Warone

thanks everyone, I certainly don't know the lingo but I am curious, about what my letter says. (PTSD)(combined into one)( with Anxiety, Depression and Sleep Disorders) You are considered to be totally and permanently disabled due to your service-connected disabilities: Yes Will I have to take more exams in the future? Should I also apply for what ever the Social Security benefit is? Is there anything else that I need to do? - and asknod your math is exactly right. 92%, I assume the PTSD was the big one that pushed it over. Geez, I was so burned out at the end of my military service, but anyway, thanks to God for the decent mental health services US military has started fielding. I know it helped me out of the lowly place is was in, and of course I'm still working out these problems. I guess the raters assume I'll be seeking mental health help for the rest of my days, and they're right.

One more update, for military active and recently retired, I just received my rating, If you read through this fairly short thread maybe it could help you. I retired last year, Dec 2014. At 6 months prior I filed my BDD claim based on Carlie's advice. My claim was submitted through a DAV SO in June 2014, I retired Dec 2014 so it took about one year, although if you consider from retirement it only took 4 months. I guess that's not bad. I'm very happy with my rating and wanted to throw out a thanks to Carlie, all the info from NavyWife, and of course, Berta, and so many on this site that have posted helpful information. I have read and learned so much from the information here. I've also recommended this site to so many veterans that I've talked with about benefits and such. Thanks to all of you. My experiences since last post. Although I'm paying for Tricare Prime, I enrolled into Nashville VA at Vanderbilt and my experiences have been pretty good there, but you do have to stay on top of your appointments and scheduling. I actually haven't received any mail from the VA, but found my disability ratings on the eBenefits website. I'm a new member of the 100% Club PTSD 70% Sleep Apnea 50% Other issues 20% 10% 10% 10% 10%

Update on my VA adventure so far. Hopefuly some current and future vet will read this and use this information. Finally retired from the Army as of this month. Moved to TN. A few days after I retired, I called the VA help number from VA.gov "Contact us" phone numbers. They referred me to the Meharry Med college/center in Nashville to enroll into VA Healthcare. After I found the business deskthere, the nice lady informed me that I needed to go to the Vanderbuilt VA center just down the road. After I found that place, (it's a huge building with a monster sign out front), I walked in and was immediately handed off to an admin crazy lady who wanted to see my DDForm 214. She typed nearly all of the information from my 214, gave me a quick brief on VA healthcare, free stuff, copays, etc... handed me a bag of VA trinkets and info, made 6 copies of my 214 for me, and then walked me around the hospital/clinic on a quick tour. It looked very nice to me. She actually walked me to a window and pointed to a parking lot outside. She said, "park there next time!)... it's free. She then walked me to the third floor and said, next Tuesday this is where your appointnent will be with Dr. xxxxx and pointed at the door. So far my VA experience has been pretty good. As far as my claim, I filed for BDD 6 months prior to retirement, completed the exams 3 months before, got a letter apologizing for the delay at 2 months, retired at 0 months. The ebennies website indicates my estimated completion for disability compensation will be Feb or Mar of 2015, and so I wait,

Well said Carlie, Toyotafan, you earned it, do want you want with it. Best of luck you. JMHO.

C&P Exam of mental health and eyes completed last week. Scheduled by QTC services and conducted by a fully qualified Dr. of Nuero-Psychology. Psych was pleasant, asked about my history, my childhood, my service, combat experiences, my treatment history, my medications, and diagnoses. Very pleasant lady, I felt it went fairly well and lasted about an hour. Eyes exams were standard eye tests with a full dialation. Finishing the rest of the exams this next week. Will post more.

I agree for the Vietnam vets. But as far as counceling, it really wasn't that great. They don't tell you that much. They do tell you about the VA website and hand out a Federal Benefits books. I found out about the BDD program through this website (Carlie recommended it, the very same Carly up above this post.) ) and a lot of my own research. Unfortunately, the WWWeb wasn't in place for you guys. Even so, the current vets have to self motivate themselves to get the benefits they deserve. Luckily we have a very good NSO in my area that is more than willing to give you a lot of tips and information for filing. TIP for you future veterans out there... find a good NSO and do what he tells you. If you know anybody that is leaving the service or retiring, please share this information with them, that's probably the best and most used resource out there. I personally have told about 40-50 guys about this website and I've had a few of them come back and thank me for the information.

