Carl the Engineer

And, A young 25 year old veteran rated at 100% for PTSD, dies of a heart attack, no DIC Same young 25 year old veteran rated at 100% for PTSD and an addition 0% or heart disease, dies of heart attack, wife gets DIC. A little over $1200 bucks for the rest of her life. Nuff said, Hamslice

The easiest way is to claim your lumbar/thoracic secondary to your cervical. You will not get the earlier date of your cervical claim, but you do not have to prove service connection. How old is you cervical claim? This works for me x3, my lumbar/thoracic is secondary to my service connected cervical spine. Both are rated 20% for "Range of Motion". Also, even though arthritis is only rated 10% it is found by x-ray and it can spread to adjacent joints, etc. So, if there is any mention of arthritis from your injury, you can work that to other joints when they start to give you problems. Arthritis gets you in the door, range of motion gets you the bucks. Hamslice

Rocky, I believe you asked a question and it was answered. There is no code. You can take the advice or leave it. That said, go for it, if you have the time and energy. The only thing that eludes me is your end game. 100% permanent etc., and no need for DIC condition. I do have about 6 conditions rated 0% which could be increased in the future, but can contribute to DIC and I am married. And I am currently rated 80%. So room to improve. I did ask for, and followed broncovet's advice on my last claims and it paid off. I was prescribed a left ankle brace for left ankle pain related to my service connected right foot plantar fasciitis. I claimed left foot problem. I was denied left ankle (because it was stable?), but was service connected for left achiles tendonitis. They also shot a picture of my right foot-ankle for comparison and made comment with opine "greater than 50" connected for right ankle arthritis. Which I will be claiming soon. I believe if I would have claim left ankle pain, it would have been denied and the other issues would not have been found or discussed. I required them to look at a lot more by saying left foot problem instead of left ankle pain. I did tell the examiner, everything that ailed me related to my left foot which probably generated the comparison x-rays etc. Again, if you think it is owed to you and you deserve it, go for it, And good luck, Hamslice

I'm a loser again, Hamslice

44, Hang in there friend, I don't get it either, you're not alone. It should be up and out, not up and back down, and again, like a yo-yo. Hoping this turns around for you soon, Hamslice

All, It seems I read on here for the last month and now that it was signed the rumors of the bill President Trump signed on Friday. Now, instead of speculation, you can read it here; https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/114/text I did, and don't see anything related to IU or Social Security. Looks like a 2 billion increase in money for Choice and and extension for other things from Sep 2023 to Sep 2027. And a bunch of VA personnel crap. For your pleasure, Hamslice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/114/text I just read the bill. Nothing in there about Individual Unemployment or IU or anything related. Just sayin, Hamslice

Well done, hopefully your good news only gets better, Hamslice

I think he is asking if his "ratings" are permanent, not that he is rated permanent.. My answer would be, some are and some are not. Some should be Static and that helps, and then there are time limits with limitations, i.e., 5, 10, 20 years etc. (not sure about the 10, I might have made that up). Anyway, they can re-evaluate your disabilities at any time, but probably will not. They got bigger fish to fry. They make (change) the rules, Hamslice I sure as heck would not be worried about a unknown future C&P exam. That would make you go mad.

WAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great news, Hamslice

centurion, I have had this happen to me twice. First, I claimed and was service connected for a facial skin condition (acne) at 0%, however, after my C&P for the skin condition, I had another C&P for scars (not claimed, the VA on their own) three weeks later and was service connected for scars 0%. Second, I claimed and was connected for plantar warts of the foot at 0%, and again, three weeks later another C&P for scars, again, not claimed, and was again service connected for scars at 0%. So, I believe, that when you have a claim that is related to or is associated to scars, they the VA may automatically look at that also. Realize that this it the only thing that the VA has done for me on their own and they did it twice. Also, different examiners each time. Anyway, I would definitely go and then see what happens. You never know, and there is separate ratings for scars on some disabilities, so more $$$. And as I always say, a zero percent rating is a great thing, first if you die from it, your spouse gets DIC, and second, you can attribute another disability secondary to your rated disability. I have a 30% disability secondary to a 0% disability. Cha-ching... Just sayin, Hamslice

IMEF-Gunny, When the claim starts to twitch between prep and review a few times, it getting ready to blow... Most of mine, when they go back to the start right before the desicion sent, it means I did good. Not always, but most of the time. The claims that go fast bing bang bong are usually denials for me. I think your letter was pretty much a scatter shot, or more of a ramble, and probably didn't get read to its fullest. Better off narrowing you target and to get specific. If you think your evidence is there but weak, it is what it is at that time, send it. To try and support it with fluff, probably won't help. The VA is a checks the box type of organization. I.e., outside the box don't work. Your last VA appointment you just posted and your article and buddy letters will help with an appeal or reconsideration if you don't get what you think you should. Good Luck, Hamslice

Ahh, don't miss a C&P exam. EVER!!!! Unless you don't need your compensation money. Just sayin, Hamslice PS Or any other VA appointment for that matter. Just to be safe..

