Carl the Engineer

Stretch, "No longer needed" can mean a couple of things, First, they have your information already, or Second, they don't need your information to complete your claim. Either way, you won't know until you get your rating letter. As far as your status on eBenifits, it can go back and forth a bunch of times. My favorite is when it goes from Notification back to gathering evidence. Talk about a downer. But it usually comes back to Notification the next day and three days later you get the letter in the mail. When I have a claim in the hopper, I watch it a least two or three times a day. Some people can't handle that kind of stress, but it relaxes me and I like the rush when I see something move on eBenefits. Like when the estimated completion date changes from three years out to two and a half. LOL. Maybe I should claim that. Good luck, Hamslice

Lean forward with your claim(s), I was originally rated 10% right foot for plantar faciitis. 7 years later, and since the original rating, I have been recieving cortisone injections in my right foot for the plantar fasciitis. I did file for an increase last year because of the injections and was denied. But, I retained my original 10%. However, along with my increase claim, I did put in a claim for secondary left ankle, because the same doctor who gives me the shots, said I have pain and left ankle instability and prescribed a splint, which I wear. My left ankle was service connected, but a 0%. So, I will file for a increase on that as I can only go up from 0%. And, the rater said that I have right ankle arthritis due to my plantar fasciitis and the rater asked for an opinion from the examiner on whether 50% etc. and whether the two (plantar fasciitis and arthritis) are to be rated seperately and the examiner opined in the affermative on both. So, another claim for right ankle arthritis. First, don't be afraid to claim if you have the evidence, or you think you condition has worsened and meets a higher level of compensation, Second, the VA (comp and pen) is not going to do anything for you, you have to do it. I.e., both the rater and examiner discussed my right ankle arthritis to include whether 50% etc. and there was no mention of it in my rating letter, because I didn't claim it. Fun with the VA, Hamslice

http://arlingtoncemetery.net/rtmininger.htm Never forget, Hamslice

One reason you may be having a ruff start is that this is a proposal in the Presidents budget, which never makes the light of day. The other issue is that it is from the GAO (government accounting office) which, again is going nowhere. President Obama's budget got voted down in the Senate like 99 to 1. Again, going nowhere. This has to be at least the 6th topic concerning this on this forum in the last two weeks. Maybe a little over reaction. Anyway, we wil have to wait for the house budget, as they control all the gov money. President requests, senate renegotiates and the house approves all monies. The house controls the purse. Just sayin, Hamslice

Wow, Hope this helps out with you and your family. Good job, Hamslice

Berta, Thanks, Hamslice

Thanks Berta, I agreed from the get go, and have had many examples of the military following their regulation(s) when is was a Army clerk. The VA is probably no different. Just becaue "you think" something should be, dosen't make it so. Even when it makes perfect sense in your mind. Hopefully, someone stepped up and did the right thing, Hamslice

To reopen, you will need new evidence. I reopened one claim and won with new evidence. An appeal, from what I read, you can ask for a re-look with a different rator (senior rator?), with or without new evidence. Your can ask for a reconsideration, which is not a thing, but they will take it and maybe look at it again. Or as one of the advertisers on here says, do all three. The other thing that I see here is, is that the rater may not have seen the DBQ from the doctor, and only used the one from your C&P. Did you submit the DBQ from the doctor as evidence?, you personally? My bet is the rater never saw the doc's DBQ. The VA probably asked and got the treatment records from the doc, but not the DBQ, because they use theirs from their C&P. Veterans need to remember that there is a big difference between VA comp and VA healthcare. They do NOT work together. They are not going to look for another DBQ, etc. Just sayin, Hamslice

Ah, first, you got two topics going on about he same question. Anyway, no they will not close the first claim because you submitted another claim. They just become part of the one claim. You probably could have left it alone as the rater would have looked at it a a primary condition, and possibly a secondary. Now it may go back on the pile and start over. But, in the end, I think you should have it covered. Which is good. Just going to take more time. The dates should stay the same, but maybe not. You might loose some money here. Not sure, Hamslice

Well, I went and read the whole bill. Everything gets cut, not just Veterans. So, probably not going anywhere. Hamslice

The way I read; "Currently, veterans eligible for the program have a 60 to 100 percent disability rating through the VA and are unable to secure a job because of their service-connected disability. The program allows them to get paid at the highest compensation rate. For 2017, the monthly rate for a 100 percent disabled veteran living alone is $2,915 per month. The change, which the budget describes as a "modernization," would stop the higher payments once a veteran who is eligible for Social Security payments reaches the minimum age to receive them. Veterans who have already reached the age to receive Social Security would be removed from the VA benefit program if Congress approves the proposal." is that if you are receiving IU, and lets say you were/are 70 percent before you got IU, that now if or when you receive social security at age 62, you would go back to your 70 percent plus get your social security. I'll have to ponder that for a while. Not sure if that does not make some sense. Some would loose money, some would gain depending on how much SS they are getting. What about the Veteran that didn't work enough to get social security, but is IU. He/she makes out like a bandit compared to the schmoe that is going to get $600.00 from social security. The "round down" is just a silly way to take 20 million from Vets. Not sure about the flight school either. I think healthcare for Veterans is more important than flight school. Anyway, Hamslice

Again..... http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/the-intel/sd-me-seal-stolenvalor-20170523-story.html On Wisconsin, Hamslice

What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Hamslice Nice pic. The guy behind me jerked and had about a half inch cut with blood running down his arm. Oh, well, then we were off to the grinder for pushups and whatever that exercise was where you swung your arms around and around. Got to get them imunizations working.......

