Navy04

jfrei, As I and others have put on here. It depends on your disabilities as to whether you qualify or not. I have helped Vets apply for the program that were 100% for 1 condition or another, but not qualify because their disabilities do not 100% hinder them for daily living. I have not driven or worked since 2014, which I was 32 at the time. I am so far off, that my VA Docs actually submitted for me to be on the program, and I found out after the fact. This program only has a couple hundred Vets in the whole state of Texas. Very hard to get on the program and remain on it as well. In my case I do not receive the SMCs that you receive as I have had alot going on and not applied for them yet. Just try to take the battles one at a time, and remember that if you can Drive, or function in some capacity, more then likely you will not get approved for the Caregiver. I forgot if you mentioned, do you or your wife work? Hope you have a good weekend, and God Bless.

Glad to hear of your success bud, sorry to hear of your health issues. I have Crohns disease, so I know plenty about bowel issues. That is nothing to play around with. If you are having those issues, then you need to get in a see a GI or Urologist Doc. On the mental health, just make sure you get in there every month or so to seek help. If anything go to see the Doc just to Vent as I do, so not to take it out on the family. Also as far as the headaches., I have TBI as well, and not much as helped. Just try not to get worked up or frustrated, and spend quality time with your family. Remember that the hardest part is to get service connection, but the VA and Govt can always come back at you in the wrong way. Just continue to seek treatment, and watch what you say at your VA appts. Are you currently working, or collecting SSDI? Good luck and God Bless!!!

Totally agree with the guys above. We did not ask to be sick, but also the VA will not willingly give us anything. So many of us Vets lose, even when the Evidence is right in front of the VA. Or they low ball or issue a ton of 0%s, which is bull crap. How can any disability big or small, only garner a 0%. You give the VA hell, and keep on trucking bud. Good luck

Great to hear the good news bud. Wish you the best and God Bless

Glad you made it thru the C&P. I just had back surgery last month. This has been the hardest recovery and most painful out of my 11 surgeries. Good luck and I wish you the best. Keep us posted and god bless

Bronco, Thanks for the info. I am excited to get anything extra at this point. I live in a cheap part of Tx where 10 yrs ago a 100k bought you a nice house , and now a double wide with a couple acres is 150k. As you guys stated, we appreciate the raise, but I dont understand why the Govt does not base it on what life actually costs, not what some bean counter sees on a computer model.

Tbird, What you say hits home right on the spot. To this day it is very embarrassing for me, especially as a man, even though I was a kid, it will always haunt me til the end. Thanks for the support

At 20% I dont see you getting IU bud. I would get new X rays and MRIs, and if the Results show that you have gotten worse, then you will be granted an increase. If C&P Doc says that it affects you working, then you would qualify for IU. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless

Thanks, my TBI can easily get an increase, due to my recent brain scan. I have had so much going on the last 2 years, that I have not even submitted an FDC for that. I currently have the back claim in, then my PTSD increase claim next, then my TBI. I am Permanent, and with so much going on, just try to slow down and take it one day at a time. Hope you guys have a good weekend. Take care my friends.

Sorry to hear of your issues bud, and we know about you having to be the provider. It is hard to be sick and pay your bills. As Gastone stated above, you can not work and get IU. You can get 100% Schedular and work, but not IU. Has stated, if you are eligible for SSDI, then maybe you should go that route. The SSDI road will take time as well, so there is no quick resolution, other then Submitting a New VA FDC claim for an increase on 1 or all of your current SC disabilities, if you feel that your conditions have gotten worse. Good luck and keep us posted.

First of all, forgot to say welcome aboard. My Asthma is pretty bad, and yet I was granted only 10%. Very hard to get higher, unless you have been hospitalized due to the Asthma. Good luck and wish you the best. God Bless

Welcome aboard, My Asthma % was based on the Breathing Test thru the C&P exam.

