Navy04

I just dont get it either. I try to help and support as many Vets on here as I can, but No Expert thats for sure. Thank you for the support, I really appreciate it. The Caregiver Support Nurse Came by yesterday, and it was a good Visit, and she really does seem to care about my health. She could not believe that I was reviewed either.

Good luck to you my friend. Keep us posted and God Bless

Thank you guys for your support, and Pete I was granted SSDI 2 years ago. In fact I was approved in 2 months, which is mostly unheard of in Texas. It took my brother almost 3 years. I have quite a few conditions that I can apply for, but honestly I am grateful and did not want to rock the boat. Also, I am very nervous and scared when I am around the VA and Govt, and try to avoid interaction at all costs. Just get tired of the bull crap. We all have been thru so much, but I am tired, just real tired.

Good Evening, Most of you have helped or followed my VA process over the last few years. I recently was Reviewed for 2 SC conditions even though I am 100% P&T. I actually had the Exam only for my 40% Condition, and it was continued. Well when I received the Big White Envelope, it states on there that the VA actually Reviewed my 30% for Scars, which I did not see a Doc or even get asked a question about. Well it was Reduced from the Current 30% to 10%, which is bull crap, but it did not affect my total % So I am still 100% P&T. I know that I am only 34, but I did not ask to be sick, hurt or Medically Retired at age 31. I am tired of looking over my shoulder and the Govt mess with me. Has anyone on here ever had a 100% P&T taken away from them? Thank in advance and may God give us all the strength we need.

Update 5/8!!!! I am stunned and dont know what to say. The VA and FU**** Govt always seems to find a way to get to me. I looked in the mail box today, and there was the official Big White Envelope. Well I open it, keep in mind that the VA was Reviewing my 40% Voiding Dysfunction disability. Well they decided to keep it at 40% which if fine, but also on the packet it Lists that I was Reviewed for my SC of Scars 30%. Now just last year this was Reviewed and continued at the 30%, not the VA decided to Reduce it to 10% Even though nothing in the Exam was asked about the Scars, and none of the scars have changed. So it still says that I am 100% P&T, but WTH is going on. What is the point of being 100% P&T that was just granted to me last year, bad enough the previous 18 months I was 100% T&P. Just cant figure what is going on. I mean I have a slew of conditions that I can apply for like Sleep Apnea which along is 50%. Yet I was grateful for the 100% P&T and did not want to rock the boat. Those of you that I have followed me for the Years I have been on Hadit, know that I have had quite a few issues like this come up with the VA. I know that I am only 34, but I did not ask to be sick, hurt or Medically Retired at the age of 31. When is the Govt going to leave me the Hell alone. On top of that Tomorrow is my CareGiver Yearly Review, so a nurse will be coming by tomorrow. I am so hurt as most of you are, and I want to be left alone, to live out what years I have left on earth in peace with my family. I truly love the Vets on Hadit, and God Bless

Sorry to say bud, but they are grouped together. I have 30% for Severe Crohn's Disease and Barretts Esophagus. These two are totally treated differently, yet as you can see the VA put them together due to both being in same family of conditions. For example my Migraines is 50% and that includes TBI. You can always submit a claim for these to be Increased if they are bad enough, or apply for another Secondary Condition.

Congrats on the good news and sorry to hear of your issues bud. I too was Medically Retired at 31 and 34 now. I have had a few Vets state they would assist me in applying for the SMCs, as I am 100% P&T, with multiple health issues as listed in Signature, and My wife is paid on the Highest Tier to be my care giver, along with SSDI. I just dont know where to start or how to apply for the SMCs. Hopefully somebody will chime in. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless

Only you can decide what is best for you bud. I get SSDI along with my 100% VA P&T, and I am only 34. I get where you are coming from and as Vets we Deserve every Dollar and Benefit that we worked hard for. Problem is with some Retirements or Pensions they start to work against each other. The Govt likes to refer to it as (Double Dipping). Just sit down read the Regs and do the math. If it is worth it for you, then go apply Online or at local SSA office on your own. My brother used a lawyer and it took him almost over 2 years to get SSDI. I filed on my own online, and was approve in less then 8 wks which is unheard of in Texas. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless

Sorry to say that there is no protection. I am 100% P&T with no Future exams since last year. Well in February out of no where a Claim showed up on Ebenefits that said New for a SC condition that I have currently at 40%. Local VA called me in for a Review Exam the following week. The Exam was not too comfortable thats for sure. Well this week the claim went to Complete, but my SC Disabilities %s did not change, and my AB8 letter still states 100% P&T. I think that the VA was trying to pull a fast one on me, as I am only 34 yrs old, yet I am Medically Retired from the Navy, and Permanent SSDI disabled. Always and I Mean Always keep up with your treatment, and never get too comfortable bud.

