Armyvet1987

Thanks for all the replies. I just looked at the last two years of appointments, each appointment pretty much says the same thing. It goes along with my divisibility claim. I looked over the last C&P exam and the doctor thought I was improving but at the same time experiencing the same issues as I had when I filed the claim. I called the VA hotline yesterday and explained to the lady that took the calla about the "missed" C&P appointment. She was immediately rude and defensive, saying there is no record of me calling and that it's my fault I missed the appointment. Again, I have my phone records and the email that was sent from the VA at the same time I called. This has been a nightmare to say the least. I am going to contact the VSO on Monday and ask what they can do for me. Also, I keep reading that it would be nearly impossible for the VA to change your rating after 5 years if you maintained the same rating yet it drops from 100% to 0.

Also, does anyone know if the VA records phone calls? I know the exact time I called the VA and have the email time stamp.

Yeah, I got ahead of my self. I read through the entire document and the reason was for the missed exam. I have access to all my medical records and the results of previous exams so hopefully I will get something together to send to the VA. Thanks for the reply.

Hello everyone, Today I received a letter stating I will be getting a reduction of benefits from 100% to 0% for PTSD. I was awarded this amount in October 2010 and maintained the 100% rating until now. In November 2017 I had reexamination for PTSD, the results came back in December 2017 and I was again awarded 100%. Fast forward to February 2018, I received a letter in the mail saying I needed to go to a out of the VA doctor for them to fill out a DBQ form, I called the VA that day and stated I was not comfortable with speaking to another doctor about my PTSD, the women told me I could have my metal health doctor fill it out and send it back to them. I have an email from her with the attached document. My next appointment for the mental health doctor is in late April. The letter states that there is proof in my medical files and since I “missed” the DBQ appointment that they want to reduce my rating from 100% to 0%. So here is my question, how did my PTSD change significantly from December 2017 (when I was re-envaulted) to February 2018?Next, should I hire a lawyer? VSO? I have never used the VSO or disabled veteran’s reps.Finally, what should be my next step?Thanks.

Hang in there, my PTSD claim was in the decision strange August 2010 to June 14th 2011. It will come and when it does it's almost worth the wait. Good luck.

Congratulations Hambone!

Thanks again for the reply's, I am not going to blow this money, I am going to pay me debts I owe then off to savings. I am just wondering when I get it because my eleric bill has been past due for 3 months and ironically enough will be shut off if not paid in full by Thursday, so hopefully by then. Thanks again everyone!

When do I get my retro check from the VA, I already received my letter and my direct deposit is set up. Thanks

Thanks

Thanks everyone, I really hope they can get a better system going with some of these claims, I talked to a Desert storm vet that says he has been waiting on an appeal for 4 years. Is there any other benefits that come with 100% I should know about like state or anything? Thanks

Yea I guess I did, I just didn't want them to use P&T on me because I do think and hope one day all this will get better. I understand the people that will never be cured or lost a limb or something.

I think today has been one of the best days of my life! I received two letters from the VA today, one was a big white one and the other just a regular one. Of course I went for the big white one and read that I had been awarded 100%! My knees almost buckled, I kept reading the whole thing to make sure everything would match up and it does. It said I would be getting a retro check dated back to October 28th, 2009. This really has come at a great time, I have sold everything to pay bills and my lease ends at the end of the month. It said I was awarded 100% PTSD and TBI because of the overwhelming evidence I had from my deployment and that I was fired do to issues caused my memory. I told the C&P doc that I didn't want to be permanent or unemployable because I wanted to get better, I didn't get ether of those (thank god) I had a GAF score of 45 and since I was awarded the Combat Action Badge I didn't need someone proving I seen combat...even though my MOS is 19D (Cav Scout) so it shouldn't matter. The second letter said I was awarded 100% and would have a future examination for June of 2016, so does that mean I will be 100% until then? I really can't wait to start having money to go to the treatment and maybe even go to school. I really want to thank everyone that helped me through this, I would ask question and people would take time out of their day to answer them. My claim went through some crazy stuff, like getting canceled for no reason, the Army "lost" my med records from Iraq, so on. It has been a long hard road and there were times I just wanted to give up but I would always think about the men and women that are risking their lives right now, if they just gave up then what? If anyone has any questions I can help them with I would be glad to help. Thanks again everyone!

