ArNG11

Congrats in order.

I just read your comment and looked at your profile picture, "clear as mud" Tiger has the right idea.

When I inquired with the SSD about this program the representative gave me such a dumb founded look, I smirked, as I realized what was going to happen.

Talon I, Rootbeer, I completely agree with your statements. We have paid into the system, obviously, if you have enough work credits, however, these agencies still deny. We have earned the right to draw from the systems as we have all "payed our dues" VA, DOL, Department of Education, Office of Personnel Management, all have considered me disabled and permanently unemployable, yet the SSDI system still denies that I am unemployable due to disabilities. Go figure. We all know this routine. Does any one know the secret handshake, wink wink pattern, perhaps the correct knocking sequence, or maybe the golden ticket from the Wonka factory? Persistence is the only thing I know, I have worked hard for the things I have earned, as I am sure the rest of us have done our share, so the fight for benefits and entitlements is no different I suppose. Im getting some Chai, good morning all.

Jfrei, I know it has not been long, however, have you gotten any answers from any one yet?

Buck I agree and understand those facts. I was awarded a few months ago but I still have not received my decision letter, even after a FOIA request. I sent the request to the Evidence Intake Center per the process and still nada , zip, zilch. I have gone to Muskogee once and as of recently supposedly my case has been certified to the BVA. The digital records system the VA claims to go by, apparently can't be looked at once it leaves the regional office, which I call BS on. But to be exact my appeal was not transferred to the BVA until March 24 of this year. The BVA has not sent me notice that they have received the records yet. You are right about the SSDI process and I am aware of that. I though I was pretty slick in the way I laid my claims out, however, it seems as of now that even this part of the game is still rigged. It sucks the big one that is for sure. I imagine things will get easier when I hit the one year mark since I last worked. Hopefully that will help with the VA claim and the SSD appeal process.

Buck I wish that were the case all of the time. I was denied again for SSDI and I hold an IU rating. Even with other permanent injuries that keep me from performing any of my previous job skills, the SSA denied. There are a lot of factors to consider, that should be considered, but are most often not. This sucks to all hell. Unfortunately you and Pete are right on the money with the VA being able to re-evaluate you at any time until you hold a permanent totally disabled rating. Even if you were to put in a new claim the VA can review your entire service connected issues and propose reductions if the ratings are not protected or they pay a good old boy C&P doctor to opine against you and state that you have been healed somehow. Then the mess starts all over again. It is a bunch of crap. Yet it happens. Once you hit a five year protection mark, other than fraud, is it possible for the VA to initiate or try to make that situation stick? Pete a question though, what regs did they quote with the TBI and mental health ratings being pyramiding, or have you dealt with someone who has had this happen, if I am understanding you correctly??? I am really curious to know?

Listen you have the VA disability rating while it is not enough to live off of it is income. Then you have the benefits that you are getting from the Department of Labor. While difficult, you can make your situation work for you. Your back is not going to get better, the best you can do is control the pain and keep from injuring your back any more than it is, working is going to hinder that and progressively make it worse. Those are facts, while you can slow the process down and use caution, there will be a time that you are going to have to decide that you can not continue your line of work. I tried changing careers, however, I did not have any luck pursuing that avenue. I wrestled with coming to terms for many years and I regret not making different decisions sooner. Things could have and would have turned out differently I believe. Pride, necessity and honestly all the conditions themselves made the process very difficult. It was hard to know what to do. You have already taken care of that part. Now the strategy is using the systems against themselves. Keep the injuries separated with the corresponding agencies as much as you can, the end game all your injuries/conditions will come into play later on when SS is involved. OCDMarine, discuss these options and decisions with your spouse or partner, I cannot tell you how much easier things would have been and could have been for me had my partner helping me all along. I've shared some insights and hopefully you can use this information to make the right choices. I hope the best for you.

Unfortunately sometimes that is the case. I started under similar circumstances and I had many a concerns about my situation. Trust me when I say that. Keeping your wits about you and rationalizing things out will be in your best interest. Hang in there it can be done.

