Navy04

Free, I am with you. I was well knowledgeable about PEBs and MEBs when I was active. Now, that I am retired everything is so new, and scary. I was retired at 30 years of age, and that in itself was a reality check. I have a very supportive wife who takes me to my Dr appts. She was even there when I spent 3 months in a Mental Hospital last year. Everybody has been telling for a year, you are guaranteed a 100%, so many documented medical conditions. Easier said than done, people don't realize how much we have to do, just to get the few bucks that we clearly deserve. I don't leave my house much, but I like to get on here every now and then and help when I can. If I don't know the answer, I either assist, or wish everyone the best. We all have trials and tribulations in life, sometimes I just feel that that Mountain keeps getting bigger.

Free, Thanks for the kind words. I called 3 or 4 different lawyers, one of the being Binder and Binder and all accepted my case. All lawyers said yeah "Im a shoe in" but I just don't believe anything anymore. My twin is disabled due to Crohn's, he was never in the Military. I went with his lawyer, local, and they were very friendly to me. As you know that will take time too, and I just hope that the FDC I have in comes back good, and I don't have to do a NOD and sit around for two years waiting for the results. God bless all of you, as I always say. I don't have a lot of faith in people these days.

the_stretcher, Just keep your strength up and let us know what happens. Berta, You give such positive feedback. I was medically retired back in Feb this year, and I am 80% SC. I did not get good %s from the VA back in the spring because the Navy was already retiring me. I went thru the new IDES joint program where I received my VA %s before the Navy even retired me, so the VA low balled me. I went to my VSO that I use, who is very nice, but at times I think that he has too much faith in the VA and doesn't like to look at alternative methods of applying for benefits. I told him that I wanted to submit of my %s to be increased. He told me to do a FDC claim. The problem is I use 3 different VAs and he only listed 1 on the FDC that we submitted. My conditions that I put in for have gotten worse and well documented currently with VA Docs. If I submit evidence that will help me, Megh says that my FDC will go to a traditional claim and take years. Im afraid that I will wait 6 months for the FDC results just to be disappointed and then Feb will make it a year that I will be out, and I wonder if I should have submitted a NOD instead. Do you think that my chances of my PTSD, Crohn's Disease, Hearing and Knee are good to be increased since the VA lowballed me to begin with. Also I had to quit my job earlier this month cause I could not take it anymore due to my PTSD, Crohn's and Migraines. My friend told me to go this past week and apply for SSDI. Do you think since I am Medically Retired from the Navy, Have a good % thru the VA, and currently unemployed that they will approve my SSDI? Sorry, to bother you with so much info, I am just so worried for my Family. In a few months we will be wishing we had Top Ramen to put on the table. Just don't want to let my family down and lose precious time dealing with the VA.

Philip, I was on a PEB forum when I was active waiting to be Medically Retired this past February. Along with that site and Hadit, I have found that most people are hard core in the site and learning about how to submit their claims and not get screwed. The problem is when most people do get 100% whether it takes months or years, they all of sudden rarely get on site to help people, they just say "Man you guys are over anxious and going crazy", well that's easy cause you are at 100%. The VA in the last few years has put a lot of good people thru bad times, when most cases can be accomplished in a short period. I have a friend who is a GS18 at Dallas VA and another that is a Rater, and they tell me that they could do 10 cases a day if it wasn't for the Bureaucracy and the politics involved just to sign off on a completed claim. I had to resign from a high paying job as an Agent with the state, so we wont get rich anytime soon, even if we all were 100%. But I tell you one thing, if we owed the government 1$, they would take what little we had. God bless to all on here.

