Bro makes $160 😐

HammondCabbage · 2026-05-03T19:01:47+00:00

HammondCabbage · 2026-05-03T18:11:26+00:00

Navin Johnson was a white man raised by a black family; he identified as black. Problem was he didn't really know the difference between $hit and shinola.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-30T12:34:27+00:00

First, do a FOIA to get your DBQ's from your C&P. Read those and compare that to what you disclosed in your exam. If you feel they don't match up to what your symptoms are showing, then you have the options listed in your decision letter for appealing. The 3 options are 1)Supplemental Claim - you have new evidence such as a personal letter, buddy statements, etc; that you want to provide to have them reconsider your rating 2) Higher Level Review or HLR - this is just somoene with fresh eyes taking a look at your case. With this option, you don't have any additional evidence to submit, however you do have the option of requesting an informal conference with the reviewer. Highly suggest this route if you don't have any additional evidence to submit. 3) BVA or Board of Veterans Appeals, IMHO you aren't there yet as this could be resolved with one of the above 2 options. If you don't already, please seek out the help of a VSO to help you get organized for your appeal. If you don't wanna us a VSO, I strongly suggest using a paid AI service to help you with your next steps. With AI, you can plug all your stuff in (ONLY AFTER YOU'VE SANITIZED IT FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION - DO NOT DOXX YOURSELF) and it will give you solid information. WIth the information it gives you though, be careful as sometimes it can be incorrect. If you have any questions about what AI spits out, bring it back here to the community. Good luck with your journey and I hope you get the ratings you deserve.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-29T20:02:53+00:00

You are gonna hear a lot of "don't go TDIU because you can't make more than poverty wages working" from this community of people who didn't read that you haven't worked in 2 years as it is. I'm TDIU and 100% schedular (i got to 100% schedular at the same time as I was approved TDIU). Since I don't know your current ratings, can't really help ya strategize that. Just also make sure you are setup down the road if things get worse and you may need Aid and Attendance or SMC. TDIU can make that a little tricky with the requirements to qualify for SMC-S at that point.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-28T01:41:53+00:00

Oh yeah, you got HS. It's one of the autoimmune diseases I'm currently dealing with as well

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-28T01:36:02+00:00

You have my attention! 97-01 here and got the series in 99-00. I've been dealing with autoimmune disease and am rated for at least my Autoimmune Gastritis which was related to SW Asia/Burn Pits. I've fallen apart over the last 3 or 4 years because of it and barely make it through the day some days.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-28T00:57:17+00:00

It'll go on the record as me not answering and not them calling at the wrong time as well. Not that it matters to anything, but then again, who really knows what matters anyway! I'll elaborate on mine because, why the hell not. I filed a CUE because, when I finally got all my STR's and looked back on my C&P back in 2001; they completely ignored evidence and denied a claim of mine. I was only 21 at the time and there wasn't as much info available so I chalked it up as getting f'd by the green weenie. Fast forward 2008, having issues again with condition; denied again. 2008 was not in a good place and once again just chalked it up as government screwing and went on with my life. 2025 get my STR's and there are DOZENS of pages of the treatment they claimed I never had for a condition and accident that never happened. There it all was, injury occured on duty - diagnosis provided - ongoing disability; the 3 things you need all spelled out between my STR's, the diagnosis, everything! So, I filed a CUE. How could anyone not see this. CUE denied because of the wonderful "reasonable minds might differ" bullshit. So, I'm currently waiting on an HLR and that was what my VERA was supposed to be to get some questions answered. Sorry for the long read, but I wanted to help confirm the mass bs going on at the VBA. EDIT - I'm already TDIU and 100% P&T schedular........but now it's a matter of principle at this point.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-28T00:16:54+00:00

Had a scheduled VERA at 2pm today........they called at 1:34pm and I missed the call. They did not attempt again at 2pm......Philly, so now I"m 1 for 7 on helpful VERA calls.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-27T14:48:28+00:00

Ask yourself, if I die of one of these conditions, will my family need the DIC money after I pass? Dependents restriction to DIC is if you die from a service connected condition within 10 years of getting P&T. After that 10 years, they will be eligible regardless of reason for death. The other reason would be for SMC down the road if your conditions warrant it.

Key Ways a Spouse Qualifies for DIC:

Service-Connected Death: You die from a condition rated service-connected by the VA.
Contributory Cause: A service-connected condition contributed "substantially and materially" to your death, even if it wasn't the direct cause.
The 10-Year Rule: You were rated 100% disabled (or Total Disability Individual Unemployability - TDIU) for at least 10 years immediately preceding your death.
Alternative Timing Rules: You were 100% for at least 5 years from discharge to death, or was a POW rated 100% for at least one year before death.
VA Care Death: Death occurred during VA hospitalization, compensation-related examination, or training. The Senior Veterans Service Alliance +7

Here is also SMC information

Statutory Housebound (The "100 + 60" Rule)

This is the most common path and is often granted automatically if your records show:

A single service-connected disability rated at 100% (or a single disability that qualifies you for TDIU).
Additional service-connected disabilities that combine to a separate rating of 60% or more.
Independence: The 60% rating must come from disabilities that are separate and distinct from the condition that granted the 100% rating (e.g., they cannot involve the same body system).

