LizR

Thank you for taking your time to write all this information. Much appreciated. Liz

I am not seeking to increase my disability. I was just wondering if there is a possibility that my discharge from the military was wrong. I received severance pay and now I see where my military doctor before actual discharge stated I was medically retired. I was not medically retired. I was discharged with severance which the VA recouped.. I went through all the claims process like most of us here when I got out of the military. I had no further benefits from the Air Force. Everything was a VA issue. * I was questioning if it is reasonable or not to question the VA or military about my discharge status.* It was such a mixed up situation just before my discharge. I was not even at my home base and when I got there I was "out on the street" in a short time. I was just wondering if what the Air Force doctor wrote in medical records at Davis Monthan Az. about being medically retired was possibly correct because he was in contact with the Army doctors that I saw at William Beaumont in Tx( who said I need to be discharged and I met a medical board there.). Possibly info did not get to personnel at Davis Monthan Az. in time to have a correct status on my discharge papers?, Is it to my benefit or not to question my military discharge status.? I am home a lot and this is anxiety and other issues working in my head. I do not mean to take up others time unnecessarily. Honestly really sorry . I am 100 percent compensated due to IU but at 80% s/c. through the VA. Permanent and Total. since 1998. This was gradual over 13 years of filing up to 1998. I am now 19 years out from my IU P/T Decision. I have not worked nor can I work. I have enough everyday just taking care of me as a job. My husband is kind and supportive. I see a psychiatrist and other doctors regularly for S/C issues and am getting into another VA group next week.

I am not sure what to do about this or if I should do anything. I was discharged for panic disorder in 1985. I received severance pay and told to go to the VA. I never met an AF medical Board nor had an AF. Medical Exam. I was at admitted William Beaumont Army Hospital in TX. That was the closest hospital to deal with my panic attacks. Plus the 5 different drugs that the AF had me on that I needed detoxed to make me able to function. I went through terrible withdrawal and had a stroke or Bells Palsy. No mention in my medical records. The Army doctor was scared he did wrong not slowly getting me off the prescribed medications. Abruptly did me damage. Anyway...no help found for me so the army medical board said I need to be discharged. I went back to Davis Monthan for discharge. Had no physical. Just stayed home 3 weeks til my discharge. I received 20k severance and told to go to the VA. I did go to the VA and spent 5 months there. Applied for VA benefits at Palo Alto VA in CA. through the DAV.(1985 and part of 1986) Discharged from hospital Feb of 1986. Moved to New Mexico. Sought out VA Rep. to continue claim. Moved in 1986(Nov. to Rochester New York.). Was so messed up on prescribed medications did not ask for records to be sent from New Mexico. I was house bound but worked through it with help from VA. Do not know how I was found but received letter I was granted 70% s/c and got a little back pay. To make a long story short. My Rochester New York VA doctor did not want me working although I did last 3 years at the Post Office and 6 years as a veteran Rep. for the Dept. of Labor. He said I worked when I shouldn't and others do not want to work when they should. He demanded I stop to care for myself. I did and received P/T IU at the 80 percent rate. (Since 1998). I recently received records from St. Louis that I requested . I have at least 6 other s/c issues that I never filed a claim for. Anyway I do not want to rock the boat but wanted to have the documentation just in case IU is taken away at this late date. I am almost at 20 years. In this batch of paper work from St. Louis I see that my Air force doctor in 1985 said he recommended TDRL and that I WAS MEDICALY RETIRED. I never knew that. Could that be true and I was severanced instead by mistake? I had a total of 13 years with prior service. Should I be concerned at this point as I receive 100% compensation benefits through the VA.? Any input appreciated. Not sure if I am in the correct forum for this topic. Thank you. Elizabeth USAF-IDMT IU P/T

My civic association needs a notary for occasional verification of forms. Can I take the class online and help with this or is it best not to with employability issues and being compensated for this through the VA for 14 years?

