john999

When I got TDIU back in 2003 I had to file for retro because the VA used the date of my earlier rating decision. I had actually qualified for an EED because I was in the hospital for the TDIU condition a year prior. I also had gotten SSDI and I believed the VA should have used that date for my effective date. VA will use the latest effective date that they can dream up in lieu of the actual legal date. I had to file quite a few appeals to get P&T and to get an EED. I was on a roll and I was just mad as hell.

I have been P&T for 20 years. The VA never tried to reduce me in those years. I am not saying it does not happen because they did try back in the 1980's to sever my service-connection. They failed because I had been SC for ten years at the time. In the last 20 years I have filed a number of claims for increases due to Agent Orange. I have had to appeal my ratings, but not being reduced. Nobody is against anyone on the forum. None of us love the VA. I was screwed out of thousands due to VA incompetence. The VA is like a big train that gets going and doesn't stop on a dime. It is an institution and protects itself. It should protect us but not always unless you protect yourself.

I even screwed up a claim for an increase in my DMII. They way I checked the box the VA said I was asking for all my disabilities to be reviewed. I did not want that and I corrected that post haste.

When is sinks in that you are officially totally and permanently disabled it is something to consider. You might think to yourself "Am I really the person described by my disability statue?" When you are not working and never going to work again you can become invisible in this culture. I felt that for many years after P&T. I still feel it to some extent. However, at least we won't starve.

If it has to go to the Court of Vet Appeals you need a lawyer, believe me! I have been there and it is a tough. VA comes out swinging with all their tricks. There are vets who can do it but I only know one.

VA is not giving anything away. Your loss of use is basic the same as an amputation. That is steep. Does VA provide you with a scooter?

I don't think you will need to worry about VA taking away your TDIU. So with all that money you can afford to come to Florida to get out of the cold.

If you have TDIU and you are not working then you very most likely will not have the VA challenge that award. They have no basis to challenge such a claim. I was TDIU P&T for 20 years before I actually got to 100% schedular. I was never challenged by the VA. Have you gotten SSDI? If you do something like going back to work and getting a W-2 then VA may drag you back in for an exam.

30% Do you have complete loss of use hands and feet? That is what is takes for SMC. Ask James here about that. I have 40% rating on feet and hands but no extra money for that. You keep going and don't let anyone discourage you. Things fall into place in time. We don't want to lose the use of our hands and feet but if we do we have a right to compensation.

30percent Do you have complete loss of use hands and feet? That is what is takes for SMC. Ask James here about that. I have 40% rating on feet and hands but no extra money for that. You keep going and don't let anyone discourage you. Things fall into place in time. We don't want to lose the use of our hands and feet but if we do we have a right to compensation.

They lump it! Depression is a big part of PTSD as is substance abuse. VA diagnosed me with bipolar, ptsd and schizophrenia. They just lumped it all together. I got 70% for that about 20 years ago. Maybe things have changed but I doubt it. If you read the symptomology for even 70% for any mental health thing you wonder how anyone gets that rating. It is probably more possible to get 100% for PTSD than just depression alone. This is just my opinion and experience talking.

For those with chronic pain I would file a claim for depression based on chronic pain. Think about it! You hurt bad all the time. You can't do the things you used to do. Your sleep is poor due to pain. You may be on opiates for pain which have depression effects and syndromes. VA considers chronic pain to be a syndrome that is compensable, but I like to roll that into a depression claim. You won't get 100% for chronic pain but you can get it for depression. If you can't go in the front door then go in the window.

Vync I got away with circumventing pyramiding rule due to PACT. My HBP claim is due to AO exposure. I did not think that CAD and HBP are the same disease, nor have the same causes. I know all the big three (DMII, CAD and HBP) have impact on each other. Vets who are married and have less than ten years at that rate should probably file on any health issue that could kill them even if you do only get 0% rating. Service-connection is key IMO. People in their 40's drop dead from HBP induced stroke.

I got my SC letter from the VA today for HBP due to AO exposure. I got zero percent as I suspected. That is ok since that is all I wanted since it did not mean more money. Now if I have a stroke it will be SC'ed I hope. Now I am SC for DMII, CAD and High Blood. All due to AO. I would prefer not to be but such is life. You really have to have very dangerous HBP to get more than zero!

James ......that is exactly what I did with my hbp AO claim. I filed my HBP claim months ago and had a c&p exam months ago. If I get zero percent I will probably appeal for the hell of it. I do not need the money, but I will not let the VA get away with shortchanging me as they did for a couple of decades before I wised up. Most likely I will die from a SC condition and I want them to pay my spouse DIC. I would not be afraid to file any valid claim against the VA. If you wait until the most recent wars are forgotten, you will be forgotten.

If VA opens my claims up because I make a new claim I think that would be dumb of them since all my SC conditions are probably worse now then when I claimed them. I did make a new claim for HBP due to AO exposure. Let them open my claims back up I say. I will make them pay for it.

VA has so many new claims to deal with I don't think they go on witch hunts to reduce 100% vets. I think it is much easier to win claims now than back in the 70's and 80's. Getting an increase in those days or maintaining a rating was harder IMO. Since I was P&T I must have filed 6-7 claims for new conditions and increases. No problem with VA wanting to reduce me.

I don't think James would ever say to sit back and take it. While you pursue your claims just don't hurt yourself. You can sue the VA for malpractice using their own tools. One of our older posters did it when VA killed her husband. It is not easy and it takes a lot of evidence and patience. No one is going to be critical of you just for spite. Probably just trying to get you on course and not waste your time fighting city hall. The only thing you will ever get from the VA is money. VA is a huge organization with billions dollar budget. Just get the money if they hurt you.

Yes, my brother has CLL. He was on the downhill side until he started taking a new med. He is not a large person but he was losing weight. He was down to 118 pounds. CLL is an agent orange disease, right?

PTSD has so many possible symptoms to include depression, substance abuse, and all the other things such as sleep disorders and the rest. I bet the VA would lump them all together under PTSD. If your VSO advises you to ask for an increase I would do it. VSO's tend to be very conservative. You must have a good case. I would not worry about being reduced. Adjustment disorder is a hoax IMO. If you have stressors or combat awards then PTSD claim is the right way to go. I think adjustment disorder is or was a way for VA to avoid a PTSD diagnosis. PTSD very often gets 100% rating and this costs the VA and runs up the budget.

For a married vet "S" is around $4300. If we live long enough it might be ok one day. If you get S and SSA you can probably live on it.

Hadit isa family. We have our spats and gripes as do all families, but we are there to help. I want to support all vets who struggle with the VA and with their own demons.

Merry Christmas!

All the Prozac type family of drugs can cause ED and this is a well known fact. If the VA tried to deny that medical fact it would be absurd, but you have to have the documentation anyway. Only presumptive conditions don't need a cause and effect type medical.

The doctor blames the pharmacy and pharmacy blames the doctor. I will contact the VA about my meds again and follow your advice. I have been contacting my congressman over the last 6 months because the VA is late with my meds or under prescribes for me.