WHOLESALE

Did you have a recent exam? If not they would schedule you an exam first before they would even consider reducing your rating. frank

I couldn't agree more....well said, frank

As long as service was not disonorable then should get it. The VA looks at the record as a whole to see if there was persistent willful misconduct while in service. I have OTH and have FULL BENIES. goodluck, frank

Harvey, that's encouraging..Nice to see a successful outcome.....frank

Sweeeeeeet, I drink a beer for ya....frank

So if you're making $10,000 month you would quit your job after 9 months and go back on SSD getting a check at a fraction of this? This being if you can work? If I could work I would love to have a job making $10,000 month? Sign me up frank

I'm not saying DO IT. I'm just saying that it is a benefit if you find you're able to go back to work and want to go back to work. Anyone that is on SSD can go back to work if they so choose. Ultimately, it's up to the claimant on how they pursue this. Would you rather people on here to NOT KNOW what's in the rules and benefits if they so choose to work? I really don't understand your rationale on this. You're really making this a lot more complicated than it is and blowing it out of proportion. Hey, any of you that have SSD or want SSD you are ultimately the one that will choose your destiny on this. I just have said that I've been through this process and it worked for me. Again, it's ultimately your choice. This "GANGING UP" on someone posting a SSD rule and their own experience is really childish. I'm done with this subject. It's become an adolescent game. frank te53' post='160252' date='Aug 14 2009, 03:07 AM']Airborne: I apologize. I should have never included you with Wholesale. You made a casual remark that I just did not agree with and I do not consider you a problem. Hadit Members: To be clear what I consider a problem is Wholesale making wise ass remarks and giving bad advice to Members. I also consider some of the questions that he asks to be out of line. I have tried to work with him but either he is dense and does not get it or he is one of the disruptor's we have endured under other SN's. I am warning the Board that before you take anyone's advise on something as your claim or Social Security you had best keep in mind that it can affect you. By the way a SSD trial work period can be an indication to the VA that you can work. If there is anything that is clear is if you can work in most cases it is preferable to being on disability. My comment was not aimed at you Airborne I thought that I had separated it from Wholesale but not well enough I also apologize to Hadit as I guess that my last three or four months have caught up to me and I am frustrated and angry. I know I hate it when my frustration in life and on this Board with one or two people who appear to me to be clueless has made me do some dumb things on this Board. I especially apologize to TBird and the other Moderators. Also to the Members cause lack of sleep, depression, irritability and poor judgment may have had an adverse impact here. Wholesale I hope that Tbird bounces you but I am not in the proper frame of mind to be fair. I suggest that if you want to stay here that you apologize and make a plan to be a better member. My last comment on this issue is that many who are fighting there claim are here because it has been terribly hard and difficult and that encouragement and consideration can be as important as knowledge. If you read Hadit as a new member the stars do come out. We have some here who have unselfishly helped with good advice for many years. It does not mean that they are always right either. I am not leaving or doing anything but I think I will stand down till I can talk to some of the people who I respect on Hadit and to Tbird. I just cannot understand why there are always a few people who just like to xxxx with Veterans who are only trying to secure earned benefits. August has always been a bad month for me

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityre...etailedinfo.htm <A name=TWP>Trial Work Period SSDI -- The trial work period allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months. During your trial work period, you will receive your full disability benefit regardless of how much you earn as long as your work activity has been reported and you continue to have a disabling impairment. The 9 months does not need to be consecutive and your trial work period will last until you accumulate 9 months within a rolling 60-month period. Certain other rules apply. Extended Period of Eligibility SSDI -- If your disability benefits stop after successfully completing the trial work period because you worked at the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level, we can automatically reinstate your benefits without a new application for any months in which your earnings drop below the SGA level. This reinstatement period lasts for 36 consecutive months following the end of the trial work period. You must continue to have a disabling impairment in addition to having earnings below the SGA level for that month. I been through ALL OF THIS. I started working, used up my trial period, and then about two years later left my job due to my mental illness. I then went down to SSD and they started my benefits back up AUTOMATICALLY. No exams, NADA......I'm coming from my own experience on this. This isn't a BLANKET STATEMENT unless you're saying the Social SEcurity website is a BLANKET website. frank

