poohthewinnie

I am really excited and surprised to learn that I finally reached my 100% P&T SMC from the VA.  I just wanted to express my appreciation to this website reading about others success and not giving up. I was truthful with my disabilities to my C&P examiners and when I doubted my issues would not be looked at seriously I found that they were. I often think about how I wish I would have done this years ago. I know back then that I did not understand the system and that all I needed were my medical records (enlisted and VA) along with understanding how my illnesses/issues were connected. I always thought that being female in the military was really hard, but proving your disabilities afterwards seemed unimaginable. However, I did it and now I am 100% P&T SMC.  I am not going for TDIU because I really love my job and have no intention of quitting/leaving at this time.  Thank you HADIT for assistance with my guidance in this process!!!

Thanks again, Y'all!  I appreciate the good words!  Buck, next time I'm planning to be up toward your area, I'll let you know and we can visit over a cup.  This has been an experience!
Just a quick update.  I received my envelope.  It wasn't big and brown or big and white.  More of a paper reduction act middle sized with about 25 pages folded in half.  My granted decisions matched the eBenefits and payment I received, so I'm happy there.  Got low-balled on a couple of ratings, but all in all not too bad.  It got me over the ridge.
I did read the wonderful language regarding "permanent and total" and one of the "decisions' that I was granted for for "Eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35."  Hopefully, my two daughters can get the benefit of this.
Meanwhile, Veterans Evaluation Services called me a couple of days ago about my remaining remanded conditions and the one granted that they had not processed yet.  I'm waiting for them to decide if they want to do ACE, telemed or in-person.  They advised that for in-person C&P's they are still holding off until they get the all-clear for COVID-19.  I don't look for anything that comes out of the remaining claims to amount to much, but I'll do the hokey-pokey for them and go where they tell me to.  I agreed to whatever option they decided.
I also reached out to the VA's prescription billing folks and initiated an audit to get a refund on the remaining prescription co-pays I had paid out prior to getting my previous rating increase.  I had done that once before for a couple of years of co-pays when I got bumped over 50%, and this should get the rest.  Might not be much, but it'll help pay a few electric bills I'm guessing.
I'm thinking of taking a trip over to Fort Polk in Louisiana to get a military ID card now for commissary and base access, unless they are still in COVID-19 lockdown and I am going to look closer at the life insurance.
That is one question I have.  I do plan to keep working, so will I not qualify for the premium-free $10K in life insurance because I am still working?  I read that you have to be completely unable to work for that.  Or am I missing something.  I meet all other "checkmarks" except that one.
I also have a question about CHAMPVA.  Is it pretty good for family coverage and what is the premium cost?  I'll go research as well, but I wanted to see what everybody's experiences have been with this for their family members.
I'm a cancer survivor and it all finally got service-connected.  I'm still here and plan to be here for a while longer, but now I know that when the Lord does take me, my wife and kids will be provided for.  That has been my primary goal since I started this almost a decade ago.
Thanks again everybody.  I hope you have a safe and peaceful weekend.  Take care!
Mark
 

Preach on, that. Im P/T for MH (MD, as he puts it) along with physical issues. My lower back nerve damage at 42 is bad enough to cause constant continuous pain and discomfort/neuropathy, but not in a safe enough location to warrant operating because if they screw it up ill be using Big Boy depends for the rest of my life, among other things, not just the shields I use now. That bit that Martin Riggs from "Lethal Weapon" says to Murtaugh about having to think of a reason every single day to get up? Yeah, its kinda like that. I really hope, Paul, that you reach out when it gets like that to the rest of us, or the phone line, or a friend, or whatever you gotta do to help get you around those. 

Excellent advice!
The route to higher ratings is often increasing existing ratings. If you have evidence within the past 12 months showing you meet the rating criteria for a higher percentage, consider submitting it and requesting an increased rating. If the VA sends you for a C&P, it usually means they may either need clarification or your evidence is nearing 12 months from the time you filed. Remember, increases do not require a nexus.
Another avenue is secondary disabilities. When a SC disability, or the medication used to treat it, causes another disability, consider filing for it. Of course, secondaries require a nexus.
I'm glad you are not giving up.

