john999

I use VA pain meds. I get drug tested every time I use the VA. They are really concerned with my health......Not! VA got me addicted to pain meds back in the day when they prescribed oxycotin, percoset and morphine for a bad headache.

I had 90% TDIU for about 20 years and I can say it is really hard to get to 100% schedular. I finally got an additional 80% which put me to a rounded off 100%. I had something like 99%, but I never got to an actual 100%. I don't think it is actually possible to get there unless you have 100% for a single disability. I should have bilateral factor for both my arms and legs, but I have never seen it on my decision ratings. If you have 90% you need an additional 50% at least to get to 100% and that would be 95% rounded up to 100%. I know insurance companies use VA math but it is a racket.

How bad off do you have to be to get a scooter paid for by the VA? I have 40% combined on each of my feet. I have a hell of a time walking around the VAMC in Tampa. I don't even use it any more if I have to go to the main hospital because it means lots and lots of walking.

We had a poster her named Berta Simmons whose husband died under VA care. She not only got DIC but used VA tools to prove the VA caused his death. I wish she was still around because she might be able to help. What Bronco is saying is absolutely true. I would sure get that autopsy if possible. If you can show your husband died from a service connected cause you should be able to at least get DIC. You say VA sent him home to die and he died within days? That sounds pretty bad to me. It sounds like they washed their hands of him and took the easy way out. It sounds fishy to me. They did not want him to die under their care. Why?

What was his official cause of death? I think you have to file for DIC (survivor's benefits). I don't know if he fits under the 10 year rule for DIC. If his cause of death is service-connected then you can get DIC. I would wait for some more input here. I am pretty sure there is a way for you to get DIC. Was he getting treatment at a VA hospital?

Seriously cutting vet benefits is like coming out against motherhood and the flag. It won't work because now we have the All Volunteer military how are they going to get people to join up if they cut benefits to those who served. Benefits are actually way too low including educational and disability compensation benefits. We do have to be on guard to protect our benefits in so-called peace time.

Yes, if you can't work anyway I would take TDIU ASAP. I did that back in 2002. I had a 70% rating and no job. I got TDIU and along with a disability pension and SSA I was able to pay the bills.

VA fraud against vets is SOP for the VA. If you are claiming big retro expect them to use every dirty trick in the book.

VA is only20 years behind the rest of the country. I have severe back and neck pain and I take oxycodone. It messes me up and has other side effects. I would try pot if I could get away with it. VA gives me a blood and/or urine test every three months. If I am "dirty" they will cut off my pain meds

Brice Are you already getting "S" because with your condition you should be. Of course, that is another battle.

Just be prepared to go to the mat on this as with all A&A claims. The people who win these kinds of claims are the ones who just persist and will not take NO for an answer. I really wish you all the best!

Over the last 50 years my mental health DX has been changed at least 5 times. About 20 years ago I got a DX of bipolar II and I got 70% TDIU. The VA is a little bit weird about PTSD DX'es, but I have that DX as well as schizophrenia and a few others. These DX'es are arbitrary IMO. I would not worry about since if your C&P exam says you are total then you should get 100%. I got SMC "S" a few years ago and you are close IMO. VA is weird about PTSD because they saw a tidal wave of PTSD claims coming at them and have tried to dodge them.

If snap ons cost 15K then imagine what real implants would cost! If you replaced 20 teeth that would be about 5k per tooth which would be 100K. This is incredible expense for most people. I need two implants and it will mean a year off and on in the dental chair and 10K in the end. VA is always about a few decades behind dental science.

If you got real dental implants (not implanted dentures) it would cost a fortune. I can't see the VA doing this if you have dentures. You hear advertisements for implants and what they mean is implanted dentures. A single implant takes about a year to do from the time you start the implant process until you get a crown on the implant. They cost about $5000 for each tooth. Also real implants require quite a bit of surgery and usually a bone graft for each tooth. I have three real implants and they are very good, but not from the VA. I would not trust my VA to do anything like that since you need a specialist to do good implants.

Implants are good if you have a top notch dentist doing them. You will be in the dentist's chair for a while. There is a lot of surgery involved. I have had three implants but not from the VA. My experience with VA dental is pretty bad. How about a bridge instead?

I think if VA does direct deposit they may have access to your bank account. I don't know if they can just take money out of your account if you owe them. I doubt that. They just stop paying you until debt cleared or you starve first.

I am glad Hadit will continue to live. Many very smart people here! I have learned a lot here over the years.

VA needs some justification to go on a fishing trip in all your disability ratings. They have millions of new claims via PACT Act to deal with and not to go one expeditions in all our old ratings.

I get insulin from the VA. That stuff is expensive if I had to pay for it. Sometimes VA gets stingy with the insulin and I have to complain to my congressman. My DMII AIC has improved very much with just me and the wife doing my injections with no help or consultation from VA. VA provides cheap drugs to vets this is true. I get all my DMII supplies from VA which includes a lot but I often have to beg for it.

James...VA did the same thing to me after I complained about an exam. I did not get the same doctor but one of his buddies. I got screwed but I filed an appeal and got my increase eventually. This was way back in 2001. Just file your NOD and go from there.

I actually got 98% rounded up to a hundred. I had an extra 80% but it still did not get me to actual 100%. I think it is impossible to get to 100% unless you are awarded 100% for a single disability. It is VA math at its finest.

You must be a vet who was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam or other places.

If you are90% you need another 50% to get to 100%. It is crazy but true. I just went from 90% to 100% a few years ago. I also go 0% for HBP as a Vietnam vet. I think I should appeal but it would not get me more money.

I got a discharge upgrade about a year after I was discharged. This was during the Vietnam War. I think you do need to apply for the discharge upgrade. If you can get help via any organization I would definitely get it. Ask for a personal hearing so they can see you. I had a hearing and had a very good rep at the time from the Red Cross believe or not. When I got my hearing there were civilians on the hearing board. I don't know if this still applies but that is why I got the upgrade . The military types just are usually unwilling to change discharges and have all kinds of discharges.

When you go for these exams keep your cool. You want to be "humble". Do you have a doctor's statement that due solely to your SC conditions you are unable to work? You have 90%. It is the job of the VA exam to determine if you are unable to work. In this regard I would trust them as far as I could throw them. With 90% you should be able to get TDIU, but maybe not based just on VA evidence.