vetquest

The VA might be looking for line of duty vs willful misconduct. The rater looking at your case is a desk jockey and has no idea what CID does for a living, unless he watches NCIS and then God only knows what he thinks.

Buck, I personally believe depression goes along with PTSD. If you are disabled I believe depression kicks in too. You are no longer able to do the things you once were able to do so you miss that loss. Being disabled and not actively participating in life also is a loss in of itself. You have a lot of time to think. You do not see depression in people working day to day to survive, their lot is working hard and they do not have time for depression. I honestly believe vets should be able to do some work as it helps their self esteem. I currently work at a church as a volunteer off and on. I hope this helps some.

As far as I know they do not talk to each other. If you are TDIU I would advise against this though as the VA will eventually catch on. If you 100% scheduler you are entitled to work. If you are not TDIU it is expected that you work. I can say that working as a government contractor once I was amazed at the information the government can pull up about your earned income on selected computer systems.

Buck, I have PTSD at 70% along with depression and suicidal ideation. It is just a new diagnosis and you should not be sent for another C&P. As you say you cannot be rated for both so they rate the most severe one, usually PTSD. I hope this helps.

This is big news and it only makes vets look bad. For every veteran faking a condition there are many others with real disabilities who are denied benefits. That should be the news.

I was discharged illegally from the USMC and had a most unusual disability. The Navy Times did a story on me as their cover story. It helped get some people involved but not much more than the people already helping me. I was featured in a story in the Los Angles Times and on a segment on disabled veterans on a TV news report. The total of real help received was nil from those stories.

If this is correct it looks like you should have 100% scheduler? Are these new? What is your current percentage?

Did you mean secondary increases or disability? We cannot say if you are entitled, only the VA can but we can assist in giving advice on your journey.

You are entitled to C&P exams if you file for benefits. As for hiring a doctor to do an exam that is up to you, the VA cannot prevent you from doing this. Just recognize that this is an expensive endeavor. What is your husband claiming and what is his current level of disability?

I filed my first claim November 1986 and it took ten years before I was awarded 50% PTSD. This after being diagnosed with no fewer than seven different personality disorders. 100% UI was filed in 2007, with a request for service connection of neuropathy. Ten years later I was declared 100% P&T. So I am only at ten years. I am filing an EED for that ten years on SMC K. They can attempt to reduce me but I am 80% for neuropathy and that does not get better.

I got out in 86 and was discharged as fully healthy; due to a disability with an RE3 code. The Navy (USMC) really pulled a number on me. The VA added insult to injury claiming I was a hypochondriac. I am now USMC Retired and 100% scheduler P&T.

One advantage of having a VSO is that you can use him to document all information sent to the VA. Most VSO's should have a computer and scanner. Have them upload all documents sent to the VA so that you have proof that document x was submitted on "this" date. This comes in very handy when the VA tries to lose a document or not report it as evidence on your decision.

Be honest and describe your worst days in your own words. The examiner will ask you questions, answer them as you would any other doctor.

I once was told by a wise old veteran that you earned your disability by giving up your health (mental or physical) in service of your country. And the VA is not in the business of rewarding sloth.

One would believe so but we can never be sure. If you are denied again make sure you take your case to the BVA. The BVA seems to be the place where a lot of claims are settled in the favor of the veteran. It seems the RO's are in the business of denying claims.

Good luck. The BVA reads evidence that the RO's do not consider in my opinion. Glad the BVA did good for you.

I had a 50% PTSD and a 50% for migraines that came out to 80% and worked full time for many years. I finally succumbed to my disability and had to go on IU. The nice thing about working is you are still paying into social security and could meet the level that you need to get regular SS when it becomes obvious that you cannot work if that ever happens.

I am not sure what complex PTSD is. I am rated for non combat PTSD, an injury in the line of duty that almost killed me, so PTSD does not infer combat. That said, as long as you have a continued rating it really does not matter whether they call it complex or not. You can only be rated for a single mental health rating and it may be that he wanted to add the MDD. Possibly he did you a favor by pointing out a secondary mental health condition. I believe MDD is major depressive disorder and if so it only adds to your disability.

VA examiners are the cream of the bottom of the bowl sometimes. I had one deny I was even disabled and say I was malingering despite years worth of evidence and a protected rating. I had another refuse to even read an IMO from a private doctor because she had performed testing on me previously. That said I do not believe all examiners are bad. I have had examiners that were good for me and solidified my benefits. I can only say that you take your chances when you walk into a C&P.

When you write a letter to your congressman or go to their office their staffer writes a letter to the VA so your file is pulled from processing to get an answer. If you are lucky it goes back to where it was, if not it goes to the bottom of the stack. I once had a staffer that was really interested in my case and got a lot done. When she left she was replaced by a blowhard and I also died. It took months to get my case moving again.

Good night and good luck. Insulting people here is not how this board works. I wish you luck with Feinstein.

Good luck Sir. I hope this medication works for you.

Martin, The guys on this thread are trying to tell the person how to avoid an ambulance bill. As a vet who has Tricare you go through the same experience with private insurance. You have to call a nurse and get approval for an ambulance. I know this is exactly the opposite of what you would expect but private care is not that much different to VA care in that respect. I have been to VA emergency rooms and it is not fun, I was lying on the floor in my own vomit as the front desk clerk was telling my wife the veteran had to check himself in before being seen. These guys on this board are veterans doing the best they know how.

Hamslice, with all due respect, I cannot understand their logic. I was at 80% and working until I lost my job due to service connected disability. I was able to get TDIU and not able to work. Later due to further disability the VA moved me to 100% scheduler and I am now allowed to work. I still cannot work and I do not get the differentiation.

Working on TDIU can be done but you must be very careful, you could get your benefits stopped if a rater decided you are making too much or if they decided you can work. It takes much longer to get TDIU than it can take to lose it. It took ten years for me to get TDIU and I was out of work the entire time. Gotta love the VA. Getting your rating changed to permanent is tough too. If you can get it changed to scheduler you can work though. I don't understand VA logic. Everything said it is your choice how to handle the situation. I have lost the best earning years of my life but I am learning to live on a 100% rating. That may not work for everyone.