Burt

First of all, it is confusing, even to those of us who've been dealing with "IT" (the VA) for some time, so don't hesitate to ask your questions here at Hadit.  Many folks here are much more conversant than I, but I will try to discuss it as I understand the issue.
At 70% for one disability (in his case, PTSD), he should be receiving what is called IU (Individually Unemployable).  It is very important that you gain that status first, unless the vet has some disability that is rated 100%.  IU, will in effect, disable him to 100%, with all the benefits therein.
So ...  Is he IU?  If your total benefit is in excess of $3000, your husband is probably rate IU, or 100% for his PTSD.  If not, that would be the first thing I would do; get him rated IU.  There are plenty of discussions about IU here on Hadit.
If he is IU, the next thing you must accomplish is to get him rated at 60% for one OTHER disability.  Having a 100% rating and one additional rating of 60% or more generally qualifies a person for housebound.  That would accomplish one SMC award.  Please read this form on SMC awards, as there are other awards he may be qualified for.
TexasMarine

i am currently at 60 percent for all of my physical issues... knee, hip, back, hearing and nerve damage. i just had my first comp and pen for ptsd and the results are in myhealthyvet i wont post the whole thing i cant seem to get it to copy and paste :( 
 
here is the portion where he lists the severity of the issues:
Does the Veteran have a diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to DSM-5 criteriabased on today's evaluation?[X] Yes [ ] NoICD code: F43.102. Current Diagnoses--------------------a. Mental Disorder Diagnosis #1: PTSDICD code: F43.10mental Disorder Diagnosis #2: Unspecified Depressive DisorderICD code: F32.9Mental Disorder Diagnosis #3: Alcohol Use Disorder in sustained remissionICD code: F10.10b. Medical diagnoses relevant to the understanding or management of theMental Health Disorder (to include TBI): SC knee condition3. Differentiation of symptoms------------------------------a. Does the Veteran have more than one mental disorder diagnosed?[X] Yes [ ] Nob. Is it possible to differentiate what symptom(s) is/are attributable toeach diagnosis?[X] Yes [ ] No [ ] Not applicable (N/A)If yes, list which symptoms are attributable to each diagnosis anddiscuss whether there is any clinical association between thesediagnoses:PTSD - Recurrent, intrusive, distressing recollections of trauma,recurrent distressing dreams, intense reactivity upon exposure tocues associated with the trauma, efforts to avoid thinking aboutthe trauma, avoiding experiences that would arouse recollectionsofthe trauma, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response.Depression - low mood, guilt, hopelessness, low self-esteem,diminished sense of pleasurePTSD and Depression overlap (determining proportions would requireresorting to speculation) - markedly diminished interest insignificant activities, feeling detached or estranged from others,restricted range of affect, difficulty sleeping, irritability, anddifficulty concentrating.Alcohol - temptation and use of alcohol beyond two servings in asitting.c. Does the Veteran have a diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI)?[ ] Yes [X] No [ ] Not shown in records reviewed4. Occupational and social impairment-------------------------------------a. Which of the following best summarizes the Veteran's level ofoccupationaland social impairment with regards to all mental diagnoses? (Check onlyone)[X] Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas,such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/ormoodb. For the indicated level of occupational and social impairment, is itpossible to differentiate what portion of the occupational and socialimpairment indicated above is caused by each mental disorder?[X] Yes [ ] No [ ] No other mental disorder has been diagnosedIf yes, list which portion of the indicated level of occupational andsocial impairment is attributable to each diagnosis:PTSD - serious impairment in social and occupational functioningDepression - moderate difficulty in social and occupationalfunctioningAlcohol - absent And here is the section i ****THINK**** is the nexus i needed it is in the remarks section
 
9. Remarks, (including any testing results) if any--------------------------------------------------Based upon the training and experience of this examiner, the availableliterature on this topic, and the examination of this veteran today, itisthe opinion of this examiner, per DSM-5 diagnostic guidelines, that thisveteran does suffer from a PTSD and that is at least as likely as notcaused by the veteran's service as it is consistent with thecircumstances, conditions, and hardships of that service and theveteran'sclaimed stressor involves a significant emotional response (such as fear,helplessness, or horror) to exposure to hostile military or terroristactivity. His Unspecified Depressive Disorder more likely that notshares 
its etiology with his PTSD and is at this time, more likely than not,aggravated by the impact of the PTSD on the veteran's lifestyle.HisAlcohol Use Disorder has more likely than not been secondary to his PTSDat times as a form of self-medication.NOTE: VA may request additional medical information, including additional 

Good advice broncovet! Sounds like a pretty good case for TDIU.

