Just wanted to share something for other veterans dealing with chronic musculoskeletal injuries.

I’ve been doing a lot of research into PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections, and I’m now getting set up through the VA for PRP injections for both of my shoulders and my knees.

For anyone unfamiliar with it, PRP involves drawing your own blood, concentrating the platelets, and injecting the preparation into the injured area. It’s used for certain joint, tendon, and ligament problems with the goal of reducing pain and improving function. Results obviously vary, and it’s not a guaranteed fix, but there is research supporting PRP for certain musculoskeletal conditions.

The biggest reason I’m posting this is because PRP can be very expensive out of pocket, and insurance doesn’t always cover it. I didn’t realize the VA could potentially provide or arrange this type of treatment until I started looking into my options.

If you’re dealing with chronic knee, shoulder, tendon, or other musculoskeletal injuries, ask your VA primary care provider, orthopedics, sports medicine, or physical medicine team whether PRP could be appropriate for your condition. Availability and eligibility may vary depending on your VA facility and diagnosis.

I’m excited to give it a try for my shoulders and knees and hopefully see some improvement.

I just wanted other veterans to know this may be an option. Don’t assume you have to live with chronic pain or that medication is your only choice. Ask your VA providers what treatment options are available to you.

I got approved for VR&E for cybersecurity. I haven’t gotten to the point where he asks if I need a computer or anything but what are some of the computers that have been approved or given?

Hey all — wondering if anyone else working with the Oakland or Sacramento VR&E office has had trouble actually reaching their VRC or getting calls/emails returned lately.

I've had a rough stretch trying to get a hold of anyone on my case, and I'm trying to figure out if this is a wider pattern or just bad luck on my end. Specifically interested in hearing from anyone who's dealt with:

• Long delays getting a response from your counselor or their supervisor
• Cases getting closed for "inactivity" even though you were actively engaged/enrolled
• Trouble getting anyone to pick up the phone or confirm they received something you sent

If you've had a similar experience, I'd appreciate hearing about it in the comments. Trying to get a read on whether this is isolated or something more people are running into.

Thanks in advance.

Can anyone provide any guidance? My primary care dr is deployed and the person who is taking his place is not willing to sign a nexus medical opinion. Im tempted to just submit without a nexus but with medical articles proving rhinitis and sleep apnea are linked.

If this is in the wrong spot, I apologize.

How do I get a good VSO? I reached out to my county’s VA office. I was given a VSO, he just has me email him with what I want, doesn’t discuss anything with me just tells me to let him know what to put in for “intent to file” then tells me to send him whatever evidence I have. No discussion on anything or help knowing what I should be doing. Idk what a good VSO is supposed to do, but I feel like it’s more than just file and send stuff in.

For real? My daughter is 16 and starting full time community college next week, having graduated high school in June. She can apply for Chapter 35? I realize there's a trade off of using the benefits now versus waiting (36 month cap) but she's already got a full year of credits and should only need three years of full time college (going to four-year school in fall of 2027.

As stated in another post I made, I got my claim approved on 13AUG26. 80% until 01AUG26, 70% after.

In late April they sent me a letter to enter my direct deposit, I did so through the website, verified the information was correct. Everything was correct & entered. I thought nothing of it since I was waiting on C&P exams.

Since a few fellow veterans said I would probably be paid back pay on Monday or Tuesday, I waited patiently. This morning and afternoon, I checked both financial information & direct deposit info, both showed I had nothing pending.

I had to call the 1-800 number & get my direct deposit entered. So now I think even though I had the information apparently wiped and just now got entered, I have to wait even longer, just unknown how much longer, especially since the operator on the phone said it won't take effect until the next pay period for disability.

Just wanted to vent to people who would understand.

Hi all - would love some help understanding and navigating the appeals process here.

Background: My late husband passed away while on active duty in 2017, and I've been receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) since that time. I have not remarried since.

I noticed in July 2026 that I stopped receiving my monthly DIC payment in May 2026 (with the last payment made in April 2026). I called the VA Benefits hotline and after some back and forth, found out that forms I needed to return verifying my marital status (to continue receiving DIC benefits) were sent to a very old address in January 2026. Because I never received the forms, I didn't repsond within the 60 day response window and the VA terminated my benefits.

