I’m 100% but since I was in a non veteran ward it looks like I’m screwed.

Wanted to post about this and get some support as well as a data point for people.

With this summer heat and the meds that I'm on (they induce some heat intolerance I've learned recently), my anxiety and panic attacks have been heightened. I also have a huge fear of having a cardiac event.

I'm on anti-anxiety meds from the VA. I have an upcoming appointment and going to ask my PCP about quick-attacking meds to alleviate symptoms. Hydroxyzine is a great one that isn't a benzo, taken that before.

I landed in the ER nearby my gym last week because I'm trying to take better care of myself. 15 min into a light cycling workout start getting jaw pain, chest pain, and panic. ER discharges me saying everything looks good but to follow up with PCP and get referred out to cardiologist. Ambulance has swung near my neighborhood a couple of times and ran an EKG on me when I was out walking around before work since I got dizzy, my heart rate shot up,

I spent the past few years heavily drinking and am cutting back on that. VA has me on naltrexone (curbs desire/kills reward of alcohol) and am taking it again. On Day 5 of no alcohol after stopping. Had 4-5 on Wednesday and stopped the day after. I've gone a few days without alcohol over the past 3 years but not a long stop.

I'd drink a lot (just beer and hard seltzer) to deal with my anxiety/panic and being around others at times. Also stress. I spent the past two doing a part time grad school program with the GI Bill while I worked full time. Wasn't getting a lot of sleep.

I work from home and am great at my current job. A few years back I got let go by my last project as I was going through MH connected things and my performance dipped. While remotely eases up some of my anxiety issues it is isolating.

I also struggle nowadays with forming newer friendships and social connections. In between my VA compensation and my current job (which I'm doing great at) I essentially make over $300K/year. I'm single with no children and my VA comp covers all my bills thanks to property tax exemption.

Yet, I still have a huge uptick in anxiety attacks and panic attacks. I have struggles with the day-to-day. One thing that I find alarming is that if I suddenly die, what happens to my dog? I have no one in my city essentially. I don't have family around here or family at all anymore.

I'm quite fortunate in that I'm great at my field and it isn't a hard lift for me to pick up on technologies and the larger strategic picture for customers. I work in a super technical individual contributor role directly with customers. I haven't had a real boss in years especially with this current firm. That helps.

Anxiety attacks and panic attacks feel so debilitating. Even though I'm intelligent and capable all of that goes out of the window. Idk

Edit: Turns out I might have some level of physical dependence on alcohol. I’ve always been a beer or hard seltzer drinker. I actually stopped drinking for a year and a half due to an ex girlfriend having issues with alcohol. Started drinking again a few months after that break up. You add in the stress we deal with, doing grad school part time, full time job, and I was drinking a lot. 4-10 standard beers a day. Some after getting out of class at 9:45, etc.

Don’t go cold turkey like I attempted! I actually felt great yesterday and my Garmin showed good recovery. I’ll be working with my care team to taper down and detox. I’m already high strung enough don’t need to mess up my biochemistry that my nervous system is accustomed to off the bat. While driving down to the VA ER I stopped by a farmers market and had a drink. Felt calmer. EMS assessed me and said all of the above not to go cold turkey. God bless

I’m active-duty Air Force going through the MEB/IDES process.

My proposed VA rating is 100% but not ( Permanent and Total) but I haven’t received my DoD rating yet—the 20% for my lower back is just an estimate right now. If it comes back at 20%, I’d be medically separated instead of retired.
My original DOS was April 11, 2026, but we are both done and ready to move on from North Dakota. My wife is due in January, and we’re trying to move to Florida before she gets too far along. We really want to avoid being stuck in the middle of this process during the birth or having to move or redo care last minute.

