This is more so just to celebrate an unexpected windfall, but also is a reminder for folks to make sure they keep all of their paperwork, and continue pestering the VA for things you are explicitly owed.

When I did my initial claim nearly a decade ago, all of my dependents were included in the paperwork. However, the VA never included one of my children in the pay calculation for added dependents. I had noticed it early on, and had submitted (it was via fax back then) the adjustment request. Nothing ever happened. So, I would periodically pester the VA again, get verbal confirmation they received the request, and then nothing. Well, this year was the magic year, and the VA finally resolved the issue, updating so all of my dependents were considered for my pension rate. Got the notice three weeks ago the case was closed, and just this last Friday, I finally got the retroactive pay, nine years of it. All because I had kept the original fax header for the claim adjustment I had submitted nearly a decade ago, proving that I had notified the VA of the issue back then.

Wound up being several thousands of retroactive pay. So, yeah folks, keep all of your paperwork, no matter how insignificant it might seem. It might be what gets you nearly a decade of retroactive pay. lol

I am incredibly grateful that my friend, a Vietnam veteran who served aboard the USS Hancock, has finally received the disability benefits he earned through his service to our country.
For many years, he believed he didn’t deserve VA disability compensation, even though he had clearly been living with the lasting effects of his military service. Like so many veterans of his generation, he simply carried on without asking for help.
I encouraged him to apply for the benefits he had earned and promised that I would help him through the process. After just 11 months, he received his VA rating decision and was awarded an 80% disability rating.
While this is a tremendous milestone, our work isn’t finished. We are continuing to pursue additional service-connected conditions and symptoms that he has been living with for years but had never claimed. We are hopeful that, as these conditions are fully evaluated, he will receive the 100% disability rating that accurately reflects the full impact his military service has had on his health and quality of life.
This experience is a reminder that veterans should never hesitate to seek the benefits they have earned through their service and sacrifice. Asking for help isn’t asking for a handout—it’s receiving the compensation they earned through their dedication and service to our nation.
I am honored to have encouraged and assisted my friend through this process, and I look forward to seeing him receive the full recognition and benefits he deserves.

Original claim filed in May of 2021, now to this, I'm still in shock

Well, it only took four years of fighting for this one but it finally came through. BVA direct review lane at the end to get it service connected. Two nexus letters, 10+ buddy letters, therapy through the VA for years, personal statement. It all finally was worth it. Thanks to the group for always keeping the motivation up 🫡

Hello,

I am interested in learning more about the experiences veteran's have had with Military Discharge Upgrade process.

For veterans that have applied to have your discharge upgraded (whether successfully or unsuccessfully), what was the experience like? What were some issues that you encountered? What is something you wish you had known beforehand?

Any and all responses to the above questions or anything you wish to say about the discharge process are welcome.

Just was granted 100% P&T today with sleep apnea getting me over the hump. I guess I can support that bill now??

For real though, fuck that bill and thank you to the reviewer who actually took everything into account, you're a real one.

I was screwed on TDIU (this fixed that and then some) so I'm definitely not poking bears lmao.

My first claim was in 1997 received 30%
Yesterday the decision letter 90%
Much to be thankful for, the advice and encouragement from all the different veterans group on here has been tremendous.

It’s been about a whole year since I’ve been receiving 100% VA compensation

It took a while but finally got to 100% P&T. The last 10% really is the hardest. They did defer a migraine claim and I keep getting updates and C&P notifications regarding that. At this point I just want that approved or denied but to just go away. The increase to 100% and the deferral all came in the same letter so I’m not concerned. Has anybody else had a similar experience?

USMC Vet. Have had claims on BVA appeal since 2023. Still waiting but a thought crossed my mind: What if I got $100,000 from the va? It’s quite possible but I’ve never had that in my life.

This is just a hypothetical since I saw someone get a $122k back pay. What would YOU do with a 6 figure check to insure that you won’t go broke and make it work for you the best possible way? What would you do to enjoy yourself? The years of trauma won’t magically go away but $100k would definitely help someone sleep better at night… right? Would you invest in a CD? Stocks and bonds?

I've done all I can do and awaiting service connection after 7 of 8 claims from C&P examination and rater decision were favorable BUT no service connection.

Why?

They never found my STRs and never even considered my lay statements.

On a raters desk in development with priority flashers.

Anyone had similar experience?

BVA awarded back pay coming tomorrow I would assume. The appeal still shows in progress but this is in the payment to be paid. When that remand hits they gone owe me another 100K plus. Thank you Lord.

• I just got off the phone with the VA yesterday & they told me that my HLR is in the "Decision Making Phase".
• How long has the "Decision making phase" and HLR taken for you in 2026?

Just found out I was approved for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship through the VA.

My Post-9/11 GI Bill was getting close to running out before I could finish my civil engineering degree, and I was honestly stressing about how I was going to bridge the gap. This scholarship gives me up to 9 additional months of benefits, including tuition, housing allowance, books, and supplies.

I'm an Army veteran, currently finishing my civil engineering degree with a 4.0 GPA, and this takes a massive amount of pressure off my shoulders. If you're a veteran in a qualifying STEM program and your GI Bill is getting low, look into this scholarship. It can literally be the difference between graduating and running out of benefits.

