well. I was told that even thought I am currently working that I am eligible for the program and show severe employment handicaps. I am looking to go back to school and get a psychology or social work degree. Now for the down side I was told that I was being place into an extended evaluation period because the councilor has concerns that It may not be medically feasible for me to go back to school due to my mental illness. I am really hoping to get this approved because I am in a jam I have a family and struggle thru working so I can keep medical insurance for them. I am close to being without a job quite often because I have a lot of call offs, I am scheduled for 32 hours a week here lately I have been making 25-28 hours a week. It has been an eight year adventure of digression. I have held the rank of Sgt. but have been demoted to officer were I have been for the last 4 years. My job requires me to be armed and maintain a clearance with the Government those requirements do not go hand and hand with my mental illness, if they ever found out I would be out a job. I often over react to people even when I am trying not to. plus I am just dog tired and have poor concentration and even forget my direction of travel at times. So I am wanting to brain storm ahead of time in case I get denied due to it not being feasible for me to return to school. I work so I think IU is out of the question, I am trying not to get my hopes up but the thoughts of getting to participate in Voc Rehab is like seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Anyone out there have any I ideas on what I should due if they find me not ready to attend school.

I have said this all along I have pissed off more then one DAV member

If you were diagnosed with in a year of your discharge I do believe you will be service connected.

need more advice on this one looks like I have been rescheduled for a third C&P exam in as many months on the same issue Fibro and neck injury. Talked to a raters coach who stated that the DOC is not filling out the DBQ correctly. He gave me his number and email address this was after I emailed Mr. Bob about some issues I was having with the VA. Hope this is not turning in to a pissing contest with the RO, I may have upset them with the email to Mr. Bob.

do both and know what the 38 CFR says about IBS, you may be asking for a rating that is or is not possible for you condition of IBS. This is what my IBS, GEERD and Hiatal Hernia is rated as at the 30%. 7319 Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis, mucous colitis, etc.): Severe; diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea and constipation, with more or less constant abdominal distress 30 Moderate; frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress 10 Mild; disturbances of bowel function with occasional episodes of abdominal distress 0

Well the C&P were conducted without me being present doc said it would not result in any new information, while the opinion was negative the doc did give at 50% probable statement for fibromyalgia.

Went to 90 on a new 50 rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress. They did back pay the difference to my original date of claim of March 2011 as they stated after they originally denied it they received more of my service records providing service connection. They deferred the fybro and cervical spine injury. The reason they provided is they are seeking further medical opinion and now they have ordered the same C&P that I just had in September .