..tiredmarine0331

Buck52, I just wanted to thank you and everyone for advising me to fill out the "intent to file" option on e-benefits. I was awarded 100% service connected disability a few days ago. I got an increase on migraines from 0 to 50%, on ptsd from 50% to 70%, ankle strain 20%. I had a combined rating of 80% before these ratings just mentioned. My intent to file goes back to October 26th of 2016. I know that my issues won't go away but at least I can cope better with them now that I have to support a family. I would like to get advise on how to keep this 100% rating, it's a necessity for me to attend at least once every two weeks to my psychiatrist, so that is not my main concern. What I am worried about is my migraine rating, I have been experiencing horrible migraines ever since shrapnel hit the frontal lobe of my brain and had to be surgically removed, a few years back I was taking medications for migraines and I don't know why but my migraine rating went from 30% to 0%. I was angry since I didn't know what I did wrong, and my migraines were getting worse. Maybe I didn't follow up with my neurologist or failed to go to appointments? I was experiencing horrible symptoms that were new to me, now I can at least know when its a good time for me to get out of my house, go to an appointment, find out who is gonna drive for me since I am on heavy medications that do not let me drive legally. Thanks again everyone!!!

Thanks for the responses, they are of great help. I was diagnosed with flat foot (bilateral) at my physical exam at MEPS when I first joined the military, and also when I was in Walter reed hospital after I was wounded in Afgh. I was diagnosed again with severe flat foot. (I guess they got worse) Shin splints, bulging discs L-4 L-5, hip pain and knee tendinitis were diagnosed by my primary doctor at the V.A. The only injuries recorded while in service are my flat feet and knee tendinitis. I alredy submitted an "intent to file" on ebenefits on Oct 26th 2016. Thanks again

Hello everyone, I was diagnosed with mild pes planus (flat foot) at MEPS in 2007, I served in the infantry and went on hikes, runs, combat patrols etc. Both of my flat feet became worse over the years due to carrying heavy weight. Now that I am out of the military is very hard for me to walk even short distances without feeling pain, the V.A. already knows about this and prescribed a set of insoles that do not work. I am currently ongoing podiatry therapy through the veterans first choice program (civilian clinic paid by the V.A.) I get 3 injections of cortisone on each foot every 2 weeks and I will have my last session next week (for a total of 2 months). I am also diagnosed with constant shin splints, knee tendinitis, hip pain and 2 bulging discs L-4 L-5. I am going to file a claim in a few months once I am done with my cortisone sessions. My question is: 1. Since my flat feet became worse over the years in the military resulting in constant and severe pain now that I am out, would it be easier to make my flat feet a service connected disability? (it was already recorded in MEPS and service records but not severe as it is now) 2. Am I going to be able to connect everything else (shin splints, knee tendinitis, hip pain and 2 bulging discs) with my flat feet and make them service connected disabilities? and if so what is the best way to do this? These are just the disabilities that I never complained about, and had to drag them with me until I got the courage to start therapy to reduce pain. I am currently at 80% SC and working on other disabilities that I have mentioned in older posts as well just to clarify. Thanks

Hello everyone, I was diagnosed with mild pes planus (flat foot) at MEPS in 2007, I served in the infantry and went on hikes, runs, combat patrols etc. Both of my flat feet became worse over the years due to carrying heavy weight. Now that I am out of the military is very hard for me to walk even short distances without feeling pain, the V.A. already knows about this and prescribed a set of insoles that do not work. I am currently ongoing podiatry therapy through the veterans first choice program (civilian clinic paid by the V.A.) I get 3 injections of cortisone on each foot every 2 weeks and I will have my last session next week (for a total of 2 months). I am also diagnosed with constant shin splints, knee tendinitis, hip pain and 2 bulging discs L-4 L-5. I am going to file a claim in a few months once I am done with my cortisone sessions. My question is: 1. Since my flat feet became worse over the years in the military resulting in constant and severe pain now that I am out, would it be easier to make my flat feet a service connected disability? (it was already recorded in MEPS and service records but not severe as it is now) 2. Am I going to be able to connect everything else (shin splints, knee tendinitis, hip pain and 2 bulging discs) with my flat feet and make them service connected disabilities? and if so what is the best way to do this? These are just the disabilities that I never complained about, and had to drag them with me until I got the courage to start therapy to reduce pain. I am currently at 80% SC and working on other disabilities that I have mentioned in older posts as well just to clarify. Thanks

That is right, I do not get paid directly from the call center, I get BAH from chapter 31 voc rehab while I complete my hours at the call center. I will go ahead and get a letter from the supervisor at the call center stating that I miss work days due to my disabilities and appointments. I will get the unemployability letter from my counselor and show proof that I am in a horrible financial situation. Thanks for the responses, flores97 once you get your approval letter could you let me know how long it took you to get it, I understand that every case varies and it is different. Thanks everyone!

Thanks for the information, I get paid basic allowance for housing once every month while I attend to the volunteer call center under the "extended evaluation program" at voc rehab. Would this be considered employment?

