IraqVet

I was recently awarded 100% P&T, retro back to 2010. The packet/award letter was very vague as to what additional benefits I am enttitled to now except to say Chapter 35 benefits. My questions are is it Champa, or Tricare that I am eligible for for me, my wife and two daughters? Someone said that the Champa/Tricare would reimburse me for medical costs I have incurred going back to 2010....is this true? Because I have used a HSA with a family deductible over the years that is 5k...We pay out of pocket each year before anything is covered. How do I apply for Champa/Tricare? What other benefits am I entitled to and how do I apply for them. Its just a little overwhelming after fighting the VA for years and years they just threw their hands up and said yep....you are now P&T 100%, but now I don't know where to start from this point and I am too embarrassed to just walk into a VFW hall to ask for help. Thanks David

Thanks all it has been a long battle... Also am I correct to assume that my wife and girls will be eligible for health benefits as well?

I checked e benefits and saw that they changed the status to closed and granted for 100% TDUI on July 03, 2019.....I received a narrative letter from them stating the same info but it did not have the amount of money calculated just that it goes all the way back to November of 2010. I was already rated 90% combined.....This new award adds 10% seizures, and 100% TDUI. My question is that the letter mentions chapter 35 benefits, does that mean I am P&T? Also do I receive health insurance, like Champa, or Tricare....forgive me I just really dont know. When I called the VA 1800# and asked them about the letter they sent me they confirmed my award to 100%TDUI, and 10% Seizures, but said that the letter shouldn't have been sent out yet because it was incomplete and did not have the back pay calculated yet and have the proper signatures yet. Thanks David

Sorry Meant to say not able to work since 2005. SSDI was granted for PTSD as first contributing disability and back injury as second......back injury is is not service connected.

They bumped me from 50% PTSD to 70% PTSD retro to 2005. They also granted me 30% for migraines retro back to 2012. I already applied for TDUI back in 2010, but they refused to address it with last appeal, but now that I am 90% combined I hope they address it. I have been on SSDI with PTSD as a disability since 2006....VA knows this. When I checked e benefits they did not approve seizure for TDIU....so perhaps they are going to pull me in for more C&P exams. I have been able to work since 2005. Currently 10% hypertension 30%kidney 30%migraines 70%PTSD Dave

I have been fighting the VA since 2004 and they finally decided in my favor with a combined 90% rating. Perhaps now they will finally approve me for 100%. The question I had was I received "14" deposits yesterday totaling just over 50K. The best of my calculations with cola etc going back etc, I should be receiving a lot more..... ie a six figure back pay. Does the VA now send out large chunks of you back pay on different days now? I still do not have the big brown envelope that would answer this question, but its driving me crazy not knowing. Thanks David

The board in DC send me a decision that they upped my 50% PTSD from 50% to 70% going all the way back to 2005. They are also awarding me migranes, but I do not know the % yet, and also seizures, and they are making a decision on my TDUI. I am currently 70% combined before this decision. My question is the decision the board made was done back in April.....I still have recieved no backpay or notification on my new disabilities from the St Louis regional office. I do have a lawyer and they said that this is the new thing that the VA is doing to vets........sitting on the decisions, and turning the lawyers into debt collectors for the veterans. I have gotten awards in the past but it has never taken this long to process.......How long am I looking at to get my back pay and new disability %'s. I have been fighting them on this since 2005.

SO after almost a decade of fighting through the VA process. I got a mixed bag REMAND from the board. I first filed my TDUI in the summer of 2010. The board granted me and increase from my current 50% to 70% PTSD .....granted/back pay from the date of February 14, 2005. They also granted me new service connection for "chronic headache disorder" or headaches. They remanded my seizure disorder back to the RO because of examiners opinions contradicted the medical evidence favoring service connection. They have to fix and make new decision on that. MY question is if they gave me an increase from 50%to 70% for PTSD how do I figure out back pay amount .....ie is it just the difference in amount between 50% and 70% on the Va ratings table? Also when they granted me service connection for headaches they did not give a percentage....so what does that mean? And after all of this the main guts of the case being sent to the board was for TDUI.....they did not address the TDUI AT ALL.....so I dont know what happened, but they should have made decision on it. Current ratings before this decision increase 50% PTSD, 30% Kidneys, 10% Hypertension......

