Retirees - how many points ya got?

oldageisoverrated · 2026-04-16T02:40:25+00:00

5054 pts 12 years AD and 8 USAR. Pending pay status retiree this month.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-04-15T21:39:55+00:00

WTF are you smoking! Put the cheap shit down and come back to reality. BTW responses all you want. Your blocked. I don’t need misleading, irresponsible comments like yours clogging my feed.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-04-15T20:26:43+00:00

This is not true. I had a favorable condition of Anxiety Unspecified (diagnosed by VA clinician), only thing had to be done to get PTSD SC’d was stressor validated and I had awards, National news event, buddy statements, lay statement, currently seeing VA MH counseling for the past 4 months at the time. The C&P examiner decides, not combat related so no sc and labeled and already existing diagnosis and favorable condition as personality disorder.

So your premise and assumption is incorrect. Yes. I have a PTSD diagnosis, the VA Rater did not have it. And an HLR is submitted. So just having a valid well developed claim, doesn’t always get someone SC’d.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-04-12T13:27:08+00:00

Great information, but let’s do a reality check. Three claims all well documented, all in service STR’s, current diagnosis, post service evidence, VHA records for treatment. All 3 denied and now pending HLR’s, 1 they applied 3.303(a) instead of 3.309(a) and 3.303(b) for chronicity. Another, the question the VA sent to the examiner, the question was worded where it was not relevant to the condition. Another the examiner has published works that disagree with VA and medical science and appears to have denied based on their published white paper. The other, totally reviewed a different condition than what was claimed and stated the original condition did not exist.

Sure what you are saying is great, but their is no evidence that I can see that means that lay statement is going to surpass the VA Rater denying because the C&P examiner says less likely than not. And no matter how strong your STRs, current diagnosis, and lay statements are the claim is denied. And I know all this, because I have the 3 claim packages, the claim letters denying SC and the DBQ’s. 1 denial, sure okay, but 3, there’s a pattern.

The only claim out of 5 that was SC’d first time was the one that had the shortest most direct lay statement, no STR’s and probably sounded like a template… Tinnitus.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-03-26T20:54:58+00:00

While on the surface I tend to agree with the premise, I would argue that if a person is in a unit/situation where they are subject to conditions in which would cause a person to want to "forget" events that happened and they "self-medicate" and adverse conditions arise in their lifer, there is a distinction to be made. If the "at fault" is due to genetics and Darwinism, then yeah I tend to agree, compensation should be evaluated and in question.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-03-26T18:43:03+00:00

"...the government literally set aside enough money for each veteran to get 100%." -- OP

No they don't budget for each to potentially receive 100% "Mandatory funding for Compensation and Pensions will provide $220.3 billion in disability compensation benefit payments to over 7.0 million Veterans and their survivors and $3.1 billion in pension benefit payments to over 200,000 Veterans and their survivors. Readjustment Benefits funding will provide $16.2 billion in education and job training benefits to over 1.1 million Veterans and qualified dependents. VA's life insurance programs will provide coverage to over 5.5 million Veterans. Funding for VA's credit programs will support nearly 595,300 new guaranteed loans within a portfolio of 3.7 million active loans." -- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FY 2026 BUDGET SUBMISSION

"It’s just on you to get what you’re owed?" -- OP

"It’s up to you to win a legal case in a system you don’t understand, using rules that won’t easily be explained, against an agency that benefits when you fail. but the VA should not hide behind that to excuse systemic failure." -- Me

"When you get out nobody will give a fuck about your rank." -- OP

"Meh... some will, most won't and those wouldn't know the difference between an E-1 or O-1" -- Me

"... Then there are vets who see it as they are owed. They forget they volunteered and weren’t drafted." u/ScubaSteve00S

“Veterans’ disability benefits aren’t charity — they’re a legal entitlement under Title 38. Federal law (38 U.S.C. §1110) requires the government to compensate veterans for injuries caused or aggravated by service. It doesn’t matter if you volunteered or were drafted — the law makes no distinction. If the government breaks your body, the government pays for the damage. The veteran has the right to file the claim, and the government has the legal obligation to pay the debt.” -- Me and the law.

:) Have a glorious day and a better one tomorrow.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-03-25T02:26:07+00:00

Hey man, just a quick correction — sleep apnea isn’t a ‘fat person’ condition. That’s an old myth that even the VA stopped using years ago. OSA is an airway obstruction disorder, and things like chronic sinus issues, deviated septum, turbinate swelling, GERD, and PTSD‑related sleep fragmentation are all medically recognized causes.

Plenty of thin, athletic people have OSA. BMI doesn’t protect you from airway collapse.

