Valhalla0321

Main direct utilities are supposed to have payment plans setup in there website and or a promise to pay. I been there done that .. homeless, shutoff single dad on streets with son etc.. There are also Veteran organizations that become a big gun in your corner. State run VA supportive funding Voc rehab might have connections in your state. local welfare services that have a Veteran ambassador.

I wanted to comment as a scenario response to and a question myself. I am "entitled to disability compensation at the 100 percent rate due to service-connected disability(ies). This total disability is considered permanent. You are not scheduled for future examinations." I was awarded this almost shy of 5 years ago and it was based on a combination of 10's and a 50- They bumped me up because i think' i was homeless had letters from Voc Rehab and HUDVASH that i was unemployable due to mostly my migraines. I was able to get a place for me and my Son and finally put past all the chaos like medical and housing which was hard to deal with as i had a child in need. I also had a old claim started before approved TDIU and even though my POA told me to withdrawal old claim for OSA and sinus "or ill shake up my claims and put tdiu at risk" i just let it go through appeals and i was just recently awarded backpay. It moved me from a combined 70TDIU to a 90TDIU. I was then told that if i had any disabilities old or new that i thought would put me at a combined 100 that i should apply so i did. I only applied for "PTSD" which i had been treated for years and having a VA doctor connect it to inservice, so i felt confident to go this route. A week goes by and instead of noticing the entry of "new claim for Ptsd" in VA.Gov i notice: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Combat - Mental Disorders (New) TBI (New) fractured jaw/teeth (Increase) broke and rearranged nose (New) tension headaches (previously denied as headache due to concussion and head injury) (Increase) And i go apeshi... this happened on a Thursday and i called my POA however was not able to get a hold of them till today. And in the meantime i had a barrage of qtc contractor appointments scheduled before that weekend "5 of them" When i finally go a hold of my POA i talked with the same person who told me to withdraw my old appeal i had started before i was awarded TDIU. And they told me this... They don't know why the VA put in a increase for all the other claims that show's i did not apply for (and they verified this) concluding that they are puzzled. The put me on hold and had to call me back indicating they were going to call 937 or some number which i think is inhouse slang for a regional VA office. My POA informed me that they tried to have the VA pull the plug on the mishap however told me that they could not. This Same POA told me " you see we tell Veterans not to get greedy " You already have TDIU ' you would have received treatment for any condition but you started the TRAIN and now you can't stop it" WHY do the POA talk to Veterans like that .. so so demeaning in my opinion " and i tried to avoid this particular POA because i found 1 in there office that is very on point and nice and thought i was going to get him again. Anyway the POA did tell me that who ever received my request for new claim read my notes i put in the new claim area comments for example, On delployment during a situation i fell 9 feet to my face, broke or fractured jaw, concussion and blacked out. ( The POA explained that the VA generated a new claim for what they thought should be done per my comments) So interesting odd, i replied why would they also put in for a increase for headaches when the maximum is 50% and i have that' the POA said, maybe they will try and reduce the rating (Like so much negative not positive help here) Anyway' i went to my first appointment for (NEW) claim that i didn't select or start and i think it went well. I'm not concern about the real situation at hand which amounts to ... my disabilities have also gotten worse and it's notated. The VA doctors have also filled out reports like medical summary reports and DBQ that indicate "no expectations to get better" would miss more that 8 days a month if i worked and be of task 80% of the day if i did work. My concern is for my SON and his medical issues as well as my service DOG and his medical treatment, everyone get medical assistance covered and if i loose TDIU, i will be reduced to a mere miserable situation. Hope this helps anyone and i hope anyone helps me with a rep

