[A general response to be written on form 9]

I have the following ratings;

1. 70% PTSD
2. 40% TBI
3. 10% Tinnutus

I was granted TDIU based  on my PTSD rating.

According to ebenefits, and the Pyschologist who did my PTSD C&P, my PTSD is p&t.

I havent been officially denied for SMC-S.  I have a 50% rating between my tbi and tinnitus rating.   

I want to appeal a c&p's for visual disorder (double vision), and headaches.  That would give me 60% beyond my PTSD rating.  From what little i know about this, that is enough for SMP=S, right?

 

[A general response to be written on form 9]

Thank you to all for the information. I especially like the idea of having the VSO file it on my behalf. I'm really not sure what I want to say.

 

  I am more interested in getting the rating that I want (SMC-S) rather than knowing exactly what decision I want to appeal at this point.

[County veteran service officer versus American Legion for representation]

I would be interested in hearing others thoughts on the pros and cons of using a County Veteran Service Officer or a vso from one of service organizations such as the American Legion VFW or DAV.

 

 

 

[A general response to be written on form 9]

Thank you both for the replies.

I am thinking about hiring a law firm for my appeal. I was rather frustrated with how long it took 4 my veterans service organization to get back in touch with me every time I had a question. I wonder if it County Veteran officer is it any better?

 

[A general response to be written on form 9]

 

 

 I am going to file for an appeal to go to the bva. I haven't decided who will represent me in my bva hearing, but I want to go ahead and file my form 9 so that I don't miss my 2-month window.

  I would like to ask for some suggestions on how to write a generic or standard response to the question of why I am filing an appeal. I want to make it as open a statement as I can so that if later I need to add something I can.

 

[PTSD p&t]

Right, that is what I tried t say by using 70 (100).  I was rated at 70, but it went to 100 because of IU.

[PTSD p&t]

How common is it for a PTSD rating of 70 (100 ) to receive a notation indicating that it is permanent an total.

I was under the impression that p&t status was rarely given for mental health.

[ID Card for 100% Vet]

Thank you again.  Today was my first day (weekday) retired.   LOL

[ID Card for 100% Vet]

Thank you.

 

 

What about a VA Hospital? Do you think it could be done there?

 

[ID Card for 100% Vet]

I have heard that the ID card for 100% disabled vet is called a brown card

 

I am now a hundred percent disabled vet. I know when I got my VA ID card I had to enter a whole bunch of information.

Is it possible to get a brown card without refiling all that information such as spouse and dependents?

[Attn T-Bird, Ring That Bell For Me]

A few weeks ago on the podcast T-bird said that every time a bell rings veteran gets his tdiu.

Please ring that Bell for me.

I just got 80% , and I was granted TDIU effective June 2014.

SSD was much easier.  LOL

 

[C&P for Diplopia]

Thank you

 

[C&P for Diplopia]

I had trouble pasting my CMT from my phone. I attached the document to the previous email. I have a virus checker on my phone so please don't worry about clicking on it.

[C&P for Diplopia]

Could I get some opinions on a possible rating, please?

 

VA Notes
Source: VA
Last Updated: 20 Jan 2018 @ 0910
Sorted By: Date/Time (Descending)
VA Notes from January 1, 2013 forward are available 3 calendar days after they have been completed
and signed by all required members of your VA health care team. If you have any questions about your
information please visit the FAQs or contact your VA health care team.
Date/Time: 20 Dec 2017 @ 0800
Note Title: C&P EYE
Location: BATTLE CREEK MI VAMC
Signed By: JOHNSON,MATTHEW A
Co-signed By: JOHNSON,MATTHEW A
Date/Time Signed: 21 Dec 2017 @ 1550
Note
 LOCAL TITLE: C&P EYE 
STANDARD TITLE: EYE C & P EXAMINATION CONSULT 
DATE OF NOTE: DEC 20, 2017@08:00 ENTRY DATE: DEC 21, 2017@15:50:34 
 AUTHOR: JOHNSON,MATTHEW A EXP COSIGNER: 
 URGENCY: STATUS: COMPLETED 
 Eye Conditions
 Disability Benefits Questionnaire
 Name of patient/Veteran: MAYS, FRANKLIN EUGENE
 
 Is this DBQ being completed in conjunction with a VA 21-2507, C&P 
Examination
 Request?
 [X] Yes [ ] No
 
 ACE and Evidence Review
 -----------------------
 Indicate method used to obtain medical information to complete this 
document:
 
 [X] In-person examination
 
 Evidence Review
 ---------------
MAYS, FRANKLIN EUGENE CONFIDENTIAL Page 4 of 10

mhv_MAYS_20180120_0913.pdf

[Cant Stop Thinking About My Claim]

Thank you for your responses. 

[Cant Stop Thinking About My Claim]

Thank you to all who responded to my post.  I especially appreciate the advice not to check Ebenefits more than four times a week.  That gives me a specific goal that I can use.  

  I will try to share my story for those who are interested.

