[Do I have to quit my job?]

Yea I called the VA and asked. I got tired of the back and forth. Every YouTube video, every forum, (except this one) everything I googled I was getting conflicting results. Some say yes your golden! Some say no don’t they can charge you with fraud, they can reduce your ratings, they could make u pay it all back... etc so with all that negativity in mind I was freaking out. 

When I called them the woman on the phone said “there is nothing in your record that indicates that you are not allowed to work” so then I asked can I work and make as much as I want she replied “yes” so then I asked can I get that in writing? She said we don’t do that usually but can send a request to your Regional Office and the will draft that up and email it to you . She also made a note on my file saying the same stuff. 

[Do I have to quit my job?]

Just now, brokensoldier244th said:

Not necessarily a myth though, the text does say total occupational impairment so I can understand his hesitation

Yep that was my hesitation better to be safe then sorry

[Do I have to quit my job?]

Yep and that’s why I got tired of dealing with all of it. All the google searching, YouTube watching, etc etc it never occurred me to just call the VA and just ask! Like duh why didn’t I think about that.... 

[Do I have to quit my job?]

Thanks everyone for all the information. I got tired of the worrying and the back and forth so I called and heard from the horses mouth. I am allowed to work as much or as little as I want no limitations at all. I asked them to send me a letter stating such so in case I am ever audited or whatever I have proof. Again thank you for all of your help!!! I am so relieved 

[Do I have to quit my job?]

Hey buck so your saying with 100% PT in mental health and drawing SMC-S1 HB I can still leave my home and go to work? Seems like it’s going against the very word written...

100% MH is totally social and occupational impairment and 

SMC-HB states your disabilities are so severe you virtually housebound

 

i greatly appreciate all feedback. This is real clusterfck imo

[Do I have to quit my job?]

This is my very first rating none previously. I wasn’t expecting receive 100% on mental health but it happened. I don’t want to lose that so if I have to quit my job I will and I’ll dive hard into school and just open a business in my wife’s name and get paid under the table at home. Maybe even file for SSI. It just sucks cause I’d be leaving a very lucrative job and that would mean we have to move from Colorado

[Do I have to quit my job?]

Ahh I guess I just need to sit down with a VSO or something to get the scoop. 

[Do I have to quit my job?]

Yep I am rated for all that stuff in that block. They do have different diagnostic codes, however in the DSM V they throw them all into one category.

 

Thats also just one of my many SC Disabilities. the full list is attached. copied from ebenefits

ratings.xlsx

[Do I have to quit my job?]

4 minutes ago, Buck52 said:

I'am fairly sure you can work if your 100% scheduler rated?

Its  somewhat rare to see a veteran still work who has a couple of SMC awards  especially with a  100%PTSD Rating.

 SMC H.B   is suppose to mean the veteran can't leave home for work  due to his/her being housebound  and the severity of his/her disability[s.

However if your 100% scheduler rated  you can work.

It's the TDIU Veterans that are not suppose to be working.

Yea I thought I was in that weird category. I have bad days and I have very bad days. But I am able to pull myself together for 12 hours 3-4 days a week to work alone in a building by myself. Its basically me at home but not...

I am not TDIU but I do have the 100% mental health. I dont think I am going to risk and probably just put in my two weeks notice soon

 

[Do I have to quit my job?]

Hi Guys so I got my BWE yesterday and there is a statement in there that reads something to the effect of awarded SMC due to housebound. I am housebound because

and all my other ratings equal above 60%... So now my next question does it still hold true that I dont have to quit my job? I know it may sound stupid, but as we all know 100% disabled doesnt mean what it says and P&T does not mean what it says so does housebound mean what it says?

[Do I have to quit my job?]

34 minutes ago, Buck52 said:

I must say this is the first time I ever seen a Veteran with this many service connected conditions with 40  WOW...  although 10 were service connected at 0% but getting service connected is one of the most hardest things to do with the VA.

I did notice with all these s.c. conditions  not once did they mention a TBI? That is unusual with all your conditions listed,  if you had been service connected with a TBI  you more than likely could get around 8.000.00  tax free compensation monthly   plus any SSDI Benefits you may have...you would not need to work at all then..but I understand your job is basically what gets you through life   and nothing wrong with that.

I salute you SPLINTER  you give hope for a lot of our younger veterans starting out with their claims.

Hang in there buddy.

