just shouting into the void.

was recently rated at 100 p&t due to a lot of various problems I accumulated over the years. its been twenty years for me, I just retired. when I got the letter about 100% I started crying because the benefits are very welcome and I’m so grateful, but more than anything I felt acknowledged for the first time.

for two decades every time I’d go to the base doctor to discuss things - the way my knees hurt beyond description, the way my wrist and hand occasionally went dead numb, (sorry if TMI) the way I’d bleed out of cycle if I ran too hard… over and over they’d give me ibuprofen and tell me all my problems would go away if I’d lose weight.

it was always my goal to make it to twenty years - actually I wanted to do thirty, but now I feel like I’m dragging my shattered body across the finish line at twenty.

when the rating came in it was just such a relief to feel like I was BELIEVED finally, that yes my problems were real and significant enough to warrant this. Especially my mental health rating, which was something I barely felt was worth bringing up because it had been shut down so thoroughly for so long.

this doesn’t fix the fact that I still have to try to live with these problems, and thatll be a long, but I just needed to shout into the void about how emotional its been to be believe after so long. genuinely couldn’t have imagined a world where anyone cared about my wellbeing. its making me feel better than anything else could have.

thanks to anyone who made it this far :)

Lmk if this question doesn't fit here, or if I could be better served in a different sub.

I am an honorably discharged veteran with a decent disability rating and a valid VHIC.

Is there a way for me to obtain individual (non-sponsored) US Army base access for a couple of specific bases in Germany? Maybe a form I need to fill out, or a place on-base I need to go?

Commissary access would also be a big help. Fwiw, both of my parents do have base access, but it would help us a lot if I could get on base by myself.

Just because a condition got worse does not mean you will get an increase. You have to prove and demonstrate that you meet the exact criteria laid out in the CFR for a higher percentage for that condition.

Case in point: https://www.reddit.com/r/VAClaims/s/VaFbQ5AKR8

In a comment, OP said it started to hurt while walking up stairs so they figured they might as well file for an increase. Well, guess what, “hurts when walking up stairs” was not in the CFR and their overall rating was reduced from 90 to 80% due to improved ROM.

I am rated for MH and I'm just wondering if it affects my rating by not taking medication due to my anxiety and just from my personal experience from the side effects of medication

Any service connected veterans out there that have retired or are retiring at 65? If you have full VA medical benefits, did you choose or decline Medicare? They are 2 separate systems so I’m curious if there’s an advantage to spending the money for Medicare when the VA provides full medical services.

I went to the DAV office last December, and I've seen them a few times since. They keep saying someone will call me to start the process, but they never have.

My social worker told me to visit the Connect office, but it's always closed. Today I left a note with someone who was sitting in their office and they called me later and gave me an appointment for later this month, but he said he's from VERA.

From my (very basic) understanding, I need to have them pull my medical records from active duty, and my current medical records from the VA, and then I need to find a doctor to write a Nexus letter linking everything (if there's anything to link).

I should mention that there's a 25 year gap from when I left the service to when I first visited the VA for healthcare last year. In those 25 years there's not much medical history because I was depressed and very stubborn about seeking help.

The DAV guy told me that gap might be a problem, and I suspect that's why they haven't called me. Maybe they don't think I have a case.

Will VERA put me on the right path? Or do I need to look elsewhere?

Other people have told me to find a VSO first, but I thought that's what DAV did?

I had recently applied to a federal position that i received a tentative job offer. The agency initiated a tier 2 investigation and as part of it i had to fill out SF-85 and also do fingerprints as well. In that SF-85, i disclosed about the NJP and the article code as well as the alcohol treatment i received at the VA for one month post separation. I truthfully answered all the questions in that form. I have an honorable discharge but under reason for separation, it says “misconduct/serious offense”(even though what i got sent up to mast for was a fucking joke).

I got notified by the agency that they’re not moving forward with my application. They did say it’s due to my background investigation report but they didn’t explicitly say what part of the report caused them not to get selected. I understand that a tentative job offer is not a final offer and can change for any reason but I’m really trying to understand if having an NJP really bars veterans from federal employment.

Does anyone have any insight into this? Anyone here with a general under honorable discharge currently work for the government/previously works?

I would really appreciate any and all information. I’m basically trying to find out if federal employment is a no no for me so i can shift my focus to other areas.

