GeekySquid

another note on this and possible indicators on ebenefits. As noted above I just found out today in Ebenefits that i got a 100% P&T, which of course has made me excited and anxious at the same time since Ebenefits is known to be a bit wonky on many issues. While bopping around looking for more clues to support what I had already seen, I noticed in the Ebenefits VA letters section I now have a letter to gain access to the commissary. IT says: " This is to certify XXXXX X XXXXX is an honorably discharged veteran of the Navy and is entitled to disability compensation at the 100 percent rate due to service-connected disability(ies). This total disability is considered permanent. You are not scheduled for future examinations." While TD/IU recipients can access the commissary their letter would logically seem to be worded differently. Also I would suspect the other entries would show TD/IU. I know I have to wait for the packet but this just seems to support that my award is scheduler instead of TD/IU

@MarkP I have had those same problems for years. Oddly enough in DEERS they have cross linked my file to someone else and I cannot get it uncrossed and I have tried a dozen times. Here is the Ebenefits direct help desk number 800-983-0937 don't call the general number, they all seem to be as helpful as a box of hair. Set up a DS login account if you can, ,here is the link. It works on Ebenefits and Vets.org. but ebennie also allows a site specific username and password that is not your DS login. Here is a tidbit I got from the actual help desk and sadly it works. If Ebenefits is hoarking up on you, not password related stuff just display stuff. First go to the bottom of the main page and look at their Calendar of Outages. It is what most sites calle Planned Outages. If nothing is there then make sure you are using Internet Explorer, NOT Microsoft EDGE, Chrome or Firefox. According to the tech the sites are specifically designed for Pre-EDGE Internet Explorer versions. If you have an EDGE icon showing on your machine you also have a version of Internet Explorer you don't know about. To access that version of IE, open the EDGE browser. In the upper Right corner are 3 dots ... click the dots. Then about 5 items from the bottom is a menu item that says something like "Open with Internet Explorer".4 That is the link to the hidden version of IE on your machine if you allowed the upgrade to EDGE or bought a machine preloaded with EDGE.

@adkins7b I was 70% PTSD and 10% Tinnitus. rated in 2013. VA ordered a C&P review done by QTC. It was on 8/16/2018. 8/20 Ebenefits status went to reviewing information 8/21 Preparation for Decision 8/22 Pending decision approval 8/22 Preparation for Notification 8/24 Completed Notification mailed. EBenefits as of 6 p.m tonight under my Disabilities shows me 100% Under the letters it shows me as P&T right now I am waiting for the packet and or the new payment. In theory if the VA cut the order for the check today it will actually be in the next months pay. Check requests sent to Treasury by Friday C.O.B. will process and can cut by the next Friday, in this case it would appear with normal monthly compensation. Probably not, but I can hope.

Hey all just want to share what I think of is good news, even though I still have to sit and wait. On 8//16/2018 I had a C&P review for my PTSD which was 70% with 10% Tinnitus rating. I was initially rated in 2013 and I had made no requests for adjustments. VA just mandated this C&P. Today, 8/24/2018 ebenefits was up and down all day so I could not really read anything on my statuses until 6 pm PST. I went in and I am, according to ebenefits, at 100% and in the letters I see my rating is P&T. I am over the moon. This RO must be the rocket docket or the QTC doc really wrote a solid case for the bump. or both. Either way I am now in the "watch the mailbox" phase since I won't believe it until i either get paid or the packet arrives. Thanks for all the input from everyone on other posts and my rambling questions.

@broncovet The VBMS does seem to speed things up. I will post a new thread for this, but thank you for your suggestions and support. I just got notified on ebenefits that my C&P from the 16th has already closed and notification mailed. I am 100% schedule P&T for PTSD plus 10% tinnitus and I suspect, but cannot prove, an SMC-K award for loss of a creative organ. now I just have to wait for final confirmation and the packet. If they keep moving this fast they actually have time to have this bump in my next check on the 31st but more likely the following month or two.

