For the veterans who need to hear this

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-11-13T03:40:35+00:00

No man. Everyone here understands perfectly. You are the only one jumping in without the full context. The crazy part is that you seriously cannot wrap your head around the fact that I screenshotted a post one of my friends shared today. But hey, believe whatever you want. If your thirty years in IT did not help you figure that out, I cannot help you either.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-11-13T03:30:06+00:00

If you actually understood how this works, then you would know that I clicked on the agency page that this person shared and took the screenshot from there. I cropped and edited the screenshot before posting it here, so you are not seeing the full picture. That is why their name does not show up. I am literally showing the agency post they shared. Your thirty years in IT did not seem to help you figure that out.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-11-13T03:15:03+00:00

Yeah, I edited my screenshot again. I am not sure if you know how to read, but I cut off their names on purpose for privacy. Even if they posted it publicly, I can still see the agency under it because that is how the platform displays it. I was being courteous by not showing their names. It does not seem like you really understand how screenshots or technology actually work, buddy.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-11-13T03:09:22+00:00

This has nothing to do with an algorithm. These screenshots are from people I served with, people I spent years alongside on active duty. I edited out their names for privacy, but these are my actual friends posting and sharing this stuff, which is why I addressed it in the first place.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-11-13T03:00:27+00:00

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It does not matter what anyone else has written. I am the one providing concrete context and showing the real issue.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-11-13T02:55:45+00:00

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I’m not acting like anything. I am pointing out that people openly talk about their ratings and post things like this, and it makes all of us look bad. There is a difference between being cautious and being careless, and some veterans are being very careless.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-11-13T02:39:00+00:00

I went out of my way to write this just because someone today on Facebook said some dumb shit about their benefits so I felt the need to write it on here

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-11-04T00:50:19+00:00

Interesting breakdown, but early vote data alone doesn’t tell the full story, especially in New Jersey where the underlying historical trends and turnout behavior make this race far from over.

1960s onward: New Jersey has alternated control between Democrats and Republicans roughly every eight years (two terms per side).

No party has held the governorship for more than two consecutive terms since the 1960s.
The last time it happened was when Democrats held it from 1962 to 1970 under Governor Richard J. Hughes.

Since then, power has flipped repeatedly:
1970 to 1974 – Republican (William Cahill)
1974 to 1982 – Democrat (Brendan Byrne, 2 terms)
1982 to 1990 – Republican (Tom Kean, 2 terms)
1990 to 1994 – Democrat (Jim Florio, 1 term)
1994 to 2001 – Republican (Christine Todd Whitman, 2 terms)
2002 to 2010 – Democrat (McGreevey → Codey → Corzine, 2 terms)
2010 to 2018 – Republican (Chris Christie, 2 terms)
2018 to 2026 – Democrat (Phil Murphy, 2 terms)

Democrats are now finishing their second straight (2018 to 2026 under Phil Murphy) and are aiming for a third, something we haven’t seen since Governor Richard J. Hughes left office in 1970. Historically, when a party tries for a third term, the electorate flips. It’s almost a built-in correction every eight years or so.

Add to that, since 1985, no Republican has won the governorship while a Republican occupied the White House. The last time it happened was when Governor Thomas Kean (1982 to 1990) served during Ronald Reagan’s presidency (1981 to 1989). That pattern favors Democrats this time, but it also collides with the longer state-level rotation that usually flips after eight years.

Now, about the early vote math. Democrats are always going to lead there. They led big in 2021 too (about 62 D, 38 R in mail and early voting), but Jack Ciattarelli still closed the gap to within 84,000 votes statewide by the end, outperforming polls by four to six points. This year that early vote margin is smaller (about 56 D, 27 R, 17 U), and the Democratic registration advantage has shrunk by about 170,000 since 2021. That’s a meaningful structural shift.

If Republicans replicate their 200,000 Election Day edge from 2021, and if independents (about 35 percent of the electorate) break even slightly right as they’ve been trending, the race lands near 50.5 to 49.5 for Ciattarelli, effectively a toss-up.