If you requested A&A, and are single, that would cause this issue to come up. I helped a Vietnam Vet 2 years ago that his wife died, and had no kids. Due to his Mental conditions the VA stated he needed financial help as well, even though he was very successful, owned everything, and had close to a million dollars in his savings and 401k. He was very close to his sister, so we sent a letter to the VA requesting that his sister be his financial rep. I talked to him a few months ago, and everything was still going good. This issue is not the end of the world. I always tell Vets when they go in to the Mental C&Ps to watch what they say, or to keep from overdoing it, as most of the time this is when I see the VA will throw up the Red Flag. Decide what is best for you, but I have seen where the Vet stated he did not need financial help, and the VA came back and reduced or took away the Mental Rating due to a Contradiction in the filed claim compared to the Exam Doc opinion. Always a side effect out there when rocking the boat, good or bad. Good luck and wish you the best. God Bless

I wouldnt worry about it, unless you are single. The SSDI people said that I could not handle my finances 2 years ago, so my wife is my Power of Attorney. No biggy for me as I have a great wife and do not worry about her running off with my pennies. Alot of times the VA Docs will either state this due to something you may have said by accident, or they feel that you truly are bad enough to have someone step in and take care of your money. Wish you the best and keep us posted. God Bless

The hard part is getting Service connected. Even a 0% is a success. You can always put in for an increase. I have had 6 0%s turn into 10% or greater down the road. Hope ur claim is done soon

First of all, welcome aboard and happy to see another fellow Vet seeking help. I see atleast 10% for your neck, and back both granted SC. The VA is weird, sometimes they will grant them together as 1 rating, and other times divide up like mine, for back and the nerve damage to both the legs, due to the pressing of Spine against the nerves. Good luck and keep us posted. I currently put in a new claim for an increase, as I just had Back surgery a few weeks ago. God Bless

My grandfather lived in Dover, DE until he died, and that state was different in alot of ways both good and bad. Not all states do the 100% Tax Exemption. Thank God I live in Texas, my current home taxes are 14k a year, so I am very grateful to have the exemption. As far as the school benefits, you just have to go to your local VA and ask for help. Also each state have their own benefits as well. In Texas the Hazlewood act gives both my daughters and my wife 150 hrs each at any college in the state of Texas. You make sure you take advantage of any benefits you can. You deserve all that you worked for. I wish the govt would streamline the Benefits, instead of playing the which state is bigger and better act.

Thanks Buck, Over the last 5 years so much thru the VA, both Good and Bad, has changed. It is so hard to keep up with the processes. I am going to complete my current FDC for my back increase, and then submit for SMC S and T. Really appreciate your hard work and what you do on this site. Hope you have a good weekend.

Back for an update guys. First of all I meant no disrespect about having gray hair or being older, you have all earned that. Over and over again since the Navy retired me damn Docs keep judging me based on my Body build and my age, it just gets old. I feel when I do get a bit more Mature, I wont get questioned as much. 10/4 Update!!! Received SSDI packet stating that Conditions are severe enough not requiring a Medical Review at this time, and benefits will be continued. I figured as much, and my SSDI was approved Solely on PTSD and Bone issues, not even Crohns or all the other stuff going on. The last 3 years I have been Temporary Navy and VA, Reviewed on both and Made Permanent, and now the SSDI Review. So it has a been a few stressful years to say the least, as it never ends. My wife gets so mad and always says "You did not ask to be hurt or Retired, so why does the Govt keep trying to come after you". She used to think that when the Govt said they would take care of us, it meant sign on the Dotted Line and they would never mess with us Vets again, but in fact it is the complete opposite. I dont know what the Future holds, I just want to continue getting all the benefits that I can so I dont put so much strain on my wife and kids, thats all. Thanks to you guys for always listening to my rambling and for understanding. I am having a hard time healing from this back surgery that did not work, "I need a Fusion", and currently using a walker which for me is embarassing. I know that sounds stupid, I should not be ashamed, but I cant help how I feel. Just did not plan on my family having to take care of me at 35. I love all of you and I hope I say it enough on here.

