GunnyO_Ret_USMC

Thank you all for the great advice. I will take into account and move forward. Thank you for your service. Semper Fi!

Thank you for the link jbasser, just what I was looking for.

One question. Where do you look at in the schedule of ratings on the 1 year presumptive disabilities, don't think I've ever seen it in there. Would truly help. Thank you.

Great advice. Thank you jbasser, will do.

john999, my VSO filed a NOD.

Yes I did appeal and was seen by my doctor for my feet problems couple months after I got out. She also wrote a nexus letter for me tying it to my service. Funny thing, my doctor ordered X-rays for me out in town and there were some findings (calcaneal spurs in my achiles, hallux valgus), the VA did their X-ray and had not findings? Go figure. And I submitted all of the medical evidence with my claim.

I just want to get some clarification on this. I get conflicting information on being SC for conditions within 1 year after separation. Some say that if you get a condition that was not treated while in service and it is not in your SMR, you can still get that SC since it is within the 1 year time frame from separation. The VA treats it as if it happened while on active duty. True or False? While others say if you were not treated for it, then it is not SC, unless it is a presumption. For example, I filed for condition for bilateral feet problems but was denied because I never went to complain about them while in service. But after serving 21 years in the Marines doing countless of forced marches with those heavy ass packs and weapons, wearing boots all the time, running in boots and uts for countless of miles will do the job. So what is the deal? Someone please break it down to me using the K-I-S-S (keep it simple stupid not calling anybody here stupid so please no one get offended) method. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Not sure about this but can one be service connected for PTSD and GAD and receive a rating and comp for both? Thank you.

This is a good site to get access to. It gives you visibility on your claims and its status. Just follow the instructions and register. Make sure you get the premium account level 2 access in order to get the full benefits of the site. Without it you will not be able to see you claim status. https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-port...ger/eb/veterans Semper Fi!

Congratulations on your retirement Monster. I retired in October of 08 and as you can see I just had my second P&C a couple of weeks ago. I am currently at 30% from the first C&P. Made the jarhead mistake of filing online the first time and did not have a VA Rep. The VA is a crazy beast. The even denied having evidence when in fact the have copies of evidence, go figure. Well I'm ready to go for the long haul. I wish you luck on your claim as well and I know in the end we will prevail.

Great advice Sandman. I will wait for their decision and use the info to take to my civilian doctor and get cracking on that nexus. Gonna grab the flak and kevlar with sapi plates, and fix bayonet. Semper Fi and thanks Sgt Sandman.

OK, I guess I am a bit confused with the one year rule. What is the purpose of the one year rule and filing for claims? I filed all of my claims after I retired from service and met the one year rule. I am your typical jarheard so of course going to sick bay unless you are dying was not an option and highly discouraged. I had my C&P exams about 2 weeks ago and afterwards requested a ROI. I received them yesterday and was thrilled to see that most (about 95%) of my claims were diagnosed in my favor. However, the examiners opinion on most were those famous quotes "IS NOT CAUSED BY OR A RESULT OF active duty military service". WTF over. So, despite getting all my claims in during my one year after separation, I guess the VA is going to deny me my claims. I have not received any rating yet, I just have a copy of C&P results but it does not look favorable. During my final physical, I did note all of these conditions on the form that you have to fill out. Also, the VA noted that there were insufficient evidence for some of the claims that I put in when in fact I submitted evidence from X-rays and diagnosis' from my civilian doctor. With the VA, I just can't put 2 and 2 together. I was diagnosed with and also had the proof for bilateral hallux valgus. Well the C&P said not caused by the result of active duty (ok after 21 years of service). The rationale for opinion given was that I was not seen for this condition while on active duty and did not know I had it until it was reported on an x-ray (duh, I am not a doctor) after discharge. Also said that they are more common in women (what's that got to do with me). I guess men don't get them? Anyway, like I said, during my final physical exam, most if not all of the conditions were noted. I guess I see an appeal coming. Kind of sucks for the VA to tell you yes you have these conditions but they are not related to military service. Thank you VA, I know you love your veterans. Does anyone out there have any suggestions or advice? I have not yet received any denials or have been granted a rating for the C&P claims but by looking at the doctor's notes, looks like most will be denied. Hopefully the final physical has some weight in all of this. :D :D :D :D

Great. I was at the VA and did the ROI and hopefully receive the records soon. Thank you all for the great advice and information. Semper Fi!

