Va Disability Forum

[Da-Chief]

Created for folks involved with this Archaic system or getting ready to use it..

I will be your Moderator here..

Post a question I will try to get you a answer..

Thanks!

Da-Chief

[DeeDee]

Very good idea - i'm sure there are lots of people with questions about what to do

[HM1(SW/AW)]

I am waiting to see what my percentage will be. They said it normally takes about 30 to 45 days to get it after last day in the service.

[flynavy]

Excuse my ignorance here but : can you retire at 20 and receive disability in addition to your normal retirement? If so when someone says "you will have 50% disability."; what does that mean monetarily?

Thanks.

[Da-Chief]

Flynavy,
This is a very interesting question you ask..

I myself am rated @ 80%. I receive my retirement check and a portion of my Disability as well. Before 2004, You could only receive "1" but mixed..

Before 2004, say I were to get 1000.00 a month for my retirement, 800 of it would be covered under the VA and be "NON-TAXABLE" 200 of which would be.

After 2004, if you were rated at 30 percent or more, they would start paying you both but at percentage rate to be 100% in 2014.

I.e in 2014 I would get My full 1000.00 from the Navy, and then the VA would pay 800 so I would have a total of 1800.00.. this is called "CONCURRENT RECEIPT.

You can read more about it here..:

http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/retired-pay/retired-concurrent-receipt-overview

Hope this helps..

D/C

[flynavy]

Thanks I really appreciate it.

[flynavy]

I'm still trying to grasp this. So you are categorized at 80% disabled and retired at 20 years. You now receive your full retirement plus an extra: roughly $2000 a month tax free? That sounds almost to good to be true.

I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea a couple of years ago. I feel great and sleep with a thing called an "oral appliance" that displaces my jaw and prevents the apnic episodes. I was told that this made me "50% disabled," which I found odd as the Navy continues to let me fly aircraft.

If I read this system correctly I would be financially foolish to stay in beyond 20 even though I love what I do. Any thoughts Chief.

[HM1(SW/AW)]

I received a letter stating that my disability rating will be 80% and that if I have any objections to call or mail the VA about them.

I don't know when I will start to receive my disability amount yet though.

[HM1(SW/AW)]

Well, I just started receiving my disability pay this August, so that is 3 months after I retired.

[cabgx2]

FYI:

I retired 22 years ago. In the "old" days, a corpsman could treat him/herself, and not have to go to sick call. When you apply for V.A. disability, there would not be any records of that treatment. No records, no proof of injury/disease. In short, make sure all illnesses or injuries are documented.

[Doc Hickman]

FYI:

I retired 22 years ago. In the "old" days, a corpsman could treat him/herself, and not have to go to sick call. When you apply for V.A. disability, there would not be any records of that treatment. No records, no proof of injury/disease. In short, make sure all illnesses or injuries are documented.
Here Here!! I'm experiencing this myself at the moment. Make sure that you aren't just treating your aches and pains with Marine Corps M&Ms. Suck it up and get treated by someone at your BAS for real. You will be thankfull for it later.

[FlyBoy]

My question concerns the VA/SSD question although possibly in reverse order.

I am currently approved using VA math for a 30% VA disability – 10% for hearing, 10% for tinnitus and 10% for shoulder arthritic problems. I am in the appeal process to increase my hearing percentage as an independent audiology exam shows a drastic difference from the VA administered test. I am also asking the VA to reconsider a previously submitted osteoarthritis hips claim that they previously refused to acknowledge responsibility. All medical documentation has been submitted.

Within the past 2 months I have been approved for Social Security disability based on the same medical evidence (hearing and hips) submitted to the VA and have notified the VA of such. I know the VA and SSD play by different rules but I believe SSD is harder to achieve. Considering this difficulty factor is there at least a reasonable chance the VA will look at the approval of SSD favorably and increase my chances of approval to a higher rate of VA disability? Any and all suggestions and comments solicited and welcomed.My question concerns the VA/SSD question although possibly in reverse order.

I am currently approved for a 30% VA disability – 10% for hearing, 10% for tinnitus and 10% for shoulder arthritic problems. I am in the appeal process to increase my hearing percentage as an independent audiology exam shows a drastic difference from the VA administered test. I am also asking the VA to reconsider a previously submitted osteoarthritis hips claim. All medical documentation has been submitted.
Within the past 2 months I have been approved for Social Security disability based on the same medical evidence (hearing and hips) submitted to the VA and have notified the VA of such. I know the VA and SSD play by different rules but I believe SSD is harder to achieve. Considering this difficulty factor Is there at least a reasonable chance the VA will look at the approval of SSD favorably and increase my chances of approval to a higher rate of VA disability?

