ironsoldier77

hahahahah!! Do not kill pills!! You aint lying! I've never tried chewing them before. I will try that next time. Thanks!

Thanks for the sound advice. I have been unemployed since November of 2008. I just started this new job last month. I originally filed for TDIU after I lost my job in Nov 2008. I would obviously tell the VA that I started working if they approve the claim. Even if that means giving back the retro pay. I am a firm believer in karma! I just want to do whats right , but if there is a program that is similar to the SSA "trial work period", I would like to do that. My service rep said the VA has a similar program with TDIU, its kinda like a temporary TDIU or something? Your advice to talk to a VA lawyer is a very good idea and I will look in to that. Thanks again for the advice, much appreciated!

Im only 33 , but my PTSD is far from being cured. I am on many different types of medications. Clonazepam is the best one. It helps me with the anxiety and anger. That way I can try this new job out and see how things go. I know its a hard decision. It was a hard decision to even try this job out but I really had no choice. The job does not have a probation period which is good. My wife can go to the doctor again. She hasnt been to see her doctor in almost 4 years! Hopefully a decision will be made soon on the TDIU and I can decide what steps to take after that. For right now I have to work to keep our roof over our head and pay for things that my 5 year old son needs so he can go to school. I am really just sucking it up and doing the best I can right now. The medication really helps. I would be a mess without it. Thanks for the friendly advice! You are a good person.

Im amazed that no one has any opinions on this matter. I have just received another response from another service rep that I use when the other one is not available. This is what he says. "Congrat’s on the new job. I would not withdraw the IU claim. If they grant it, you can at least have the retro from the date of award (if granted). Also, if you are deemed unemployable by the VA, you can also do a “trial work period” & maintain you IU status. If you do, you just need to notify the VA that you are attempting gainful employment, and they will let you keep the IU for 12 months. If, after the 12 months is up, you are still employed, they will reduce you back down to whatever your disability rating is at the time. (hoping to get the 70% award for PTSD). It is unconscionable as to the amount of time it is taking t hem to rate this claim. I totally agree with your choice to accept the employment." So ... 2 of my service reps both agree that I should wait out the claim and see what the decision will be. Thats what Im going to do. Unless someone on here has any advice with actual regulations to back it up. Thank you hadit members. Your help is always appreciated! I hope the info from my service reps helps out another veteran with the same issue.

Just got word from my VA Service Rep on this matter. I thought it would be a good idea to share it with the community. "The suspense date for your claim is June 28, 2011 (expected completion date). I wouldn’t do anything until you receive the decision. If the IU is granted, then you want to notify the VA as to the exact date you went back to work. You would then want to save part of the retro payment, in case they ask for the money back. If IU is denied, you will not have to do anything. Every now and then a veteran gets reduced when they submit a claim for an increase because the examination showed improvement. Focus on trying to keep the job if you can; you haven’t done anything wrong. Your were considered unemployable when you submitted your claim."

Congrats on the speedy claim process and due reward of 100%! Glad to see someone is getting what they deserve and in record time. Now only if they could do the same to my claim! I've been at decision phase since Sept 24th 2010. Again, congratulations!!

bump

Yeah thats exactly how I feel. Im just doing what I gotta do! haha! I'd be stupid not to try this job. If anything, atleast I know that Im trying to better myself and not feeling like a loser/failure at home. My wife can finally go the doctor now that we have medical insurance. I dont know what I would have done though without the VA. They have been very good to me and my family in times of need. It just stinks that the claims process takes so long.

Just wanted to ask a question about something thats been troubling me. My claim is still at the rating board "ready for decision". I have just recently been offered and job. Its a really good job, great benefits, pays very well. With the bills piling up and the fact that i've been going on 3 years now of not working, I feel that is in my best interest to take the job and see how I do. This job just came out of the blue and its a once in a lifetime chance to see if I can make it. I can't just sit around waiting on the VA to make a decision on my claim. I've already had to file bankruptcy to eliminate debt and stop the phone calls and judgements. I already called the social security office and told them I started working. I now am on the "trial work period". I get to keep my SSD for 9 months to see If I can handle working again. So...that brings me to my big concern. What do I do about my claim for the IU?? Do I just let it continue, or should I call my rep and let him know and stop the claim?? I dont know what to do. I just want to do the right thing and I dont want to do be doing anything illegal by working and waiting on the decision for IU. Im just worried if this job doesnt work out I might screw myself by stopping the claim. So stressed about this! Any suggestions. This job also pays over 30k a year, so Im guessing thats considered gainful emplyment. Thank you for any suggestions!

I'm not sure how that works but if you call your local DAV or American legion they should be able to point you int the right direction. I'm curious, I am waiting on a decision on tdiu myself and I was wondering how long it took for you to get a decision?? I have been waiting since sept 24th for a decision.

Oh and just to let everyone know how long I've been waiting. My claim has been at the rating board, ready for decision since Sept 24th,2010. St Pete must be really backed up!! I wish we had another number we could call instead of this lame 800 number. Anyone else know a way of really finding out why its taking this long?? Its really gonna be a downer if I waited this long only to hear that it has been denied...AGAIN.

Thanks for the reply Berta! I feel a little bit of relief now. I know anything can still happen, it's nice knowing that it's still possible though!

Just wanted an opinion on this from the vets here. My TDIU claim has been at the rating board since Sept. and ready for decision as of November. One thing that I was told by the 800 number just last week was that my claim skipped the development phase completely and went straight to "ready for decision phase". This is my 3rd attempt at trying to get TDIU. I have letters from Voc Rehab saying im unemployable which I submitted as evidence everytime and im also on social security disabililty for my PSTD for which I also submitted evidence. The only thing im worried about, is I would need an extra-schedular rating to get TDIU im at 60% now (50 ptsd and 10 tinutus). Should I be worried that my claim skipped the develpment phase all together?? The last 2 times I applied for TDIU I had C&P exams. I had no C&P this time around, but I did have one recently, right before I applied for the TDIU. Im trying to stay positive because I know I have all the right evidence, but if they got my claim and saw i dont meet the regular requirements, that they just denied it again. Anyone else had something similar happen and still get approved?? Thanks in advance everyone!

I dont fish but I guess it would be good time to start!! Gonna be a while!! LOL I get what your saying!

Yeah. Your absolutely right. I called yesterday and same thing. Im just gonna sit back and let them do their thing. I got better things to do than sit around stressing over this claim. Its either gonna get denied or approved! All I know is that I dont have to go to another C&P exam. I guess they had enough info to make a decision. I don't know whether thats good or bad? My service rep said they probably saw I was on SSD for Ptsd and considered that enough evidence to make a decision. Although I heard your supposed to go some appointment where they ask how long you've been unemployed, your meds taking, frequency of appointments and all that. I also just put in a consult to get into the Biloxi PTSD 8 week program. That was in my psychologists notes that I submitted as evidence. A while back I lost a very good job prospect and almost destroyed my house because I was so pissed off. My doctor also commented on that and noted "how would he react in a work environment if he got half that angry".