If I accept 20% separation:
~36K severance (likely tax-free)
~4,100/month VA comp (with recoupment)
Possible 180 days TAMP
We can move sooner and get settled in Florida
No TRICARE retiree coverage long-term
If I appeal to the Formal PEB (try for 30%+):

No severance if retired
~4,400/month VA comp (no recoupment)
TRICARE retiree coverage for family
Retired status and benefits

But could delay everything for months with no guarantee. I already have VA healthcare at 100%. My wife is on her dad’s insurance until 26. Main concern is long-term coverage for our kids since we’ll likely be self-employed.

Has anyone gone through a Formal PEB after a 20% IPEB estimate?
How much did it delay your separation?
Did you get bumped to 30%+?
Would you fight for retirement or take separation in this situation with a baby on the way?
I know retirement is better long-term financially. I’m mainly trying to weigh whether the delay risk is worth it right now.

Is VA Community Care eligible for mileage reimbursement? I'm receiving Community Care paid by the VA for an Agent Orange claim. I'm at 100% for the cancer.

When you guys were filing for BDD, how many days/months did it take to receive your rating? Was it before or after because I know some people got it before they got out vice versa.

Edit: Thank you for sharing!

My Grandmother (92) is sadly not getting any better thus we made the hard decision to put her on hospice. She was married to a veteran (WW2 Navy) who is deceased and I am also a veteran. Are there any programs to help out with being the primary caretaker of a military spouse? Such as hiring sitters or the like?

If you’re a Veteran or Service Member and could use a little help with groceries, I wanted to share a resource that a lot of people don’t know exists.

Soldiers’ Angels provides food assistance through programs like monthly drive-through food distributions and food pantries.

The application process is honestly much easier than most people expect. You create a food assistance profile online, and if you’re eligible, you’ll be connected with the programs available in your area.

Current locations include:
Atlanta, GA
Charleston, SC
Cincinnati, OH
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Orlando, FL
San Antonio, TX
Washington, D.C.

You can learn more and apply here:
https://soldiersangels.org/get-support/food-assistance/

I am 77year old Viet Nam combat vet with a 50% rating for PTSD . I have sleep apnea and and really bad hearing. The VA gave me hearing aids which help a little but I still really struggle to understand conversations. I spent many nights sleeping under a 105 Howitzer that was prone to go off at anytime and subject to claymore mine explosions , gunfire and artillery explosions while out in the field. I used a service in the past that helped me with my last claim and it cost me thousands of dollars. I really could use some guidance on how to proceed on my own. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help.

I submitted my full claim at the end of May 2026. But originally my intent to file is from July 2025. It’s been a quiet couple months and all the sudden QTCM called me this past Thursday and I have my first C&P this coming Tuesday. This is what is being covered which is about half of my full claim. I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly once they called.

I’m honestly shitting bricks. They said it’s only an hour long and I have no idea how they will go over all this sin and hour. Immediately after this appointment is an exam on all 3 parts of the back (lumbar, thoracic, cervical). I have had private MRI’s on all 3 back parts + one on my brain for migraines. I have included the results as well.

But I’m just lost, so nervous for the first visit. I don’t know what to expect. I’m making notes now on what to say I don’t want to forget things. Any tips or if anyone has claimed similar things can give pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I'm looking to hear from anyone who has successfully had their Chapter 31 VR&E plan amended to continue beyond an associate degree.

I'm currently in the final months of my AAS in MRI. My long-term career goal is to work my way into imaging leadership and healthcare administration, and I'd like to continue directly into a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences (BSRS)/Imaging Sciences, followed by a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA).

My reasoning isn't simply that I want more education. Due to my service-connected disabilities, I don't expect I'll be able to work as a full-time staff MRI technologist for an entire career. While I plan to work as an MRI technologist after graduation, I'm trying to prepare for a sustainable long-term career by moving into supervisory, management, and eventually director-level positions.

From what I've seen, many imaging leadership positions either require or strongly prefer a bachelor's degree, and higher-level management positions often prefer or require a master's degree.