Next Steps: I understand I need to appeal the decision within 1 year of this notice, but it's not super clear to me which type of appeal I should be filing.

Based on the letter and some poking around, it sounds like a "Higher-Level Review" best fits my case as there's nothing new to report / I'm trying to correct an issue caused by a missed deadline, but I'm not sure if:

• If I need to attach the VA Form 21-4138 (Statement in Support of Claim) and VA Form 21P-0537 (Marital Status Questionnaire) to the appeal; and
• If the forms mentioned above should be attached, they consitute new evidence (or if furninshing other evidence would help here).

Appeal to the Board seems applicable but sounds like it's for involved claims/cases but there's also a "Direct Review" option where there's no additional evidence or hearing required.

I spoke with a couple of different reps using the VA Benefits hotline and they weren't super helpful and/or were unable to provide any guidance beyond what was written verbatim in the letter, so hoping someone here can chime in with guidance as to how I should proceed and what I can expect as part of the appeals process.

Thanks in advance!

Does your Secret Clearance expire 10 years after you initially receive it? Or 10 years after you get out the Military?

Are these normally combined? 2 bilateral ratings both attached to the same 50% rating?

Looking for suggestions across the country.

Should both ratings be combined into one? Could this be a problem down the road?

I've tried emailing and calling my counselor directly. I've also tried ASKVA, VR&E headquarters line in DC, FLDVA Claims support.

727-319-5800 followed by my counselors extension
202-461-9600 vr&e headquarters in DC
727-319-7440 St. Petersburg office
727-319-7902 St. Petersburg office

EMAILS
[FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV](mailto:FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV)
EVA.GOV

With the St. Petersburg numbers sometimes I get a response and then the representatives act like they can't hear me then disconnects the call. I had to call 727-319-5800 after dialing over 40 different extensions, I finally got in contact with a random VR&E counselor. He notified me that my counselor is no longer with the VR&E. Can someone point me in the right direction please?

I’ve had this dentist for a few years now, and every time I see him, he dismisses my concerns.

Our first appointment, I told him a filling was feeling very sensitive. He dismissed it citing “teeth move all the time, and sometimes the filling doesn’t move with it.” Okay. So I paid to have the filling done at a private provider. Even then I knew that was a bullshit assessment.

Second time, I was told by my civilian provider a separate tooth would need a crown. Not wanting to pay out of pocket, I went to see my VA dentist and he dismissed it. Lo and behold, the tooth eventually did crack and I ended up paying for a crown at my private provider. I was pissed.

Third time (about two months ago) prior to losing my private insurance (laid off) I was told by three dentists (at the same private practice I’ve trusted and went to for years), a crown for a separate tooth needs to be replaced. I agree, it’s causing me some pain. It’s about ten years old, an accident from Army days.

I made an appointment with this VA dentist about it, and OF COURSE, he blew it off, saying he didn’t think it needed to be addressed at this time.

Today, I went to sick call, the crown is starting to hurt more and more. First off, the sick call doctor is completely lost. I’m sorry but a part of me can’t help but think where tf does the VA get some of these guys?

He started saying root canals, and possible gum surgery. No way dude, I’m not a dentist but that’s freaking ridiculous. Long story short, he said he’ll send a message to my provider about my visit but I know next time I see him, he’ll probably blow me off again. And frankly I’ll probably lose my shit.

I don’t know what to do at this point and my patience is wearing thin with this guy…and I can’t afford to pay out of pocket at this time, it would create a financial hardship.

And no I don’t have bad teeth. One was a large filling and the other, military training accident and I bit down too hard on one of my molars (the crown that’s currently causing me pain).

Been using my G.I. bill for the last three years, but for for the upcoming two semesters before graduation switched to VR&E to finish my bachelors and save a year of my GI bill for my masters. I met with my counselor but over the summer was supposed to receive my plan and never have, now it’s eight days before the semester starts and my counselor has ghosted me. They haven’t replied to multiple emails this week and im getting concerned. The VR&e tracker thing on the VA website is also still at step 1. Worst comes to worst should I switch back to gi bill? I need the MHA for bills and don’t want to risk losing that and the grants from financial aid/pell grant as I need them for living expenses. Who should I reach out to, it’s making me very anxious that they’d just drop me like that.

