Holllie Greene

Paul, you have no idea how much they've earned it. We all have,assuming arguendo, we have legitimate claims. Vets who come to me have usually reached the end of their rope-both financially and mentally. This is why I chose primarily to help my Vietnam Veteran brothers over more recent Vets. Most of us got 0 to 10% when we came home for things you get 60% for now. It took me from 1989 to 2007 to discover why I kept losing. When I finished up in 2015, VA ended up paying me over $450 K in retro. That provoked me to get my accreditation to do the same for others. Being admitted to the CAVC  to practice there was the ultimate honor to me. There are only 35 or so of us allowed to do this and most work for the OGC (027). There's no doubt I'm going to Hell for my shenanigans in Vietnam but I'm going to make life absolute Hell for the VA until I punch out. 

I'll take whatever they give me.  It is better than a 0 COLA.

It is better than nothing.

There are also some States that extend free or reduced entry and camping to disabled veterans even if they are of residents of that state.....for example Oregon offers 15 days of free camping every month to disabled veterans. Maryland also some benefits, check with every state you are going to travel to!! Including your home state, state parks are also amazing 🙂

I got mine twenty years ago and have used it quite a bit.  It is well worth the money.

I tried to quote your second paragraph...I feel the same way.

I tried to quote your second paragraph...I feel the same way.

You are right about this. It is a steep climb to go the schedular route, but can be done. After being stuck at 40%, I found hadit and learned. It took about five years to get to 100% schedular via increases, new claims, and secondary claims. I fought the denials and kept my appeals alive.
I am 100% schedular and still working full time. It required reasonable accommodations by my employer in order to setup a sort of sheltered work environment. Even with that, every day is still a challenge and I am frequently out of the office at doctors appointments.

I am in the same boat as you @Vync 
It also sucks to know it will not get better, but only get worse as the years go on.  I am now trying to set myself up to do what i can when i can and not over do it!  I will say that is very hard for me as I have never had to ask someone for help.  I was always able to Ogre my way through things.  I hope one day they find a way to fix a few of these issues.  

that makes sense. BERTA IS THE BEST!!!!! she has really helped me out. sorry for posting multiple places. was just trying to stay in the correct thread for the question i had regardless of which claim i am talking about. but i will try and do better to keep questions related to the same claim all in the same thread. thanks so much

It is the same for me, if I did not get a reasonable accommodation from my employer I would be out of work. I am lucky since I work for the government and they are mandated to give reasonable accommodation accept for in a few exceptions.
I would gladly give up all my VA benefits to have my disabilities go away, I am tired of hurting as many here are. All I see in my future is pain and losing the ability to do more and more things. As bad as things seem for me I know there are many more on this site much more worse off than I am. 

I originally tried to file the 1151 with a vso and they told me no.... I did that on my own..
I don't have a rating yet, at least I don' think so I just looked on my VA/BVA status
With my current rating and add these.... and I should be good... I am freaking out (inside my head at 3:20 a.m.)
I cannot express much yet, until it is written in stone. as I have a few things to say, not sure if it is wisdom, learning curve, or advice...
 
for now I will leave With Thank you! I truly believe this website (cold way f of putting it,, I mean the people here played a large part). And actually the people here were way ahead of me, and I should have moved sooner on the advice given. But alt he advice here is like taking a full law course for several years, with humor, and a kick in the butt and the good and bad people share all contribute. I am rambling freaking out!  Thank you to all, and I hope my struggle gives everyone hope that has a wild and crazy health history that a lot of people said I probably could not do it, but the people that ran the site said the 1151 is good. YOu are 200% right. Thank you !
Steve
btw,
My wonderful daughter, whom had to pay for their schooling through huge student loan debts, because I had no money, comes to visit for a bit tomorrow. I can tell here there is even a better possibility now of the va paying for here school debt, because they denied me while she was in college al these years, she will have two Masters degrees in her 20's, in a few more months, and owes lots of money for those student loans. She makes good money but owes a fortune. This, I hope will pay retroactive? lots of stuff I don't yet understand... I better shut up and freak out by myself for a while... good night all!

just another way they can make it more confusing.  

I do not know if this is new but there is a process.  Your claim should not be rated before they receive your C&P exam, that would be a major mistake.  If your claim is denied you have three levels of appeal, the supplemental level appeal (with new evidence if you have it), higher level review (without new evidence), and the BVA.  I would not go to the BVA right off unless you have an IMO (independent medical opinion) that impeaches the C&P determination.  
But that is putting the cart before the horse with all of that information.  You might get approved the first time around.  If you do not do not give up, keep fighting, the VA wants you to give up.

