halos2

Papaw, How long you been fighting for this? Did you receive any awards along the way? If when you reread your letter, can post any non personal info, it may help other vets with the same diagnoses along the way to a grant for them to. What region VARO are you? It is SO WONDERFUL to read a win and award like yours. It validates your condition, but mostly validates you, the veteran who fought, was injured, and granted something back for giving so much of yourself to your country. Enjoy this buddy, would have suffered long enough. This is for you and your wife to live on and please don't let others with sob stories of needing help/and will pay you back stuff. Keep a little nest egg for rainy days too. There is nothing better than reading so many recent wins. Congrats. Now live for many many years and spend that $2823 wisely each month too. Nice not to be afraid to answer the door or phone in fear of a bill collector, isn't it!

Your question about the wait time is?? I would hope within 3-6 months...got a VSO? Have him/her check their direct computer @ VARO to see if anything shows up, plus they are SUPPOSE to be notified of any decisions first. However I have seen and experienced $$ received for claims, without the VSO having any clues. Lets hope with your diagnoses and conditions it will result in a decent early date...within a few mths. Speculative here...

Good thing you got a working for vets Pt Advocate, as some seem to be lax...John Basser is a straight shooter(and a great bass fisherman) but seriously follow any suggestions he may present as he has been there and done that and gives fast quick honest advice too. Looks like things may be headed your way. Keep with it till you get what you want, and mostly what you need!

Whoop there it is. Great news. As Pete 53 stated if not working and unable to can put in for TDIU. Enjoy this win. Watch your bank account as the $$ will usually show up before the paperwork reaches you. HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!

Now thats what I like to read, another award. Yipee. Keep in touch on all your awards, and in case they decline(your awarded conditions that is) make sure you put in for an increase if applicable for the condition.(unless you are maxed out on the grant of that one already).

Keep on reading and post when you are ready or seek advice.

What are the conditions/medical/psychiatric reasons you are claiming? You do have diagnoses by qualified licensed physicians/psych dr's right? Those who have been treating you for your claimed disabling conditions...

I have gotten deposits on all different days, as well as others I know...The only days I know which are regular are the first of the month, or if on a holiday or weekend it occurs before. I have gotten deposits in the same week already when they started granting, and retro pmts were occurring.

Enough is enough...Give it back to those it was intended to use it, The VETERANS!!!!

Seeks a GOOD to Excellent VSO in Richmond area. Bosnia, and other foreign service 92-96. Some health issues, including tinnitus, hypertension, ptsd, fx knee, skin disorders...Found him recently on net. Put claim in and requested exams, tx, etc 4-5 yrs ago and finally received letter for 2 C&P exams. If fact set up appointments first @ clinic then 2 weeks later for C&P's. Any info to pass along is appreciated. Infantry vet. Pretty vague on stations but just trying to establish VSO to work along with him while he shuffles through system now, at least.

Glad you received the papers needed/or friend did. I've been posting this almost 2 years how the call center will not tell you what is written ie award letter, but will fax the pages to you. I have had 4 vets awards letters faxed, and other papers needed for documentation purposes too. I believe the call center have received more educational training on the what how's and know how's too. In the past you would usually get a patsy, but now usually a helpful individual.

He did change jobs very often especially in the last 5-6 years like 5 or 6 now...He was demoted to 3 days per week because of attitude(poor), disagreements with co-workers, yelling at other staff, disagreements with supervisors, then terminated after he told some people @ work, and a supervisor to Fu*k off and they were a piece of Sh*t and all Fuc*er dum Azzes...they let him rant and rave and then terminated him 20-30 minutes later. He has been going to BH for 5+ yrs at least monthly. Also had cancerous lesions removed from head a few times. He really was provoked at this last job. But I believe he did put in for IU and his VSO said you are 60% you can't get that! Oh well he is a whack job and maybe they will see it soon. He wants to be so "normal" he is loosing it more. I have tried to distance myself some from them, as they are real downers, and drag me down, but I can't seem to cut the ties as I pity/feel sorry for the whole family... I do appreciate any/all suggestions to forward.

I gave your responses to his wife. She said he was in a treatment program specifically for PTSD. He started the program working the assignments then saw where he was looked at with pity for his experiences and then he changed his focus stating he felt guilty for years of abuse to his family and infidelity to his wife. She asked him why he didn't work on his anger and night terrors of killing the enemy, and she said his response was "You told me to tell them my problems, and I figured I would tell them I felt guilty so I said I cheated all these years!" This guy must be a real doosey. He says he said that because he had to tell them something? Why the heck didn't he stay with the trauma focus, as his records state them exactly? Now he tells her he didn't cheat on her, which she said he did but denied it all these years. I feel sorry for her. He sounds like a real dirt bag. I do believe she is one argument away from violence. I want to help her but if she doesn't want to seek change I don't want to be a part of what could occur. Now he blames her for "making him go" and says he better not get his comp reduced. It was her idea for him to get better and stop the violence, and now she said it backfired. I think I need to distance myself from the entire situation. They both are ill and co dependent on each others weaknesses. Too bad the guy wasn't honest and told the truth of his war traumas. Thanks for all suggestions, and I need to worry about other things and people who want help.