I truly appreciate it and yea the job is basically my lifeline to the real world. Its not the money that keeps me grounded its the knowing I have to get up, I have to be somewhere, people are counting on me. I do not have a TBI, I was tested. I just have extremely bad migraines, insomnia, anxiety, etc. The list of disabilities is long but that's also 20 years of ground pounding in the Corps

[Do I have to quit my job?]

18 minutes ago, GeekySquid said:

I suggest you go to Ebenefits and generate your Letters.

In particular look to see if there is a Commissary letter. Those only appear when a rating of 100%, schedular or TDIU is reached.

In that letter if you have a review date for your rating, meaning you are not P&T, that date will be the same your Commissary ID needs to be expires.

This letter generates the fastest as it does not include any monetary calculations.

In your other letters if you are TDIU or "unemployable" there will be wording to that effect.

these take more time to generate as money is being authorized and calculated and that stuff needs signatures over the immediate Raters chain of command.

While there also look at the Disabilities link. Since Feb 19, 2019, that display seems to update much faster than it did in the past under Legacy and or RAMP processes.

Some people will tell you to just wait and not excessively check Ebennies. I am more of the OCD type and I allow myself to check once in the morning and once in the evening. You decide for yourself what works for you.

Good luck and please do let us know your outcomes.

Thanks! I do have the commissary letter and it says no further examinations As a matter of fact here is the exact verbiage from my commissary letter..

 

"We are providing you with this letter so you may receive commissary store and exchange privileges from the ArmedForces. This is to certify *********  is an honorably discharged veteran of the Marine Corps 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."

 

As mentioned before there is no wording anywhere that says IU or unemployable. I was told on my award letter that the VA sends hard copy in the mail has alot more detail and will mention unemployable if that is the case.

 

As for my disabilities they are attached

 

ratings.xlsx

[Do I have to quit my job?]

I want to thank everyone for your responses. I have read quite a few articles and nothing even seems to answer the question LOL. For the record I have not received my packet of information from the VA yet. What I pulled from ebenefits is what I posted. I am unsure if I am TDIU.. I am going to assume no because no where on the ebenefits site say anything about IU.

I am in the process of reaching out to a couple VA accredited attorneys as I do not want to break any laws or be said I am committing fraud. With my current work schedule I have plenty of days off to make any appointments and since I work nights I can do an appointment in the mornings any day of the week. I also work a panama schedule where its 3-4 days a week on rotation.

When I find out from the either the VA regional office or the attorneys I have contacted I will update and let you guys know so you can help others in my similar position. Again Thank you all for your responses. Until next time!

[Do I have to quit my job?]

10 minutes ago, GBArmy said:

Splinter, it looks good for you. You are permanent and total, with SMC's. You can continue with the job you love and won't be penalized. Keep up with your treatments and keep the faith.

I truly hope that is true GBArmy!! This job is very peaceful and calm and as I mentioned it’s my passion so it’s more of a hobby I just get paid to do it

[Do I have to quit my job?]

Hello everyone. See Below for what I received from VA

 

A little about me currently. I have a job that is very low stress (work nights no people no stress) very secure because I work in a mountain so im surrounded by granite. I work on computers so it engages my mind and keeps me as active as possible and is my passion. So my question is do I have to quit my job? Thanks!

 

June 23, 1999 June 30, 2019

VA Benefit InformationSummary of benefit informationYou have one or more service-connected disabilities:Yes         Your combined service-connected evaluation is:100%               You are considered to be totally and permanently disabled due solely to your service-connected disabilities:Yes           The effective date of when you became totally and permanently disabled due to your service-connected disabilities:July 01, 2019

major depression disorder, recurrent, severe, post traumatic stress disorder, insomnia disorder and eating disorder, NOS

100%

Service Connected

SMC-S1

Entitled to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1114, subsection (s) and 38 CFR 3.350(i) on account of major depression disorder, recurrent, severe, post traumatic stress disorder, insomnia disorder and eating disorder, NOS rated 100 percent and additional service-connected disabilities of migraine including migraine variants, tinnitus, independently ratable at 60 percent or more from 07/01/2019.

SMC-K1

Entitled to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1114, subsection (s) and 38 CFR 3.350(i) on account of major depression disorder, recurrent, severe, post traumatic stress disorder, insomnia disorder and eating disorder, NOS rated 100 percent and additional service-connected disabilities of migraine including migraine variants, tinnitus, independently ratable at 60 percent or more from 07/01/2019.

 

Thanks all!