Thanks to all, you guys have given so much good advice. I wish I would have known this prior to my FDC, I submitted on 9/24. My VSO says that It should be fine, but I am very worried. I was medically retired from the Navy in Febr due to Chron's Disease. I am 80% SC and I put in an FDC to have my PTSD, Chron's, Knee and Hearing %s increased. Most of these conditions, I am worse since I received my ratings in the spring. I told my VSO I am being seen at 3 different VA facilities in Texas due to all of them have different available specialty DRs. My VSO only submitted with the note about the 1 VA, which was my PCM at first and mailed my Meds. After 7 months they finally referred me to the VAs that I needed for my PTSD, Chron's etc. I don't want to send any evidence in and cause my FDC to go to a Traditional Claim and wait 2 years, but I don't want to waste 6 months either, with a negative result. Do you guys have any advice on what to do? I had well documented claims with my original %s, but was not given fair %s. I know that they will be increased, but I don't want that to be years down the road, when I have all the evidence now. My DRs said they will fill out DBQs anytime, which is rare considering they are all VA Docs. Sorry I went on too long. I had to quit a very lucrative job as an Agent with the state, and in a few months my family will begin to struggle financial. I just don't want my family to have to suffer because of my health. God bless all of you, and may we all receive what we deserve.

63sierra, My case is in Waco RO too. Since I was medically retired in February, this is my first dealing with that Office. How good or how quick are they? I have a FDC with them. Meghp0405, I love how passionate you are about the job. I was offered a VSO position when I first retired and I wish I would have taken that job, instead I spent the last 7 months as an Agent tracking Violent Sex Offenders, I had to resign from that job. I helped a lot of people when I was going thru the PEB in the Navy, but I am so new to all of this. I have a very friendly helpful VSO. Only thing is sometimes I think that he has more faith in the VA then what I have actually seen. I wrote you back on my Fully Developed Claim discussion but my internet was acting up. Once I did research, you are right, I don't know why he requested my submit a FDC when I have only been out 8 months. My ratings were never great to begin with from the VA, because the Navy was already going to retire me. So the JAG lawyer said take you 80% SC and Navy retirement and run. JAG told me to go and just ask the VA to increase %s and there should be no problem. I had plenty of documentation and evidence for my %s before. Now I am scared that if this FDC comes back, either it will take past February or not come back good. Everyone says that if I send in my new evidence that the FDC will be pushed into a traditional claim and take forever. I guess if the %s don't come back good, then I will submit a NOD if in time. Will I have to do more C&P exams since I just the Military with my ratings. 63Sierra, sorry I had to jump in on Megh, I didn't know how to ask her otherwise.

Just to give you an idea on the GERD, I have a 30% for Crohn's Disease which is so severe the Navy retired me in Feb after 9 years active duty. My GERD is also so bad that I have been tested twice and will be on Tuesday next week to make sure that I don't have throat Cancer, due to tearing and holes in my Esophagus. I wish you the best, but I will be surprised if you get 10% for GERD.

I really hope so too Radio, keep us updated.

Scott, The best you can hope for is 30%, but a friend of mine in the Coast Guard jus got a 10% with a GAF of 60 and impairment sometimes symptom. I had a GAF of 42 or 45 and Impairment in Most areas and the VA gave me 30% back in February. I have a FDC to have my PTSD increased, cause I think that the VA gave me a low % because the Navy was retiring me for Crohn's Disease. I am on 3 psych meds, current GAF of 45 and unemployed. I wish you the best.

T8r, Thanks so much for the quick response. I am so nervous, we are all so used to getting screwed. I have an Ortho consult here soon and might have my 3rd right knee surgery and my 1st on my left knee. The VA gave me 0% for my Knee last time, and as you can see I have ongoing Knee issues. My Crohn's was and is unstable that is why the Navy retired me after 9 years active and multiple deployments, yet the VA and Navy gave me 30%. My GAF is currently at 45, was either 42 or 45 last time and the VA gave me 30%, even though C%P examiner rated everything Severe and impairments in most areas. On hearing VA stated I had hearing loss in both ears and they gave me 0%, even though they sent me a letter stating that during the exam their Hearing Machine was out of calibration. Please wish me the best, as I do you. Thanks again.

