Hats off to the VA

[WingsOfGold]

Retired in 91 and never set foot into a VA clinic because I didn't want to feel like I was a sponge until I moved here and one is close by and I'm pretty much deaf. . Started off seeing a DAV rep working there. All I wanted was hearing aids, talked to the guy and he tripped my trigger by saying "It has to be determined service connected". I came unglued, he called security! I was pissed, ever work a flightdeck for starters?

Anyway we kissed and made up he sent security away and he said you should probably be checked out for PTSD while were at it. I was awarded 30% for hearing which wasn't squat..... they just moved 30% from my retirement to VA and made it tax free. Long story short, the PTSD kicked in, Parkinsons via Agent Orange kicked in (Sold off at least 30 of my guns because of this) . they have me listed at 130% but being paid at 90% (go figure) DAV guy says 100 is on the horizon and I STILL don't have my hearing aids! But at least I have my full retirement again, back pay at 90% and the 90% which is a lot more than I imagined. 100% a lot more yet, what I'm saying is if you think you deserve it.......... go for it.
I didn't even use a lawyer, the VA and DAV guys at the clinic are on your side which I didn't expect.

 

[vraiblonde]

Monello can tell his own stories but my impression is he's always been treated well by the VA.

 

[OccamsRazor]

Retired in 91 and never set foot into a VA clinic because I didn't want to feel like I was a sponge until I moved here and one is close by and I'm pretty much deaf. . Started off seeing a DAV rep working there. All I wanted was hearing aids, talked to the guy and he tripped my trigger by saying "It has to be determined service connected". I came unglued, he called security! I was pissed, ever work a flightdeck for starters?

Anyway we kissed and made up he sent security away and he said you should probably be checked out for PTSD while were at it. I was awarded 30% for hearing which wasn't squat..... they just moved 30% from my retirement to VA and made it tax free. Long story short, the PTSD kicked in, Parkinsons via Agent Orange kicked in (Sold off at least 30 of my guns because of this) . they have me listed at 130% but being paid at 90% (go figure) DAV guy says 100 is on the horizon and I STILL don't have my hearing aids! But at least I have my full retirement again, back pay at 90% and the 90% which is a lot more than I imagined. 100% a lot more yet, what I'm saying is if you think you deserve it.......... go for it.
I didn't even use a lawyer, the VA and DAV guys at the clinic are on your side which I didn't expect.

Congratulations on getting what you earned and deserve.
You gotta love VA Disability math. Some people's disabilities total near 170-180% but, they are paid at 80-90%.
Are you employed? If not (and do not intend to work) then you could also go the TDIU route. although, 100% schedular is better if you do indeed rate that.

 

[WingsOfGold]

Congratulations on getting what you earned and deserve.
You gotta love VA Disability math. Some people's disabilities total near 170-180% but, they are paid at 80-90%.
Are you employed? If not (and do not intend to work) then you could also go the TDIU route. although, 100% schedular is better if you do indeed rate that.

Got a appt with the VA doc tomorrow, he's fighting for me

 

[WingsOfGold]

Monello can tell his own stories but my impression is he's always been treated well by the VA.

Lot of volunteers there as escorts and gen info trying to help

 

[OccamsRazor]

Got a appt with the VA doc tomorrow, he's fighting for me

Good Luck with it. If you need any assistance, let me know. I deal with this all the time.

 

[Gilligan]

The campus VA benefits rep was a real help back when I was going to college..total advocate. But a few years after that, the VA hospital in Homestead FL basically checked my ailing grandfather in to go ahead and just die (retired Rear Admiral). Wouldn't provide my grandmother a place to stay either. When I arrived after driving 14 hours, there he was: he was dirty, unshaven, thirsty, and with overflowing piss bag. No attendants of any kind could be found.

I went ballistic...made a beeline for the hospital CO's office and let my feelings be known in some very strong language. Made the CO aware of how his facility was treating a war hero...and retired flag officer.

Treatment and care went from zippy to skippy within hours and the next day my grandmother had a private room, with cafeteria privileges, in a building only a few hundred paces from the room where my grandfather was. He recovered....so well that a year later he bought another small sailboat and went back to PHRF racing sponsored by his local yacht club.