Kent, Sorry to hear of your issues bud. As stated above, as long as the VA granted you SC and paying you, dont sweat the little stuff. I was Molested as a child, and did not remember until I was Hypnotized a few years ago while at a Mental Hospital the Navy put me in while active. Makes sense why I felt off for years. It did not affect my War time served and me getting SC for PTSD. I have lost count now, but I believe over 20 C&Ps since 2013, and I can not tell you how much info is wrong in my VA Notes. Try not to let it control you. Good luck and GOd Bless. Wish you the Best

Being disabled and trying to survive and take care of your family sure is hard, and we all feel your pain bud. There is no easy answer. Just sit down with your family and do what is best. The hardest part is getting service connection. You can always try to work, and if you get worse and have to quit working, just submit a new claim for an increase. I truly wish you the best and please dont ever feel hopeless or like you have nowhere to turn. I spent many a night and day on this sight when I didnt know what else to do. Sometimes just to Vent but we are here either way. God Bless

All the Govt programs are hard to get on and scary as hell. I always tell Vets that I help, no matter what the Govt can not deny a Vet or anyone else when there is Hard Medical Evidence in front of them like X Rays, MRIs, Cat Scan, Doc Reports Etc. Problem is too many Vets, Claiming this and Claiming that, but do not have the Evidence to back it up. Also Vets will work Full Time, and be Full Time students, and wonder why they get denied. If a Vet is bad off enough, they should not be able to function in this capacity, at least that is what the VA and SSA states in their Regs. I have had Vets come to me who Play Video Games 10 hrs a day, but then claim that they can not get a full time job. I always tell people to sit down with their families or themselves, and decide what is best for their situation. This process is very stressful, both Financially, and Mentally. Anyone that thinks they will get rich on Disability has no clue. Most of us would rather be in better health and working a normal job, then collecting a check on the 1st of the month.

Yes I was grant SSDI back in 2014 at age 32 thru the Wounded Warrior Program, I was approved in 7 weeks, which I hear is pretty fast. It took my twin brother 3 years with lawyers. I dont see any reason why you would not get approved. You do not currently work, right? My really feel your pain brother, so sorry. I dont pity you or any other Vet, so please dont take offense. People in my small town always want to feel sorry for me cause I am so young, I dont want that, I just want people to understand what we really go thru, not what they think, or see on CNN, or what the President Claims we go thru. Everyday the World and Vets hurt, I hurt more, and I just cant explain in words how it makes me feel on a daily basis. I try my best to help every Vet on here and in my town. I just wish I knew more about the system like a lot of the Good Vets on here. Good luck and just try to stay calm and I hope you have a good support system at home.

Sorry of your issues bud. As I stated in other posts, I have not driven since I was 32 and I am 35 now, so I know that the Caregiver program will use it against you. What most folks dont know is that the VA Caregiver and the VA Disability is Two different Programs on two different sides of the street that dont even talk to each other. So just because the VA grants SC disabilities at 100% does not mean anything to the Caregiver people. You have to prove that you are Severely Mental and Physical Disabled. As I stated earlier my VA docs actually put me in for the program or I would have never known it existed and just found out the other day via letter that not only am I on the Highest Tier but also kind of like A&A due to the Severity of my disabilities. I am very grateful for the program, but talk about an intrusive program that is always around day and night. So it is not for the faint of heart even if you get approved. I wish I had better words for you. I cant remember bud, are you on SSDI? If not, I think you would get approved fast if you dont work, God Bless!!!

John, I have been granted 3 conditions from the VA that I did not apply for, Lol. I am 100% Total, not 100% for 1 condition. I was offered IU for PTSD alone a few years ago, but I did not take it. I opted to fight for the 100% Schedular instead. A good friend of mine died a few years ago, who was a Korea/Vietnam Vet who was 100% IU for his back but died of bad heart and had multiple Agent orange issues. Because he had the IU and died of something other then the IU condition and not protected by the 10 yr mark his wife lost everything and was not granted any of his checks when he died. I have seen her suffer and lose everything the last few years in her late 60s and have to go back to work. I did not want to put my wife thru all that. Plus I knew that I have so many health issues that are well documented and would be SC. I still have a long list of issues that will be granted, if I just get around to applying for them. After my current claim is complete, I am going to put in a claim to have my PTSD increased, and apply for SMC S. As you stated, I should have received that SMC along with others a long time ago. Thanks to good Vets like you and others on Hadit, I have learned alot, and feel strong enough to apply for it. I served in OIF/OEF and around Fighter Jets and all kinds of Ammo and other A/C without hearing protection, well documented, thats why I cant hear worth a crap, as my wife says, Lol. Thanks to all here for support, and apologize if I interrupted the thread. God Bless