@buck52 you asked There are a couple of things and one affects every TDIU vet and one affects vets with student loans. a rating of 100% scheduler allows vets to earn any amount of money they are able from working. A rating of 100% TD/IU restricts veterans allowable earnings to the poverty level set by the Federal government, so a single person that is like 11 -13K every year. not much. On student loans. a recent change to the laws does a couple things that favor veterans. 1) Dept of Ed, working with NelNet, are now being notified of a vets 100% status, both schedule and TD/IU. There is a semi-automated process (or you can start it yourself once the decision packet is in hand) and your student loans can be forgiven. Another change under that new law is that the forgiven amount is NO LONGER considered income so no taxes need be paid on the forgiven amount. 2) Differences in forgiveness program exist between Schedule and TD/IU. I don't know all the details yet but one of the differences is that if you are Schedule you are golden. Once approved they can never claw back the forgiven amount. If you are TD/IU however, if they find out that you earned more than the poverty level income allowed, they can re-activate your obligation to pay those loans and be sued to recover lost interest. There is some time limit, I think it is three years. For both statuses the veteran can forget ever getting another Student Fed Loan unless they agree to pay back the old loans. As I read the information on the website, https://disabilitydischarge.com/ it is a good thing for vets who are `100% either way you shake it, if you have student loans, and I do. btw I will make another thread but I just got a listing on ebenefits of 100% and the summary of benefits letter says P & T. so now I am in the wait and watch mode for the packet to arrive.

Hey all, As some of you know I am new here and posted a few questions trying to learn about this process. Won't go into deep detail but I have just had a couple oddly fast responses so I want to share them First off I had a C&P review of my 70% PTSD status on 16 August 2018. Doc said his company has been getting fast responses from the VA and that based on how he was writing the report and adding a diagnosis of "BiPolar likely caused by the PTSD" and that I "would get" (his words) a bump in rating even though they are not supposed to make that type of statement because they are not raters. Found this site, asked a bunch of questions about timing and next steps etc. had some very thorough answers and I thank you all for them. On Aug 20th Ebenefits showed claim as Gathering evidence Today Aug 23 Ebenefits shows Preparation for Notification, which seems really really fast for the VA so I started digging around to find out others experience with recent VA speed in processing. I assume my local VARO is a factor in that speed. I found a posting that referred to Vets.gov, so I went there and under Track my Claims I see a couple things not on Ebenefits. which is fairly fast and not on the ebenefits site. I read others getting to PFN then being sent back to Gathering of Evidence, so I am not jumping up and down yet. In the meantime with all the questions I asked it was suggested that other possible claims I was considering pursuing, including TDIU and for Ed and an increase on a couple of the secondaries to my PTSD and reopening a bilateral hearing loss, that the longer I waited the more money I would/might not be receiving. It was strongly suggested I apply asap, so I did. That was also on 8/20/2018 Tonight at 10 p.m. EST I got an email saying I had another C&P on 8/31/2018, but does not say for what, which is what started the hunt for info today. On Ebenefits it says one of my new claims is closed. nothing else, just closed. On Vets.Gov it says closed notification mailed. What is odd is that the path I show in the attached image for my C&P review that had such a fast turn around is not shown for that claim. That claim was for ED, which as a man rated 70% PTSD with Major Depressive disorder with psychotic features, should be a no brainer as I understand the online discussions. So in this case on the Ebenefits site, I chose to select the Request a Decision link after I submitted the Fully Qualified application. Overall on both situations the speed is kinda gnawing at me. On the ED claim, it will be interesting to see what they say and try and figure out if clicking that link for something that is well documented in my SMR and VA record actually makes things quicker. The SMC payment would be at least 105 bucks even if they rate as 0%, but they can rate as high as 20% for SC trauma causing the ED. Doing the VA math and assuming no bump in my PTSD rating, rating me at 10 or 20% would bump my overall combined rating to 80%, so as long as they don't deny the claim I will have an increase. On the other one, I really want to trust the doctors suggestion that I will get a bump but as PTSD comes in 30, 50, 70 & 100% blocks the only bump I see (now) is to 100% which would be great and would erase the need for TDIU which would be cool because being 100% Schedule has serious advantages over being 100% TDIU. The date of the new C&P, 8/31, also has me a bit worried only because I might not get any online notification of the outcome in PFN or for the ED. Anyway, I will post an update once I find out what each of these are. Thanks for reading

