So not sure if this can be put here, in smorgaborg or elsewhere. So mods let me know if I am wrong. Ok, onto topic. I am currently going for my VA disability benefits. Has anyone here been through it. Right now I have my hearing loss/tinnitus claims in. I was medically discharged due to high blood pressure. Which led to a heart attack. Possibile Chronic kidney disease. Kidney stones. Bad back, knees. Joint pain/arthritus. Docs told me while in the hospital to get check out for sleep apnea. I guess my vitals bounced around alot despite sleeping. Amongst otherthings. I was deployed to Iraq 3 times. Who has had success and what was done to help that? If you had to appeal, what did you do? I know this isn't financial persay but it kinda is due to the monthy payment. With what I have, if I can get most of them, I could actually retire early. I won't but it would fill the gaps in when I have to take time off due to pain. Like today, my back is killing me. With my job and if I can get this too, my financial situation would improve over 100%. My yearly income would double.
If its easier and to keep privacy, feel free to message me with your story and or tips to be more successful in my claims.
Mods, again, if I am in the wrong place. My apologies..
30 day post DC
60 days post DC
94 days post DC
Thank you.
As with any other medical case, each one will vary, and in my experience, it will mostly come down to THIS strong factor:
How good and competent is the VA facility that is treating you?
Just like other hospitals, some are awesome and some just flat out suck. Tinnitus cannot be proven or disproven, so that's an automatic 10% increase to your rating. Unfortunately, alot of veterans know this, so alot of them falsely file for it. Your MOS can also help you, sometimes. Someone who was a 13F gets all my respect and has earned whatever disability pay connected to anything their service has caused them.
A lot of your claims will be "auto-denied". That is their SOP. Just keeping re-filing. If you see a specialist, especially a green one or a de-sensitized one that is not listening to you, please do not hesitate to see someone else. Heck, chances are that they move on, move up, or move out even within the course of your case. If your VA facility is large enough, you will get used to NOT seeing the same doctor for the same issue. If the afflictions you listed can be attributed and proven to be service related, I can EASILY see you being at a 60% rating. Possibly even 80%-90%.
Good luck to you sir!!!
I do have tinnitus. Even have the stupid device for it. I was a gen mech for the Army and weapons repairer for the Air Force. So having to work on running gensets due to security reasons or running jets. Live fire exercises and you lose your ear plugs in the middle didn't help, living on a runway next to a testing area. I am for only getting what is due to me. Nothing more. Just waiting on the C&P exams suck. I am doing it in cycles. Didn't like the VSOs way of throwing everything at once and seeing what sticks. Maximize the returns. Had a standard hearing test done at the VA. I am borderline normal/mild hearing loss. I am eligable for hearing aids but I guess it equates out needing reading glasses only for very small print. So not needed all time but for rare occassions. My right ear had issues with the beeps and my left failed 22% of the spoken words. I am always telling people to either wait for the ringing to end or to get closer. Getting yelled at because I use subtitles on everything and apparently I have the tv/radio too loud. They turn it down for them and I can't hear it. I was medically discharged because of hypertension. Even if i can't get a rating for that, I can attach my heart attack, kidney issues and possibly apnea (which is another highly abused one) as secondaries. Right now I had to stay home to a bad back. Hurts bad. Good thing the Army enjoyed along with all the Hoaah leaders who decided jumping and running with full battle gear was good for the body. Both my knees are always stiff. My left likes to lock on my and I have to "pop" it in order to keep moving. Joint pain in my toes and fingers keep me up at night. My fingers and toes like to go numb a few times a week. If I can get my Hypertension (min of 50%) Heart attack (min on 60%) and sleep apnea (min of 50%) that right there will get me to 100%. I have a professional team helping me. Just seeing if any one has any extra advice. Like how to get a nexus to prove military cause.
@Anonymous wrote:My Dad was on partial disability and all I can offer is that it takes FOREVER and to keep pushing and pushing and pushing.
If you're approved, you should get the $$ retroactive to the date you applied. With weird governmental communications, my Dad didn't even know his case was actually approved until he one day got a check for $30,000 in the mail.
He applied for an increase in benefits before his death (which was 3 years ago now) and the case is STILL open.
Really hoping my Mom finds another check like that in the mail one day!
Right but unfortunetly, It will only retro back a yr. Per the VA. My hearing one will be finalized about June. I may get a second application in before my deadline. But would have to file another letter of intent again to get others in. Hopefully she does too.