Good day fellow veterans. My question involves effective date for a TDIU award. Long complicated VA administration story I will try to simplify.
I am US Army service connected 70% (Bipolar 1, PTSD, panic disorder) Vietnam combat vet. After decades of suffering I had very bad experience with panic and flashbacks and suicide plan in July 2018 and was
admitted to VA psychiatric ward Loma Linda for a week. The VA had already been treating my Bipolar 1 for 10 years (lithium, remeron, prazosin, lexapro et al). The VA psych ward doctors diagnosed PTSD, Bipolar 1, and panic disorder on my records. I was discharged to the suicide prevention unit. During my stay on the psych ward, a social worker approached me and said. "do you know you are the only patient on the ward without a disability claim."
I was directed to local VSO and claim was filed in August 2018. After two C & P exams my rating was raised from 50% to 70% effective 11/23/18. My personal non VA doctor of 8 years (seven years before any VA claim filed) completed a DBQ with extensive medical history and addendum illustration of medical research from various medical school which show the combination of Bipolar 1 and PTSD, panic disorder has a terrible comorbid relationship
The comorbid combination of these disorders has an "extremely" disabling affect on the patient with very negative clinical outcomes. My VSO said I should apply for TDIU which we submitted on May 6, 2019.
The VA sent me for another C & P where the doctor only verified my early noted symptoms on record (which hsaid appeared worse) and actually told me tthat I am unable to work because of my service connected disabilities.
Because the VA completely lost my entire claim during the course of review and Ebenefits said "case closed" I wrote to my local congressman for help. That was 3 weeks ago and suddenly everything on Ebenefits is moving quickly.
I was given 5 hours notice for the psych eval which I was able to drive across state to attend. Therefore I think (dangerous to predict the VA I know) that I will receive TDIU.
My question is what is effective date? I have read somewhere in a case like this it is the first claim date August 14, 2018 which makes sense as I was just a disabled then as today. Others say the effective date is when the form filed May 6, 2019. I am managing my expectations as the VA has consistently disappointed me.
Any advice from the group much appreciated. Welcome home all.