ETM81

I hope so too!....*fingers crossed*.

Hello everyone. I just wanted to share the good news with all of you. I posted this elsewhere on the site but I wanted to make sure I posted it here as well because I know how difficult and stressful the claims process can be. I filed a TDIU claim Dec 2015 and on March 5, 2016 my claim closed. I was approved and am Permanent and Total. The retro hit my account this morning. While it was not a long run with this particular claim, it was incredibly stressful and nerve-racking for myself and my family. I want to thank this group for your encouraging words and advice and I will do my best to be of any help to all of you still waiting on the benefits you deserve. Success is very much possible. Thanks again!

OK. Thanks!

I haven't yet but I'll do so ASAP. Thanks so much!

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, I think you may not have read my last post. Maybe I should have made a new one. My claim is already complete and it looks as though I've received 100% (according to my updated AB8). Thanks for your advice!

I just wanted to thank all of you for your advice. I ended up not submitting the SSD info because I got too nervous and my claim seemed to move too fast to have time to include it. Now the good news.... My claim closed yesterday (3/5/16). I checked my AB8 letter this morning and it looks as though I've been approved. Your current monthly award amount is: $3,268.12 You are being paid at the 100 percent rate because you are unemployable due to your service-connected disabilities: Yes You are considered to be totally and permanently disabled due solely to your service-connected disabilities: Yes While it hasn't been a very long run for me with this claim, it has been quite stressful and I'm glad it seems to be over (won't know for sure until I get the BBE). I hope that I can be of any help to those still fighting for their benefits. Thanks again to all of you!

UPDATE: My TDIU claim closed yesterday (3/5/16). I checked my AB8 letter this morning and it looks as though I've been approved. Your current monthly award amount is: $3,268.12 You are being paid at the 100 percent rate because you are unemployable due to your service-connected disabilities: Yes You are considered to be totally and permanently disabled due solely to your service-connected disabilities: Yes I know that I won't know for sure until I get my BBE but things are looking up! Thanks to all of you and I will certainly try to help anyone trying to get the benefits they so rightfully deserve. Thanks again!

That's great! Congrats! I'll be sure to let you all know how it turns out. Thanks.

Thank you very much. LOL @ the crazy aunt. I hope it's a good/accurate sign too. Thanks again!

I know how ebennies can be. It's not my first rodeo lol. I just wondered if anyone else had a claim move from submission to Prep for Decision in less than 50 days. It's just a bit strange. Thanks for your response and I'll try to stay calm & just let it ride.

I submitted a PTSD increase/TDIU Fully Developed Claim (FDC) on 12/8/2015. The claim just moved from "Gathering of Evidence" to "Preparation for Decision" today on ebenefits. They seemed to have skipped the "Review of Evidence" step. I just had my exam completed by a VES doc on Thursday, 1/21/16. Is this a normal pace for things to move at with a FDC or is this considered fast in your opinion? Any knowledge, experience and advice you guys have with a claim moving at this pace would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks Buck! I'll be very careful if I have to file a NOD. I appreciate the info/help.

Thanks. I figured that was the case. I'll try not to drive myself too crazy. A NOD/appeal takes forever though. Because it's a very new claim, I'd rather just submit it as a new claim (aka a reconsideration"). Thanks again!

I had a VES doctor for my PTSD increase/TDIU evaluation. From what I've read, I can't view the doc's exam notes until a decision has been made. Is that true or is there a way I can request a copy of them from either the VARO or from my VAMC records once they are received? Thanks in advance!

No, this is not an inferred IU claim. I have been 70% PTSD since 2010 (80% combined). My symptoms have gotten worse and I've been unemployed since 08 (when I got out) so I decided to file for IU. I'm gonna give what you said some thought but if I either AM IU or NOT IU, why would I bother submitting my SSDI info if I'm denied? What I'm saying is why would it make a difference after being denied but not now? Thanks again.

I read up on it last night. Thanks again for being so helpful.

My current total rating is 80%. My FDC claim date is 12/8/15. I am asking for TDIU though I imagine that 100% P&T may be better. I know submitting new evidence will slow my FDC down but I was trying to figure out a way to avoid that. That doesn't seem to be feasible so I decided to go ahead and submit it straight to the VARO. I'd rather slow my claim down than get denied. I truly believe that my SSDI determination will help my case because the benefits I receive from SSDI are because of service connected disabilities. Thanks for your reply.

I'm not relying solely on SSDI benefits to get TDIU. I also have other evidence including my C&P increase/TDIU exam that seemed to go very well. I'm just going to submit what I have and go from there. That's all I really can do. I don't want to get too frustrated. I'll be sure to let everyone know how everything turns out though. Thanks and good luck to you.

Thank you.

Thanks. I receive SSDI (since 2014) for service connected disabilities. "The effective date should mirror the SSDI date if it is later than date claim filed". Do you mean the IU effective date should mirror the SSD onset date? So basically you're saying that the VA should give me IU or 100% because of my service connected disabilities that are listed on the SSDI determination?

Thanks. I think what I'll do on Monday is go the VAMC and ask them if they've already sent my medical records to the VARO. (According to ebenefits, they have not yet received them and the VAMC has a deadline of 2/10/16). If they say no, then I will submit the SS records to the VAMC. If they've already sent them, I will have no choice but to add the SS info as new evidence and forfeit the FDC. Thanks again.

Gotcha. The increase/TDIU exam went very "well" (imo of course) so I'm not too worried about that area. I'll be sure to let everyone know how it goes though. VARO has not even received my med records nor the exam notes from the TDIU exam yet so I think adding my SSD evidence shouldn't be too much of a problem. My claim is still in the "Gathering Evidence" stage. I'd rather it go from FDC to traditional than have to appeal. But if it doesn't work out, I will just keep on trying. Thanks again.

I also wanted to clarify that I never filed for SMC S which I believe is related to the loss of organ or extremity use. I only filed for a PTSD increase/TDIU. Thanks again.

"Pain and rom?" I'm not sure I understand. SS says I am disabled due to PTSD. They have it listed as my Primary disability. My Secondary disability is listed as Back disorders (lumbar spine/herniated disc). BOTH of these things are service connected. The VA has me at 70% PTSD. I have 10% for tinnitus, 10% lumbar spine/herniated disc, 10% radiculopathy (left leg), and 10% radiculopathy (right leg). The only thing that has worsened and made me unemployable is PTSD. That is why I filed an increase/TDIU for that alone. I have read and was led to believe that as long as the things listed on the SS determination are all service connected (which they are), that I'd be ok. Is that not true in based your opinion or knowledge? Thanks again.

Those are some good points. My wife actually warned me that it wasn't worth the risk. Would you recommend that I submit/upload the SS determination/award to ebenefits or that I bring it straight to the VA regional office? Thanks for your reply.