cloudcroft

"Officially" 3 years. BUT, add about a year extra trying to get the VA to sign and fill out the VERY SIMPLE Loan Discharge form PROPERLY. For me the process was a nightmare and I almost gave up. There is a lot to know (if you are a vet) trying to get your loan discharged because due to the VA system, there are a number of things that can go wrong and slow the process down (as happened to me -- I could write a book on it but don't have the time nor inclination). If you have a civilian doctor only, then the process should be MUCH easier. Whatever, the sooner you begin, the sooner the 3-years will be over. Good luck, -- John D.

Be aware that it is a 3-year process, so it's not going to get discharged quickly if that's what anyone here expects. Just recently got mine discharged. -- John D.

You're "70% Schedular being paid at the 100% rate due to being TDIU." It's an awkward situation, and most states saying a "100% disabled vet" gets this benefit or that benefit does NOT apply to any vet who is 100% TDIU...because we're not "really" 100%. Go figure. Merry Christmas, -- John D.

"God bless us, every one!" --Tim Cratchit (A Christmas Carol) Merry Christmas to all, -- John D.

...or you at least get it to the "break even" point as happened in your case. -- John D.

Yes, that's true, but "expensive" is relative. I mean your basic exam and report write-up is lots cheaper than Dr. Bash -- about $300 for a psychiatric IMO (from those doctors who will do IMOs...some won't) -- whereas Dr. Bash is 2-3 thousand $$. But from what I have read on various vet forums, he's very good and knows the VA in and out. Still, WHATEVER the cost of an IMO, it's money out of your own pocket...it's an "investment" that may return big bucks down the road IF said IMO helps you win your claim. Like any investment, however, it may NOT pay off, but that's the choice a vet has to make: To get an IMO (maybe more than one sometimes) or not. -- John D.

And IF he is able to help you -- has the time and his area of expertise includes your particular disability -- have a WHOLE LOT of spare cash available...he's expensive. -- John D.

Josephine, I was thinking that you hadn't gone to the BVA yet (!!)...that you had been stuck in VARO-land for all this time. I saw the AMC reference, but overlooked it. That's what I meant by being sorry, that I "mis-recalled" exactly where you were at in the process (I'm not on meds anymore so I don't have that excuse). If you can put together a concensus of what people are advising here, I think that's about all you can do and just have to leave it up to the BVA and await said judge's decision. Of course, if you come up with anything more to submit, you can do it right up to the wire, so to speak, as long as it gets to the judge before he/she makes the decision and signs-off on it. And as you know, we all here hope it is favorable to you. Merry Christmas, -- John D.

Sorry...I haven't been able to follow your claim clearly enough to understand where you're at right now. Hope things turn out well for you in the end. -- John D.

Josephine, For the BVA, be sure to list EVERY item of evidence you want the BVA judge to look at, and state the VARO apparently has ignored some or all of it. Also you should clarify/simplify your argument to state briefly exactly WHAT you are trying to accomplish and WHY the BVA should grant your claim (list reasons). Keep this statement VERY SIMPLE, clearly/logically stated and confine it to ONE PAGE if at all possibe...sort of a "cover-letter" if you will, your claim in a nutshell...something the BVA judge can read quickly and get a grasp of your claim and see the items of evidence listed without any confusion, complicated details, etc.. Save those details for later. Send this in ASAP and ask that it be put "on top of your claims folder" so it's right there for the judge to read first. As I said, save the details for another statement (and/or argue them in-person if you do a BVA video hearing), but for NOW just write up something simple for the BVA to see, where you are going with this and what evidence supports you and that said evidence should result in grant of your claim by a preponderance of the evidence (especially since the VARO seems to have no concrete evidence on its side, just "appears to be" and such...as was discussed in your other thread re: Presumption of Soundness). But you should add in your statement that even if the VARO's "appears to be" evidence is accepted by the BVA, YOUR evidence is still more concrete than the VARO'S and STILL should tip the claim in your favor...but if it does not, it surely SHOULD put the evidence in a state of equipoise and you ask that Reasonable Doubt/Benefit of Doubt be applied. Either of these -- preponderance or equipoise -- would get you a win. As I tell people, vets have a 66% chance of winning their claim. Those are good odds. But even BVA Remands back to VARO often turn into a win. I am optimistic that the BVA -- and a very fresh set of eyes and mind -- will look at ALL your evidence (doctors' letters especially) and grant your claim, either seeing a preponderance of the eidence on your side or, the evidence being in a state of equipoise. I say this in part because it took the BVA to grant my claim when the VARO would not and denied me for most of 4 years. As it turned out at the BVA, the VARO COULD have ruled the very same way 3 years earlier but it didn't, so it took the BVA to order the VARO to do what it should have done. I am thinking the BVA will do the same for you. Good luck, -- John D.

Yeah...and one back to you. -- John D.

Please give credit to the "original author" Vike 17. You can't cite someone's work without giving that person credit for it. Why was my earlier post on this point deleted? -- John D.

What is your husband doing to pursue this with the VA...or is it just you? -- John D.

"Is there one in particular that is considered the best?" -- ZenofNow No. As others have said, it depends on the INDIVIDUAL SO, not really the VSO he belongs to. -- John D.

"If anyone has a recommendation or a case reference that has been successful in obtaining TDIU I would love to receive same." -- olenavygoat You can start searching here: http://search.vetapp.gov/ ...and here, too, since these decisions are very useful even though they are not precedent-setting, because they could help argue your case if it has to go to the BVA: http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/bva.html Good luck, -- John D.