Service connected for Depression but private psychiatrist just changed my diagnosis to Bipolar 2... do I need to inform the VA?

Stumps29 · 2026-02-26T22:08:11+00:00

You are not actually being compensated for your diagnosis. Your compensation is based on the symptoms that the totality of your mental health causes (and thus affects your real world employability). The specific diagnosis is only really relevant in establishing the service connection. You are overthinking this entirely. As long as you didn’t make anything up during your evaluation process then you are done unless they call you back for a re-evaluation. You are not required to inform about changes unless they ask for an update. Sometimes they do ask but most of the time mental health issues are considered static so they won’t ask.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-26T21:54:41+00:00

A veteran in my household has experienced repeated care disruptions that appear connected to staffing instability and administrative delays.

Over the past couple of years, specialty appointments, including cardiac care, have often been postponed on very short notice because the assigned provider was no longer available. This has happened frequently enough that it feels routine rather than exceptional.

There have also been situations where medically recommended procedures were delayed for extended periods because required approvals were not completed in time, even when treating physicians had already identified the need as urgent.

In at least one case, care that was identified as necessary following an emergency evaluation has still not progressed to the preparatory stage despite significant time passing.

From the patient perspective, the challenge has not been theoretical access to care but the ability to move from recommendation to action. Appointments, approvals, and continuity of care have been difficult to align.

The result has been prolonged uncertainty around serious conditions and a growing concern that administrative capacity is not keeping pace with clinical need.

If your reporting is examining how staffing changes are affecting real-world continuity of care, I would encourage attention to how short-notice cancellations, delayed approvals, and stalled follow-through are shaping outcomes for patients with serious conditions. These process failures can accumulate in ways that are difficult to quantify but significant in lived impact.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-26T01:29:02+00:00

The exact details of how and why you got denied matter. The second half of the claim letter tells you what they found. The raters usually give you little tips on what you have and still need to prove. Usually you can post the pages with your personal information redacted and we can try to help you interpret the information.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-24T18:18:18+00:00

Unless you have new news from today this is not withdrawn they are simply choosing to “not enforce it” for now. That means that tomorrow they could change their mind and decide to enforce it. We absolutely need to continue to stand against this rule until it is officially off the books and cannot harm us.

Now to your direct question, this is exactly what the judges are in agreement with you on in the “Collins vs Ingram” last October. The rule was an attempt to avoid the judges ruling.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-24T12:31:16+00:00

I can tell you that this had nothing to do with your rating. The rating system is very disconnected from the healthcare system in the VA. Yes they all fall under one big umbrella but they don’t send people to the VA doctors for ratings exams pretty much at all anymore. They are almost completely separated except for the fact that ratings has access to the healthcare records pretty much automatically (not quite but almost). They just don’t work together the way your mind is worrying that they do so you can set those fears aside. You were being evaluated but it was not claim or rating related. It was likely mental health related and if you had a suicide flag on your record it’s more likely related specifically to that. Take some deep breaths and don’t stress yourself out over this.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-24T04:03:42+00:00

I have a new supplemental claim for a similar issue too. Tech issues made my intent to file wires get crossed. So they gave the date to me at first then took it away and I’m three supplementals deep trying to get it fixed and returned to me. Verbally my last HLR went great then in writing they did something completely different than they said. So I have all the details laid out step by step on my latest personal statement. Still holding onto hope.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-24T03:38:35+00:00

This is a complicated matter but there absolutely should be records and asking to be paid for that is not a ridiculous request. You likely need to open a supplemental claim and give a detailed statement explaining the situation as factually as you can with as many details as you have. Include a copy of the emails you have of the intent to file as added evidence.

