vetwife

You said you have not received any requests for C&P exam? If that is correct, you need to expect that. They always request a C&P exam - then you will get a decision usually in a couple of months after the C&P

Congratulations !

So happy for you and your wife. Your post was great. It really portrays your emotions and excitement. It is such a surreal feeling when it finally comes after so many years. ~Congratulations

When does the VA send the form 21-4140 - I see annually it must be filled, but it is on the same day for everyone like January 1st, or is it a year from the date of individual award, a year from the date the claim is dated to ? I just want to be sure we get & return the form.

This sounds very interesting. I wonder if he works with Dr. Hadley from the links below with the brain/MRI work in anyway - I believe it is all related. I'll talk with my husband and see if he could feel up to the trip to participate in the study. He is very tired and sleep most of the day, but I think it would be very good for him to talk with a Dr that understands more about GWI, his current Dr's are supportive - but just don't know how to help him.

Congratulations & best wishes on your future. Sounds like you have a great plan and supportive family to help you stay motivated. I love that you want to give back and help others quote "I served my country now it's time for me to serve my fellow Americans that have given thanks to me." Sounds like you will be very successful & Happy if you keep that attitude.

We waved the BVA hearing, just had file sent straight to them. - result = BVA granted 2 of the claim & remanded 2. It was the best choice for my husband.

Yes, under "Compensation" you'll see "VA payment history" Once accounting is done - they should update with amount, that is how it worked for us, but it may not be that way for everyone, so don't worry if you don't see it. My husband's was listed 3 days before actual deposit as "scheduled" with date coming :0) The Letter Generator showed the letters first - boy was I shocked! I wasn't actually checking on his claim status... I actually had only logged in to print out a letter for proof of income - under "benefit verification" that was the only thing I had found useful on ebenefits before - I sure didn't realize that would change first.... I logged in to get our "benefit verification" letter for proof of income and LOW & BEHOLD it showed a LOT larger income that the 40% he normally got! I screamed - literally , ran to tell my husband (who was asleep) and didn't believe me. Then I went back to the site and found lots of new forms - the commissary letter, the DEERs app. I didn't remember seen any of ths before. I was still a little skeptical until I saw the retro coming... then I KNEW it was real. I am very happy for you & your family! Are you GW1 ?

Update ~ I sent off the ChampVA application & all the info they ask for & got the insurance card for the kids & myself in 3-4 weeks (they all come separately ) Husband has been into the VAMC dentist for several visits & had some much needed dental work done, including a root canal & is very happy with the dentist there. Sent off for & received the car tag in 1 week. As recommended by Hadit elders, we have the retro locked away for now while the surrealness wears off. For the earlier effective date, the claim has already been back at BVA for 2 other remanded items. I decided to wait on the NOD to the AMC until after the BVA finishes with remanded items. I believe they may catch that the AMC gave later date & correct it - since the BVA is the one that ordered it be re-catagorized. If not, we'll file NOD on eed after that. Since there is a year to file & don't want to add more paperwork to an already complex claim.

Congratulations! You can also check ebenefits "payments" and see how much retro is coming & when it is going to be deposited or mailed.

Eagle Eye - for the 800# to say it was "rated" not it was "decided" sounds like good new - I don't know how they could "rate" it if it was denied....Best of wishes to you & your family. I do agree to prepare yourself for the denial, just in case. Though I really like to think positive, it is also harder to open that envelope & see "denied" or low rating when you are expecting 100%. Believe me, I know all about having to hold it together for the kiddos & spouse - as well as living frugally while you wait & it does stay with you, atleast it has for us. The security you will feel from having insurance & college for the kids it the greatest! Why don't you sign up for ebenefits? Do you have my healthy vet? If you already have healthyvet, it is very easy to sign up for ebenefits. Shellback -- you can go to the "payments" on ebenefits and see what is going to be deposited & when - that confirmed my husbands 100% over a week before we got the letter.

Are you registered with ebenefits?

Congratulations!

1.) I would have requested a copy of my husbands SMR's before opening the claim . After opening a claim the SMR's are sent to the RO & then you must rely on them to give you a complete copy. I'll never know what may have been lost along the way. Also, had I gone thru them first, I could have worded the claimed conditions more specifically as his records showed. 2.) I would have only claimed the most important issues and not put all the claims in at once. Even though you want an earlier effective date, putting in all at once or adding to the claim as it is being worked REALLY slows the claim. Things that should be s/c but would be rated at 0% - wait on those. Yes, you want everything s/c that should be, so if it worsens you won't have such a hassel, but realize those will slow the process. 3.) I would have prepared myself for the "denial" 1st round, 2nd round etc... As most of the claims were for presumptive issues, I foolishly beleived they would be s/c'd right away. The denials are very difficult to stomach when you are watching your loved one suffer & deteriorate from conditions you know are military related. Prepare yourself & don't take it personally. Believe in yourself, believe in your claim & consider each denial as "forced savings" when you read the denial & feel defeted, think of the lump sum you will get when you WIN ! Read the success stories & stay inspired. It is still surreal to us. My husand was ust granted 100% p&t in July , I have my avatar at 0, since it was he that served & not me.

Congratulations ! Wonderful news.

That is great news! Congratulations

The reason for their date, says that is the date we filed for CFS & IU goes to that date, as that is the date they say he became eligible % for IU. The earlier/original claim was for GWI & included his symptoms. Later, once diagnosised with CFS we put in that specific claim. In the BVA decision, they re-categorize CFS as a single claim with his earlier claim for Persian Gulf "The Board is granting s/c for CFS & CFS includes the same or similar symptoms listed by the Veteran in his other Persian Gulf related claim. the Board has recharacterized these claims as a single claim for s/c for the CFS as the RO did in it's earlier SSOC. So does that mean he should have the earlier date?

Thank you all for the warm wishes. It really means a lot. I'm sending off the ChampVA paperworkd today. How do we get the DEERS cards for dependents?

It was re-characterized & granted by BVA, then sent to AMC for rating. It was with AMC for a year & just received the rating. They gave the later date. I want to have my facts straight before I send a NOD to request the earlier date.

Thank you both, that is what I thought.

Question on effective date- We filed a claim for a presumptive condition , then at a later date filed a claim for a illness that is covered under the presumptive connections - RO/BVA re-categorized the 2nd claim with the 1st as a single claim - does that make the 2nd claim have the same effective date as the 1st claim?

It is official - letter came 100% p&t CFS 60% (with 40% for other items) va math gave him 80% & IU I do have questions about the effective date , not as far back as I think it should be, but I could be wrong. -for now , very very thankful. I was also able to look at payment history on ebenefits & see the retro that was coming 3 days before it came.

When you go for an appointment, you can also ask the VAMC - they pulled my husbands up right away today. We still haven't gotten the official letter - but they say they show him at 100% now. . Best of luck to you!

Husband had several Dr appts at VAMC today & they confirmed .... He is 100% !!! Still waiting on the mail to see details, but at least I won't dread opening the envelope this time!! ~ Cas & Oldman, best of luck to you both, I hope you get great news very soon ~ Carlie - that is a great idea, (it is both necessary & cosmetic) - if braces will qualify under the benefits because of necessity that will be great, he'll be getting them either way - so I'll post how it works for us.

Congratulations , that is great news !