70% Seeking Iu Please Help

[ablehart]

Hello,

I have been reading up on this issue but have come to a wall. I need some advice.

I am rated at 50%MDD/panic disorder but haven't had many appointments lately due to losing my job and moving. I just had two appointments at behavioral health to intake at my new location. Hopeful.

I am also rated 30% asthma

10% for each knee

0% for nerve pain (disagree)

70% total

I was terminated for the usual run of issues relating directly to people with MDD and panic/anxiety and those who cannot stand for more than 15 min without excruciating nerve pain in their leg. My shifts were 12 hours all on my feet. Thoth min lunch.

I filed for IU on e bennies.

Now they want the full medical records released and an exam.

I don't know why, maybe anxiety, but will they or can they lower my ratings? I was awarded in March 2015. Filed this iu June 1st.

Is that something I need to worry about realistically?

What are the odds of me getting iu?

Thank you.

[jbasser]

Iu is treated as a claim for increase even though it is an ancillary benefit. This is Normal SOP for the RO. Some evil Ro's will try to reduce you but if you show to be unemployable then you should get it.

J

[ablehart]

What would justify a decrease mere months later?

I'm confused by the process.

[Gastone]

Do you have any "New & Material Evidence" to support an IU Award? Being out of work or under-employed isn't an automatic criteria for an IU Award. Do you have anything in writing from any type of professional Employment Counselor indicating that you're out of work solely due to your SC Mental Health issue? What level of education and training will come into play as far as Sedentary work'

If a rater believes, based on Medical and employment evidence, that you should be able to earn $238.00 per week doing any type of Sedentary work, you'll get Denied. Give the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Dept serious consideration. A letter from your Voc Rehab Councilor indicating you're not eligible for the retraining program due to your SC condition to include Sedentary work, would be a Deal Maker. Worked for me!

VA Rater can't go against a Professional Trained VA Employment Specialist.

What did your Mental Health C & P DBQ indicate as far as your condition s affect on work?? As I recall, 38 CFR 4 50% indicates "some or moderate" employment issues.

Semper Fi

Gastone

[Navy04]

Great advice given above, and regardless you will have a C&P exam. If you feel that you are worse off, then just go in there and be honest with Doc. Now Remember that the VA can always lower our %s or Review our conditions when they want. Good luck and keep us posted

[ablehart]

Thank you for the replies.

Based on this information and everything going on. I feel I should cancel iu and just file a nod on a 0% meralgia paresthetica rating.

I was terminated for issues related to depression and anxiety, but I was working in a field that had me standing 12hours a day and I'd often have to "hold up" a piece of machinery to take pressure off of my leg. The dbq for nerve pain was basic and I've since had xrays, mri and a neuro appointment pointing to a much greater level of paralysis of that nerve which is treated with medication now as well. It makes working upright damn near impossible some days and I'm a young guy. At the end of the day I'd be soaked in sweat from pain alone.

Sedentary work seems to be no good either because I just can't get in the game. I'm always off in my head or if I have a panic attack I run off to the bathroom for half an hour or just go off the property and return sometime later. Been like this for a while.

I don't mean to tell a sob story, just giving more insight.

Realistically if they rated me 50%MDD I haven't gotten 'worse' since then, I just feel the issue is worse than 50%. So I'm afraid they will just lower me to 30% save a buck and kick me down the road.

Interestingly, even with mdd I can't see a shrink. They said at the VA here they don't have shrinks for depression, just ptsd. The social worker said 'I'll be your counselor'... What the heck?