I wanted to comment as a scenario response to and a question myself. I am "entitled to disability compensation at the 100 percent rate due to service-connected disability(ies). This total disability is considered permanent. You are not scheduled for future examinations." I was awarded this almost shy of 5 years ago and it was based on a combination of 10's and a 50- They bumped me up because i think' i was homeless had letters from Voc Rehab and HUDVASH that i was unemployable due to mostly my migraines. I was able to get a place for me and my Son and finally put past all the chaos like medical and housing which was hard to deal with as i had a child in need. I also had a old claim started before approved TDIU and even though my POA told me to withdrawal old claim for OSA and sinus "or ill shake up my claims and put tdiu at risk" i just let it go through appeals and i was just recently awarded backpay. It moved me from a combined 70TDIU to a 90TDIU. I was then told that if i had any disabilities old or new that i thought would put me at a combined 100 that i should apply so i did. I only applied for "PTSD" which i had been treated for years and having a VA doctor connect it to inservice, so i felt confident to go this route. A week goes by and instead of noticing the entry of "new claim for Ptsd" in VA.Gov i notice: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Combat - Mental Disorders (New) TBI (New) fractured jaw/teeth (Increase) broke and rearranged nose (New) tension headaches (previously denied as headache due to concussion and head injury) (Increase) And i go apeshi... this happened on a Thursday and i called my POA however was not able to get a hold of them till today. And in the meantime i had a barrage of qtc contractor appointments scheduled before that weekend "5 of them" When i finally go a hold of my POA i talked with the same person who told me to withdraw my old appeal i had started before i was awarded TDIU. And they told me this... They don't know why the VA put in a increase for all the other claims that show's i did not apply for (and they verified this) concluding that they are puzzled. The put me on hold and had to call me back indicating they were going to call 937 or some number which i think is inhouse slang for a regional VA office. My POA informed me that they tried to have the VA pull the plug on the mishap however told me that they could not. This Same POA told me " you see we tell Veterans not to get greedy " You already have TDIU ' you would have received treatment for any condition but you started the TRAIN and now you can't stop it" WHY do the POA talk to Veterans like that .. so so demeaning in my opinion " and i tried to avoid this particular POA because i found 1 in there office that is very on point and nice and thought i was going to get him again. Anyway the POA did tell me that who ever received my request for new claim read my notes i put in the new claim area comments for example, On delployment during a situation i fell 9 feet to my face, broke or fractured jaw, concussion and blacked out. ( The POA explained that the VA generated a new claim for what they thought should be done per my comments) So interesting odd, i replied why would they also put in for a increase for headaches when the maximum is 50% and i have that' the POA said, maybe they will try and reduce the rating (Like so much negative not positive help here) Anyway' i went to my first appointment for (NEW) claim that i didn't select or start and i think it went well. I'm not concern about the real situation at hand which amounts to ... my disabilities have also gotten worse and it's notated. The VA doctors have also filled out reports like medical summary reports and DBQ that indicate "no expectations to get better" would miss more that 8 days a month if i worked and be of task 80% of the day if i did work. My concern is for my SON and his medical issues as well as my service DOG and his medical treatment, everyone get medical assistance covered and if i loose TDIU, i will be reduced to a mere miserable situation. Hope this helps anyone and i hope anyone helps me with a reply.

I had a Voc Rehab counselor who indicated to me recent that all VOC rehab things are done via the VA Hospital, kind of like this program does not exist or exist outside the VA hosp. I myself as well have 2 feasibility letters and i hope they will help because after being on TDIU for almost 5 years and after i decided to claim an addition disability that has been diagnosed and related to in-service stress-or' i am now getting all these C&P's and on a side note this CnP should be for the new conditions however i feel that the VA will try and put in the hamster wheel again. On a side note: I am happy for the Veteran who finally got this sorted out after so much unwarranted time had elapsed.