My case is at the board of appeals in DC. and was recently moved to a judges desk to make a decision I was informed about a month ago. I recently logged onto E-Benefits and my status changed from its at the board to a judge has made a decision on your case and "Case is Pending Dispatch"....has anyone seen this before? Is this a favorable decision or denial? or do I just have to wait until they mail the big brown envelope? Status was changed to "Case Pending Dispatch on the 19th of April.......before that it was at the board waiting for a judge to decide case. There have been no changes made in E benefits so far as my letters or disabilities. Thanks David

My appeal docket was 2014. I did not qualify for a hardship. I have a lawyer representing me. The process is just new to me and was surprised when I called the board in DC and they said that a week ago my case was put on a Judges desk. SO I just wonder if its buckle down and wait another year or if its more of withing the scope of a month or so. IF and I do say if they approve me for my TDUI back to my first file date the back pay is six figure....I filed for it back in 2010, and have had to appeal and fight to get it all the way to the Board where it has finally landed in a judges lap it seems.

I just called the board of veterans appeals in DC and after years of waiting and appeal after appeal, they told me that my case has been put in front of a judge to decide my case as of last week tuesday. So my question to you is how long does it usually take for a Judge to make a decision on a case.....am I looking at the scope of a month? or more years here? I am 70% Combined already 30% for kidneys, and 50% PTSD, and 10% hypertension. I am 100% SSDI as well since 2009 and they stated it was because of PTSD I have not been able to work since then. The VA has a wealth of information and evidence stating all my issues. My original file for TDUI on this file goes all the way back to 2010.....just wondering how long it will take now that it has finally made it to a Judges desk? Thanks David

Rocket thanks for the info. My case is at the Board in Washington DC. This is a first for me. My initial claim for TDIU was also rejected. My lawyer told me this and this holds true for your case as well. You are not required to get an increase in any of your ratings to achieve TDUI. What they will look at is if one or a combination of your disabilities prevent you from working. So technically you can still have the very same rating of 80% and they determine you are TDIU. What is required..... and we both meet this is a SINGLE rating of one of your disabilities to be at least 40%, and a combined rating has to be 70% or higher. You will have to have a record of NOT working as they will check to see if you have in fact been working. I have not been able to work since 2009, but I am also rated disabled via Social Security Disability and the primary reason for my SSDI was PTSD.

I am currently 70% combined with the VA. 50% PTSD, 30% Kidneys, 10% Hypertension. I am also SSDI that includes PTSD. I have a claim in appeal with the board in Washington DC original claim for TDIU goes all the way back to June of 2010. I was recently pulled in for a C&P just over a month ago. My question is when I log onto E Benefits and on the initial log in page under Rated disabilities that show all my rated and unrated disabilities and their rating is a new tab with NEW thing in it that were not there before. The tab is titled "Pending Disabilities" this has never been there before and it shows all the things I have in appeal at the board ATM. Does this mean they have decided my case and are waiting to update my stuff , or does it just mean they are looking at or trying to decide my case?

I recently was pulled in for a c&p for 100% TDIU just over a month ago, and my case is at the board in DC and I was informed that I have a docket number when I called to check other day. I am currently 70% combined rating PTSD 50%, Kidneys 30%, Hypertension 10%. My question is today when I logged on to E Benefits. I noticed that under the initial login page under my current Rated Disabilities....that there is a new tab that was not there before titled "Pending Disabilities"...under it is all my disabilities that I have in appeal at the moment. Does this mean they have reached a decision? or does it just mean they are currently looking at or trying to decide case?

Attached is my results for my C&P for Kidney stones.....already rated 30%, and Migraines currently rated 0%. I have application in for TDIU pending. Total I am combined rated 70% Can anyone tell me what the blood work results mean.....from what I can tell it seems to show a EGFR greater than 60.....according to chart says kidney function mildly decreased. Also albumin level of 30 that states is high? The Nurse practitioner noted ...ie I put a star next to in report that albumin level is abnormal 30, and my EGFR is greater that 60.......yet On number three I have it circled Renal dysfunction Does the veteran have renal dysfunction ? Evidence of dysfunction includes either persistent protienuria, hematuria, or GFR of <60...she checked NO. This makes no sense when I can clearly see that my protienuria she has marked as abnormal ...and by their own chart show 30 as a level that is concurrent with mild decrease in kidney function. The purpose of the C&P was to see if kidney stones that I am rated at 30% with keep me from working. I am also rated 50% for PTSD. What I am getting at though is this showing that I can get an increase on my rating for kidneys because of a decrease in kidney function.....Also do you think the report for Kidneys is favorable for TDIU? Blood Results.pdf

