Percentage Granted And Bs...

[Brian Jones]

Finally I have had my PTSD case assessed and the initial rating given of 50%, all well and good for initial VA % but of course it came with a kicker...

They (the VA) are attempting to find me unable to manage my own funds! After thinking about it I think I figured out how this happened. The last appointment I had with the VA was with a Dr. that wanted to talk to me about my experiences and such. One of the questions he asked me was about who took care of the bills at my house. I laughed and said "my wife". Unfortunally I did not go any further by telling him that I work on the road 5 days a week and do not have the time to balance the household budget while I am hundreds of miles from home, but he also asked no follow up questions about that. Now my benefits are cut off until the VA can hold a phone interview with my wife and then they have to send someone in person to my house to conduct a physical interview.

I have been covering all of my household bills, including a mortgage for 5+ years, no drug use or anything like that, hell I was a cop for 8 years. What a bunch of idiots.

Oh and I have to give up my 2nd amendment rights if I am found to be unable to manage my own funds.

 

[Jimmy1]

Hey long time no see Brian, at least you are at the start. 50 % is better than none.

Tell them to stick their noses out of your business

 

[Brian Jones]

Never gone to far. :) Yea I am not complaining about the amount for the initial % but really ticked about their other "findings". Lawyer tells me that there are 2 ways to go, fight the "finding" so the check comes to me and do the normal appeal about the % or just appeal and use their incomptance finding to use on my case. Not sure which way I want to go.

 

[Rick A.]

Percentages don't mean shit .... I'm 100% .... and the VA dropped me thru the 'cracks' years ago. I now have no medical, no money. hell of a promise that they never kept. Honor? .... man, it's a corporation ran by 'draft dodgers' like GWB, Cheney, Gingrich.

 

[Jimmy1]

MTAKMAN,

I can only gather your in the states. Every country runs their VA's differently. Here if your granted 100%, you would very rarely lose it. It all depends on your injury. The only issue I have seen here is some soldiers being conned into taking the lump sum payment. It sounds good at the start, but later on in life when their body falls apart is when they are in need of their pension and medical benefits.
Down under they are going through a lot of reforms though, especially with the amount of service personnel returning from the longest conflict in our history which we have had troops deployed to.

Always remember, the are just one big medical insurance company. And they have to deal with all sorts of people.
You have the people without supporting documents, you have the fakers, and then you have your sincere claims.
Yes they can be a pain in the arse, but the whole process is slowed because of a few bad ones.

We have had people in Australia who did not even leave Australia's shores yet claimed for Vietnam. They are just being careful.

As for you mate, I would go find a veterans association somewhere and get some expert help.

 

[Rick A.]

Thanks Jimmy for the INTEL & support. So far I've been receiving Positive & Negative response from the 'system'.
The 'system' put me out to pasture 11 years ago ... guess I just got dropped thru the 'cracks'. This too shall pass.
Take care amigo.

 

[Jimmy1]

Unfortunately mate there are those veterans who are deserving who don't get through, and yet others fly through.

 

[rossjall]

Finally I have had my PTSD case assessed and the initial rating given of 50%, all well and good for initial VA % but of course it came with a kicker...

Brian:

It seems there are always strings attached to anything from the VA. I'm still waiting on a decision on my application. It appears with the backlog it may be another 6 months, if I'm lucky.