UPDATE 5/5!!! Well Yesterday the Claim Completed, but I see no Change in Disability Ratings, and my Benefits Letter still states 100% P&T with no Future Exams. SO I still dont know what the Heck is going on, Hopefully the BBE will be here soon So I can see what crap the VA is trying to pull. Thanks again guys

Welcome aboard and it is very common for the Status to go back and forth. I had 1 claim sit at Prep for Notification for over 2 months, then go back to Gathering of Evidence. Ebenefits is a great tool to use, but not always 100% up to date. The main Days to look at the site is Mon and Fri, where the statuses usually change. Do you have access to MyHealthEVet, and if you do post the C&P exam results here, and we can give you a more accurate guess. I am SC for PTSD and TBI, and they were not Deferred. As long as the Medical Evidence, or Scans are there then the VA will grant SC. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless

Welcome aboard and glad to see you are learning about the process. It is too hard to try to figure out when claims will complete. I had a C&P 2 months ago and the claim just completed yesterday. What is the Current status of your claim? Do you have access to Ebenefits? Do you have access to MyHealthEVet? Good luck and keep us posted, God Bless

Check your AB8 letter again latter this afternoon. My claim just changed this morning to the same status bud. Like I stated, a claim can easily go back and forth, even in the same day. That is what happens when multiple people are looking at these claims thru you local RO. We should both know something by tomorrow. The biggest updates are usually early morning and late evening. Keep calm and good luck

Sadly this is not unusual at all bud. My last claim went from Prep for Decision and Prep for Notif back to review of evidence more then once. Most of the time just means that the VA is either questioning a DRs Notes from the Exam, or you claim is being reviewed for Accuracy. I just had my exam a few weeks ago and already at Prep for Notification due to complete in the next few days. It can be a good or bad thing, just hard to say without official status. Just try not to go crazy, and hope for the best. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless!!!

Most of the time Yes, it will convert your initial FDC into a Traditional Claim. Why did you submit a new claim, while the FDC was already filed?

Glad to hear you were granted to extend the SSDI bud. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless

Glad you made it thru the exam bud. Looks like you will be increased to the 30% range. I am SC at 50% which sadly is the Biggest Rating awarded, and I have TBI. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless

That is very typical of a Back or Knee exams. Both have been less then 10 mins for me, and all were granted SC. When it comes to Joint and Skeletal issues, the Examiners usually go by VA Treatment Records, MRIs, X Rays and Measurement of ROM(Range of Motion). Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless!!!

VSO is Veteran Service Officer, a person locally in your town or VA that helps you file you claims and check status. RO is the VA Regional Office, for Texas it is Waco, which means they are the VA Big Wigs who handle your claims and benefits. NOD is Notice of Disagreement, that is typically where you challenge a Denied condition within a Year of Discharge. Without the official documentation posted on here, we would just be guessing bud. Post your denial letter hear, and what you are Service Connected for. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless!!

If you need the help, by all means you go. You do whatever it takes to get better for your family. I was asked just this past week by my VA Trauma Treatment Team to go to another In Patient program for 30 days in Sherman, Tx. I told them no way, I have had just about every treatment in the world and nothing has worked. My case is different, I have alot of severe health issues that work against each other, and having TBI doesnt help either. I am lucky enough to have a great family. Just make sure you got your finances together and dont go off what other people say. No one cares more about your health or finances more then you.

Glad to hear you made it thru the exam bud. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless!!!

It is hard to say bud. Are you claiming Secondary or New Conditions all together? I would think that is awful fast. Really hard to say. Good luck and keep us posted

If you are SC for PTSD, then you would need to submit a new claim for an increase. As far as treatment goes, that does not guarantee anything. I spent 110 days in a Mental Hospital while on Active Duty in 2012, and I was only awarded 30% PTSD VA when I was Medically Retired a year later. You just need to go do the Treatment, and decide what is best for you and your family. As long as you are seeking Treatment thru the VA for PTSD, then the Notes and Treatment records will speak in support of you. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless!!!

I am going thru the same thing bud. I am 100% P&T, yet 2 weeks ago the VA called me to go for an Exam for Increase, which I did not submit for. I drove the 300 miles round trip, did the 20 min Exam, and now the Status is at Prep for Decision. I dont have a clue either, and I too am a young 34 yr old Medically Retired. I guess we will have to wait and see. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless

Doc, Sorry to hear of your health issues, and hopefully with Asknods' help you will get the SMC. Not to Jump in, but asknod you had tried to help me a while back and it ended up being confusing. I am 100% Schedular P&T, and I have asked before if I should be qualify for additional SMCs, other then the K I have for damage due to Testicular Surgery. Even though I am P&T, the VA requested 2 weeks ago that I go in to Ft Worth VA for a C&P for an Increase on my 40% Voiding Dysfunction, yet I did not put a Claim in for Anything. The claim is already at Prep for Decision, yet I dont have a clue what is going on. Depending on the outcome can you assist with regarding if I qualify for other SMCs. Thanks in advance and hope you guys have a good weekend.