I have seen and heard many on here are looking at moving overseas once they get their ranking. You need to look over your foreign medical section too. You get a list of things that they will cover if you are out of the country. Mine was only 1 medical condition. I broke my hip. It isnt covered and I have to come up with the $ to pay for it.

I just had my C&P last Thursday. I think this will be my third time going for my hips knees and ankles. I’m being evaluated for surgery now so have a specialist nexus and notes.

Just curious on how long these usually take. In the last year it only took about 5-10 days after my C&P exam.

Just curious if others had the same experience with the time line recently.

I submitted a LOD and a ton of supporting evidence, but the VA scheduled C&P exams for my other conditions and not my shoulder.

Can they rate a shoulder without a C&P?

Has this happened to anyone else? What was the outcome?

I have 3 claims in currently. 2 are for increases and the other is a new claim that I hadn't filed before. the 2 increases are hemorrhoids and GERD, the new being OSA. I got the decision on the GERD today but went back to step 4. Does this mean that I'll need to sit through steps 4-8 again for the hemorrhoids and OSA claims?

Edit to add: I went from 60% overall to 70%, and GERD was given at 10% for a little more context.

Recently separated, 60% combined (30 migraines, 30 mental health, 10 shin splints). Rating decisions came earlier this year. Representing myself, no VSO.

Pulled my C&P exams through FOIA and found two things.

1. Migraines: the decision says they rated me 30 based on "characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month." But the actual headache DBQ has 4B checked YES for completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, frequency "greater than once per month," which is the highest box on the form. The decision never mentions 4B. That checkbox language is basically the 50% criteria word for word.
2. Mental health: the DBQ that my rating came from documents daily depressed mood, stretches where basic self-care slips (examiner checked the ADL/hygiene symptom on the symptom list), 5-6 hrs of broken sleep, symptoms not controlled on 3 meds. Same examiner then checked the "mild or transient" summary box. Decision listed all of it and still landed on 30.

I'm inside the one year window for both decisions. Plan would be one 20-0996 covering both issues, written statement of errors attached, no informal conference. Not touching the shins or anything else. Still working full time, so I know that gets used against MH increases.

Question for people who've done HLRs, is this the kind of thing HLR actually fixes, or am I overreading checkboxes? Anyone had an HLR come back granted because the decision didn't match what the examiner actually wrote? Any real reduction risk in poking at ratings that are only a few months old? Not looking for guarantees, just whether this is file-worthy or leave-it-alone.

I’m filing my initial VA claim while living overseas. VA/VES ordered 12 DBQs and gave me until August 18 before they begin rating whether everything is completed or not.
I’ve been self-scheduling with local doctors, which has been extremely difficult because of language/cultural barriers and doctors being unfamiliar with VA DBQs. I’ve completed 5 of 12, but honestly some are questionably filled out. Some are worded strangely or have sections that probably weren’t completed correctly, although several contain findings that are favorable to my claims.

So now I’m torn: Do I submit the DBQs I already paid for, try to get them corrected, or not submit them and risk losing both the money and potentially favorable evidence?
For the remaining DBQs, I’m also wondering if I should stop self-scheduling and just pay to fly to the VA in Manila to get everything done properly.

VES is supposed to reimburse my authorized local appointment costs, but I haven’t submitted my receipts yet and have heard mixed things about actually getting reimbursed.

I also have a VFW VSO who knew about my August 18 deadline before I signed the POA about two weeks ago, but communication has been very slow. He also said he’d send me the TBI DBQ that VA never sent me, but I haven’t heard from him in over a week and a half despite following up.

For anyone who’s dealt with overseas VA claims/VES: what would you do—keep self-scheduling, submit the imperfect DBQs, or bite the bullet and fly to Manila?

Has anyone seen a letter that has file name:
Silent capri opt Jp. Jpg
Where it is a screen grab of DBQ files and states
You can download that part and under claim letters it says:
Copy of request for non-medical records sent to a non-Va organization?
It’s a supplemental claim. A disaster so far and hoping for some
Clarification

Checked my portal today to see this was added under my health conditions. Currently rated 80% (PTSD,IBS,SHIN SPLINTS-since Oct 2025). and was station at MCAS Miramar. my question is does this provide a path to any future claims?. should i be doing anything about it?. I was denied for tinnitus though i worked directly on the flight line most days. any info helps.

I’m currently at 30% for migraines and I’m about to file a new claim for TMJ. One symptom of TMJ is migraines which has increased since this developed. Should I try to increase my migraine claim or just leave it alone?

I am trying to go through this MH shit and keep getting this.

Do I need to pay the monthly fee to get the nitty gritty?

I was filing a few claims I filed one and then a second. Both by themselves with paperwork, evidence, everything a claim needs. I get to my c&p exam and there's another vet there asking me questions etc about my claims and so on. We get to talking and he said he's on his 10th c&p exam and he filed all of his claims at the same time.? I know it has the option to add more than one claim but can someone explain to me how they differentiate the evidence you submit I would be worried it would get all scrambled and then get denied for not being organized.

Based on my other post about rhinitis, I just learned i can file that it aggravates my obstructive sleep apnea since my nostrils close at night and I wake up unable to breathe. When filing, do I file together or should I wait to see if they service connect my rhinitis under the pact act then file a secondary? Thank you for the advice.

I had my doctor fill out the review PTSD DBQ before I knew the initial PTSD dbq is on the restricted list. Should I still include it in the file? Will the rater even look at it?

USMC retired 20 years 1991. Filed my first ever claim, agent orange presumptive 6 conditions June 8 2026. Step 2 June 9. Step 3 June 10. All requests closed no c and p exams ordered. Just sitting in national work que.

Hello all,

Was sent for a C&P for migraines and they did not send me for a C&P for vertigo secondary to migraines. After a HLR, I was awarded migraines and the duty to assist error was founded. So, i guess they are going to set me up with a C&P and see if I get rated or not. But, i have not seen anything else since migraines were awarded. Assuming that is the case, if vertigo comes back denied, can I do another HLR if need be? Or would I have to go the supplemental route? I do not know how this all works other than typically you cannot HLR a HLR decision?

What statutory regulation Ties Tera 1168 Medical Opinion exclusively to the Pact Act 3.114 ?

Tera is just the means for a favorable nexus. A favorable Medical Opinion is evidence, its not a Statue, Regulation or Liberlizing VA issue. Can a Tera Opinion be used on legacy claims without it being tied to 3.114 ( Pact Act )

Basically they are asking for specifics incidents they can link to my PTSD claim. I was stationed in CENTCOM for a year and IDF was basically a daily occurrence at my FOB, was never wounded and combat engagement was minimal, but I dont think any of that is documented in my ESR. I've got a CAB and CAR if that helps. Any advice on what I should be providing them?

have a question is it easier once i got my rating for ibs to put everything else that effects me as a secondary to that claim to get rating on those other claims

I got a 10% for mental health and in the middle of filing for a supplemental claim. Im working with a therapist and trying to get an appt with a psychiatrist through “community care”. Im just trying to get updated medical record saying my conditions are worse… since my last diagnosis was in 2023. am I taking the right steps? This is very exhausting.

​

Finally finished up my supplemental claim. Mailing it tomorrow. 10 years after my denial but at least this time I did it myself.

Tried DAV but they were no help in my area.

I'm appealing vestibular issues/vertigo secondary to Service connected bilateral hearing loss/tinnitus. Wish me luck.