I received this today and I sent in my response. It is settled. Thank you for getting the correct information so I can get the statements I need. Please let the 800 # processing center know this info so my records are correct. We had a bit of an arguement yesterday and that was unnecessary. I was made to feel like I did not know my status. I called the 800# to get an updated statement with my married name..REED. I need a statement that I am permanent and Total so I can get a parks pass. fishing Lic. and to have for my Tax exemption on my home. Also I need it to get a Florida Veterans Disabled card. Thank you for helping me...Elizabeth Reed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Response (Department of Veterans Affairs) 05/12/2010 04:57 PM Dear Ms. Reed: This is in response to the inquiry you submitted on May 12, 2010, to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Thank you for your patience. We have heard back from your regional office and they have in fact verified that you are Permanent and Total. We are happy to assist you with your request, will you please respond to this inquiry and let us know what letters you are looking for, is it just the tax exemption letter or are there other letters you are requesting? Once we have heard back from you we will be able to be of further assistance in this matter. Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely yours, E. J. Kruse National IRIS Response Center Manager mab

I do too and I appriciate all your help.

Yes; and Carlie this scares me. I do not feel confident that they are keeping my records safe and information up to date.

I did send my marriage certicicate in when I was married in 2007. I sent it in again this week. I just requested a statement with permanent and total noted with my married name. The 800# said I was not permanent. I wrote ISIS they wrote back asking for my social and are looking at my file. I faxed and mailed all my documants on being permanent /total that I have to St. Petersburg Regional Office. Copy of my ID card, last statement I had with my maiden name that shows permanent a note that my husband has ChampVA and I have tax exemption on my home. I just asked for something simple and have to go through all this to get something that should be easy. I have been P/T for 10 years. I came from Rochester N.Y to Florida. N.Y made my determination and sent my file to Florida. I know they must have all this info as I have not had trouble before with St. Pete; but I sent copies of what documents I have anyway so they see I am telling the truth. I did not like the arguement I received when I called the 800#. I was treated like I did not know my own situation.

I will try the MWR tactic. Thanks so much.

You are right and made me laugh today. I need cheering up. It is just that my name has to match my drivers Lic. for state business. I am having trouble getting a permanent fishing Lic. right now too because my VA letter does not have my new name. I should know what to do as I was a DVOP for 10 years. It seems easy doing things for others and when it involves me my anger foggs up my mind.

I have been asked on many occasions from the county etc. to get a more recent dated statement of disablity from the VA.

Mine is dated for some reason. The one I have has my maiden name and I need one with my married name. I thought I saved a copy when applying for ChampVa for my husband and ID cards etc. I only can find the one with my former name. It is dated.

Thanks Jbasser . I did send in an IRIS message today through the VA web site. What scare me is they will agree with the processing center even though I have the paperwork showing P/T. That may be silly but no one know what the other one is doing any more(it seems). I do not think I would have all these benifts if someone did not know or agree I was P/T. I do not want them to tell me all this info I have been told/given is a mistake and my benifts taken away after 10 years. Times are too bad now to have lost benifits.

I called the 800# today to request a new statement showing Permanent and Total. I was told P/T is not in their records. I have had these statements before under my maiden name for 10 years. When I married in 2007 I sent in all the paperwork etc. My husband is on ChampVA and I got my ID card with my new name. My husband has an ID card. I get Tax exempt on my home here in Florida. This scares me. I usually write for any request to St. Petersburg. Today I used the phone and their info differs. They insisted I was not permanent. I did not want to argue and told the rep. that. I faxed. St. Pete( processing center gave me the wrong fax# too). Not a good day. I sent them my last P/T statement received and a copy of my military ID card showing permanent That the VA authorized. I asked that they straighten out the processing center. I mailed the same info and I sent a message via the VA web site. I covered all my bases. I just get scared when my benifts are messed with. I am just venting...Did I do all that I can do???

Hi Pete...Liz here... I would have time to adjust to the change and lower my living standards which are just average at best before I turn 65. I would have to sell my home for sure and just exist. I just can not imagine how vets with a family can just change without stress ...losing so much money. I am alone.. but vets with family members...I can not imagine..

Can someone please tell me simply what is being said about being unemployable and receiving 100% benefits...Am I going to be losing any VA Comp payments when I turn 65 even if I am Permanent and Total? I am 80% receiving unemployability benefits at the 100% rate since 1998. I am also receiving Social Security Disability. Thanks for answering my question.

