Rectoactive pay for 10 year claim denied in 2008 approved in 2018

[Janine]

Good Evening 

I submitted a claim for PTSD ON 2008 and was denied. I don’t remember being seen by a mental health provider to validate my PTSD back then. I filed again in 2016 and I  was approved.  After speaking to one of my counselors she encouraged me to file a NOD. IT finally made sense to me to do it do, The Va did not believe my story back then. But anyway I’ have come a long way I believe. It really is an can be a strange emotional beast to deal with on top of trying to navigate through the world. I filed the NOD FOR back pay for effective date sept 8 2009 because that’s when they denied my claim the first time for PTSD. I also had 3 dependents at that time. 1 in high school and 2 twin boys in middle school. I was a good soldier just happened to run into some perverts with no self control. Yes I’m still pissed. 

[broncovet]

I agree you should file a nod disputing the effective date.  Normally, in VARO decisions, they give a reasons and bases as to why they came to their conclusions.  Remember, you now have to file a nod on the form 21-0958.  I usually like to take the VARO "reasons and bases" and refute those, if possible, when I file a nod.  

Generally, your effective date is the later of the "date of claim" or the date the doc says you had the applicable disorder.  ("facts found").  There are quite a few exception to this general rule for effective dates.  One notable exception is if you filed within 12 months of your discharge date, you should get retro back to the date of discharge.  Of course, I dont know if this applies to you or not.  

As far as your last sentence, "I am still pissed", remember that holding a grudge hurts you more than it hurts the person(s) who hurt you.  No, Im not saying THEY deserve your forgiveness, but I am saying YOU deserve YOUR forgivenes.  One pastor called it "toxic unforgiveness".  Of course its easier to say than to do.  

I can tell you, from personal experience, I "could not" forgive someone for at least 5 years.  However, one day I was praying the Lords prayer...".....and forgive those who trespass against us", and I went "Whoops, I cant say that...I dont forgive....."

To shorten the story, I was able to forgive (but only with God's help), and a big burden was lifted off me.  

I HATED this person...and I do mean hate.  We did mean things to each other, and those accelerated until the next step was one of us killing each other.  

After the forgiveness, I have "absolutely zero, zilch, nada...none..hate for this person".  To say this made a huge difference in my life is a vast understatement.   ONLY after the forgiveness was I able to "move on" and to love others who, of course, had nothing to do with those who had wronged me in the past.  

[Janine]

 Thank you for your help! Did not say I was living in unforgiveness  which is a difference from acknowledging my current feelings and working through them when we are relieving painful experiences through the lives of others. Yes Thanks goodness for the predators some of them know Jesus Christ.