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Legit Organizations To Help with Filing Claim from 90% to 100%

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Top G

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** Edited:  Included my VA decision letter from 2009 with medical descriptions and percentages awarded.

I'm a Service-Connected Disability Rating of 90% with just over 20-years of active duty in the USMC.  I've been retired since 2009 with my 90% rating ever since.  Since then, some of my documented rating disabilities have worsened.  The ringing in my left ear has worsened to the point the ringing is always there and loud enough to where it makes it difficult to concentrate.  My grenade concussion that caused me to lose eyesight for a short period of time back in the 90s....I believe has caused for me to have a torn retina a few years ago as the concussion may have weakened my retina.  Recently had 2 stents implanted, diabetes, shoulder pain has worsened making it harder to sleep on my sides....and on and on.  Over 20-years of active duty in Combat Arms and in combat sure does wear a body down...

So, I'm now looking to seek a higher compensation to 100% P&T.

I have previously reached out to the DAV and another organization...can't recall the name...but no forward momentum on either for assistance.  Now, I'm considering other organizations that will charge me money to help...like 360 Veteran.  Don't know of others, but I'm to a point to where I feel I should be rated at a higher rating than where I have been since 2009.

Interested in hearing from those of you who have gone to other agencies/organizations for assistance in filing VA disability claims to raise your previous rating.

Thank you all.

Pages from 2009 - VA Decision Letter_Redacted_Page_2.png

Pages from 2009 - VA Decision Letter_Redacted_Page_1.png

Edited by Top G
Updated with VA decision letter from 2009.
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Top G   If you can’t do it on your own. I would go to different Law firms and talk to them about your disability’s. Who did your, a original claims and what did they say. 90% could be (85) or (94) VA Maths or in between. One thing is that, you are the person that has the most skin in the game so do your research. Get someone that has access to (VBMS) so they can see your claim in real time. Simper Fi Brother

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Begin this by researching 38 CFR to find what the rating tables say about your conditions. Also check your actual rating list on va.gov and run those numbers through a VA disability calculator. It is good to know how far you actually need to go to get to 100%. If you are rated 85% they round up, or if you are 94% then it is rounded down. Should be easier to hit 100% if they rounded down. Reality is that you need to hit 95% to round up because in this system the only way you can actually get 100% is if you have 1 condition rated at 100%. The fractional system for multiple conditions will never hit 100%.

When you ID the ratable info, compare the ratings with what your current conditions are. If you got worse, then you know what needs to be documented to get that increase. Check your current medical records to see if this is documented or if you need to get it documented through your primary care provider. X-rays, MRI's and hearing tests, and anything else you need can be requested by your PCP if you give them reason to evaluate the severity of the condition. Example would be to go to your PCP and complain about the hearing problem, you should be referred to the ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist or similar. They will do the workup. Tell them what your hearing was like before and how it is worse today, and they should document your current condition. Look at that and see if it takes you over the hump for a higher rating. 

Do the same/similar with other conditions you have. After you do this, then gather your documentation and write a lay statement to support the request. Lay statements are not medical opinion, but instead eye witness to how your condition affects your behavior and abilities. Get additional lay statements that confirm what your daily behavior is like/has change over xx years/months/weeks from family, workmates, and friends. Lay statements can sway the decision if it is close to equipoise then they will push it in your favor.

Gather all of this together, reference everything by date/time or page/paragraph in your lay statement that supports your claim so that the rating official can find it easily. Then submit your claim for increase.

Edited by pwrslm
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47 minutes ago, pwrslm said:

Begin this by researching 38 CFR to find what the rating tables say about your conditions. Also check your actual rating list on va.gov and run those numbers through a VA disability calculator. It is good to know how far you actually need to go to get to 100%. If you are rated 85% they round up, or if you are 94% then it is rounded down. Should be easier to hit 100% if they rounded down. Reality is that you need to hit 95% to round up because in this system the only way you can actually get 100% is if you have 1 condition rated at 100%. The fractional system for multiple conditions will never hit 100%.

When you ID the ratable info, compare the ratings with what your current conditions are. If you got worse, then you know what needs to be documented to get that increase. Check your current medical records to see if this is documented or if you need to get it documented through your primary care provider. X-rays, MRI's and hearing tests, and anything else you need can be requested by your PCP if you give them reason to evaluate the severity of the condition. Example would be to go to your PCP and complain about the hearing problem, you should be referred to the ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist or similar. They will do the workup. Tell them what your hearing was like before and how it is worse today, and they should document your current condition. Look at that and see if it takes you over the hump for a higher rating. 

Do the same/similar with other conditions you have. After you do this, then gather your documentation and write a lay statement to support the request. Lay statements are not medical opinion, but instead eye witness to how your condition affects your behavior and abilities. Get additional lay statements that confirm what your daily behavior is like/has change over xx years/months/weeks from family, workmates, and friends. Lay statements can sway the decision if it is close to equipoise then they will push it in your favor.

Gather all of this together, reference everything by date/time or page/paragraph in your lay statement that supports your claim so that the rating official can find it easily. Then submit your claim for increase.

Thank you for the informative information and links.  I've also updated my initial post with my 2009 VA decision letter so you and others can see where they rated me.

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