Burt. Congratulations!
And when you get the decision, can you scan and post it here? (cover C file # first etc)

The VA low balls vets all the time.
I can tell they probably did not consider the De Luca Factor.( for pain)

Have you been seeing anyone at VA for the depression?

Try to relax and enjoy this victory. I am sure you have a loving girl friend who sees the value you have as a person, and believes in you and wants to see you obtain the compensation you deserve.

"i am also afraid, if i apply for more will i look like im ungrateful and maybe lose what i already have?"

We ALL feel like that sometimes...but compensation is from our Grateful nation, and most vets never lose what they have by asking for more compensation......you are not being ungrateful at all.

VA wants us to think that way.

I hope you can hold onto some of the retro in case you need an IMO from a real doctor.

Do you get SSDI?

Burt posted:

"all the while she does all the cooking, cleaning and money earning ...."

This sounds like you are "unemployable", aka TDIU. You probably could/should apply for TDIU ASAP if you have not already, and if you have, and were denied, you should appeal. Whether you get it or not will largely depend on IF YOUR DOCTOR SAYS "you are unemployable due to service connected conditions".

At 50%, you dont meet what is called "schedular requirements" of TDIU, so you will also need to ask for an INCREASE (or new condition(s) such as depression or PTSD, if applicable. If you are unable to maintain substantial Gainful employement due to SC conditions, you should get TDIU.



Finally, if you are unable to care for your needs, and need help with things like taking a bath or need help on/off the toilet, (as you posted) you should apply for and get "Aid and Attendance".

Frankly, I can not see how the VA would NOT say you should get TDIU if you need help with the bathroom!
Bottom line: Apply for an increase, also apply for depression, TDIU, and Aid and Attendance, Pronto.

Being the wife of a disabled veteran I'm going to share with you what your girlfriend's feeling and maybe not saying. When you love someone , you love the whole package regardless of what problems you have and you do everything in your power to help. I've done all the things your girlfriend has done with thankfulness that he is still here with one exception. Emptying the bedpan full of crap! I can honestly say I'm not thankful for that. Tell her you love the way she cares for you. Write her a note or cut something out of a magazine that will make her laugh and leave it somewhere to find. Encourage her to go get a massage or pedicure maybe even get her a gift card and surprise her. Little things like that makes a big difference.

Things that my husband does that make me angry - telling me he's sorry, he hates seeing me have to do all of this, I shouldn't have to take care of him, etc. Would you take care of her? In my mind his constantly making those statements make me feel like I'm making him feel he is a burden. Anyway, saying I love you, or your amazing, watch a movie with her you know she would like that really isn't your kind of movies. Things like that make me feel special and happy that I have him to care for.

Burt,

With a 50% rating, you can get free medical treatment and prescriptions at the VAMC for any medical condition (service connected and non service connected) without any copays. Anytime you go to the VAMC for treatment, you are now entitled to travel reimbursement. You are also entitled to reimbursement of any copays you paid at the VAMC retroactive back to the effective date of your claim (December 2013). You are also entitled to travel pay for all VAMC appointments back to the effective date of your claim (December 2013).

In regards to your question about the hearing aids, you will have to request an audiology consult with your VA PCP. Advise them you were service connected for hearing loss and you need hearing aids. Your audiology clinic will probably conduct another hearing exam to determine if you will benefit from hearing aids. If you receive hearing aids from the VAMC, you are also entitled to free hearing aid batteries from the VAMC.

Good luck to you and take care of yourself.

Hopefully with the pressure here lately from the higher ups and the media, it may be a positive change, but I don't want to say that just yet, it is way too early for that. As always we, and I guess I will just have to wait and see.

