Mantooth

I agree. If you have any ailment that may be connected to service, file a claim for it. As Berta said, you may be entitled to special monthly comp for certain issues, if not now, possible later as ailments get worse. Also, should you pass away (God forbid) from any service-connected illnesses, your dependents are eligible for benefits. If you are only 100% SC for PTSD and pass away from say, heart disease, before the 10 years that make your 100% permanent, your dependents will get much less. It is very hard to prove PTSD alone as a cause of death.

Berta, When you say your VCAA letter was illegal, what do you mean? What was illegal about it?

john999- I have seen cases where a vet was denied TDIU because he was already out of work due to an issue that was not service-connected. Example, I saw a case where a vet with 70% depression applied for IU, but he had previously went out on disability from his job for a back condition. VA said that the NSC back condition made him unemployable, not the SC depression.

Spike, I know you don't know me from Adam but I have to say something. I have seen this kind of thing before through jobs I have had and people I have known. Your wife is on a downward spiral and will take anyone with her that she can because misery loves company. In her mind there's no reason to raise yourself up if you can bring everyone else down, right? There are two things you MUST understand: IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT THAT SHE IS THIS WAY AND IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO FIX HER. There is a point in most people's lives when they are confronted with a situation that is potentially lethal. For many of the folks on HadIt, this is often a literal life-or-death situation in the heat of battle. For you, it is more spiritual and mental, although it sounds like it's effecting your physical health as well. I know you love her but love can't fix mental illness. Get a divorce and get away from her. She is poison to you and your family. Her craziness will have a profound effect on your child. Your daughter is learning how to behave as a woman by watching your wife. She is learning that it's okay to treat people you love badly and that no one can be trusted. Get her out of harm's way, in the end she will thank you for it.

Congrats on the 10%. However, I would like to make a correction to something SSGMike.Ivy said which was "you now have 365 days from date of approval to refile for an increase. Take the next 364 days to work on this and then refile" You have one year from the date of the award letter to file an appeal of the VA's decision. You can appeal any part of the VA's decision including denial for service-connection, effective date of granted conditions and yes, the percentage of a particular granted condition. HOWEVER, once you are service-connected for something, you can file for an increase for that condition ANY TIME. You don't have to do it within one year of the rating. The VA only needs a statement from you saying something like, "I am filing for an increase in my service-connected condition of diabetes or tendonitis in my right knee or whatever." If you have medical evidence that the condition has worsened, send it along with your statement. Nine times out of ten the VA will order a C&P exam for an increase unless they can grant the increase based on the info you gave them. I just didn't want anyone to think they only have a year from the rating to file for an increase. My dad was SC 10% for fractured ankle since 1974, but he now has arthritis and more pain. He filed for and was granted an increase in 2005.