halos2

Mike 77 you are saying you receive 10% for vertigo, and have other s/s(signs and symptoms). As others here have posted you need to put in claims for the others symptoms you have, and also if another physician has diagnosed any of these that should be presented too. Back to the claims...read up on Gulf War Syndrome, and see where your symptoms fit in to the ones addressed. There are multitudes of them, some you may have, and also you may have others not listed within the list. How these symptoms affect your daily life, and impact on your ability to work, cope, and manage your affairs will also need to be addressed. Get versed in the symptoms listed, Google yours, but put in a claim for the actual problems, deficits, disabling conditions, first as you educate yourself with what info you can find here and on the web to help you. Do you have a VSO? A Veterans Service Officer? I recently helped a family member GW vet with his claim and he was 150% normal math, but 80% VA math, for multiple symptoms related to GW syndrome and other diagnoses of this conflict too. The exposures to the gases, uranium, and other toxic substances can/have destroyed one's immunity/chromosomal/skin integrity/gastrointestinal/mental, and many other effects on one's overall health. It does not just affect one system of the body. Examine how your life has been impacted from before service to now to see the difference in your status and previous well being, and put in for the disabling conditions...let the physician diagnosis the disease/illiness as you voice the changes/symptoms. If you have any other physician documentation be sure to send it to validate you claim too.

Congrats, and watch your bank account, as the funds usually arrive before your official letter of award. You did good! ENJOY.

Have you ever tried Fentanyl? I have herniated discs and fibromyalgia...it takes the sharpness off but not all the time, but can help to fairly manage the pain. I use hydrocodone too. Cymbalta too.

When checking for my husband's dad a few years ago we found the State homes have waiting lists and the fee's were 1800 per month with few add on's. The VA contracted homes were totally paid for by the VA. Meds, treatments, and the spouse got to keep his VA check and ss one, and the home would bill the VA and Medicare/Medicaid if available and to cover other costs when he was eligible for each dependent upon his care/need/medicare eligibility(100 days per yr if qualified illiness/disability). Anyway the spouse paid 0 with these contracted one's. Remember not all homes are contract VA homes, and you need to check which one's are in your area, and make sure they are currently licensed to be by the VA, as one in our area lost their eligibility related to inspections...it was an elopement of a resident, and the home lost their contract for one year, which would mean the other assistance vets received(checks) and family would/could be responsible.

Berta thank you for posting this story. I think many problems do arise with military, VA, and civilian doctors all prescribing medicines. Also 9 different one could certainly potential an outcome like this that occurred. I tell my personal physician what meds the VA prescribes, and my PCP what meds my private Dr does too. At times, I think some may not, and with this as stated in the story even though he did not basically over dosed the side effects could potentiate fatal outcomes. What a shame for him, his family, and to what could have been.

((THANKS PETE 992...been running on about 32 straight hrs and going round and round with this one...man I should have cued earlier some things, but too late now.))

(John, Then this would be basically cue's filled for all claims not rated in what we feel we should have been awarded for all claims with the same information they finally award a % for at a later date? So if one files and gets a 10% and does nothing then refiles a few years later and the same type of info is used and one gets 30% you think they could cue to go back to EED? Or is this just with )% claims?...I think I am confused here, and you are so much more versed in this, so could you please explaim it in English terms/versus regulation one.Thanks)

You wrote the decision was made in 95 and you did not appeal it but put in for a new claim in 09. So therefore you can't request a cue for an earlier date if you never appealed/questioned it and went on your way without doing any activity to seek a higher grant or anything. JMHO only...

The VA only grants on VA disabilities/injures/diagnose/injuriess,in=service, it does not grant on issues not incurred outside. The SSA will grant on all issues they deem effect you, not just VA one's. So in order to receive these your History and Physicals will have to demonstrate your disabilities/limitations with valid physician/psychiatric exams/evaluations/diagnoses/treatment/effect disabilities have on your ability to work, or hold employment. Medical and psych documents can help with your disabling conditions...must be by licensed Doctors.

Sapper this is GREAT NEWS. Enjoy it and time with the Misses too. How long did you fight for this? Please continue to post here as others may learn from your experiences. Pass it forward to give your thanks. Well done here buddy!!

