waccamawwild

Congratulations!

It seems that the VA is trying to tie your hands up on this one. I applied for arthritis as well. They rated as part of the injury but no increase.

I get my 10% for right knee. In all the C&P exams they have never talked to me about my pain although I tell them every time. All they ever talk about is range of motion.

I don't want to rain on your parade but I think you are more 30% than 50% but I have been wrong before so for what it is worth...

I have dealt with this as well with the Columbia< South Carolina regional office. They lost my evidence.

Don't get too worried about completion dates. They will change in every claim. Instead try to stay in tune with what they need and keep pushing for c&p exams.

Well one thing you have going for you is that you could not bend far. The rating is based on range of motion. Good luck.

I agree with Berta. Get a copy of your C-file. I recently got mine and was amazed at what I found in it that I did not know was there.

Actually having more items in your claim can be an advantage. The workers in the regional office are under time constraints to get work done. You are more likely to get partial approval and deferred items so they can close out temporarily the claim. I had 35 items one time. They called me and asked how we could close some of the claims. All were valid claims.

There is no form. Simply write a letter requesting an increase to 100% permanent and total. I am 100% P&T and that is what I did.

They got my dates wrong but I got a copy of my claim file so if ebenefits is ever RIGHT I will prove them WRONG on effective dates. Get yours. Just a suggestion.

I don't know about rule change but I broke a toe and get 20% service connection.

I had to appeal to BVA and it was a long road but I got rated 40% for DDD. I also got an Independent medical opinion and that ended up being the difference.

Your MOS is possibly on a list that they have of mos' with extreme noise exposure. I was on the list and I got service connection for tinnitus. There really is not a adequate test for tinnitus. It is subjective to the audiologist and the veteran's testimony but it is probably the easiest service connection to get. You could pay to have to have an Independent medical opinion from a civilian audiologist to strengthen your claim. The VA would be required to consider this evidence. Good luck.

File the notice of disagreement. Never give up. All the veterans on this site can help you. Many of them have already been through similar situations. Please continue to go to treatment for your PTSD.

Never give up! The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

In general I agree with what all of you said. But it angers me to think of all the compensation I lost fighting the VA for service connection. One of my disabilities now service connected took twenty years when I had adequate medical evidence in the first place. With the VA mental fortitude is a must.

Never give up! The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Congrats!

Congratulations!

I was just going to say TDIU but I see you applied for it. I understand that it is easier to get SSDI if you have a mental condition than it used to be. Also if fifty or older. I applied for SSDI on my fiftieth birthday and was awarded SSDI in about five months. They like to call a relative and confirm your story. Close relative. Dad got called for me.

I would be careful and here is why I say that. I am someone who happens to live in a beach resort which has a VA primary clinic. Traveling veterans are turned away daily because they have to make an appointment different then normal to be seen. I saw a guy wait for an hour just be told he could not be seen there. This is just an example only of the way the VA operates. Now if it is emergency go to any medical facility and contact VA to get reimbursed.

I have had diabetes type 2 for several years. It can only be controlled with diet and exercise. I have heard of all the surefire cures but diet and exercise are all that work. I was on Metaformin but couldn't tolerate it. They then put me on glyburide and then they changed it to glipizide. It is a never ending battle.

Congratulations!

Get your Enlisted personnel records and enlisted medical records. Get a Veterans Service Officer after you receive your records.