I got denied for OCD. The VA said my OCD was benificial to my current job. Bastards, Hamslice

File for Hep C. It is not curable, it is manageable, however can become serious if not treated. There are probably some on here that are service connected for Hep C and can tell you what the rate is. You don't need a VSO to get your claim back, it will come to you on its own when its done. Definitely claim anything you feel secondary to your original service connected disability. That was a long time ago and you probably have compensated for it with other muscles and joints, etc. Hopefully you get connected for arthritis, because, it effects adjacent joints, and then they can be secondary, etc. Also, these things take time. Don't expect everything all at once. Work your claim(s). Get an eBenifits account and track your claim(s). You will need to go the a VA hospital to get a premium account. For me, 2009-30%, 2011-40%, 2013-60%, 2014-70%, 2016-80% and going for 90% here shortly. Good luck, Hamslice

I would just ask (claim) for an increase as the problem has gotten worse. You will be given a C&P and the examiner will re-measure you range of motion. I was rated at 20% because of range of motion. The 10% you got was probably for x-ray evidence, DDD and or DJD, etc. You would not need a private doc for asking for an increase. If they deny the request for increase, they will give you a reason why and then you can appeal with an IMO or IME. Hamslice

LOL

Ah, no... VA compensation is for a disability from your service. You had a C&P exam and the VA determined that you had limited movement of your back related to your service. For that, you get compensated. That's it. There is not going to be a guy in the bushes watching you with binoculars and a portable goniometer measuring how far you are bending down. If your only disability was your back at 20%, you would not be able to apply for VA IU. The VA expects you to work, or they would compensate you for it. I am 80%, at least half for ROM of joints. I still work. That is why there is a big jump from 90% to 100% (also IU). Keep in mind Veterans at 100% scheduler can and do still work. 100% scheduler mental health may have limitations, also. Hamslice Now if you lied during your exam and they found out, well then you may be in some trouble. Just sayin..

Trapper, Apply for both. SSDI Use your VA medical records (and civilian) and ratings for filing for SSDI. SSDI uses a list of maladies that limit your ability to work. Not sure how old you are, but age matters with SSDI. Under 50, hard to get, 50-59 not so hard, 60+ easier. They don't care that you lost your current job. SSDI is notorious for denying your first and second attempts. The third attempt (appeal) is when a real doctor looks at your claim. But, I have learned that if your malady is on their list, sometimes you get it on the first go around. My wife suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, which is not on the list, so we ended up going all three rounds. IU Now, with the VA, you need to get something from your last employer saying they let you go because of your VA meds. That will be a big help with IU. That and your 70% PTSD (and other conditions), I would think would be a great start. The sooner you file, the sooner you get, Hamslice

J, What are you currently rated for?, i.e., disabilities.. You may find it easier to ask for an increase or a new condition secondary to one of your current disabilities. Thanks, Hamslice

Also, I forgot, Can't remember who on here gave me this advice, but, Don't try and be too specific on your claim, as the VA will do exactly what you say. I.e., if your foot hurts and you claim your dislocated big toe, that is what they are going to look at and only that. If you tell them your foot hurts, they (VA) will have to do a little work and they may find more than your big toe. I claimed foot pain on both my feet secondary to my right foot plantar fasciitis, and an increase for my plantar fasciitis. I was denied the increase, but service connected for left Achilles tendinitis secondary and have free exam (x-ray) showing right ankle arthritis. Which I am now going to claim. So, I would tell the VA that your neck hurts, secondary to your other SC disability and see what they say. FWIW, Hamslice

EODCMC, Claim your neck pain secondary to your other degenerative issues. You should get at least 10% for arthritis (x-ray) or more from range of motion. I got my cervical and thoracic 20% each secondary to my service connected left shoulder. Both degenerative and the more (20%) for ROM. If the MRI that didn't happen during service will not work, go the degenerative way. Seems arthritis spreads, LOL.. It worked for me, Hamslice

Dick, I would claim "heart disease" secondary to your cardiac arrhythmia. You should get 30% by the evidence you are showing. I'm not sure if cardiac arrhythmia is heart disease or not, but at a minimum you should get the 30% if it is because its the higher of the two. If its not rated as the same organ, etc., then an additonal 10%. I claimed heart disease secondary to my hypertension, and my LVH was rated seperately at 30%, because of the ECG or EKG. Left ventricle wall thickening, i.e., mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Now that said, you may have other issues that I did not and again, if you claim '"heart disease", that will (should) make them look at all aspects of your heart and the tests that you took. Your test looks simular to mine, however, your EF is lower. Anyway, give it a shot, Hamslice

The VA is pretty much doing whatever they want. No ryhme or reason. The regs are for the peons, Hamslice

Oldtimer, My exam was on myHealthyVet after about a week. Not sure about PTSD, but mine was for OCD. I was denied, but the C&P exam was on there. All of my C&P exams have been on there since 2013 I tlhink. My c-file took 3 months in 2013 and 5 months in 2017. Paper in 2013 and CD in 2017. FWIW, Hamslice