This site is to help veterans. Not to fabricate any information. But to get the VARO to read actual VALID information by being persistent. As far as quiting one's job, is there a way to take a leave of absence? A medical leave and seek treatment in the Behavioral Health clinic/area? It is difficult to obtain 100% but as long as you are not TDIU, you can work, if able to. With your mental issue complaints, seeking treatment in the BH might help you, or they can direct you to the counselors who may offer the assistance you need. CAll your PCP to get a referral, or you can go to Urgent Care if the problems become too great to handle, and they can get a BH certified person to assist with your evaluation and follow up. Don't do the quitting thing first, check out the treatment avenue first, then see if/how you might still be able to maintain your employment, if still able to.

It really is no one's business. I bet you don't go around asking others when/how they retired...or when/how they get/got disability from who also. So just say you took an early retirement. I tell the nosey one's which is the truth. I did take an early retirement but the circumstances are private, as I never tell anything more, just early retirement. Besides people knew I worked for so many years. Also I tell them I invested wisely. Period. As we all know as vets we did invest...our bodies, mind, spirit. Get what you deserve, and the VA won't give any hand outs, so LIVE and try to find some joy with "your retirement!"

nickman, there is no argument here I have a vet whose % look like 150% yet VA math is 80%. If you get 80% for that I hope someone doesn't recheck it and see they didn't use their rating table. It is not my rating table...I would prefer regular math, but that is not the regulations used. BTW I am a female and here just to prevent factual info. If the VA does increase your award I hope the best for you but would hate to see you get nothing for months because they claim they overpaid you. Just saying... Also no I never worked for the VA, but as an RN many many years. I have found here on this site people want to share what they have learned with their dealings with the VARO and VA. I too do that. Heck the VARO declared me dead a few years ago, but I proved them wrong, so then they tried to sever my claim, so I have time to study and read the regulations but never claim to know it all, just try to post the facts found in the VA sites and the methods they use to pay. That's it in a nutshell!! BTW the percentage table is here on hadit's first page which shows how the VA uses their own math to rate claims. Be my guest and see for yourself. Glad tbird posted it here too.

I must be missing something here:::: VA math does not take 20 + 30 + 30 = 80% not VA math...you then write "is it probable that I would be awarded 20% that will give me 100% disability overall rating. NOT HERE. VA math does not equate 20+30+30+20 = 100% nor does it ever take 20+30+30=80% Do you have some other awarded disabilities you are not posting here? VA calculator: 20% + 30 +30= 60.8%= 60% + 20%= 68.64% ROUNDS UP TO 70%.

What Vet Center are you currently going to for Chronic Depression and Anxiety? How long have you been going to this vet center? They have not/ever tried to hook you up with any further help there either?

You write you are currently going to the VA for Chronic Depression and Anxiety. Why don't you find what area the VSO's(Veterans service officers) are located? You NEED TO PUT IN YOUR CLAIM ASAP! This will determine your original date of claim. Therefore when and if you receive an award it will retro(go back to) this date. Also when you see/talk/visit with this individual he/she will have all the forms you need to fill out, and also authorizing them to be your POA to assist you with your claim. You can also get the forms fill them out and not choose this person as your POA. Forms are online too so that is an option. But my theory is you are already there I presume at a VAMC, and for ease and availability you can get this all done at one time. This person (VSO) will also have all addresses for you to request you Military Records/Service Medical/Treatment Records, basically the whole kit and kaboodle where you can search what is documented in these records which would be evidence of these illiness's occurance in the military or the stressor's occurring in the military. Any former "buddies" in service who can write a letter stating they saw there type of behaviors(only a Physician, or Psychiatrist or Psychologist D)r can give the actual DIAGNOSIS. Or pershpa a family member can write a letter on your behavior prior to and after your return from Iraq too. Like you seem moody and avoid contact with people and want to sleep alot or argue with others, or have said things like it would be better if I were not here anymore, or I hate people and I never want to see or talk with some...what ever fits you symptoms. So you have treatment now, get papers filed for claim, request records, find witnesses, if available, get copies from any/all people hospital/clinics you have received treatment/counseling/therapy you need to request these under the FOIA(Freedom of Information Act), and continue with your therapy. You can do a lot of these things on your own but I want to make sure these get done ASAP. Some people use a VSO and some don't at first too, but with you really not knowing how to file, IMHO a VSO would at least be a faster start for you. Also you can go it alone any time you want to. Doesn't mean you need to stay with them. I feel with them having all the forms the timing offered here would be somewhat faster. BTW if you choose a VSO YOU will find you still have to do an abundance of work on your claim as they represent hundredths if not more clients too. Here at Hadit you will find much assistance from Veterans, Dependents, Veterans Advocates too. Good luck on this journey, and continue to seek out the help you need and keep us posted on your successes. FILE ASAP to establish your date.(You can also write a letter to your VARO saying you are filling a claim for disabilities incurred in=service and this is your notification letter, This will also establish your date, and the VARO will send you out the forms(which you can down load off net) and release of information to clinics. dr's etc who have evaluated you/treated you over these years. Act now!! Anyway you choose but ASAP route!

