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haparnold66

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Everything posted by haparnold66

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. Like all those annoying Giants fans in my area are chanting: "Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!"
  4. YOWWZA!! That's great new, Hollis. You earned the benefit. I'm glad to hear it will be making your life a little easier.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. Yup....it's conked out this morning, raising blood pressure readings all across the land.
  11. I had C&P exams on Mar 13, 19 & 20 this year. My claim closed Jun 10.
  12. 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.
  13. Yeah, the eBennies website was "glitchy" this afternoon right when I was tring to upload an FDC, of course. I was able to log on to it just now (9:06 pm PDST). Not sure about the password troubles, though.
  14. Well. I finally got my "sierra" together and filed an FDC for TDIU today. eBennies was constipated for a while, but the claim finally uploaded. Now the clock starts running again. Thanks to you NavyWife & others who recommended the TDIU, especially @ age 65. I haven't been able to work for 4 years.
  15. Out-STANDING ....and thank you for your service.
  16. As NC State basketball coach Jim Valvano famously said while dying of cancer back in the '90s, "Don't give up....don't ever give up." His team had won the '83 NCAA title against very long odds. Anyway, I also like to come to this Hadit forum topic because it provides hope to those who could use some and who deserve it.
  17. Archer: Each claim timeline is unique, of course, and your retro payment is about 5x what mine was this month, but I will give you my timeline: claim closed 06/10/2014; retro payment deposited in bank 06/13; BBE received 06/14. That might be "warp speed" for the VA system, but I am proof that it can happen. After reading MANY posts on this and other forums, I think the consensus of opinion is that the larger retro payments take a little longer.
  18. Yeah,Cool Breeze, you can get dizzy at times trying to figure out the processing timetable and where the paperwork is located @ any given moment. What is the status of your claim shown on eBenefits?
  19. Agree with Carlie. My claim dates went like this: completed 06/10/2104; retro deposit to bank 06/13; received BBE 06/14.
  20. Thanks for the good wishes, everyone. In hindsight, I know I should have applied years ago, but that ship has sailed. I am grateful for what I receive now and will endeavor not to look back. My retirement years will be much easier now.
  21. I don't recall exactly, but I think my claim was moved from Oakland to Phoenix a couple of months after I filed it. When I first saw "Phoenix" appearing on eBenefits, I was a bit confused. I initially thought it was because I first enrolled in the VAHS in Phoenix back in '08. However, I now think it happened simply as part of the process of reallocating the Oakland RO's workload. Thanks for the tip on TDIU; I have been reading up on the topic. I have a request in to add 10% to my current 10% DM II rating because I was prescribed oral diabetes medication last month. I should probably wait for that to be approved before filing for TDIU. SSDI doesn't apply in my case because I am 65 and already drawing regular SS retirement benefits. About the rating %: I received more than I expected, quite honestly.
  22. Claim filed (Oakland VARO): Aug 21, 2013 Decision (Phoenix VARO): Jun 10, 2014 Retro to Sep 01, 2013 deposited: Jun 13, 2014 BBE arrived: Jun 14, 2014 PTSD s/c: 70% DM type II s/c (Agent Orange presumptive): 10% Hearing loss (1 ear): denied Total rating: 70% After I had my 3 C&Ps @ McClellan, CA in March, 2014, the process seemed to gain momentum. My VAHC primary doctor prescribed oral medication for the DM type II condition in late May, 2014; therefore I have now filed for an additional 10% rating for DM type II. Should that be approved, my total rating will increase to 80%. I wish to add that I have been in the VAHC system since October, 2008. I was in rather desperate straits at that time (living out of my car) and turned to the VAHC system in Phoenix (yes, THAT one!). When I sat down with the intake counselor, I felt scared and alone. He looked over my DD-214 and his first comment to me was, "Vietnam, eh? We have lots of programs for you." I have never felt so relieved in my life. I was admitted to a vets' shelter for 3 months while I was finding a job. I stayed in the VAHC system when I returned to California and have had experience with it in Oceanside/Escondido, CA (San Diego area); Oakhurst, CA (Fresno area); and Mather, CA (NoCal area) - in addition to Phoenix. While the VAHC system has taken a beating in the media and before Congress (deservedly so), my personal experience with it and those who work for it has been nothing but positive. My claims process took much less time than I expected in the beginning. I do know that it helps to have one's "ducks in a row" before filing. Though I did not use a VSO, a competent one can be very helpful. In summary, I must say that I am so very grateful for what the VA has been able to do for me. I thank every American taxpayer for footing the bill. I view it as a huge "Welcome Home" for military service so long ago. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.
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