I have had one and it tore every pants I wore with it on.

I wear one, but I'm in Las Vegas, and wear shorts almost all year round. Can't be much help with the pants thing. But, did you apply for your clothing allowance?

my knee was injured in 1988 basic training i was torn from the top of the cargo net by another trainee who panicked when he went to flip over the top... he held onto me and we both toppled over and fell strait to the ground and hit on 1 leg.. my left 1... the knee buckled and something inside snapped and my left foot was broken across the arch. because i was 18 and not a quitter i managed to get through basic training on bottles of motrin and a will to not fail. over the 5 years and 2 duty stations i ended up having surgery on the knee twice. it never got better, i also injured my back and my hearing while on active duty. i was givin a permanant profile no running, jumping, squatting, kneeling etc. i really wanted to stay in and fought like hell to do so an eventually i was found fit for duty at a medical review board and thought i had it made... then 8 months later i was barred from reenlisting due to the permanant profile. i got out and have struggled since, its hard to find a job when your body is a mess and you cant hear over the ringing in your ears lol. i ended up living in a mobil home on my mothers property and doing odd jobs and things to get by since 1994... she passed away a year ago and i still have not been able to come up with the money to pay the estate taxes so i can keep my home. then about 4 months ago the brace they gave me for my knee in 91 finally failed to the point i couldnt weld it, tape it or pin it back together and 2 weeks without it i ended up in the emergancy room because i couldnt walk and the knee was the size of a pumpkin. the emergancy room made me fill out paperwork for obamacare and it came back saying i would be able to get health care for 120 dollars a month... and it made me a little angry here i am picking through trash to find things i can fix and resell on ebay, digging around for scrap metal to recycle, fixing peoples computers and cell phones for a few bucks here and there and doing other things i really dont want to talk about to keep the heat and electric on and my govt. is going to charge my broke ass 120 a month for help? i never applied for benefits through the va because honestly i didnt feel my little problems were anything compared to guys coming back WITHOUT legs... but after that i got mad and went and applied. i got health care but it was marked non service connnected... i have had 3 appointments since then 2 at the hospital and 1 at my local clinic. i have a complete copy of my medical records and i took them to the ortho appointment along with my 26 year old knee brace... after looking me over and looking at my records he spun around in his chair and said how exactly is this NOT service connnected? you need to go down and get measured for a new brace then go to the american legion in the basement because you have a case here and should be getting disability compensation. he scheduled me for an mri and sent me on my way. the nice girl at the legion went trhough my stuff and asked a bunch of questions and said i should let them apply for help on my behalf... turns out the hip problems that im having are related to the knee from limping on it for 26 years (i didnt even tell the doctors aboutthat just figured it was cause im getting old you know and that sure isnt anyones fault!) so thye are putting my in for my hearing loss, tininitus the constant ringing in my ears (my records from the army show i had a hearing loss issue while i was still in), my hips, my knee and my back. I have to get a certified copy of my 214 to the girl at the american legion... and then all this fasst track stuff starts... im not sure if i should do this or not... i feel like im biting the hand that fed me!! im so greatful just for the free health care! you have no idea how greatful i am! i get really bad sinus infections and sometimes they last months cause i could never afford to go to a doctor or to pay for meds... last winter i was buying horse and dog antibiotics off of the internet to help get better and now i can just see a doctor and they will give me medicine to help... for FREE!! and the knee brace... the one the army gave back in the 90s cost the army 3 grand it was custom made to fit my leg it even has my name engraved on it... over the years it has broken, bent, the straps have torn, i have sewed it, welded it, used duct tape to keep it on... and i took it hoping it could be refurbished but they just laughed and said no we will give you a brand new one JUST LIKE THAT! and then they told me i could go to a travel office and they would give me money for my 160 mile trip to the hospital... and they paid me enough i had money left over to stop at burger king on the way home (and not just get a 79 cent burger either!! i got a double whopper and large fries and drink!) and now im starting to think that i made a mistake and shouldnt have went to the leigon for more help... these guys have already dont more for me than i would have even thought possiable and i feel like a shit head for turning this in to get more from people that have already done so much...