haparnold66

The REST of the story: The retro check deposited in my bank account this morning, Nov 6th, 1 week to the day after the claim closed & 3 days after the BBE arrived.

Thank you for your observations & suggestions, NavyWife. Good info. BTW, the BBE arrived in yesterday's mail and confirmed what eBennies already showed. The letter did not indicate any scheduled future re-evaluations. That's likely a function of my age (66).

Thinking of the NEXT vet. I like that.

Like all those annoying Giants fans in my area are chanting: "Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!"

YOWWZA!! That's great new, Hollis. You earned the benefit. I'm glad to hear it will be making your life a little easier.

rootbeer22: I think my "strategy" was a bit of luck/happenstance. I was very naive about the VA disability claims process when I filed that 1st snail mail claim. However, I read a lot in a couple of forums before my C&P exams 7 mo. later. Then, after the 1st claim closed, I knew about FDC claims. Through it all and through the VA Health Care System the last 6 years, I have been treated fairly and with respect. It all began when I spoke to an intake interviewer @ the Phoenix VA Medical Center 6 years ago. When he saw "Vietnam" on my DD-214, he smiled and said, "Relax. We have LOTS of help for you." I have never felt so relieved in my life. With that being said, I know there are many, many other vets whose experience has not been so positive. I have posted on this forum primarily to encourage those who are still waiting adjudication of their claims so that they do not give up. The very best advice I can give anyone beginning the journey is that you must be your own best advocate, you must have your evidence in clear and concise form and you must stay focused on the task at hand.

I don't have the BBE letter yet, but I can pretty much surmise that IU was denied because my last employer could not/would not provide detailed unpaid time off records. I never indicated my reason for missing work @ the time; I was still too stubborn and proud to admit what had been going on for decades. Too, the C&P examiner asked me a direct question, "Can you work." I replied, "I guess so." In other words, my factual support for IU was weak. I knew it to be so. Again, I am grateful for my current ratings and compensation. When I started this whole claims process 14 months ago, I felt anything in the 20-30% range would be fine.

Original claim filed via snail mail with Oakland VARO Aug 21, 2013 and completed by Phoenix VARO; completed Jun 10, 2014 retroactive to Sep 1, 2013: PTSD 70% + DM II 10% = 70% total 2nd claim via FDC for IU & for DM II increase for meds - filed Jun 22, 2014; completed Oct 30, 2014; IU denied; DM II increased to 20% retroactive to Jun 01, 2014. Now rated PTSD 70% + DM II 20% = 80% total. Six years ago this date I was living in my car, then in a VA shelter in Dec. I will be eternally grateful for my VA disability compensation & free medical care/prescriptions. God bless the American taxpayers for taking care of me. I thank all those on this forum who have shared their experiences/expertise. I benefitted a great deal from the combined knowledge. I intend to stay a member of this forum to help out when & where I can as a way to "pay it forward." Finally, I can shut off eBennies!! The BBE is on its way....again.

Congratulations, Opiate73. Yes, it can be a little "disorienting" when you receive the (unexpected) good news. I agree with others here that 6 months sounds like an excessively long projected wait time for a retro payment. The actual time varies a good deal among claims. My own experience was quite positive. My claim closed 06/10/2014, the retro direct deposit hit the bank 06/13/2014 and my 1st regular monthly check (June benefit) deposited 07/01/2014. Also, my original claim was filed by mail 08/21/2013. I doubt that it can be done much more quickly than that!! The retro deposit actually came before the BBE. I hope yours follows a similar hurry-up path. Thank you for your service from one of the "old guys" - a Vietnam vet.

I don't have personal experience with a VSO, but I learned early on in the VA disability claim process that YOU will always be your own best advocate. Acquire knowledge on forums such as this, be prepared, be on time (appointments), be succint and accurate in answering questions (i.e., don't ramble), be polite and last but certainly not least: BE PATIENT. VA staffers are facing a "Mt Everest of claims" and are just as human as we claimants. I don't think any of them seeks to delay claims.

It's working now.

Fan-TASTIC!!!

Yup....it's conked out this morning, raising blood pressure readings all across the land.

I had C&P exams on Mar 13, 19 & 20 this year. My claim closed Jun 10.

Good on ya, haasume, and thank you for your service. Someone more knowledgable than I should be along soon to give give you the Reader's Digest version of what additional benefits the 100% IU payment rate will provide you.