I have a C&P scheduled today for TDIU...and I am so stressed out I am sick. This is my second evaluation for PTSD and Kidney problems as it was on appeal. I am currently 70% combined and SSDI has me rated 100% for PTSD..<service connected .....and a back injury that is not service connected. My question is what do I need to do this time to not sabotage myself? The last C& P I had a young lady spend not more than 6 min with me and I explained what day to day life was like for me.....I requested the copy of the C&P report and she recommended no increase because she put on the report that since I was able to watch some TV...I was still employable. My appeal goes all the way back to 2010 when I first applied for TDIU. Would I be better to put down on paper what day to day life is like for me and give it to examiner when I go in today? I am rated for agoraphobia lumped into my PTSD, I have panic attacks, literally get sick in bathroom or get cramps so bad I have to use restrooms when I go out in public, I no longer drive as my wife does. I yell at my daughters and wife all the time, I do not sleep due to nightmares, and when I am not I frequently checking doors and windows. Started to drink in the last three years....so I dont have to feel. I have great fear of being targeted by people/terrorist because I am a veteran and fly a flag out in my front yard....I know it not rational. Ashamed and do not like to be identified as a veteran, I feel betrayed by my country to have went to Iraq and watched my buddy's get killed, have my life torn to nothing and all for what......the president hands it back over to the terrorist.

SSDI granted me disability for PTSD primary, and back injury secondary....the back injury is not service connected though. The VA was made aware of the SSDI's decision as soon as I was as I sent it in with my application for TDIU in 2010. On my initial application for it they pulled me in for a C&P for PTSD increase and I talked to a lady for no more than 3-5 min and she seemed to quickly want to be done with me....once I requested copies of her report ...she did not put in for an increase for me because I had said that I watch some TV during the day. She completely ignored EVERY thing else I said about my day to day life. This is why I am horrified to have to go through this experience once again. And Berta to answer your question actually before I was diagnosed with PTSD the VA did diagnose me with agoraphobia....so it is lumped in with my PTSD diagnosis with depression.

I am currently rated 70% combined .......50% PTSD, and 30% Kindneys, since 2009. I have been in appeal for quite a while....I first applied for TDIU in 2010....they denied it, and I just now got the call to do a C&P for 100% TDIU. I have not worked since 2009, SSDI has me disabled under PTSD since 2009. I dont go out of the house unless wife drives me....if I do and or am forced I spend majority of the time in bathroom/bathrooms. I have nightmares and panic attacks, etc My question is what do I need to do and or say in C&P exam so I don't mess it up.....my nerves and stress are already through the wall and my appointment is two weeks away?

I currently have TDUI pending a decision and I was wondering if Capital Gaines that I earn from stocks will make me loose TDUI if I do get approved for it? ie does Capital Gaines count as income or gainful employment by the VA?

We currently have a foster child placed with our family. and in 6 months she will be adopted by us. My question is can I add her as a child on my VA disability "Im 70%" for the first six months while she is still a foster child living with us, or do I have to wait until she is formally adopted in 6 months?

I am currently 70% combined SC. I have 50% PTSD, 30% Kidneys, and 10% Hypertension. I currently have on appeal for a denial for TDUI as well as seizures. My lawyers certainly went through the piles of my medical and presented a good argument for the DRO to reconsider as I am 100% SSDI for PTSD, and do not leave the house anymore and have not been able to work since 2009. I recently was pulled in for a C&P over a month ago. My question is today I received a Letter from VFW asking me to enroll in TRICARE and CHAMPAVA SUPPLIMENT insurance. It saws the only way I can enroll is if I am currently enrolled in Tricare ChampaVA. Yet I am not. So why are they sending me this ? DO they know something I do not? I am expecting a decision soon as I just got my C&P over a month ago. Says on the letter it mailed just for my enrollment, seems like it would be a huge waste to send to ALL veterans if they are not eligible in the first place.

I have had a claim in now for two yrs for TDIU and outta the blue Today I got a Big brown envelope with a Large Veterans Health Handbook that is personalized with my information in it. Also a form to appeal thier decision....but I see nothing in the big book about a decision that was made. The cover letter is from The Health Eleigibility Center of the Depatment of VA. Its says roughly that it is a personalized Handbook providing me specific information reguarding my personal healcare benefits. Is this a precursor to being approved for TDIU? Any input would be greatly appreciated...I am about to pull what little hair I have left out. Thanks David

I just found out today that I have just been awarded 50% for PTSD and Agoraphobia all the way back to Feb of 2005. My question is I am already 40% service connected and have a wife and daughter. Will they give me backpay in the amount of 50% by myself or will they include my wife and daughter 50% backpay, because they have been paying me at 40% with wife and daughter.....make sense?

Guys I just had a C&P exam for PTSD on the 17th of Nov that lasted over two hours and I was wondering if you all would look at it and give me your best guess at a rating I might get. Also if I do get rated for it should I file for TDIU as I have not been able to work for the last two yrs? How long does it take for them to give you a decision after the C&P? C&P PTSD.pdf

C&P Report page 6