#1Cavtrooper

Sounds like good news, but as always the VA award letter will follow and will be official. Congratulations!

Welcome!

Sounds promising.......when my claim said closed within a couple of days retro hit the bank. Keep checking your bank....... but Most importantly and reliable is when you receive notification via U.S. mail "the award letter> the Big Brown or White envelope! Good Luck to You!

I went to Ft. Polk and got my ID card on Friday with not too much problem. The clerk had a little problem finding the Key sentence stating my eligibility, so I pointed it out to him. I received my commissary letter in the mail yesterday (I still don't have access to them on ebenefit.) The letter read as follows: Dear Ms. *******: We are giving you this certificate so you may receive commissary store and exchange privileges from the Armed Forces. This is to certify that ###### ### ####### is an honorably discharged Veteran of the Army and receives benefits at the 100% rate. The Veteran has not been scheduled for future examinations. My ID card states INDEFINITE under expiration date. I AM HAPPY!

Congratulations!!!

Welcome!

I agree with both... Get scheduled to see a VA mental health physician. They will prescribe medications if need be and schedule you for appts. There are other programs and classes that I attend in my out-patient clinic that are very helpful also. The Va Medical center also offers programs like trauma recovery program (TRP), classes on anger mgmt etc. I also got a letter from my treating psychiatrist to submit on my claim. But just remember....DON't miss your appointments. Good Luck to You!

@ Carlie.... thnx I just checked with my bank and my retro is coming across tonight!

I spoke to the 1800 827 # and they are sending my letter for commissary privileges to get my ID card from a military installation. I need to go to Killeen area anyways, so I will probably go to Ft. Hood. I used to be staioned there in 1st Cavalry Division. Things are beginning to fall into place......

@Pete thnx for your reply. Maybe someone that has gone very recently will chime in too!

Thank you for the replys.... it will finally be a realization when I go to get my ID card and the retro hits the bank! BTW what, in particular do I need to take with me to get my decal and ID card?

I will add that the 100% is permanent and total (P/T). the following statement from my award packet: Va has awarded you total disability compensation because your service connected disability (ies) keep you from working full-time.

Well, today I went to the Post Office, (not knowing that they Just started closing on Saturdays. I did so because my claim closed on 10/4/2012. (Thursday). The clerk was there and she handed me my Big Brown Envelope through the side window. (Oh how I love our Deep East Texas hospitality!) Most anywhere else and they would tell me to wait until Tuesday..... Previosly on this initial claim, In May I was awarded PTSD 70% and Right Shoulder 20%. The four deferred items were Lower Back, Cervical Spine, Headaches and IU. Here's what I am awarded on these deferred items: Cervical Spine: 20% for Degenerative Disc Disease, Cervical Spine with spondylosis and intervertebral disc syndrome(claimed as cervical spine). Also 20% for: Radiculopathy, Left Upper Extremity involving C5-C8/T1 radicular Nerve Roots associated with Degenerative Disc Disease, Cervical Spine with Spondylosis and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (claimed as cervical spine). And 20% for Radiculopathy, Right Upper Extremity involving C5-C8/T1 radicular nerve roots associated with Degenerative Disc Disease, Cervical Spine with Spondylosis and IVDS (see above). And 10% for Degenerative Joint Disease, Lumbar Spine with Spondylosis (claime as back condition). Headaches was 0%. Entitlement to Individual Unemployability is granted effective January 28, 2011. Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance is established from January 28, 2011. We determined that the following service connected disability hasn't changed: Ptsd, Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and alcohol abuse in sustained remission. Percent (%) assigned 70%. We review the evidence and determined your service connected condition hasn't increased in severity sufficiently to warrant a higher evaluation. Your overall or combined rating is 90% from January 28, 2011. I went from nothing to this in 20 months on my initial claim amd I am satisfied with the outcome. Thanks for all the good info as I was better able to understand the claims process by researching this sight and from reading posts. Now time to CELEBRATE!!!

Right now ebenefits shows my claim status as "complete" but not "closed. And my benefits explorer shows 90%. What's gonna happen next..... Is anyone's guess.

Well, Here's an update.... I checked ebenefits just now and No letters to download yet, no money in payment history, but my benefits explorer went from 80% to 90%! I checked it at 12:45, so now that they are back from lunch, maybe they will "fill in the blanks". Any guesses?? I also called my bank- nothing coming across yet, so I will give it more time......Sigh...... BTW claim says "CLOSED" and decision notification sent.

Here is what my my C/P Doctor Opined: a. X The claimed condition was as least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury, event, or illness. please provide rationale in section c. c. Rationale: It Is As Least Likely As Not That Her Current Back Condition is Related To Her Back Injury In Service Because It Is Documented In The Record Of Troop Medical Clinic Ft. McClellan The Treatment Of Her Back Injury Dated 04/25/80 And There Is A Good Correlation Between Her Current Back Condition And Her Service Back Injury. Similar Statement were made for Cervical Spine Injury and For Headaches. Looks pretty good to me.....

@ComputerGeek46... I reported it last week (see previous post). Well, yesterday my claim was at Pending Decision Approval and today sometime after 1300 hrs it went to Preparation for Notification. This is from my original claim dated 1/28/2011 for my 4 deferred items. I was awarded 80% on 6/1/2012 for 2 contentions. I went to Houston VARO on 10/2/2012 and picked up copies of my general exam for IU and my C/p exams for Cervical Spine, Headaches, and Thoracolumbar. The gentleman at the VARO painstakingly printed out 84 pages right at the front desk even after at first he said I would need to get them mailed to me! (See C/P exams for results).

Congratulations!

Well, after talking to Peggy a couple of times and then to ebenefits technical support, my claim finally got straightened out and went to Pending Decision Approval. When Ebenefits "crashed" on 9/23/2012 it went to Preparation for Notification. So now I will keep an eye on it...... CAUTIOUSLY......

@ Geiogiapapa...Check your PM

@ Carlie....Lol....Yeah they sure have aced it in that department!

@ BigCountryVet... Check your PM

Mine showed Prep for Notification on May 22, 2012, Big brown envelope mailed on May 29, 2012 from Houston Varo and rec'd on May 31, 2012. Then my retro and June's payment was in the bank on June 1, 2012. Hopefully yours will be that quick! Good Luck and early Congratulations!

When ebenefits was down for maintenance on Sunday on 9/23/2012, mine went from Gathering of Evidence to Preparation for Notification. I found out on Monday that ebenefits made a mistake with a lot of peoples claims. I would be cautiously optimistic......

It sounds promising, but ebenefits has had some sort of glitch after last Sunday's maintenance. As you stated, every claim is different. I filed my claim on 1/28/2011. It went to Preparation for decision on 12/14/2011 and stayed there until I contacted higher ups on 5/14/2012 and then it went to Pending decision approval on 5/16/2012 and Preparation for Notification on 5/22/2012. Envelope mailed from Houston on 5/29/2012 and rec'd on 5/31/2012. Retro and June's payment in the bank on 6/01/2012. Right now I am waiting on my 4 deferred contentions. After the ebenefits maintenance on 9/23/2012, my claim went from Gathering of Evidence to Preparation for Notification. I called the 1800# on Monday and found it to be bogus. If I were you, I would remain "cautiously" optimistic given Waco's track record. Too many variables as each claim is different to be specific. But Good Luck to You!