I originally filed my claim in March of 2011 and it's been a rough road. Despite clear evidence of my contentions and service connection, my claim was denied at every point based on unsupported claims of the condition pre-existing military service. After a while I started thinking maybe *I* was wrong, maybe my evidence was wrong, maybe my wife was wrong. It's hard to explain the self-doubt that comes along with just wanting a fair shake and having someone admit that what happened to you was a mistake and was wrong.
Anyway, my increase to 50% from 30 for migraines was approved at the appeal level.
But the really vindicating part is that Anxiety with Major Depression (1 rating for MH conditions) was FINALLY rated as service connected!
The docket decision noted that the C&P examiner's claim that I had a Personality Disorder, in 2012, that pre-existed military service was unfounded, with no supporting evidence referenced. (No medical records or professional opinions outside the brief, 30-40 min exam.) It was also the first time my journal entries from the time in question, the statements from my wife, and my own statements were actually referenced. Furthermore, my claims of anxiety and depression in my medical records were finally addressed and the BVA acknowledged those points of evidence had been ignored by the examiners. (I had 2 C&P's for this claim.)
I don't want to get into the specifics of my service-connected experienced which I had demonstrated in my evidence, but it was a prolonged situation and I had kept several artifacts that supported my claim. To finally have these things reviewed and to have a VLJ acknowledge that due consideration was not granted feels so vindicating. I mean, it's been a rough road and I wish the claim would have been settled the first time around. I wish I wouldn't have had to feel the anguish of someone blaming the things that happened to me on a personality issue. What's worse than causing someone to blame themselves when they were put in a bad situation that was out of their control?
I don't want to preach. I know many of you are just as aware of how tough this situation can be. I just feel so relieved and I wanted to share. I've never posted here before but I've long been a visitor. Thank you to all who support your fellow vets and their family members who seek honest help.
The date of my appeal BBE was 28 MAR. I'm still waiting for the RO to apply a rating decision based on the findings of the BVA. No letter generator update yet. The decision states a rating in excess of 30% for migraines, which can only be 50% based on the CFR. The Anxiety is a total WAG. I can post the verbiage if anyone is willing to throw a guess at it.