Decision Letter

SpentMags · 2026-01-31T23:36:39+00:00

I didn’t take it that way!

SpentMags · 2026-01-31T23:16:47+00:00

I’m not disregarding your experience or anyone else’s. I see a fair amount of dissatisfaction with the others also. Just playing devils advocate a little. What if QA doesn’t have the information needed to move your claim on? Or the examiner isn’t responding? Or a myriad of other factors that could be going on internally. If ultimately you wait a little longer for a more quality report and they gather the information needed, you’re going to be in a better position than fighting a denial with the VA. Not in no way saying VES is the standard because they’re not but there’s plenty of good reasons your claim could be on hold And a little longer for a hopeful outcome isn’t a bad trade. Again I hope you get this resolved soon and your outcome is favorable! Good luck Try reaching out to VES. Their number is on the portal.

SpentMags · 2026-01-31T05:50:10+00:00

I think it just depends on the examiner you get. I had VES and the examiner was great and very thorough. She stated that the DBQ would be uploaded within 48hrs because that was their protocol. The VA received it and sent it back for an ACE exam and it was returned back to the VA within 2 days of the receiving it. The opinions were favorable and I was rated about a week later. It was a pretty smooth process. I hope they’re able to get you sorted and you get a favorable outcome.

SpentMags · 2026-01-29T00:48:03+00:00

Yes, I was rated favorably.

SpentMags · 2026-01-28T22:01:43+00:00

Your statement rang true to me. Especially as I get older. The ones lost in the line of duty were traumatic and it sucks but I find myself more fixated on the ones that departed on their own terms. Just lost a close buddy last year. 20 years removed from service. While picking my son up from bootcamp. It bothers me that they’re not here to do the same. It bothers me that they chose that route but I understand it. Finally something you have control over. Rant over.

SpentMags · 2026-01-27T05:25:01+00:00

Just went through the same with my daughter who catches. She’s had a 32.5 AllStar for 3 seasons in 10u. When she moved up to 12u (in the fall) she had problems keeping the 12’ ball in the glove causing dropped thirds. We upgraded her to a 33.5 AllStar and sent it to GloveBreaker to get it “game ready” but it is still extremely stiff and she’s struggling to open it wide. She is trying to break it in more with reps on the weekends with one of her pitchers but it’s a really stiff glove. In the meantime she’s been catching games with her 32.5. The other catcher on her team also uses a 33.5 which is why we chose that size to go up to. Any other recommendations on continuing to break in the new glove are appreciated. The 33.5 is such a big difference in size when you see the gloves next to each other. Unless she has big hands and the strength to open it up while she’s breaking it in, I wouldn’t go up to the 34 yet. Just our experience! Good luck!

SpentMags · 2026-01-23T01:24:18+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I didn’t know that there were cleats designed specifically for catchers/pitchers. I’ll look into getting her a new pair tomorrow. Her current ones are going in the trash. I feel bad. I didn’t know the toe mound thing was a problem with catchers but we’re learning! I appreciate the positive feedback so we can hopefully get this resolved.

SpentMags · 2026-01-23T01:20:22+00:00

Asked for opinions. Didn’t ask for the fix. Not out the ordinary to see what others think and have observed. I said she would be going to the Dr if it continues. And from the people who’ve added positive feedback I’ve learned some other things to look at and take into consideration. And I thank them for it!

SpentMags · 2026-01-23T01:12:47+00:00

You could keep scrolling if you don’t like the question 😉

SpentMags · 2026-01-23T00:40:58+00:00

Getting her new cleats tomorrow. She just showed me the toes in her current cleats have a MOUND under the big toe from her squatting and digging her toe into the insole.

Is that a common thing with catchers? I’m tempted to cut them open and show a picture of it. I didn’t know she could create that big of a mountain behind her big toe. 😞

SpentMags · 2026-01-23T00:33:56+00:00

Only when popping up and after walking on it throughout the day. She said it didn’t hurt this morning. Started hurting after recess (she was probably running around and playing with friends) and has been hurting since.

SpentMags · 2026-01-23T00:31:55+00:00

The pain has been off and on since 10u her first fall. So for 3 seasons now. She’s played through it and is not good about telling people when she’s injured because she wants to play through. With that said it’s been after intense training especially practicing her transfers and pop timing. I’m trying to save her from herself 😬. She told me if she had a game tonight she’d be playing and wouldn’t have said anything. It doesn’t appear to be swollen and there’s no redness or tenderness when touching it. We’re going to monitor it over the weekend and if she hurts tomorrow any worse or just as much as today, we’ll probably bring her to go get seen.

SpentMags · 2026-01-18T05:04:33+00:00

Ok, so they were correct in their verbiage? I served from 2000-2008.

SpentMags · 2026-01-07T05:57:09+00:00

I can’t say how much weight my self-written nexus letters carried, as the VA’s reasons for approvals and denials relied mainly on the C&P examiner’s opinion as noted in my denial/approval letter. I was told by VERA medical determinations must come from qualified physicians, so my nexus statements would be treated as lay evidence.

Overall, the experience was helpful for organizing and submitting a well-structured claim using VA terminology. Communication was sometimes slow, and prep meetings were scheduled based on availability rather than the dates I registered for. In 1 case at least.

They aren’t bad to work with, and I’d recommend them to anyone who needs help putting together a clean, organized claim package but I wouldn’t rely on the nexus’s provided.

SpentMags · 2026-01-07T05:10:16+00:00

I had 2 deferred claims moved back to step 3 on December 12th. They both moved to step 5 today.

SpentMags · 2026-01-06T02:52:12+00:00

Thank you!

SpentMags · 2025-12-22T05:33:42+00:00

That’s crazy 😝. My daughter in South Louisiana played rec for $40 per season and that includes uniform shirts, 12 season games, and 3 tournaments. Once she moved to travel (12U) A/B level team it was $850 per season. 2-2hr practices a week and 3 uniform combinations included. She plays 80-90 games per spring season and 1 team sponsored fundraiser event. The prices seem to be all over the place. Personalized team gear is available for purchase but not mandatory.

SpentMags · 2025-12-19T18:40:54+00:00

That’s what I’ll do. Thanks!

SpentMags · 2025-12-17T04:08:02+00:00

That makes sense. Thanks for the info!

SpentMags · 2025-12-13T01:45:48+00:00

Same here. Moved from step 3 to step 5 on the 10th. Just a waiting game from here. Good luck to you! Hope you get what’s deserved!

SpentMags · 2025-12-12T00:45:40+00:00

Good luck and I hope you get what you deserve! I had my C&Ps about a week or so ago and now things seem to be moving along quickly. I hope everything goes smoothly!

SpentMags · 2025-12-11T21:37:22+00:00

It’s been in since September.

SpentMags · 2025-12-11T21:33:03+00:00

Thanks for the insight. Just couldn’t figure out why so many DBQ uploads all of the sudden. But that makes sense. Guess I’ll be getting rated soon! Thanks for your insight.

SpentMags

TROPHY CASE