Hamslice

I believe they would until there is a death certificate. Just sayin, Hamslice

Sorry for the above ^^^^^ post, I just could not help myself. But, for me, when ebenifits shows nothing, it means that someone has you case opened and is working on it. I have my claims bounce back and forth a couple times a day when they get near the end. Then disappear and reappear later. Activity is good if you are waiting, because it's moving. Hoping for the best, Hamslice

Ebenifits definition, adjective not able to be relied upon. "he's lazy and unreliable" synonyms: undependable, untrustworthy, irresponsible, fickle, fair-weather, capricious, erratic, unpredictable, inconstant, faithless, temperamental; informalhinky "unreliable volunteers" questionable, open to doubt, doubtful, dubious, suspect, unsound, tenuous, uncertain,fallible; risky, chancy, inaccurate; informaliffy, dicey "an unreliable indicator"

"Hamslice, with all due respect, I cannot understand their logic." vetquest, What your case shows is what happens when you were unable to work and had not reached 100% disability rating, you did apply for and got TDIU. Then your disabilities worsened and then you got to 100% scheduler. Now, by regulation, you can technically work again, but that's not really whats proper. What did happen is you reached 100% and you are in a more secure footing with your benefits. Because, before you got to 100%, if the VA thought that your condition(s) had improved enough you could have lost your TDIU and you could have gone back to 80% or less. 100% is not exactly safe either, but it is better than TDIU. In my opinion. Now, being 100% scheduler and not TDIU or have ever been, you can work as you are being compensated for conditions, and those ratings have added up to 100% or more irregardless if you work or not. In my mind, I think the VA would have a case against you if you went back to work. I think they could go after the money paid to you for the difference between the 80% and TDIU, because you could have worked, but you told them you could not. It would be hard to tell them that your conditions worsened and that the worsening of your conditions allowed you to work again. No logic there. I do understand the VA lacks logic sometimes. I believe it's just a glitch in the system and I understand you can work if you are 100% scheduler, but I would be careful on how you got there. Doubt if anyone at the VA paying attention to that issue, but you never know. Just my opinion, Hamslice

"If you can get it changed to scheduler you can work though. I don't understand VA logic." Simple, -100% scheduler, I have some medical issues that the VA comps me for that add up to 100% or more, and I can still work. -TDIU, I do not have enough medical issues for the VA to comp me at 100%, so, since I am unable to work, please rate me as if I am totally disabled. To get TDIU, you, the Veteran are saying, I am unable to work, because, I believe, the inverse would be be true, as in, if you were rated TDIU and wanted to work, I am sure the VA would work with you and take away your TDIU. Look at it this way. I am 80%, without anything bigger than one 30% disability. Now, I can't apply for TDIU, nor do I want to because I am still working and can work. Now, a Veteran, who has a 70% disability, but gets more money than me because he says he can not work, so the the VA pays him at 100% rate, but now wants to work. Hmmm, how is that fair? And, I'm not even talking about the other perks that come with 100%. If you want to work, tell the VA you want to work. They will fix it for you. You will get your 70% and have a job, just like me and my 80% and a job. You're getting the extra bucks because you told the VA you could not work, but you want to make more bucks because that was not enough. If you give them back the extra bucks, then you can go make even more bucks. Now the Veterans that are 100% scheduler, well they just have a bunch more wrong with them and they deserve what ever they get. 100% scheduler is not an easy task, nor should it be. Sorry for the rant, but, I just get tired of this question coming up every month, "why can't I work on TDIU?", when its an opt in thing with the VA. The VA will help you with it if you would just let them. Hamslice

When you say "local clinic" are you talking VA clinic? Irregardless, treatment for prostate cancer has different treatments based on age and activity, etc. My dad had it and he left it untreated for 15-20 years, and then when he was around 78 years old, they just blasted the thing out of there, as my mom described it. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/types-treatment Just reading this page ^^^ tells you pretty much everything you need to know, except where you are at in its progression, etc. If it were me, I would find out who the best doc in you area is concerning prostate cancer and see him for a second opinion, even if you have to pay out of pocket. If he says your doc is on the right track, then you will feel better going back to the clinic. Or, he could disagree with the clinic and then you have some decisions to make. The good new, if there is any, is that it is a slow moving cancer. Trying to help, Hamslice

Yes, I was initially rated at 0% for high blood pressure, then later, 30% for heart disease secondary to my high blood pressure. I was initially rated at 10% for right shoulder, then later, 20% for right elbow secondary to right shoulder. Everything stands by itself, "once it is rated", then its by itself for increased etc., down the road. My right shoulder was increased to 20% at a later date. Now, with that said, I have no direct knowledge regards, TBI injuries and PTSD, whether they are in the same conditions that restrict pyramiding, or stand alone. I do know that you can be rated for Arthritis and Range of Motion for the same joint, but you will only get the higher number. My right shoulder is 10% for Arthritis and 20% for ROM. I only get the 20%. Hope this helps, Hamslice