If your exam was done at the VAMC, you might consider calling their release of information office. They should be able to tell you if the results are available. This might be a way to get around the 30 day delay for it appearing online.
Also, when I have imaging done like MRI or x-rays, you have to wait the # of days indicated before they will appear online. However, I am usually able to see the radiology report in my progress notes much earlier.
I had a C&P earlier this year (June) at the VAMC. Mine did not show up in the progress notes for about two weeks. At that time, I didn't get the 30 day message so that could be something new the VA implemented.
 

C&P exams do not go to your blue button report.  You can go to the release of information office at the hospital and put in for them, but it can take up to a month for them to come through.  They can't make a decision until they get them.  The real issue is you can't stop what they are going to do.  You can only appeal it.  

Special1972  7-10 business days is a VA rule. They don't abide by their rules; we have to, but they don't. Call 1-800 Peggy again and speak to someone who cares just a little. It eventually should show up something. But really, you need to wait for the decision letter. 

Call the WH hotline. 
Keep calling the 800 number till you get your answer. 
Call your VSO. Call your regional office. 
Call everyone till you find it as it sounds like someone is not doing their job

@Hollie, look at it this way, should it come down to it, you have a very strong case to appeal if necessary.
 
Allan 2-2-0 HUAH!

I have to go with Gbarmy here as he hit the nail on the head!  There are those at the VA and other offices who do a great job and there are those who don't give two s$&ts.  I dropped 2 other organizations or one dropped me because I kept pushing!  I found one (VFW) and the guy there is great and will look up anything I ask him for.  He will also call me if he sees a big change or anything I should know about.  Sometimes it is about searching for that person who can and will help you!  The VA does change, but it takes a long time!
Remember you have people in your corner!

In part:
"WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) and Office of Information and Technology (OIT) are working towards nationwide availability of virtual hearings for Veterans next year, allowing access using their mobile phone or laptop via the VA Video Connect app.
The virtual hearings are based on the Veterans Health Administration's tele-health platform and lets Veterans participate in their appeals hearings from the comfort of their homes."
https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5372
Also:
"VA continues record setting claims processing pace for 2019
"WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) disability claims backlog reached its lowest point ever, Nov 23 from its previous record low achieved May 2018."
https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5371
 

I have never done BVA hearings in my several successful appeals over the past 30 plus years because i cannot hide my disdain for VA employees  or even VSOs in face to face contact and have done everything by mail, phone, fax or email that was just fine with satisfactory results.
Between 1985 to 88 or 89 I was notified AFTER THE FACT by a DAV VSO that he attended a hearing on my behalf and he sold me down the creek without a paddle or canoe.  I was never notified in advance about anything by him and my PTSD rating was reduced and then terminated because of that sorry ass VSO and sorry ass VA rater.  The VSO was an older Korean vet and thought of us younger Vietnam vets as doppers and losers. This is  first reason for my disdain.   Since then I have handled many claims and appeals myself with mostly successes.  To hell with them and their petty prejudices and jealousies. 

Sorry Dustoff to hear that. We all are. But if I may, I have learned there are good carpenters and then there are bad carpenters. There are good cops and there are some bad cops. Just like there are good lawyers and VSO's and then there are bad. Maybe there are a lot more bad than good but, I think you are an intelligent guy (after all, you are Army),so my point is that it is up to us as individuals to do are best to make sure we improve our chances on separating the good from the bad. VSO's and lawyers serve a purpose and if we find ourselves in need of their services, we have to do our best to make good choices in the selection processes. I think we do some readers of Hadit a disservice to paint with a wide brush. Veterans should do their due diligence. Ask other veterans if they had a good VSO. If yes, ask them why. Is the answer based on facts, or is based on the results that were favorable to the veteran but the VSO for example didn't do anything to get the favorable result. What did he really do?  Interview the guy. Not good enough, then start over. It all goes back to what we say over and over. The veteran him or her self are their own best advocates. We have to increase the chances that we are getting what we want. Personally,  I don't like VSO's in general. For the most part I have found that they are under trained and have away too many veterans to help  so it is rare that they can spend the time to do a good job. For many, it is, bottom line, just a job with very little accountability. If your claim doesn't go right, well, not my fault, it's the VA's. But, that said, I now do have a very good VSO. I know enough to be able to say that not only has she done very well for me, caught small things I didn't, but now to the point I do not hesitate to recommend her to veterans I come in contact with who are in need of a good one. But believe me, I did a lot of searching before I found her. I don't have VBMS and she really knows the system and is respected at the RO. She is a disabled veteran and loves what she does. Hard to beat.

Hi Shrekthetank1,
I brought all of my paperwork and he did not want to see it.  Sometimes it seems you just can't win...but I will never give up because as one in the Hadit family said "if you give up they win".
Thank you for responding to my post.  😀

Hi Shrekthetank1,
I brought all of my paperwork and he did not want to see it.  Sometimes it seems you just can't win...but I will never give up because as one in the Hadit family said "if you give up they win".
Thank you for responding to my post.  😀