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Slam Dunk! I Got It!

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DeaconDukes

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Today I went in to see my AmVet rep. He printed a copy of my notification letter. My claim was granted with an evaluation of 100%. I have spent the last year homeless/ and in transitional housing program called Operation Dignity a per diem program for vets. A year ago I was having panic attacks and didn't know what I would do and thinking that I was doomed to wander the streets as a bum. I couldn't work because of my long standing disability which had gotten worse. I was totally ignorant about my VA benefits and I thought that because I was in the peacetime right after Vietnam I didn't have any. I went to my local VA clinic after someone suggested it and told them that I was homeless and living in my car. I saw a Homeless counselor that day who help me get off the streets and into Operation Dignity in Oakland CA. I was so happy to get off the streets and finally broke down and decided to seek mental health care and take medication if i needed it. Because I felt like I was dying I went to the VA clinic soon after for help and found out that I was having a panic attack and saw the psychiatrist on triage and she took the time to diagnose me right then and gave me medication and i was "plugged" into the system and started therapy and treatment. In my first meeting with my mental health case worker he interviewed me and he found out that I have had counseling for adjustment problems while serving in the Army and I was prescribe an anti-psychotic medication while in service over 30 years ago. This was the basis of my claim for service connection of my present disability. I was denied the first time I applied but the second time I brought forth more evidence ( a great nexus letter and proof treatment while in the service)) and today I have received my claim. I now have a future and need not to be homeless again. I am moving to FL. to be near my eight year old son and my wife is even considering trying to get back together after I have been down there awhile. I now can contribute and be an asset to my family . I am also getting SSDI. I am blessed. Thank you all for your help and info. What a wonderful site full of wonderful people. I haven't gotten my first check yet with back pay but everything is coming and i will have it soon. I hope and pray that there are not any more surprises.

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Today I went in to see my AmVet rep. He printed a copy of my notification letter. My claim was granted with an evaluation of 100%. I have spent the last year homeless/ and in transitional housing program called Operation Dignity a per diem program for vets. A year ago I was having panic attacks and didn't know what I would do and thinking that I was doomed to wander the streets as a bum. I couldn't work because of my long standing disability which had gotten worse. I was totally ignorant about my VA benefits and I thought that because I was in the peacetime right after Vietnam I didn't have any. I went to my local VA clinic after someone suggested it and told them that I was homeless and living in my car. I saw a Homeless counselor that day who help me get off the streets and into Operation Dignity in Oakland CA. I was so happy to get off the streets and finally broke down and decided to seek mental health care and take medication if i needed it. Because I felt like I was dying I went to the VA clinic soon after for help and found out that I was having a panic attack and saw the psychiatrist on triage and she took the time to diagnose me right then and gave me medication and i was "plugged" into the system and started therapy and treatment. In my first meeting with my mental health case worker he interviewed me and he found out that I have had counseling for adjustment problems while serving in the Army and I was prescribe an anti-psychotic medication while in service over 30 years ago. This was the basis of my claim for service connection of my present disability. I was denied the first time I applied but the second time I brought forth more evidence ( a great nexus letter and proof treatment while in the service)) and today I have received my claim. I now have a future and need not to be homeless again. I am moving to FL. to be near my eight year old son and my wife is even considering trying to get back together after I have been down there awhile. I now can contribute and be an asset to my family . I am also getting SSDI. I am blessed. Thank you all for your help and info. What a wonderful site full of wonderful people. I haven't gotten my first check yet with back pay but everything is coming and i will have it soon. I hope and pray that there are not any more surprises.

When I see success storeis like yours, It makes me feel real good. I am happy you are able to turn it around. Oakland is a beautiful city but on the streets, It can be real ugly.

Great news.

John

A Veteran is a person who served this country. Treat them with respect.

A Disabled Veteran is a person who served this country and bears the scars of that service regardless of when or where they served.

Treat them with the upmost respect. I do. Rejection is not a sign of failure. Failure is not an option, Medical opinions and evidence wins claims. Trust in others is a virtue but you take the T out of Trust and you are left with Rust so be wise about who you are dealing with.

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Your post was an inspiration and very Uplifting!

Denial letters are often devastating at first but they can become the key to success:

"I was denied the first time I applied but the second time I brought forth more evidence ( a great nexus letter and proof treatment while in the service)) and today I have received my claim"

Did you continuously prosecute the claim after the first denial?

You gave the VA exactly what they needed-proof of nexus and medical evidence.

This is great news!

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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DeaconDukes,

Congrats, It's always good to hear someone win their case. GOd Bless moving forward and hopefully back into your family life.

HPSE-7

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      Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL

      This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:

      Current Diagnosis.   (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)

      In-Service Event or Aggravation.
      Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
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    • Do the sct codes help or hurt my disability rating 
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      Proof:  

          About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because  when they cant work, they can not keep their home.  I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason:  "Its been too long since military service".  This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA.  And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time,  mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends. 

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          I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt".   Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day?  Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.   
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          There are certain rules about community care reimbursement, and I have no idea if you met them or not.  Try reading this:

      https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-emergency-care-at-non-va-facilities/

         However, (and I have no idea of knowing whether or not you would likely succeed) Im unsure of why you seem to be so adamant against getting an increase in disability compensation.  

         When I buy stuff, say at Kroger, or pay bills, I have never had anyone say, "Wait!  Is this money from disability compensation, or did you earn it working at a regular job?"  Not once.  Thus, if you did get an increase, likely you would have no trouble paying this with the increase compensation.  

          However, there are many false rumors out there that suggest if you apply for an increase, the VA will reduce your benefits instead.  

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      Yes, the VA can reduce your benefits, but generally only when your condition has "actually improved" under ordinary conditions of life.  

          Unless you contacted the VA within 72 hours of your medical treatment, you may not be eligible for reimbursement, or at least that is how I read the link, I posted above. Here are SOME of the rules the VA must comply with in order to reduce your compensation benefits:

      https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.344

       
    • Good question.   

          Maybe I can clear it up.  

          The spouse is eligible for DIC if you die of a SC condition OR any condition if you are P and T for 10 years or more.  (my paraphrase).  

      More here:

      Source:

      https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/

      NOTE:   TO PROVE CAUSE OF DEATH WILL LIKELY REQUIRE AN AUTOPSY.  This means if you die of a SC condtion, your spouse would need to do an autopsy to prove cause of death to be from a SC condtiond.    If you were P and T for 10 full years, then the cause of death may not matter so much. 
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