yoopergirl

I am rated for a Functional Neurological Disorder secondary to my PTSD, I have psychogenic seizures which are a FND. They are rated like regular seizures and I am also rated for loss of use for my legs secondary to a balance disorder that is service connected. I waited over a decade to file my first claim and some have been added as recently as last year so over 25 years after service. Time didn't actually hurt me and I didn't receive treatment for many of my disabilities for a long time, I did get low balled in the beginning but that was mostly because they didn't have a lot of records to go by, the records they did have supported a higher rating but well we all know how heavily that cp examiner weighs in

Congrats, get your id card :) Also if you have dependents they qualify for some great benefits. My 2 college kids are receiving free tuition, chapter 35, and more as well as champva.

I am not asking for the VA to find my IU date the same as Social Security awarded me. I am saying the date I filed for IU Jan. 2011 should be my effective date.

Buck I was simply stating that Social Security found my date of disability Jan. 2009 when I was no longer able to work. They didn't pay me back to that date because that would have exceeded their time for backpay. I am not sure what you want to know? I filed for SSDI much after I filed for IU because I had no idea I could get both. When I filed for SSDI it was because the attorney I went to see for VA stuff told me to, and I won in less than a year with a hearing in front of a judge. I was awarded maximum amount of months of backpay social security allows, my attorney was astounded that I was awarded at the hearing and max amount of time. I was paid a very large sum of money in backpay, as were my children.

Buck, yes it is a lot of money over 2 years of 70 to 100%, the whole thing was weird because the IU claim sat forever and the VA didn't deny it initally until after I filed for SSDI and of course they initially denied me as well, but I won SSDI at my hearing, the judge granted it right there and then. I filed a reconsideration on the decision because VA stated reason for denial being SSDI denial, so when I was approved for SSDI I filed for reconsideration with new material evidence. The VA finally decided but never even gave me a c and p exam or anything. Is there any way you can message me that attorney's information? VA attorneys have a cap on what they can take now too, correct. When I was first going through this the attorney I spoke with wanted a huge % with no cap.

Social Security can find your date of disability far before you actually file, unlike the VA, they do have a limit as to backpay (period of time) and I maxed that out.

The Jan 2011 claim was a claim for iu p &t nothing else. I think that Basser is right, I should find an attorney, how to find one is an entirely different issue. I did't file for SSDI unitl aug. of 2012 and was awarded feb 2013 back to 2009.

Sad we have to think that way, isn't it?

I pulled up that letter and read it and still don't see where it states how a random date would be chosen, I hadn't even had a C and P since 2011 and no increases in my service connected disabilities since then. It just seems odd to me, I keep getting told that if I open it up they could take it back but both my VA shrink and neuro have stated over and over I cannot work. What am I missing?

yeah, that is what one service officer said but still it is ALOT of money and I have never heard of that happening to anyone before and neither had my vso. I just found it very strange.

I am trying to find some sort of program to help offset the cost of what my husband is losing in income to care for me. Being pre 9/11 I guess we are just sol? :(

I am 50% for migraines, 30% for bipolar/ptsd and some other 10's but am 100% IU P and T, I am trying to figure out how to get SMC, there are days I am in bed for 3-5 days and need help because my migraines are so severe. My husband has to take care of me, because I am not post 9/11 he cannot receive the caregiver stipend and I can't seem to find anyone to guide me as far as service officers. TIA

So, my original date of filing for IU was Jan. 2011, denied in August of 2013, sent in new evidence (based on social security awarding me disability back to 2009 for my sc disabiities), then VA awards me 100% IU PT, in Feb 2014 but only paid me back to September of 2013. The only thing I see in any of my records with that date is a letter I requested from Voc. rehab to add that I was no longer in voc. rehab. the letter was dated in september but I had been out of voc. rehab recommended by my shrink since Nov of 2012. Isn't it odd to not give me backpay to even the day I filed for reconsideration? (Feb 2013). I feel I should have been backpaid to the original claim date but I just got a denial saying that they won't reconsider without additional information. I am at a loss, any advice? Thanks!

Thanks Notorius Kelly, I appreciate the encouragement, I am pretty down about it today but know I have to fight on!

I had acutally thought that I would get approved for IU but was not sure if they would approve the permanent and total (which I need for my kids to have health insurance), foolish I know. I am going to see my psychiatrist on Monday and am going to ask what he thinks I should do. He has told me in the past that he thinks the va actually tries their damndest to deny mental health claims and it frustrates him as well. He has told me that it hurts me when I go to a C and P. What I really don't understand is how the VA thinks that I can find a job that is part-time, sedentary and will work around my migraine schedule or lack of schedule really. How does someone find a job that they can work part time when they feel okay and make enough money to pay their bills. I have yet to see that one advertised! I know I need to file the notice of disagreement but am wondering if I should also hire an attorney. I am not sure where to go from here........what are my choices? and how long do they take (I know that it varies). Thanks in advance for any advice!