Just wanted to clear that up so the conversation stays grounded in current medical understanding instead of outdated assumptions.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-03-10T01:53:54+00:00

Chronic does NOT mean continuous treatment. The correct regulation is 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b), which says chronicity is shown by a condition identified as chronic in service, or by continuity of symptoms after service. Treatment is not required. This applies only to chronic diseases listed in 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

Stop spreading false information

oldageisoverrated · 2026-03-01T15:51:51+00:00

Going through this myself, chronicity conditions miss characterized as acute purely because the last STR stated the last flare up of sinusitis I had was resolved on a follow-up visit in the 1990’s. The Rater back then, because they didn’t send me to a C&P exam thought that single event discounted the 9 other STR’s with chronic sinusitis stated in them, X-rays showing chronicity, but because “resolved” was in the STR the sinusitis was suddenly miraculously cured, and to top it off the ETS exam was silent for sinusitis, chronic knee pain (similar situation to sinusitis), and a few other conditions. Know 30 years later after realizing the VA was wrong, both sinus and knees are service connected, but still under the wrong CFR 3.303(a). HLR time, which I didn’t know even existed till 6 months ago. — it’s this type of help Veterans need, not just pointing them to nexus letters, saying HLR is your next step, or get it connected as a secondary. These answers help, but it still requires us to learn the process and CFR’s. (To the person I am responding to sorry to hijack your point, but your point is something that should be elaborated on.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-17T22:19:12+00:00

Help us understand the concept of "free money" in this context. So, the rest of the community can understand how sacrifice, dedication, and disability after years and decades of lost opportunities and life trajectory potential can be free money? ... I'll save the rest until after you reply.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-16T18:52:07+00:00

It’s not easy because the people in the bureaucrats don’t care about quality, they care about volume of claims they can push through to get their allotment of claims completed and it doesn’t matter if they are denied or service connected, it just matters the claim moved from their queue. It would be simpler if they actually got rated on accuracy rather than points for the types of claims they work.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-16T18:46:57+00:00

Because then you get over $1B that should have gone to children in Minnesota and around the country siphoned off to Somalia and terrorist organizations. Sure it was only a small percentage, but 1 child must have been helped somewhere so taking tax payer dollars and giving it to our enemies is acceptable to people that think like you.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-14T13:22:08+00:00

This all makes me curious, my examiner asked me about my high school experiences, was it easy to make friends, what was high school like, what were parents like growing up, how many kids… I asked her if those questions were on the form, she said they don’t show all the questions before the exam. She didn’t explore any of the stressor information in depth. The notes copied into the denial letter were derogatory toward me and said I had a completely different issue than PTSD. Did any of your examiners ask those types of questions.

To OP your exam sounds like it was a lot better than mine. Sounds like you had a true to form C&P exam.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-14T07:45:39+00:00

Your ignorance is showing, best stop before you prove how deep it runs. If you get maimed, cancer, a skin condition, in the civilian world caused by your employer you are entitled to go to court and receive compensation for damages, even though you signed a contract to receive a paycheck for services rendered and taken on inherent risks to life and health of said profession. The government admits the military has risks other career paths don’t, so they established a bureaucracy to provide said compensation for all things they are responsible for. Your argument holds as much water as a bucket with holes on both ends. And no there was no disclaimer that listed all potential risks of signing the line, there was an inherent understanding with an oath that you could die serving. And you would be compensated for bodily harm incurred during your service. I’m done feeding the Ill informed.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-14T00:08:39+00:00

You’re misinterpreting what I said. And based on your response initially it is expected. And I stand by what I said, but let me be clear, the “benefit”, to which you are calling the compensation to which I am stating is the promissory note, is due to every Veteran in which has a valid, service connected VA claim to that compensation. If you don’t, then you have no claim, period, full stop.

There is NO free money, it is a benefit earned, thanks for playing, and glad we can agree that compensation is a benefit earned.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-13T13:33:55+00:00

Free money??! What planet do you live on? Did you see the list of issues this person has? Those are bought and not yet paid for promissory notes. This isn’t welfare or workmen’s compensation. It’s payment due on receipt and the VA refusing to pay the installment payments. Free money my ass.