@Lemuel I cannot comment on your speculations, i am too old to wear stripes. I will look into your suggestions about SSDI and getting that CAVES report Thank you.

@Gastone I spoke with American Legion rep today over phone. He is sending C-File request to me I will fax and follow up with CMRRC letter I am also trying to set an appointment at the AL post nearest me. Once that is done I will be able to print those items and a few others. AS a side not the guy at AL did seem too experienced over the phone, so until I get to the office I wont' know more.

@Berta This post above is exactly part of what I am trying to wrap my head around I don't have the diagnostic codes as I am trying to get my C-File and the American Legion rep I spoke to couldnt seem to find them in the VBMS. What I have is 70% PTSD 10% Tinnitus The PTSD rating says posttraumatic stress disorder, with major depressive disorder with psychotic features Last week my C&P review doctor stated to me that his report would likely increase my rating substantially. I know he is not the rater, just repeating what he said. According to the American Legion rep I spoke to today, in the VBMS the latest C&P includes a diagnosis of BiPolar likely associated to PTSD.but the AL guy could not find that code either. The doc said he noted increased chronic anxiety, anti-social behavior and increased depression. He explained he was required use one of 7 sentences to describe my current state 1 being nothing wrong 7 being (in his words) you're toast. He stated his report was I am not quite toast but close. so my question is, what rating value do these particular secondaries have for me if any? I also have sleep apnea and once i get my file I will file for a secondary on that. Thanks

@green I saw that link today and was wondering the same thing. Mine may be little different than typical, I put in for a SMC (?) related to ED resulting from PTSD. Apparently it falls under a category called Loss of Creative use of an Organ and is considered extra-scheduler. I am 70% SC rated for posttraumatic stress disorder, with major depressive disorder with psychotic features and 10% Tinnitus back in 2013 after fighting the VA for almost 25 years. Anyway, from what I can tell ED is considered a common and typical occurrence with PTSD and with a 70% rating there should be no question of getting the extra money. AFter the nexus events in 1984 there is medical evidence that I went to my base hospital asking about it, but they did nothing. There was no Viagra then. It has only gotten worse and in the records from VA docs it is noted and Viagra prescribed, however that doc did not note that I had a PTSD rating or make any determination of connection. Since this sounded like a straightforward situation I put in the claim yesterday and today I found that link and clicked it. We will see if the clock runs faster or not, at least on that type of issue.

Hi all, I am new here and have asked several questions and will probably ask many more. I have written out more lengthy posts about my history so i will forgo that in this one. In going through my records after a C&P review last week, I remembered something that seems quite different than the experiences of other vets with PTSD SC ratings. It took less than 4 months from the time I had my initial C&P until I got rated and paid at 70% PTSD, 10% Tinnitus This was in 2013. Timeline: Nexus events: 1984 Enlistment ended Oct 1989 Applied at local VARO and VAMC Jan 1990. Denied help. even said they could not find that I served with DD214 in hand from local base at Cecil Field Jacksonville. Next 20+ years about a dozen VARO's and VAMC's denied me/ shooed me away. Sept 2102 Hurricane destroyed my apartment. While waiting to apply for FEMA help met VSO who convinced me to apply again. Oct 7 2012 VSO got me a bed at a VA homeless shelter Dec 20th got C&P date for April 18th 2013 April 13th had C&P July 23, 2013 I received 10K back pay check w/ 70% PTSD SC rating and 10% Tinnitus. July 31, 2013 I received first monthly compensation check. The 4 months from C&P to Payment time frame is real quick from everything I read. Does this say anything about the strength of my claim and the results of the C&P? I have vague recollection of the VSO and others at the New Orleans VA noting that the process was really fast and unusual. I did not really understand how quick it was until I began reading posts here 5 years after being rated. I realize no one can say definitively yes or no to that question but opinions would be helpful from those with experience. I also wonder if that rapid a response then, bodes well for the outcomes of my recent review that the doc indicated would likely increase my rating. Also what the impact might be on the TD/IU claim I put in today. I have not had substantial employment since 2005, but I did have assets having been in the DOT COM bubble. Lost that in the07/08 crash, but that is besides the point. In fact my last official full time employer was in 2005. Tax records show that as well as my existing C-File. any opinions would be considered helpful