Yep, for me and one of my vets I assisted the deposits were in the bank before any notification in the mail, and before the VA or our VSO's even knew. So one never really knows when you will get it. Funny thing an another win the VARO said it had to go through processing and gave me the accounting # in Oklahoma, and when I called them in Ok they said "We haven't received the information yet, maybe 30-60 days." I called my bank and they told me I had a nice deposit the day before...So on a Tuesday no one knew how when of what would be done, yet on the day before Monday it was deposited. I would keep checking my bank account and hopefully you will find a nice deposit too. BTW do you still work? You know if unable to work you could put in for TDIU. I noticed you listed 70% 100%tdiu in the heading so did you receive this already? I asked because it was not posted in your summary. Also for SSDI. Remember if unable to work you could be eligible for these too. Also make sure you give them all dependent information, ie Birth Certificate marriage license copies so receive amounts for your dependents if you have any. Also if your parents are dependent on your you can receive $ for them as claimed as dependents. Check this out too. Your VSO will have the forms to fill out or you may copy them here at hadit too. If not done already, you will receive a separate check/deposit for dependents too. Glad you won. Hope you continue to post here and also what areas you won on too. Welcome to one of the best educational site of veterans care, disability, and claims information. Remember any questions you have ask, if one cannot answer, others will search. There are NEVER stupid questions!! ENJOY!!

Allan, you really are referring to a time period of your military service, and not really saying you were in one day and out the next...You mean the time flew by so fast, RIGHT? How many more cases do you think that could be won, or how many are owed because of the stall tactics.

beenwaiting8years. oh my goodness, this is finally all that you worked for. Congrats and spend it wisely. I am happy that you will be able to have this justice in your lifetime too. It is amazing when you look at your bank statement and no longer see red ink, but all black and POSITIVE BALANCES! Enjoy my friend, enjoy. It's like you hit the lottery, only better, NO TAXES TO BE PAID. BTW one never knows which agency will take longer to grant, VA or SSA. Different for people too.

Please change your avatar to reflect this WONDERFUL AWARD!! Looks great seeing more get the awards fought for and finally received. Yipee !!

Pink, yellow, green, blue highlighters can be used to specify the Diagnosis...Medication...Treatment...Results of labs/xrays and any other tests performed or results that come out of these. Also let's not forget the service connection in your SMR's. Do the same basically draw their attention to the same disabilities/injuries/treatments you had while active duty military... It is a shame you have to do this, but stay strong and treat them as the children they are trying to treat you! SPELL it all out. IMO's and IME are the best way to trump there evaluations of the C&P's. BTW what did you get 10% awarded for?

I think sometimes we wonder why one Dr can see/evaluate an illiness or read a diagnostic test and determine the result, then I remember the old adage " What do you call the person who graduates at the bottom GPA of his/her medical school? DR. Seriously, I hope your claim results in positive action.

Flatbroke, Great news here...@ 90% put in for TDIU now...ridiculous how they are deferring DMII...But get what's your getting now and appeal the rest if not favorable too!

oldman, So glad to read another vet wins, and doesn't bite the dust!