Navy04

This stuff is starting to get expensive. I just paid 3k to get my partials, even though I have insurance. I got tired of the VA dragging their butt, even though at Tier 1 100% P&T, my dental is supposed to be top priority thru the VA. My Civilian Dentist did in 5 mths, what the VA did not in 5 years. Really Frustrating that I pay $700 a mth for insurance on the family and I, and yet still have to pay Co-Pays. Sorry for the Rant Guys, God Bless!!!

Me too, in Tx i save 17k a year. Couldn't afford my lake house without the exemption. Thanks for the info. God Bless

Congrats on the win bud. Good luck and God Bless

Thanks. And I just try to do the best for my family. Appreciate the support

This is why I always worry so much, that my wife will be taken care of. My good friend died a few years ago, he was a Korea and Vietnam Vet with Agent Orange and other stuff. He always told his wife that she would get a check and everything would be fine. Well, he was on IU, and died of a Non Service connected issue, and guess what. His wife gets nothing, had everything Repoed, and ultimately had to sell her house and move in with her Daugther. I could not imagine my wife, losing me, even though I am 35 and she is 32, and not being able to get paid benefits that we worked hard for. The Future of this Govt, and the VA really scares the Hell out of Me. I admit, that I worry so much about this, that it controls my life in more ways then I care to say. Thanks

I am so Sorry to hear of this bud. I just had my Scars 30%, get Reduced to 10%, and without notice, exam anything. I truly wish you the best. Please keep us posted. God Bless

I was Law Enforcement, when I was Granted SSDI, and had to Retire due to the State of Texas Labeling me Endangerment to Society. State of Texas has a Policy that if a Veteran has Documented PTSD, and TBI, he or she can be labeled, and therefore unable to carry a Weapon. I actually had to make my Wife Power of Attorney for my Children and I SSDI Checks, and had to Sign a Form that says if ever caught to have a Weapon and I will be arrested and can serve up to 2 yrs in prison. Its hard living in the country with wild animals, and snakes, and I can not even have a weapon to defend myself. I was very angry and embarrassed at first, but I did not want to fight the Govt any more. Just wanted to be able to take care of my family. I have Masters in CJ field, so I tried my best to get out of it, but just was not getting anywhere. I have had Friends that will not accept the SSDI, solely due to this policy. Sorry to hear of the Continuing fight that we must endure for the Rest of What Life we Have Left!!! Good Luck and God Bless!!

Thanks for the info Berta. Surprisingly the VA actually mailed me the Form Completed, I had never heard of it, back in 2015. I owed 100k, that really helped me out alot. Most Vets dont know that while Active the Military only pays for 4 classes per year. I took 10-15 classes per year for 7 yrs, 3 degrees later that I now can not use due to my health. Grateful that along with the VA, Navy and my pocket I finished, considering I did not even have a High School Diploma when I joined the Navy at 22. Sorry for the Rambling, as usual Berta you are always on the look out for us Vets. God Bless

Good to see more documentation and details to support your claim. I went over the documents in detail and they look good to go to me. I will start out by saying, and this is very important. Never, and I mean Never use the VFW or Local VSO to submit your claims. They do not nor will ever care about your claim as much as you, especially if they are butt hurt, cause you are sicker then them and can expect SC to be granted. I have submitted over 15 FDC claims since my Medical Retirement in 2013, with 90% of them being granted on my own. I did my own SSDI as well, which was granted in 7 weeks on the first try, which in Texas is darn near impossible. Do you have an Ebenefits Account and Login? Also have you documented in your Health History thru MyHealthEVet, it allows you to put whatever Medical Event took place and you can put the Dates, Even if it is 40 yrs back. My Last 4 FDCs thru Ebenefits have all been decided in less then 2 months, with no exams, due to me uploading all the needed evince thru the portal. Ok now to be Medically retired vs Separated with Severance, is you have to have a SC Condition that is at least 30% Disabling. If you were granted 30% or higher, then you should have been given the option of Severance Medical Discharge, or Retirement with no Severance. I turned down 80K, cause I wanted the Retirement and Benefits. Most Vets dont know that Medical Severance is almost as if the Vet never served, as there are hardly any benefits or money that comes with it, compared to a full retirement. What are you currently SC for? What Conditions was your SSDI granted for? We are here to help you, and I will make sure that the Right People look at your medical Evidence, if you submit a claim via Ebenefits. Just blows my mind that the Damn Govt makes Vets fight for so long. Also do you have a copy of your Exit Medical Exam, that notes what your Medical Issues history is while Active, and along with your Medication History? From this day forward use the Good Folks on Hadit to help you submit your claims thru the Ebenefits route. I do not like to go thru the Appeal Process, as Vets tend to sit there for years. You might get a few more bucks in Retro if Granted, but I find that most of the Older Vets just dont have enough time left on earth to risk the wait. Of course that is what the Govt and VA wants is for Vets to give up. I have had atleast 10 conditions that were denied at first due to the VA Raters not looking at the Evidence. All I do is turn right around and open a new claim for the same condition, and darn near all were granted, even though all I did was submit the Exact Same Medical Evidence I had to begin with. Good luck and keep me posted. I dont know everything, wish I did, but I have learned alot thru the Years, and do my best to help well deserved Vets. God Bless