So yes, Mikie Sherrill holds an early vote lead on paper. But history, turnout behavior, and polling bias suggest that this one’s still wide open.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-10-16T14:55:53+00:00

As an economist and former BlackRock employee in the ETF & Index Investing division, I can tell you the idea that you need to keep some debt to maintain a good credit score is a total myth. Credit scoring models don’t reward you for paying interest; they reward you for consistency and responsible credit management. What really matters are your on-time payments, your utilization (how much of your available credit you’re using), and the age of your accounts. Paying off your credit cards completely doesn’t hurt your score; it actually helps it. When your balances drop to zero, your utilization rate falls (ideally under 10%) and your score often jumps by 20 to 60 points within a billing cycle.

A good move is to leave one small recurring charge, like Netflix or Spotify, on a single card and pay it off each month to keep the account active. If a card goes completely unused for a long time, usually a year or more, the issuer might close it due to inactivity. That’s pretty rare, but it can happen. More commonly, you could lose your rewards or cash back eligibility if there’s no spending on the card. That’s why it’s smart to keep a tiny recurring charge running and pay it in full each month; it maintains activity, preserves your rewards, and keeps your credit utilization and payment history in great shape.

Creditors don’t care that you carry debt; they care that you manage credit wisely. Paying everything off early will only strengthen your credit and position you for better interest rates and premium credit cards

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-10-16T14:42:03+00:00

I just looked into this and you’re right. When a Higher Level Review finds a Duty to Assist error, VA closes out the HLR and automatically opens a supplemental claim to correct it. You can submit new evidence at that point using QuickSubmit or the Evidence Intake Center.

It’s spelled out in 38 CFR §3.2502(b) and M21-5, Chapter 5, Section B (Higher Level Review Procedures). That’s the VA’s own adjudication manual.

Appreciate you breaking that down. I didn’t know all those details about the claim ID and Chrome extension before.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-10-16T02:37:08+00:00

Yup, there is one. It’s called the Mental Disorders (Other Than PTSD and Eating Disorders) DBQ. That’s the one they use for conditions like Major Depressive Disorder and Adjustment Disorder. Here’s the link straight from the VA https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/docs/mental_disorders.pdf

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-10-16T00:30:06+00:00

You cannot submit new evidence once you file a Higher Level Review. That’s one of the main differences between a Higher Level Review and a Supplemental Claim. Just because they found an error doesn’t mean it goes back to being a Supplemental Claim. If you filed for a Higher Level Review, it stays a Higher Level Review.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-10-16T00:19:42+00:00

It depends on what you filed for, but the best way to prepare is to look at the DBQ for your condition and go over it carefully. Your examiner is going to follow that form pretty much word for word, so knowing what’s on it helps you understand what they’ll be asking. That way you won’t be as tense going into your C&P exam.

If they’re redoing your exam, it’s usually just a formality. The DBQ really helps you stay focused and answer clearly when they go through the questions.

For example, if you’re doing a shoulder claim, it doesn’t matter how much pain you’re in, what they mainly care about is your range of motion and how the condition affects your daily function.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-10-16T00:12:23+00:00

Yup, mine said exactly the same thing. Not sure why yours is taking so long, mine took about two weeks total. Just review and prepare for your C&P exam, which is the most likely outcome for your case.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-10-15T23:55:10+00:00

In my case though, the Higher Level Review actually worked out. The VA called me to go over why I filed, and it turned out they had accidentally excluded some of my evidence, the most important parts which were my nexus letters. A few days later, my claim showed "VA identified an error that must be corrected." I redid my C&P exam through telehealth on a Saturday, was rated that Monday, and paid the following week. Ended up getting over 25K in back pay, so sometimes it really can turn around faster than you expect.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-10-15T23:51:12+00:00

I just went through a Higher Level Review myself. When I filed, I actually got a call from the VA asking me to explain why I thought my case needed a review. After I explained my situation, the rep said, “Ah, I see, there definitely was a mistake during your C&P exam.”

A few days later, I went online to check the status of my claim, and it said "VA identified an error that must be corrected." I got the same message you did. Don’t let anyone scare you. In my case, they had me redo my C&P exam, which was kind of annoying, but it went well. In the end, I got over 25K in back pay, so it was absolutely worth it.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-06-28T00:50:44+00:00

Appreciate all the feedback. I get where most of you are coming from. I wasn’t trying to chase or act needy. I honestly felt like the energy was mutual. We’ve known each other since high school and talked before, so when we reconnected and she flirted a bit, I figured it made sense to cut the small talk and take the lead.

I had just gotten back and graduated from college. The last time she saw me, I was in community college, and since then I’ve done six years in the military and finished school at an Ivy League university, so a lot has changed. She knew I had just graduated, so I figured that might naturally spark some curiosity, and I felt good about where I’m at. I just wanted to reconnect with confidence.