I never got an answer for my question? I didn't mean for this to start a fight...All I wanted to know is how long until I get my notification letter from the VA? I was told a rating was done on Monday (June 13th, 2011) and I would receive the letter soon, not sure if it was sent out or if they are going to do something else, another thing is they said it was forwarded to the pay section.

Commander Bob is right, I am only 23 and right now I am dealing with allot of TBI and PTSD related issues, I have a bad knee due that was a combat related injury but I do not want to disabled for the rest of my life. The money isn't even a care for me(long term), I know I have to get this taken care of and trying to do it with no job and no income is more stressful then the things I have been experiencing, if I get all these things treated I want to only have the health care for the problems I have experienced due to the military, I hope one day (soon) I can start working again and live a normal life.

Today I was told by my case manger that my rating was completed and was forwarded to the pay section, she said she didn't know the rating yet and that I would be receiving a letter soon. If I call the 800 number will they know my rating? I am behind on allot of bills and owe money to people. I hope I get the letter soon. Soon I will not have a mailbox to check my mail. Thank god I have my rating, lets just hope it was worth the wait.

Yes..After I got back from deployment and was done with my contract I got a job. Not more then 5 months later I was fired for failure to adept. I used all my savings and have sold everything to pay my bills, now that I have nothing left I think the approved it, I have tried to find jobs but just cannot get hired, I even tried to work at toys r us and after the interview I always get an email saying I am just not what they are looking for...It just seems like I been on a downward spiral...

Thanks again everyone, I just really want to focus on trying to get better without stressing how I will get there or if I will have a place to stay the night before. thanks again!

Since they approved my hardship due to my disability and not able to have a job will they make me unemployable or is that something you have to put in for? I have been going to treatment and trying to get all this taken care of, however its really hard to make it to these places with no income, if they do just make it unemployable can I get it reversed one day? If I get better I do not want to be just sitting around sucking money off the government for the rest of my life, I want to get a job if I can one day. Thanks!

Thanks for all the replys everyone, I can only hope that this is the final stretch. I know some people have been waiting years and I am only at one year but with everything that has gone on since I been home, I just hope this gets done and everyone else that is waiting.

From what they told me there are people that do ratings at the RO during the day and for extra time they take it home and do it? As far as the supervisor goes, if the case where rated tonight how long would it take the supervisor to do what ever to it, is that the final stage? thanks

Hello everyone, I was informed Monday that my hardship had been approved and that my claim is with a take home rater? They also said that the rater would be reviewing it tonight(6/8/2011), so what does that mean? Is this the person that will rate my claim or someone that will just review it and if they are going to rate/review it tonight how much longer will it take? Sorry for the questions I am just in a really bad spot right now and it doesn't look like it will get any better. If anymore information is needed please ask. thanks

I was looking at the Q&A on the eBenefits website to see if there was another way to get premium access and it said If I had access to a DFAS account then I can obtain premium access to Ebenefits. Well I have an DFAS account but when I request the DOD (whatever it's called) it will not let me click the box next to my name? Anyone know anything about this before I call the zombie hotline? Thanks in advance.

I took my final C&P October 28th 2010, has been at the rating board since November 19th 2010 and still at the rating board as of June 2nd 2011... Don't call the 800 number, there is nothing but mindless zombies working there.

Mojo, if all possible you should ask to be seen by another doc. I also had a few concussions while deployed (IED Blast) ans suffer from all the things you suffer from. I have been going back and forth trying to fix these problems, however I have come up short on just about everything. I think the memory problems are the worst. You should definlty try and claim for PTSD and TBI...If you had medical records stating what happened then you should be fine, I can't say for sure because I am still waiting for my claim but it can't hurt to try.

I really find it hard to belive they train people to deny claims and then give them a bonus, However I know first hand that there are docs out there that could give two s****s about you. For example for my first C&P I claimed hearing loss due to IED explosions and firefights, the doc looked in my ear and said my right ear drum had a hole in it and then immediately asked me if I had ever used cue tips in my life time...I said yes a long time ago...On the report he said the hole in my ear drum was caused by me using cuetips...This was false and I knew not to use cue tips the day I enlisted into the military because they stress to you that it does more harm then good. Needless to say I will most likely get denied for my hearing loss but that is just how it goes. Now as far as my mental exam went the doc was very concerned and helpful about everything. Trust me I am stressed out about the VA and the time it takes to process claim I don't need to lie to myself to make me fell better about it.