Woo - Hoo !

[Lorraine]

Dear VetsLady - I am so thrilled for you and your Vet. I cannot imagine an 8 year journey waiting for this day. I understand the relief for you and your husband. You sound very "grounded", but know this is a vulnerable time for you so continue to play it safe. My Vet got his retro for a year for a 60% IHD claim and has received that and one month's pay and we're both being weird about it, acting like it just isn't there! Maybe that's a good route til it all settles in.

I know there are still many folks with pending claims and I hope our Success Stories give them hope. Your eight yr wait is an especially important Success Story to note for those who are walking your same path.

Congratulations, give yourself some time now to relax.

Lorraine

[VetsLady]

Thanks Lorraine ....

The day we walked into the VSO's office to file the claim, neither of us imagined this process would take so long. A couple years, maybe .... one hears alot of stories sitting in those offices.

Fast forward 8 years - I've seen alot of changes in his health as it declines further but him knowing that the major process is complete and his injuries/illnesses are now 100% recognized by

the VA is validation like none other. Along the way we dropped the VSO, not to say that VSO's are not a huge help to many Veterans, just not in his case. I learned alot along this long and

winding road (to exerpt from the Beatles song) and felt confident enough that I could handle it and was not afraid to ask questions if need be.

I hit a few brick walls emotionally in the past several months, thanks to the Hadit folks who helped stand me upright again. A great family and network of friends helps too ~ I know many don't

have that, I feel lucky we do.

Veterans don't give up .... I know a few who have been dealing with the VA on issues of injury/illness they incurred while serving and protecting our Country who are still battling it out.

Finally, we can breathe a sigh as we continue to enjoy each day to the fullest. Each day is a gift we treasure.

Thank you again for your comments, all of you .......

VetsLady

[carlie]

Vetslady,

Isn't there a 10 year rule for the DIC part.

So if the effective date is 2005 will you be covered for DIC in 2015 ?

[VetsLady]

Isn't there a 10 year rule for the DIC part.

So if the effective date is 2005 will you be covered for DIC in 2015 ?

Thats the way I understand it to be.

The parts my husband is thrilled about are the insurance benefits for me and the DEA so I can acquire the skills needed to support myself.

We were self-employed for years and taking care of him right now is my main focus so being able to go back to college and stay at home

if needed is a blessing with the online school programs available.

[broncovet]

Congratulations Vets Lady.

I certainly understand the frustration of an 8 year wait, because I started my claim in 2002, so this is my 9th year and counting. I will likely join the "Two Decade Club"...where a VA claim takes MORE than 10 years to happen, and is in its second decade.

I spoke with a Vet in the hospital today who filed his claim in 1973, and he will likely go to his FIFTH Decade of waiting on the VA to process his claim (that is, more than 40 years) because his claim recently went to the BVA and that is likely to be at least 2 more years.

[Pete53]

The 10 year rule is only used when at 100% it is not possible to link death to service connection.

Yes the VA should be ashamed for taking 8 years. Anything longer than 1 year should be an embarrassment in my opinion.