[YardDog]

I have been disabled for 10 years. It took 3 years for my PTSD to be increased from 10% to 20%, of which I still feel is low (any ideas on how to get this increased?)

I recently went to my Civi-Doc and she told me that I have degenerative bone disease and cousin arthur in my back. Both caused by the numerous marches and heavy loads that I carried during training and other exercises during my time in the USN.

She put me through series of tests, MRI, CT scan, even physical therapy.
I applied to the V.A for this and was denied. Now tell me since I have all this documentation, #1 why must the V.A. doc's (which carry the same degree as my civi-doc) make me go thru the same CRAP again? and #2 why doesn't the V.A. accept the records of the Civi-Doc's (once again my civi-doc has a doctorate in medicine)?

Also I applied for Gulf War Syndrome, in 1998 and I still have not be spoken to, or even seen......who can I contact and how can I get this stuff resolved?

The government officials state they are doing more for us VET's (including present president and president-elect) and nothing is being done....UGH

[Sarc88]

Has anyone filed/sent a Notice of Disagreement recently? I'd like some knowledge on tips/format, etc.

I had 4 items "Deferred pending exam" that were examined and rated well. I'm very happy with the VA on this.

I had 4 items "Denied" no exam, and was told to file a "Notice of Disagreement" if I could produce better evidence of service connection. This is my current task

Any CURRENT knowledge or experience would be greatly appreciated!

V/R
BTM

[8404]

I don't have any direct information, however I want to put out two great resources, for those who possibly may not know about them:

There are numerous resources at: http://www.dav.org/

Disability Evaluation System Guide (http://www.dav.org/veterans/documents/disability_evaluation_system_guide.pdf) (pdf)

DAV's Claim Representation Services before the US Department of Veterans Affairs (http://www.dav.org/veterans/claim_representation.html)

See also: http://www.iava.org/ and Resources For Vets (http://www.iava.org/content/view/16/174/)

[Da-Chief]

The best advice.. is get ahold of your local DAV, they are there to help you out and will fight for you.

Good Luck!

D/C

[Sarc88]

Thanks Gents,
I'll try the site. The DAV here in NOVA has been 100% no help. Seems like all the Service Officers between Richmond and DC retired at the same time.

Cheers!

[DocBuckles]

You guys need to understand that 10% + 10% + 10% in VA math only equals maybe 10-20%.... I, for instance, have 50% rating on my back, 10% feet, 10% hearing, blah, blah... total of 120% if added like normal people would add. I am only 60% overal due to the VA math system. From what I was told, they have a formula for individual percentages in addition to another formula for overall percentages.

Don't count on ANYTHING until you get a final piece of paper from the VA. Also, don't try to do it all yourself. Use the DAV or some other organization. They will file and prepare everything to make sure you only wait 12-18 months instead of 24-36 months for a final assessment.

[YardDog]

Yea, it took me 5 years for the appeal of 10 % to get to 20 %....mean time I have more issues that they are DRAGGING their feet on....especially back and hearing!

[Sonny]

Not a coprsman but spent 27 years in the Navy with 24 of them as an EOD Technician where I made over 500 parachute jumps, thousands of hours diving including dives to depths greater than 300 feet and the other stress of rapelling and fast roping not to mention the mandatory fun (extreme PT). I have been retired for 10 years now and am still battling with the VA. As with many involved in the Special Ops community, we never complained much during the active duty days due to the potential loss of Special Duty/Hazardous Duty pays. Vitamin M was the cure. My question is: Has anyone pursued the VA with any success on the basis of the extremes of Static Line Parachute Jumping, HALO Parachute Jumping and Diving both Deep Sea and Scuba.

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

Sonny
sonny.richardson@westonsolutions.com

[FlyBoy]

Actually using VA math 10% + 10% + 10% = 27% according to the VA, and rounds up to 30%. The complete table and explanation can be found here: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=50cd4f3d3075827ac7b6145212866f6d&rgn=div8&view=text&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.1.97.21&idno=38.
But you are right about how the VA calculates percentages for disability purposes – 1 + 1 definitely DOES NOT equal 2!