VR, Im sorry for all the health issues and bad experiences you have had all these years. I have actually had more success helping Vietnam Vets more then current war vets. I understand you say that the Govt lost your records. I myself have SC conditions from OIF/OEF that were not documented officially but I found the Doc and Medics that treated me over there to supply certified letters. Also in the first few years since your exit from Active Duty you have no physical evidence like MRIs, Cat Scans, X Rays, Etc. The VA can not challenge a Vet when there is Hardcore Physical Evidence placed in front of them. Now when a Vet states, I think this, I believe this, that will not work in the VA or SSDI people. I have been down that road with a few Vets as well. Many a Vets have had their records lost, such as in the St Louis Fire, but either had Private Medical notes, Treatment, or copies of their own Military Record. A good friend of mine died recently. He was a Korean and Vietnam Vet with Agent orange, Heart, COPD and Diabetic Issues and with other stuff. His records too were lost, but we contacted some old war buddies, which was very hard as most were deceased, and he also had active duty treatment notes, along with civilian Dr tests done shortly after discharge. With that alone we won the case and Retro back to 1968. Appeals do take years for most Vets, I currently am helping two Vets that have been on appeal since 2010-2011. Most definitely take 4-5 years minimum. As you stated only way to speed it up, if you are terminally ill or risk of homelessness. Thats just how it works for all the Vets, SSDI is the same as well. I hope that you can find some medical evidence from back then, or some body who is still living to provide a Lay statement. I truly wish you the best. God Bless and keep us posted.

As stated above each state is different. I too live in Texas and am 100% exempt, only way I can afford my $500k home by the lake. I dont have to pay the 25k in taxes and with good credit, I only pay $1500 a month mortgage. Thank God for the few tax breaks I get here in Texas, including the DV Truck Plates which save a few bucks as well. Sorry to hear your state has the freaking Loop Holes that I am so tired of hearing Vets inform us about. Awful that the VA and Govt always talks about how they do this and do that for Vets, when in the end, there are always hidden fees. Good luck and sorry bud. God Bless to all

Surprisingly the last 2 DBQs have been filled out easily by Civilian and VA Docs, caught me off guard. I feel for your shoulder and I have a torn cup and nerve damage. I will get around to the surgery one of these days when the other stuff quiets down. As far as ROM and Painful moving, I feel that the VA Screws too many veterans. Hell I have had 2 knee surgeries on the right, and need surgery on the left, and yet both are rated only 10%. I feel that the C&P Docs try to force Vets to do movements that they shouldnt, then use it as evidence against the Veteran. A Vet should always put in for an increase in SC if it has gotten worse, and never be scared or ashamed to ask a doc to fill out a DBQ, even though most wont. GOod luck and keep us posted. God Bless

Great news bud, and hope all is well. Love to see the Success stories posted, as there does not seem to be enough of them these days. God Bless

Congrats on the 100% bud. There is alot of good info on here, and plenty of good folks that know more then me. I truly wish you and your family the best. God bless and good luck.

Gastone, It depends on what level. I am on the highest tier of Caregiver, and my wife is paid $3175 a month, there are 2 lower levels, I believe Tier 2 is $1675 and Tier 3 is $1000. Im sure I would qualify for A&A, but even after all this reading and good help thru Hadit, I dont have a clue which and what amount criteria I would meet. Also, I believe a Vet can not get Caregiver and A&A at the same time. I wish I was as knowledgeable as alot of smart Vets on here are. Also sorry to hear of your wife leaving, that happens too much these days and it bothers the hell out of me. My wife has alot on her plate along with taking care of my young girls, but she has always stood by me and tried to do her best and never puts me down for it either. I wish things were different, but we did not ask to be hurt or sick. Good luck and God Bless my friend.

Congrats on the great news. The next few months will consist of a lot of pay and benefits to b learned. For example in TX I don't pay property tax due to 100% disabled. Also u will have bass privileges. Just b patient and make sure u asked every question u can think of and absorb all the good info on hadit. Good luck and God Bless

Welcome aboard and sorry u had to go thru that awful exam. I have had too many mental exams to keep up with. Not many went well even when I was granted. Just tired of Vets having to defend themselves all the da mn time. We didn't ask to be hurt or sick. I hope all goes well my friend. Please keep us updated and God Bless

If benefits is updated it will show u if u r granted under ur disability %s or ur updated letter of benefits and pay. Good luck and keep us posted. Don't let this process drive u crazy. God bless.

Glad u made it thru ur exams. It's hard to say about childhood remarks. The VA is so unpredictable these days. Wish u the best and keep us updated. God bless

The claim could move fast. I just had my FDC claim with PTSD increased based on DBQ filled out by the VA without an exam. More then likely you will have to go to the VA for exam, as it is easier for Civilian Docs to fill out DBQs or other paper work, cause they are Fee based, where as the VA Docs are not paid any different. Just to show you, I have really bad Crohns disease, in fact looks like im having stomach surgery this year, and I only get 30% for it, to include GERD and Barrett's Esophagus. Either way good luck and keep us posted. God Bless

I have had multiple Knee surgeries and I got 10% for both knees. Really hard to get a higher rating unless you have had them replaced. Hardest part is getting Service Connection. You can always submit a new claim for an increase if it gets worse. Good luck and God Bless

Great news, so happy for you. We focus so much on these hard travels, that its almost hard to accept the wins. I truly hope your 2018 is better then 2017. Good luck and God Bless!!!

Sorry to hear of your issues, and glad to see you got SSD. Any form of outside Medical Evidence will help you. Just make sure you stay very involved in your own claims. I do not like the DAV or VSOs. Good luck and keep us posted. Make sure you continue to seek treatment thru the VA. God Bless

Vet, Congratulations, and as stated above Retro at times is not as much as we think. I helped a Vet that go retro to 1992 last year and it was only 11K. A Win is a Win, and the SC is the hardest to get. Remember once granted you can always put in a claim for an increase. Good luck, and hope all is well. God Bless

Thanks for the info