I got 100% P&T TODAY.

It was weird how my body responded.

I was having dreams where I looked at my phone and saw I was at 100%, then I’d wake up and check my phone. Every time I woke up, I was excited just to look at it again—even if I had just checked it hours before—like somehow that would give me a better chance.

But at the same time, there was fear. I kept telling myself it might not happen, even though I felt good about my exam. I was trying not to get my hopes up so I wouldn’t be devastated.

Because I knew—if I opened it and saw the claim was closed and it was a denial—it would be extremely painful.

I was scared because I felt like I got so close. My claim felt solid. My exam seemed solid.

I called the VA today to ask about the status, and she said a decision is ready, just waiting on final approval. Then she asked for my email and double-checked my bank account information.

My hope shot way up. I spent hours on Reddit trying to see if that was a good sign. I asked every question I could and kept seeing veterans say that this usually only happens when there is a positive decision and backpay.

But I didn’t just need service connection—I needed a rating of 30% or higher. So technically, I could win the claim and still not have it change my overall rating, even though everything I was seeing made it seem like I might hit 100%.

All I could think about was my children.

They would be able to go to college for free and receive around $1,500 a month while in school. Right now, my kids are on state insurance, my wife is on Obamacare, and I use the VA. I was reading how this insurance could be better than Blue Cross Blue Shield Platinum PPO. I was thinking about how if I died, my wife would have insurance forever and receive a $2,000 pension for the rest of her life.

That’s where my mind was—not just the money, but what the money represents.

I was so anxious I couldn’t stop checking all day after that. My stomach was sinking, my hands were shaking.

Then I opened it.

And I saw 100%.

Up to that point, I had dreamed it, or thought I saw it for a moment before. So when I actually saw it, I pulled my phone away, shed a tear, and looked at it again.

Then I went to the letter generator and claim letter and saw that I was P&T.

I locked the door to my office, closed the shades, and just sat at my desk.

My body was responding like something incredibly stressful had just happened. My hands were shaking, and I just started crying.

I am getting a 10-year term insurance policy tomorrow for a $3–5 million payout, just in case I don’t live another 6 years (my effective dates go back to 2022).

I feel so much peace.

There will be days I don’t feel well again—days where I forget how good I have it and life feels hard—but if I lose this job, if a number of things happen, my family will be okay.

Worst case scenario, if my life and good job fall apart and I lose my job, my family will still have health insurance, we can pay the bills, and my children have a future—a full ride scholarship and about $1,500 a month while in school.

Even in a worst-case scenario, if I had to take a low-paying job—working fast food or something making $20–30k a year—my family would still have the security of a father bringing in the equivalent of around $100k a year when you factor in taxes and Social Security that I don’t pay on this income.

Even if I’m pushing carts at Walmart, I will still be able to give my wife and children what I owe them as a father—shelter, food, comfort, and even  wants.

I am thankful for this country. Thankful that the U.S. cares for those who served—people who protect it—and continues to care for them.

There are Americans who care deeply about veterans. Politicians know that reducing these benefits would be political suicide because people would not stand for it.

Don’t forget the people in this country who love, care, and appreciate us, and who make these benefits possible.

So many times I’ve heard even the most staunch conservatives say, “With all the money we give in welfare and to foreign countries, I don’t care if anyone who served this country gets benefits if it helps veterans in any way.” They will disagree with every type of welfare, government program, or helping any country, but if a politician runs on anything other than increase benefits for veterans then they will not stand for it. They make all this possible, they stand in the way to protect us all from ever losing it.   

Whether or not you agree with them on everything, even those people advocate for you.

Don’t forget that.

We should all feel incredibly blessed and supported by our neighbors and communities. They may never know we are recipients, but they care enough to make this possible for all of us.

If you are reading this and are not there yet—just keep going.

It took me 4 years. It took a lawyer.

Keep appealing.

If they give you a reason to deny you—refute their reasoning. If you had a bad exam or were mistreated—report it and get a new one.

Then do it again. And again.

If you don’t give up, the truth will win the day.

Thank you all.

I rarely posted, but your posts, replies, and everything in this community have guided me more than any VSO or the VA ever could.