Carl the Engineer

I think it all depends on your biggest medical problem and why you can't work, and again, I think (personally) your age. While, unlike SSDI, which uses you age, the VA is not supposed to. I dont know if the VA considers retraining when looking at IU, or just what you can do now. But, you should apply as soon as you can so you get the earliest date, if they grant or deny and you win, etc.. Good luck, Hamslice

If your claim is in its final stages, your eBenifits page will be going haywire for a couple days. You will probably get snail mail before eBenifits stops spining like a casino's one arm bandit. Good luck, Hamslice

Yes you should file for IU, if you cant work. Gives you a date, the ealier the better. I would also ask for a increase for the exams that were done with the proper tool. Someone just shootin numbers out of thier a**. Good luck and keep pluggin along, Hamslice

Update number 1, My claim just hit eBenifits today 5/16/2016. Disabilities Claimed: right foot plantar fascitis (Increase), left foot pain (Secondary), left ankle pain (New), heart disease (Secondary) Only thing odd is they state my claim for left ankle as being new, not secondary to right foot issues. I'll tell the C&P examiner when the time comes. Thanks, Hamslice

The duration of a C&P exam has little to no bearing on the compensation awarded. The skill of the C&P examiner has little to no bearing on the compensation awarded. You're being low-balled on your initial rating will have a bearing on the compensation awarded. Hope you get good news, Hamslice

Buck, Your claim is but a drop of water in an ocean. The VA could give you the correct number of pending claims if I was a life or death situation (pun intended). File away!!! Your not taking anyones spot in line from them as its your spot, the VA just needs to make more spots. We're not talking free cheese here. For those that remember... Just think if every Veteran that could fill a legit claim that either won't or does not know he/she can, were to file. The system would explode! I know at least a dozen Veterans that have not or will not apply, and a couple that could get a big increase from thier maladies getting worse. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink, or somethiing like that. Hamslice

Tinnitus, however, it is assumed and limited at 10% total. Bilaterals usually are arms, elbows, hands, legs, knees and feet, etc. Hamslice

Spine is rated in two locations, the cervicle as one and the thoracic/lumbar together as the other. Make sure you get copies of all your doctor visits and tests. As far as insomnia and spine issues, anything is possible with the VA. Just know, you will be underated (lowballed) from the getgo. Don't get discouraged, just plot your path through the maze... Good Luck, Hamslice

Wow, that sounded like a stretch to me at first, but after reading it a couple times, I see that it met the requirements for a "nexus", between the PTSD and SA. Good news for this Veteran. What it says to me is the PTSD plays a part in this Veterans SA, and it does not matter if it a 1% or 99% part of the SA. Interesting. Good info to put in the bank, Thanks Buck, Hamslice Might need to get my OCD denial reconcidered..

steve, Sounds like you were late to the game. I'm not sure on the IU issue, but one thing I can tell you is, get anything and everything Service Connected that is in your service medical record, and if you think you were lowballed for any of your current ratings, request an increase. And think if any of your non-military maladies might be related to any of you SC'd issues and get them rated secondary. When I say this, I mean even SC'd rated at 0%. That way, when you expire, and its related to anything SC's, your wife will get DIC, etc... A little harsh, I know, but hey, you said you were worried about your wife! FWIW, Hamslice I'm rated 0% for acne. Hope it takes me out at a cool 100.

Buck, I was wondering also and found this. Hopefully it opens. I found it by searching on google. Anyway, it looks like they assign NSC persentages for Veterans getting a VA pension. And they use two different standards for connnection, i.e., they are more strict when trying to get SC'd. I do see where a veteran wants to see/use the NSC justification for trying for SC, but like I read above, two different standards. I did not know that when a Veteran gets a VA pension (because of lack of income), it was based on anything other than income and it could be a different rate for different Veterans. I do see where A/A and or Housebound do add to the pension, so maybe that is where the NSC disabilities come into play. Just more confusing than regular VA Service Connection confusion, Confused, Hamslice

Thanks everybody, I am currently 70%. I beleive arthritis is 10% by the image itself and then your get more because of ROM. I was rated 10% arthritis xray for my shoulder and then increased to 20% because of ROM. So the SC for arthritis is hidden in there somewhere. This wasnt a C&P, but just an annual checkup for blood and medicine, etc. She, the NP, wanted to see my civilian doc xray of my lumbar and that was my original question. Her saying "other than likely more", and what the heck that means. I'm trying to parse the sentence between the two parts, i.e., "mild degenerative changes as described above" which would be "x-ray mild thoracic DJD and DDD, mild lumbar DJD" and "more prominemt facet arthropathy lower lumbar spine". This is what I get; instead of my pain coming from my thoracic DJD, DDD and lumbar DJD, its more likely coming form my jacet arthropathy lower lumbar spine. I'll make a big assumption in that it is all ROM unless the pain would require bedrest etc., and my only move would be asking for an increase and my ROM being rechecked? I am 20% for lumbar (and thoracic) and 20% cervical, both ROM and SC'd because of arthritis. Anyway, thanks, Hamslice

killermall, If you don't show up for your murder trial, they will find you guilty no matter what evidence you might have. And thats how the VA works too, excelpt for missing the trial they will write a warrant for your arrest, on the other hand, the VA will just shred your medical record and you will have to start over. RU, Your my hero, how did I know that was coming. Hamslice

What the f**k does this mean?, "Mild degenerative changes as described above other than likely more prominent facet arthropathy lower lumbar spine" That is the comment from my VA clinic NP in myHealthyvet from a lumbar spine xray taken earlier this year from my civilian doctor that she requested. I was asking for and got from her a prescription for Naproxin so I would not have to pay out of pocket. This is the comment she is reffering to ("described above") from my problem list in myHealthyvet. "xray 7/11 mild thoracic DJD&DDD, mild lumbar DJD" So, am I gettling better or worse? "other than likely more", WTF?? My mom is in the nursing home, but was and English teacher and my daughter is an English teacher, maybe I will run it by them, ha, ha. Hamslice PS, I am at 20% lumbar for ROM.