Hi everyone, I've been away from this forum for a while but wanted to say thanks for the help, support and information I gained by reading the quality responses and about others experiences. I filed for a BDD at exactly the 6 month before retirement day. I'm at the 3 month mark and recieved a call from QTC medical services on Monday and during that one single phone call, the lady told me she had me scheduled the same week for all of my C&P exams... starting on the 21st of Aug 2014. Wow, within the next week I'll get a hearing, x-rays/MRI, Mental Health, eyes, and a few others completed. She told me because I had field a BDD, that my claim was going to be accelerated. Anyone else experience this same situation? Also, all of the examiners are within 30 miles of where I live. Wish me luck... Seems like the VA scandals recently may be helping to push the claims through? 3 months to go until retirement... Woohoo!!!!

Yes, just be honest and be prepared to discuss exactly what is bothering you. The Psych should guide you through the process. My interview was easy, I just answered a bunch of his questions and he diagnosed me with PTSD in about 10 minutes. We spent the next 30 minutes talking about my history of deployments, combat, family, work, troubles, etc. He'll make the appropriate recommendations after the session. Thanks for your service. I've been in PTSD treatment for about 2 years now and it definitely helped me. There are a lot of options and you can influence and choose which type of treatments you receive if you are actually diagnosed with PTSD.

Great post, thanks for sharing news. We all learn a bit more when people share so thanks and congrats.

usdart, I'm a new member around here but, harsh or not, stick with it and get the claim together with the county VA, VFW or VSO or with anyone you can find that has some experience filing claims. Read the excellent advice from this site, and get what you deserve from the VA. I personally know 3 Nam vets who were over 65 before they discovered they were eligible for benefits so it's never too late. Thank you for your service.

Great post Carlie, thanks for the info.

Much thanks meghp0405. I'll start on this in the new year.

The letter is very helpful, I seem to do okay on the annual hearing tests but can't understand what people are saying when there is any significant background noise, i.e.. bars, restaurants, meetings, rotor blades, . thanks Loose Cannon.

Thanks for the info... I'm going to go with describing some of the worst days and moments. I understand that the meds are supposed to be short term but I'm such a better person with them than without. I told my Psych and Therapist that I want to be on them for the rest of my life. Just my story, everyone has their own? I'm so glad I stumbled upon this website.

thanks for the information. I can confirm that the VA is wrong, I don't have a significant hearing loss, but my tinnitus is screaming in my ears right now as I type this. I'll do some more research on it in some professional journals. Plus I know a senior Doc in the military. I'll talk to him after the new year. I'll post if what he tells me is something different.

Okay, standing by. It is a small world, I'm retiring out of Ft. Rucker, but moving back to Tennessee( probably Headersonville), after. We love that state. Thanks in advance.

thanks, great information. You've definitely sold me on the FDC. The review you're talking about by the "Transitional Service Officer" is that the same as the VSO connected with the DAV usually? I'm currently stationed at Ft. Rucker, Helicopter pilot. Any recommendations of who to review my records? I would love to get the filing/claims/benefits right the first time and not have to deal with it anymore.

Wondering if the VA and C&P exam considers the veteran is now dependent on Zoloft, Wellbutrin and Ambien to live a normal life without depression and anger, etc... I'm not such a butthole with a short temper when I'm taking these pills and I can get at least 4-5 hours of sleep every night. so the Examiner, just like my Psychiatrist writes, "Session with patient today was pleasant, he is in good spirits, no sign of depression, etc." In others words, while I'm taking these darn pills, my symptoms are masked. Should I worry about this when I file for benefits. Should I stop the meds so I can be my normal un-drugged self (short tempered, depressed, angry, worrisome, etc.) when I see the examiner? When I file. (Apparently not all of the worry is masked because I'm worrying about this stuff!)

Why wife complains about my behavior everyday. Whether I'm taking drugs or not, she still complains.

Okay, that's good to know. Proving is easy with many many years around helicopters and a steady loss of hearing. Also just started Wellbutrin (with Zoloft) and the ringing is now 3x as loud. Anyone else experience this? Great website, a huge amount of useful information. A general thanks to everyone, I've been reading for days now, and and learned a lot. Here's why I ask about the test. Apparently there are some types of tests, maybe the VA or military doesn't use them? http://www.avada.com/faq-tinnitus.html http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0101/p120.html Anyway, thanks again.

Hi, my second post on this site. I'm wondering about tinnitus. I've told my military doctor about the ringing and he noted it on my medical paperwork, but do I have to be officially tested before I can successfully claim it and win?

Hi, I'm new on this forum. What would work better for me? I expect to get something for PTSD, OSA, back pain, neck pain, Tinnitus, Insomnia, and maybe some others. I'm wondering if I will be better of filing BDD or after I get out, or does it even matter?