harleyvet

Congrats to you!

I received the "Official" envelope today. Didn't get the ratings that I had anticipated, thinking of filing a NOD. Anyone have suggestions, ideas, or anything of general interest; let me know. PSTD (SC) 50% (GAF 55) DDD Lumbosacral spine with spondylosis status post discectomy and laminectomy with pedicle screws and intervertabral spacers (SC) 20% Tinnitus (SC) 10% Right shoulder strain (SC) 10% Right and left knee sprain (SC) 10% & 10% GERD (SC) 10% ED (SC) 0% Vericose Veins l&r lower legs (SC) 0% Residual scar post back surgery (SC) 0% IBS (SC) 0% Hypertension (SC) 0% Entitlement to SMC for loss of a "creative" organ approved Total of 80% disabled. I am thinking about filing a NOD for the PTSD and the DDD, any thoughts from my peers? Thanks again for all the help that I have found on this site, And God Bless.

Yes Berta, both you and Carlie are correct. I just received the big brown envelope today breaking it all down for me. They withheld the equivalent of my retired pay for 5 months. I do qualify for CRSC, but I will need some help getting that filled out and sent away. I am thinking of taking a trip to the local VFW and asking for their help. Thank You for all of your replies.

I am crossing my fingers for ya! Hang in there, we all know that it is a tough road!

My case closed on the 8th and the 800 # told me my rating on the 13th. On the 14th I received some of my retro pay. Good Luck to you!

I don't owe any taxes or school loans. Not sure about the retirement offset, I still need to figure all of that out. My retirement pay exceeds 5,000 for the past 5 months, and that is how much my Retro is off. I am really confused.

I received some of my retro pay this morning. Is it normal for them not to give all of your retro pay at once? At 80% I should be getting retro from April 28 through Sept 28 which I figured to be about 7,000+. I only have 2,700 this morning. Do I need to call someone and complain? I appreciate you input.

Called the 800 # again this morning, and was told my percentage is 80%. That is a relief in itself. Now just need to see what was rated and at how much.

So I just got home, and not letter in the mail yet. Continued trying to call the 800 number as suggested by Cool, getting the the response that they were experiencing heavy volume, sorry for the inconvenience. Waiting sucks....

I called the 800 number this morning and was told that they are not "authorized" to give that information out over the phone. So I am still waiting....

I can't find anything out today, it's a federal holiday. I hate waiting...

Thank You Carlie, I will do exactly that. I will let you know what I find out, if anything.

I started my disability case before I left Fort Campbell in Feb of this year. The Army medically retired me at 60% for PTSD and lower back problems due to two surgeries, last one a fusion of my L-4 L-5. On my retirement date in Apr, the VA initiated my claim. I had my C&P exam on July 13. My case moved forward to a rater on Aug 6. As of Oct 7 my case had moved to notification, and moved to closed on the 8th. I have a question; I have seen multiple hadit members post their percentages as soon as their case is closed and before they get an "official" result/letter. How did they come across this information? I am really curious to see what I was rated at! A VERY big Thank You to the members of this board for their support and answers to my questions. I have been here just reading since Nov of last year and have gathered a lot of great information. Again, Thank You hadit.com!

Sheila, Thanks for your very informative posts! I already have temporary medical retirement at 60% (not the 70% as I earlier had thought) from the Army, so I am already past that phase. From here, it is a matter of seeing whether they keep me retired or not. I have my first medical review for the Army coming up in the near future. I don't see them changing the percentage too much, my conditions haven't improved a whole lot. If anything, they have stayed the same, unchanged from my last review. (Doesn't mean they won't change it!) Is there something else that they will offer aside from severance if they find me less than 30%?

Thank You for that info Carlie!

Is this a factor for combat related as well? I was under the impression that it would not be a factor with my main injuries being combat related. Please let me know if that is not the case, because if not, that is some good advice.

Good News! Checked my status through ebenefits again today, and my claim status is at the notification phase now. At least that is what the main page states. The detailed claim status view states that it is still in the decision phase. Now I just need to wait on the envelope to come along and see how it all went. I have seen on hadit where some people have begun receiving back pay while still waiting on the letter, is this normal? Does it really take that long to get the letter out in the mail? Just curious. Thank You for the replies and patience.

I had our finances figured from leaving Fort Campbell in Feb until Sept. I thought things would go different for us financially, not necessarily banking on the disability from the VA, but we could use it now. I have left messages for the local VAMC admissions office to no avail, and they say that I can't set an appointment without first talking to admissions. I am never in downtown Denver to go there in person, but I might have to make a trip so I can talk with someone. I was in the Army for 7 years. Both infantry and after my first injury aviation.

Could you tell me more or point me in the direction for the wounded veteran program you are talking about? I am not familiar with it. I have called the VFW and all they will tell me is to keep waiting and there is nothing they can do. I am not worried about a mortgage, we rent, but I have a truck, a Jeep, and a motorcycle that are going unpaid at the moment. The truck hasn't been paid in two months (because it is mine and not the family vehicle) my wifes Jeep Cherokee is the family vehicle, and the motorcycle is to save gas. My experience with these credit companies is that they don't care.

I hope they are considering it as PTSD as well, at least that's what I thought they were doing. I have a diagnosis from 3 different psychiatrists, two Army and one VA, stating that I have PTSD. Yes, my medical discharge from the Army is for PTSD and lumbar fusion at L-4, L-5. I was infantry so it is combat related, I am looking to file for CRSC as soon as I get a rating from the VA. My retirement from the Army is only temporary until they feel that my symptoms have leveled out and are not going to change. I have my first Army medical review coming within the next month or so. If the rating from the Army falls below 30% ( I think ) then I will get "Honorable" discharge and severance. Anything above that and I will stay on retirement.

Like many of you, I am still patiently waiting for the VA's decision on my case. I went on terminal leave from the Army in FEB 10, and medically retired APR 10. Before I left Ft Campbell, the VFW rep talked me into getting my VA file started early so that it would be processed faster. In FEB I signed the VFW as my POA and headed home to CO. My C&P exam was completed at the Denver VAMC and forwarded to Winston-Salem. W-S received my case in July and it has been in the decision phase since AUG 6. My list of complaints are as follows: anxiety condition depression insomnia lumbar spine condition (Due to two surgeries in 2008/2009) irritable bowel syndrome tinnitus shoulder condition right knee condition right hypertension premature ventricular contractions erectile dysfunction varicose veins GERD knee condition leftI understand the backlog that the VA is experiencing, and that they give 16-28 days average for each decision. Mine has been in the decision phase for twice longer than average, and my patience is wearing thin. I am financially under with no outlook of getting better, waiting for the claim (Not a good idea, hindsight and all). I had a job, but was fired due to an outburst that the VA psychiatrist says is directly related to PTSD (This was part of and added to my C&P). I have been unemployed since June of this year, trying to raise my family of 5 on my wife's part time job and my 70% retirement. Should I be writing a letter to W-S asking for hardship? At this point would it even matter? Is there anyone with roughly the same timeframe as myself that could give a good heads up as to their status? My guesstimate for percentage is 80, anyone want to add their 2 cents? I appreciate any and all comments, insights, encouraging words. I know that many of you have been there and done that, that's why I am here.... Thank You for letting me vent....