Click To Ask Your VA Claims Questions | Click To Read Current Posts
Read Disability Claims Articles View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Search | Rules
usdart
-
Posts
258 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
3
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
VA Disability and Benefits Information
VA Benefits News
Store
Posts posted by usdart
-
-
WARNING, LONG POST
I'll go ahead and clear the air here; I know this is going to upset a lot of Veterans that have been seeking a strong rating and have been denied. My apologies, I'm not trying to sound ungrateful here.
Here's the situation:
I am a full-time educator who has been working for several months (successfully). I was at a 50% PTSD rating for the the past four years, but recently went in for my re-evaluation. Terrified of the outcome and possible reduction, I went in prepared; I had my list of symptoms, I wrote down the worst days I've had recently, and I was open and honest with the evaluator. Today, I received notice that my rating for PTSD and depression has been raised to 100%.
The money would be nice. I have a family and am expecting another child soon, but I still don't want this rating.
I need to work. Structure and implied hierarchies rule my life. I have a routine that I daily and any deviation from this ruins the entire day. If they took my job away, I would genuinely lose it. . .
Here are the reasons I want to lose this rating:
1. I'm terrified of losing my routine and know full well that a new one wouldn't be good for me. The paycheck from the VA would be more than I could make at my job (teachers have a salary ladder) until about five years from now. If I have this much money coming in, I'll get stuck in a rut that I will never break free from.
2. I'm terrified about coming to grips with my condition. Yes, I have some problems. No, I don't think they are severe enough to warrant this decision. I'm able to work. I need to work. If I don't contribute something to the world then I'm lost. I know Vets who cannot function in daily society, and I'm not one of them. I don't want to take away from the people who really need this benefit.
3. I'm worried what others think. Yes, I know it's shallow, but I spend the majority of my time analyzing others. One of my conditions is that I've lost the ability to respond well socially; I'm emotionally numb unless I'm chemically altered. With a 50% rating, my friends, family (and possibly employers) think I've got a "little baggage." With 100%, I doubt they could ever look at me the same. Those that love me will question whether I'm going to do something drastic, and those who don't will judge me and may think I'm faking.
I'm grateful that the VA took the time and genuinely listened to me, but I think they're overdone it. Can anyone tell me how to rectify this situation? I don't want benefits I don't believe I'm entitled to. I don't want the VA to think I inflated my condition for profit, and I don't want to lose the one thing that keeps me from crawling into a hole (job).
How long can i continue to work before they come after me? I'd at least like to finish up the school year. If I break contract (even though it would be for good reason) I would really destroy my chances of ever teaching again. It's a small town, who would hire me after that?
Thanks for all the help.
I am 100% P&T for PTSD and had the same types of concerns so I called Human Resources. I was told I do not have to disclose my percentage and only have to say 30% or more. In addition I was told the Company has several people with 100% that ARE working. As long as you are not unemployable. So now I am in good shape financially for the first time in my life. No more stressing to meet the bills and spouse arguing about money is a big stress reliever and is helping with my mental health.
-
I am not waiting 3 months for an appointment to stop this drug from causing me problems. I have informed the Doc through 'myhealthyvet' and am awaiting a reply there.
-
Check out the attached flyer if you live in Washington State please
-
I started my prescribed drug for depression and found myself in a 'cloud' and not feeling right. Felt totally tired and wanted to sleep all the time. This was the minimum dose and the Doc wanted me to progress to higher doses.
I stopped taking it and will contact the Doc for more guidance. I am still working and cannot walk around, drive and operate machinery in a fog!
Anyone else have this issue?
-
That is wonderful my friend..we are taking care of each other just like in the Field.
T-Bird deserves the most applause....
Don't forget to apply for spousal benefits too. It added 170+ dollars to my check and 1700.00 back pay.
-
-
I work for the DOE.
I filed EEOC complaints and have sent the info to HR and the CEO at the request of the HR folks. I included the email from HR to show that the HR told me to forward it to the CEO.
Have not heard anything in the past week, so still waiting.
