paulstrgn

GB I did receive a letter for filing for disability insurance. After reading it completely I see a sentence that state"if you become totally disabled before age 65 and are unable to work for six or more months, we may waive premiums." I am thinking (and I may be wrong) that I would not be eligible to have the premiums waived. But I am curious to see if someone who is employed were able to get the premiums waived.

I guess I can apply and send in the waiver. It would be nice to get a $10,000 free life insurance policy. I need to Google this a little more to see if being employed means I am not eligible to get the waiver of premiums.

I am 100% P&T. I have called the toll free number for the VA life insurance and have been given conflicting information. The first person I spoke to said I am not eligible to apply for the waiver of premiums on a $10,000 life policy because I am working, the second person said I need to apply for the waiver and see what they say. He said I may or may not be given the waiver, he said you won't know until you apply. Does anyone have the SDVI for $10,000 and is employed get the premiums waived? I only want to apply if the premiums will be waived. I am also under 65 and it has been less than 2 years since my last new disability. Thanks

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You gave sound advice Buck...you took care of your grandson!!!

Call your mortgage company right away like Buck says, they may be able to assist you. The advice above is good, try and follow it the best you can. Also look for disabilities that may be secondary to SC disabilities, such as a change in your gait because of a bad back and now you are having problems with your knees or hips. I personally have several disabilities that are secondary. Since January of 2019 to put a claim together that you still have not filed is a long time, I understand about not being able to afford a doctor and all. Just don't wait to long to file, your husband might get a doctor for his C&P that will agree with what you have already put together. I have been awarded disabilities to where I only had a doctor state I have state I had arthritis in my hips and the C&P doctor made it secondary to my back. Always remember DAV or VSOs may be trying to assist you but no one has more interest in your claim than your husband and you do.

Your spoise may be qualified for SSDI even if he is only 50% VA disabled. It all depends on the disability and what type of work they did before being disabled (I am assuming they are not working). For example, my ex-father-in-law was a truck driver. But when he was guiding another truck backwards he fell and his leg was crushed. Because of that he was no longer able to drive a truck and was able to receive SSDI at 52. Long story short is it will depend on his disability and how does it affect his profession. If you do file for SSDI you should ask if they have an expedited process because you are unable to meet your bills. Like Buck mentions above it won't be a fast process. Good luck.

@63Charlie I am glad you were able to find someone to help. It is just sad that we have to resort to emailing the Chief of Staff for help.

As always this is good advice. No matter the disability one must research! I don't believe that at this time I would qualify for an SMC because of my feet (maybe in the future - which I hope I never do). I am able to use my feet, they are just mostly numb. At times I have difficulty balancing such as when I dress on one foot.

Pamela Powers is the Chief of Staff for the VA, she has assisted me several times when items get stuck in the VA hamsterwheel. I only use her as a last resort, but each time I have emailed her I heard back the same day. Once was an email from the head of the BVA and the other a person on her staff called me as well as VA medical center in Hampton VA.

Bronco's advice is good, it is up to you whether or not you wish to follow it. Remember as the veteran no one will be pasionate with the claim than yourself. After all you are the one who will either lose or gain. Don't wait and start researching now there is still plenty of time.

Shrek is correct, never wait to file. I would file today and also bring all of this with me on 11/6 for the hearing. Be as proactive as you can when it comes to filing new claims. Good luck with your hearing.

Did he also get an SMC K? I am not sure if you can get rated for your arm or big toe and also get SMC K.

I am of the same thought that we would not be eligible for SMC K. I guess I am not sure what percentage of loss is considered loss of use? I agree with you about only being denied once. I should have asked the doctor when he did my C&P what percentage of loss of use did he feel I had (if any). I hope I don't need to get the hand controls but we do have to do what is necessary. But if it ever got to that point then I do believe we would qualify for loss of use.

If I did not have small kids I would. I would like living in the Caribbean.

To be eligible for SMC K for loss of use for my foot, does it need to be completely unusable? I got an increase in my flat feet from 10% to 30% today, I believe the reason is (have not received the BBE yet) is because both feet are numb from my ankles to my toes. Not I can still walk but do have challenges when putting on pants because I can't feel my feet unless it is a hard touch (they have done pin test on my feet and I have no idea where they are sticking it). It's also challenging when I dry off with a towel and need to balance myself on one foot. I am just not sure if that qualifies as loss of use. Honestly my biggest concern is they will become so numb I wouldn't be able to drive since I won't know how hard or soft to push the gas or breaks.

That is why I moved away from the DFW area...to much freezing rain for me. Hopefully I will be moving next year to Florida (its too cold here in Virginia for me). If I thought I could truly afford it, I would move to Hawaii...lol

In my opinion the VA messed up, it looks like the VA never looked at your IMO from Dr. Anaise. I agree with you about the HLR. Good luck.

Was it a letter or an IMO from David Anaise (IMO would be best)? What you submitted from David Anaise state how your left knee was service connected? If it was an IMO I would have thought it would have carried more weight than the VA medical opinion (which was probably done my a NP). It sounds like they just did not weigh all the evidence you submitted.

Its like setting on your back porch talking with your buddies about these issues...that is what we are doing Buck minus the back porch!

Buck being over weight actually worked in my favor for being granted SA, in my case the doctor stated how I was overweight while in the service. In your case because of your disabilties you were granted TDIU and then gained weight. I think with the meds and being on TDIU will work in your favor (I also have hypertension which can be a sign). If it was me I think I would go ahead and file a claim for SA as secondary to PTSD. I would list all my meds taked for PTSD and how they contributed to you having SA. I would work on the VA staff there to see if you can get them to write a DBQ stating it is at least likley as not that PTSD caused your SA. If it is denied you can request a new sleep study (you are supposed to have them every few years just to make sure you are not getting worse), if you are referred to a private doctor then ask them to write you an IMO (that is what I did).

You will only lose when you stop fighting.

It is a shame that the VA does not actually help veterans more than they do. Your VA PCP should be more than willing to assist you, hopefully your PCP is veteran friendly. Have you googled the meds you take for your PTSD to see what potential side effects they have? I do this all the time to make sure the meds I take are not causing me more harm than they help. I am assuming you had a sleep study at the VA, what did the VA doctor that read your results say? Would they be willing to say your meds have caused your SA? My sleep doctor wrote my IMO tying my hypertension and weight gain as contributing to my SA. The reasons for wanting to add the SA to your list of disabilities does make sense, for it is better to be proactive than to wait for them to try and reduce you and then having to jump through hoops to hang on to your 100%. Good luck Buck

I have to be honest with you Buck that is a tough one. I do beieve you will get the increase and also be awarded SA as secondary to PTSD. As you say there probably won't be anymore money in the pot. As we know whenever we file a claim we run a risk of being reduced (as sad as that is) but I truly don't believe you need to worry about that. If filing a new claim does not drive you crazy then go for it. Always remember Buck no matter what you decide it will be the right decision. I am currently fighting with the VA over a proposal to reduce so for me I am a little gunshy as far as filing a new claim. I currently have three claims pending and once they are done I probably won't file any new ones unless I have a heart attack, my BP is high and I know it has played havak on my heart. The reason for it is because if I die from a heart attack I want my wife to be eligible for DIC.

Don't worry they will soon be called TBE (tiny brown envelopes), this way they will be easier to get lost in the mail...lol. I really wished they would make them available to be downloaded besides mailing them. Remember GB change is supposed to be good for us...lol So very true Buck!