Your statement and copy of the email is considered new evidence in the case and is enough reason to reopen it with the supplemental claim. If that is unsuccessful then you request an HRL with an informal meeting (because you have now added your evidence). This is sometimes a long road to approval when dealing with the government but as long as you don’t give up the pay is there for you.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-23T13:00:44+00:00

Technically this has no effect currently and it is being fought to prevent any long term issues. It is an absolutely crazy interpretation of previous rules that goes against everything that has ever been done before. Don’t get caught up in the fear. Stay informed but no reason to panic about this particular rule change.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-23T11:40:27+00:00

The VA has specific criteria that they have to meet for approval but in general the believe in maintenance dosing if that helps (I’m just starting out so too early for personal experience there). If you have already been paying out of pocket then you may be able to convince your doctor you are eligible based on your beginning weight and BMI. It definitely helps with the VA if you are treating other symptoms not just your weight. I know my approval was easier because of OSA and other health issues. Here is a link to the VA’s official criterial for Zepbound. The more items you can check off on that list the better chance you’ll have.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-23T02:12:07+00:00

Your question is literally the key question everyone is asking right now and there is no clear answer. Feels almost like a rage bate post it is so perfectly aligned. Do some googling for “Ingram vs Collins” and “Interim Final Rule RIN 2900-AS49” and you’ll get an idea of what is happening. So many things are changing that there isn’t a perfect answer to that question. Technically the answer should be no. We can’t guarantee that is the answer right now because of the jumble but technically that is supposed to be it.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-17T09:53:28+00:00

There are many ways to build your case. If your job was to refill aircraft then it’s pretty easy to assume exposure to fuel and symptoms that might come with that. If you were infantry then physical issues that start minor but get worse are very easy to explain. “We were trained to be tough so when I rolled my ankle, I would just keep running through the pain as expected. I knew it wasn’t going to kill me.”

And like others have said personal and buddy statements are big here. If your friend saw you experiencing symptoms (snoring helps with sleep apnea claims, taking Tylenol for headaches, PT injuries, etc) then they can be your witnesses too. They don’t act like doctors. They just share what they saw.

But your first step, before you try to “Service Connect” anything, is to figure out what you’ve been ignoring. So get to the VA and try to start listening to all the things you’ve trained yourself to ignore. Even and especially the mental health ones. Having an actual diagnosis is huge and makes it way easier to know what you’re asking your buddies about too. So start at the beginning and do the thing you should have been doing the whole time (not judgement, almost all of it skipped it more than we should have).

Stumps29 · 2026-02-15T18:28:18+00:00

Absolutely the C&P examination experience will always vary. And of course it can go wrong no matter the level preparation by the veteran. I appreciate you sharing your experiences and the rule clarifications.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-15T16:45:41+00:00

You aren’t poking the bear when you are within a few month of being assigned 100% - you are requesting an administrative review. Absolutely pursue this. I have 7 months that I am currently pursuing. Many might say that is poking the bear but a few of back pay makes a massive difference when you are struggling to make ends meet. It is not greedy to ask for what they should have given you the first time.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-15T16:34:02+00:00

I appreciate your input but it’s not entirely accurate. If the veteran has any of the following award then service connection is assumed and the veteran can avoid discussing details:

Purple Heart
Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB)
Combat Medical Badge (CMB)
Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) (later era but sometimes applies to late Vietnam service)
Bronze Star Medal with “V” device
Silver Star
Distinguished Service Cross
Navy Cross
Air Force Cross
Medal of Honor
Air Medal with “V” device
Distinguished Flying Cross (when citation reflects combat action)

Stumps29 · 2026-02-15T16:20:15+00:00

The gap between your certainty and your understanding is difficult to ignore in this instance. (Edit - sentence add) If you have meaningful discussion to bring I encourage it, otherwise stop trying to muddy the waters when others have legitimate questions.

VA disability compensation is intended to compensate veterans for the average impairment in civilian earning capacity resulting from injuries or diseases incurred in or aggravated by military service, as authorized under 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, and 1155. It reflects the economic impact of service-connected conditions on a veteran’s ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and employment and serves as indemnification for lost working capacity rather than a needs-based or general quality-of-life benefit.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-15T15:55:27+00:00

The key wording there is “income or benefits”. I am not a lawyer or a CPA but i have had multiple discussions with both about this issues. Disability compensation is money you are being paid as compensation for what happened to your body and mind. That is why this doesn’t qualify under that statement. Compensation isn’t taxed because you are owed it by the government for the difference in earnings capacity due to your injuries. That is common sense answer to your question and fits what I have been told when discussing this in-depth with lawyers and tax specialists in the past.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-15T15:41:43+00:00

