RuskiLinguist

Hugh, Check out one of my previous posts. Theres a whole thread there about it with tons of good stuff from everyone. Thanks for the suggestions, Carlie.

After 5 long years, my second application for SSD was approved within 5 months. My final appeal for my first application is still in the courts. Thanks much to all here who helped me finally get that approval, and my heart goes out to those still waiting and fighting. My big question now is what, if any, benefits should I research now that both the VA and SSA consider me disabled. For example the student loan forgiveness was a hidden benefit, the Federal Parks pass was another hidden one. Can you good folks recommend any more hidden gems that I should be looking into? Thanks again, and best wishes to all Your Ruski Linguist

Carlie I agree completely and hope they take it 2 steps further. 1. Don't pay the ALJ that cant do the basic job we pay him or her to do; and pay all of the backpay out of the judges pocket. That's the only way they will ever feel a sense of accountability. Congratulations, and thanks so much Bon for sharing this with us. I am at the Appeals Council Level, but have only been there for about 6 months. I am hoping for similar results as you received. Sincerely, RL

I haven't looged on to this site in some time, and WHAT A TREAT. I am sooooooo happy for you and would have loved to see a picture of hubby's smile when you showed him the letter. Thank you so much for the great news and follow-up. It made my week ;-)

Since may, I have watched 2 other veterans (1 at 100% schedule; and 1 at 70% plus TDIU) get forgiveness of their student loans. Neither has taken more than the time yours has been in process. Please help me, help you, and I will be glad to help scrutinize every detail to see if there is anything different between me and these other 2 and your husbands situation. Look in your private MSG box and I will give you my direct number. I want to see you and your hubby win this supposedly easy benefit. Smile, Privyet od Victora

This was a reply from back in September. Like most, I don't like to be wrong. Has there been any update. I am on pins and needles now. My reputation might be held in the hands of some beauracratic YERK!!! How can I help cut out the red tape on this one? I want All of us to get the benefits we have been promised and have earned by more than 1 or 2 sacrifices that most will never know. XOXOX World, Power To The Ruski ;-)

Hello Maurice, I see your profile states you are 100% Individual Unemployability. Are you also 100% disabled, or is it a rating of less than 100% with the distinction of Individual Unemployability? Either way, I find it unbelievable that one governmental organization can say you are not able to work, and another can then say you can. Different measurement criteria are an absolute cop-out, and completely without merrit. I feel the VA should be given the greatest weight since they are also charged with establishing that our medical conditions not only exist at a disabling level, but that the things we say happened in our past are also verified through some measure of investigative standard. Anyway, I am working hard with my lawyer to draft a good appeal, but I am still looking for anyone with advice as to how to deal with ALJ's who are either crooked, or you pick your own adjective, but the point remains the same: There are so many of us getting screwed, and that number WILL grow as long as there is no voice for us in the 3 branches of government we ALL served! Respectfully and dedicated to the good of many not just me, Ruski

I appreciate your insight very much. I know that in all of the forums I have become involved, that I am the only veteran with 100% SC disability who has been denied Social Security Disability. I have an attorney who wants her $6000, but I I can not trust anyone other than my fellow veterans. This PRICK of a judge has gone from being a bad judge to being the worst judge in the entire United States regarding his approval of claims. He will never be held accountable for his indiscretion, and no one will ever get a fair ruling from him as long as he sits in his appointed position. If anyone wants to understand the truth about these ALJ's, the do a google search on: "ALJ disposition data" and you will see that Judge David Buell was allowed to xxxx me over and my congressional representative Dave Loebsack, did nothing more than monitor the shafting that I took from Judge David Buell! How can we make these deliberate injustices a priority in our governments efforts?????

Seriously!? Not one of you has any advice on how to deal with a judge that has been placed between you or a loved one and the benefits you so richly deserve?

