90% P&t... Say What?

[Snake Eyes]

This may not be the correct forum for my question, but since the letter I got today mentions IU, I put it here:

The letter is a summary of benefits for use in applying for benefits at state and local level (parks, DMV, etc.). It provids claim info as well as military service info, then a series of questions under the heading VA Benefits info, including....

"Your combine service-connected evaluation is: 90 percent...
Are you entitled to a higher level of disability due to being unemployable: NO...

Are you considered to be totally and permanently disabled due to your service-connected disabilities: YES"

How is that possible? Either you're P&T or you are not. I always thought P&T was a modifier for 100%

The next question for me would be, can this help with an SSDI claim? A VA psych counselor told me that having a 70% service-connection for GAD (along with all the symptoms the BVA examiner listed) would "almost mean an automatic approval" of an SSDI claim. She was pretty emphatic in insisting I should not be working, and gave me that info in making her point.

[Guest]

The next question for me would be, can this help with an SSDI claim? Yes

Your combined rating may be 90% but VA may be paying you at the 100% rate.

Are you entitled to a higher level of disability due to being unemployable: NO... I would check this and make sure it is not an error.

[Snake Eyes]

Your combined rating may be 90% but VA may be paying you at the 100% rate.

Are you entitled to a higher level of disability due to being unemployable: NO... I would check this and make sure it is not an error.

I'll check with Peggy on Monday... Definitely not being paid at the 100% rate. That would be more than $3,200 with a wife and two kids. Thanks for the reply.

[johnjjr]

Check Payment history on eBenefits. The July payment is already posted there.

[Snake Eyes]

Thanks... Looks like they're paying at the 90% rate. Jim Strickland replied to a query and said someone probably made a mistake in setting up an autogenerate letter. Peggy confirmed this and is sending out an amended letter.

So it's true (according to Peggy) you can be P&T for less than 100%... but in my case, that didn't apply. Go figure.

[john999]

P&T means permanent and TOTALLY disabled. To be totally disabled means 100% either via TDIU or Schedular. If you are 90% and have one rating of at least 40% you should be able to get TDIU. You may need an IMO/IME. I had 70% and SSDI and was denied TDIU. I appealed it and got TDIU P&T via the IME route. If you can't work due to SC then you should get TDIU.

[Snake Eyes]

Agreed. Peggy started the TDIU claim (setting date of claim as today). I'm thinking the notes from the VA shrink might seal the deal, but just in case I am getting an IMO from Dr. Bash for the SSDI. I could probably use this IME/IMO to support the TDIU claim.

The VA phone rep seemed to think I could pursue the diabetes claim and the TDIU claim at the same time and they would be treated individually.