Maine2000, I think that you will continue at 50%, but maybe upped to 70%. I have a FDC in to have a few %s increased too. I was medically retired in February from the Navy for Crohn's Disease 30%. I had a GAF of 42 or 45, I don't remember at this time, and the VA only gave me 30%. I think that the VA low balled me cause the Navy was already Medically retiring me at the time. I am unemployed due to my SC, and I have a current GAF of 45 and I hope that the VA gives me a good rating soon. I wish you the best and keep us updated.

DoubleD, Keep us posted. You never know, My GAF was a 42 when the Navy retired me back in February, and the VA C&P Examiner listed everything as Severe and I only received 30% from the VA. I think that in my case the VA low balled me, cause the Navy retired me for my Crohn's Disease. I currently have a FDC in to have my %s increased. You should get 50-100%, but it is usually Temporary then they will reevaluate you. Good luck and I wish you the best.

My VSO submitted a Fully Developed Claim to have a few of my Condition %s increased. I have two questions: one is it true that FDC timelines are typically 6 months for completion? and two I already had good original evidence with initial claim, as I was Medically retired from the Navy in February this year, or should I submit my continued treatment and new evidence? My VSO says that I should be fine, and if I submit new evidence, My claim can go from FDC to traditional claim and it take forever. What is the best action for me. I am 80% SC and my Conditions are listed below. Crohn's Disease 30%-Requesting Increase (Unstable) PTSD 30%-Requesting Increase Current GAF(45) Migraines 30% Scars 30% Cranial Nerve Damage 10% Tinnitus 10% Hearing Loss 0%-Requesting Increase Right Knee Two Surgeries 0%-Requesting Increase(Referred to Ortho Last Week, Possible 3rd Surgery)

ID, Thanks so much for the DBQ link. These forms really help a lot.

Hickory, I know how you feel. I have a 30% for my PTSD/Anxiety and it is temporary. I have a FDC in to have it upped since I can not work anymore and currently applied for SSDI. I am very anxious about them trying to screw me, like they are trying with you. Just fight bud. God bless you and I wish you the best.

Proudvet, Sorry to hear that they gave you the runaround. I had staff infection cut out of my head last year and every since been suffering from Headaches. I am 30% SC from the Navy for the Migraines and I take medication. I was Medically retired in February this year, after 9 years active duty. It took me 3 months to get paid. So you should get it soon. Good luck and wish you the best.

I just hired a lawyer yesterday for SSD or SSI, I can them confused. I am 80% SC and I have Crohn's Disease and PTSD among other health conditions. I could only wish that my case is that fast. My twin brother was denied 4 times in a row, and his Hearing is in December. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Your case was decided fast because you have good evidence and probably do not have multiple conditions. I have found with the govt that the more conditions an applicant has the longer it takes. God bless you and keep us updated. By the way what are your conditions, if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks Free!

Is that good or bad that someone submitted STRs in my behalf.

Carlie, Thank you again. You really know your stuff and you don't mind helping.

Carlie, Thanks for the quick response, but what does (STR) stand for?

Thanks DoubleD for the advice. I always get so nervous with those dang C&P exams.

Carlie and Phillip, Thank you so much. I currently have a fully developed claim in to up my Chron's and my PTSD. I was told by the VSO that if I put it more than 1 claim that it will slow everything down. I wonder why he told me that I have to have 40% or more for one of my conditions. I am unable to work due to 3 30%s for PTSD, Crohn's Disease and Migraines. Thank you guys so much for all your advice. I will go see my VSO on Tuesday.

Harley, I am happy for you. Can you give me some details on your PTSD. How long have you had it, What % was you before, What did the VA C&P say and What GAF where you at? I was medically retired from Navy back in February this year. I have 4 30%s, with one of them being PTSD. The VA C&P rated me Severe in all aspects and my GAF was 42. I was told to take my %s and run from the Military, and fight with the VA. I currently have a claim in to up my %s. I am going to meet my Lawyer on Tuesday to apply for SSD. I can not apply for IU until one of my %s goes up to atleast 40%. Hopefully soon I will be.

I checked my Ebenefits and on one of my Claims the status states "New Unsolicited STRs". Does anyone know what that means. Thanks in advance.