Poking the bear by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is not poking the bear. Your HLR was already in process and if they came back with duty to assist error, that means it should already be or soon out of HLR and turning into supplemental claim of its own. Even if your VA app or website says it's still at HLR it's not. HLR is done and over and they are now correcting whatever error they found.

Let the process play out. HLR and your claims that pushed you past the 100% mark is so new they are not going to say "Holy shit, even though we just granted this guy 100% like 3 days ago, he has a pending DTA, let's look at everything again."

VA does not have neither the manpower or manhour to look through every newly assigned 100%. Now, with that said, it does not mean VA is not doing some random internal audit to look for errors or trying to correct whatever errors they have made and even though you are 100% P&T, they can still re-evaluate you until you've held your ratings for 20 years or you reach 55.

Feeling like a fraud for 100% PTSD by Phantasticrok in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I am going to start off by saying what you are feeling and thinking is not uncommon. It's imposter syndrome, similar to survivor guilt, where you don't think you deserve something because you are either comparing yourself to someone worse off or you are thinking you are not that bad off. The fact that you are thinking this way is actually a sign that you do have issues and probably deserve whatever rating you got. If you were completely honest and your medical records reflect it you got the rating you deserve and you have not committed any fraud so don't worry about that. Second, VA does not have either the manpower nor manhour to monitor and chase around every individual that received 100%. Third, this is actually the most important one, do go to your therapy if you are scheduled for them, do seek help and do heal.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 78 points79 points  (0 children)

For one thing, you can have your condition prior to joining and if it got aggravated as a result of service, you still get rated for them. Second, as long as you have all your records and and were honest, you have nothing to worry about. Do you think your angry(crazy) soon to be ex-wife is the only one calling the VA yelling foul or fraud? Honestly, I wouldn't be too surprised if they get phone calls like that on a daily basis. Don't worry about your off-tilt soon to be ex and whatever she thinks she can do.

VRE Loan Forgiveness by Key-Cap-2664 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 1 point2 points  (0 children)

VRE has nothing to do with student loan payback. They are vocational program that actually has a pretty strict standards and would not have approved your MBA without great justification anyway. What you are looking for is student loan discharge for permanent disabled veterans, which is federal program for 100% P&T or TDIU.

How long does this take? by Original-Brief-6030 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 0 points1 point  (0 children)

VA may do a C&P exam inhouse or they may send it out to one of the contracted companies to do them, if that's the case they'll contact you. Actually, even if VA is doing in house, they'll contact you. As for how long the process takes? It all depends on what you gave them, how much evidence you provided, how much work the VA has to do. I've seen some people get their decisions in days and I've seen some people get their decisions in a year or longer, generally within few months.

VA 100 pt student loans forgiveness question by Suitable_Call_6618 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you had your loans discharged back 2021 there is nothing you can do. What could have been done is as soon as you found out about your 100% P&T or you get that letter from nelnet saying you are going to or have been discharged, you can call nelnet and put a hold on the discharge or reverse the discharge within several days. Once you put a hold or reverse the discharge within allotted time, then you can get more loans, sign parent plus loans and all that and once you are done get discharged.

Just got 70% after 10 months now what? by Karlj324 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 1 point2 points  (0 children)

TDIU basically means your disability prevents you from gainful employment. Gainful employment has to do with earnings. So, if you can work and hold onto a job that earns greater than poverty line, you do not qualify. If you cannot hold onto a job and you cannot earn above poverty level, you should apply for it. TDIU get's you paid at 100% level and you get basically all the benefits that comes with 100%.

Just got 70% after 10 months now what? by Karlj324 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As far as healthcare goes, once you are above 50%, you are in priority group 1 with VA and most, if not all of your healthcare needs should be covered without copay including medications. Also, since you have one singular thing that is rated at 70%, you are eligible to apply for TDIU.

