clw4514

im trying to figure out if it would even be worth filing for IU but i cannot seem to find anything on what the pay rates r. is it decided individually? how do they calculate it? who decides all this? is it voc rehab? my eyes r so crossed from reading all this info (it was informative!) that i look like i was born on wednesday lookin for sunday both ways! thanks in advance!

oooooh! well, im certainly gonna send that form in. thanks!! where can i find the table for how much i would get on IU? ive looked everywhere....

who do i see to do that? or can i get the form online? guess i could check, huh? lol!

i got the money and the letter today. the actual rating is 70% and ive updated it :D they gave me obesity due to ptsd. i honestly didnt think i would get that but they sure did give it to me!! so, i guess the next step is to find out if i can get p&t and/or chapter 35 benefits at 70% or does it HAVE to be 100%?

actually, i asked for and was granted an expedited claim. none the less, 2 months was quick! that combined with the help on here and the great people at the va (yes, they really do exist! lol), i had an iron clad case. during the c & p exam, the dr told me my file looked great. there was no room for argument. now that its over, i almost want to go help others get their packets together.....ive already started helping a fellow coastie wife get hers together. like so many others of us, she had no idea the avenue of assistance to her as a veteran.

i filed on 18 aug 09 and it was closed out on this past friday. called today to check the status since it was supposed to be expedited and they sd i should be getting retro pay for $2500+. i dont remember the exact amount. so, im guessing its btwn 50-70% rating. they couldnt tell me bcuz i guess it wasnt completely updated yet. i have been so overwhelmed with all the help and guidance u guys/ladies offer on here. i just dont know how on earth i could possibly repay u. it brings tears to my eyes when i think about someone having to go it alone with this process. i am eternally grateful that you were all there for me. i havent been around much bcuz i have had a few emotional setbacks but u have all been with me in my thoughts and prayers. love each and every one of you!!!! BIG HUGS!!

what is the requisite exam?

yes ma'am....is there another step i have to do?

how long before a copy is available? typically? oh...and how long do they usually take to make rating decisions?

i have been having dreams about this exam since i got the notice of the date. in my dream - the examiner was a vampire. i am happy to report - NO VAMPIRE! they screwed up the appt by scheduling me for a review instead of an initial exam. i was almost turned away at that point. i started crying and the lady in the office went off on me and demanded to know why i was crying! then got defensive saying "shit happens and aint no need in cryin' about it!" mind u, i hadnt sd anything at this point. she jumped to conclusions. she pulled me in the office and continued to go off on me about crying. a psychologist came in the office and sd she had a no show and would be happy to take me. we get in the office and the anxiety was rising. she reassured me that there was no reason to be upset bcuz we would not discuss the "details" since it has already been corroborated of in-service stressor. so, after our conversation she takes me to another room to do the 567 t/f questions. omg!!! r they serious on those? then some guy came in the room being loud and it was just the 2 of us in there. made me really uncomfy. i told the dr when she came in about it and then hurried to finish the questions. during part of the exam, she was looking over my file and asked if i had got an attorney after they discharged me. told her no and asked why. her words, "cuz they dropped the ball more than once with u!" i was shocked by her statement. all in all, i feel it was a good exam and it sounded as if i just had to wait on the rating. is this a pretty fair assumption for those of u that have been thru this? soooo glad its over! thx again for all the support from u guys n gals!

haha! good thing i wear jersey knit pants and an ole miss sweatshirt!

thank you all for your input. ur right, we do try to "shine" when in public. but, this is the one time we need to be completely honest about ourselves. its gonna be a toughy but im gonna do it. since i stay in pj's all day, i may actually have to get dressed! poo!

thx for the advice, pete! wont be hard to tell them about the bad days....even with the meds, ive had alot lately.

hmmm - never thought of that. thx!

i just got my c&p exam scheduled....9/29. im excited, nervous, anxious. i want it to be done and over! its like i can see the light at the end of the tunnel. whew! of course, my tunnel hasnt been as long as some of u. as a matter of fact, it has been relatively short. so glad u were there for me thru all this!