I think I will probably need to request a copy of the exam to see what notes are in there and my GAF score. Thank you kilo 3/3. Semper Fi!

I really hope so. I guess I just don't get it when some are saying how long their exams took along with a computer test asking all of these weird questions. That's what I guess I was expecting too and it threw me off. Thank you for the insight.

Ok, had my C&P exam yesterday for my PTSD, it all lasted maybe 20 minutes max. All of the horror stories that I have heard of and about the length of the exam, this was nothing like it. We went into the office and the doctor asked me a series of questions starting with were I was from, how was my childhood, how did I do in school, when did I join the military and did I get into any trouble while I was in, where have I been stationed, my personal life, my drinking habits and if I used any drugs, my combat experience and stressors, if I am receiving any help for my condition, and finally how my personal life is now. He then looked at me and said that's all he needs and that I was done. There was not a checklist that he was going by, I didn't take no computer test like I've heard so much about from many veterans on this forum. I was stressing out about recalling and talking about the experiences but we never even went there. I don't know what to think, WTF. I have already been diagnosed with PTSD by the VA prior to filing my claim and I am receiving treatment and attending group, could it be that they already have all of the information they need? You can never know what to expect from the VA, it's like they keep you in suspense. So for now I guess it's standby for standby. Has anyone experienced something similar or any thoughts on this?

I read in another forum that if you are on a continuous medication for life, let's say atenolol for BP, does that get you a rating of 10%. You can only receive this rating once, no matter how many different meds you are on. This would be a nice compensation if it is actually true. Thank you all and continue with the great support.

JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE GREAT ADVICES. WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. STANDBY FOR STANDBY.

Great advice and thank you very much. I am definitely going to follow your suggestion. I have pretty much all of the issues that you had listed, and you are right, I need to have what I need to say right on the tip of my tongue. Thanks again.

No this was not a C&P exam. I am seeing a psychiatrist assistant at my local VA inpatient clinic and he scheduled me for the eval to get see the psychiatrist. I had filed for compensation for PTSD prior to seeing a psychiatrist but no C&P exam yet.

Currently my 30% is 10% HBP, 10% X2 arthritis on both knees, and 0% for left hearing loss. I have filed much more since then before I had hit the 1 year period since I retired. Now it's just the waiting game for my P&C exams.

Well I had my PTSD eval at the VA. The letter I received from the VA said to bring my DD214 with me and expect the evaluation to last about 4 hours or so. They never even asked me for my DD214 and didn't last nowhere close to 4 hours. I saw a nurse practitioner first for about an hour and he asked me all sorts of questions about my experiences in Iraq and pretty much what life was like before and after deployment and what was going on now. At any rate, after speaking with the nurse practitioner, I then spoke with the psychiatrist which only lasted for about maybe 15 minutes at best. He asked a few questions and that was it. He said that he was gonna go through the notes of this mental health assistant that I had being seeing at my local VA clinic which diagnosed me with PTSD. The psyciatrist said that he has to go through the notes of the mental health assistance that I was seeing and talk to him. Pretty much everyone that I have been seing said that I had PTSD, including a psychiatrist that I seen at the VA for substance abuse. So what the *&^%, I don't know what to think about this. Is this normal, or am I already doomed and headed for a fight with the VA? Help!

When I did my C&P, I believe I was at 140/90. That was right after I had retired from the Marines. With the meds, it is at around 128/78.

I used BP because I am service connect for it and the only way it can be controlled is with meds. So I guess what I am saying is there really is no choice for me, because once you have it you have to continually take the meds to control it. If anything it can only get worse. With that being the case, I am trying to find out if this rates the 10% or not.