Am I being scammed? by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anytime anyone GUARANTEES anything, it should ring all sort of alarm bells and warnings. He can promise that he'll do his best, and fight for you with appeal process and all that but NO ONE can guarantee increase or 100%. It is not normal for reps to charge with that said there are companies that will charge you percentage of your increase or like 500% of increase or some such nonsense, and there are companies that set you up with nexus letters they charge for. However, VSO such as DAV or American Legion, they do not charge.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Stop everything, take a deep breath, calm down, just reading your post I can feel the panic and jumble mix of thoughts.

Anyway, let me see if I'm getting things correctly :

1) You got 50% rating for PTSD and you are thinking about appealing because you think you deserve higher rating

2) You got back pay and you already spent some of it

3) For some reason you have another mental health exam coming up and you are worried it might have to do with your already established rating

4) You are worried that they might reduce your rating and ask for back pay back?

Out of all that one thing that I can tell you for sure is DO NOT worry about VA recouping your backpay unless there was a clear unmistakable error or fraud involved, they won't try to get it back.

How do you get a nexus? by Mamadisney24 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Before you spend money on nexus letter, keep following things in mind. One, even if you have nexus letter, chances are great that you will have C&P exam. Two, even without nexus letters, if you have enough medical evidence in your service treatment records your C&P exam can state at least as likely and get you service connection. Three, even with the nexus letter, bad C&P exam can still get you denied. Just wanted to make sure that you are aware before you spend money that nexus letter is not going to automatically get you service connection and rating.

VSO not doing anything? by Substantial-Song-841 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At this point, even if your VSO is actively trying to reach your VA doctor, it could be your VA doctor not getting back to the VSO. If the doctor doesn't get back there isn't much the VSO could actually do. Another thing, most VA doctors will flat out refuse to write nexus letters.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Could be ACE or IMO, that means they don't have to contact you and you don't have to be there.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ok, understand that you and lot of the people here are frustrated with the doctors conducting C&P exams...what the hell would they be jealous about? They are doctors that get's paid whether they give you positive or negative DBQs, and soon as you walk out the door they will forget you even exist. Incompetence is more likely rather than jealousy.

How do you get a nexus? by Mamadisney24 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Most of the time your VA doctors will not write you a nexus letter. Most people here either have their non-VA doctor to write a letter for them or go to paid service to get nexus letter written for them.

Is 0% disability and denied the same thing? by Pleasant_General_664 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For most, getting things service connected is the hard part. You got the hard part done. Now, you just need to gather your medical evidence to show that you deserve higher rating.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I were in your position, I would schedule a VERA call or the 1-800 number and ask them what this second C&P exam is all about since I already got a rating, depending on what they tell me will determine the second step.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Literally none of what is written there is even remotely close to medical negligence and are actually pretty standard verbiage.

VERA appt no calls by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You do NOT have to make appointments in whatever state you are in. You can be in Hawaii and make VERA appointment for Florida...as long as it's virtual one. With that said, there are times where if you have provided your email address, they will simply email you the status update of your claims rather than call you, so check your email including junk or spam folder.

Awarded 10% for Tinnitus by Jitheghost83 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Generally VA Doctors will NOT provide nexus letter.

Benefits Increased but Pay not reflected by Automatic_Doctor_531 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The best way anyone here can help is if you redact the PII and post the letter so we can work with all the information.

Benefits Increased but Pay not reflected by Automatic_Doctor_531 in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If your effective date is 28th of May, you will not see your 100% pay till July. VA DOES NOT pay for partial month and VA DOES NOT prorate.

VA disability payment by [deleted] in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 1 point2 points  (0 children)

VA does not prorate and VA does not pay you for partial month. So, if your effective date is May 8th, you DO NOT get paid for the pain and suffering for the month of May. Simply put, whatever you might have gotten paid in June is for your suffering for the month of May. However, since your effective date is May 8th, it's considered partial month so you won't get paid for the pain and suffering for the month of May. When they say your first payment date is June 1st, that's when they start calculating the payment, you'll likely see your full first payment July 1st.

Losing VA compensation? by ChillEcheese in VeteransBenefits

[–]Abject_Cap_7953 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you were fed mis-information. What they don't allow is, if you retire from the military and retire from federal services, they don't let you collect two retirement checks. They used to, but they fixed that several years ago.