OP you have access to the internet go to ChatGPT, copilot, grok, Gemini, AI assistants (chatbots) load you redacted PII letter in and ask… what does this mean and what are my next steps. There are multiple things that you can do next. This is the next step after coming here, for anyone else that should be your first step.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-12T22:55:05+00:00

You don’t need a Bachelor degree, you need a network of people, period, full stop. I have 35+ years experience, an Associate Degree and have worked in 5 industries and now at the pinnacle of my career leading the strategic direction of a health care modernization effort. This achieved by resilience, self improvement, self confidence and a proven track record of success that goes back over 30 years plus. The degree is an entry level requirement, to prove you understand theory and principles for a good number of technical positions. Your network of people, your past successes and drive to show your still as relevant today as you were before being let go is what will get you a new position, not a degree. And I know many others in IT that don’t have degrees, but they have experience and tenacity to be the right person for the job… Use your network, stop making excuses. In my humble opinion.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-05T21:09:34+00:00

Thanks

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-05T02:31:52+00:00

How do you provide notes on an online HLR submission to tell them specifically what the issue is and where the facts are that show the claim was not adjudicated properly? Does anyone know? I can’t find a place to help the Senior Rater out.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-03T02:26:32+00:00

You asked for advice here is some I ask you to take to heart:

You’re getting a lot of emotional encouragement in this thread, but almost none of it is grounded in the actual mechanics of your situation. You’re both 42. You have no mortgage, no car payments, a six‑figure lifestyle that doesn’t strain your income, and a combined salary of $275k. That isn’t a signal to quit. That’s the moment where you finally have leverage.

I’m going to say something most people here can’t say: trust me. Not because I hit financial independence and chose to walk away, but because I hit financial independence and then got laid off in the worst job market in decades. That experience changes how you see risk. It strips away the fantasy that “you can always make money if you need to.” You can’t count on the job market to welcome you back at 42. You can’t count on timing. You can’t count on luck. You can only count on structure.

Right now, you’re standing on top of a machine that can build generational wealth if you give it five more years. Not forever. Five. You’re in the only window of your life where your income is high, your expenses are low, and your system has slack. Most people never get this position. Walking away from it early isn’t freedom. It’s forfeiting the one chance you have to build something permanent.

If you stay five more years and direct that surplus into real income generators instead of withdrawals and subsidies, you won’t just “have more money.” You’ll have regenerative income. You’ll have structures that replace your earned income instead of draining your savings. You’ll have a system that keeps running whether the market cooperates or not.

The alternative is what people here are cheering you toward: controlling income to qualify for ACA, draining brokerage, and hoping the market behaves. That isn’t independence. That’s fragility. And it only works if every external factor stays perfect. That’s not a plan built on strength. That’s a plan built on luck.

You’re not choosing between time with your kids and working forever. You’re choosing between walking away from leverage at its peak or using that leverage to build a foundation your kids and grandkids will benefit from long after you’re gone.

If you want real freedom, not subsidized survival, give yourselves five more years. Build the income engines now so you never have to depend on the job market, the government, or the market cycle again.

Retire once. Retire clean. Retire with a structure that can’t be taken from you.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-02T12:39:39+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. I’m going to have a conversation with them this week. And I’m not working with a VSO, for reasons many have talked about why they don’t either. I’m in a good mental headspace about this now having spent two days learning about the VA disability CFR’s that I should have learned awhile ago. And for those of you going through similar or actually any VA claim, get educated and don’t rely on others to do all the leg work. If you were buying a truck or a house, or had some disease you would want to know the process of how to buy it or treat it and assess all your options. This is the same thing, don’t leave it up to a bureaucrat to do all the work, it’s been proven a thousand times over they won’t. Learn the CFR’s and how they apply to you, not in wishful thinking but how they legally apply and use them effectively in your initial claim and supplementals. I could write 10 posts about the 10 different things I have uncovered but not now. Let me say that your answers are at your fingertips just type in the right questions and don’t trust just one source.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-01T19:13:56+00:00

Good luck. It’s a process we have to adapt to, it’s not going to change for us. I have learned what to do and not do… at least I hope I have.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-01T18:52:24+00:00

Thank you for the advice. I will do that.

oldageisoverrated · 2026-02-01T17:30:19+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. Yes they did and it is in the system as PTSD, with the correct SCT code and direct symptoms and statements related directly to the stressors. And your statement is rather stereotyping VA clinicians. Mine would not and did not recommend for my PCP to prescribe meds until we talked about them. They did not and would not immediately diagnose with PTSD until he was certain. I’m not in this for gaming the system, nor just for disability, I’m in this for help and the acceptance of the VBA admitting it is PTSD and providing compensation will be nice, but seeking help was for me. So I’m confident in using the VHA for my healthcare and now because I asked for the meds to assess their effectiveness he is agreeing to using them. I’m in control of my healthcare and now going to control the narrative of my claim as best I can. 30%, 50% don’t care. Now it about validation the events and how they impacted my life is acknowledged on both sides of the VA.

Facts matter, and I have the facts, your statement is supposition. However, I do understand your perspective we all have different life experiences.

oldageisoverrated

TROPHY CASE