Harrell

I posted on the "Success Form" and maybe was the wrong one. So now I post here. As of last year VA rated me 80% based om 70% hearing lose, 30%PTSD, 0% wounds. I was told recently that I should apply for the Total Disability based on unemployability. I had never heard of this until then and have since found out more about it. My question is this: I am a 58 year old wounded vet from Viet Nam war. I am also retired as of last year. Would I qualify for this benefit since I draw a retirement check from my old job. If I do qualify what do I need to do. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks.

First let me start by saying I found this form kinda by accident, glad I did. Now for my story. I am a 58 year old combat wounded vet from the Viet Nam era. I first went to the VA in 1995. While Ionly went to get on the Agent Orange Registry, the VA gave me a 10% disability. A while later I was told that I should get this rating increased so I filed the proper paperwork. I jumped thru the hoops the VA required and was denied. I appealed. They "lost" my paperwork after over 2 years and I had to do it all over. I was more than a little disgusted by now. I had tried all this alone with no Service Officer. I was told to let the DAV handle it so I turned it over to them. I was notified in May 2005 that I had been given a 70% on hearing loss and increased to 30% on PTSD, 0% for wounds to face, left knee and foot,for a total of 80%. The DAV did a great job for me. So after 10 years I at least got to this point. I retired the month before so this was a blessing. This year I found some of my old friends from Viet Nam, had not talked to them since 1968. Some of them said I should apply for TDIU. I had no clue what this was, never heard of it before. My question is this, since I am retired and draw a retirement check from my old job, would I be eligible for the TDIU or should I even apply. Any advice or assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.