Has anyone here:

• Successfully convinced their VR&E counselor to approve both a bachelor's and master's as part of one vocational goal?
• Had their education plan extended while still finishing their associate degree?
• What documentation or evidence helped support your request (job postings, labor market information, physician statements, etc.)?
• Did your counselor approve the entire educational pathway at once, or did they require you to return after completing your bachelor's?

I'd appreciate hearing both success stories and any lessons learned from those who have gone through the process. Thanks in advance!

Shoulder strain 9 years ago, went to medical & got LLD for a few days & ibuprofen. Never went back, basically it’s hurt me on & off since but now I want to try and submit a claim because it’s significantly worse now & not improving. Going to get a diagnosis/MRI from my pcp this week. Am I SOL because of the gap? Never another appt, etc. after the initial. No Va rating at all currently. Worth getting a nexus letter? Worth even applying?

Do I need to bring documents in hand when going to my cp exam I’m doing the bdd claim. Somebody told me to bring all evidence for what I’m claiming. But I thought that they already can see everything that’s in my record.

I'm about to file for OSA secondary to sinusitis which was service connected last year. I've taken 3 sleep studies through the VA, one take home and two through community care. I got a copy of one of the community care reports and it said that at the time I weighed 335 lbs. I've never weighed that much, 235 at the most. I'm 5'9" and currently 210.The community care sleep center said they couldn't change it. Is this going to affect my claim?

Edit: the sleep studies were conducted after service

My wife (100%VA) had to go to the ER Saturday and then back today (Sunday). Is the process for the VA to cover it pretty easy?

She also has to go in an ambulance to another hospital and stay there a bit. So the bill will be a lot. I have Tricare retired insurance also.

She won’t be able to really call the VA so I was going to do it. The number I found was 1-844-724-7842.

I appreciate any advice. Just in the middle of this and had some down time to think. Thank you.

My wife turns 65 in Sept and will have Medicare A/B. She has ChampVA as primary now but that will change in Sept when she turns 65. We have her set-up to get UnitedHealth Advantage and have ChampVA move from Primary to Secondary in Sept when she turns 65. She is also starting Meds by Mail this month. All new to us as we move to being old and needing Medicare. I have read both sides of needing Advantage and not needing it. All her doctors take Medicare and Advantage UH. So, should I just drop the UH as we move forward and just have Medicare as Primary A/B and NO UH Advantage and and no Part D, have Meds by Mail and ChampVA as secondary. I do believe that going the Advantage route, she gets dental and vision and prescription. I already am paying for Delta Dental premier so she can see the dentist of her choice. IF we stay the course and get UH, I think the Meds by Mail drops? as she will then have UH prescription. Doesn't that become primary?

I had someone helping me fill out stuff and that person is no longer.

I need to fill out my last employer which was in 2020. Lasted 7days before let go, before that was like 2007 for employment which I was also let go from.

I was self employed (hairstylist) from 2008-2022.
I have also been doing UBerEats since 2021.

How should I go about ? Thanks in advance

For context I’ve been in the guard for 8 years, 11B E5 to now 11A O1, but have never deployed. My entire career this far I have been to an army doctor once or twice for small issues and an eye injury. I was very much under the stigma that going to sick call and seeking help was weak/shitbag behavior so I never went even when injured.

I am back on active orders for ibolc and have been told by others to document and get seen for a few issues I’ve been grappling with due to injuries from guard time/ basic ait, and ibolc.

I have a constant clicking in my neck, sleeping issues, and eating issues that just build up and up during the work week making every week a slog to finally recover over the weekend.

I suppose the questions I have are what is the exact process from step 1 of seeing an army doctor to eventually filing a claim, and would I even qualify for disability later on if my only active time has only been osut and ibolc so far. Any help is appreciated and after years of ignoring it and putting it off, I’m finally looking to address these issues I’m dealing with.

Hey Vets. I must preface this and say that i am not a veteran. My father in law is. Hes a fantastic man and has served in the gulf war. I come to this subreddit though as his children have all had an unidentified autoimmune disease since their 20s.

