Hello everyone. I've been searching this website and yukon website for my answers and I guess I just want to ask this question again because the answers I'm seeing are from 2011 or so and I want to make sure it's still valid for 2017.
I got out of the service on medical discharge for fibromyalgia, MDD, and GAD in 2008. I was unable to tell anyone about my MST that happened prior to me developing Fibro (which I found out is usually connected to PTSD). Anyrate, since then I have talked to the VA Psychs for help and tried to "fix" myself and finally I opened up and told them about my MST and received a diagnosis of PTSD in 2013. Then in 2016 my VA Primary Care told me to reapply for benefits because she said they need to service connect me for my PTSD. I submitted my application, was honest and straight forward and very forthcoming even though I cried through my Comp and Pen exam. I have used Voc Rehab to change careers from Nuclear Electronics Technician to an Ultrasound Tech, and have worked as a tech from 2012-2014. After 2014 I quit working when my daughter was born, but also my fibromyalgia was flaring up so bad that it made it impossible to work anymore. I haven't worked since.
Voc Rehab screwed up my award and didn't close out my case so I still have benefits left over and I was approved with a severe work handicap to use my benefits to go back to school after the birth of my second child. So here I was waiting for my disability decision and studying for the GRE to apply to a Nurse Practitioner Program helping women only because I have PTSD attacks with men. I was hoping that wouldn't be as hard on me as my Ultrasound position was. Then I get the decision stating that I am 100% P&T for PTSD, and 60% combined for fibromyalgia and hearing issues from the Navy, all service connected, and I'm getting SMC for Homebound criteria being met. I called the VA directly to find out if that meant that I wasn't allowed to work anymore. (I didn't plan on going to school until 2019, and not trying to work again until 2022.) The VA rep said that I WAS allowed to work and they may evaluated me in the future for my PTSD, and 'could' lower my rating, but that the rating wouldn't be lowered if I still met the criteria for 100% PTSD, it wouldn't have anything to do with whether or not I was working. The American Legion rep said I was allowed to work as well. But then when I read these forums it says I'm not allowed to work. I know already that Voc Rehab wouldn't pay for me to do the Nurse Practitioner schooling anymore because I was having difficulties trying to get them to approve it when I had a 50% rating, and now that I'm higher I know without a doubt they wouldn't allow it, so I understand I'm not going to be a Nurse Practitioner for Women's Health anymore.
So I guess what I'm so upset about is accepting the fact that I can't work. I will have two children that I don't want to lose the education benefits for whatsoever, and everything else that's included with the 100% rating. No way in heck I want to lose that! It will sit easier with me if I get approved for SSDI. But that terrifies me too! I'm waiting for an appointment to apply in person because I'm scared I'll mess it up doing it online.
So, confirmation: I cannot work if I don't want to risk losing any benefits, correct? And what are the do's and don'ts as far as what I should do in order to keep this disability rating for the next 19 years? I think that terrifies the most, screwing up and having my rating decreased.
I know we are all stressed about this, please forgive me for this long post. And thank you all for your service and your advice. Peace and Love.
Question
Kekome
Hello everyone. I've been searching this website and yukon website for my answers and I guess I just want to ask this question again because the answers I'm seeing are from 2011 or so and I want to make sure it's still valid for 2017.
I got out of the service on medical discharge for fibromyalgia, MDD, and GAD in 2008. I was unable to tell anyone about my MST that happened prior to me developing Fibro (which I found out is usually connected to PTSD). Anyrate, since then I have talked to the VA Psychs for help and tried to "fix" myself and finally I opened up and told them about my MST and received a diagnosis of PTSD in 2013. Then in 2016 my VA Primary Care told me to reapply for benefits because she said they need to service connect me for my PTSD. I submitted my application, was honest and straight forward and very forthcoming even though I cried through my Comp and Pen exam. I have used Voc Rehab to change careers from Nuclear Electronics Technician to an Ultrasound Tech, and have worked as a tech from 2012-2014. After 2014 I quit working when my daughter was born, but also my fibromyalgia was flaring up so bad that it made it impossible to work anymore. I haven't worked since.
Voc Rehab screwed up my award and didn't close out my case so I still have benefits left over and I was approved with a severe work handicap to use my benefits to go back to school after the birth of my second child. So here I was waiting for my disability decision and studying for the GRE to apply to a Nurse Practitioner Program helping women only because I have PTSD attacks with men. I was hoping that wouldn't be as hard on me as my Ultrasound position was. Then I get the decision stating that I am 100% P&T for PTSD, and 60% combined for fibromyalgia and hearing issues from the Navy, all service connected, and I'm getting SMC for Homebound criteria being met. I called the VA directly to find out if that meant that I wasn't allowed to work anymore. (I didn't plan on going to school until 2019, and not trying to work again until 2022.) The VA rep said that I WAS allowed to work and they may evaluated me in the future for my PTSD, and 'could' lower my rating, but that the rating wouldn't be lowered if I still met the criteria for 100% PTSD, it wouldn't have anything to do with whether or not I was working. The American Legion rep said I was allowed to work as well. But then when I read these forums it says I'm not allowed to work. I know already that Voc Rehab wouldn't pay for me to do the Nurse Practitioner schooling anymore because I was having difficulties trying to get them to approve it when I had a 50% rating, and now that I'm higher I know without a doubt they wouldn't allow it, so I understand I'm not going to be a Nurse Practitioner for Women's Health anymore.
So I guess what I'm so upset about is accepting the fact that I can't work. I will have two children that I don't want to lose the education benefits for whatsoever, and everything else that's included with the 100% rating. No way in heck I want to lose that! It will sit easier with me if I get approved for SSDI. But that terrifies me too! I'm waiting for an appointment to apply in person because I'm scared I'll mess it up doing it online.
So, confirmation: I cannot work if I don't want to risk losing any benefits, correct? And what are the do's and don'ts as far as what I should do in order to keep this disability rating for the next 19 years? I think that terrifies the most, screwing up and having my rating decreased.
I know we are all stressed about this, please forgive me for this long post. And thank you all for your service and your advice. Peace and Love.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Top Posters For This Question
8
6
4
3
Popular Days
Jun 14
8
Feb 15
5
Jun 15
4
Feb 16
4
Top Posters For This Question
Ddsr 8 posts
pacmanx1 6 posts
Buck52 4 posts
Kekome 3 posts
Popular Days
Jun 14 2020
8 posts
Feb 15 2017
5 posts
Jun 15 2020
4 posts
Feb 16 2017
4 posts
Popular Posts
Berta
I certainly feel you should apply for SSDI. It can be very overwhelming for any veteran to accept that their SC conditions make them unable to work. Yet there are many things they can do as
Buck52
It just helps to stay in treatment for some reason I feel better after leaving a session with my therapist ! now rather or not its working I don't know? I still avoid crowds or be around a lot of
Buck52
Some times group sessions are better than one on one just depends on how you think? for me my therapist said I can try the group sessions but from him just talking with me he don't think its a good
27 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now