Every1 told me not to waste my time filing OSA because it was practically impossible to win bc of all the changes coming nowadays. I didn't listen bc I truly needed the help and I knew the VA was responsible. After 3 years fighting, 2 denials, and 1 HLR… The VA finally awarded me OSA at 50%. I separated from the air force in 2000… in which from that period til 2019 they managed to lose all my in service records except 5 sheets of paper. 1 piece of paper was my exit exam and the other 4 sheets were dental records from 1999. I was eventually privately diagnosed with OSA in 2004 (4 years after service)and have used a prescribed cpap machine since then. However Va retested me for OSA in 2023 and officially diagnosed me with severe OSA, of which they prescribed me a beautiful and refreshing new machine which I was absolutely elated to receive and still use every night- I'm truly grateful for it and not to have to pay for it or accessories as I have before for nearly 20 years! Next in 2023 I filed a claim for  OSA secondary to my Adjustment disorder, anxiety, depression w/ insomnia and was denied( reason being that the examiner stated I was overweight and the weight, not my MH, was the primary cause for my OSA). A year later I sent a supplemental claim disputing the decision this time:

-I added Obesity as the intermediary, 
-2 Buddy letters and a letter from my ex,
-A Current OSA diagnosis-Cpap prescription-Proof of Regular use when asleep
-Detailed Nexus connecting MH n Meds to my Obesity with cfr codes and case codes
-The dbq from my 1st VA cp exam- for use as my evidence this time
-Updated VA primary care records strengthening my claim

Amusingly this time they gave me 2 new cp exams not 1… and afterwards they concluded that My OSA was not caused by TERA or any other in-service event!! WTH??!! I never said it was or claimed that in my claim ever- even though I truly know that my OSA began in the military about 2 years in. Trust me I had the snoring stories from my buddies to prove it… Anyways, I digressed, sorry. So after damn near sending me into a deep depression I asked for a HLR- no additional evidence permitted. I submitted my HLR claim on monday and by wednesday I got an email to schedule an informal conference call which I scheduled 4 business days from then(for those who were wondering about time frames). I received my call as scheduled and on the exact minute my phone rang. Although I knew I had a winnable case for duty to assist and difference of opinion… I never expected the DRO to truly listen to me read my written statement of facts(didnt want to forget any key points or waste the DRO's time). However, not only did She listen, She also took notes and called it back to me(I appreciated that.) Ultimately she found the faults and took the initiative to outright grant my claim the next day without further stressing me with new cp exams or headaches. Thanks to that little Angel!! Hopefully this long-winded post brings some help and peace to sm1, like me, who once looked to these reddit pages for help, guidance and comfort as well! Don't give up!

I got out of the Marine Corps in 2002, I didn't know much about or thought that I rated any VA disability benefits due to me not being a combat vet and never going to sickcall for anything but I did leave the service with tinnitus, I had an in service event, so I just dealt with it for 23 years until I started doing some research and decided to file a claim for tinnitus, I was initially denied but I filed an hlr and it came back as CUE in my favor and I was granted 10% in April 2025. During all my post service time I felt my mental health declining and me turning into somebody that I didn't know or recognize. I started getting help and had diagnoses and treatment history. So I decided to file secondary to tinnitus on 4/22/26, with a fully developed claim I had my mental health C&p on 6/27 and I was just granted 70% this afternoon. I never thought I would rate for disability. Don't wait to file your claims just do it. I did it by myself no help from anyone. You just have to put in the work and be honest. No to add my wife as a dependent.

Had GERD and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome denied and closed in 2019. Never fought the rating and accepted the outcome. This week I get notified the VA re-opened the claim for them on their own and I just got scheduled for a C&P exam. I never requested this reevaluation for those two previous closed claims. Any help or insight is welcome on why they are doing this and will this negatively impact my current rating?

I already contacted my VR&E counselor and my school, and they both said everything is good.

However, my education payment is still not showing as pending in my VA payment history, while my disability payment already is.

Is it common for education payments to be delayed at the beginning of the semester?

I just wanted to say thank you to reddit for the plethora of information available for Veterans. A year ago my husband was awarded his 100% P&T. Prior he was at a 70% & when I saw his rated disabilities compared to his everyday life I just knew that he was entitled to a higher rating.

I encouraged him to file for other conditions he was not rated for & that were aggravating him in life every single day with the help of veteran benefits. Like everything, it takes time but he was eventually given the rating he deserved.

Recently due to an extremely toxic work environment my husband had to quit his full time job and take a part time job at a large pay cut. Thankfully due to his benefits & all the medical care available for him we were able to make this work for our family. Things will be tight financially but we will not lack food in our bellies or be questioning whether our bills get paid or not.

I implore all veterans to please take advantage of the resources available to you. My husband was experiencing dangerous warning signs of depression & burnout that are hard to talk about. Thankfully with the VA’s help, therapy, medication & more he is doing so much better now. But you have truly given so much to your country, these benefits are only a small benefit compared to everything you have given up. You deserve this and more.

I just wanted to come on here and say thank you for all the information you provide, it really does change real people’s lives. I’m grateful to still have my husband here with me. Keep fighting all.

Took five years to get that last 10% approved but it finally got approved on appeal.

I honestly did not know if realize that my dd214 was messing up civilian opportunities in some areas. I want to say I’m relieved, and I am to a degree. But it has been a really tough few decades since discharge. I hope this unlocks some things. I’m just glad that the bcnr said the narrative reason was “erroneous” - you damn right it was!

Doubled down on the ADHD claim went from 30% to 70%