Bonzai

I also have no cursor when typing in the Forum boxes, but I too, get a cursor on other sites. I just fixed the problem by going into My Controls/Board Settings and changing from Rich Text Editor to Standard Text Editor. Hope this helps, Louis p.s. It wasn't worth the effort to find out why my cursor wasn't showing up - until someone else complained....LOL

Congratulations! Louis

Thanks for the help Pete53! I did not know that one could apply for retro on SSDI. It would seem that jayq has an additional 2005-2008 (3 years) coming to him, depending on the reasoning used for granting SSDI, so I agree he should see a lawyer.

The effective date for SSDI can not be more than 12 months prior to your initial application date. So when you filed in November 2009, the earliest effective date would have been November 2008 plus five month 'grace' period equalling an effective date of May 2009; because I think they also pay a month after, like the VA. Hope this helps. Louis

I had a ALJ hearing last week, where my latest treatment records were not forwarded by the VA to my lawyer to the ALJ, so the ALJ gave us a month to get the paperwork from the VA. My lawyer had them in his office two days later and uploaded them to the ALJ upon receipt of them. I was caught blind-sided, because I had no way of knowing what paperwork the ALJ had or how recent the records were. So I'm not really sure if there was anything that I could have done differently. As for now, I sit and wait for an envelope in the mail.

Congratulations!

Jesse, My first claim was denied (they seem to do that automatically), and I was told to file for a reconsideration immediately by my psych doctors. Louis

I remember hearing that it was a two year wait before someone could apply for a change to their military discharge, but I was wrong Here is a link on how to get it done: Change Military Discharge Hope this helps, Louis However, I agree with Testvet, because it doesn't get any worse than a BCD. This needs to be acted on fast, or it may even be too late.

Congratulations on your win!

Good luck unique!!! Sending prayer your way for a "Fully Favorable" decision. I go before the ALJ on next Tuesday, the 23rd, and final meeting with my lawyer tomorrow at 11:00am to review everything. My application for an ALJ hearing after receiving a denial for reconsideration was just over 12 months. Hearing times vary region to region, but I have heard that the times are getting longer, due to more people filing because of the economy. It doesn't matter if you can't find a job, the ALJ is supposed to determine if you can hold a job, no matter how minimal.

I was 30% and filed for an increase due to increased hospitalizations. I got low-balled at 50%, hired a NOVA lawyer, filed a NOD and was awarded 100% without a hearing. So it is not impossible. It took about two years from initial asking to award.

I would venture that I should qualify as my SC'ed conditions are 100% Bipolar and 0% HTN (SC'ed last month). I don't have anything else that would disqualify me, unless they look at my getting dentures as a medical problem. Well then again, I have a strained knee. I applied for the insurance last Wednesday, and will let everyone know the outcome.

I went to the Ortho clinic on Wednesday to have my knee looked at. The doctor told me he had to review my x-rays, and I told him I didn't have any. He looked it up and sure enough, they were scheduled for Friday, as in yesterday

I agree! I would rate Ft. Meade right along with it, but Ft. Meade doesn't have as many services available as Memphis does.

dsqsr, Yes, the 2 year limit applies to any new service-connection. If you are rated at 100% P&T already, and you get a new SC'ed condition, then you can apply and have the premiums paid for (it is coverage for $10,000). I just did it through my local Veterans Service Officer. You must meet four criteria: 1. You were released from active service on or after April 25, 1951. 2. You were released under other than dishonorable conditions. 3. You have a service-connected disability. 4. You apply within 2 years from the date the VA grants your NEW service-connected disability.

Congratulations on your successes!

If you filed for SSDI and are successful, then the payments will start when they determine them to start. Then your first Social Security disability benefits will be paid for the sixth full month after the date your disability began, because they deduct the the first five months; in case you get better. I know it doesn't make sense, but that's what they do. They also pay a month behind, so January benefits are paid in February. Hope this helps, Good Luck! Louis

Thanks for posting your own answer Dean! It helps clarify things for me. I get confused about pyramiding and secondary conditions. Louis

In Tennessee, there are free license plates for 100% service connected disabled veterans, Ex-POW's, and recipients of MOH, DSC, NC or AFC.

Permanent and Total (P&T) is awarded when the VA decides that your condition is not likely to improve. It is normally award after an extended period of time where your condition has not improved, or has worsened over the years. Even so, the VA can and does review 100% P&T veterans for improvements in their conditions. Hope this helps... Louis

Yippie Skippy and Congratulations!

There are numerous articles in the news about scam artists using the Census to obtain personal information; which is another thing you may consider, as the VA has lost a lot of data over the years. It is not only the VA, but other sources having personal information have been compromised too. Identity theft is out there, and still growing. As far as the VA monitoring this site, I dunno... Which bring to mind the question of "Who watches the watchers?" It is a good thing to be aware, and lots of us have no problem with being paranoid! I monitor my bank account daily. One day I overheard my wife giving her SSN to someone over the phone, and read her the riot act about giving out personal information to who knows who. She then told me that she called the company, they needed her SSN for verification, and it was not an unknown call from the outside. I let her go on that one...

Congratulations!

The estimates that I found were that the checks would go out by the end of the first quarter of 2010; which means by March 31, 2010. But then again, nothing is guaranteed to go out on time, as the Government is furloughing workers right now.

I, too, hired a NOVA lawyer. Since the VA granted me 100% SC without going to hearing, the lawyer also did not charge me a cent. He said that "he ONLY helped me organize what I had already gathered". BULL-HOCKEY, he and his secretary put a lot of time in - pro bono. That being the case, I don't mind that he will get the maximum amount of $5,300 if I get a Fully Favorable from my SSDI hearing scheduled later this month.