ptsd Can You Reverse Tdiu?

[TCOLLINS]

Ok here is my "loaded question:

I got rated at 80% September 2013:

50%- PTSD

30%- Back & Wrist(kienbocks)

I was told I qualify based on my rating. While I am in counseling for my PTSD, I'm not ready to go back to work.

Here is my question:

1. If I get TDIU, and feel like I am ready to go back to work after a year, can I go back to my 80% rating?

I just want to be able to not worry about living expenses. That adds to my stress. In my situation, would you apply for TDIU?

*I don't have any real support, that includes family, just in case anyone was wondering.

[Berta]

I replied to you other post and think now my reply was all wrong....I thought they had denied you for the Kienbocks disease....

If the Kienbocks disease involves your dominant wrist/hand, the VA could possibly ask for an Extraschedular consideration.But those types of claims are very hard to succeed in.

Has the PTSD affected your ability to work?

Do the meds for the SCs hinder employment ?

Has Voc Rehab ever turned you down solely due to your SCs?

What did VA say about TDIU, if anything, in their decision?

"I was told I qualify based on my rating"

Could you clarify that?

qualify for what and who said it???

I think the VA would certainly want to drop the TDIU if they do award it, back to the 80% if you feel you could return to work .

With TDIU however, you might be able to get SSDI as well.

A very strong factor in my husband;s initial SSDI award was that, due to a 1151 stroke, he could no longer use his computer nor handle tools, dial a phone, or use his hands in a normal way and those issues among others ,fully precluded any substantial employment.

Did the VA consider you for SMC as due to 'loss of use of' your hand due to the SC? If you can work with this disability, then they would not consider the SMC K on that basis.

It is often very hard for some PTSD vets to get support and understanding from their families.

PTSD vets don't 'look' disabled and I think that creates anomosity from some civilians, in particular , who don't have a clue anyhow, let alone appreciate the service of every PTSD vet.

My husband;'s family acted like they were ashamed of him being 'mental' in 1984 when he got his first PTSD award.

They should have been ashamed of themselves. He was the only member of that family who served a year in Hell.

I worked at a vet center. We had PTSD rap groups. Your feelings of having no support is sometimes quite common to vets with PTSD or with any SC disability.

Have you ever been to any Vet Centers? They understand service disabilities and so do we here.

[john999]

The thing is that VA is unpredictable. You could get TDIU but then if you go back to work and they do a re-exam there is no telling what they might decide. The VA is not that flexible. If I was not able to work due to PTSD I would file for TDIU. I don't think you can flit back between TDIU and work and expect rational result from VA. The very vast majority of vets who get TDIU never work again, and the VA knows this which is why they make it hard. If you got TDIU and then lost it then it could take years to get it back. When you go back to work you present them with evidence that you can work which they will use to probably fight future attempts to get TDIU again. This is my opinion of VA-Think. Maybe attempt to get 100% for your PTSD.

[Slowlane]

Great words of wisdom Berta & John.

[TCOLLINS]

I replied to you other post and think now my reply was all wrong....I thought they had denied you for the Kienbocks disease....

If the Kienbocks disease involves your dominant wrist/hand, the VA could possibly ask for an Extraschedular consideration.But those types of claims are very hard to succeed in.

Has the PTSD affected your ability to work?

Do the meds for the SCs hinder employment ?

Has Voc Rehab ever turned you down solely due to your SCs?

What did VA say about TDIU, if anything, in their decision?

"I was told I qualify based on my rating"

Could you clarify that?

qualify for what and who said it???

I think the VA would certainly want to drop the TDIU if they do award it, back to the 80% if you feel you could return to work .

With TDIU however, you might be able to get SSDI as well.

A very strong factor in my husband;s initial SSDI award was that, due to a 1151 stroke, he could no longer use his computer nor handle tools, dial a phone, or use his hands in a normal way and those issues among others ,fully precluded any substantial employment.

Did the VA consider you for SMC as due to 'loss of use of' your hand due to the SC? If you can work with this disability, then they would not consider the SMC K on that basis.

It is often very hard for some PTSD vets to get support and understanding from their families.

PTSD vets don't 'look' disabled and I think that creates anomosity from some civilians, in particular , who don't have a clue anyhow, let alone appreciate the service of every PTSD vet.

My husband;'s family acted like they were ashamed of him being 'mental' in 1984 when he got his first PTSD award.

They should have been ashamed of themselves. He was the only member of that family who served a year in Hell.

I worked at a vet center. We had PTSD rap groups. Your feelings of having no support is sometimes quite common to vets with PTSD or with any SC disability.

Have you ever been to any Vet Centers? They understand service disabilities and so do we here.

HEY BERTA!:) Let me try and answer all of your questions:

Has the PTSD affected your ability to work?

Yes, It's has to do with MST, really bad anxiety, can't sleep, nightmares, etc

Do the meds for the SCs hinder employment ?

Yes.

Has Voc Rehab ever turned you down solely due to your SCs?

No. I am in school fulltime.

What did VA say about TDIU, if anything, in their decision?

I haven't applied yet. My DAV counselor said he felt i could get TDIU based on my new rating.

"I was told I qualify based on my rating"

Could you clarify that?qualify for what and who said it???

SURE!:) When me and my DAV counselor were going over my current rating package, we were talking about my options. I felt like I should be at 100% already. So he said, we could file for TDIU because there isn't a reason why i wouldn't get it.

Did the VA consider you for SMC as due to 'loss of use of' your hand due to the SC? If you can work with this disability, then they would not consider the SMC K on that basis.

No. I can use the hand(left), i just can't do any lifting, or typing for long period of time. Which is causing a strain on my dominant hand(right).

PTSD vets don't 'look' disabled and I think that creates anomosity from some civilians, in particular , who don't have a clue anyhow, let alone appreciate the service of every PTSD vet.

AMEN TO THIS!!!

Have you ever been to any Vet Centers? They understand service disabilities and so do we here.

I did go to a vet center but I finally gave group counseling a try, and it has worked out so much better for me. This is hard to deal with, and I'm in full throttle trying to get better. I had to finally quit my job because of all of my SC's. I have been working since I was 13 years old. That was one of the hardest things to do.

You all made my day, thank you so much for helping!

[TCOLLINS]

The thing is that VA is unpredictable. You could get TDIU but then if you go back to work and they do a re-exam there is no telling what they might decide. The VA is not that flexible. If I was not able to work due to PTSD I would file for TDIU. I don't think you can flit back between TDIU and work and expect rational result from VA. The very vast majority of vets who get TDIU never work again, and the VA knows this which is why they make it hard. If you got TDIU and then lost it then it could take years to get it back. When you go back to work you present them with evidence that you can work which they will use to probably fight future attempts to get TDIU again. This is my opinion of VA-Think. Maybe attempt to get 100% for your PTSD.

Hey John!:)

Yeah, that was my thing, I didn't want to screw up an option for an extra $1000 a month. Even though it would help. I'm going to get this FDC crackin'. I am at 80% and I felt like I should be 100% anyway. So I'll explore that option before taking the easy route, I served my country, now its time for them to stop playing and give me what I deserve.