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bh1981
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Posts posted by bh1981
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Ditto...
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I'm in the same boat as you Snake Eyes. 90% overall but 100% due to I/U. My Ab8 letter doesn't say, however, that I am considered total and permanent but I am waiting for the official packet to draw any reasonable conclusions, considering how horrible eBenefits has been lately. Congrats and good luck. I think I'll be buying an Apple Watch and the rest to the old savings account/moving fund!
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And it's down again!!! This is getting to be comical.
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I'm not sure if it is related or not, but myhealthevet is also down although they have it updated, on their log-in screen, that they are down for scheduled maintenance until 2AM.
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Looks like it was both! They were having massive technical errors AND they were updating my information.
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I suppose the property tax exemption is decided by the state and I am in the process of moving to Florida and cannot seem to find out any information on IU and property tax exemption, just to clarify my previous post. However, I think this is the wrong place for this and will repost somewhere else here on hadit. So I guess, really, is this letter considered a VA letter for I/U that doesn't require a further examination or not? Sorry if my questions are all over the place. I'm just trying to do research on available benefits. Thanks again.
Brad
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I was able to download a letter from eBenefits. My question is am I now eligible, according to this letter, to apply for property tax relief for the purchase of a home, receive commissary privileges, etc.?
This letter is a summary of benefits you currently receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). We are providing this letter to disabled Veterans to use in applying for benefits such as state or local property or vehicle tax relief, civil service preference, to obtain housing entitlements, free or reduced state park annual memberships, or any other program or entitlement in which verification of VA benefits is required. Please safeguard this important document. This letter is considered an official record of your VA entitlement.
Our records contain the following information:
Personal Claim InformationYour VA claim number is: xxx-xx-
You are the Veteran.
Military InformationYour most recent, verified periods of service (up to three) include:
Recent periods of military service Branch of Service Character of Service Entered Active Duty Released/Discharged Army Honorable January 24, 2002 July 23, 2008(There may be additional periods of service not listed above.)
VA Benefit Information Summary of benefit information You have one or more service-connected disabilities: Yes Your combined service-connected evaluation is: 90% You are being paid at the 100 percent rate because you are unemployable due to your service-connected disabilities: Yes -
Do you incur sleep apnea, broken noses, deviated septum, or anything of the sort? You may be able to get service connection for it. Otherwise, as I have looked before, deletion of a claim isn't an option that I have found on eBenefits. I'd say your best bet is to contact your governing VARO.
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Yeah, now the site is completely shut down. Damn, I was hoping that they were just updating my information and claim status...oh well.
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Just a quick question...did you have any pending claims that were in the preparation for notification stage?
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Yeah. I just posted the same question. Unfortunately I did not see your post for whatever reason. But yes. I'm having the same issue.
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I was just curious to see if anyone is having issues seeing their documents, claim status, and benefits explorer. I can log into eBenefits just fine but cannot access any information that is personal in nature. I was able to log in yesterday morning and noticed that my claim status had been updated to "preparation for notification" and then everything kinda just went blank. Hopefully that means they are updating my info but wanted to see, mainly, if anyone else was having these difficulties. Thanks for your reply.
Brad
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Thanks Navy04 for your reply and insight. It seems TBI and migraines can either be grouped together, or apart. I guess only time will tell but thank you, again, for sharing with me your thoughts. I do appreciate it.
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Maybe I need to clarify...? I did find the following, so maybe this puts into words what I could not. My comprehension of this is that if a migraine presents itself, as a result of TBI, it should be rated separately. Does anyone have any insight into this?
Subjective symptoms may be the only residual of TBI or may be associated with cognitive impairment or other areas of dysfunction. Subjective symptoms that are residuals of TBI, whether or not part of cognitive impairment, are evaluated under the subjective symptoms in the table titled "Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment and Other Residuals of TBI Not Otherwise Classified." Any residual with a distinct diagnosis that may be evaluated under another diagnostic code, such as migraine headache or Meniere's disease, should be separately evaluated, even if that diagnosis is based on subjective symptoms.
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Hello all,
I am trying to figure out something based on some claims I submitted this past summer. I submitted a claim for TBI, exclusively. I didn't submit anything for migraine headaches which have unfortunately been so incapacitating that I had to leave my previous post with the VA. I just assumed migraines were associated with TBI and put in a claim for that. I was never diagnosed in the military as having TBI as those instances surrounding TBI were nothing more than wake up, shake it off, and move out. I have had migraines since but never really as bas as they are now. Here is my question: considering I did not submit a claim for migraines, is it possible that will be rated individually or in conjunction with TBI? Also, considering I didn't submit a claim for migraines, is it possible that won't be evaluated at all? I'm curious to see if the VA will end up rating that individually even though I didn't submit a claim. I'm sorry if this post didn't make any sense or if I lost anyone. I have a hard type relaying what's in my head to the computer screen...the words just get kind of clogged up somewhere. Thanks for your help.