I, in my case, asked for an increase and with that I requested a new claim for secondary. While a "need a doctor to opine" regards your secondary will help, it is not necesary. All three of my secondaries were granted (20% each) without a doctor, or an appointment. I requested secondaries and the C&P examiner granted them, all without going to a doctor. These three were for joints, and the C&P examiner did take xrays and did ROM testing, etc. My recourse if denied, would have been to get an EMO or IMO and appeal, but I didnt need too, Your mileage may differ, Hamslice

Did the examiner use a goniometer? If not then he/she just guessed. And that would be wrong. Did you use a goniometer? Anyway, you probably and most likely got lowballed. I asked for an increase after one or two years and I got it because of ROM. Not sure I felt any different from the first time, but my ROM must have decreased. Keep up the good work, Hamslice Oh, and I forgot, stop at pain, always stop at pain.....

Anyone have any thoughts on the " Connect Your Docs " feature on eBenifits. Yes a good thing, or no not a good thing. Supposedly will connect your VA med record with participating civilian records. Lets here it,,, Hamslice

I wrote a buddy letter for a fellow service member that was in my tent while in Iraq. He said that the letter helped. I am not sure how much medical records he had regarding sleep apnea though, so not sure how much the letter helped. He did get 50% for it first go around. So it can't hurt. Hamslice

Godspeed my freind, Hamslice

All of the VA workers that got in trouble during last years shake-up have gotten their jobs back, except tor the lady who resigned. And she was actually helping veterans. Its a crock. A VA person sarcastically told congress recently that "we'll fire are way to excellence" in regards to holding workers accountable. I say, lets try it. I believe they should do it the way they rift people out of the service, or like in my case AGR (Active Duty Guard and Reserve) title 32 Soldiers. In my instance, my state had 8 E-8 active duty slots and somewhere around 30 E-7 slots. So, for progression, they screen and rifted 4 of the 8 E-8's to make room. Thats how I lost my job. They do that every so often with the E-8 and E-9 ranks, And there is no recourse. Bye-bye. If they shitcanned about 10 % of the GS-15's every year without cause, just because, you would see some people renew there efforts to help veterans. Just saying, Hamslice

Dont forget the free healthcare. And add that to your 100%. Thats a bunch. I know people with no insurance and major medical problems. It ain't a picnic. My employer pays $18,000.00 and I pay $3000.00 for my health insurance (for my wife) who has MS and is on medicare. So add $21,000.00 to your 100% and see how close you come to the average income and your ahead... So, not so bad. Hamslice And I am too, having a wonderful life!!!

broncovet, I did that exactly. Claim increase and secondary for foot problems. So they have to label it, etc. That has worked for me in the past. I have used my CVSO on all my past claims and am satisfied with her work so far, and she just sends it to the VFW whom has done good also for me. However, I would be hard pressed to tell you exactly what they do for me. I haven't had to fight for anything yet beyond initial claims yet, but that could change. Everything so far, to include a couple denials are ok with me. Thanks, Hamslice

Tim_RVA, I agree with Meddac that you will have a tough time without some kind of paper (medical records) for your ailments. I also agree with RUREADY, that anything is possible. What you really need to do is get all of your service medical records together. If you dont have any, request them from the appropriate sources and check your old unit for ghost copys of your medical record. Also, very important, any civilian records during your time in service. ALL your records for no matter what. Sick call slips, anything and every thing. Then your first objective is to get rated (even at 0%) for something that happened while you were in service. That is paramount. Then get treated at a VA clinic. This will help you get help, but it will also start a trail of treatment. Keep in mind this will be for in the future. Anyway, your knees could be from arthritis, and a doc could opine that this "is at least as likely" to have happened whlle on active duty. I have arthritis. I am sevice connected for my neck from AD medical records, however, I got secondary for my lower back (arthritis) because the doc said that I have had it for more years than that I had been out. So, the bottom line is you have some work to do and it will take time, a lot of time. Good luck, Hamslice

Also, You have three things wrong with your left arm and one with your right, therefore bilateral. If you didnt have the issue with your right arm, no bilateral for your arm. Same with your knees. Spine issues can not be bilateral, only feet, knees, legs, arms, elbows, hands etc. FYI, Hamslice

Best site I have found for ratings with or with bilaterals. And, alway highest first, and bilaterals first. Bilaterals right and left in pairs, i.e. arms and legs. https://www.microhealthllc.com/bilateral-va-disability-rating-compensation-calculator/ Anyway, 40 left shoulder nerve block 20 left shoulder scare 20 left shoulder slap 10 right shoulder 10 right knee 10 left knee 72 combined bilateral 79.2 combined plus 10% 79 rounded bilateral 10 nasal 10 lumbar 10 cervical 10 tinitus 87 cumulative disability 90% Disability Rating Looks good to me, Hamslice