-
heres what really happens when u do a congressional. I did one.
you fill out a form, authorizing release of information to the congressmans office. The congressmans liason, contacts the RO liason, and the claim gets pulled and put in a special area. At this time, it is called special correspondence on ebennies. The congressmans Liason who doenst know jack shit abt how the VA works, forwards your questions to the RO liason who has special training in giving bulllshit answers to the congressional Liason.
Abt every 30 days, they will be a message to you via your congrssmans stationary. Take note of its high quality, crisp, regal properties, and look at the official seal. Now you got it going on bubba louie. WRONG.
At this time, all the goons at the va are doing is sifting thru your claim, making sure they can cover their butts, should the tarbaby start rolling down hill, and an investigation, congressional inquiry, ect be opened on your claim. If all is well with the world, and there is no arrestable offenses jumping out of the claims folder, they let it sit. The claim will be worked in the order it is in. It will just be monitored, and made sure not to, fall thru the cracks in the floor, and into the woods behind the varo to be used as squirrel bedding material . So get a conressional inquiry if you want, but its really a horse and pony show. CONGRESS HAS NO POWER OVER THE VA. PERIOD. ALL THEY CAN DO IS HARRASS AND BADGER THEM. VA HAS NO SHAME.
If the RO has buried your drawers in the courtyard and put a spell on you, there aint nothing going to change thier minds. just get in line with the masses and go see a judge. maybe if enough of us do it, they will just dismantle the RO and everybody will have to go see a judge, when denied get a lawyer and get it done , just like SS.
There has to be just as many or more SS claims as there are VA claims, why is SS so much more effiecient?
They have eliminated a cesspool of stagnation, by not having places for the claims to fester/
This is not my experiance at all. My Congressman's assistant would call Her contact at the VA and get answers alsmost imediately. It did not slow down the process or move my claim somewhere else. In fact I feel like it it helped poke them in the butt and get it done for me.
Could be this is not normal of Congressional Inquiries and I may have just gotten lucky for once. I will not hesitate to contact my Congressman's office when I need help.
-
I just went through this..just be honest and connect your problems to your service. It is hard because you feel constantly defeated and things never come out good for you. But, tell the truth and then they can't call you a liar or challenge anything you tell them. Allow your emotions to come as they may. It is not unmanly even though we are taught that. Emotions cause phisical and mental problems and they need to know you are genuine. I told them my true feelings about suicide as it goes on in my private thoughts. I did tell them I did not EVER want to hurt anyone again. So no homicidal problems were noted.
If you are nervous and scared, tell them when they ask how you feel. tell the TRUTH!
-
I am rated 100% P&T by the VA now PTSD is the primary percentage at 100%. Plus I have 30% Sinusitis and 10% Tinitus. Rated as a Disability of 100%.
I do not know at this time which would be more $$$. A regular retirement now at 63 y/o or SSDI.
-
I was told by someone that you cannot have SSDI and VA Disability payments at the same time. You can file and recieve one or the other,but, not both.
Is this true?
If not; Will the Social Security Office go by the VA findings and ratings?
Wanting to Retire with the most I am entitled to legally.
-
I am not Navy but, welcome aboard my friend.
The folks here are amazing to say the least. I just finished my claim and it came out better than I had dreamed of.
The clock is ticking on your case because you only get a year to respond to the denial.
As far as yours, I think you need a Veterans Service Officer to help. There are good ones and some not so good too but, stay on this site and they will guide you through the muck and mire
Best of luck brother
-
I just went through this process with my C&P's being done last month with QTC.
You will not be able to get the results because the VA does not have them in thier system until the case closes. At that time you will recive the 'big brown envelope' My results were included in this package.
I filed FOIA request two times and two weeks apart and never got the results. The VA said they did not have them.
I am sorry, but, like me I am afraid you will have to wait.
-
so I changed and added my spouse on ebennies..is that enough?
-
I recently got rated 100% P&T. The pay schedule shows $2858.00 for a single Vet. Am I entitled to more because I am married?
If so, how do I file for the rate change?
