ptsd Ptsd Increase

[deserteagle]

I have been reading this forum for some time now and have a question of my own. I am new to this, so any help that you can offer would be great.

I am an Iraq vet and I came home with all sorts of problems that I was in denial about. After 4 years of jumping from one job to another and stressing my wife to the limit, I finally decided to go to the VA. Upon going there I was immediately diagnosed with PTSD and was told by my VSO to file a claim ASAP.

My initial claim was sent through in April 2008 and approved 50% Sept 2008. I received a retroactive check back to the effective date of my claim. I filed a claim on Aug 14 2009 for other conditions that I have since been DX'd with and the VA reopened my PTSD claim along with the claim for my new conditions.

They have not yet finished the claim for my other conditions but sent me a letter stating that they were deferred for further medical evidence which I have received exam dates for. However, they did increase my PTSD to 100%.

They list the effective date as the date of my exam, Oct 6.

The questions I have are:

1) Since the claim was reopened within 1 year of the original approval date, is it possible that it should be retroactive back to the original date of claim (Apr 2008) and if not, should it at least be retro to Aug 14 (the date the claim was reopened)?

2) If the effective date is Oct 6 and the payment start date as Nov 1. When then should I see the first payment with the increase? I ask because I have not been working for over 18 months and could really use some extra money sooner than later.

You time and advice are greatly appreciated!!

[mobie16r]

Deserteagle,welcome to hadit,more than likly if va reopen your claim it will be retroactive to the original date of claim.

You should have a chcck in the mail of in the bank

mobie

[deserteagle]

So since they only stated my increase was effective Oct 6, what should I do to get it retroactive to the original date of claim?

[john999]

If you appealed the original 50% rating then the 100% rating should be retro to the date you got 50%. When you say you re-opened your claim do you mean you appealed it? When you re-open a claim for an increase on a previous final decision that is very different than appealing a decision that is not final. Did you submit any new evidence between 2008 and 2009 for a PTSD increase?

[deserteagle]

John,

What happened was that I filed a new claim for tinnitus. When I submitted this claim, the VARO reopened the PTSD claim and sent me for "review" C&P exam as part of my new claim dated 8/14/2009. My original claim was approved in 9/2008.

The claim was reopened, by the VARO, within a year of the original claim approval. Since it was reopened, I sent in evidence of my SSDI in support of the claim after I was informed that I was due for a rating review.

I hope this makes sense.

Thanks for your help, I hope this better explains the situation.