I get VocRehab RIGHT NOW and I get SSD. Where did you get this info? Ok, I do agree Mental disorders aren't slam dunk and some are like loss of limbs etc but Vets do get IU all the time with mood disorder. frank

What i'm saying is there is NOTHING wrong with him getting ssd if he can't work. What is the big deal with that? Is this BAD advice? As far as 9-month trial work period i been through it so I know first hand it don't bring up RED FLAGS. In case you don't know what a 9-month trial work period is it is a regulation set up FOR THE BENEFIT OF SSD claimants if they want to return to work and to see if they can sustain work. What is so bad about this? Don't understand all the gripe. If I give bad advice then quote the bad advice and if i'm in the wrong I have no problem admitting my mistake. frank

I feel really really bad for you having to go through all this in your state of health. I really hope you get something, whether it be from SSD or VA, soon. Just keep your sanity by keeping busy. I can imagine everyday feels like a rainy day. I like to play solitaire, watch old westerns, and play with my kitty, boo boo. Staying busy seems to help take my mind off things I can't control. I'm praying for you. frank

I wish we could cook like that Carly but unfortunately the eggs are in VA's pan.. frank

It's not a risk, it's a regulation. It's called 9-month trial work period. Also, even if he gets SSD he can go back to work anytime he wants. It's his choice if he does go back to work. In the mean time, if he can't work, at least he's getting a monthly check. frank

I agree with that purple. I also believe the VA will use a high GAF against the Vet if they can but on the other hand won't use a low GAF for the vet's benefit. They look for any excuse to deny. frank

In addition to the applicable rating criteria, in evaluating the Veteran's major depressive disorder, the Board has also considered the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores assigned, and the definition of those scores. There is no question that the GAF score and the interpretations of the score are important considerations in rating a psychiatric disability. See, e.g., Richard v. Brown, 9 Vet. App. 266, 267 (1996); Carpenter v. Brown, 8 Vet. App. 240 (1995). frank

They don't??? Here are some cases that GAF was in the decisions. http://www.va.gov/vetapp09/files1/0905952.txt http://www.va.gov/vetapp09/files1/0900877.txt There are lot's more...Just do a search for GAF mood disorder and over 1000 cases come up. frank

Seen weirder things but giving a GAF of 55 and then answering "yes" to total impairment doesn't coorelate but then again i've seen some crazy things with examiners. frank

I wish it was that way tiki but I hate to enlighten you. IT AIN'T. It's called "APPEAL" "APPEAL" "APPEAL" FRANK

If he ain't working what does filing for SSD matter? And, getting IU for mental disorders is very common. Obviously, I think he WOULD want to do all these things i.e. work at walmart, voc rehab...etc. but if you can't you can't. You're playing shrink with him and I would expect his own Psych would tell him this stuff. aNDHE CAN WORK EVEN IF GETTING ssd. sPECIFICLLY, HE CAN WORK 9 MONTHS MAKING AS MUCH MONEY AS HE CAN WITHOUT OFFSET. frank

I also havent filed for SSDI as Im havin the same problems within my mind wid pursing it. recruit, you're the ONLY one that needs to know you're IU or SSD, no one else. Even if someone ask you what you do for a living all you HONESTLY have to tell them is you're medically retired or just retired if the term "medically" problems you. It was probably tough for most of us at first but just accept you have a condition that's not your fault. The longer you wait the more you lose as far as your EED. frank

Yep yep, john....medical evidence is the MOST important part of claim process whether it be an IMO or medical history. The VA has a tough time getting around medical evidence if it's there black and white. frank

I'm confused on why the board would have even requested Extra-schedular consideration in the decision if you already met the percentage requirements. This doesn't make sense. frank

I was taken off abilify for the very same reason. It was making me too sleepy during the day. frank

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND HADIT PROVIDES THE KNOWLEDGE. I was submitting some paperwork yesterday at my local VAMC and there was a vet in line asking all these questions like, "do I just turn this in and wait" "how long is the process?" I immediately told him go to "HADIT.COM" All the older VA employees gave me a shrilling look as if i just stepped on their toes. I felt like I was on verge of getting escorted out. I guess the hadit.com website is becoming popular. frank

You're jumping to conclusions buddy. Why would they bill your S/C conditions if there already free? frank