  I filed a claim in November of 2012 for a 3-Point Landing (feet, butt, head) at Airborne School.  I was a MS-3 Cadet, and I had just finished Advanced Camp (Graduated with a 4).  

  When I was hurt I was diagnosed as having a concussion and needing to be observed for four years before I could become commissioned.

  I didn't realize my brain injury was more severe until I was diagnosed by a private doctor in 2006.  I struggled to work from 2006-2012, when I filed my VA Claim.  I was under the impression that when I was injured I was not eligible for VA compensation because my status was "Reserve on Active Duty for Training".  I think the law changed later.

  I originally received a 40% rating in June of 2014.  I immediately filed a NOD and appealed the decision.  

  In was not working at that time, so I was more interested in getting my TDIU than getting any additional money in backpay.  So in March of 2016 I filed a new claim, and let my appeal expire after receiving a Statement of Case in July 2016.  

   The VA awarded me SMC-K, and Tinnutus (sp) in January of 2017, and deferred the TDIU and increase in TBI.  
  I contacted my Rep in April of 2017, and the response to him was "there is no specific time the claim will be decided."

  In September of 2017 I took additional C&P exams.  I took a PTSD C&P for the second time.

  I contacted Veterans Whitehouse Hotline in November, and someone there was assigned to review my case.  Their review said that the DRO did not address all of the contentions on my appeal.  So the DRO moved all of the issues that I was filing a claim for back to the appeal, and reopened the appeal in December of 2017.

  It sounds good that I will have the backpay, but I would rather have it completed more than anything else.  I think about it constantly.  In fact I am trying to get into my VA to maybe get some help for these obsessive thoughts.  

  Sometimes I feel like the only way to get over this is to either die or have the claim settled.  With the help of the Veteran's Crisis Line I have  chosen "Plan B".  Sometimes I don't know how much more of this I can handle.

[You can now put your Military Rank in your profile.]

Thank you.

[You can now put your Military Rank in your profile.]

I was injured as a MS-3 cadet at Airborne School.  I was contracted and had completed Advanced Camp.  Is the rank of "Cadet" available?

 

[Cant Stop Thinking About My Claim]

Hello,

 

  I am posting this, because I am looking for support.

 

I am a vet (TBI & PTSD).  I have been waiting over five years for my claim to be resolved.  
 

I think about it constantly.  I call my VSO and/or the 800 number at least once a day.

 

Has anyone else had trouble with nearly constant rumination on their claim to where it interferes with other aspects of their life?

[What To Do With This Letter]

 

  I am going to post a letter that my VA Optometrist wrote for me.  This doctor performed a C&P for me regarding my eyesight caused by TBI.  Basically, the doctor says that the results of the C&P exam are in error, because my vision was not corrected by glasses.

  So my question is what do with this letter?  Do I file another claim?  Do I file an appeal?  Do I ask for a "redo" on my C&P?

 

  I will post the letter below.

 

I have been working with Mr Mays since initially examining him at his Compensation and Pension exam Oct 6, 2016.  Since that exam we have been focusing on getting his eyes to work better.  At the initial C&P exam, I was unable to obtain a comprehensive picture regarding the diplopia as I have no with numerous visits focused on this.  It has been discovered that the initial diagnosis of the diplopia being correctable by spectacle correction was incorrect.  At this time, and with countless trials with glasses and prisms no optical means have been able to correct the patients diplopia.

 

 

[BRS (Blind Rehabilitation Services)]

  Has anyone had a referral to the BRS Program? I am a candidate for it and I am wondering if some of the services of this program have been helpful to others.

 

 

 

[When Would Be The Date for Retro Compensation]

question retracted.

[Would I Get Paid at 70% or 100%?]

 

 

I have a question about how retroactive compensation.  The rater finds that I have a disability at 70%.  I know that over 70% disability I am paid at the TDIU rate.  Would I receive retro compensation at the rate of 70% or at 100%?  

[VA Ordered a Second C&P But Did Not Use The Results]

I received some new information this afternoon.  Apparently the DRO  thought that the claim for ptsd and IU were for an appeal.  So they did not include the rating in the rating that I just received. 

 

  I'm not sure I buy this completely.  It sounds like I am being told that the C&P exams were going to be used for an appeal.  However one of the one condition that I was rated for was Tinnitus.  The tinnitus C&P was given at the same appointment that the PTSD and IU was.

 

According to my VSO the DRO told her that they had made a mistake, and it would take a month or two to correct it.

 

  So I think my rating will go back to 40% , and I will loose the Tinnitus 10% and SMC-K.  At least now I have my SSD.

[VA Ordered a Second C&P But Did Not Use The Results]

 

LOL.  Thank you Berta for listening to me.  

  I have heard that the SSD decision and the TDUI need to "line up" (Same conditions for both).

  I didn't get any opinions on the ADHD thing, because it was the last thing that was listed on my SSD decision.  I thought that having the brain injury as the primary disabling condition was good enough.
  If this doesn't come back the way I want, then I am going to hire legal representation.  I'm thankful that my disability % went from 40% to 50%, but I believe I deserve higher.