RBrogen

@GBArmy The crazy part is I used a state VSO to file the claims. The initial application consisted of a single sentence. I asked about telling the VA what happened during service, but they said the VA has people who get paid to go through everything. When the denial letters came in, they helped me file the appeals. When the award letter arrived, they looked at the first two pages and told me not to rock the boat. I trusted them.
In retrospect, they are very helpful for quick things. However, they are just not setup for thorough assistance for every veteran. It is like an economy of minimums. Do just enough to clear the lobby. However, I assume they might be more thorough for helpless veterans.
The moral of the story is to trust, but verify. Know your evidence. Understand the importance of a nexus. Carefully read the C&P exam results and decision letters. Understand the rating criteria and applicable laws. Double-check and cross reference everything to ensure the result was actually correct.

Yes it is IMPERATIVE that every vet educate themselves fully to the process and the way the VA will most likely view their conditions, ratings and process.  Unfortunately there are some vets out there who feel the VA should just give them the rating they want without doing anything but sending in a note.  I've heard vets complain about "those who know what to say who get the best ratings".  They don't seem to get the fact that the VA is a system with a history of doing the minimal and less to help vets.  Every vet  must educate themselves to that system if they are to get properly rated.  I know I've been on a VA indoctrination course the past year and had I not educated myself I would still be sitting at 20% without any benefits for my family nor a solid retirement.  An example is I just responded to a post where a vet was confused about their rating level when all they had to do was follow the rules for bilateral conditions and then follow the rating chart to see why they were rated at what they were.  The basics of understanding how things are rated, what conditions rate higher, secondary conditions like scars which can be rated for pain as well as disfigurement could have major impact on an individuals overall rating level.

@Vync I have been fortunate as having disengaged from the VA for over 20 years because of a bad experience, I remained at 20% since 1991.  I decided to reconnect and filed my first claim in Nov 2018 and after 4 claims wound up at the 100% total and permanent as of April 2019.  It is definitely worth fighting the fight.

Happy Holidays Everyone,
I wanted to let those of you who are interested know that the cue I filed for change of effective date from March 2018 to October 1999 is now in the "Preparation for Decision" status.  I mailed the formal CUE September 17, 2019 and it went to "Preparation for Decision" status today.  Now I'll be on pins and needles until I get the decision packet in the mail.  I'll keep you all posted!
Best,

I hear you brother ... and congrats on winning your CUE!  I hope to have convinced them.  I believe my case is strong but can't ever tell with the VA!

Vync, nothing to worry about.You are too mean and lean for things to start going downhill.

Yeah I have a CUE in right now for a 1999 decision that would change my 20% to 60% so it is well worth the effort. I haven't investigated CHAMPVA yet but will be doing that as well.

My initial rating was 40% from 1995 to about 2008 when I discovered Hadit. If one or both of my CUEs are approved, the initial rating for those years should go up to 50% or 60%.
100% P&T is really worth it. My wife went to college and used it. My daughter is currently in college using it. CHAMPVA is a huge benefit for them too. Knowing that when I am not longer able to work, I don't have to rely solely on social security and my retirement.

On your prior claim, you might have got an agent who knew what they were doing. This time you might have got gomer pyle. Sympathetic reading might not have anything to do with it. That's why I had a strange suspicion they will come back and tell you to come out and ask for it.
You and I are in the same boat. After the heart attack, I decided to get up and go back to correct the wrongs. This way when I am gone, I can rest peacefully knowing that I did not let the VA get one over on me. It's about principle. Additionally, the increased ratings can help with the potential for SMC if/when things start going downhill.

Wow! It's hard enough getting the VA to CUE themselves one time, but four times?!?! Congratulations!! Now if the VA would adjudicate claims correctly the first time around we veteran's would be a lot better off. A win for one vet is a win for all vets!!!

Congrats on your 100% !!

Just got this in the mail today where the VA called CUE on themselves 4 times in one decision as well as adjusting rating for a sympathetic claim.  They originally granted me 10% on each knee for arthritis ... I didn't know anything about being able to file for scars.  They went back on their own and retroactively granted the scars for a year before which increased the rating I had at that time from 80% to 90%.

Definitely ... I researched and found that MA has a $2,000 annuity for all 100% vets (paid $1,000 in  Feb and $1,000 in Aug) of each year along with real estate tax, free college tuition etc. so definitely going to leverage that.