@bronxdevil Hi, I am new here and working through my own issues and questions. However when I read your post and found this sentence I felt I should share with you something I ran across the other day. The Dept of Ed has a new process and program where Veterans (and some others who are rated totally disabled) as TD/IU can not only discharge student loans, but there is no tax hit for doing so and if the VA is the one that issues the TD/IU rating then the Dept of ED, using Nelnet, is also now interfacing with the VA and that will pick up the student loan dept and they will contact you. or you can start the process yourself. The downside of course,, and there is a downside to everything, comes in if you get TD/IU as extra-schedule and you go back to work in 3 years. Before that point it seems they will require you reaffirm the previous loans and start paying them at some point. If however you are 100% on Schedule that rule does not apply, as far as I can tell. I don't know if you also took out student loans for anything, but if you did that information might be of use to you or any other vet who has student loans. This link has three information sections that are a must read for 100% SC rate vets who have student loans. https://www.disabilitydischarge.com/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term= I will also note that you will never get another Fed Student loan ever again if you discharge existing ones. this is good until 2025 unless congress changes it.

@Lemuel everything the VA does seems odd to me so I don't have any perspective on that. On a side note, since I made that post I looked up the number to the RMC in ST. Louis. Trying to get some definitive answer on how to get my C-file and the proper path/forms to use as well as time frame. The very bored operator told me that I was supposed to use Standard Form 180- which is the form to get personnel records etc fax it to fax 844-531-7818 or mail it to Dept of Vets Admin claims intake center po box 4444 janesville wi 53547 she stated the current backlog was 4- 6 months. she stated there was NO expedited process no matter what my problem or need was. She was very bored sounding and I felt like I could hear her eyes rolling as she spoke. Not sure how other posters are getting quicker (2 week?) turn arounds. Hopefully someone will post their exact process, forms, contacts etc.

@buck52 Is there anyway as a moderator, you would/could produce a new sticky with the exact forms, processes, numbers, etc that this process entails? not complaining but there is a lot of information here and on other websites that is old and somewhat contradictory. It would be nice to have a sticky that says "as of today, do this do that use this, use that" as the best suggestion to get the C File. Thanks

@L will you expand on this please? Which form numbers did you use? What fax numbers did you use if you faxed them? What address did you mail them to if you mailed them? What does "quickly" mean in real time? days, weeks, months? how did it arrive? CD? Download? on Ebenefits? was it your complete C-File or just specific records? Thanks for you response in advance

@Lemuel At this point in time it would be a financial struggle to even get to Utah, where there is a cold water shack that the property owners have allowed me to winter in several times. Their dad was a buddy of mine and his parents were friends of my moms from WWII. The dad and grandparents have passed but the kids (now approaching middle age) still own it and I am sure if I have to use it they will not have a problem. It's on 5000 acres and there are only 3 "houses" on the property, all family and on the other side from the shack. Thank you for that but I have to say I totally understand your wife's point of view. Honestly if this does not work out, or I end up bolting, this is my last try. I won't return to society or public life. you are lucky to have a spouse that is willing to deal with your situations. I have not had a "long term" relationship since the early 90's. Long term is defined by me as more than 6 months. Prior to this I had two that were measurable in years. I live a half-life and right now even that is destabilized.