Hello all,
 
It took me years to finally submit my first claim to the va after exiting the service in 2012. I had no idea what I was doing and had no idea that I was entitled to anything, I just knew I had problems and they were getting worse. I started out getting rated 30% in 2016, then got to 70% in 2017. And finally this month I was officially rated 100% sc. I keep logging in to make sure the rating is still there. 
10% tinnitus 
30% IBS
100% PTSD
And a few more still pending. I still have to battle for P&T but I’m grateful to have a site like this with fellow veterans so willingly to help with their experience and expertise. So thank you and any tips or guidance for me would be extremely appreciated!

well not always affectionately 🤬   depends on what she says...

I would claim "abnormal gate" secondary to my knee.  Send in all the medical records along with it.
Let the VA sort it out.
Then if you get something (anything) secondary'd for arthritis (stay here with me), then you progress from there.
I went 30 (plantar faciitis, shoulder tendinopothy), then 40%, then 60%, then 70%, then 80% and finally (up to now) 90%.
All over ten years.  You can go to the whole enchilada, with appeals, etc., etc,,  over 10 years, or take what little they give you and work it.
Not sure how long you were in, but go through you med records page by page.  Everything matters.
I found "thoracic degenerative arthritis" mentioned in a old x-ray they took of my chest for my high blood pressure when I was in the service.  I used it to it to get it service connected secondary to my cervical DDD, DJD.
Keep plugin,
Hamslice
 
 

Silverdj1, the key words in her opine are "at least likely" which means 50% or more due to his long standing HTN.  So, this is a good thing for you.

@vetquest My VSO sent me a copy of my award letter. I have been granted TDIU total and permanent. In the last post you wrote about me possibly getting retirement by filing with the Board of Correction. How long did the process take for you? Do you have any pointers that could help my case?

As for if he will get better, that is a difficult question to answer.  I would say if you get him the right doctor at the VA, then he has a good shot at being able to deal with those issues.  He might need to go into their treatment program depending on how bad it is.  Is he rated for any % with the VA?
Since he is a VET you can take him to the veteran hospital to be seen, and if he is headed down this path then it sounds like he needs some help.  They will also keep track of everything that happens and will give him the help he needs.  I know my Vet hospital here has a bunch of different things even to the point of putting them into treatment 24/7 at the hospital.  
I know some of us here have been down this road and it is a tough road to go down.  The military does a very poor job of teaching you how to deal with the aftermath of trauma.  They do a great job at teaching you how to bring it into the world.  There is hope for him, but he may need some help which is not at home.  

if you have Amazon Prime, Hulu or Youtube streaming service they are available there... I really liked it and it is one of the few series I occasionally go back and rewatch.

Had posted a note in another part of the forum but wanted to post here in the success stories.  I had been at 20% for over 20 years and finally decided to fight the fight by filing a claim November 2018.  I was awarded with 80% and a new found education to the VA system.  I had several other conditions cued up and sent in the next volley which was screwed up by a C&P examiner that shouldn't be in the position but I got to 90% in spite of her incompetence.  I fired off a couple of supplemental claims and was awarded 100% P&T backdated to April 18, 2019.  Very thankful for all of the great advice here on Hadit!  Now I've got my eyes on filing a CUE for a bogus rating decision in 1999.
 

God is Good! Hello Hadit Family!! I started my battle with the VA on May 12th of 2014 and I finally won my claim. I got the award letter out of the mailbox on Thursday August 1st 2019 (please forgive me for not posting the good news sooner, I was overcome with emotion and burnt out from this process). I wasn’t even going to file a claim but my mother, who is the driving force of my life has encouraged and supported me (physically, mentally and financially) throughout these last five years. It took countless hours of self study reading VA laws and regulations, court precedents, the M21 training manual and even using their own language against them (from the three denial letters that I received over the past five years) to finally get them to acknowledge my disability.

The VA rated me 50% direct service connection for Folliculitis for my face (and yes, I feel that this is a lowball rating which I will be appealing shortly). The surprising thing is that they also rated me 0% for Folliculitis for my “chest area” for a combined rating of 50%. Didn’t expect that, but I will take advantage of it since I already have the evidence to justify it established in the claims file. I never gave up, even after spending endless days crying in my room after each denial letter. My mother was always there for me to give me words of encouragement and keep me strong. I look forward to interacting with my new Hadit Family. This victory goes out to every veteran who has died while waiting for a claims decision and everyone currently battling the VA today with a pending claim. I will be on this site to share my knowledge and contribute as much as my disability allows me to (and yes, I do plan to file a claim for secondary conditions in the near future). I hope my success story encourages someone out there to keep fighting and to never give up for what you have already earned. Take care and have a blessed day!!!

