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MrLogan13

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Everything posted by MrLogan13

  1. Well, that didn't go so well. The counselor barely looked at my file and started saying she wouldn't approve me because I can find employment based on my degrees. She said that even if I could not find suitable employment in my field of study due aggravation of my conditions, that I could find entry-level work that wouldn't be aggravating--even if they didn't particularly match my aptitudes and interests. Pretty much told me I had to settle and aim lower.
  2. Well, my orientation and counselor meeting tomorrow. Any last minute tips?
  3. Thank you! I definitely plan on pursuing it. I'm glad your friend was able to use VRE for law school. I'm hoping that I will be able to use it for medical school as well. Thank you for your kind words! The thought of being hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt is a scary one, so I am trying to prepare for the first meeting as best as I can. I'm glad to hear you were able to have your loans forgiven. I can't believe your conditions are considered temporary!
  4. Thanks, I appreciate the congratulations. When I left the Army back in 2004, I never imagined that I would earn a bachelor's degree, let alone pursue advanced degrees. I've certainly come a long way. Whle it is true that I have obtained a graduate degree and that should be enough, the work I have been doing exacerbates my conditions. They were tolerable when I began my training, but my conditions have gotten worse over the years. I would imagine that this would hinder me from working in the fields I am currently trained in.
  5. Hello everyone. I've posted a couple of times on Hadit since 2008. My diability claim was initially denied in 2009, but more than five years later, my appeal is complete and I was rated at 50% for both moderately severe pes planus and moderate asthma. During this time, I have completed a B.S. and will have completed an M.S. this May, both in the fields of biological science. I've used up my GI Bill benefits; I had 14 days of benefits remaining at the beginning of this semester (January) so I received full tuition as well as BAH for the remainder of the semester, which means I will have used 40 months of benefits total. My appeal was only just completed last month, but as soon as I had my rating I applied for VRE. I have my orientation and first meeting coming up in just under 3 weeks. I'd like to use VRE toward medical education (I've been accepted to medical school). I'm currently trying to familiarze myself with the regulations for this benefit since I've read that some counselors can be adversarial. Does anyone have any tips for my first meeting to improve my chances of being approved for the program?
  6. Well, good news. They finished reviewing my additional evidence and have reinstated my Ch. 33 benefits at 100%. :)
  7. Even though I've already submitted additional evidence, I'd like to ask: how helpful is the DAV in everyone's experience? I saw them two months ago to help out on my disability appeal, and the rep didn't seem all that interested in my case; in fact, other than the paperwork that they have been appointed to represent me, I haven't heard anything from them either.
  8. The pending claim for appeal is for: asmtha, bilateral pes planus, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and knee pain. My asthma, bilateral pes planus, and allergic rhinoconjuctivitis are all on my PEB and noted to be caused LOD, but the Army only rated me for the asthma at 30% (contracted a horrible case of pneumonia in training that scarred my lungs). The knee pain is documented for treatment during service and is probably caused by the bilateral pes planus. They initially denied my claim because they said I wasn't continuing treatment after I was retired, but I was. I sent my NOD and provided my civilian medical records. Been pending since 2009. I can be patient with my disability claim, but I really need my GI Bill issues to be straightened out quick; if it doesn't, it's going to produce a severe financial hardship as I try to finish my master's degree.
  9. When I initially applied for Ch 33 benefits several years ago, I was specifically told that I qualified due to my medical retirement. This sudden turn has gotten me bewildered and completely stressed out; as a graduate student, I no longer qualify for Pell grants, only loans. I can take out the loans now to pay for tuition, but that leaves me short on rent every month without the BAH. I am trying to pull together as much money as I can right now before the semester starts, and I am losing sleep over this. I didn't know about the ATTN using the initials. I already mailed out my evidence as ATTN: Education. I hope it finds its way to the right person and works itself out. I really am perplexed as to what the DoD could have told them. I only recently (one month ago) went to the DAV to ask for help with a disability compensation appeal that has been lingering at the VA since 2009; it's been stuck as "appeal pending" on eBenefits for the last several years, and every time I call them they just say they have my evidence, it's pending. Perhaps I could ask for assistance from the DAV as well? I really hope this doesn't take anywhere near that long to sort out as I really need my GI Bill benefits immediately.
