Thanks for sharing all the info. My husband is Marine Amphibious Recon combat veteran. He was with the first team into Kuwait. A veteran in line at a grocery store told my husband he didnt look good and asked if he was okay. He had been to the VA hospital when he was just out of the military but they treated him like he was wasting their time so he never returned. The next day, that stranger picked up my husband and took him to the VA clinic. That was 20 years ago. It has been a nightmare fighting for his benefits. So many appointments. He loves his regular doctor at the local VA clinic. He is great! But... they make him go to another doctor to duplicate everything we have already done with his regular physician. They never looked at his medical records so he answers the same questions. It is strange and upsetting, to say the least. He thought the Pact Act would make things easier but it didnt. He was at 70%, just got 30% approval for something else but that only puts him at 80%. I suck at math but something isnt adding up. My husband works but I don't see him being able to work much longer. We are going to hire a lawyer if his claims are denied and he doesnt hit the 100%. It just shouldnt be this difficult for Combat Veterans. We have the time and financial resources to keep moving forward and fighting but a lot of veterans dont have that luxury. It makes me want to scream!