They will always be behind as long as we still have wars going on, and claims that were originally denied that are valid.

As you are learning you DO have to keep everything you get from the VA and copies of all you send to them, including certification/registered copies. Like you stated, they suddenly found the copies after you sent in some proof. Make sure you always keep these somewhere that you can find them. Yes, we do have to be VA paper horders, haha. Nice response offered here too. GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO GET #'S THE VA SOUGHT TOO.

VV mean, nasty, abusive, threatening others at work, and at home. Finally got into a TX program for 2 months. Began PTSD TX program being honest..Told of killings, terrors seen and done to others(validated on awards and citations) and night terrors of screaming with nightmares, and emotional episodes experienced. Then suddenly half way during the program VV decided to work program for helping the others and not self. Came with a GAF of 45 and left with a GAF 55. Did not want to appear "crazy' TO OTHERS, and wanted to take on a role of "father or care taker" to all the younger vets in the program. He wanted to make friends and not let anyone see him as tainted and disturbed! He has been mean and violent to his wife and family over 41 years, and has control issues. Lost jobs because of temper and threatening remarks made to co-workers. Is 64 and put in for SS and receives it, however never put in for SSDI. I think he did an injustice to himself and to the program, and they allowed it to happen. He is violent and wants others to think he is a "nice guy." I believe he blew his chance to ever get a higher % for his mental issues. His family are still in shock that he did not tell the truth and get the treatment he needed. How and why would a mental health program allow that to happen? I read his complete C-File and his therapy notes, and his PTSD program Tx notes, and it as if someone turned a switch on or off to change his working in the program for himself, to working the program to help others. This is sad the therapists didn't "Call him out on this" trying to avoid self care, and avoid self expression.

babyray, First you don't have to be 100% to be reimbursed for travel, and second they pay 41.5 cents per mile, bad news next is they take back $3.00 each way, so $6.00 for round trip 3 times a month...but if 4th appointment occurs, or if there for a C&P exam, no deductibles occur. Therefore it is 80 miles round trip X 41.5 cents =$33.20-$6.00 deductible=$27.20 cash received.

It seems lenders around here won't even look at lending for those under 600 credit score. Also with a the problems you have experienced and stated even though a good income now, it will be more likely than not you will find a lender in the near future. Have you thought about Contract For Deed? That might be an avenue to explore. You are able to put a good down payment and a private lender/owner may be more open to that with the $$$$ down payment. I don't think financing without the possibility of some outrageous lender like charging 20% or more would be beneficial for you now. Short sale not likely to occur, and foreclosed one's either. Hopefully you may find a contract for deed one in the area you want to live, but make sure you use an attorney to draw up the legal papers before any change of cash is deposited to anyone. Good luck, and glad you received you back pay. It may take a while but things can and will get better.

PR, You are correct, I was just thinking what could be $ wise, now. Yes glad you posted the "Old Appeal" for all. Have not had any luck with that, in fact have not found anyone I know ever getting back pay travel, but that may be a midwest thing...here in Mo anyway. But as you wrote basically there is always hope to get the appeal granted, but don't ever hold out believing it would occur, but be surprised and thankful it it goes through.

PLEASE LET ME CLARIFY 7 MONTHS WAITING FOR THE DRO HEARING and 7 MONTHS TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE TRANSCRIPT and MY AWARD DECISION...and a few months to get the retro. SO ABOUT 14 MONTHS TOTAL WAITING FOR HEARING AND DRO DECISION AWARD AND 2 MORE TO GET RETRO so 16 MONTHS TOTAL HERE. JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY TOTAL AMOUNT OF TIME FROM DRO REQUESTED TO HEARING TO PAY RECEIVED.

They will only let you go back 30 days. What % are you compensated??

Top, With you already 60% and now getting 50% ptsd and 20% knees you better put in for the next level as Terry and Berta said. You didn't specify if you are currently working too. If you were married to someone over 10 years and if he made a higher income then you did you could collect on his SS versus your own if you are old enough. Also do put in for the SSDI if you are unable to work along with the precviously explained TDIU. If you don't ask for more they will not just come up and give it. Put in a claim for the increase...claims for both if unemployed. Glad things are going your way now.

Looks like things are picking up for you. Be careful post surgery too.Don't over do anything at once. Give yourself some time.

Posted an answer 6 minutes ago and it disappeared. Yes I got it and did not have a sc for it at the time. Also I got it for eye and derm appointments too. Got travel pay for appointments they made for me.

Berta, Thank you so very much. I was getting really anxious when he did not return my calls. My daughter spoke to him last month and he was still working on some things for them, and I started to panic when he didn't respond to my emails either. Well now I can rest easy and pray he gets through it and can get resolve. I appreciate your quick response too, Berta. Larryj is you read this get better buddy. We all miss you. Thanks to all friends here too.