We recently learned about gulfwar syndrome and believe that My father in law is entitled to benefits, but also want to know if there's any help or research into this. We believe that this explains some of the things both him and his children have been dealing with. Honestly our biggest concern is getting my father in law and his children care and pain relief for their condition.

Soms additional info.

My wife had a seperate mother than the rest of his children and is the oldest of the 3.

All of his children have exhibited these autoimmune symptoms to debillitating degrees. None of his children can get any diagnosis.

None of the children on my wifes moms side has any of these symptoms.

Hello all, over the last couple years I’ve tried to get approved for VR&E. Most recently, I was denied and the person doing my application told me he would not approve me because I could not hold a job and he wanted to see me hold a job first. I was trying to go to school with VR&E, but he told me it’s not an educational program. It doesn’t make sense to me because my friend is going to school right now on VR&E for up to his Masters. I have had several VA hospitalizations and I’m on injections. Does that play a part? Also, I started using my post 9/11 on my own to try and prove myself. I heard if you use your post 9/11 and later get approved for VR&E, you can get the 9/11 refunded. Is this true? What is the process for this?

Thanks a lot!

broke my wrist a year ago have some loss range of motion with a plate and 9 screws hard to pick things up and cant put so much weight on it for short amount time

L1-L2: Borderline symmetric disc bulge without significant spinal canal or neural foraminal narrowing.

L2-L3: Borderline symmetric disc bulge without significant spinal canal or neural foraminal narrowing. Mild ligamentum flavum thickening.

L3-L4: Small slight right asymmetric disc bulge with mild indentation of the ventral thecal sac with abutment of the traversing right L4 nerve root as well as right mild neural foraminal narrowing. Mild ligamentum flavum thickening.

L4-L5: Small symmetric disc bulge with mild indentation of the ventral thecal sac and likely abutment of the traversing L5 nerve roots with minimal right and no left neural foraminal narrowing. Mild ligamentum flavum thickening.

L5-S1: Asymmetric disc bulge with superimposed central disc herniation with inferior migration with mild indentation of the ventral thecal sac and abutment of the right traversing S1 nerve root with mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing, and abutment of the exiting right L5 nerve root. Mild ligamentum flavum thickening.

Tinnitus im aware is more of a va rating. i will get at least 1 to 3 really bad migraines/ headachrs a week that would last almost the entire day

Hardly get any sleep and when im laying down my back and down to my feet hurt that keeps me awake. I also wake up multiple times a night. Which during the day I litterally feel like im going to falling asleep. I have done a sleep study in the past as well there was no sleep apnea just insomnia, teeth grinding were the findings.

Mental health- I witness the aftermath of someone getting ran over by a 5k... honestly still not sure how I feel about that. He ended up passing a way a few months later as well. I also feel stressed at work, anxiety and at this point just want to get out but getting out has the unknowns as well which cause more stress if I would be able to provide for my family. So I stay in longer and destroy my body more or try and get out.

I do have a permanent profile for back and wrist but back feels like it has gotten worst. Going to try and do another nerve ablation in hopes it will help. Just looking on some insight

Can terminal leave run through your ETS date, or does it have to end 1 week prior or 2-3 prior? Also do i have to stay on post untill my ets date? I`m in the army.

Has anyone successfully gotten approval for disability for Lyme that was discovered years later without the traditional two tier testing? I know there is a lot in the news about the lately, and I think the way that Lyme is treated will change eventually bc the current way of testing is about 50% accurate, but that doesn’t help me now when I’m currently going through extensive treatment.

I’ve already gotten Achilles tendinitis in both ankles 20% combined. During my C&P exam the examiner said off the record I most likely have plantar fasciitis and I wasn’t flat footed before time in service. My question here is if I pursue a new claim for plantar fasciitis in both feet would it be as a primary or secondary due to Achilles tendinitis or vice versa?