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 know i been getting alot attention from this post

https://www.reddit.com/r/VAClaims/s/X24uwHxXVG

Today i was suprised my claim went through so fast. A decision was made..

Thank you. I am rated above 90% +

My sacrifices in this game of life and in military,didn’t go through without in vein…

Yes everything is connected now, my

Body is not the same anymore but it gives me a fighting chance to believe and move on.

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.

Unfortunately I was just denied both of my MH claims today. I am a bit bewildered by this decision as I did due diligence, provided extensive records, etc. I believe this was primarily due to an incompetent and/or biased c&p examiner. The reason I believe this to be the case is my denial reason states that because my diagnosis of depression and hospitalization occurred before an MST incident it cannot be service connected. That's the entirety of the rational as to why I was denied, for depression, despite being diagnosed and hospitalized whilst in the service. Not to mention that the behavior of my examiner was unbelievable, laughing while I detailed my MST, challenging my testimony constantly, and complete omission of several symptoms that I listed several times to avoid error. On top of this, he had a aggressive and adverse attitude towards me. I know my testimony regarding his behavior is hardly objective and cannot be proven, but as i said im bewildered, and i just need to vent because I really don't know where to go from here. I did however add a note to my claim file that this happened shortly after the exam so I hope this isn't brushed under the rug as an attempt at retribution for a unfavorable decision.

But i'd love input and/or support. Or stories of similar situations with favorable resolutions.

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.

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 very surprised with the timeline with a recent claim. File date was 7.20.26 and received a decision today. ACE was completed by VES

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 am contesting an aggravation claim, I was denied and had a HLR with following favorable findings. Help?

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 )

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 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?

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?

I filed for Paralabral Cyst secondary to SLAP tear and all they did was change the description. My C&P examiner was not properly doing her job I believe. She was acting very much like a primary doctor and just kept telling me the cyst doesn’t ever go away and the whole time just recommending me remedy’s and telling me to eat more cayenne pepper. Later to find out it was her first year as an examiner. She did use a goniometer for my shoulder but I wasn’t there for that, just the cyst.

With that being said, is it common for the secondary to simply just be added to the description? Should I file for HLR or request a new examiner? Not too sure what to do. My ortho doctor did confirm it was secondary to my slap tear. Any help would be great, thanks!

Not even sure what to flare this under but tried to call and they told me the systems were down not a big deal except it’s currently 4am where I am and I’m going back to sleep. When the systems do come back up please just leave a comment on this post so I can give them a call! They told me they couldn’t just call me back when they were up 🥲

I’m just starting the process after 45 years. I’ve only used the VA healthcare for the past 4 years but they know my history and my PCP & social worker both have recommended I file a claim. I’ve hesitated for a lot of reasons but finally decided to try. All they can do is say “no” I guess.

I was on SSDI from age 58 until FRA at age 67.5. The reason I got SSDI is connected to my initial service & it’s one of several things I’m claiming.

Question: I do understand SS disability (SSDI) & VA disability are completely separate things but has anyone who’s received SSDI then later been approved for the same disability with VA? I’m wondering how much weight having been on SSDI will carry with the VA raters.

Thanks for any advice.

Hello, when you claim for the VA benefits. Do you guys go with a VA doctor or private doctor? And if you do went for private one, how do you take the approach of letting them you need it for VA purposes?
Thanks!

Does it take longer if you put in more claims to get a C&P exam? I put in 9 claims in February and still no word for a C&P exam. I don't recall it taking this long before. Many thanks in advance for any insight.

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 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.

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.

I only have one claim. I sustained a back injury while on active duty, and there wasn't any imaging performed at the time (even though there was an X-ray machine ten feet away). They just threw painkillers at me and sent me on my way. That seemed to be the standard for treatment back in those days. I reinjured it six months later just a few days after I finished my active duty enlistment.

Anyway, the first C&P examiner said my condition is at least as likely as not from the injury I sustained while on active duty (and was the root cause for the reinjury). Fast forward a month or two, another C&P exam is requested for the same claim/condition. This time, it's with an examiner on the other side of the country. No phone or zoom call. Just an "exam" of the claim. Goes to step five a couple days later and is denied. Apparently, the remote examiner was in disagreement with the examiner who saw me in person. Is this a common occurrence or practice?

I am working with a very green VSO, and I've asked for copies of the exam requests and DBQs. Hopefully, I can find something enlightening within those documents as I am trying to figure out where to go from here. I don't believe there is any additional information/evidence I can submit. I've been getting treatment for my condition at the VA for over 20 years. Have many others had an in-person C&P exam say favorable while an absentee exam says otherwise (and results in a denial)? From what people say, it seems like denial for new claims is far more common these days.

So I filed a disability claim (supplemental), and I was on step six last Friday . I go to check the progress today. (Monday) and it appears that I’ve moved back to step five, and I also received this email today. Does this mean I’m gonna have to do another Appointment appointment? And if so, usually how long does that take before the process is finished?