Michelle

FYI - Make sure you stay on top of VA when your claim is pending. I am already at 90% but 70% Combined Rating. I submitted an additional claim in Oct 05 asking to be T&P, Unemployability due to my PTSD after I blew up on the Job, and as of Oct/05 unemployed. Anyway, I've been continually in contact with VA and last month they said they had all of the documentation they needed and verified that I was no longer employed. Last Week they told me my claim was now at the Rating Board as of April 7, 2006 and that it shouldn't be much longer. Yesterday I received the yellow envelope, nervous to open it, well the first page stated the wrong condition of my claim and stated I needed to prove that I was Service Connected, send records, etc. I was so angry I couldn't breathe, had a panic attack. I am a Persian Gulf Veteran and have been service connected since 1999. I stayed up writing VA back quoting them the law concerning Persian Gulf Veterans that we don't have to prove SC and the Gulf Vets still can submit a claim through 2011 for diagnoised and undiagnoised illness, etc, etc. I took all of my records to our local Veteran Service Office and he thought as well that they didn't know what they were talking about and after getting them on the phone they discovered that they made a mistake and they apologized, etc; but that each person has numerous files that they are working on. Anyway, the new person that we talked to said she was printing the letter that should have gone to me and was taking it to her Supervisor for signature so for me to just wait on the new letter. We wrote down the entire conversation, got her name and what she stated to us. When I received my increase to the 70% Combined they stated to me at that time that I met the Schedular Requirements for Unemployability but at that time I was working full time, and if and when my situation changed for me to reapply for Unemployability. So hopefully, I'll get T&P or IU...we just have to stay on top of the VA...I thought that I was having a heart attack and it took me all evening to calm down. I knew VA had all of my medical documentation from my civilian and VA Doctors....

Berta; I believe you are correct and I was thinking the same thing when the story first came out the other day. We need to ask a lawyer and file a lawsuit together.

Thanks John for your reply...I figured it couldn't be much longer. They have everything they need I checked prior to it going to the rating board so I guess all I can do now is wait...thanks again..

Hello Everyone: I'm fairly new to Habit...Disabled Persian Gulf Vet at 70% SC. I have a claim in for increase for 100% P &T because conditions have gotten worse and I havent worked in 7 months. My claim is at the Rating Board and has been there since April 7, 2006. Can a few of you tell me how long it took yours once it got to the Rating Board? Thanks, I love this site... Michelle