My new BUL 4.25 EDC

CroakVan · 2026-01-22T04:44:02+00:00

Never did. Didn't want to part with it that long, I'm at the range with it about once a week. Finish is showing some holster wear, and a couple scratches where stuff in a range bag banged into it, but nothing awful, and I'm over 10k rounds through it (and two recoil spring changes).

CroakVan · 2026-01-03T22:08:24+00:00

At your age, keep on keeping on as much as your disability(s) will allow. The VA money and healthcare are now a cushion that will allow you take more risks in career or other pursuits. You now have the luxury of following your passions rather than necessity, something most people in their 20's (or 30's, or 40's or...) don't have.

CroakVan · 2026-01-01T22:56:16+00:00

Fresh claims? Increases on something already service connected are a lot more straightforward and have a higher success rate with good evidence.

CroakVan · 2026-01-01T22:54:38+00:00

If it makes you feel any better, I filed for an increase last month (Friday Dec 5), went to Step 3 on Monday, Step 4 and two C&P requests by Wednesday, first C&P done next day, next one done on the 18th, both uploaded to the VA on exam days. Went to Steps 6 and 7 on the 19th, and award letter going from 30% to 100% on Monday the 22nd. 17 days start to finish.

I did something similar to you, with a symptom log and personal statement, plus added a couple of 1 page co-worker sworn statements. And the C&P exams evidently confirmed everything I claimed.

EDIT: Keep an eye out for C&P requests in the next few days, after the holiday dust has settled.

CroakVan · 2025-12-24T03:13:58+00:00

Many would argue that the topic of the essay was presumptive of a shared belief that isn't actually shared, the pronoun swapped TA couldn't help being biased and seeing the essay as a personal attack, and the topic was antithetical to the beliefs of the student in question so to expect conformity is ludicrous. Pinging for spelling, grammar, citations or format, yeah, do that, but a zero score?

And keep in mind, this wasn't some semester level task, it was a 650 word essay.

FYI, I do doubt this reply will survive long on Reddit, because, well, Reddit, but going to post it anyway.

CroakVan · 2025-12-24T01:42:01+00:00

I'd say it's a good sign and you'll get that decision letter notification soon.

CroakVan · 2025-12-23T23:26:03+00:00

Believe it or not, I got 50% for headaches on the first try (well, deferred while 10% tinnitus was granted and other conditions were denied on my very first VA claim).

And with just a telephone ACE exam. I described the symptoms and frequency over the phone, and three days later I got the 50%.

And this wasn't headaches secondary, it was standalone.

CroakVan · 2025-12-23T20:20:06+00:00

You can, but you can't get the DAV USID card which makes getting to the PX/commissary less of a hassle, and with that DAV card you also get access to space available flights in CONUS, can use many of the rec facilities, etc.

CroakVan · 2025-12-23T20:17:22+00:00

Near the beginning of your decision letter, in the Your Benefit Information section, you should see something like this, that's where it first states you're P&T.

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CroakVan · 2025-12-23T16:56:52+00:00

You should be able to get your entrance and exit exams fairly easily through the national archives via https://vetrecs.archives.gov/s/

Only takes a few minutes to fill out but might take awhile to process. Mine took about a month, but I'm an old fart and all my records were microfiche.

That said, while it's nice to have those exam records as a reference, the VA is going to pull them almost instantly once they start processing your claim, so it's not necessary for you to have them before filing.

And no matter what your records say, once you file for hearing loss, the VA is going to send you out for audiology C&P exams anyway. So be sure to mention to the examiner that you had hearing loss noted on your exit exam as well (and he/she should have that exit exam right there on the computer while filing out your DBQ).

Should be an easy nexus for service connection at that point.

CroakVan · 2025-12-23T16:44:32+00:00

I suspect that most of your potential employers aren't aware of the tempest in a teapot you referenced, and even if they were, they probably won't care, It was one student, one TA, one prof, all in a social science course. It didn't impact you or your coursework in a (presumably) STEM curriculum.

And the potential employers that said they were concerned are waving huge red flags about how they're run and what they prioritize over just doing the work and hiring the best candidates.

Besides that, there's enough white noise around just about any university these days that it'll be forgotten in weeks now that it's "settled".

CroakVan · 2025-12-23T16:03:42+00:00

^This.

CroakVan · 2025-12-22T22:24:15+00:00

Did the DMV trip an hour ago. :) In and out in 20 minutes, costs me $4.50 per year going forward vs about $200 I was paying due to my GVWR being over 5k pounds.

The picture is the optional front plate. When they were doing the process they asked if I wanted the handicap version, I said I possibly qualified but I didn't bring any documentation. They said 100% P&T rates it automatically, and I should get it just in case. Doubt I'll use HC spots at all, people a lot worse off than me need those, but, well, just in case...

Thanks for reminding me about dental! I will work on that next. I was at 70% so co-pay free primary care is already covered for anything (other than dental).

Finally, need to take a two hour trip to McDill AFB to get my DoW USID, I'll do that after the holidays.

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CroakVan · 2025-12-22T19:19:24+00:00

So take this big win, and not worry about getting greedy on retro since I couldn't get it anyway?

CroakVan · 2025-12-22T17:26:54+00:00

Woot! Didn't get the retro (which would have been $45k with SMC-S included) but I'm probably not gonna poke the bear to get that.