Just got this in the mail today where the VA called CUE on themselves 4 times in one decision as well as adjusting rating for a sympathetic claim.  They originally granted me 10% on each knee for arthritis ... I didn't know anything about being able to file for scars.  They went back on their own and retroactively granted the scars for a year before which increased the rating I had at that time from 80% to 90%.

RBrogen; am I reading you right? Th estate of Mass. pays out a grand, twice a year, if you are rated 100% by the VA? Really! Any other states pay out like that?

Well, I live in the next state over and never heard of it. That's super! And I agree with you, we have to do research ourselves. Some of these bennies are not well know. For example, yours only applies to 100% s-c veterans. How many 100% veterans does the average veteran know. Not many, right? So it just is reasonable that veterans wouldn' t have a lot of others to ask questions to. I know you would rather be 0 and have your health, but since you aren't, get everything you deserve.

Don't forget to check out your state benefits.
Congratulations on your win, so far... I hope they get your EED correct.

Yes but not related directly.  It is great precedence given that my cue is exactly what they did here except I want them to date it back to 1999.

Just got this in the mail today where the VA called CUE on themselves 4 times in one decision as well as adjusting rating for a sympathetic claim.  They originally granted me 10% on each knee for arthritis ... I didn't know anything about being able to file for scars.  They went back on their own and retroactively granted the scars for a year before which increased the rating I had at that time from 80% to 90%.

It's sorta weird in that I sent my CUE in on 9/17 and I had 2 other claims going, 1 was a supplemental and the other was a high level review.  The decision letter actually combines parts of both of those claims.  I did confirm with VA that they are in receipt of the CUE that I sent in. Though one of the agents I spoke with asked me if I had filed it on the standard form and when I told her that there wasn't a specific form required for CUE, she said that most of the CUEs that she sees are sent in on the 21-526EZ so she was wondering if they would kick it back or not.  The other agent I spoke with confirmed it was in the portal awaiting to be entered into the system and assigned so it is a wait and see.  With now the scars, arthritis and meniscus now all SC, I'm hoping that all of those will also be awarded all the way back to 1999 which would take the rating from 20% to 60% for 20 years with wife and 1-3 kids.  That would be life changing.

that would be awesome.. it's not even my claim and I can't wait to find out the result LOL

Just got this in the mail today where the VA called CUE on themselves 4 times in one decision as well as adjusting rating for a sympathetic claim.  They originally granted me 10% on each knee for arthritis ... I didn't know anything about being able to file for scars.  They went back on their own and retroactively granted the scars for a year before which increased the rating I had at that time from 80% to 90%.

They are supposed to rate to provide the highest possible rating for the veteran. If there isn't a pyramid situation, file for HLR. imo

I am not trying to discourage you from doing it, but since you have a history in tech, you probably have an understanding of how sites get buried from lack of current content. Static information gets buried on page 1068 of search results.
Consider that in your design and use plans.
otherwise cool. I have two specific doctors to add to the list, both C&P contract docs from QTC and VES.

I will share a relatively recent event with a VA staff admin, not related to a C&P.
I went in for an appointment. The woman at the check in made a snide remark. I asked her if that is how she speaks to people. She did not like that and said "you can't say anything to me I am a black woman and you are a racist". Now I said nothing about gender or color to her.
Everyone in the waiting room gasped and the charge nurse heard the whole thing. She came out an got me and asked me to speak to the woman's supervisor. She stated this was the fourth time that week similar events happened.
I took the time to do that and wrote a complaint.
After my appointment was over the Dr told me to get a follow up in 6 weeks. The same woman was returning to the desk from her supervisors office and was visibly mad.
When I told her I needed another appointment, she was less than graceful. After making it I asked for a printed copy of the appointment.
She stated she would mail me a letter.
I told her no, i want you to print it now.
She did.
I went home and the next day checked my appointments. It was there.
two weeks later I was checking on another appointment and noticed this one was gone.
I called the VAMC and spoke to the same charge nurse. She looked in the system and it showed the appointment had been deleted, but the charge nurse could not tell by who. 
I asked to speak to that other womans supervisor again, and found out she had left 3 days after I filed the complaint.
I left work, went to the VA and raised holy hell right up to the Director. The written complaint I filed with the supervisor was no where to be found.
so in my experience, yep go right to the top.