Than you all for replying, And i got an update from the contractor C&P scheduler who wants to make an appointment for TBI, Dental and Physical exam all over my state(very inconvenient as expected) I have yet to get a hold of my DAV rep to ask how and why is this happening? I just had a exam a month ago and VA quickly approved a very old appeal and awarded me increases and back pay and now i get thrown into a hamster wheel of several evaluations when i only put in a claim for PTSD hence the others listed below and should i be worried about the tension headaches i was approved for maximum rating almost 5 years ago that landed me in P&T TDIU ??/ if anyone can chime in i would appreciate it. I'm thinking of the nightmares of how the VA magically takes someone from a TDIU and deletes it or changes them to a 100 perm to get rid of any tdiu family benes.. help..... TBI (New) fractured jaw/teeth (Increase) broke and rearranged nose (New) tension headaches (previously denied as headache due to concussion and head injury) (Increase)

Thank you for replying, Its not odd to say i have not gone to sleep today due to anxiety however i will now (been waiting for a reply) no pressure on any who may view this. Thank you for your feedback, 2 weeks ago an old claim i had at BVA appeals was closed and i was awarded a new 50% for OSA, a claim the DAV said i need to withdraw in best interest and i assumed a reduction or hamster wheel activity i what the DAV was worried about and i'm glad i went with my gut and did not withdraw. What struck me odd was that after the old BVA appeals claim was closed i took advice to present my PTSD story, one i actually waited almost 20 years to get help for and specifically i have been treated for over 3 years. Being that and the fact that my VA psych connected the stress er to combat and non combat, i decided to safeguard myself and move the needle hence file a new claim. For about a week va.gov only listed my new claim of PTSD then recently "today" i listed all these disabilities that i put in for an was denied and also the ones i just didn't pursue. And as i indicated what was odd is the increase put in "from the VA" of headaches that i am already 50% very suspiciously added!!! anyway' my VA Neurologist who has been treating me and seeing me for Migraines for over 5 years just recently (18 months ago) filled out a Medical Summary Report and DBQ and he filled it out with great degree of certainty in my favor so i feel confident with this but the creepy VA system i'm forever worried about. Thank you and see below for a snapshot of some of my data, Goodnight. You are considered to be totally and permanently disabled due solely to your service-connected disabilities: The effective date of when you became totally and permanently disabled due to your service-connected disabilities: Yes February 08, 2015

Congratulation's , I myself currently 90% TDIU P&T i was 70%. What do yo mean by' I know this will place me in the 100% schedule P&T?

HI, I been TDIU P/T from a combined 70 for years and recently got approved 50% for OSA so now im still TDIU P/T however at a newly combined rate of 90% Over the years on my claims journey, i have started out with American Legion then now the DAV reason for parting ways actively with ALegion was i had been sitting at 10% for over a decade and my Legion Veterans POA told me a story about how there Veteran spouse never got approved for a injury so i faced the same uncertainty (POAttorney) also stopped returning my calls through the process so then i branched off to DAV and even though it was an awkward representation with the DAV' being cold in person conversations and up in the air if they were pulling weight i have always been contemplating on joining there membership with dues. I myself have been hesitant over the last years with this decision of Membership only because someone at the DAV told me that me and you are not obligated to pay membership dues for representation however recently i have been getting notifications and though..... well' why not because recently i was awarded back pay for a claim and i wanted to follow a popular Veterans advocate "Chris Attig who insists to file regardless of the hampster wheel, reduction, etc... " Now here is were it gets real!! and confusing: Not long ago (Before the recent claim approval) A representative from the DAV told me that i should pull this old claim because i was already TDIU perm and that the pending claim (pre TDIU approval) wouldn't justify anything and the only thing it could do is put me in the VA Examination/ Claim hamster wheel, this advice was strongly advised however i just completely forgot about it and thought the claim would fizzle out. Come 5 years later i found out that it was a good idea not to withdraw claim because it was approved with back-pay so i been contemplating membership. I recently informed the DAV after they sent me the letter of increase and or award that i had submitted a new claim for PTSD because it has gotten worse plus i got help at the VA for it a couple years ago with some encouragement through help of certain members here and Attorney/Veteran's Blog contributor Chris Attig (VeteransLawBlog.org) who's suggestions are bluntly stated not to worry about rocking the boat and my personal other reasons is my non paid pre 911 caregiver told me about "(SMC) Now Since this PTSD originated in service stress'r and has been diagnosed by a VA Shrink who has linked everything and diagnosed the propper DSM-5 i went ahead and filed a new claim. I been checking the new va.gov/track website for updates and also to upload extra documents from psych that might not be in my chart, the shocking worrisome part here is that my details went from: Your compensation claim(details) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Combat - Mental Disorders (New) To: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Combat - Mental Disorders (New) TBI (New) fractured jaw/teeth (Increase) broke and rearranged nose (New) tension headaches (previously denied as headache due to concussion and head injury) (Increase) What i'm concerned about is all of above except for the PTSD(because this was my new intent to file/...) even though these conditions are all valid and backed by record its just the fact that i never included this on my new claim and the all so scary portion is the Tension Headaches increase' because i'm already 50% service connected and basically 'TDIU p&t was based on it and strangely the VA should know that 50% is the highest , so why is this even there... HELP

