Boxkicker43

I just received an adjusted award letter from the VA today with some very confusing numbers. I retired from the Air Force in Oct 2012. I was awarded 40% disability from my initial VA claim in Aug 2013. I was then bumped up to 50% in June of this year based on a claim I started in March. I started receiving VA compensation that month in addition to my military retirement. I received an adjustment from DFAS but never anything from the VA. I thought the claim was complete but the VA apparently did another review and determined based on my visits to civilian doctor's that they would give me an earlier effective date of May 8, 2013 at 50%. So my question is, will DFAS make an adjustment to my retired pay back to 8 May 2013 and can I expect to see back pay from the VA back to that same date? I have attached a chart with the numbers of my award amount. I'm assuming I will have to do an amendment to my taxes also? Award Amount.pdf

I have a question in regards to accessing my VA medical records on the Healthevet website. I turned in the necessary paperwork to the local VA clinic to have them give access to my online medical record. How long does this take to go into effect? Is this something the local office can update immediately or does it go to a regional office? Once I have access do I click on the Blue button to get the information I need. I need to post information on the forum so I can get opinions on my PTSD claim. I received my rating decision back today and their decision makes no sense. Here is the back story: I retired from the Air Force in Oct 2012, At that time I did not file a claim for PTSD. I did however file a claim for insomnia. I received my rating decision in Jul 2013 and was rated 10% for primary insomnia with a diagnosis of neurosis. In order to warrant a higher percentage of 30% I would have to have occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: Depressed mood Anxiety Suspiciousness Panic Attacks Chronic Sleep impairment Mild memory loss I have all of the above symptoms. I met with a local VSO and she suggested making an appointment with a psychiatrist at the VA clinic. I met with him on several occasions and based on our discussions he concluded that I had mild to moderate PTSD. My VSO then started a new claim on me for PTSD in Oct 2013. I have also been having regular visits with a social worker who has also diagnosed me with PTSD. I had my C & P exam with a different psychiatrist and he concurred with the notes from my regular psychiatrist and social worker. Everything I have read online and in forums has led me to believe that I should at least get a rating of 30%. Today I received the decision of my claim and it does not make any sense at all. I have now been diagnosed with "An acquired mental health condition to include posttraumatic stress disorder and primary insomnia" rated at 10%. My overall rating has remained the same and now my original diagnosis of primary insomnia has now been lumped in with PTSD. This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. What do I appeal now? My original rating of primary insomnia dated Oct 2012 or my now current rating dated Oct 2013. Once again the decision claims that in order to warrant a higher rating of 30% I have to exhibit all of the above symptoms. I am meeting with my VSO on Friday to discuss options but I have absolutely no faith in the system now.

Berta, I initially spoke with the VSO about appealing my service connection for insomnia. This has turned into a new claim with the following contentions :VBMS (New), FDC (New), posttraumatic stress disorder (New). I started this process by visits with a psychiatrist who determined that I had mild to moderate PTSD. He referred me to a social worker in the same clinic who I have weekly visits with. He did a CAPS assessment with me and also made the determination that I had mild to moderate PTSD. I recently went to a different VA hospital for a C & P exam and met with a different Psychiatrist. The exam took less than 30 minutes and he said that based on the well written notes from the other Psychiatrist and social worker he concurred with their diagnosis. He also mentioned that the PTSD diagnosis would probably take the place of the service connection for insomnia. I spoke with my initial Psychiatrist about a week later after the C & P exam and he looked at my online record from the C & P exam. He was very impressed with the write up from the other Psychiatrist to the point where he couldn't believe how well it was written. So now I am just waiting for the board to decide. Everything I have read to this point has indicated that mild to moderate PTSD warrants a 30% rating so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Boomer2, I understand that if I get a 50% rating that I will get my full retirement and VA compensation. My question is, if the VA was taking my non-taxable 40% compensation from my military retirement which for Dec 2013 was $577.54, then I get rated at 50%, will DFAS just pay the 10% difference or will they back-pay me the full 50% monthly amount of $1088.08. This is where I get confused.

I retired from the Air Force in Oct 2012 and was rated at 40% in Aug 2013. I went to a VSO after I received my rating decision and said that I wanted to contest my primary insomnia rating. In order to warrant a 30 percent rating it said that I had to exhibit other symptoms, all of which I had. My VSO suggested making an appointment with a psychiatrist at the VA, which in turn led to regular appointments with a social worker and a C & P exam with another psychiatrist. All three of them have diagnosed mild to moderate PTSD. I am now in the "Preparing for Decision" phase of the C & P process and I'm not sure how the VA is going to rule on this. I have a feeling that my original diagnosis of primary insomnia will be changed to PTSD at 30%. This would make my overall rating 50%. My claim was received by the VA on 31 Oct 13. My question is, how would this affect my retirement pay since being rated at 50% would warrant a separate non-taxable payment. Would I receive back pay from Oct 13 in the full amount even though the VA has already deducted the 40% non-taxable payment from my military retirement? Also, how would this affect how I file my taxes?