Hi everyone, I started voc rehab on October 10th of 2016, my counselor put me in a program extended evaluation because I have gone to school in the past and did not work out for me. I get BAH every month while I attend to this program, I volunteer at a call center and the manager submits the hours that I volunteer to my voc rehab counselor. I am required to complete 32 hours every week. During the month of November I completed half of the hours I was required to work resulting in an over payment from the V.A. I could not attend to my place of duty some days because I had ER visits, v.a. appointments and disability related matters. My counselor told me that my best bet is to file for IU since I was not fit for school and had 4 different jobs in 2016 due to ptsd and physical disabilities (currently 80% combined) She mentioned that she was going to write a memo explaining that I am not employable, she said that her letter would carry a lot of weight in regards of the V.A. making a decision to put me in IU and to get SSDI through the SSA. My concern is how long would this decision take to get approved, I have read many posts and it seems that it can vary from 2 to 6 months sometimes 1 year. I cannot wait that long since I have a family to support and bills to pay like everyone else. I submitted an "intent to file" claim on ebenefits 3 months ago, I am putting all the evidence, mri's, doctor's notes, and evetything else that I need to increase my rating and to add other disabilities that I did not add in the past. I am going to submit the claim in a few weeks: Should I get letters from my therapists and psychiatrist stating that I am not employable to have a more solid claim? Is extended evaluation considered full time work and will this be seen like I am employable? I just sit down all day at the call center and help with paperwork and maybe call 6 individuals per day. Any inputs welcomed

Thanks for your responses, I have been treated in a TBI & poly trauma center at Palo Alto, CA through the V.A. This was after the explosion because I was knocked down unconscious (2012), I've had so many therapies but I stopped going to the V.A. one year after my injury (2013) because the health care there was not even close to the one that I got in Walter Reed naval hospital. I am currently rated at 80% and already submitted an intent to file claim, beacuse there are so many disabilities that I did not claim and already have been diagnosed by my doctor. There is a 1.6mm shrapnel piece in my left ethmoid sinus according to an x ray at the V.A. so I made an appointment a few weeks ago at the ENT clinic at the V.A. I will let them know about my non stop vertigo issue to them to see what is going on because I still have it and it is very annoying, I have been taking meclizine for vertigo as prescribed, thanks again for your inputs!!! Tiredmarine0331

Hello, I've had positional vertigo problems in the past ever since a hand grenade exploded close to my position four years ago. One week ago I had an appointment at the V.A. and I noticed that the building was moving, I asked my case manager if she felt the movement of the building and she said no, I was about to exit the building when this happened. I drove home and woke up the next morning feeling like my house was moving but ignored it since I have had episodes of vertigo before. I got to the building where I volunteer at (voc rehab) and felt the same way so I figured that it was positional vertigo kicking in for sure, for one week straight I've felt this way and is not going away. I went to the E.R. at the V.A. and I was prescribed meclizine and it is not working. The doctor told me it might be a viral infection and I do not know what to say or do other than taking the meds because I feel so weak and confused while I'm at home this is so annoying that I cannot take it anymore. The tinnitus in my ears became stronger and sometimes I hear drums beating inside my right ear. I like to have a few beers especially when others buy it to be honest, family members brought a few bottles of wine and beers for the holidays and I haven't had a sip of it due to my dizziness, that's how bad it its. Has anyone had this before?? I would like to put this to an end and if I'm gonna be like this for the rest of my life I'll put it in my claim, like I said I've had this feeling before, but not so many days in a row and with this intensity, any inputs thanks tiredmRONW0331

Hello everyone, I am using Voc Rehab benefits and was put on a program inside voc rehab called "extended evaluation" this was because I already tried school and dropped out, had a few manual labor jobs, sold cars at a dealership and nothing worked out for me due to my disabilities. I called my case manager today and told her I really needed a new smart phone because the one I had was given to me when I switched to a new phone company and long story short is a shitty phone, I strongly relay on my phone as an alarm clock, calendar and reminder device. My question is: has anyone gotten a smart phone through voc rehab? Thanks, Tiredmarine0331

Hello, I took shrapnel from a grenade explosion to different parts of my body, one of those parts is my big toe foot join (part that connects the big toe with the ball of the foot). It is still painful and I was rated at 0% SC for that injury. Does anyone knows what could have been the reason why I was rated at 0%? Any suggestions? thanks, Tired Marine 0331

Thanks for your responses!, Tiredmarine0331

Hi everyone, I already submitted an "intent to file" on e benefits with all the disabilities that I did not claim in the past, these include: flat foot, shin splints and plantar fasciitis. I get really bad shin splints just by walking around, I started noticing this during battalion hikes when I was in the marines. I get pain at the bottom of my feet most of the time because I do not have the arched area at all. There is a part in both my shins where I can see some tissue popping out (under the skin) when I move my feet around. My question is: Should I claim flat foot as a primary disability and shin splints, plantar fasciitis (pain in the heel section) as secondary to flat foot? Would this help me to get a greater rating? Any inputs welcomed, tiredmarine0331

Awesome help! I was not aware of the ITF option, I will follow your advise! More advises welcomed Tired Marine 0331

Hi everyone, I went to see my main doctor at the V.A. and told her about the tingling and numbness that I have been feeling in my hands and sometimes next to my elbow. I mostly get it when I drive and my wrists are bent or if I have to bend my wrists for a period of time I will feel the numbness and tingling. (It happens a lot when I sleep). I went in for a consult and my doctor specifically told me that she does not think is carpal tunnel syndrome (with a vague expression on her face). She explained the causes and symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and it matches with what I am going through. I did not want to argue with her and even though she did not ordered x-rays or an MRI she prescribed wrists supports to have them straight at all times or when I sleep. Should I go back with her and try to get those x-rays done? Is the wrist support prescription enough to put in a claim and be successful at the claim? Any advises are welcomed. Thanks, Tired Marine 0331