Buck52, Thank you for your reply, My opening statement was to share similarity and thank for elaborating your story line on the ptsd hesitation, i get it! I had a claim for sleep apnea for years and was in appeal BVA for a long time and right after i wrote a reply to this origin i was awarded 50% for OSA. I had been tdiu p/t for years with only a combined 70% and now it's 90% due to the OSA. After decades, i filed for ptsd and announced this to my MH 4 years ago. My MH has written letters and also filed a MSR (medical summary report) and Mental capacity Asessment forms listing extreme severity on multiple checklists. After reading stories like yours i got the courage to seek help and declared my struggles with ptsd. I included some details of this in my previous post reply to you. I am hoping that the VA will move me to a combined 100 with the Tdiu so that i can qualify for SMC because my only income is the VA and i have been struggling since TDIU making payments to many things like my Caregiver that i don't get any help for since i am pre/911 unless The va will include a 2000-2003 inactive reservist post. Thank you Buck52

Update: On top of the listed breakdown of my ratings, i just got back what i been fighting for almost 5 years and the main one was 50% for sleep apnea so now i am 90% and Tdiu. The rest of the ratings are 0% and i wont be able to get those increased because i know i don't meet the criteria and or they don't rate for broken nose and or tooth for example. I have PTSD and my psych from the VA who has been treating me for over 3 years has linked ptsd, dsm5 and more to military service. I would like to attach a medical summary report or mental capacity form here on this PTSD link for anyone who can provide an idea if they thought it met a at least 70% ptsd in which i think besides the 50% apnea that does not tip the scales, 70% then would for an eligible SMC- Please way in and thank you.

Clothing allowance usually hits around this time.

I don't know what Delete might stand for however i would like to know as well as i did'nt know that Judges can cancel regardless and at what stage has this ever happened if anyone happens to know?

I'm still waiting for pre 9/11 caregiver support comes hot off the press....

Wow, the anguish. Its like a pow to a system that's supposed to be in favor of the veteran

