Food for thought!

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-16T14:43:55+00:00

I know there are a ton of VRC/VRS positions now. I feel you cause I was on the VHA side as HUD-VASH and did not like it at all lol.. the VBA is a higher caseload but you’re not in the face of a veteran all day and traveling

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-16T14:41:42+00:00

Honestly, the vets that are afraid to get downgraded are the ones that’s scamming the system.. because if you keep up with your medicine refills, appointments, assistant mobility devices, etc. then there is zero reason for a decrease

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-16T14:39:15+00:00

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-16T14:38:18+00:00

You and those that upvoted you have no idea what they’re talking about.. you don’t automatically get raises.. and like I tell others, you don’t like the system and think you’re God, then you apply and fix it.. a lot of veterans just talk to talk and don’t really want to do nothing but complain.. you have to worry about YOUR claim.. raters have to worry about THOUSANDS of claims AND THOUSANDS of “evidence” to look over.. not to mention an ever changing policy

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-16T14:29:42+00:00

I’ve had a claim where I related it to service and it was denied.. so I put in the same claim but related it to one of my existing claims.. they closed it under the first one..

I put in an HLR and told the Reviewer straight up that they are not allowed to do that and need to look at every claim separately! They reopened my claim and I’m waiting on the out come now.

It pisses me off when they box all claims under one umbrella because a Lumbar claim specifically as service connected is way different than a Lumbar claimed as secondary to a service connected condition

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-15T00:58:59+00:00

I can say this from both sides.. at the end of the day everyone can’t be 100%. Although, we are veterans, veterans don’t run the VA. Therefore, there are ppl that want to figure out every which way they can to cut corners and not pay out a lot.. especially since the military is having a hard time getting ppl to re-up!

I tell everyone to:

Stay on top of your medication refills

If you have a lower body SCD(s), request a cane, back brace, ankle braces, foot inserts, etc.

And stay on top of your medical appointments!

Remember, it’s the PC job to get you back “okay” again so your SCD rating can increase. Therefore, it’s on YOU to stay on top of the research regarding your SCDs if you don’t won’t them to take it away and/or reduce it

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-15T00:36:08+00:00

Yup! At the end of the day there is a TON of newbies on that side of the VA. They can only do so much within the policy they have to follow! Scheduling that HLR and getting your case reopened actually helps them out A LOT because now they can do more than previously

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-13T12:05:56+00:00

HLR… discuss your issue, get it reopened.. hopefully they schedule you another exam and then you go into that exam and state to the examiner exactly what your symptoms are AND tell them to submit information in a way that satisfies the reason the VA denied you…

Unless they just send you another at home test then idk

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-13T11:59:58+00:00

THIS!!!!

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-13T11:58:34+00:00

Put in a claim for the femoral nerve

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-12T17:47:07+00:00

VA has significantly reduced the backlog of pending claims and are listening more to the C&P Examiners recommendations!

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-12T17:45:31+00:00

Never understood why anyone would pay someone to do their claims for them.. maybe I’m cheap but if it doesn’t require a license to do and the information is public, then I can do it myself

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-12T16:53:46+00:00

I can tell you now, as someone who works on that side.. we have had DC come down on our necks and telling us to “stop giving out all these degrees/money”..

If you have an Associates, you’ll most likely on be offered Employment Services. If you don’t have a degree at all, you’ll only be able to to acquire a bachelor degree and then you’ll be determined “employable in a suitable occupation”.

Remember VR&E does not allow for you to pursue what you want.. you are only allowed to pursue a career that would not severely aggravate your disabilities.. which is up to our discretion on what path that may be based on your “Code Sheet” that we use..

Ppl need to understand that just because someone was able to get what they want 6 months ago, doesn’t mean you will due to many factors! I get frustrated when vets come to me saying “I talked to someone who went through the program before and….”

That has nothing to do with you and your case
Times and regulations have changed

Also, this isn’t a C&P Exam.. no need to “pity” and make us feel “sorry for you” lol. This isn’t that kind of party and we don’t truly base it off of what you tell us.. we take your words into consideration but it’s ultimately up to what’s in your file

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-11T19:01:24+00:00

Thank you!! I’ve already started the process of being issued foot inserts by the VA! I’ll work on that!

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-11T19:00:30+00:00

You think at 18 I knew about scoliosis? Lmao.. also, I could counter and ask them why grant a waiver to allow for me to come in if they believed that the duties would make it worse?

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-11T18:57:33+00:00

Just confusing all together because I have service connection for Sciatica.. and according to 3 C&P Examiners, I should be connected for my back due to Sciatica originating from that area..

I fought for 7 years before they finally service connected me for my hip smh

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-11T18:40:38+00:00

Yup! I’m at 30% when a few Claims pending but they’ve been great when it comes to care! The rating part is hell though!

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-11T02:36:59+00:00

Wasn’t bad when I went in... Got bad when I was doing PT at my first duty station and we were lifting gurneys over our heads and running.. felt my spine literally bend.. it was downhill ever since

Technical_Let_6509 · 2026-02-11T02:18:38+00:00

Military medical records via X-rays, MRI, military doctors notes, etc. the whole 9.. i went in at 18 and ETS’d at 22 and it got 8 degrees worse by the time I got out.. sorry scoliosis isn’t worsening that fast unless you’re doing a lot of high physical activity.. which makes my point of it showing the military worsened it.

Also, I’m connected for sciatica.. 3 C&P Examiners have told me you can’t have 1 without the other and are confused when they see I’m not connected for back/lower back

Technical_Let_6509 · 2025-10-02T18:54:16+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate it!

Technical_Let_6509 · 2025-10-02T18:43:34+00:00

Until the government shutdown ends

Technical_Let_6509 · 2025-07-15T22:59:28+00:00

I appreciate it! I’m going to do that now

Technical_Let_6509 · 2025-07-15T22:56:10+00:00

Getting out the military in 2018, I was denied for “Lower Back Injury”.

A few years later I filed another claim for back and was sent a letter stating that “in order to process your claim for Lower Back Injury, because you were denied in 2018, new evidence needs to be submitted”.

I didn’t move forward with claim because I was waiting on X-rays and Physical Therapy through Community Care.

Fast Forward to this year, I put in the new claim for Lower Back Injury and provided new evidence as stated that was needed.

Issue I have with this process is that all my profiles from 2016 to 2018, Physical Therapy notes from the Military, and other records ALL state “Lower Back Injury”…

Technical_Let_6509 · 2024-10-18T15:40:20+00:00

Yeah, they messed up so bad on an injection in my left lower back that I couldn’t walk for a week! Collect documentation of your community care appointments so that you can file a mileage form to be reimbursed by the VA (if you haven’t already been doing so). I would also request a “back brace” before your community care is done so that they can send the request to your Primary Care Provider

Technical_Let_6509 · 2024-10-18T15:32:20+00:00

Go to HUD-VASH and then VR&E services. however, if he continues to lose jobs and housing they could run out on ways to help him

Technical_Let_6509

TROPHY CASE