We as Vets need to remember that when the Psychiatrist ask you "How are doing," the answer you give to that question is the first thing that the Psychiatrist writes in your Medical Notes.  In some cases like mine, when I remained silent about my symptoms my Dr.'s documentation in my Medical Notes would show that my MH symptoms may have improved when the opposite is true.  So, thru Berta I learned to open up your mouth and tell your Dr. how you are really doing.  One other thing I have found help is to know what the symptoms of your illnesses are.  I use my symptoms list as a list of things I need to address at my MH appointments.

Thank God for TDIU. I had my claim for sleep apnea secondary to asthma accepted 3 weeks ago and was awarded a bump from 30% to 50% which brought my overall 80% up to 90%, with that small raise in pay. Today, VA.gov said this
 

Tinnitus FDC Claim
 
July 1st - Filed Claim
July 17th - C&P
July 31 - Preparation for Decision
August 3 - Preparation for Approval 
August 4 - Preparation for Notification
August 5 - Closed rated 10% for tinnitus
 
Just thought I'd let you know how the FDC's are looking. Not bad! This was Muskogee. Any new benefits at 20%? Thanks everyone who posts on this forum for the help.

I think our wives must be related Shrek 🙂. My wife loves me and is always there for me and she is always will to listen, but I know she does not understand why I need and enjoy this site. It is where I can be with my brothers and sisters in arms, for we know what we went through and why we did it. We did it for the love of our country! 
It truly is a personal fight for we have all had our health taken from us at too young of an age. That is why I am for every vet being awarded every benefit they are entitled too. They are not being greedy, they just want what they have earned!
I encourage everyone to always keep good notes and write down (in simple language) what your spouse needs to know and do if we should (and we all will) pass away. We also want our spouses and children to get the benefits they have also earned such as DIC. Make sure they know all your passwords! JMO 

Paul is right about needing a space where you can come after you have had defeat or a win.  I know my wife gets sick and tired of me talking about my fight with the VA.  For her all she sees is me spending a bunch of time not doing things with her in her mind productive things.  At the end of the day for me this is a personal fight as I have had my health taken from me.  I am also doing this, because in 5-10 years there is no way I will have the energy to fight this hard.  
My wife told me for years I would never get to 50% and now we are looking at 100%.  She sometimes understands how bad it is, but I am pretty good at hiding the pain most days.  I will say it has changed a bunch around here now that we have been this far down the road.  I think she is finally understanding I have limitations.  She is also very supportive of my issues.  I just don't want to always weigh her down with my crap.  
As for this site is great to come here and see I am not alone, and there are those who are where I was at and other who are where I want to land.  I am glad I can give back some of my experience to make someone else's life easier!  Remember we make up less than 1% of the USA.  We have a unique bond and we all support each other.  I also find it a blessing there are those out there who have never fought in a war who are willing to fight (for years) through a court case to help us be able to take care of ourselves!  
Thank you to all of those who help us here without any knowledge of getting paid at the end of the day.  It would be very hard to work knowing there was a chance to never get paid and to put so many hours into a persons case.  My hats off to you and keep up the fight!

“Service connection for an acquired disorder including MDD and PTSD is warranted”  
That pretty well sums it up for you.  Congratulations on your win..