Buck52, Considering i am dealing with a similar situation and that this post from you is meaningful and relevant to me i wanted to comment with a added question, shared story and a recommendation from you and the audience. I myself did not want to indulge in the PTSD, i was a macho man at heart, young with a family and working with families and students periodically. I agree with you that I myself did not want to be frowned upon, so i kept my mouth shut as long as i could. My short bio, i was a Force Recon Marine and most of my trauma was not falling 9 feet onto my face and deforming it while on a deployment exercise, it was the Marines i trained and deployed with not making it back and like most branches whether your an operator or any occupation- your brothers are your brothers and sisters' and when one falls it hits hard. Well i felt like this every time formation was announced and specially when medals were being handed out to the spouses and or families. Now fast forward from this.. after being a civilian it was hard dealing with the new me however with the help of being in contact with fellow operators and friends from all branches i was able to keep tab on the latest and greatest deployments almost like i was still in the Game. Then came my wedding anniversary a day of celebration even though at this point it was fragile- on this day i got the news about my friend Major Douglas Alexander Zembiec who was KIA on my anniversary and the PTSD monster began. Shortly after this things started to come apart, Marriage, Unemployment, Vocational rehab failed- "untrainable/unemployable and homeless until i met HUDVASH and they got me shelter and then i got help and with a big nudge i walked into the VA and declared. I been TDIU for about 4 years, i have a caregiver that i pay out of pocket because i'm pre 9/11. Been seeing the shrink for about 3 years who has nexus the in service trauma and now i need your help as well if you can, like you have in the past Buck52 or any of audience who i thank for spending the time to read this. Even though i have DBQ's and MSR's and a full bonafied social worker write up that's supposed to be concrete creating a narrative of whole life story including diagnosis, i like many others have been denied SSDI and denied many times to the point my end of insurance has expired but that's neither here or there. Could you help me out with guidance on what i can do with any requests for benefits outside my TDIU? basically i'm 50% migraines a couple 10's for back and knee etc= p/t tdiu. Below are diagnosed issues i am being treated for that i have never asked the VA to compensate me for due to being told about the hamster wheel and possibility of having benefits decreased. I also have a old sleep apnea claim that in a couple of days i will see a VA contractor doctor for his DBQ since my appeal was remanded, oddly i have a 4 year old dbq from my current Neuro who diagnosed me for OSApnea with nexus of in service however it appears the VA needs more data. Please See below and thank you. PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS: DSM 5: PTSD, h/o TBI w/ LOC, depression due to GMC MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS: TBI, Migraines. Neurogenic bladder- per urology, OSA- w/ limited cpap use TARGET SYMPTOMS AND/OR ACTIVE PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESSORS: medical problems, anxiety, poor concentration, nightmares, intrusion symptoms, hyperarousl symptoms, impaired sleep, decreased concentration issues, memory, housing, loss of independence *****************

Great' Thank you for the the breakdown and simplicity plus the hyperlinks this is helpful. In tandem i will be hoping for an award to my appeals remand sleep apnea and i will start a new claim for ptsd/tbi and other things the psych has notated in my record linking in service trauma to what i have been treated and treated for years and not compensated ... because i did not want to rock the boat and the hampster wheel. Regards,

For one, thank you very much for replying and for your knowledge. I filed a couple claims before i was awarded p/t100% that are pending and currently in appeals decision phase/remand. At the moment i'm going to these 3rd party Disability DBQ locations (real doctors or dentist) for the remands on the denied conditions like Sleep apnea, dental-tooth broken nose. In short.. what is statutory SMC? do i qualify if and or how.. please help me understand if and when you get the chance. Also, my VA Psych has linked my in service trauma and TBI the the record and in the diagnosis however i've done nothing to claim because i hear the horror stories and the hampster wheel effect. See below.. Acne (also claimed as "Eczema") 10% myositis and fasciitis of the left Tibia (also claimed as "lower leg condition") 0% Service Connected right knee, osteoarthritis, ( previously rated as Patella spurring, secondary to trauma (also claimed as "right knee, mechanical mobility", Diagnostic Code 5257) 10% Service Connected respiratory condition (also claimed as sinusitis and rhinitis) No service connected left knee degenerative joint disease 10% Service Connected left foot condition with Arthritis Not Service Connected radiculopathy (claimed as lower leg condition) Not Service Connected fractured tooth trauma (#9) Not Service Connected sleep apnea with sleepiness Not Service Connected hearing loss Not Service Connected residuals of Anthrax injections Not Service Connected (claimed as "urinary condition") 10% Service Connected tension headaches (previously denied as headache due to concussion and head injury) 50% Service Connected 02/08/2015 Lumbosacral strain (also rated as "mechanical back syndrome" and claimed as "lower back strain") 10% Service Connected tinnitus Not Service Connected lower lip lesion/incision Not Service Connected residuals of broken nose Not Service Connected right thumb injury with Arthritis Not Service Connected Dermatophytosis (claimed as "Tinea pedis") 0% Service Connected

Very helpful thanks. On a side not i wonder if it benefits me to put in a claim for things like PTSD? you thoughts....

