Carl the Engineer

I just did this. My daughter turned 18 last June. She started college in October, 2010, and this is the date I put on t he 21-674, 10/20/2010. I submitted the 21-674 on 10/24/2010. My approval letter dated, 02/10/2011, has a Payment Start Date of Nov 1, 2010. So, as with everything VA, I believe the payment start date is the 1st of the next full month. In this case, the first full month after she starts college. In your case, Sep 1st..... Hamslice

51, For $6500 I will follow you around for a month making sure you only eat lettuce. No travel or surgery required!! Hamslice

Hey, that letter generator is pretty cool, just sayin!! Hamslice

Deltaj, My claim for my elbow and my claim for my neck, both secondary to my SC shoulder (effective date of 8/2008, date of discharge) was more than a year from my discharge, 7/2010. I understand the eff date of my elbow as that IS secondary to my SC'd shoulder. However, my neck is now SC, but not secondary to my shoulder. My neck is directly connected to my active duty and therefore SC. That is why I asked the question as to its eff date. Hamslice The "facts found" theory seems like what happened..

I believe "facts found" would be the reason here for the effective date. In that case it would be correct then. Thanks for the help... Hamslice

Chuck75, Please read again. The neck was denied as a secondary condition of my shoulder, however the doctor found damage (or a condition) that would have started on active duty therefore he sevice connected me directly for my neck at 20%. My question is the start date for my neck? Hamslice

All, I applied for a elbow and a neck condition secondary to shoulder (8/2008) with a claim date of 7/2010. I was awarded secondary for the elbow effective dated 7/2010. I was denied secondary for my neck, however the doctor said my neck condition (DDD) would have started while on active duty, therefore it was directly connected effective date 7/2010. I can understand that the elbow condition was a later condition related to the shoulder and therefore the effective date of 7/2010 (date of claim), however, if the neck was "service connection is established on a direct basis" and would have started on active duty as the doctor said, why do I not have a effective date of 8/2008 for my neck (DDD) condition. ? Hamslice

12B, 21B and lastly 21Z Combat Engineer, or as we like to call it, a Infantryman with a skill. Just kidding. I used to tell my Infantry buddies, all you guys need know is three things, "Attack, Attack, Attack". What really gets me going is the Soldiers that misrepresent their current grade. Like the E3 we busted out at the bar for saying he was a E5, and had had his ID card modified to reflect such. Top had a field day with him the next morning.... Hamslice

LarryJ. "We adjusted the award to include your child, XXXXX, as a school child effective November 1, 2010, the first of the month following the date he/she began attending school a XXXXXX XXX XXXX College. Additional benefits for XXXXX will stop on February 1, 2013, the first of the month following his/her graduation. Notify us promptly if sh/she should marry, change schools, or discontinue school attendance". Larry, Its right in the compensation tables, 60% with spouse only and then you add 1 child in school. $1064 plus $144 for $1208 a month... Also, I sent in a VA Form 21-674, Request for Approval of School Attendance about a month ago... Hamslice

godeep, You need some teenagers around your house. They help with all the smiley faces, text abbreviations and of course, gang signs..... Hamslice

All, I see on MyHealthyVet that I was just scheduled for 2 dental appointments, 1 in April and 1 in June. I called the VA and dialed the extension to the dental office and got there voice mail twice. The last time I left a call back number and name. Haven't heard from them yet. Any ideas why. I am only at 60%. In 2004, I was sent to the VA for a dental exam after coming back from Iraq and they did an x-ray on my teeth, however, the VA dentist had had a family emergency and was not there for my appointment. They where going to reschedule me, however, I was on active duty (NG-AGR) and the state DMA paid for all of my dental, so I told them I would take care of it. I believe, I was eligible for a cleaning and a exam and get anything fixed one time since coming back from Iraq. It may have something to do with returning from Iraq. I had to see a psychologist also. Hamslice

Update 2, Not really a success, but just got an award for my daughter going to college. 60% with spouse and kid in college. So that will help whittle away my debt. Only $25,000 to go. Still no word on my increase for my shoulder. I am on eBenifits now, not as good as I thought it would be, but it does show all of my cases. Hamslice

Just came in the office from patrolling, balmy 24 degrees out there. Had my drivers window down.... Hamslice

Update, So I gets a call at 0830 this morning from the VA. They ask me if I was sent a letter for an appointment this week. I told him no I had not received anything about an appointment. He said good, I do not need to come this week, they had gotten a request for a clarification and they answered the questions and sent it back, no need for me to come. I was asleep when he called as I work nights, so I said OK and did not ask any questions. So, I guess its progressing along its path... Hamslice...