u guys r right. i need to calm down. no clue why i lost it today of all days. i just blew up yet again tonite over stupid crap the kids did. i dont like losing my temper in front of the kids but sometimes, they just dont know when to shut up and back down. no excuse for my behavior. guess i need to see about med adjustment. i so wish that our VA had valet parking. oh, and i actually know the head va cop guy here. luckily, he was working today so i got out of any mess that was impending. his wife is in my group session. i was very very lucky there! thx for all the support, folks. im gonna call it a nite and hope tomorrow is better! and then call the psych to see about med adjustment

good point, carlie! im starting to think the expedited line is the "what a dumb ass" line...

my anxiety must be sky high today....i got into a fight, yes a fight, in the parking lot of the VA this morning cuz some stupid bitch thought she was entitled to whatever parking she wanted. never mind that i had been waiting 10 min for that particular spot and she just drove around to it! never mind that i am the vet and not her! fu(#ing heifer was in a yukon and i was in a minivan. she won the spot after hitting me with the vehicle and i jumped out after her ass. before i knew it, i had grabbed her and almost punched her in the face. someone caught my arm but i completely lost it.i find another spot and when i get out of the vehicle i notice that the man who just pulled out decided to piss in the parking spot. i only realize this after i step in it....i go in and have a session with a new intern. shes pissy cuz im late. im still shaking cuz of the bitch in the parking lot. so the session ends and i head down to c&p to see if i have to sched the appt or they sched and inform me. the lady there was apparently the head of the welcome commitee cuz, well, she was rude as all get out! i told her it was an expedited claim. she informed me that she didnt care if the head of the va himself was handling it, it doesnt matter, it will still be several months out. i bite my tongue and walk away. 2 hours go by before my next appt for ptsd group. i get to the group room only to be told it was cancelled this week and nobody told me. i leave pissing and moaning. so,, on the way home i decide to call the school bookstore to see why they gave me the wrong book for class. we hand them our schedule and they get the books. stupid me trusted them! im told i need my sched and my rcpt to get an exchange. sched is no problem but i do not have my rcpt. they told me tough shit, buy another book at full price. sell book back as used. ummmm - NO!!!! im ready to explode! i just dont think i can take any more at this point! and i even took my meds today. today just feels impossible..... if u have requested and been granted an expedited claim, can they really schedule the c&p exam out several months? isnt that kinda stupid and defeating the purpose of expedited?

this is awful to say but it depends on how qualified u r by army terms and how desperate they r for troops. pitiful to even write that but true. i wish u the best. u need to be honest with them about ur condition. u do not want to do a disservice to the troops around u. think about it....if u get over there and something triggers it, who knows how u will react. be honest with them!!

http://www.military.com/veterans-report/va...ules?ESRC=vr.nl this is huge! well, at least i think it is. if this goes thru, it would make a world of difference for the next generation of those applying for compensation. but, the devil's advocate part of me is saying it would also be easier for someone to work the system. over all, i think it is still good news!

skunk sd it all so im just gonna say....copy that! love u guys and gals!!

pete - so sorry about ur loss! u take time to rest and heal urself. im taking names!!! lol! :) yall dont make put ur name on the chalk board.

u have come to the right place for guidance and support. i know 5 yrs seems like a life time to u but on the bright side (if there is such a thing with this!), many of us on here took longer than that to rcv help. i personally took 20 yrs. so, ur ahead of the curve! hang in there, stay vigilant/diligent with the VA and most importantly - stand ur ground!!! find that one person at the VA that will help u get thru this. they do exist....

i was pegged for a pilot program and it required their signature....i asked for my claim to be expedited and the program is called expedited claims ajudication program (ECA)

lol - u guys have taught me well oh and phillip - he gave me copies of the stuff he is supposed to be sending in. i will be making copies to send out certified return rcpt. thanks guys!!