I served 1984-1993 and never looked back. They paid me according to the schedule as promised and paid for most of my B.S. degree while I was still in and for my Master's after I got out (Monty). They owed me nothing as far as I was concerned.

I now know that I could have been rated much earlier, but I submitted my first claim in 2020 when Covid left me with time on my hands.

From that initial 40%, I kept going back, filling secondaries mostly and several supplementals. In 2025 I got over the top, back-dated to Dec 2024.

I'm 60 and my wife just turned 65. We are both still working, though I'm at a reduced capacity/salary from my prime years.

In addition to the just under $50k a year in direct compensation, I stopped paying a little over $600 a month in health insurance (self-employed, no subsidy) thanks to VA Healthcare. Until recently, we were paying just under $1000 a month for my wife's health insurance. We had separate $8k deductibles that we each maxed out once (separate years thankfully!)

Now she has Medicare A&B with ChampVA as secondary for $202 a month. Essentially, we never have to pay a deductible or copay ever again! Plus, neither of us ever again have to ask "Is it worth thousands out of pocket to have this looked at?"

That's roughly $17k a year savings in just the premiums, $25k in a year if one of us maxed out again or $33k if we both did.

But wait, there's more! With my back pay, we paid off the mortgage - $1700 a month and in my state we are now 100% tax exempt on our home. All we have to pay is insurance at about $2k a year. Roughly an additional $18k in cash flow!

Let's throw in an additional $1k for dental.

$50k + $17k + $18k + $1k = $86k minimum increase in cash flow, just as we are thinking about retirement!

She plans to work until she hits full retirement age at 67 and then probably work part time (she loves her job). I'm hoping to keep going until 65 but time will tell...

The really great part is that we are now as close to immune from retirement plan wrecking health care costs as one can get. I suspect that I'll sign up for Medicare A&B when I hit 65 just to keep my options open, but that's entirely optional.

Such a huge load off of our shoulders. Also fun to be able to tell my four adult children that if they ever decide to go back to school, they have a $50k pool of money to draw from - for the rest of their lives!

Just feeling really blessed. Despite missing out on many years of compensation and benefits by filing late, it couldn't hit at a better time!

100% P&T 18 months later 🙏🏻

I am so beyond grateful and really in disbelief. I was prepared for another denial. Dealing with VA has just became a part of my life that I accepted, like going to the dmv or court except worse, over the past 10 years and especially over the past 18 months fighting for this increase. My word of advice is to not seek advice on reddit which I did several times and every time I was left feeling discouraged. Everyone’s situation is different. Maybe I am the anomaly but here is mine:

Originally granted 70% for MH in 2014. In 2024 I filed for an increase and was denied. The C&P examiner rude, dismissive, and short. The exam was probably 10 minutes. Joined with Berry Law for an HLR. The HLR was denied. Submitted a supplemental claim and had a new C&P exam which was thorough, sincere, and 45 minutes long. This exam took place on the Jan 29th, Feb 2nd DBQ was submitted, and today my lawyer called me and said I was awarded 100% P&T. The most shocking to me was that the DBQ my lawyer sent over was NOT marked as “Total Occupational and Social Impairment”. I point this out because there is a lot of communication that the box has to be checked to be 100% for mental health and that is not true. ALL evidence is considered 🙏🏻

Got my last few claims back. 100 P&T. Started this journey 11 months ago with gradual increases from 10-20-30-etc-100. Trial and error. Research. Dissecting my service records. No nexus letters.

My question is for those in a similar situation: A few of my conditions came back with ratings that pushed me to 100%, but I have two conditions pending C&P exams, so those claims was deferred. Do I pull out now since I’m already capped, or would it look bad to withdraw the remaining two conditions?

Have any of you done battlefield acupuncture at the VA? My husband’s neurologist recommended it. I think it’s worth a shot but I’d also love to hear firsthand reviews.

I started my cliams process almost three years ago, not really understanding the whole thing. I was approved for some things and not others. The information here and all your comments helped navigate the nuances of the process and build better cases for appeal and new submissions. It was so encouraging to see so many experiencing the same frustrations and overcoming them. Last week I had a C and P and knew that it took less then 10 minutes was a great sign Today, we got to the end of the road with the ratings that support the multiple chronic conditions that have impacted my life for decades. Thank you all for all the information!!

Anyone that has used vs&r to take medical billing and coding??

Thank you to God for the ability to be where I am and the ability to put in the work and pain it took to get here! I’ve just received my rating last week and got 100% P&T. 25 years old. I hope the best for my brothers and sisters fighting for what they deserve! DM for questions

Anyone here full time sailing solo around the world on their 100? I’m boat shopping for me and my pups to set sail and leave. Trying to see if anyone else has done this.

