Philip Rogers

Update - My attys, Bergmann & Moore, LLC, filed my case at the CAVC and have advised me of the various times as to when things will be progressing. It looks as tho they are looking for a remand and it'll probably take about 2 yrs before we get a decision. I'll update periodically and hopefully have a decision on the "s" award criteria by mid 2016. pr

You don't state whether your symptoms interfere w/your ability to work or hold down a job. If the symptoms are severe enough you can get TDIU, even tho the max rating is 30%. Your main problem is service-connecting(SC) it. You can win, but it may or may not take yrs. An IMO would certainly helpexpedite it, if you could manage it. jmo pr

Testvet - no offset, widows can collect both. To collect on the spouses SS it's 60 yrs old, or 50 yrs old if the widow is disabled. pr

Coot - the VA is supposed to authorize fee basis anytime the vet lives more than 100 miles, one way, from the VA. pr

No, the VA has no say whatsoever. You can have anyone do the IME and write the IMO because you are paying for it. Whatever you heard is BS. pr

I think you're okay, if it was a VA office you originally went to and you have a signed copy of the claim. Make a few copies of that document, so nothing gets lost. Also keep notes on who you spoke to, when, and what was said, just to protect yourself. You should be able to use that original claim date and if they deny it you will win on appeal. pr

John, Yes, you can but she'll only get the $1195 DIC and won't get the bonus money, plus has to be married to ya for the year before your death. I'm lookin'!!! I'd love to pass it on. It's roughly $300 a week, plus ChampVA. Whatta deal!! pr

No, as one of the requirements is that you be 100% or TDIU and that your spouse be married to you the 8yrs "immediately" preceeding your death. So, technically, someone who's been married to their spouse less than 8yrs doesn't qualify for the bonus. I believe the VA also requires a new spouse to be married to the veteran at least one yr, immediately prior to death, in order to qualify for DIC. I think this is required to prevent certain types of persons from marrying dying veterans just for the DIC money. pr

That's interesting, cuz dependents usually expire at 4-5 yrs and the reason is there are so many divorces. I believe hers is an error but unless someone catches it I wouldn't worry about it. jmo pr

See my response to your other question. Thanks! pr

Sit back and dream about what to do when you win. It will take a while but it'll happen, just be patient. jmo pr

justrluk is correct. 93 rounded down to 90. pr

Is your current 30% rating now 50% and you have no 30% rating now, so that you are 70, 50, 20, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10??? If so, when you reach 95% any other 10%'s don't matter as it rounds up to 100%. Your 7th 10% combines to 95%. It goes as follows: 70+50=85+20=88+10=89+10=90+10=91+10=92+10=93+10=94+10=95 which rounds to 100%. pr

Grent - you would need to be 100%SC or TDIU, continously for 10 yrs, or any amount of yrs, if your SC disease is a cause of your death. At present the widow receives $1195, monthly and a bonus of $254 a month, if you were receiving 100% or TDIU Comp for the 8 yrs prior to your death and she was married to you those 8 yrs. If you die as a result of Service-Connection she will be able to use the commissary and should receive ChampVA medical insurance' pr

Full-time RVer's use a number of mail forwarding services and one of these would probably work for you. I used one of these local mailbox business services and I'd just pay to have whatever was important to me over-nighted byFedEx or whomever. I usually did second day air as it was considerably cheaper. It worked well, for me. pr

Generally, after 21 days of continuous in-patient VA hospitalization, claimants are eligible for the 100% rate. pr

What's your goal?? Are you working?? I'm trying to figure out what you're doing/wanting? pr

I understand but you still can't get a 60% rating for ptsd. I ran the numbers and if your other numbers are correct and you are currently 80% combined, then you must be 70% for ptsd, which totals 84% and is rounded down to 80%. You should apply for TDIU if you are not working. pr

Have you tried DAV, VFW, AL, VVA, etc??? All have emergency funds and some have people who do volunteer work. When I lived in northern Idaho, my VVA chapter frequently helped with emergency funds, firewood, and work parties to help vet families w/home repairs, etc. pr

eganusn - Someone told you wrong - there is no rating of 60% for ptsd. It's rated, 10, 30, 50, 70 or 100. pr

Congrats on the win, Coot, and yes, you now have dental care. pr

You are probably drawing the maximum allowed, on your late husband's acct. Since it's a disability check, it will probably switch to the SS retirement acct, automatically, when you reach your retirement age and the amount should remain the same. The advantage to disability is that SS pays at the full retirement rate, when the disability is awarded. pr

That's what I meant to do!!! pr

I think they are thought up by lonely Doxie owners. jmo ;-) pr