JustPLS

Congratulations, Thomas. Now rest easy and enjoy the rest of your life. And - Merry Christmas, too!

Looks like great news! Is "Half-way between Chattanooga and Altanta" anywhere near Ellijay?

Thank you all! All things considered, I am quite pleased with Buffalo's decision. I might disagree with their staged ratings by a month or so, but I can see the logic they used and it seems fair. I hope you all receive fair treatment with any claims you have, too. Merry Christmas one and all! Pat

Yes, ma'am it was. The language in the decision clearly discussed the Nehmer requirements. Thanks for the good wishes and Merry Christmas to you and yours, too.

Just in time for Christmas, I received my big brown envelope from Buffalo this afternoon. I was awarded 100% P&T for my ischemic heart disease claim, and also was awarded SMC-S for my other service connected disabilities. I first filed 7/8/2009 for coronary artery disease as secondary to PTSD, and had a C&P exam on 9/21/2010. The VA assigned 30% from 7/8/2009, 60% from 6/17/2010, and increased it to 100% on 9/21/2010. My METS were estimated at the C&P exam as being between 0 and 3, my LVEF was 51% and 55% (2 different tests). I hope all of you that are awaiting claims hear something soon and that you have a very merry Christmas!

I like it, T-Bird. Thanks for all you do!

My recollection is that you receive a confirmation number by email as soon as you submit the application. Submitting by VONAPP establishes your application date. After I used VONAPP, I was told where to send any information I had. Good luck!

Good point, etihwr, but I did not imply he would be entitled to both. I was merely pointing out that he could be qualified for either or both. Obviously, he would need to make a choice if that were the case. I'm sure that as a "former VSO (for the state of Virginia)" you ran into people who were qualified for both, didn't you?" Thanks for your service.

As a military retiree, you should check out the DOD information on Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and Concurrent Receipt of Disability Pay (CRDP). Unless you qualify for one or the other (or both) of these programs (and you probably will), some of your military retirement pay could be offset by VA compensation. You can do a Google search and read about both of these. Good luck!

I'm guessing here, but I imagine he has no DD214 nor any other documentation of the completion of his service. I would think if he wanted to apply for benefits that he would first have to deal with the Army and get some kind of discharge document. The kind of discharge he winds up with would probably determine his qualification for any benefits. Good luck with this one!

It's not on my Healthevet page, either. On the home page it explains that you can only use that feature if your medical center is participating. Not all of them are yet.

What a great idea. I've just tried it and it works like a charm. Thanks, Hoppy!

I think what you are running into is pretty common. I know I had the same problem, anyway. I believe the services send most medical records to the VA. The only way I was able to get copies was to request them from the VA. At the time of my request I was dealing with the Atlanta VARO and I believe it took me about 18 months to get them. Of course, I also requested a copy of my C-file first from Atlanta and then from Buffalo VARO beginning in June 2009 and I don't have that yet either. Good luck!

I think they will probably find you disabled as of whatever date you last worked in April, but SSA requires a 5 month waiting period before they will start paying your disability. I was found disabled in May 2010, (applied in June, approved in September) but won't draw SSDI until November for the month of October. Unfortunately, I get no back pay for the waiting period. Good luck!