Kathy ; if you do not mind sharing where you live maybe someone from here can keep you company so you wont be so alone and you can have someone to talk to in person. It is hard around the holidays...Just a thought...Liz

You might get a little more peeved knowing she will get extra compensation for loss of a vital organ.. Do you think woman can just ask for this surgery? Something had to be be wrong in order to get this operation. You should be concerned for your friend not peeved. I had a hysterectomy on active duty . I am 20 years past the fact and still having problems. A hysterectomy messes up your whole body system for life. You should read up on what can/will happen. It is no picnic. You do not know how someone feels or what is going on inside their body. Please do not be so judgemental unless you are informed . What you see or do not see of a disability is not always the full story. The military doctors did the surgery for a reason and not just because she wanted the surgery. Be a good friend and help her out when she is having a bad day. She may not even know the full consequences of this surgery. Liz in Hudson Florida

Thank you for easing my anxiety...for the moment..Gosh..so many Vets would be in a real bind..myself included... if such a thing should come about. I would have to go and find a husband to supliment my lower rating :) ...kidding aside...I would be in a real mess. Liz

I do not understand fully what is going on with the IU situation. Is it true that if I am 80% P/T IU that I may lose my IU benifits when I turn 65? Thanks in advance for any insite on this issue...Liz

Dear Berta; Thank you so much for all this research work you did for me. You are so helpful. I know my mother has never filed a claim with the VA about my father. She just does not know to do anything like that. I talked to her social worker today and I am getting back with them tomorrow to see what they found out. I will also contact a local VA rep and see what they have to offer. Maybe they will contact her social worker or vs versa. If nothing else she maybe can get help with aid and assistance. I will see. Thanks for all your help...Liz

Thanks for all your help Jim...This is getting away from my orginal DIC question so maybe I need to switch to Social Chat not to upset the rules of the board....Liz

My sister did not pay but a $1 to transfer/buy the house. The deal is I get the money my mother has in savings and mys sister gets the house. Both apx equal 50K. The money is still in my mothers name and mine. I do not care about getting the money. Especially if I can stay healthier if my mother is taken care of by professionals. I just can not continue helping a difficult parent. I wish I could and I have tried but it has not been good for me. Liz

Thanks Pete; My Mom does get Social Security and Military survivors benefits. I personally do not care if the house or her money goes towards her care. My sister has a different opinion but she only comes here to Florida for a few short weeks a year. She does not see or does not want to see the problems. She will not go see anyone that will want to put my mother in assisted living as that will make her possibly lose the house. I will be the "bad" person if mom gets assisted living and her money is used up. I will see what the social worker says on Tuesday. Liz

My mother is entitled DIC. I applied for her in May but have not had a response about the DIC. They did send her a check for $800 for burial expenses from 20 years ago they said they owe her. They just said they did not service connect my dad at his death but they have now determined that he died of a service connected disability in a VA hospital. I did request back pay even though they said it was not authorized because my mother did not request service connection when he died. They said at the time his prostrate cancer was not service connected so why would she apply?. I argued their reasoning. Anyway, my mother needs assisted living because she falls and she also takes too many pain pills and gets hooked. Spends too much time in hospitals getting off meds and comes home and starts all over. She will not stay with me..I tried that for 3 months. She fights me when taking control of her meds. She is too hard to handle and I am 100% S/C . The stress is too much for me. She has been in a rhab center 2 days now and I am getting ready to see a social worker Monday or Tuesday. I am her only caregiver and I can not handle her anymore along with my S/c disabilities. I have power of Attorney but so does my sister who lives in Milwaukee. My sister just says she does not want to get in the middle. It is easy to say when not living near mom. My sister does own the house my mother lives in. here in Florida. She bought my moms house about 3 months ago. That is all she wanted and went back home. She expects me to care for Mom and keep the house from going to medicare. I can not do this anymore and stay healthy myself. She is on Tricare and has all the military benefits. Are there some benifits with DIC that will help with assisted living and help with some of the expenses? Any suggestions greatly welcome... Liz in Hudson Florida 100% S/C USAF