I'm 100 p/t mainly due to migraines, Psych has linked military combat to diagnosis of ptsd, tbi etc.. i've never claimed any of this due to fear of having rug pulled from underneath me however my main concern is i see my psych every month and i inform the Dr. that i'm not getting better " still hard time with night terrors sleep etc" however medication is never changed even when asked and in my notes quite often the Dr. will put that im quoted that i say i'm doing OK.. frustrating this is.. HELP... ive HADIT.

What state are you in? there is a website were it shows per Judge per state the amount of cases and waiting times.

O yeah, i had like 3 different voc rehab letters presenting that i got kicked out of every program including ILP, it went into detail, i had rfc's up the ying yang and more bullets and forms and it did nothing. Actually i don't think the SSA/DDS/ALJ etc even looked at it as when they see VA stuff they know they can say "we don't have to entertain anything from other agencies" which they will shove the article and code in your face if you look like you want to eat it. I think they wipe there....... nose with any VA stuff even with a High powered Attorney. In my opinion, you have to be with a condition that shows your about to kick it and or so mangled and i mean really mangled for them to take money from the SSA pot of gold... My opinion but its deep folks.. its deep. On a side note, if you meant that you are age 56.. that really helps and could do more help then anything you mentioned so far. Good luck, anyone over 50 that is 100 and no Voc rehap approval should be green light in.

O yeah, i had like 3 different voc rehab letters presenting that i got kicked out of every program including ILP, it went into detail, i had rfc's up the ying yang and more bullets and forms and it did nothing. Actually i don't think the SSA/DDS/ALJ etc even looked at it as when they see VA stuff they know they can say "we don't have to entertain anything from other agencies" which they will shove the article and code in your face if you look like you want to eat it. I think they wipe there....... nose with any VA stuff even with a High powered Attorney. In my opinion, you have to be with a condition that shows your about to kick it and or so mangled and i mean really mangled for them to take money from the SSA pot of gold... My opinion but its deep folks.. its deep.

Your not the first person with p/t.. with all the rfc's and letters and xrays and voc rehab denial letters and more"hypothetically".. SSDI can and will deny you if they want to, happens a lot and especially if your ALJ has a track record of denials.

1st thing i would tell you to do is now since you started your SSA applications.. go right to finding out when your DLI (date of last insurer) is!!!!!!! i can't stress this enough!! its usually expires 5years from the last day you worked. So if you sit on this claim whether its appealing an alj or starting another app .. you better be punctual to your DLI. Voc Rehab... i think SSA wipes there...a...ahhh... nose with that. And you can be denied voc rehab, terminated from any all programs, have them detail a letter of what when and why and the ssa can say.. well is the voc rehab a phd or doc degree.. if not.. very lil to know weight in most states. I would also look into the denial rate of the ALJ's (SSA Judges) in the area of the claim. SSA mandates that only a percentage is given to a lawyer if a claim is approved and copious amount of Lawyers will take the case no money down. You need to do one important thing as far as creating a longitudinal record keeping, Make sure the VA hosp , treating physician or medical facility and or specialist Doctor takes good patient notes and if these notes say that you are doing 'OK' or that your doing better or that nothing is wrong with you.. then Bam!! SSA will run right over you period! These notes will give so much weight if they say negative things and don't support your ailments have gotten worse, wont improve or restrict you from any and all work!' VE (Vocational Expert) will say you can paint dolphins all day for income even though you can't.. they will find a diamond in a goats a.. most of the time there is a JOB for you, but if they don't find one and say there are none that's a good plus and if they say you can do a certain job.. you or your counsel can ask hypothetical questions to the VE in the hearing like... "could the claimant do these jobs if he misses more that 4 days a month of work?" VE will say No!! even if they want to lie.. they can't because there under oath.. nobody dat tupid YOU STARTED YOUR CLAIM AND NOW BEST INTEREST IS TO RIDE THAT TO YOUR DLI!! they don't put your DLI on hold.. tik tok goes the clock on that one my frien... out!

Congradz... On as side bar comment.. it always amazes me to see the part were after they approve they ask if you disagree with the decision.. that part should be taken out....jeeez