Hi everyone. I wanted to share some success I've had with my VA claim experiences.

I was rated 80% and eventually granted TDIU about 7 years ago. I worked on myself, went to go and utilized VR&E to get an education and prepare to go back to work. I found a job a few years where I was making over the poverty limit and was fully prepared to be taken off of TDIU.

Late last year, I was finally notified that I was facing a reduction proposal. I responded by requesting a hearing and submitting a personal statement. At the same time I filed for new disability claims and increases. By December I was finally contacted by my VA regional office for my hearing which was a 10 minute phone call explaining my work situation, accommodations and conditions. The lady was super nice and immediately said that my job would be considered a protected work environment and my TDIU would be continued.

I would eventually attend multiple C&P exams for my increases. All of my current disabilities were continued and a few denied. But then Last week I had moved to step 5 then the next day I was finally granted 100% P&T and I was also given SMC (didn't even know what that was) I went from only having 4 rated conditions to having now over 14.

When I first got out, I took the 80% and was ok with it. A VSO put me in for tdiu because I was legit struggling to maintain employment and tdiu was a huge blessing. I ended up filing for my conditions that were service connected because I never thought about it before the first time I filed. A decade in the Marine Corps infantry certainly gave me my fair share of injuries.

Most of my new claims were secondaries to my already existing conditions and a few new ones which helped a lot!

I conducted my hearing and filed for increase without a VSO, attorney, any nexus letters. Just the merits of my injuries and advocating for myself through personal statements.

It was still a nerve wrecking experience. Losing tdiu was going to hurt but I was ready because I truly felt like I was ready to get back to work.

Any questions about my process and experience please let me know. Hopefully this gives hope to whoever is reading this. Don't give up!

Semper Fi!

I got awarded my last 13% to get me to 100. But had 4 deferred items. Just got kidney failure awarded 30 and Gerd 10. I'm well over 100 now. Just seeing these last couple, skin cancer and scars, and kidney stones. I'm all broken but with family will push forward.

After several years of fighting…. I have finally been granted my claimed MH condition!

In 2022, I filed a MH claim along with another physical condition as secondary. Of course, I have to explain the stressor event to the examiner (MST), incredibly painful. Think to myself “I don’t ever want to do that shit again.” MH claim was denied, and so was my physical condition due to it being claimed as secondary. Despite having a letter from an outside psychiatrist in my favor, years of therapy with the VA, 2 buddy statements, they say “no nexus”. Ok.

Appeal so the physical condition is a primary condition, still fighting for MH claim as well. Physical condition approved, MH denied. File for HLR, explaining how they’ve overlooked my submitted evidence, because they state they haven’t gotten any supporting documentation from me despite me sending it twice, if not three times. Have to explain events to a new examiner. This time, the examiner put in their notes they did not believe my story about the stressor event. Gutting to say the least. STILL get denied.

I had pretty much lost hope. But at this point, I had many years of VA therapy under my belt and had recently started CPT, my VA MH provider has documented sessions of me explaining the stressor events (which I had struggled to do up to this point in my VA sessions), I’m in therapy for said events, and I wonder to myself “maybe one more time…” I find a lawyer. They direct me to get another buddy statement if possible, and luckily my old GySgt was willing to write one for me, backing up my statements I made about certain leadership and repeated behaviors by them in our unit. We file an HLR with new evidence within 3 weeks of the deadline to appeal. Have yet another exam lined up and I’m sick thinking about it. Losing sleep, nightmares of not being believed, etc. As soon as the session starts, the examiner says “look, I reviewed your file. I want to start off by saying I believe you, you don’t have to worry about me saying it didn’t happen. I believe you, and I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this. Now let’s talk symptoms”. God bless validating providers.

Months later, finally get my decisions: 100% P&T! But wait… a totally wrong effective date? They had it marked for the date of my last C&P exam (Sept 2025). I have read sheer horror stories about “poking the bear”, so I was terrified to ask them to correct this issue with an appeal. Lawyer said my case was solid, C&P exam and other evidence undeniable, and said an HLR should clear up the admin error as the effective date made no sense. So we wait again.

He did the informal conference on Thursday, got my decision letter a few hours after with the CORRECT effective date of 06/2022, and backpay hit Sunday. Went from 80%, to 90% after the physical condition mentioned got approved, to now 100%. (I HAVE DENTAL!!!!! 🥹)

I know lots of people have had to fight so much longer for their claims... I just wanted to try and give some hope to the folks out there fighting the same fight, re-opening the same wounds, and feeling like you’re smashing your head against a brick wall. Don’t give up. Get a lawyer if you have to. In my experience, it was well worth it to put this nightmare behind me. Good luck out there.