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Thanks Pete. I think I would stand a reasonable chance and fighting and winning a NOD in the event it isn't backdated appropriately. One of the reasons why I resigned was due to PTSD and what I feel is TBI and the residuals of TBI. So, hopefully, they will consider that when awarding me with whatever it is they choose to reward me. We'll see what happens. At this point it would be extremely hard for me to find and maintain suitable employment without exacerbating any of these conditions. I am curious to see if they give me the 100% scheduler as opposed to TDIU temporary, or TDIU total and permanent. I feel that the worst case scenario would be to get a TDIU temporary because that means going through all of this over and over again potentially. And obviously there are certain additional benefits associated with a permanent rating, be it scheduler or TDIU total & permanent, that aren't attached to a TDIU temporary rating. I just hope I get my fair shake and receive a permanent rating, which I feel is warranted because historically, my conditions have not improved but gradually gotten worse.
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No intrusion at all. You have to have a 'premium' myhealthevet account first, which can be accomplished at the VA medical center you go to. Once you have a premium account, log into the website and download your "blue button". From there you can see all notes, appointments, and medications as long as it is done and with the VA. I have had a couple appointments outsourced by the VA for C&P exams but those do not show up. They have to be VA appointments.
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Thanks Pete,
It's interesting to see someone else's perspective on this claim and you're right, I just have to wait and find out what the RO decides. The retroactive date would suck if they simply made it the day of the evaluation but it's something I could live with in the event a rating of 100% does comes back. Fortunately the examiner stated that I was capable of managing my finances. I guess we'll see. Thanks for your opinion too, Navy04.
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Thanks for your reply. I forgot to include that I put in for an increase for PTSD as well as an application for TDIU.
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Hello Fellow Vets. I recently had a C&P exam for PTSD (among many other things). However, I had a question that I was curious about. I submitted a claim for TDIU but after looking at the Dr.'s notes via Myhealthevet, I am curious to find out if it is possible I that would receive a 100% scheduler rating, even though I submitted a claim for TDIU, based on the Dr.'s notes. I have copied and pasted the majority of the document for your viewing. I am currently rated at 70% for PTSD and 90% total. Thank for your help, opinion, and service.
-Brad
"Given the chronicity of this veteran's diagnosed PTSD and associated features of depression, at the current time he would experience significant problems in vocational and occupational pursuits requiring frequent or prolonged contact with others; sustained attention, focus, concentration, memory, and planning skills associated with goal setting and task completion; and sustained physical and psychic energy (given sleep disturbances). His chromic and intrusive thoughts would interfere with his ability to stay focused on the tasks. Intrusion of associated mood issues would undermine his focus and motivation to complete necessary assignments. In fact, the veteran related that toward the end of his last position (and related to his eventual resignation) he experienced diminished focus on the requirements of the job, given his distraction with internal mental images, stimuli, and emotional disruption. The veteran's continued hypervigilance and distrust of others would impair his ability to work with others naturally and comfortably. His irritability would both distract him from goal and task achievement, as well as undermine his functional relationship with others, including coworkers, supervisors, and/or consumers. The veteran's disrupted sleep functions would continue to undermine physical and psychoemotional energy needed for sustained stamina needed to complete assigned or self-imposed goals and work-related tasks reliably.Overall, the results of this examination indicate the persistence of psychological and functional challenges associated with the veteran's diagnosed PTSD. Given such, the veteran would have trouble at this time, in deploying available cognitive skills and abilities, as well as in working in a sufficiently functional capacity with others, in fulfilling the demands, tasks, and goals typically associated with most employment positions and/or work conditions that could be considered of a substantial and gainful nature."
3. PTSD Diagnostic Criteria
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Please check criteria used for establishing the current PTSD diagnosis. The diagnostic criteria for PTSD, are from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). The stressful event can be due to combat, personal trauma, other life threatening situations (non-combat related stressors.) Do NOT mark symptoms below that are clearly not attributable to the Criteria A stressor/PTSD. Instead, overlapping symptoms clearly attributable to other things should be noted under #6 - "Other symptoms".
Criterion A: Exposure to actual or threatened a) death, b) serious injury,
c) sexual violation, in one or more of the following ways: [X] Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s)
[X] Witnessing, in person, the traumatic event(s) as they
occurred to others
Criterion B: Presence of (one or more) of the following intrusion symptoms
associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred:
[X] Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories
of the traumatic event(s).
[X] Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or
affect of the dream are related to the traumatic event(s).
[X] Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the
were with
individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s)
recurring. (Such reactions may occur on a continuum,
the most extreme expression being a complete loss of
awareness of present surroundings).