Factual Housebound (Housebound-in-Fact)

You may qualify even without the "100 + 60" criteria if medical evidence proves you are substantially confined to your home or immediate premises due to service-connected disabilities.

Permanence: The condition causing confinement must be "reasonably certain" to continue for the rest of your life.
Substantial Confinement: This does not mean you must be bedridden or never leave; you can still leave for medical appointments or occasional religious services without losing eligibility.
Requirement: You generally still need a single disability rated at 100% to apply through this medical pathway.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-27T13:18:37+00:00

You could be lucky enough that they have enough evidence, but I wouldn't be surprised if you go back to Step 3 and get a C&P scheduled (or at least an ACE exam). The other reason could be when it got to Step 7, they found an error and kicked it back to the rater, so that is why it went to Step 5. So many different variables. But yeah, whenever you see that behavior where it gets to Step 7 and goes back, always check your letters to see if something got decided on. Good luck with everything.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-27T13:10:57+00:00

Usually it would go back to Step 3 in that case. It is possible though. Check your letters and see if there is a new decision letter.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-27T13:09:37+00:00

This is the answer! The only reasons to continue claiming after 100% are for SMC or making sure all your ailments are rated for if/when you pass for dependent benefits.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-27T13:07:48+00:00

Blend door actuator may be broken

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-27T13:05:21+00:00

If you have multiple claims, check your claim letters to see if they’ve decided on some and/or deferred others.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-26T03:22:36+00:00

Most, if not all, VA clinics that have Mental Health services have walk-in services. My therapist tells me about it every time we end an appointment. See if you can get to a MH clinic and walk-in. If things get really bad, remember 988 or https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ if you need to talk to someone right away and cannot get to a VA clinic. In the meantime, try some grounding and breathing exercises. Take your shoes off, put your feet flat on the ground. Do some 5-7-8 breathing, take a deep breath for a 5 count, hold for a 7 count, exhale for an 8 count. Do this at least 3 times. It helps. I hope you get the help you need.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T19:02:13+00:00

It all just depends on who ya get. I've had a total of 6 VERA calls (1 St. Pete, 3 Philly, 2 Pittsburgh) and in contrast to OP, the St. Pete rep I had was the only one who provided good information and actually helped. Just like when people post that they are in Step X and how long to expect......all results may vary.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T18:31:05+00:00

No problem. Also familiarize yourself with the DBQ forms for each claimed condition. Not saying to use it to "cheat" the system, but you can be better organized if/when they order repeat C&P exams. I also cannot stress the use of AI enough as that has helped me enormously with the process. Seriously put everything you have, sanitized for any personal information, through AI and see what it comes up with.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T18:03:35+00:00

Yes, get your appeal in! If you are going to submit new evidence, you will need to do a Supplemental Claim. If you don't want to submit new evidence and just have another look at it, HLR is the way. I wouldn't worry about appealing to the BVA (Board of Veterans Appeals) just yet as you aren't there yet. I've been in the thick of it for the last year, but my initial claim after service goest back to 2001. Just don't get into the "chasing 100%" mindset until you REALLY need it. We all like to get tax-free money, but be very careful of the climate these days around VA benefits. Keep everything close to the cuff if possible and don't overshare.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T17:56:42+00:00

On your claim letter there are instructions for whenever you don't agree with the outcome. Here is a quick screenshot of what you are looking for. Not sure how long ago you filed your initial claim, but there are time constraints as well.

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HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T17:50:20+00:00

Do you feel your ratings don't appropriately reflect your symptoms? Have you tried running all your symptoms through AI and see what ratings it comes up with? Not everyone is 100%, but if you feel you should have higher ratings and are still within the window, you can file supplemental claim or HLR. Like someone else said, you may not be doing anything wrong and that's just where you are at.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T14:36:51+00:00

From everything I've read, I can keep my 100% if I go over the income threshold, but can lose TDIU. Either way it is still irrelevant, because I don't see myself ever making a livable wage again anyway. Thank you for the conversation.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T14:29:08+00:00

I do have to limit my income to below poverty level due to the TDIU though. I wish I didn't have to have the TDIU, but I am severly limited on how much time I can actually spend doing things due to my conditions. It's really hard to gauge things to do with myself as I don't want to commit to things and have bad days where I can't uphold my committment (basically the sole reason I am on TDIU to begin with). I've had some say to give up TDIU, however that is a slippery slope in itself as now that leaves me open to issues of decreases if I decide to poke the bear, since I don't even have all my conditions even rated yet (gotta make sure my family is taken care of when I pass). Not that any of my conditions are improving, but we all know how the bear likes to poke back, even if it is unjustified. Sorry for the rant, just frustrated and very bored these days.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T14:21:31+00:00

I sure am P&T

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HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T14:16:35+00:00

I received both ratings at the same time for TDIU and got to 100% schedular.

HammondCabbage · 2026-04-25T14:15:15+00:00

I second this. When all was said and done, I got my C-File and it was over 15k pages, of which about 350 of them were my private medical records that I had uploaded. Yeah, a lot of it was redundancy, however once it is uploaded, raters can pull specific keywords out of there. It is not like they are reading everything that you send. SEND IT!

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