Congrats!!

your LCSW is right and the shrink is a jackass.
PTSD is not limited to being shot, shot down, or having you buddies blown up in front of you.
If they put that in a PTSD denial you would all the ammunition you need to get that award reversed

Winston Churchill once said “Never give up, never give up, never, never, never.” This holds true for those that have the invisible wounds of war. Sixteen years after my retirement I received a letter that outlined possible VA presumptions. The letter explained many challenges I experienced and encouraged me to apply for VA disability and the beginnings of denial.
I received a 60% rating in 2017 with a service connection date of Aug 2014. However, my main challenge (PTSD) was  denied. The denial was because I didn’t have a therapist confirming my condition; they agreed with the stressor. Since I am retired and use Tricare Prime, I went there for therapy and appealed. I was again denied because the therapist was not a certified therapist. How would I know?
i was headed to an appeal with the BVA and my VSO (Virginia Department of Veteran Services), specifically Caleb Johnson, helped me get two independent evaluations from a university and a therapist.
I entered the RAMP program and received a 50% PTSD rating in 2018 but with a service connection date of Dec 2017. I appealed the date and for an increase in Nov 2018 and yesterday (19 March 2019) received a 100% P&T with SMC (S-1) with a service connection date of Aug 2014. Below is my HLR Ramp timeline:
1.. 1/17/19 CR 26 Apr 19 - 10 Aug 19 
2. 1/28/19 PFD 25  Feb 19 - 1 Apr 19
3. 2/6/19 PDA 6 Feb 19 - 10 Mar 19
4. 2/7/19 9 PFN Feb 19 - 11 Feb 19
5. 2/11/19 PDA 26 Feb 19 - 15 Mar 19
6. 2/19/19 PDA 6 Mar 19 - 23 Mar 19
7. 3/4/19 PFD 1 Apr 19 - 6 May 19
8. 3/5/19 PDA 20 Mar 19 - 6 Apr 19
9. 3/5/19 PFN 7 Mar 19 - 9 Mar 19
10. 3/6/19 PDA 21 Mar - 7 Apr 19
11. 3/8/19 PFD 5 Apr - 10 May 19
12. 3/11/19 PDA 26 Mar - 12 Apr 19
13. 3/13/19 UR  10 May - 23 Jul 19 
14. 3/15/19 PDA 30 Mar - 16 Apr 19
15. 3/18/19 PFN  20 Mar - 22 Mar 19
16. 3/19/19 Complete
As you can read above, there was a lot of bouncing back and forth. Yes, I watched eBenefits more than I should. This site was a source of support throughout my painful wait. This is what I learned:
1. Don’t quit!
2. EBenefits does not accurately demonstarate the RAMP stages. You may see the progress in EBenefits but the stages don’t apply correctly.
3. It is futile to tell a veteran to stop watching EBenefits. What else are they going to do?
4. If you feel like you must call EBenefits (Peggy), they cannot tell you everything they see but some will tell you more than others. I called several times till I at least got some type of information I thought was the most they could give.
5. While I had success with my VSO, it was with Caleb and not with the other people that worked there. So, sometimes you have to ensure your VSO cares. As a matter of fact, after receiving the 50% PTSD an idiot at that office told me to be happy with it. I submitted the HLR RAMP on my own. I didn’t bother to complain to Caleb but he found out and that person’s supervisor called me to apologize. The moral is that you are ultimately accountable for the outcome so don’t give up!
 

I filed my first VA claim in 2013. Most of the claim was denied however I did receive a 20%sc which shortly after changed to 40% after they ruled on another item that had earlier been deferred. I immediately filed an appeal and shortly thereafter another claim for new conditions. The new claim was completely denied and I immediately filed a second appeal. Hoping I would win one appeal and be able to reach a 70%sc and qualify for TDIU I went ahead and applied for TDIU even though I was still just 40%. I figured I might at least be able to get an earlier effective date if approved. It too was denied. I filed a third appeal. So for about 6 years I’ve watched 3 separate appeals work their way through the system and when the first one got to The Board they also addressed the other 2 appeals at the same time. I won all three of my appeals and I am now 90%sc/w TDIU paid at the 100% rate and my letter says it’s Permanent & Total. This is a huge life changer. Never give up the fight. 

I'm so sorry I forgot to say thank you to everyone here at hadit.com, especially the founders, admins, and those who post good advice and encouragement to the rest of us. Your efforts make a big difference!

yes BroncoVet--many thanks to hadit.com , I was very worried along this whole trail-y'all made it bearable. Thank you. And as long as my body, mind and sould hold out and with God's grace I am finally set. 15 years of waiting ? I was at 60% but went to 100% retro back for 15 years. Already have a dental appt scheduled with VA as well-what a relief !
I know as well or better than anyone it is hell-but hang in there