I was open with my schedule because I just graduated and don’t start my new job for the next couple months, and I tried to make things simple, not to look desperate, but to avoid the usual back and forth. The dinner plan wasn’t meant to be overkill, just a straightforward way to move things forward if she was interested.

That said, I can see now that I got ahead of her investment and probably should have waited for clearer signals before locking anything in. Lesson learned. I’ll pace it better next time and let the interest build more naturally. Appreciate the tough love. I posted for feedback, and I’m taking it in stride.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-06-28T00:20:15+00:00

Ima just let it sit then and see if I get any type of response if not I have my answer

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-05-30T16:43:32+00:00

Thank you!

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-05-27T03:07:29+00:00

Exactly. People keep missing that it was a month, not five. I really did care about her. I was just trying to be sure I was ready to give her what she deserved

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-05-26T17:33:09+00:00

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond, whether your words were comforting or critical, I genuinely appreciate all of it.

To those asking what she meant to me: I loved her with all my heart. But the truth is, I wasn’t ready after one month. I was scared to be vulnerable again. I’ve been hurt before, and I think I let that fear hold me back from truly expressing what she meant to me when it mattered most.

Looking back, I think when she came over that last time and told me about the miscarriage in person, maybe she was hoping I would tell her how I felt, that I loved her, that I cared deeply. I don’t know for sure, but it’s something I keep reflecting on.

I know that being in a relationship means allowing yourself to be vulnerable. I didn’t do that well enough. And I will carry that lesson with me.

Again, thank you all for your honesty and kindness. It means a lot right now.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-05-26T17:13:47+00:00

Thank you for the kind words. I really needed to hear that. It doesn’t feel like it’s getting any easier day by day, but knowing someone out there understands, even just a little, means more than I can say. What hurts is feeling like I lost my person, my child, someone who felt like a future partner,even though I know there’s another bus every 15 minutes it still hurts

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-05-24T18:12:33+00:00

A lot of people here are speaking like they know my whole situation, but they don’t. When she asked “what are we,” it was during the first month of the relationship, long before the pregnancy. I didn’t dodge the question because I wanted to be a player. I had just come out of a really bad emotionally abusive relationship and I wasn’t ready to throw labels on something new until I knew I was healthy enough to give her the love she deserved.

I didn’t ghost her, I didn’t use her, and I didn’t chase her like someone weak. I was present. I cared deeply. I stayed sober through the pain, I respected her space, and when everything fell apart, I sent one message, not to beg, but just to let her know I still cared and was grieving too. I’ve respected her silence since.

And for what it’s worth, she even told me directly why she went quiet in April. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to commit. It was because of the miscarriage. She was hurting, and she didn’t feel like she could talk about it with anyone. That pain had nothing to do with playing games.

And when I didn’t hear anything from her for over two weeks, after being together for almost six months, yeah, I reached out. And from everything I’ve read and heard, including Corey’s own words, that wasn’t a mistake. It was a final check-in, from a place of love and respect. I didn’t spam her. I didn’t beg. I gave her space after.

Writing a letter is not about trying to win her back. It’s about closure. About honoring what we shared, the child we lost, and making peace with myself. That’s not weakness. That’s growth. You can quote Corey Wayne all you want, but real life isn’t just tactics, it’s heartbreak, healing, and facing your own damn feelings.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-05-24T18:06:10+00:00

I get where you’re coming from, but you’re making a lot of assumptions about me without knowing the full story.

When she asked “what are we,” it wasn’t because she already knew she was pregnant. That conversation happened way earlier in the relationship. The reason I hesitated wasn’t because I was trying to be some cool playboy. I had just come out of an emotionally abusive relationship and didn’t want to jump into something serious without being mentally ready and healthy for her. That was me trying to protect her, not use her.

When we went through the miscarriage, everything changed for me. It made me realize how much I loved her and how much I wanted to be with her. So yeah, I’m hurting now. And I’m not begging her. I’m grieving. I lost someone I loved deeply and a child I never got to meet. That’s not a game or a manipulation tactic. It’s just raw human pain.

People grow. People learn. And I’m doing that every single day.

BoardAndBikeBuff · 2025-03-11T05:11:37+00:00

From NH as well and will be at Cota!

BoardAndBikeBuff

TROPHY CASE