Filed My Initial 21-526 Today!

[Raybob]

B) I filed my initial 21-526 today thru American Legion! It is my 180th day before retirement on 1 Jun 2010. American Legion folks and the folks here on Hadit prepped me well educated before my retirement physical and I went in prepared with a typed 15-page listing attached to my DD 2807 (Report of Medical History) that the doc was so impressed with, she put a note on the 2807 that she concurred with the entire attachment! She listed everything I asked for! I also included the VA form for rehabilitation in my package since I heard that incluing it wih the original claim, you will get a faster review to be given a preliminary rating (since you are able to claim rehab benefits 6 months before separation). Thanks for the posts and all the advice on here, and I will be sure to provide future posts with tips and suggestions on how the process is working! Cheers to all!

[broncovet]

Raybob

I guess there needs to be a naysayer in every group, so I got elected. By putting your "ducks in a row" the VA can shoot them all down, with just one shot.

Like you, I was very optimistic when I filed my claim. The audiologist said, "Veterans hearing loss is most likely due to noise exposure in military service"

My optimisim faded quickly with the RO denial in 6 months. "Appeal" was the battle cry..so I did. Two years later, the BVA agreed with me and awarded Service connection. So, I won, right? Wrong. The RO decided that service connection was 0%. Zip, zilch, nada. After 2.5 years. So, I "appeal the appeal". then was lowballed. 7 years later, after loosing my home and my truck, I finally get my benefits..back to 2007. So, now I have to appeal AGAIN to fight for an EED.

Maybe yours will be better..much better, I hope. After several years on hadit and talking with hundreds of VEterans, I met exactly ONE Veteran that got their full benefits in 6 months. One in hundreds. The others were all denied/delayed, with nearly every single Vet either getting their benefits 1) not at all, 2)much later than they thought, or 3)lowballed and sometimes a combination of the all 3.

My suggestion is that you hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

Yes, I know we all need to give each other encouragement...but not "false encouragement". I really do hope you are in that "top 1% or so" that actually GETS their benefits in 6 months, like the VA says. Veterans for common sense says that a RO decision takes 6 months, but a BVA appeal takes 4 years. Further, I say that Veterans who get their benefits from the VA in six months are, by far, in the minority, based upon my "informal" survey of Vets on hadit, asking them how long it took to get their benefits.

[cowgirl]

Congratulations on your retirement, thats quite some career! and I hope you transfer easily into the civilian sector. Be sure to use that 'transition' word, retirement does deter. After I served my career I got the wake up call - no quarters, seperate rations and uniform pay, and a very reduced base pay. Also, the 'military' folks did take care of personnel, medical and training records for me. Wake up call it was all on me. Medical copays, paperwork and rescheduled appointments cost big $$, no commander to write those off and dental costs. Of course I had to buy 'new clothes', took me less than a year to 'recycle' the uniforms that cost me so much in tailoring etc.

Exams Good advice, rehearsing won't do it and do prepare frugally for the ups&downs of the VA claims process. I hope you keep busy with the next big project that you have, a new job or travel or whatnot. The VA paperwork, hurry up and wait train is probably familiar to a young career soldier like you.

Re CRSC even if you didn't deploy to a combat area, it really does pay to read about CRSC and its tax benefits. Each service handles the particulars, and I've heard the occasional approval with injuries incurred in combat training or field training exercises or augmentee duty.

Sure wish you the best,

Cowgirl

[john999]

Raybob

Unless you win all you are asking for in your claim be prepared to appeal. Everyone here has filed an appeal for a denied benefit at some point. Appeals are part of the process with the VA. Since you have an income you can afford to be very careful and fight smart. What you do in the next year may be the most important financial decisions you make for the rest of your life. I think you will get most of what you are asking for, but do not hesitate to appeal any negative or low ball decisions. After all your C&P exams are done I would get some job to pass the time away if I could work, so you are not waiting at the mailbox for VA decisions. The VA takes their sweet time. The post office has to hire disabled vets if you can pass the physical. VA hospitals have a program for hiring disabled vets as well. If you are not totally disabled you have quite a few options.

[Berta]

With these conditions noted in your SMRs , and once the 21-526 is filed within one year after discharge and you sure have a leg up on that-your EED (Earliest effective date for payment of reto on any rated award will be the day after your discharge.

Also as someone suggested look into CRSC (I think you mentioned you didnt think you would be eligible for that)but also look into CRDP benefits too to see if they apply to you.