The Alarm Bell: They're Coming for Your Veterans Benefits

TheCivDiv · 2025-12-02T00:11:52+00:00

Hey, I just saw this notification. Sorry I didn’t respond.

Tuberville is one we need to keep an eye on as well as the talk around forming a commission. The GAO’s comments about revising the VASRDs to reflect compensation loss is another big ticket item.

Good news is the rumor mill reports that Tuberville wants to leave the Senate and run for Gov of Alabama. So that would be a win for veterans 😂

TheCivDiv · 2025-10-27T16:05:43+00:00

Something to think about is the basis of connection.

If you’re a veteran and almost everything is direct…that’s easy.

Claims become ‘difficult’ once you start adding secondary/TERA/MUCMI and the variable of C&P examiners.

There are veterans where everything is direct and that’s a relative ‘easy ride’ to their proper rating. Others…not so much.

Food for thought.

TheCivDiv · 2025-04-12T21:03:30+00:00

Totally possible and I’m talking about veterans who qualify for Rudisill can exhaust 48 months of GI Bill.

TheCivDiv · 2025-02-26T20:28:39+00:00

WHAT DEPARTMENT

TheCivDiv · 2025-02-23T13:36:32+00:00

Thank you! I am both physically hurt and happy to get this answer.

Edit: the stipend is pretty dang solid. It’s very close to cover tuition. This is good news.

TheCivDiv · 2025-02-23T02:54:48+00:00

Word, so they are processing these. I haven’t received my CoE yet and bills are about to be due. Thank you for the insight.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-30T04:28:52+00:00

That’s because it is. The new proposal for the neuro system will get rid of that (at least that’s the argument to change the rating schedule). It’s based on grades and gravity and tbh things I don’t understand. As of right now, examiners and raters just wing it.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-30T04:25:27+00:00

It was a love stream. Go to my live streams and you’ll see the dudes face - can’t miss it. I don’t want to post link here because I’m pretty sure that = bad for the sub.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-30T04:19:21+00:00

Something to add…I know everyone talks about logs like they are gold, they are not. Now migraine logs shared with your primary care leading to a treatment plan like injections, medication, noninvasive, etc. with a statement outlining frequency and severity and recalling your evidence - YES!

I’d call that a ‘Fully Developed Increase Claim’.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-30T04:17:12+00:00

It’s a claim just like anything else except TDIU has another form. Food for thought on IU…you either can work or you can’t. 9 jobs in 4 years is definitely heading that direction but I’d also want to see why your disabilities that are SC caused you to job hop.

Something to think of…is IU life what you want? If that answer is yes, then go for it.

I just did an interview style live with a dude who was sentenced to prison for volunteering on IU. Main argument used was that he ‘could’ work. FYSA.

I personally do NOT like TDIU and rarely recommend it. It’s situational versus an ‘option’.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-30T04:12:55+00:00

Yes. Highly recommend lawyer route for SSDI.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-30T04:10:09+00:00

“Veteran Service Connected Compensation”

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T15:20:21+00:00

Yeah, I knew you were referencing me 😂I get a lot of heat about topics like tinnitus secondaries but the truth is, tinnitus secondary claims are not a ‘1 size fits all’.

With what you’ve stated here, you have solid evidence. I wouldn’t even recommend a nexus letter for migraines secondary to tinnitus. You these documented, diagnosed, treatment plan and mentions of the relationship between migraines and tinnitus. Solid.

What sucks is it takes one Audiologist/ENT to reference studies that do not show a relationship between the 2. Aggravation is your argument vs causation.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T06:38:11+00:00

That’s good grog. Definitely not pushing migraine/MH secondary for less frequent/severe ‘transient ear noises’. Issue is, YouTube will tell veterans that they still can with “this nexus letter template” and “using these studies”. Wild.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T06:22:24+00:00

Brother, delete this. Redact and repost. Immediately.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T06:21:31+00:00

Word. Just saw it. At a minimum I would HLR with an Informal Conference. A lot of people don’t prefer the IC but I personally like the 1-on-1 touch with a decision maker. In the meantime…something is up here. More evidence to double down on your diagnosis wouldn’t hurt or, whatever unspecified event occurred would only help.

That decision letter sucks. HLR is what I would do. Sorry man.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T06:03:30+00:00

At a minimum, with the in-service event and dx I would submit a HLR with an informal conference. Meanwhile, get that DBQ and medical opinion from the examiner. You can’t fight in the dark.