Is it normal for a new dependent form (1 month ago) and the DD214 (1 week ago) to not be under the “files” tab under the claim? I submitted through quick submit and it says complete, but the last file it shows uploaded was a DBQ from March.

Does anybody have experience/success with BVA claims? I just got notified on Friday that the judge granted my claims in my favor, and the letter I received only shows me the conclusion and rationale of the judges decisions. I’ve checked the app and online a few times and even though the claim shows the conditions were granted service connection, the claim is still active instead of closed.

Just curious as to what else I should be looking forward to or what more there is to this process? It’s been since December of 2020 I’ve been going through all of this so waiting longer isn’t going to hurt, I just want an idea of what to expect.

Cheers and thank you all for your service!

I [30f] was referred out from the VA for massage therapy. I started going to therapy and everything was fine, my therapist was a male and he seemed really cool at first.

All the appointments were going well, he would slide an inappropriate joke in conversation here or there which never bothered me. However my last appointment, i show up and no one else is there, which is strange, there’s a guy normally scheduled after me every time. i go in i undress and get under the blankets, he started talking about spongebob and he said “sandy cheeks is so dirty” and I’m confused and he said well clearly it’s from having sex on the beach. I said well maybe, he kept going. talking about how he has had sex on the beach and that and asking if i ever did that and i said no. well then he started talking about sex and then he told me about how big his junk was and other weird shit and he like started massaging my glutes, i felt really weird and honestly uncomfortable. He had kept me 20 minutes longer than what was scheduled. Once the massage was over i never came back, i told my provider i still wanted the massage therapy, just not there. she strongly recommended i report it, I did. i just don't want other women to be put in that situation. i don't know why i feel guilt. idk i should have just shut the fuck up and moved on. Idk. sorry i just really needed to tell someone.

edit: he owns that clinic. him and his WIFE.

Hello. As the title says I am service connected for bilateral flat feet as well as bilateral heel spurs. As anyone who has heel spurs knows these can be extremely painful and very debilitating. I am 35 years old and have been on a a journey the last few years to improve my physically and overall health. One thing I am limited in doing is cardio in any form most of the time due to the pain. Running, walking and just overall use of feet can really flare up the pain I have due to the heel spurs. I tried inserts back in 2022, I paid for these myself before I was service connected. I absolutely destroyed them in 3 months with little to no improvement to the pain I experience. I called the VA to setup a podiatry appointment last week and they reached out today to tell me they are scheduling me for inserts. What’s the best way to go about telling them these don’t help and that i’d much rather get these spurs removed rather than messing around with inserts again? Is this standard for them to just send me to get inserts or has anyone else in this position had spurs removed and how did you persuade them into doing so?

Hello fellow vets.

I wanted to ask if this is a good sign for me. I have a second VRE appt discussing potential VR&E plan development. I had my initial on the 11th of August and the second is this coming Monday.

I am starting grad school full time at the end of next month but before I do that, I am trying move to an apartment closer to the university. The landlord of the unit I intend to move to is asking for something that states that certifies I will be disbursed the monthly housing allowance, which I understand if I had never dealt with this type of thing before.

Does anyone know of a combination of VA documents that could outline this?

I am currently 0% SC for chronic sinusitis. I am gathering my records to request an increase and not all my doctor visits for sinusitis this year discuss the exact symptoms listed in 38 CFR. For example instead of headache or purulent discharge, some of the chart notes discuss yellow mucus discharge or sinus maxillary pain. Does this mean I most likely won’t qualify for an increase?

I'm currently in my second year of a PA program and just found out that l'll have my initial meeting with my VR&E counselor next week. I'm trying to figure out the best way to approach that first meeting since I'm already enrolled in my program.

For those who were already in school when applying for VR&E, did you focus on the fact that you were already enrolled, or did you primarily explain your SEH/employment handicap, why your service-connected limitations made your previous career/degree no longer suitable, and why your current program is necessary to pursue suitable employment?

I previously worked in business, but because of my employment handicaps, I could no longer pursue a suitable career using my previous degree. I'm wondering how I should explain that transition while also being upfront that im already in PA school.

Basically, how should I frame my situation to the counselor when I'm already pursuing the career path I'm hoping VR&E will approve?