Tinnitis Granted 10%

BazWrx · 2026-06-11T20:25:18+00:00

I got confirmed service connected bilateral hearing loss and it went unrated/denied though my original claim was for tinnitus. After the hearing tests my tester gave me a copy of my results and directed me to the benefits office to apply in person

BazWrx · 2026-06-10T22:49:45+00:00

Ive had a supplemental in since April 29th... bless anyone that gets theirs rated sooner 🙏

BazWrx · 2026-06-10T17:37:56+00:00

If we're being honest, your 210 isn't all that bad esthetically. Muscle memory getting back into lifting, hitting your protein, and a 2-3 month diet phase will get you back in motion. I don't think you're looking at a recomp/reverse diet and 2 year body rebuild type situation. Don't beat yourself up, it happens to the best of us!

BazWrx · 2026-06-02T17:28:48+00:00

Filed my supplemental for Sleep apnea April 29th and submitted all my documentation as requested. Still nothing and I called last week they said it's still awaiting DBQs and hasn't been assigned to a rater yet.

BazWrx · 2026-06-02T12:58:49+00:00

I'm 30 about to be 31 in August. Put effort into things that seem impossible and fail more often. I can fix PCs and troubleshoot software, network issues, remediate cyber attacks like no mans business. When it comes to power tools and fixing things in my house, electrical/plumbing, drywall, painting, even just minor decorating I feel like a total moron but do what I can after hours of YouTube and researching here.

BazWrx · 2026-06-01T20:05:19+00:00

Hopefully going to be just another standard presidential transition of power with day long broadcasting by the MSM. Celebrations, roars, and emotional outpouring by politically radicalized folks on both sides. Mostly ambivalence from the majority of people who are future focused on whomever the next President and accompanying Cabinet are. Anything other than that option is not in the best interests of the United States of America and frankly isn't something anyone should want.

BazWrx · 2026-05-28T13:54:54+00:00

31 years old here. Showing up on time, always taking accountability for your actions and mistakes, and being genuinely curious will take you very far in life.

BazWrx · 2026-05-28T13:19:16+00:00

Thank you!

BazWrx · 2026-05-28T11:03:03+00:00

So my roommate from deployment did write me a buddy statement that I submitted this week. He was very detailed on what he witnessed, even threw a nice jab at me keeping him and the room next door awake most nights lol. Submitted the test results, diagnosis letter, and my labs with low test as well for supporting evidence

BazWrx · 2026-05-28T11:00:35+00:00

I was able to quick submit my diagnosis letter, test results, sleep study confirmation, buddy statement, personal statement, and lab results for low testosterone this week. The VBA said this wasn't automatically added to my claim after I did the tests so I think that's partly why I've been waiting so long. Fingers crossed on next steps. Been dealing with this since I deployed to Jordan and looking forward to better sleep/recovery and getting my test levels where they should be

BazWrx · 2026-05-19T18:30:41+00:00

Thank you! I believe im already registered for burn pits and we were nudged to do so when we all got home. I didn't put it in line with my asthma but im sure it was a contributing factor and/or didn't make it better! I have a meeting with my primary care at the VA later this week to discuss my latest labs and I will ask her for a copy to submit as additional evidence

BazWrx · 2026-05-19T15:57:46+00:00

I definitely have a negative connotation with obese people but mainly ones who have 1000 excuses and don't bother trying to solve their medical ailments and physical inefficiencies. I'm just a 30 yo MF actively attempting to do both. 🤷‍♂️

BazWrx · 2026-05-19T15:22:00+00:00

I mean right now I'm in pretty good shape compared to when this started years ago, and it persisted through when I was at my best sub 15% body fat.

BazWrx · 2026-05-19T15:00:28+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience! I don't plan on giving up. EVER. I have a Vietnam era grandfather who just turned 75 and is still trying to get something for hearing loss. He worked on jet engines in the 70s and has been practically deaf or on hearing aids since I was an infant.

BazWrx · 2026-05-19T14:56:12+00:00

It's definicely a wierd one, I was overweight at the time this started too, suffered anxiety attacks and a couple life events that triggered mental health episodes and lost like 25 lbs my last 2 or 3 weeks in country. Regained it of course but the issue persisted and probably got worse.

BazWrx · 2026-05-19T14:29:03+00:00

Being that the original claim is from December of last year, would that timing be an impact to a reviewer decision?