  10. I have been using my Ch. 33 benefits for the last two academic years to finish up my undergraduate education. I just graduated with my BS back in May and submitted a Change of Program or Place of Training since I will be starting graduate school in mid-August. It's July now and I never received any letters from the VA, so I checked the eBenefits portal and see that I was disallowed from enrollment. Of course, I called to see what was going on and was told that a letter was supposedly sent out in June (never got it): I was denied benefits because I didn't have enough time in service and that supposedly I was never entitled to benefits, and my initial award was a mistake (the lady told me not to worry, they're not going to make me pay it back). I was told that they "re-verified my eligibility" by contacting DoD, and DoD told them I wasn't eligible. Obviously, I strongly disagree with this. I have just over a year of service and was medically retired due to disability from disease and injury incurred LOD. I received 30% from the Army. Granted, my one year was all IET, but I am still eligible based on the fact I was medically separated with more than 30 days of service, no? I submitted additional evidence to the VA via both fax and certified RR mail, including my DD 214 Member 4, where the narrative summary for separation states disability, my PEB results, and my retirement orders. I am hoping the additional documentation will persuade them to change their decision. Any advice on anything additional I should do? Anyone else have any similar experiences? I'm really hoping that this can be resolved by the time I start my graduate program, because it would be a huge financial hit for me if I have to appeal and go through a lengthy process. Prior to this, I still had 12 months of Ch 33 benefits remaining. I wish I had known this back when they supposedly sent the letter, I would have acted immediately.
  11. I'm still kind of new around here, but am learning a lot through everyone's experience. I'm a young vet myself, and I wish I could have served longer than the couple of years that I did. I went through a med board and was medically retired with 30% from the Army for asthma that occured during LOD (bad, bad case of pneumonia that I left untreated for too long while in the field). I didn't get rated for any other conidtions, but it was noted that my pes planus and allergic rhinitis occured during LOD. Other than asthma, I was never treated too much for the other conditions. I got some medications for the rhinitis, and motrin for the pain caused by the pes planus. I've been out since 2005. I never filed a claim before because I was still trying to jump through hoops to try to get reevaluated for them to let me back in. Seems like I've exhausted all options, and no dice. Not getting back in. I feel bad too, since I know a lot of the guys there filing claims are for combat related stuff these days. I'm about to file my claim with the VA. I know it's probably something I should have done a long time ago. Based on your experiences, what do you think are my chances for getting a rating for those conditions? How would I go about showing that other problems I'm having now are service connected? I haven't been diagnosed yet--I'm seeing a doc for it next week--but based on symptoms alone, I believe I have plantar faciitis and the beginning of arthritis in my knees.
  12. It looks like I have a few medical records that are missing. Before I left AD, I was handed all the originals of my medical record. I know I was seen for a couple of conditions that I will be claiming, but it's not in my record. I was treated at Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft Sam Houston. It's been about three years already. Anyone know how long they keep these records, and how I'd go about obtaining them (assuming they still exist)?
  13. Yes, that is correct. I guess I foolishly held on to the hope of returning to active duty, so I never filed.
  14. Thanks. I'm wondering if it would help if I started going to the doc now, and get treated for a while before I filed my claim?
  15. Hello everyone. I've been lurking and browsing the boards for a couple of days now, and I wanted to thank everyone for the wealth of information that is available here, and thank each and every one of you for your service. Unfortunately, I could use some help and advice. Here is my situation: In 2004, I completed my MEB and PEB for asthma that developed as a result of a bad case of pneumonia. I was placed on the TDRL at 50%. I was set to be reevaluated one year from that time. Before I left active duty, I made sure to refill all my prescriptions at the TMC; I had enough meds to last me about a year. It was my hope that I would be taken off the TDRL and return to active duty; that's all I wanted was to serve in the Army. I was reevaluated in 2005 at Madigan in Ft Lewis, and the PEB decided to take me off the TDRL and permanently retired me with 30%. Before I left Ft Lewis, I made sure to refill all my prescriptions; I had enough for about a year again. Once again, my sole desire was to petition this later and get back into the Army. I knew it would be hard, but I was hopeful. Obviously by now, I know there's probably no chance of me returning to AD. I have never filed a claim with the VA, but now that I know there's no chance of getting back in, I want to file. I really haven't been to the doctor too much for my conditions. That's going to hurt me, isn't it? Also, I have other conditions noted in my PEB that the Army didn't rate me on, such as Pes Planus, Allergic Rhinitis (the PEB stated that these conditions were incurred in service). In additions, I have problems that I had during service that didn't get on my PEB, such as joint pain, back pain, and tinnitus. I know I messed up by not going to the doctors. What can I do now to make it better, and improve my chances for a successful VA claim?
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