Neither the VA nor the Navy has ever given me a test as you described. I have only had "tone" tests and frankly I can't hear most them.

@Lemuel Thanks for the response and information. I believe this and SHAG has some apts. that even at my current rating I am only $80 a month in income away from. Though I would prefer a single family house with a yard. Keeps me from disturbing the neighbors when my night terrors are really bad and I scream out. Go figure. I was ATC/E-7 the youngest in my CREO group ever made up that point. Eligible at 7 years. selected at first Board. NIC and Homeland Security have both paid me visits to impress upon me that discussing the specifics will earn me jail time. The earliest those records can be declassified is 2034 if then. Me and my unit played funny games for Uncle Sam. abattoir is one of the words in the sealed file to describe the scene of events. never heard this term and certainly not from the VA. I will do as you suggest and print this and find that NIH study and give it to my PC once they are assigned here in my new VAMC. That happens on 4 Sept. I have a list of things I need from him, including skin conditions,, breathing, dizziness, numbness and I think I may be pre-diabetic or very close. For some reason Ebenefits hoarked up on me yet again. Friday it liked my password, logged in and out 4 or 5 times. Saturday it did not like it, tried again it liked it, went in two more times and was okay. Sunday it did not like it, did not like it, did not like it. Tried to change password, responds I can only change password once every 24 hours. I will try again after 11 a.m. if not i have to deal with their tech support and that is as bad as dealing with the actual VA people. I will appliy for TDIU as soon as possible but I am not sure of the process or 'how" to specify that I seek expedited help based on homeless and age. yep I am old. Glad to know adding claims does not stop re-evaluation. What I don't understand is the second sentence. What has been put on the back burner? do you mean any new claim, such as for TDIU will be back burner-ed? as of this moment nothing I know of has been done at the VA besides making me have the re-evaluation. The MSW I was assigned to made an entry into my record that asking her if she had a nice holiday was inappropriately personal. I asked to be reassigned as any one who thinks that question is inappropriate is not someone I want to be in a private setting with. They never reassigned and never "made" me do any therapy. Frankly talking about this in anyway makes me angry or angrier than I am at that moment. anything like available today in your town? rent/buy? vet friendly? no pet here! This is why I run. I don't feel, and in no way have ever had a concrete impulse or intent to harm anyone or myself. I just recognized that my feelings, thoughts, and behaviors were rapidly heading that way and I took myself out of society and away from people to avoid the possibility. Until 2006/7 I was mostly able to earn enough during the good times, and was able to work on contract versus regular employee, that I could take long "vacations" and have enough money and contacts to re-enter my normal work, making good money. That is not the case right now. This will truly be my last attempt to return to any semblance of a real life. If I end up bolting this time. I will never come back. the only thing I have that relates to this is what I can only describe as that falling feeling you get if you are just about to nod off and jerk awake. I get this frequently, sitting and walking, and I "hear" a snap/crackle sound when it happens. Told VA docs about it, but like my skin conditions that came on with them prescribing me the different medications (and have stayed even though I stopped the meds) the docs have done nothing to note the conditions, treat them or diagnose them. I appreciate your experience and information. I will do everything I can to get things moving along. it is the holding one that is a problem

@kanewnut funny... that is why i am asking. I know my luck the 3288 will be the wrong one and I will be sent into some type of hold-hell that no one knows how to help me out of.

