Al329 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 (edited) Hi, Just drop in to say thank you to this board. I just won my claim, now sitting at 10%. I know not a lot. Waited 20 years after I got out to file for anything. I had no idea where to start. Then I found this site. Thanks! Edited December 27, 2022 by Al329 ArNG11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator broncovet Posted October 28, 2021 Moderator Share Posted October 28, 2021 Congratulations! If you feel you deserve more, file a nod and dispute the disability percentage or effective date(s). Well, that is, after you savor your win. Many/if not most of us got our ratings "a little at a time". VA rarely gives you the farm on first try. They deny you. Then they give you one fence post. Gee what good is that? You appeal and get it all, after a battle. Al329 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator pacmanx1 Posted October 28, 2021 Moderator Share Posted October 28, 2021 Congratulations! Al329 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al329 Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 (edited) Thanks! Question, I feel I was underrated at 10%. If I file a disagreement, could that open the claim back up to reduction or complete denial? Edited December 27, 2022 by Al329 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator pacmanx1 Posted November 1, 2021 Moderator Share Posted November 1, 2021 To be honest yes and no, whenever a veteran files a disagreement it does reopen his/her claim but in most cases the VA can not reduce your previous/current rating unless the VA can prove with more than one medical examination that your disability has improved. This is not likely to happen but some VA employees, VSOs, and some veterans would want you to believe. If this were the case the VA would have tried their best to reduce most of my ratings. Even if the VA does try to reduce your previous/current rating they (the VA) would have to send you a proposed reduction letter where you would have sixty days to respond, and your rating would not be reduced until after the VA makes a new decision. You would have sixty days to submit new evidence to support your claim against reduction and or increase. Al329 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder john999 Posted November 1, 2021 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted November 1, 2021 I have filed many claims and the VA has never attempted to reduce me. However, the VSO's I have used have constantly warned me not to file for increases for fear of being reduced. I filed a claim for an increase about a year ago and got a major increase from VA. Don't let fear rule you. Al329 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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