OT: VA Disability...

[Boondock_St_Sker]

Wondering how many tPB'rs were in the military and now have a disability rating??

I have been retired since 2012 (10 yrs active duty and 10 yrs Neb ANG) and am just now filing a claim. I have submitted the claim and am waiting for my first appt. to yap with an evaluator (??) is that the name of them? I work as a Dept of Air Force civilian at USSTRATCOM here in beautiful Bellevue NE and have lots of co-workers who receive disability ranging from 20% up to 100%. Curious to know your experience in the process.

 

[Jim14510]

This is @BugeaterInWa expertise.

 

[BugeaterInWa]

2012 - for some things you might need to show continuity of care, some things can be presumptive and knot need the extra documentation.

First item you should get is a Veterans Claims Assistance Act letter telling you they rcvd the claim, list of all conditions they see you claimed and wut you need to do and or wait til they send you for a Comp and Pen exam(s).

Then you'll wait for mor correspondence or the decision.

In a nut shell.

Thank you for taking over the watch and welcome home.

 

[BugeaterInWa]

Oh, and get a VSO - veterans service officer to help you

Like the DAV, VFW, AL, DAV, MoPH, AAPTSDA, DAV, WWP, VVA, Nebraskie VA reps, DAV....

They are avail at no charge. Some provide great training and a liveable wage, others pay the reps chump change and free coffee and just wanna hear stories imo.

 

[Havoc34]

Document everything. And just know going in you’ll likely have to appeal their first decision to get what you earned. You can get reviewed for 20 different things and they might come back and rate you at 10% overall. The calculations they use for percentage pretty weird. Also though even if something gets rated a 0% (a shoulder, bad knee, etc) that’s still marked as service connected and could be covered down the road if it gets worse and could be re-rated depending on the circumstances. So again make sure to list any and everything you can think of that’s ever caused you an issue during your service.
And as stated above it’s Always best to work with a VSO.

 

[BugeaterInWa]

Document everything. And just know going in you’ll likely have to appeal their first decision to get what you earned. You can get reviewed for 20 different things and they might come back and rate you at 10% overall. The calculations they use for percentage pretty weird. Also though even if something gets rated a 0% (a shoulder, bad knee, etc) that’s still marked as service connected and could be covered down the road if it gets worse and could be re-rated depending on the circumstances. So again make sure to list any and everything you can think of that’s ever caused you an issue during your service.
And as stated above it’s Always best to work with a VSO.

I really encourage a good rep. A good rep can get things done w/o filing an appeal. Appeals suck as they usually take a long time. Again, a good rep and good employees can get shit done. However, VA has turned into a bean counting process and employees are basically forced to speed through the claims in order to get thier daily needed beans and will miss a lot if easy shit. I've seen it all, over and over, and over, and over again.

 

[BIG TONE SOPRANO]

Wondering how many tPB'rs were in the military and now have a disability rating??

I have been retired since 2012 (10 yrs active duty and 10 yrs Neb ANG) and am just now filing a claim. I have submitted the claim and am waiting for my first appt. to yap with an evaluator (??) is that the name of them? I work as a Dept of Air Force civilian at USSTRATCOM here in beautiful Bellevue NE and have lots of co-workers who receive disability ranging from 20% up to 100%. Curious to know your experience in the process.

Pretty easy to get 10% for about anything. I’ve seen 100% disabled vets that were completely mentally and physically fine. It doesn’t really make any sense how they do it.

 

[Kaladin]

Pretty easy to get 10% for about anything. I’ve seen 100% disabled vets that were completely mentally and physically fine. It doesn’t really make any sense how they do it.

I might have to put I a claim then

 

[Boondock_St_Sker]

I really encourage a good rep. A good rep can get things done w/o filing an appeal. Appeals suck as they usually take a long time. Again, a good rep and good employees can get shit done. However, VA has turned into a bean counting process and employees are basically forced to speed through the claims in order to get thier daily needed beans and will miss a lot if easy shit. I've seen it all, over and over, and over, and over again.

A co-worker actually helped me with the initial claim using an AI bot, chat gpt, and another tool. It was pretty crazy. A VSO is a great idea! I’m interested to see how my Comp and Pen exam goes.

Thanks for the advice @BugeaterInWa and @Havoc34 I’ll keep you updated.

 

[Huskerbuck85]

Oh, and get a VSO - veterans service officer to help you

Like the DAV, VFW, AL, DAV, MoPH, AAPTSDA, DAV, WWP, VVA, Nebraskie VA reps, DAV....

They are avail at no charge. Some provide great training and a liveable wage, others pay the reps chump change and free coffee and just wanna hear stories imo.

My Mom just retired as Veterans Service Officer of 16 years. Her hand was forced by ALS. Long after she couldn’t talk, eat or drink, she kept serving until she was forced out. That woman was a go getter for her Veterans and it absolutely made a difference in their overall experience and benefits received.

 

[BIGSTICK67]

Wondering how many tPB'rs were in the military and now have a disability rating??