Some poor bastard working at the VA gave a Veteran some much needed information and becasue of that they got fired. Then they shut the line down so that that won't happen again!! Hamslice

Do you have that "special card". That would be neat to see a picture of. Looks like you might be getting two ratings for your knee, but they will give you the higher of the two. Did they measure you range of motion in your knee? More money there. Hamslice PS Request your c-file now....

Hemi, I have no experience in mental health C&P's, but can tell you that you need to be honest and answer the examiners questions to the best of your abilities. However, dont average your conditions, let the examiner know the worst it can get. More can opine on the mental health exam as I am no expert there. I will say though, from reading on here for quite some time, you will probably be low-balled and you may want appeal. Or you can wait a while and file for an increase. And after you get your letter and rating, you may want to look at your health record and see what other problems you have that could be attributed to your now service connected disability and claim them as secondary. But that's down the road a little ways. First, go to your C&P, and then get your letter and go from there. Nothing to be nervous about. Your letter will tell you what they found and you can readjust from there. Good Luck, Hamslice

It looks to me like you are going to be service connected. Now you just have to wait for the letter to see what rating they will apply. As far as going back for retro, it looks like you may need help with a Veteran Attorney etc. Seems like you have a story to tell and that someone dropped the ball or that the ball got missplaced..LOL. I would be interested in your findings when you get your letter. My never ending hope that the VA does the right thing.... Again, good luck, Hamslice

I agree, secondaries are easier to claim as the condition you are claiming against has already been service connected. I will ad however, the VA is a pig in the poke sometimes. I filed a claim for three secondaries to three seperate service connected disabilities. Two were granted service connected secondary. The third one was granted as a "new condition" service connected. Not sure how that happens? Also, secondaries are where the money is for someone like me. I was service connected for hypertension at 0% because controlled by meds, filed two years later for heart disease secondary to hypertension and was granted service connection at 30%. I believe when I filed for HBP, I should have filed for heart disease instead and let them sort it out back then. Broncovet gave me that advise for later claims and it has worked out great. Live and learn, Hamslice PS Anyone with a rating for hypertension should immediatly file for heart disease secondary. Because your left ventricle is probably enlarged and that's 30% by the x-ray alone. Just sayin..

WomanMarine, I forgot to mention, your title for this post may have cause a delay in responses. "1st C%P, now what", really sounds like a newbee asking a basic question. Some of the experienced helpers on here may have went right on bye and never gave it a look. When I'm bored I go back and read most all posts and caught yours. A better title would have been, "The VA owes me $$$ back to 1970" or "i've been service connected since 1970 and haven't recieved a dime" Anyway, just a thought, Hamslice

WomanMarine, Ok, I can tell you that the rater going back to the examiner to "opine" happens quite often. In my case(s), it has been favorable. The rater wants to see the correct VA verbage, I.e., "more likely than" (good) or "less likely than" (bad), etc. The examiners comments should show up in myHealthyvet about 3-7 days after they opine. From what I read it sounds like you were service connected right from the start, but then VA confusion set in. I would wait until you get your letter in the mail and then come back with that as there are some Veterans on here that may opine on the dates. You may be owed back to 1970, but not my expertice by any means. After that letter, you need to request your c-file from the VA and your medical records from St Louis. You may not know what you don't know about your medical issues and future claims. You need to see what they see. There not going to help you. I read that you were awarded 10%. Was that the med board when you were discharged? And do you still get that? Hope you get good news, Hamslice

When you submit a claim and the VA posts it on eBenefits, there will be a link that will say Decide the claim now. If you have everything the YOU can give them for your claim, go ahead and hit it. It makes it a FDC claim and is supposed to spead it up. However, if there is any questions or additional information needed from you, it just turns into a normal claim. I have pressed it and nothing really happens. My claim was no faster or shorter than others I have had. Its not for an appeal (DRO review). That goes normal speed, from what I'm told. Hamslice

They need to do away with the 1 year bullsh*t. Most Veterans post service can't find the a$$, much less become medical legal expert witnesses in less than a year. Maybe we could find a new Veteran willing to submit a claim for every ailment in the Merck manual. 2 or 3 thousand issues. Then he would be covered for some thing that pops up three years later. Just sayin, Hamslice Asknod, a good read, thanks..

Way to go BUCK!!!!!, Hamslice

Berta, Different but same, I did send a complete copy of my wife's (she is not-military) SSDI medical records to the VA when I filed a claim for spousal A&A (Aid and Attendance), which was approved. As a side note, my wife's complete SSDI medical record is part of my c-file now. No authorization either. Maybe I violated HIPAA. Oh, oh... FWIW, Hamslice

Thanks Tbird for sending me down that path. Another hour wasted watching utube videos.... Like potato chip, can't eat (watch) just one! Hamslice