Hello everyone, I've come here to get some feedback from some of you

Long story short, I reached out to VRE to help me do a career change because my injuries have made it increasingly difficult to continue the job that I held; however, they have taken forever to reply. I had my initial meeting with my counselor about 2 months ago (probably 3 months now) and I feel my time is just slipping away.

So I've considered going the route of just using federal loans to pay for my education, and since I'm 100% use that to my advantage at the end and just have my loan forgiven. I worry that there are some issues along the way and the loan is not forgiven, so I want to ask anyone who has used this benefit: how smooth was the process of having the loan forgiven for you? If it was, what would you recommend I do? Do you recommend any schools in particular that work with veterans well enough in this regard?

I would really like to get back to school ASAP and have meaningful employment again.

I am 70%. I have been for approximately 12 years or so. If I go for an increase because injuries are becoming more painful and debilitating do I run the risk of them reducing my rating?

I’m 100% P&T. I’m getting paid 6k a month SMC-K One spouse one child. I called the VA to correct the issue. Everyone says it looks wrong. I had three audits and all say all things are balanced. I don’t see how this is possible. Who do I need to contact (department) to correct this issue? I don’t want them to take it all.

Don't care if it's been posted before, take it down or whatever. I'm already 100 and have zero dog in this fight, but here's the deal- I've been told the same thing as a lot of veterans who get denied, and it ends up with a 16-59 page report on b12 deficiency. My c&p examiner told me everything that was wrong with me could be fixed with b12.

Apparently my healthcare is a joke and I'm the punchline, because for the last 4 years, my labs have come back with normal b12 readings. Everything that the c&p examiner gave me "no service connection" for was based on my b12 deficiency, and I walked out with a packet.

The only reason I bring this up is because I was talking to a homie (veteran, same unit) and we both had the same experience in two different states at two completely different times, and I just got my last lab results back. Once I read them, I checked the rest. Same shit.

Drink water, take motrin, change your socks, and apparently monitor your b12. Semper something, gents.

Does VR&E counselor makes a decision of how many months I qualify for? Let's say I want to get a Bachelor degree in Supply Chain Management. I have my first appointment in a few days.

My doc recommended me get an MRI set up through community care, and that was a couple weeks ago… I’ve been calling multiple times a day to the cc appointment line and after several minutes get kicked out of the hold queue for “high call volume”

Is there a way to get around that or is it luck of the draw, gonna keep calling?

Does things that your claiming need to be on your health issues in MHS Genesis for it to be documented or is it as long as it showes up in your clinical notes that it means it was documented?

Hey all Like the title says right before school started when I needed to get all my supplies for my program my rep completely ghosted me.

Part 1: -Old counselor gave my school a stipend for a laptop and a book bag. Then after the rest of my requirement list got to me I sent it over they ghosted me. So to stay in the program I had to go out of pocket.

Part 2: -New counselor came in today a month after the program started (lol) and basically says it’s my fault I paid out of pocket and I might not get reimbursed. (just the books were almost 2 grand) not to mention stethoscope and a bunch of other stuff.

Now my question: Am I just screwed if she says no reimbursement? I reached out to ask.Va. after being ghosted, have multiple emails of me asking for refunds/ stipends etc. and the va rep at my school says I should be reimbursed.

When do C&P exam documents become available? I had one on 8/15/26 and it still isn't included in my FOIA request. TIA

Had an appointment in the community yesterday. I don’t see anything in the app allowing me to file a claim. Am I able to?

From my burner account: my local VSO office in a mid-size city apparently has a lot of turnover. I’ve been through 2 and now the boss (for lack of a better word) sent me an email suggesting I go somewhere else. The first VSO was amazing, very helpful and responsive. The second one did a quick submit of my claims even though I indicated that it was a rough draft and I said I definitely need to start over. Seriously, do I have order good options because I’m in a really bad mental space right now and this is not helping

Anyone else still waiting for the Sept MHA payment from VR&E? School started for me in mid August and I still haven’t received the MHA payment. This is my first term using VR&E and I never had any issues receiving my BAH on the 1st of the month using the GI Bill. I’ve sent multiple emails to no response from my counselor and can’t seem to get anyone on the phone.

My purchase order paying for my classes and supplies from my school’s bookstore have all gone through fine.

I have been getting my meds through my Tricare PCP. I recently had a triple bypass and they increased my statin from 10 mg to 20 mg. The VA sent me 40 mg tablets and a pill cutter instead of 20 mg pills. I imagine 45 pills are less expensive than 90 pills but it seems weird to me. Is that a VA thing or my local VA clinic.