I have been retired since 2012 (10 yrs active duty and 10 yrs Neb ANG) and am just now filing a claim. I have submitted the claim and am waiting for my first appt. to yap with an evaluator (??) is that the name of them? I work as a Dept of Air Force civilian at USSTRATCOM here in beautiful Bellevue NE and have lots of co-workers who receive disability ranging from 20% up to 100%. Curious to know your experience in the process.

I recently received 10% for my hearing...BUT I also have tinnitus that originated from the service - allegedly.

To be fair the process was a pain in the ass. First I went to the doctor that my VA rep told me to go to since he's familiar with the Maryland test. Then that audiologist suggested I go to another audiologist to make sure there were no neuro issues. After I turned in the 2nd test, they said it told them nothing. At least no neuro issues, but not enough to provide a judgement.

OK, so then they finally send me to the new VA location in LaVista and about 3 months later I see a deposit in my bank account. Which frankly was slightly alarming that I might be receiving something I wasn't supposed to receive. My VA rep then confirmed that they'd judged in favor of a 10% disability.

It was nearly impossible for them to disprove my hearing loss since I was right-handed and all weapons were fired in my right hand. Therefore I have difficulty hearing in my left ear. That's apparently a significant indicator whether hearing loss is due to the military.

This also means that when I elect to get hearing aids they'll be covered, but due to the stigma associated with hearing aids, I've made the decision to wait until I'm 60 y/o. I attend events outside of the office where if you haven't noticed - people are extremely judgmental. But my oldest son isn't. On Father's Day I asked him twice to repeat himself and he said. "Dad, when are you getting your hearing aids again?" LOL

 

[Boondock_St_Sker]

I recently received 10% for my hearing...BUT I also have tinnitus that originated from the service - allegedly.

To be fair the process was a pain in the ass. First I went to the doctor that my VA rep told me to go to since he's familiar with the Maryland test. Then that audiologist suggested I go to another audiologist to make sure there were no neuro issues. After I turned in the 2nd test, they said it told them nothing. At least no neuro issues, but not enough to provide a judgement.

OK, so then they finally send me to the new VA location in LaVista and about 3 months later I see a deposit in my bank account. Which frankly was slightly alarming that I might be receiving something I wasn't supposed to receive. My VA rep then confirmed that they'd judged in favor of a 10% disability.

It was nearly impossible for them to disprove my hearing loss since I was right-handed and all weapons were fired in my right hand. Therefore I have difficulty hearing in my left ear. That's apparently a significant indicator whether hearing loss is due to the military.

This also means that when I elect to get hearing aids they'll be covered, but due to the stigma associated with hearing aids, I've made the decision to wait until I'm 60 y/o. I attend events outside of the office where if you haven't noticed - people are extremely judgmental. But my oldest son isn't. On Father's Day I asked him twice to repeat himself and he said. "Dad, when are you getting your hearing aids again?" LOL

Hearing loss and tinnitus are two of my claims...good info to know. I know this process is going to be a PITA but if I can get something I think it'll be better than nothing. I have too many friends that are 100% who seem "fine". I used to snub my nose at them thinking they were gaming the system (some may be) but after talking with a few of my friends and the guy that helped me with my claim, it's time to see what I can get for my 20+ years of service.

Thanks for the info

 

[BIGSTICK67]

Hearing loss and tinnitus are two of my claims...good info to know. I know this process is going to be a PITA but if I can get something I think it'll be better than nothing. I have too many friends that are 100% who seem "fine". I used to snub my nose at them thinking they were gaming the system (some may be) but after talking with a few of my friends and the guy that helped me with my claim, it's time to see what I can get for my 20+ years of service.

Thanks for the info

PM me if you need to.

My VA Rep was good - when he was available. I felt like the people that answer the phone covered for him a lot. Once you got him on the phone he was very helpful and positive about my chances of receiving something. Again, if you are right-handed and have more difficulty hearing in your left ear...chances are they'll rule that it's related to your service. Or vice versa I suppose, but both audiologists mentioned this to me.

Or if you just used both hands to masturbate maybe you'll get full disability. I wouldn't be able to comment on that since I've never done it.

I sort of felt the same way, but the older I get the more I realize that it was earned not given. It's like my 1st home I didn't need a down payment due to a VA loan. Extremely helpful to get us into our first home 25+ years ago.

 

[Boondock_St_Sker]

agree...I worked on the flight line for years and was around loud shit all the time...if I don't get something for hearing loss and/or tinnitus, something is wrong. The audiology can't prove tinnitus b/c you can still hear if you have ringing in your ears right? everyone I know that worked on the flight line has at least the 10% for tinnitus.

 

[BugeaterInWa]

Hearing loss and tinnitus are two of my claims...good info to know. I know this process is going to be a PITA but if I can get something I think it'll be better than nothing. I have too many friends that are 100% who seem "fine". I used to snub my nose at them thinking they were gaming the system (some may be) but after talking with a few of my friends and the guy that helped me with my claim, it's time to see what I can get for my 20+ years of service.

Thanks for the info

It can be very helpful for your claim to see a state certified audiologist on your own dime and have them render an opinion on whether your hearing loss and tinnitus "is as least as not likely due to your military service noise exposure". Especially since you've been out awhile now.

Then it's pretty difficult to deny that clain.