-
I believe it helped me. Some here say it makes no differense, I disagree. My Congressman's office took a personal interest in my case. The Office would call "their contact" with the VA and get back to me very quickly. After everything selled down the contacted me and asked if everything was OK now? And then offered future help if I need it. Wonderful people who did what they promised for me.
-
I had to prove a stressor and prove combat to get PTSD service conected. They also wanted a Service award, purple heart or other medals to proove it. In addition the stressor had to be very profound and life threating. Then I had to explain how it has affected me since leaving the Military.
It sounds like that is why no PTSD was awarded?
-
I'm curious, a veteran that's 100%, files a claim, used vso's from all organizations, learned how to do claims all by their selves, claim is denied at the Ro, BVA and CAVC.
My first question would be, what kind of nexus is in this veterans c-file?
just curious....
I think you are asking ME...
My VSO fouled up my claim by assumeing the VA would see that I was in Viet Nam in a Artillary unit in the field under combat conditions. The VA knows that some who went to Viet Nam did not see combat. The VA wanted proof that I had been under fire in combat. My history with the VA from 1979 shows sleep problems, headaches, Alchol abuse, family and work issues. As part of my proof I sent in the Company names of the more than 50 jobs I have had since discharge. I also sent in the After Action Report for the major Offensive I was apart of in 1970. Along with newspaper accounts and two buddy statements. All this info was researched and found by ME. The VSO does not care as much about you as you do and to be fair they do not know all the small clues it takes to chase down the Evidence. Each piece of info gave clues to how to find the next etc.
That's my story and I am sssttticking to it!
-
My C&P was done by QTC last month. I filed two seperate FOIA requests 2 weeks apart. The first request came back with the 'we don't have any C&P's in your file'.
The second FOIA came back with copies of my entire health file, minus the C&P exams I asked for.
I recieved the big envelope and no longer needed the C&P exams.
I am thinking the C&P exams done by QTC are held up by the VA during the rating process and not available til the file is closed. I could of course be wrong but, that is what happened to me.
-
I have SC 100% for PTSD and was told yesterday by my employer that I can still work. Matter of fact I was offered a desk job at Corp Headquarters and they would pay to move me, I declined because I do not want to live in Portland.
I was also told all I have to do is provide the letter stating I am 30% or more and I don;t have to tell them 100%. I was concerned because I work for the DOE. Additionally I do not have to inform my Supervisor either.
About guns I am not sure, I don't own any anyway,
-
Just got my envelope.
100% PTSD
30% Sinusitis
0% Hearing loss (previously denied) Due to my MOS as Heavy Vehicle Mechanic
10% Tinitus
I read someone stating to get 100% PTSD you have to be nearly a basket case.
call me Mr Case!
It looks like the 'Buddie Statements' carried most of the weight. They went so far as to mention the names of the folks who wrote on my behalf. That and the proof of Combat in the form of After Action Reports and newspaper articles did the trick.
I could not have done this on my own..thanks to everyone here for having my back. You can aleays count on a fellow soldier when you need someone.
-
Now that I am 100% P&T I heard my Wife can also get healthcare.
Is this true?
What will it cost?
How abot Dental and Vision for her?
I check on the CHAPVA (Ithink that is the acronym) and it is not very clear.
-
-
It seems looking back on my C&P exam that their first impression of you carries alot of weight.
I say this becase when I arrived at the exam bldg I was sitting in my car afraid to go in and arguing with the dummy (me).
I sat there sipping coffee scared to death and then someone tapped on my window. It was the Receptionist and the Doctor, They had come outside to assure me it was OK to go in and to coax me in because they said I looked lost and afraid. Sort of a happy coincedence for me otherwise the dummy (me) would have talked me out of it.
so first impression means more than you think? I think so!
What Is Your Number One Complaint About The Va?
in VA Disability Claims Research
Posted
One-way communication! Treated like Cattle with one sided entries into files. Personnel try to trick individuals into saying they are OK.
If you take your pills then you feel OK and you say so, they write it down as if a miracle happpend and youre cured. The only reason you feel OK is through drugs and I hate taking pills. If you are scheduled for a C&P exam and you take your Meds you will not be evaluated properly.