@Gastone I am 70% SC rated for PTSD and 10% SC rated for Tinnitus. My Bilateral hearing loss was rated NOT SERVICE CONNECTED and no percentage given. Exploding aircraft loaded with ordinance and as well as spent uranium cartridges are part of the events that created my nexus. The spent uranium burned which I now believe is part of my respiratory issues and sleep apnea. All tests and evals were done by the VA and / or VA contractors. Prior tests were done by the U.S. Navy. I have no privately paid for IMO's on any of my noted conditions. The files I have are in a storage unit on the other side of the country. I just moved to Seattle and have not yet had my stuff shipped. It is cheaper to store them in NOLA than in Seattle so until I get permanent housing they stay there. I am going to request my C File. One or the other will show up first and then i will post redacted copies of all the tests. 1st test -on enlistment 2nd test- complaint of ringing and hearing loss to Nav Med on base 3rd test- enlistment/re-enlistment 4th test - discharge nothing that amounted to "treatment" other than being told that I can wear hearing protection. But oddly there is a page that says "baseline reset" after the 2nd test but before the 3rd test. I don't know what that means as there is no other supporting information in those files. VA-single hearing test in 2012 Ratings granted 2013 not sure what you mean by "Hearing Testing and Word." The VA C&P doctor only looked at my second enlistment /re-enlistment test according to records. that means they did not see the actual baselines and when the losses occurred. As I said I have never had a private doctor look at any of my rated conditions. That record is a letter in in my files ( but I never received a copy in the mail with that determination) in the storage unit, so once I get that stuff or my C-file i will figure out how to 're-open' or 'challenge' that decision from back in 2013. Since I did not find out about that letter until I got those files until 2016/2017 and the box contained several thousand printed pages. I was told by @Berta that the Bilateral Hearing Loss should have had a % assigned even if it is not SC. Ebenefits does not show a % and until I get the files i cannot speculate on if that is an error on Ebenefits or if they just did not give one. Just so you know, I have never appealed or argued with any of the ratings mainly because I fought with the VA for over 25 years just to get them to admit I was in the service and had problems they were responsible for helping me fix. When I got rated i was over joyed and did not want to rock the boat. Based on what VA employees said to me it seemed the smarter idea to just accept things and move one. Now that they forced this review on me and the C&P reviewing doc from QTC said what he said, I am rethinking that whole "don't rock the boat" perspective.