I never should have had to intervene like that.

 

[glhs837]

Retired in 91 and never set foot into a VA clinic because I didn't want to feel like I was a sponge until I moved here and one is close by and I'm pretty much deaf. . Started off seeing a DAV rep working there. All I wanted was hearing aids, talked to the guy and he tripped my trigger by saying "It has to be determined service connected". I came unglued, he called security! I was pissed, ever work a flightdeck for starters?

Anyway we kissed and made up he sent security away and he said you should probably be checked out for PTSD while were at it. I was awarded 30% for hearing which wasn't squat..... they just moved 30% from my retirement to VA and made it tax free. Long story short, the PTSD kicked in, Parkinsons via Agent Orange kicked in (Sold off at least 30 of my guns because of this) . they have me listed at 130% but being paid at 90% (go figure) DAV guy says 100 is on the horizon and I STILL don't have my hearing aids! But at least I have my full retirement again, back pay at 90% and the 90% which is a lot more than I imagined. 100% a lot more yet, what I'm saying is if you think you deserve it.......... go for it.
I didn't even use a lawyer, the VA and DAV guys at the clinic are on your side which I didn't expect.

Same idea here. I retired in 03, my buddy in 08. He just recently worked with DAV here and was shocked at how much they helped him. And he said the VA folks were also very helpful. Met with DAV yesterday and will bring back my "homework" next week. Sadly, my PCP of almost 20 years since right after I switched from active to reserve is no longer practicing, so my medical records will all have to get gathered and reviewed by my new PCP, a young CRNP. Making sure she understands how much of my current physical condition is due to the things I did might be a challenge.

 

[spr1975wshs]

My Mrs. is 70%, PTSD being a big part.
I have not heard her complain about VA care since they shifted the northern Illinois clinic from under the control of Chicago to Madison, WI.
Care here in southern Maryland has been good.

 

[Gilligan]

My Mrs. is 70%, PTSD being a big part.
I have not heard her complain about VA care since they shifted the northern Illinois clinic from under the control of Chicago to Madison, WI.
Care here in southern Maryland has been good.

I regularly visited one of my best buddies at the VA facility in Charlotte Hall. For probably 6-8 years...until he passed. Good folks and mostly good care...he did have some personal items stolen by the low-paid maintenance staff but overall the care was good. His floor nurses always gave me a big smile and welcome because they knew I was always bringing my buddy some jars of smoked oysters, some crab cakes, maybe some stuffed flounder, fried soft crabs....and they knew that he'd never be able to eat it all and it was in their unit refrigerator for all to share. I miss that guy...we had some great times.

 

[WingsOfGold]

Same idea here. I retired in 03, my buddy in 08. He just recently worked with DAV here and was shocked at how much they helped him. And he said the VA folks were also very helpful. Met with DAV yesterday and will bring back my "homework" next week. Sadly, my PCP of almost 20 years since right after I switched from active to reserve is no longer practicing, so my medical records will all have to get gathered and reviewed by my new PCP, a young CRNP. Making sure she understands how much of my current physical condition is due to the things I did might be a challenge.

CRNP female, yeah got one of them too. Try explaining what it feels like when you can't piss or waking up with a woodie and finding it impossible to piss.
Switching almost entirely to VA, he can relate.

 

[Sneakers]

waking up with a woodie

 

[WingsOfGold]

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[OccamsRazor]

Same idea here. I retired in 03, my buddy in 08. He just recently worked with DAV here and was shocked at how much they helped him. And he said the VA folks were also very helpful. Met with DAV yesterday and will bring back my "homework" next week. Sadly, my PCP of almost 20 years since right after I switched from active to reserve is no longer practicing, so my medical records will all have to get gathered and reviewed by my new PCP, a young CRNP. Making sure she understands how much of my current physical condition is due to the things I did might be a challenge.

Its good that you are finding help with the DAV but... do your homework! I have found that the DAV reps locally are more "throw it all at the wall and see what sticks" kind of help rather than knowing the ins and outs of the process and doing it right the first time.