The reaction I received from my Congressman and Senator was: Thank you for allowing us to help you in your SSD claim. Please sign these forms so we may better understand and support your appication. [i signed and returned them} Their follow through; Your claim is ready for assignment to an ALJ. 4 months later; Your claim is ready to be heard by an ALJ. 4 months later; Your claim is ready to be hard by an ALJ. I could figure all that out by looking on the SSA website. So, what value do these people who claim to "serve us" actually serve? If my promises were that empty when I was in the Army, I would have ended up with a dishonorable discharge AT BEST!!! I only made about $700 as a Private, and I still had more honor in my big toe than these people have in their whole body at a price tag of over $150,000/year. The good news is that I am closer to a title for my first book on the realities of serving America. I am leaning towards a title of "Between the bench and the Throne, an American Monarch". I thought it could be a "fictional novel" tracking a gentlemans bet between a belligerent ALJ, and a Saudi Arabian Prince to see who can destroy the lives of more American's, without making the FBI's most wanted list. Yes, I am a little enraged, and of course with 100% disabling PTSD, I have a few trust issues, but just because a person is paranoid does not mean there isn't someone out to get them!!! Just so I have a question out here, What is the next step in the appeal process? What are the timeline requirements for responce? What are the percent chances for an overturn of decision? and Does it mean I have a crappy attorney because I lost such an obvious case to a biased ALJ? I know the filing timeline, cause its always 60 days. If only their rules were that cut and dry... Sincerely your highly agitated Ruski Linguist!!!

Yes. My Social Security Disability Claim was denied. I haven't received the write up yet, so I can not say why based upon their wording. But the real reason why is the same as I have been stating here from the beginning. Some of the judges in the ALJ pool approve way too many of the applications they see, and some deny way too many of the claims they see. The only way this can be true is that there is way too much subjectivity in the process. For example, everything I have shared in this thread is 100% true. The Social Security Administration never sent me for a Psychological or Psychiatric examination with any of their doctors. The only medical evidence in their posession was derived from the VA, my own answers to their questions, and the Vocational Expert they had at the ALJ hearing. All of the statements, evaluations, treatment records, RFC forms, and Vocational Expert testimony said that I am not able to perform my past work, and that there is no work in the national economy that I can perform based upon my personal status and my medical conditions. The judge assigned to my case has gone from approving 30% of the cases he sees in the first quarter of FY 2012, to approving 17% of the cases he has heard in the second quarter of FY 2012. I am sure his downward trend will continue into the 3rd quarter, and the part that sux the most is that there is NO RECOURSE!!! Who is out here to help us when an overpowered arrogant jackass is assigned to the throne and over1denies cases presented to the SSA. We all know that they will come down severely on a judge who overapproves cases. Sorry for the rant, but there are even a lot of congressional and senate reps out there who think that the assignment of benefits for a 100% SC veteran shouldnt have to even wait, let alone be denied after almost 3 years of fighting. Whats a person to do????

Denied!!!!! WTF?????????

It was a full calendar month yesterday. Still no word from either the lawyer or the SSA. I know it will only go as fast and efficiently as pushing a rope. Im just curious how some folks can get through this process in a few months, and others it takes a few years. I read about the judge who had a 99% rate of approving SSD claims, and was fired. If we know that type of prejudice exists, then the corollary also has to be that some judges (prejudge) everyone to be not entitled to SSA benefits. I believe that both extremes are wrong, and both should be attacked equally agressively by the government.

I tried to post in another forum, but obviously failed: I have to admit that I did not do much research on this opportunity, but it did come to me from a different Veterans Benefits web site, and I think there may be one or two or more on this site who could/would take advantage of such an opportunity. Overall summary, is that if you are unemployed, and looking for some retraining, but can not afford the cost of changing courses, then you may be interested in reading/pursuing more: http://benefits.va.g...w/education.htm I am also attaching the wording of the VA Notification so you can decide if you want to pursue this link and the advertised benefits on your own. I assume that I personally do not qualify for this benefit, due to my ongoing need for treatment, but that is not an official answer. Anyway, this is a time-sensitive benefit, and in my opinion, an extremely valuable opportunity for a lot of folks on this site or their significant others. I wish you all well!!!! Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) Congress passed, and the President has signed into law, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. Included in this new law is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed Veterans. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are working together to roll out this new program on July 1, 2012. The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who: Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old Are unemployed Received an other than dishonorable discharge Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance) Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program The program is limited to 45,000 participants from July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012, and 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. Participants may receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month). DOL will offer employment assistance to every Veteran who participates upon completion of the program. Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certificate, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation. High Demand Jobs VRAP will provide training for programs of education that lead to a high demand occupation, as determined by the Department of Labor. Click here to see a listing of high demand occupations. VRAP Applications Are Open We are accepting VRAP applications now. Please visit eBenefits to apply. Remember, to complete the application, you will need to know your direct deposit information (bank routing number and account number), the name and location of your school, the program you wish to pursue, and the applicable high demand occupation Good Wishes to all of my fellow veterans!!! I will always value each of you more than those who have neither known victory or defeat;-) Your RL!

Great Opportunity for all!