Hello my fellow Veterans, today is my first appointment since/after my retirement for a VA review. I have to go to Delaware and will be there the whole day. Oh boy, poked and prodded questioned, and poked again! This is the beginning of the determination of the percentage I'm disabled. "Boy did I say all that"? Anyway, I'm hoping for a good/bad outcome... meaning I have/had enough wrong with me so I get some tax relief on my pension. I'll keep you posted and anyone got any good tips, spread the wealth! Dave
Good luck on the process. It’s not a quick one. Hopefully you have some helpful doctors doing your exams and a good rep(VA,DAV,VFW). My claim took 7 months the first time, and the second one is at 2 months. Make sure you claim tinnitus, GERD, and low back pain. Also get a sleep study done, as sleep apnea is an additional 10% if you have it. Charles SSG(R)
Thanks much!!! I actually had Barretts esophagus cancer along with GERD! 3 Herniated disks, shoulder rotator cuff, arthritis in every joint, GOUT, and I did tell them about my Tinnutis but he didn't say much! I'm a life member of the DAV so I went through them.
Well I just got my claim back, and they adjusted my combined % up to where it should of been to start with. So this claim took about 2 months. Got paid before I got the paperwork. Good luck to you and anyone else dealing with a VA claim. Charles
Another thing to remember is when you go in for your exam, is they have to consider what a “bad” day is like for any joint problems. Disabled Vets May Qualify for Higher Ratings
Thank much!!! . I told the Doctors very single ache and pain I got every day. I also have GOUT so I told them I can't even move some days!
I just got the mail today and got my VA letter of qualification. 70% right out the gate!!! And, 30% pending future evaluation of my spine, rotator cuff and arthritis in my knees and elbow. They are also going to follow through with an MRI of my back because I have degenerative disk disease now.
Sounds like u made out good. I started at 90% combined. The goal at the VA is to qualify for priority group 1(50% service connected injury). When they refigured my shoulder & neck, it added enough to push it over 96%... if you can provide previous MRI’s and X-rays, they can compare them to the new ones, showing a pattern of degeneration. Charles
Was that straight addition or with the screwed up VA math. Once you get over 50%, they switch to a formula that rounds up or down to the nearest 10. Such as 91-94 goes to 90 and 95-99 goes to 100. You also have to take bi-lateral into that formula. Pain in the azz. Charles
Yes, the screwed up math!!! Added up, I'm at 100%, actually more. But the claim letter said, your VA % is /will be 70% So, officially I'm over the 50% by 20% When they added up everything I was over 100% But yes, I am now/will recieve a seperate check.
Getting a check is better than nothing. That’s why I took the first offer, because the Army side was 70%- didn’t want to loose tricare. You can always go back and be re-evaluated if anything changes. Now the VA payment is higher than my retirement pay, so over half of my income will be tax free . Charles
Nice! Here in NJ, "which I hate" Your pension isn't taxed! only federal. so I'm a happy boy. I'm eventually moving out of here and going up North to New Hampshire, they don't tax it either!
That is good news, tax free all of it. Plus you will get a ck. for the time while you were waiting. You can be glad it was over 50% or they would have just made some of your military retirement non taxable. Thank your lucky stars you have Tricare. Your investment becoming military retired will now start paying back. My wife had surgery 5 times in two years. I would have lost my house had it not been for "good" medical coverage. We have been 3 yrs. now without her needing another surgery. Take care of yourself. Don't sweat the small stuff. Fairly easy to hire someone to come in for a few hours every week to pick up and get things back in order.
Yes! Thanks Larry. After a few more visits to the Dr. I'll open up a new claim... My shoulder is a mess but they just kept saying it was inflammation, "nothing torn" Well it sure as He!! hurts! It's also full of Arthritis but that's one of the things the VA compensated me for, but in my knees and back. Your right Larry, the insurance has been a God send now!
Another VA appointment today at 0930. It only took since last January to get another appointment. I hate to say it but it'll be another joke, almost like a senate hearing...
Make sure you check what your new town in NH will discount your property tax. I think it's a max of $2K. My dad is in FL now, and as a vet with 100% combined disability he doesn't pay a single dollar in property or income tax.