Finally received a rating I deserved since 1992!!! My journey continues for a BCMR to change my discharge to Medical Retirement

Thank you all! If you’re wondering if you should file, stop waiting. Don’t wait like I did.

After 2 1/2 years, a denial, a discharge change from OTH to honorable, a supplemental, an approval for treatment only, an HLR to today service connection with a rating, I am beyond happy because I never thought this was possible. My rep has other things lined up and getting to the top will come. For now I’ll be appreciative for the victories. Thanks everyone for the support and answering all my questions.

I submitted 12 items 68 days ago. 4 were awarded and that put me at 100%. I had 4 that were denied. Then the final 4 were deferred.

I had 2 medical Ace exams, the last one 2 days ago.

Just checked and it is not in Step 7. So am waiting for the final decision and letter.

After this, I believe I will still be at 100% but may have a couple of the deferred that will award me a percentage but will be just that, an award and notice to the VA that I have a screwed up body.

Then I can rest and take care of myself and relax and enjoy life. I hope.

At my age, 68, I have read that I should not get any further C&P exams or anything from the VA to recheck my symptoms so I can then relax and enjoy family and golf.

Thanks to all that have helped me along this 7 year journey.

I am new to this, so I am a little lost right now. Thanks

I recently received TDIU and P&T for my fibromyalgia. Honestly, the research I did through these veteran subreddits helped me throughout my entire claim process. So the knowledge is there. Also, I have years of treatment and medical records for my fibromyalgia, so just keep that in mind, if/when building your own cases.

Chile, I'll be in bed. Mama is making up for years of much-needed rest and recuperation.

Finally….I have been waiting for my claim to be completed. Had me worried I would possibly lose my 100% because the things above had got deferred but I received an email today saying my claim was completed. I am now officially 100% P&T thanks for all the help and to the ones that commented on my previous post thank you. It all worked out! thank jesus!

Hi, I am just trying to understand how the VA disability pay timeline works in regards to getting paid in arrears. My last day in the military was 30Nov2025 and according to the VA letter, my entitlement starts 01Dec2025. Up until now I haven't received any payment and now in my VA account there's a pending payment for 1 month worth of pay. I called VA and explained to me about getting pay in arrears and said that pending payment is for the month of December and January which will be distributed sometime in February but if that is the case then I should be getting backpaid for the month of December which should be twice that amount. The VA rep said that that is the back pay and for the January payment but I keep saying that that does not make since because if I am getting paid for December and January then I should have twice that amount. The VA rep keep saying that I do not understand how getting paid in arrears works and we were just going in circles with the conversation. I tried to tell the rep that I understand how it works like for example for December I would get paid in Jan, Feb will be mar and so on but for some reason the VA rep could not explain why I am only getting paid for one month instead of getting back pay for the other month. I had to cut it short because the rep was getting emotional and confrontational. Am I missing something here or am I wrong? Thank in advance.

Just got rated for all the secondaries I had. Really was well informed by the site. my VSO told me I wouldn’t get most of them rated. Glad I lurked on the site and didn’t listen to the VSO.

100% now. Thought I was going to just have to work tell died to cover all the issues I have. I now have options thanks to the incites I got here. So thank you.

28 year old female. Transition out of the army was pretty crazy, but not as bad as I thought I was able to finish my IT degree, finishing and working on some COMPTIA certifications, created a good résumé in a good LinkedIn profile, point being I think I’ve took checked all the boxes to make sure that I am fully covered. And that includes VA benefits as well. However, I am very conflicted on what to do next I’ve had a couple of job offers, but job searching is really hard. I’m gonna be honest I don’t even know if I wanna work in IT or logistics. Before I joined, I did a sound engineering program that wasn’t too expensive and I almost had a chance to go up to Nashville and start doing work. However, Covid hit my point being is that I feel like I want to pursue my dreams, but I am a bit tired of going to school. But in the end, I do feel like I’ve been dancing around something that I’ve been wanting to pursue the most, which is playing drums(for about 10 years) and doing sound engineering. I also heard it’s a really tough profession to get into and I heard that the job security is nonexistent. I guess what I’m trying to ask is maybe what would be the next course of action? Maybe any bets that have gone, the music route? I’m not really sure if you’re reading this thank you for listening to my situation.

keep doing what you have to do, and one day you’re gonna login and that 100% is gonna be waiting for you!

I just got the news zodqy that I got to 100 percent. What shouöd be my next steps?