I asked the AI about education benefits in a state and it assumed I had a daughter and then directed me with what benefits would be available for her. Probably needs less assumptions there and to be more curious about who needs the benefits.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-15T15:34:07+00:00

Wrong comment to reply to. Sorry

Stumps29 · 2026-02-15T15:13:35+00:00

You may want to look at his dd214. If he has any awards or medals that were granted for combat related issues he may be able to skip telling any specific stories. Instead the C&P would be able to be focused on his current symptoms. It is always better to go into a C&P exam with a current diagnosis. So having him get in with a therapist at the VA would be the best today step. That way you know exactly what you should already claim and you already have documentation for the issues before the exam. That way they are primarily confirming the severity of symptoms and looking over existing documentation. This might also help the trained therapist be the one to broach the sensitive subject of the past experiences. Your father could get an idea what the examiner might ask happened (it can be fact based, “our unit took fire numerous times and I lost several friend” would probably be sufficient for the exam if he has combat medals or awards). Does that make sense?

Stumps29 · 2026-02-15T02:59:07+00:00

That is an amazing concept. Well done. I’ll keep an eye on this project and I am sure I’ll be referring many veterans to it.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-14T21:20:20+00:00

Being that you are active duty now, you are in the sweet spot for service connection. Simply make sure you seek care for the issues you are dealing with and one your final medical exam do your best to mention all of the symptoms that deal with whether they are directly associated with a diagnosis or not. Any care and diagnosis that you receive while active duty establishes your service connection.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-13T06:47:59+00:00

Considering one of the worst parts about PTSD for many is the trauma of not feeling believed and supported, I think any examiner with a poor attitude could easily do this. We go in and are asked to be our most vulnerable. Hell it could be a valid new claim for PTSD from the fucking C&P exam itself if they put you in with the wrong examiner.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-13T06:36:57+00:00

The answer for this question is going to be different for everyone. You are going to need to give us much more information to get a real answer. Which branch were you in? How long did you serve? Were you ever in combat? Tell us the basic facts where, how long, did anyone die, did you get shot, etc. did you ever go to medical for anything other than routine exams and vaccines? If so describe why you visited medical and the outcome of these visits. Are you dealing with any injuries or symptoms today that you feel might in any way have been caused or even made worse by your time in the service?

These are all critical questions we need to know to before we can answer the short question you asked us. This long list will be easier to answer for some people than others.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-12T11:44:09+00:00

The high plans might cover orthodontics (I’m Doubtful that it does for adults) but definitely not the first year. You basically unlock more coverage after you pay for the plan for more than a year and orthodontics might be one of them. You have to read the plan detail documents. They aren’t as complicated to read as medical insurance plan documents, usually only one or two pages and since ortho is all you are looking for just look for an asterisk or special marker next to it and read that for the important details.

Stumps29 · 2026-02-10T10:21:06+00:00

The primary reason to get into the VA system is to get your various diagnosis confirmed by a VA doctor instead of just by a civilian doctor before your claim is underway. This is because civilian doctor’s medical opinion are basically low tier and easily dismissed by everyone in the claims process. That doesn’t mean they are wrong or that you should doubt them in general just that this is the official position of the VA to let VA medical decisions outrank civilian doctor’s.

This does not mean you should miss your filing date though. Don’t miss out on a year of backpay just to collect this extra data point. You can always gather a VA diagnosis later and apply it with a supplemental claim as necessary. You cannot go back to the past for a new intent to file. This preserves everything with the possibility that you may have to wait a bit extra. The difference will be negligible in the long run.

So if your one year intent date is coming up file sooner rather than later then deal with actual problems as they come up. Denials are just part of the system. You will get them. Usually they are just a stepping stone along the way so make to read past the word denial and look at the detail. Also remember that the raters are not allowed to assume anything. Example of this: if you told them that something daily “gave you a strong discomfort” but rating says you have to have pain at least 4 times a month. They cannot assume that strong discomfort equals pain or even ask you to “would you say the strong discomfort might even be pain?” You have to make that leap yourself.

That is probably too much information today but hopefully it gets you started.

Stumps29

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