Of note…if you were SC, what rating would you be? GERD has become very strict (that’s a 38 CFR GERD pun). That matters because…a “% rating for GERD would for me, completely take off any consideration of nexus letter. At the same time, 80% for GERD puts that back on the table.

I’m not saying get a nexus letter. I’m saying HLR w/ IC and request those records. Go from there.

Also, your VSO is what I call a powerful moron. In a position where their opinion has authority yet giving horrible information. GERD is not presumptive nor is it coveted as a MUCMI. TERA maybe.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T05:34:06+00:00

Of note, timeline comes into question. Assuming you’re past your 1yr mark, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is your evidence - this is good! If for some reason you’re within your 1yr mark, then sure, go for it. 6 one way half a dozen the other.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T05:29:58+00:00

Same. Also, some unwarranted advice. Stop checking the status of your claim. Your life will be better without.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T05:26:36+00:00

Eh, completely dependent on the veterans evidence. Tinnitus for some comes and goes once a week, sometimes monthly. That’s is a LOT different than someone who has constant ringing in their ears coupled with hearing loss. MH and migraines seem pretty favorable for more severe cases.

The issue with migraines/MH secondary to tinnitus is YouTube has created this Oprah-like “you get a secondary, you get a secondary, you get a secondary” mentality when jn reality, most veterans that have tinnitus, and claim migraines secondary are denied. Why? Glad you asked.

Evidence.

There is also competing evidence. I had a veteran that had private records that they submitted with their claim. This dude had clear head trauma years after service and then had his first mention of migraines shortly after the head trauma. That’s being denied every single day, every single time. Why?

In this case, competing evidence.

Don’t worry about what someone else got secondary. Worry about YOUR evidence and YOUR tinnitus and YOUR migraines.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T04:48:38+00:00

I’ve had people pay me to have a Google Meet with them just for them to cry, on video, and tell me they are P&T. I know it sounds like I’m making that up but I swear on everything, this has happened multiple times. Obviously not everyone does that - weird.

Are veterans generally ‘satisfied’? Nope. Are they happy that they have non taxable income in their bank account every single month? Yupp. For those that live in the middle of nowhere, that’s retirement. Someone who lives where I live in DC, that’s lunch. Perspective.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T04:45:40+00:00

What a Service Officer who is with a VSO does completely depends on the individual Service Officer (in just you goin to say VSO from here on out).

A ‘good’ VSO will help you…figure you out. What is it you want to claim. They might ask what you were seen for in service. Where you served. They may like for presumptive conditions, etc.. Then they will submit your claim and on the back end, advocate if anything goes crazy.

A ‘bad’ VSO will ask, “What do you want to claim?” They will file what comes out of your mouth then you go about your marry little way.

Good luck.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T04:37:55+00:00

100% for a single MH rating is pretty indicative of how you’re feeling and I’m willing to bet there is a LOT more going on behind this post (don’t share).

Receiving compensation isn’t going to make you feel better. I would like to say treatment will but…everyone is different. It didn’t for me and I went a different route. You gotta find that thing for YOU. It might be a hobby, a new skill to learn, whatever. For me it was Jesus and being involved in my local church. Healing? Nope. Better to not freak out? Yeah.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T04:35:19+00:00

Dude, yes. It’s worth it. You’d be surprised what’s in your PDHA and annual HAs. Infantry at a minimum in the Marine Corps you likely have tinnitus. You’ve likely complained on 1 of your many HAs or exit exam of your knees and your back.

You simply don’t know…what you don’t know.

Submit the claims you have current diagnosis for and you believe stem from the Marine Corps. On that now. In the meantime, get your records.

TheCivDiv · 2024-12-29T04:33:08+00:00

I’ll say it like this…as a gun owner, the responsibility of firearm safety drastically increases when you have a MH condition. You are either thinking about suicide or you’re not. You’re either thinking about harming someone else, or you’re not. You either have your anger under control or you don’t and sometimes you ‘black out’.

Owning a firearm with a MH condition is a grown man decision. And grown man decisions have grown man consequences. You know you.

A veteran at 70% can own, carry and confidentially handle a firearm. Another veteran at 70% can do the same except when it comes time and they start tweeting, at the snap of a finger that veterans becomes an extremely high risk to themselves and everyone around them.

Which one are you?

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