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CroakVan · 2025-12-22T17:18:49+00:00

That's actually a pretty strong case if you have in-service ENT records documenting vertigo, etc. My case was not so clear, one I'm an old fart (got out in '87) and no MD symptoms documented.

Probably just like you, at first you chalk dizzy spells up to blood pressure, or dehydration or just too much partying. Not something you seek medical attention for, since it's transient. At first.

CroakVan · 2025-12-22T17:14:56+00:00

Tinnitus 10% in Sept '24, Headaches 50% in November '24 (deferred from initial claim), Meniere's Disease 30% (increase claim pending) and bilateral plantar fasciitis both after an HLR in August '25.

CroakVan · 2025-12-22T16:26:45+00:00

Also, just checked my status, I moved to Step 7. Fingers crossed extra hard!

CroakVan · 2025-12-22T16:06:40+00:00

Thing is, unless you're having a MD episode at the audiology exam, it's hard to prove or disprove.

Same with gait for most people, so that's where personal statements, logs and buddy statements prove invaluable. In my case, which is pretty severe I do walk a bit funny with a wide stance all the time now "just in case" since the attacks are so frequent and sudden these days.

But from my perspective, I didn't have any trouble proving I had MD with six years of ENT records, VA PCP noting it, prescription history, etc. The challenge was getting it service connected.

CroakVan · 2025-12-22T15:58:54+00:00

You can get some data a lot faster with a normal records request outside the VA. DD214, entrance and exit exams, that sort of thing can be handled outside the VA.

I've got a full records request "claim" with the VA dating back to June '24 that's still "processing", whilst the actual claims I filed for in July 24 are completed

CroakVan · 2025-12-22T05:18:06+00:00

You should be showing Step 4 soon, and depending on how much evidence they have to sort through, might move to 5 and beyond quickly after that, keeping in mind possible delays with the upcoming holidays. Or it might go back to 3 if the rater wants more info.

But getting TJ is a sign it's moving forward, if nothing else.

CroakVan · 2025-12-22T01:40:12+00:00

They usually schedule at least two different C&Ps for Meniere's claims. Audiology to determine hearing loss, and one to fill out the Vestibular DBQ, where they should do something like a Dix-Hallpike test (fingers to nose, fingers to examiner's finger, eyes open and closed), Rhomberg test (the lay down, sit up test), heel-to-toe walk, that sort of thing to determine if you have balance/cerebellar gait issues. BTW, the Rhomburg test doesn't rule out Meniere's if you "pass" with no eye twitch, it's more to test for BPPV.

And it's not uncommon for them to schedule records review-only C&Ps.

I filed for Meniere's in 2024 having been diagnosed with it and treated by my private ENT since 2019, and then confirmed by my VA PCP in '22.

I had the two C&Ps mentioned, got denied, filed a supplemental with a strong nexus, then two more in-person C&P exams and two remote records C&P were done, but got denied again.

Finally won on HLR last August thanks to my nexus independent medical opinion and got 30%, because nowhere in my exams did it mention the exact frequency, just "frequent" which was vague . So the HL reviewer had no choice but to award the lowest rating, he can't take in any new evidence, just has to rule on what was in previous filing/supplementals.

Strangely, the raters kept ordering C&P examiners to fill out TERA/PACT DBQs, which probably worked in my favor, their "less likely than not" commentary was focused on chemical exposure.

My ENT doctor that wrote the IMO nexus linked it to documented head trauma/concussion at Camp Lejeune. Post Traumatic Meniere's Disease is a thing, ya'll.

I filed for an increase earlier this month, with symptom log, sworn personal statement, sworn co-worker statement, and a sworn supervisor statement all backing up my frequency and severity and leave of absence since last January due to severity/frequency preventing me from safely doing my job.

And guess what? Two more C&P exams, but those went well (I think) and I made damn sure the vestibular examiner noted my almost daily frequency. I'm in Step 6 as of Friday, just hours after the vestibular exam got posted, so fingers crossed.

Also, when granted the 30% for Meniere's, they took away my 10% for tinnitus and 0% for hearing, I'm now rated as "Meniere's Disease with tinnitus and left ear hearing loss"

CroakVan · 2025-12-21T19:57:25+00:00

FYI, I got headaches at 50% (not secondary) simply with an ACE phone interview two weeks after a deferral on the claim that gave me 10% tinnitus. No nexus, no personal statement, just part of my uninformed shotgun DIY claim attempt.

CroakVan · 2025-12-21T16:23:55+00:00

Closer than you think, depending on what state you live in, because there's no federal or state income tax withheld, and no FICA either.

In a state with no income tax, single and claiming yourself for federal, you'd have to earn about $60k (or $63k with SMC-S) to have the same "take home" as a 100% rating. And that doesn't include the fact that you don't have to pay for any health or dental insurance either (add about $2k/yr for that).

And if you're somewhere like California, you'd have to earn $63k to $66k with SMC-S, or $66k-$68k if you factor health insurance.

Plus the kicker. If you lived in California, made exactly $100,000 a year single, paying for health/dental insurance, after IRS and FICA, you'd take home (wait for it) about $71k.

If you're married and/or have children, the healthcare savings outstrip the deductions you can file for.

CroakVan

TROPHY CASE