You have two DD214's. Use the latest one or both. I have 5 DD214's. The VA uses the latest one. The VA home loan is a Federal program and the follow the DD214's. The Guard use a NGB form 22 as their DD214, and I found the following on the VA website for Reservists. "If you were discharged from the Selected Reserves or the National Guard, you must include copies of adequate documentation of at least 6 years of honorable service. If you were discharged from the Army or Air Force National Guard, you may submit NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service, or NGB Form 23, Retirement Points Accounting, or it’s equivalent. If you were discharged from the Selected Reserve, you may submit a copy of your latest annual points statement and evidence of honorable service. Unfortunately, there is no single form used by the Reserves or National Guard similar to the DD Form 214. It is your responsibility to furnish adequate documentation of at least 6 years of honorable service." FYI, I have a NGB form 22 and the VA did not see it and it is not in my c-file anywhere. It's all about the DD214. And anytime I deal with the VA, I tell them active duty, even though 13 of my 27 years were as a part-timer in "The Guard". If it were me, I would use one of your DD214's you currently have, preferably the latest. The VA disability you currently have is based of a period of service that you already have a DD214 for. So, you should be fine with what you already have done with the VA regards your comp, etc.. Just my thoughts, Hamslice

this is from a previous reply of mine, but basically applies. This is what I know about SSDI with my wife, -Do not let 5 years pass without working before applying for SSDI or you will not get it. -You will get denied the first time if your ailment is not on their slam dunk list. And maybe the second time. The third time, the appeal, is the first time a real doctor looks at your claim. My wife has Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, and that is not on their slam dunk list, however with a fight she got her SSDI. -There are three age groups with SSDI. Age 49 and younger, if you can be trained in any field, denied. Age 50-59, if you can be retrained in your current or past job field, denied. Age 60 and above, no training or retraining for a different or same field required, approved. Basically, if you are under 50 and you can answer a phone, you will get denied. My wife applied when she was 49 and was denied twice and approved after she turned 50, in fact, the next month. This is what I learned from from my wifes SSDI legal helper. Not a lawyer, so not sure what to call her. If it were me, I would submit the claim for SSDI myself. Fill out the forms on the SSDI site and send in all your appropriate medical evidence. As I said above, if your ailment is on the slam dunk list and you have evidence supporting it, you should get approved. I believe if you frog around on Google long enough, you should be able to find the list that SSDI uses. If not on the list, it will get denied the first time anyway as it is just a clerk that looks at the first go around. Then, on your second attempt, you could consider getting help. Not sure if you can get help the first time as they (legal help) work off of your back winnings and you would not have any yet. And just so you know, when and if you get to the appeals (Judge) part, they, Social Security, make deals. Our hearing date was 18 months out (going rate for Wisconsin), but we settled after only 3 months, however, gave up Medicare for two years from the settlement date, plus the six months. I have/had insurance through my job, so that was not a big thing. Don't forget the six month rule? Your get jack for your first six months after you win your SSDI. My experience, Hamslice

I was told by one of my docs a long time ago that I had "runners heart" as my left vertical muscle was enlarged. I was not a long distance runner, but because I weighed 225 (my fighting weight, LOL) and ran 3 miles 3-4 times a week, that that could cause it. I did not have the low heart rate either. But I did get 30% for heart disease, secondary to 0% for high blood pressure. I would claim heart disease and let the evidence find its way. Submit all his med records, especially ECG's and any x-rays of the heart as evidence. I had a x-ray of my thoracic back and it showed a larger than normal heart, and that is what started my secondary process. I truly believe that if I would have claimed heart disease first, and not hypertension, I would have gotten the 30% earlier. I think "Bronco" once told me not to be specific and paint the VA into a corner, and I agree, use a scatter shot and let them sort the evidence. Once they do that, then do some fine tuning... Hamslice

Don't miss a C&P ever. Honestly, you might have to swim. The VA will not care about a flood, or better yet, "next week will be flooded" will not hold water. I would call someone at the VA and confirm that "THEY" cancelled your C&P and have them get that to you on paper. If you don't go, and the doc shows up and marks down you did not show. Good look getting that straightened out. The bastards are looking for anything to muck the works up. And then your benefits stop, Hamslice

Both initial and still 0's. The two scars (one foot, one face) are not rate-able, one I can not even see, but they (VA) are the ones who called me back in to look at them and service connected me for them. I did not claim scars for either. Back in the day we used to call JFHQ, WI (Joint Forces Head Quarters, Wisconsin) the puzzle palace. Maybe that would be a good name for the VA. The "Puzzle Palace". LOL, Hamslice

I have had it happen twice and both times I was service connected for the claimed issue and then a related issue that I had not claimed. Both time the related issue was "scars", both service connected at 0%, but service connected none the less. Hope its good news, Hamslice

Hearing disability with the VA is a whole other animal. My word recognition was 100% also, but I still can not hear my wife when the football game is on the TV. Just sayin, Hamslice I am rated 10% for tinnitus left ear, but 0% both ears with a service connected hearing loss in both. Hope someone can explain the ear ratings better than I will. I do know from researching before that you pretty much have to be deaf to get any comp.

I'll have to dig into this again, but I think my diastolic readings were in the 90's and no 100's, but I cant remeber. My luck, I'll probably have two in the 100's and one in the 90's. I might meet the 100 criteria as I was on active duty when I was ordered on meds (retention letter from HQ) and I went to a civilian doctor. I was tri-care prime 100%, out in the sticks, nearest military medical facility 4 hours away. I claimed 4 years later when I got out. I sent in all records, but you know how that goes. I was cleared for duty and the VA probably went with that. If I remember correctly, you needed three high readings prior to meds. Thanks, Steve, for bringing it back to my attention. So little time, so much VA crap to wade through.. Hamslice