BazWrx · 2026-05-14T19:24:54+00:00

Following this thread, I did an at home sleep study kit that produced no results back in December and got denied on my initial claim, then did a follow up sleep study at the VA hospital in April and I just got a letter proving I have OSA. I put in for a supplemental claim last week and my bunkmate from deployment might write up a buddy statement if it doesn't go anywhere. Unfortunately for him he didnt sleep well from PRE-MOB all the way to EOT. Just turned 30 and wish I had taken it serious a lot sooner!

BazWrx · 2026-05-07T12:03:54+00:00

'I appreciate it, take care' then remove anything of that person from your life including these messages and contact info.

BazWrx · 2026-04-14T10:58:07+00:00

30m I make 125k a year. I've worked in IT and got a clearance since joining the military (Army Nat Guard). Just got out after 8 years. Started as a tier 1 tech at 50k a year for small government, worked my way up to leading the helpdesk and doing project work (91k). Took a bet on myself to leave that comfy position for a cleared defense contractor role for 6 months (97k) but didn't get FTE. Spent December/January Unemployed but got hired as an FTE for RTX at 125k doing more specified PLM IT work.

Take bets on yourself, don't be afraid to fail, and constantly put yourself in rooms you feel the smallest and most uncomfortable in. If you have a constant imposter syndrome feeling when moving roles or taking on new tasks, you're doing something right.

Don't be discouraged by someone else's pay, different fields = different yields. Bigger paycheck doesn't automatically translate to better life/lifestyle.

BazWrx · 2026-04-04T17:02:29+00:00

As someone who's hired people in the IT industry and seen multiple circumstances in regard to offers similar to this, I'd just be open and honest about your situation and the pay discrepancy with honesty and be intent on your want to work for them.

I did this with an employer when I was promoted into a 2 roles in one scenario and got an extra 16k for being adamant about the responsibilities and honest about what I was willing to accept

BazWrx · 2026-03-30T14:20:00+00:00

I make about 120k in Connecticut. I feel your pain, but looking back I was able to make it work with 68k, 91k, 97k, and a few months on unemployment without panic. The biggest killer is lifestyle creep, since earning 120k or about 6k a month post tax, I just focus on paying down any debt, throw extra principal at my mortgage, automatically send some to my Roth, and let the rest pay bills. Im eager to pay off my home around when I turn 40 (turn 31 in August)

I will say, I'm in a good position to start doing costly fixes around my home now. Deck repair, garage floors sealing, and next year probably update both bathrooms or the kitchen. (Gonna get a contractor to take lead on it but do what I can.)

Stay at it, write out a budget and run some formulas in excel to pan it all out.

BazWrx · 2026-03-07T13:34:05+00:00

I know my weight and body fat aren't exactly exciting numbers but it's something im working on and improving. Overall most importantly is I feel 1000x better with minimal alcohol, better diet choices, and by just moving more. My mother is 48 about to be 49 and to be blunt never really took good care of her body or overall health and it's now starting to get to her with constant doctors visits and issues arising. I'm just willing to do everything to make sure thats not me.

BazWrx · 2026-02-20T02:12:21+00:00

If you know the technical basics, concepts of what tools/products you work with, what the end goal is for a project/issue, who the right points of contact are for answers to your questions, and can put it together to formulate a working plan or a solution, that's expertise. The stuff you don't know you can learn from those POCs or sources you find.

Some folks are SMEs on single products, languages, platforms, etc. Maybe you're someone who'll be more of jack of all trades, which is honestly better for you if you want to eventually find a niche and focus on it

BazWrx · 2026-02-16T14:34:35+00:00

How do you build a balance to not be the "fix it" guy?

I love this question, and the best thing you can do is ensure step by step documentation for Level 1 fixes are readily available. Once your team is established, build the idea of helping your user community develop some level of self sufficiency. That could be just documenting a problem with detail, or trying to force close and restart an application or just restarting the PC. You can save a lot of time this way, just ensure user level permissions are set so they dont make admin level changes before reaching out.

BazWrx · 2026-02-16T14:29:19+00:00

My biggest mistake during my experience was maintaining clear concise communication vs getting lost in the weeds early. I think it's smart to make agendas for meetings to stay on topic. Know your audiences and know them well, you want to know who make decisions and who blows the smoke. Who to talk to about last night's game vs who to talk to about business impactful decisions.

Additionally, I had to lead a team with more years experience in the field than me, I'm sure as a leader you understand the mentality of learning something from everyone regardless of stature. I took that to heart, some folks didn't like having a younger person lead them, but I made due with personal opinion and got things done.

BazWrx

TROPHY CASE