@Lemuel Thank you for taking the time to continue this conversation. This is long so I understand if you don't want to wade into it. The easiest (?) thing first. The "status" I am in is that I was finally rated as SC 70% PTSD 10% Tinnitus in 2103. Since then I have not applied for anything. Last week I got notified by QTC that the VA mandated I have a 'case review' with them, and that occurred on Thursday the 16th. If i missed the appointment I would have my benefits cut off, so I went. The doctor who did the review stated that even though they (qtc) were not supposed to comment or opine on what the raters would do, in his experience his vets were getting a decision in about 5 weeks and that the report he was writing 'should' increase my rating significantly and he was 'adding' 3 new conditions to the report. I have no idea how valid his claims are, but the whole thing started me digging into finding out my 'next steps', and hence I came here and started reading and asking questions. I really don't know how to do many of the things that you experienced folks take for granted with filing for claims. The processes tend to bog me down. I don't want to muck up his review, but I also need to do things like get my C-file (which I am still not sure how to do and I cannot get into ebenefits right this minute, it says my login is bad and I cannot change my password more than once in 24 hours DERP). I am trying to find out how to file for TDIU, the extra income will help situations listed way below this in the post. I have an appointment to get my Primary Care doc assigned on Sept 4. My anxiety is up, my depression is spiraling, my nerves are shot, i am dizzy two or three times a day (which I thought was diet related but might not be) my visions have doubled in content and intensity and my night terrors have gone from a normal 2 per night to sometimes 3 and 4 episodes per 24 hours. I don't sleep more than 2-3 hours at a time and do that sporadically during any given day. On the rare day I get 4 consecutive hours I wake up more exhausted than not. My mind races constantly. that is the simple one. The more complex situation involves my problems, how I found a way to cope and work, and what that means in terms of how the VA views my employability and total ratings. Starting at the beginning: In 1984 I asked the Navy for help after the events happened. The doctors on base and my commanders informed me that if they entered my problems into my records they would have to discharge me and that would deny me any veterans status or benefit. I got progressively worse and by oct 89 I was becoming a danger to myself and my shipmates. If I re-enlisted I knew beyond a doubt someone would be harmed by me or my actions, so I got out when that enlistment was over. I had planned on doing 20, but was only able to do 10. In 1990 I went to the first of a dozen VAMC's and RO;s seeking help. They were the first to deny me any help and the first to say they could not find any record of me serving despite my handing them my DD214's and other records. In 1990 I got a job because I needed the income, and figured, wrongly, that once I left the environment of the military my problems would recede. They didn't. I found that my problems caused problems staying employed, and by Sept of 1990 I bolted. I abandoned my house (turned back to bank in foreclosure), turned in my car, paid all my cc's and made sure my will and bank accounts were up to date. I had some money set aside and I figured, wrongly, that I was just going to take a restful vacation. I told my friends I would be back sometime and asked one to act as my legal rep while I was gone. I ended up living in a cave in the Mexican desert near Chihuahua for 18 months. There are some great crystals there and tourists will by them sometimes, so could make a little cash and do hard labor which helped calm my mind with the physical exhaustion of each day. When my mind and emotions untwisted, I returned to civilization. My friend had faithfully taken care of my accounts and I was able to start rebuilding a life back in society. This time I got work as a consultant doing set duration projects. I actually made more money than if I was an employee doing the same work year round. I also had control of when, where, and how i worked. Over the next decade and a half the cycle was predictable as snow in December. Things got bad, my visions and night terrors got worse, my temper got shorter, my social skills dropped off, and all my emotions became heightened. What I experienced is that in work that occupied my mind every day to the point of exhaustion, pushed the bad stuff far away and the night terrors were not so bad. The things I see every day became normal. I also started working out daily to add a physical exhaustion to the mental exhaustion. In 2005 I retired to New Orleans with money I had stashed from the DOT COM boom ( i am very geeky and kinda smart in the tech stuff). I expected to live out my days quietly, but a piece of property and build a big fence around it. put in a garden. If things got bad, I would just lock the fence and put out a sign 'gone fishing' and deal with my problems. By this I was done trying to get help from the VA. 10 days after my household stuff arrived and was put in storage, Katrina hit. I rode out the storm, and then ended up living in a nearby swamp for several months. Late 2006 I was emerging and starting to get back on the path to 'normal' (or what passes for it in my life). Late 2007/2008 the economic crash hit and my savings and investments all but evaporated. I went back to my swamp. BTW Nutria may be ugly rat looking critters, but they are good eating and plentiful out there as are gators 2009 I emerged again and since my money was all but gone, tried to get regular jobs. This did not work, but I was able to create work-arounds to earn enough to eat. I mostly lived in buildings still not repaired from Katrina. 2011 I got back to working as a contractor, got an apartment, started rebuilding. 2012 Hurricane Isaac destroyed my apartment with me in it. I spent five days in there with no roof and the storm raging. I went to try and get help from FEMA, barely holding on, when I ran into a VSO (did not know what that was) in the line and we started talking. I told him I was a vet and without a roof, basically homeless if FEMA did not help with immediate funds. He talked me into trying the VA again, this was right after all the VA drama was made public so they were hypersensitive to not helping vets which I think made the process actually easier and functional for me and the VSO did the heavy lifting on my claim. I got rated 70% PTSD, 10% Tinnitus. No one ever mentioned TDIU or IU. I did not know in any concrete way those were an option or meant additional money to me. What the VA did was even though I already had advanced degrees was to allow me to get 'new' credentials in the form of a new degrees. This is unusual and i don't know exactly how they got past me already having advanced degrees, but I did not argue and I did not question them. I make sure to never mention my older degrees to anyone at the VA. I finished an MBA in Dec 2017. Literally 3 days after I graduated I was assaulted by the adult son of a neighbor in my complex and called the police. Turns out he was a former marine kicked out for being "violent" and had a long rap sheet. The landlord knew all this and had allowed him to illegally live in his mom's Section 8 1 bedroom apartment with her and his girlfriend. When I called the cops the landlord turned it back on me because it exposed his illegal renting habits to DHS. I ended up being homeless in NOLA again. It was apparent that I would not find gainful employment there, as I am a geek, so I contacted several old friends in Seattle, people I used to hire to do work no less, to see if i had opportunity up here. They said yes and one said I could rent a room in his house. I packed up, stuff in storage, and drove across country. I kept in contact with my soon to be roommate every day right up until the day before I would hit Seattle. He stopped responding to me. I figured he was busy. Got to Seattle, tried him again and again. no answer. Got a hotel room. Called other friends and they tried to find him. no answer. Went by his address and no one was there. Short version is he has disappeared. His former wife says he has not contacted her. She filed a police report. I am now living in my car in Seattle. I am able to shower at a friends house when her schedule allows. I have a power inverter for my car so I can boil water fry eggs etc using very little gas. I contacted the local VA to get into the Seattle system, contacted VR&E, contacted Worksource, contacted Homeless Vets program. Contacted SSVF program. I have applied for over 100 jobs, professional and labor type jobs. no luck. My VA compensation is $80 a month too little to have the qualifying income for any of the subsidized housing programs in this area. SSVF will pay first, last, deposit if I can get a job paying enough to qual and the program(s) find an apt that will accept me. In the middle of this the VA decided I needed to have my case reviewed by QTC, which brings me back to why I am on here asking questions. I suspect that by being able to "Find a way" around my problems in the past is now going to act as a negative. I was unaware that if I presented myself to be as pathetic as possible I would actually help myself in the short and long runs. By nature I cannot be deceitful and it is painfully difficult to actually tell people all of the gory details about my conditions, the effects, and in being homeless. As a side note the people in this McDonalds are getting antsy that i have been here this long today on their WiFi so I will be going back to my camping spot soon. I will try and check here tomorrow. That's the bulk of the details. there are other minor things involved but this is way to much to type at one time. My emotions are raw and just typing this has made me angry for no reason. Thanks for listening. I will try and keep any future posts or responses much shorter.

