crimson0456

Talk about passing the buck around. The entire appeals process is a maze, and is more often than not frustrating and infuriating for many. Don't take my comment as absolute, but it sounds as if the VLG remanded your appeal's back to your local office for further evaluation ( another look at your evidence ) and to assist you in developing your claim's based upon the evidence already submitted. I do think you will receive some written information about what has been done, and what is now being done to assist you with your claims. Stay strong, and best wishes.

Congrats to you.

Sorry to hear of your trouble. Have you and are you still seeing a VA psychologist and psychiatrist ? Are you involved in the PTSD veteran group at the hospital ? I would discuss this with both your PCP and Psych doctors and tell them what is going on , and ask why they had not supported your PTSD claim . If you have not done so already , I would enlist the assistance of the DAV or other VSO to help you file for reconsideration or a substantive appeal . If you require immediate financial assistance , I would speak with a social worker at the VA Hospital . Best wishes for you and don't give up , all is not lost .

Right now I'm not even 50%

If I submit a claim for IU while my appeal for increase is pending, I think that will only further delay my appeal ? or should I send the TDIU form in regardless?

When an appeal for increase is under appeal, based on the DRO's decision, if meeting the minimal percentage to qualify for IU, can the DRO grant IU even if a claim for it was not previously requested as their duty to assist?

Sounds as if you should be receiving your award letter very soon. As far as money in the bank, who knows.

While this sounds like a worthwhile service, I would check either with your VSO or your legal representative to determine what if any are the legal inferences or complications.

I totally agree.

Since you have filed for SSDI I will assume you have very limited income. I qualified in that as well when I applied for SSDI. I was denied. I went to legal Aid, which is no cost attorney representation. In short, a year later I received my full award. Worth considering.

Sounds as if you have already received a denial on this claim that the C&P examiner made those statements about and than you filed a notice of disagreement requesting a DRO appeal. When the DRO reviews your claims file they will review all the C&P reports again. Had you also received a letter explaining the reason for the denial listing all the claimed disabilities ? When you sent your notice of disagreement requesting the DRO appeal, did your list all the disabilites that the original decision disallowed ? I would strongly urge you to seek out the assistance of a VSO, if you haven't already done so. Trying to navigate the appropriate actions the VA requires is more than often very confusing.

sounds like you already have representation.

Trust me, the VA is not going to let anyone walk away from repayment, unless you can prove a significant hardship case.

The reason you didn't have to pay SSDI back when you got your VA SC retro is because you are permitted to collect both. But you cannot collect SSDI and VA Pension. It's one or the other..the greater of the two. More than likely your SSDI will usually be greater than the VA pension.

If you have already received an award letter, DON"T wait...........notify the VA immediately, even if you have not received your first check. The longer you wait to notify, to more you will need to payback to the VA. Your VA checks won't stop immediately, it sometimes takes them months to process your request. Good luck.

are you saying that it took nine years for your award of SSDI ? and they gave you the award in 2010 retro back to 2001? if so, than whatever moneys you received from 2005 forward on your NSC pension will be recovered by the VA. This how I think it works, at least it was for me. It's considered an Overpayment.

If SSA is paying you retro monies back to a period your Va pension benefits covered, I believe you will be requested to pay back the pension monies, as your not permitted to be in receipt of both Va Pension & SSA disability. It's one or the other . That is why it is so important to let the VA know quickly that your award has been granted, and to stop your pension , immediately. Sometimes, it takes the VA months to acknowledge your notification to them, creating a further indebtedness. Make certain you keep records of your notice to them. I have a VA rep send it electronically.

Well Done!!

As far as I am opined, There isn't anything that anyone could say that could effectively minimize both your anger, pain and suffering. The very least they could do, is simply do the right thing and get your benefits to you ASAP.

I was at TI in 1972 awaiting discharge. The barrack I was assigned to were old WW2. An inside converted basketball floor and showers. Now I have a question, would this not be further evidence of Chemical exposure to further substantiate a claim for A.O. both on land and offshore waters? I have a non-Hodgkins Lymph node. It never caused me pain, it's just a mass on the right side of my neck.

Thanks for confirmation. That is what I thought.

All I can suggest, is that you trust nothing anything the VA verbally tells you. Once it's in writing, than it's golden.

I have an appeal in processes at this time, however I neglected to obtain a personal copy of my SMR. How do I request this and will it interrupt my present appeal ? Thank you.?

I filed a notice with my DAV rep immediately, re-authorizing them to act as my representative. The DAV is at the Stratton VA in Albany, N.Y.

First, you are not permitted to collect both, you will have to decide which one you wish to collect. I assume it will be the larger of the two more likely than not SSDI. My suggestion to you is , upon your receipt of an award letter from SSA, immediately file a request to have your pension stopped, and make sure you have a copy of that letter. Do it at your local VA service CTR they will electronically send the letter for you. Sometimes believe it or not you make have to repeat that. Failing to notify the VA about SSA award in a timely manner can and probably cause you a very difficult time to straighten the mess out. Don't get yourself into it!