[X] Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure
to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
[X] Marked physiological reactions to internal or external
cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the
traumatic event(s).
Criterion C: Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic events(s) occurred, as evidenced by one or both of the following:
[X] Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with
traumatic event(s).
[X] Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders
(people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts,
feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
or dangerous,: "My whole nervous system is permanently ruined").
[X] Persistent negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror,
anger, guilt, or shame).
[X] Markedly diminished interest or participation in
significant activities.
[X] Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others. [X] Persistent inability to experience positive emotions
(e.g., inability to experience happiness, satisfaction,
loving feelings.)
of
Criterion D: Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more)
the following:
[X] Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or
expectations about oneself, others, or the world (e.g.,
am bad,: "No one can be trusted,: "The world is completely
Criterion E: Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more) of the following:
[X] Irritable behavior and angry outbursts (with little or no provocation) typically expressed as verbal or physical aggression toward people or objects.
[X] Hypervigilance.
[X] Exaggerated startle response.
[X] Problems with concentration.
[X] Sleep disturbance (e.g., difficulty falling or staying
asleep or restless sleep).
Criterion F:
[X] The duration of the symptoms described above in Criteria
B, C, and D are more than 1 month.
Criterion G:
[X] The PTSD symptoms described above cause clinically
significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Criterion H:
[X] The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological
effects of a substance (e.g., medication, alcohol) or another medical condition.
4. Symptoms
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For VA rating purposes, check all symptoms that actively apply to the
Veteran's diagnoses:
[X] Depressed mood
[X] Anxiety
[X] Suspiciousness
[X] Panic attacks more than once a week [X] Chronic sleep impairment
[X] Mild memory loss, such as forgetting names, directions or recent events
[X] Flattened affect
[X] Disturbances of motivation and mood
[X] Difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social
relationships
[X] Difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a worklike setting
[X] Obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities
5. Behavioral Observations: ---------------------------
* Appearance: Arrived on time for appointment. Casually dressed and in good hygiene
* Alert & oriented to time, place, and person
* Oriented to purpose of this evaluation. Confidentiality discussed and veteran concurred
* Behavior: Appropriate with good eye contact
* Attitude toward examiner: Engaged, polite, cooperative, and communicative
* Mood: Anxious and depressed
* Affect: Variable & congruent with material under review and
process
* Thought processes: Logical and goal-directed
* Thought content: No evidence or presentation of hallucinations, delusions, mania
* Speech: Rate/rhythm/volume within expected limits. Articulate.
* Judgment: Intact and assessed as good; Insight: Intact and assessed as good
* ADLs: No observed or reported gross problems with ADLs (Eating;
hygiene,
Household chores, etc.)
* Active/proximate Suicidal or homicidal ideations, plans, or intent: Denied
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Brad,
What is the wording of your denial letter? (leave out the specific date/name/personal stuff)
At first the VA wanted more information (even though this diagnosis/paperwork was submitted with the claim) and sent out that paperwork saying that the claim was deferred. Then about a month later I received the denial which stated my denial was due to the sinusitis not being diagnosed while I was in the military. I left my paperwork at work this afternoon but will post the denial verbatim tomorrow afternoon.
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Hi guys,
This didn't make too much sense to me so maybe someone can give me some insight. While I was an Army Recruiter in 2008, I had to see a civilian nose doctor (as a recruiter, there were no military hospitals around and we were authorized the use of civilians). He diagnosed me with chronic ethmoidal sinusitis. However, my claim for sinusitis was denied. Is the VA looking for something in particular or is this something that I should appeal?
Thanks for all of the help!
Brad
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Hi guys,
I am new to the VA claim process but have been rated at 30%. I have a question concerning TBI and essential tremors. When I was stationed at Bragg, I was involved in a car accident that dinged my head bad enough to go to the ER on post. Ever since, if I am concentrating on something, or multi tasking (especially with math equations) my head and my right arm shake for about a second. It doesn't happen all the time, only on occasion. Is it possible to equate this tremor/shake with that head injury, if even for a 0% rating? Thanks for your input!!
Has Anyone Used The New, Have Your Claim Decided On Feature On Ebennies
in VA.gov Questions (formerly E-Benefits)
Posted
I have. It was late and I noticed I had not checked on my claim status in months. I checked on the status and my claim still had not moved. I clicked on that option and the next week I was in for all of my C&P examinations. 4 weeks later my rating came back on eBenefits as being 100% I/U (90% total). I'm not sure if it was because I clicked on the tab or if it was because it had already been a year since first submitting the claim. It could be one, the other, or both perhaps. I personally had no new information to report to the VARO so I didn't feel as if I had anything to lose.