Wasn't implying anything by no means. I believe the process to be very cut throat. You need to be ready for the shenanigans. You can win with the evidence, regulations, and law being on your side. Time is always the booger though. Go by the numbers slow and easy. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. ? Good luck.

Keep in mind if youre service connected injuries were made worse by working there then indicate as such. Working certain jobs can aggravate them and there is a case there. It is difficult to keep them seperated but not impossible. As long as you're truthfull and can back your claim by medical evidence and opinions then you have a firm foundation and can win. I can attest this process is not easy in the least. JMO and experience.

Yes this is correct and the argument for my claim. There is a choice to be made between OWCP and medical retirement. However you can qualify for two benefits for different injuries. There is an offset between SSI and OPM but we can discuss that later. You can be receiving concurrent benefits.

Gotcha I was denied both, for one I am no where near the age requirement, however the other is and should be a different matter.

I got denied right off the bat. Just because the VA states your unemployable doesn't mean that SSA has to or is going to follow suit. They denied me the second time as well. I'm in agreement with MPsgt the SSDI you paid into, if you're disabled by more than one agency the other should follow suit, however, different rules different ball game. I find that unfortunate.

Should you and could you I would say yes you can qualify with what you have above, however, most times mental ratings like those above are not permanent. Are you still not working?, do you feel the ratings are not correct, can you or do you have the evidence to prove other wise? I would get some decision information first and a copy of your medical records/c file. After that I you could invest in an IME/IMO to counter the rating decision or send overlooked evidence of a more serious disability picture and file the NOD before your 1 year appeal period is up. You need the medical evidence to justify a higher rating backed up by a medical experts opinion as to the severity of your condition, along with the relationship to service. That would be a good start. Do you have a sanitized copy of the decision that you could post without personal identifiable information on it, that you could post? That would help a great deal for folks to give suggestions.

I agree, even as much as I have been wronged by VAMC, there have been positive experiences, I just wish that the good experiences was the SOP. I dare say Veterans care might very well be at par with the private industry if it were full of good folks.

Lets see on mine the psych eval was on April 4th and by April 26th I received the SSDI denial. oh forgot to state I applied Aug of 2015.

I've done multiple methods in the past, but to send evidence to both intake centers is a great move. Make sure you green card that bad boy though. ?

I understand your folks frustrations, as I have been, still am, and probably will be, in the same boat. You have to really prioritize and choose your battles, your strategies,and your countermeasures. However most importantly though is knowing when to step out, this process is very consuming, the process takes a lot out of you. Anyone on this forum can attest to that fact. I am not discouraging anyone from fighting for what they are rightfully entitled to by no means, however, be careful not to let the process define and erode the strong caring individual that you are. If you let that happen, what have you gained, even more importantly what have you lost? Frankly I am guilty of this myself, I'm stubborn and I like the fight. Something about truth and justice those are examples of terms come to mind. Sometimes in the fight I have become so engrossed and invested in it, that I loose bearing on what is really important, things like friends, family, loved ones, enjoying the life that I still have and realizing what I have left can and should be fulfilling. I thought I should share this. For the topic, yes I agree with the advice on to counter the BS the VA comp side has pulled. An IMO can surely rectify this. However, you have to base your offensive attack on the weaknesses of the examiners conclusions. Your evidence and IMO will do the job nicely. Your attack will be based on the statements used in the C&P exam itself. You need that in order to succeed. Until you have this information, relax, breathe, and get your bearings. Service connection was the goal. You got this. Piece of cake, do it by the numbers and press on. I will go now, but please consider the above. JMO

Silent Uproar check your PM.

Nope. I just kept my federal blue cross and shield. I am not permanent and total. It has been 3 months or so and I still have not received my last decision which won me IU.

If you leave the federal system I would look into retiring medically. For 100% based on PTSD, working probably and will cause problems for you in more ways than one. I believe with the advanced sick leave, you must pay the amount in lump sum, but I would call the personnel office in that one. Better safe than sorry. When I left federal service my sick leave balance was negative and I also had a unpaid TSP loan out. The week I left I just had them take it out of what I had left in my TSP. Check on this as it has tax and other ramifications.

Same to you my friend. All I know is to fight. knowing when to stop that is another story.