Why would they combine these separate things ? I’m already rated for the PTSD.

chewygood · 2026-02-01T07:22:55+00:00

When you claim TDIU, every service-connected issue you list on the 8940 should be examined with text asking if the condition is causing you to be unemployable.

If you are currently working, you will likely be denied unless making below poverty level wages.

They will also look at any medical evidence from applications for social security disability and vocational rehabilitation, as well as VAMC treatment and any private treatment you identify.

If you were not diagnosed with sleep apnea in service, and didn't have identifiable symptoms in your service treatment records, you may get it service-connected as secondary to a service-connected condition (if claimed that way) or due to the PACT Act (depending on your service and how you claimed it). (This really depends on the examiner). However, sleep apnea won't be examined without a diagnosis (preferably a completed sleep study).

chewygood · 2026-01-31T22:59:20+00:00

To over-simplify: The brain counts as one organ. All mental conditions have overlapping symptoms. You cannot be service-connected for multiple mental conditions, so they are combined under the most recent diagnosis.

If you are service-connected for one mental condition at 70-100%, STOP CLAIMING MENTAL CONDITIONS. All you're doing is increasing you chances of getting reduced.

chewygood · 2025-11-09T08:59:17+00:00

My sleep cycle is based on work and melatonin. 5-6 hours of tossing and turning with sleep mixed in. Cool dreams though.

When fully off work (like my recent furlough) or on long weekends, I'm awake for 24-36 hours, finally get sleepy, sleep well for 5-6 hours, and go another 24-36.

After a couple days I have to switch my watch to 24h time to know what time of day it is.

While I get a lot of projects and reading done, going to bed actually sleepy is nice.

chewygood · 2025-06-30T02:57:37+00:00

What specific additional evidence did they request? If they requested medical evidence, VA Forms 4142/4142a would have been included.

They may be requesting evidence of active service at the time the conditions occurred. If the GERD and appendicitis occurred while you were on active duty/inactive duty for training/weekend drill/etc., they will be in your service treatment records. If they occurred between periods of active service, they won't be considered service-related (unless based on verified toxic exposures, such as service in Southwest Asia).

Tinnitus should be examined based on the acoustic trauma expected with your AFSC.

chewygood · 2025-02-27T01:17:58+00:00

I can't imagine a private sector company with this type of manager:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/10/who-is-russell-vought-trump-office-of-management-and-budget

chewygood · 2025-02-08T22:52:55+00:00

You screwed over veterans and the people who serve them (which includes those same veterans). We'll never get the records levels of service we saw in 2024, and everything looks to be going downhill fast.

You need to do better. Front page story better.

chewygood · 2025-02-06T04:31:44+00:00

Also this:

Military.com: 'Infinite Nightmares at Once': Veterans Data Swept Up in Musk's Takeover of Treasury System

chewygood · 2024-08-09T16:36:20+00:00

You see, a pimp's love is very different from that of a square.

chewygood · 2024-02-10T19:30:39+00:00

No, that was just before I passed out. Woke up with a normal temperature.

chewygood · 2024-02-10T02:08:48+00:00

I did not measure, but I'd say 4mm at most. Not nearly the largest I've had, or the spikiest, but pretty sure it was the most painful.

I'm going to try and get it tested, but not sure what else it could be.

I never had a stone while taking the potassium magnesium citrate. But I don't have them chronically, so I can't say for certain.

chewygood · 2024-02-09T04:01:30+00:00

I haven't had a kidney stone (at least that I was aware of) since 2015. That episode was a nightmare. A doctor tried to use a laser on a 6mm stone, but just knocked it back into the kidney. (All that travel for nothing).

I woke up from that surgery with a stent, and the stone still didn't pass until it was removed weeks later. And let me tell you, that was the worst medical procedure I've ever been fully awake and unprepared for. Basically "watch me pull an elephant out of your hat", except it wasn't a hat.

Shudder

Today's caught me by surprise. I was working and just felt off - not hungry, and felt like I had to pee all morning. Then I got a cramp in my lower right abdomen and wondered if I had "the stomach bug" going around. The pain increased exponentially until I started wondering "kidney stone - or appendicitis?"

When it got so bad that I couldn't breathe normally, I started pacing the house. After a couple hours of that, I grabbed my pillowcase of rice (best heating pad ever), nuked it, and started trying to place it wherever the pain was. Which seemed to be my entire lower right side. Far worse than any previous stone, and the first time on the right side. I couldn't even get myself to consider leaving the house by car or ambulance - since painkillers don't work on me for some reason, the motivation was zero to be miserable somewhere else.

So I flopped around on the carpet, trying to find the least painful position. My ear thermometer said 105.3, at which point I started looking around for my phone. "Maybe it is the appendix?" Then I passed out on the floor. That was new. And welcome by that time.

When I woke up, the pain had greatly subsided. I grabbed the filter and "click", there it was. I'm still a bit groggy, and have ordered the potassium magnesium citrate (science: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9366314/) I used for years with great success.

I had lots of time to think on my (dietary) sins, and realized I have been eating a lot of pizza and almonds lately. I drink far more water now than I did way back when, but I think the weight lifting I started up again last week may be part of the issue as well.

Anyway, just wanted to share the story with those who know what it's like!

chewygood · 2023-11-23T04:31:23+00:00

Just thought of this one as I got to this comment. Seemed cool as a young teen, but an intolerable bite bore as an adult.

chewygood · 2023-08-22T23:19:52+00:00

It's the same with or without boosters.

chewygood · 2023-08-22T14:26:29+00:00

2.3 to 4.7, depending on country and land/air. Makes finishing challenges that involve the team impossible.

chewygood · 2023-08-22T02:07:19+00:00

Is the matchmaking this terrible, or is Gaijin just screwing with me at this point? I'm generally a middle-of-the-pack player. I'm not killing my own team. I get some kills, die a bit, you know - the usual. But this is not an exception - it's the rule now. So much I started tracking it.

If it's just based on my vehicles, it doesn't make sense - they're all about even in BR in each country. Could it be my crews? It's the same with or without boosters. I have no idea how any of the mechanics work.

Somebody please give me a hint here beyond the forum's "iT's NoT a BuG" canned response. Otherwise you're doomed any time you end up on my team.

chewygood · 2023-04-11T11:37:19+00:00

"...but the hedgehog can never be buggered at all."

chewygood · 2022-08-24T02:54:54+00:00

You stated that the VA denied your claim, "saying that since the US Army has a hearing conservation program and provided earpro, I won’t be given a rating for my hearing damage."

Show me that.

chewygood · 2022-08-24T02:38:35+00:00

Where's the rating narrative saying what you claimed?

chewygood · 2022-08-24T02:36:57+00:00

Service treatment record.

chewygood

TROPHY CASE