I should have typed: "The evaluation for right shoulder tendinopathy is deferred for VA examination clarification. We will notify you when we reach a decision." Hamlsice..

Morning all, Had a C&P for a rating increase for my right shoulder and a SC for my neck (stiffness) and right arm (pain and numbness) on the 24th of September, 2010. My current rating is: Shoulders (20) Plantar fascitis (10) Tinnitus (10) Rated at 40% Today, Jan 18, I received the white envelope: Right elbow tendinopathy(20) Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine (claimed as neck pain)(20) Evaluation for right shoulder tendinopothy is differed for VA examination clarification....(pending?) With VA math, I am now rated a 60% Any guesses on "differed for VA examination clarification" ?? Thanks

Thanks Larry :)

Morning all, Had a C&P for a rating increase for my right shoulder and a SC for my neck (stiffness) and right arm (pain and numbness) on the 24th of September, 2010. My current rating is; 40% SC, shoulders (10 each), plantar fascitis (10) and tinnitus (10). 4 other issues were SC but at 0%. Discharged from active duty in August of 08. Date of original C&P exam was in May of 09. Today, I received the VA Pamphlet 29-9 with letter in the mail with 2 year eligibility starting (I had received this before when I received my original rating), Is this the "Early Warning Letter" that my increase or SC has been finalized? Should I be expecting a rating letter soon? Could it have been denied and I would still get the Insurance pamphlet? Curiosity is killing this cat... Thanks

Moderators, feel free to reroute this to the correct forum if it don't fit here. I am unable to figure out the rhyme or reason to the forum headings. Too many, to similar, etc. My issue, not yours, trust me... Hamslice..

Just thought I would let you all know that if you are getting your VA compensation recouped (readjustment pay in my case) that you probably did not get the stimulus money like them that actually get a deposit did. I have to call the VA to check the status of my repayment from time to time as they do not send any type of receipt or statement for what they are taking back from you. I had a couple of other questions for the gentleman and when I asked him if I had received the stimulus ($250), he checked and I had not. So he is supposed to be fixing it for me. You may want to check it out if you are in my situation... Hamslice..

Should I wait for that claim until my latest C&P ratings come back? Someone mentioned something about a "tornedo"... And thanks for the quick response, this site is awesome... Hamslice

Now that's incouraging...

Hello all, A question, but first, 40% SC, shoulders (10each), plantar fascitis (10) and tinnitus (10). 4 other issues were SC but at 0%. Discharged from active duty in August of 08. Date of original C&P exam was in May of 09. Went to a C&P yesterday for an increase in my right shoulder and a new claim for neck pain and for arm pain connected to my right shoulder issue. All arthritis related. EMG was negative. I think the C&P doctor did a good job and will let you know how it pans out. When she started the exam, she asked if I had been to a doctor other than VA since I got out and I told her a month ago for 5 plantar warts removed from my right foot. She said OK and drove on with the exam. Later, when she was researching my first mention of neck pain in my health record, she saw where I had 2 plantar warts removed from my right foot in 06 while I was on active duty. She told me to make a claim for plantar warts as I had them on active duty and now they are back and it is obviously an ongoing problem. Does anyone know if plantar warts are claimable and what is the rating for them? Any examples? Thanks, Hamslice Side notes: 1. The EMG was no big deal for me, some pain but not terrible. 2. Range of motion tests (?). Till pain or till stop. I told her when it hurt and then when I could go no more. Less than in 09, so, as I said, well see how that pans out. 3. Travel money. Cash and out the door you go. Can't beat that!!!