@Broncovet Thank you again for the response. Sadly the way my mind bounces all over the place getting new information generates new questions. You may or may not have a view on this scenario but I am asking anyway. Since I don't have the "results" from my C&P review yet, if I put in the TDIU claim now, will it a) affect the outcome of the C&P review ( or at least is it likely to affect it) and B) if the rater of the review gives me 100% based on the new information and a TDIU claim has been made, will the VA prioritize one classification over the other? Obviously everyone would rather 100% Schedule P&T, at least if they are able to work to some degree and don't want the income limits of TDIU. Additionally the Dept of Ed has pushed through a new rule that vets who are 100% disabled will have any student loans erased without tax implications. The challenge comes in if the vet is TDIU and eventually gets to point of being able to work, they will have to pay back or re-affirm the student loan debt. In either case the recipient can expect to never get another fed student loan. I have 100K in student loans that come due in September. I am on the IBR plan but the services are notorious for playing games to get borrowers tripped up so they can revert them to accelerated full payment plans, though it is unclear if this payback has a limitation or lasts for the rest of your life. So writing indicates that if TDIU lasts for 3 years you are clear of possibly having to re-affirm the forgiven loans. So this would be a big benefit to me either way, but better if Schedule vs. TDIU. Thanks for any further info on this. Mike

@Lemuel Thank you for your response and those docs. I will read and review. I was hoping to get assistance getting hearing aids. It would be nice to actually hear what someone says the first time and without them having to shout. Reading your information is both helpful and angering. Every single time I read / hear about another type or pattern of bad behavior from the VA it just makes my blood boil again and again. New questions about process and structure keep popping into my head. I will start a new question for them instead of diverting this thread. Thank you, I appreciate the information