Veterans

When I separated, a few things on my initial claim fell through the cracks - they weren't denied or anything, they just didn't appear at all despite definitely being brought up in those first VA apts.

When I noticed they were missing, I put in the intent to refile, went through the hoops to get my DBQ's and all the appointments and such, and resubmitted. Took about 8 months.

Fast forward to just recently: percentage was increased!! Got a pretty decent chunk of change retroactively deposited to the bank account, and I'm now eligible for VA healthcare, so FUCK YEAH!! This is an unbelievable weight off my shoulders!

Last Friday, I got an email from the VA saying to be on the lookout for a call or letter scheduling the C&P exam. I've been working through the VA up to this point, so I'm not sure what the C&P would cover that their own docs haven't already, but w/e, I'm not opposed to going in for another look.

...but it's super weird to me that the C&P exam would be scheduled after being awarded a new rating. I've heard that not everyone has to do the C&P if your DBQs are good enough, so I figured I fell into that category... but now I'm getting nervous: was I given the new rating in error?

My plan as of now is to just not touch the money that was deposited, since I'm not sure if I'll be allowed to keep it... but I'm also tempted to just dump it all into my student loan debt, since it's enough to bring that almost to $0.00 and even if I do end up having to repay, it'd effectively just make my loans reset to 0% interest (or would it be 0% if I have to repay the VA?).

Does that email go out to everyone regardless of whether or not you actually need the C&P? If they are going to call me in for the exam, how long does it typically take to get that phone call? Like if I go a full week without hearing anything, safe to assume all is well? Month? Longer?

My anxiety is through the roof right now. I've pretty much been poverty or paycheck-to-paycheck my entire life - the prospect of actual financial security has always been a pipe-dream fantasy, but fuck... here it is. But I don't trust that I'll get to keep it.

Any insight would by much appreciated!!

Thank you, all!

Guess which platoon I was in?

So I applied to be put onto the list and have my palmonary appointment this month. What should I be expecting? I thought because I was in a war zone it was presumed but I guess I was wrong.

Just a heads up about a different deadline for PACT Act benefits.

Until 11:59 p.m. local time Sept. 30, 2023, Veterans who deployed to a combat zone, never enrolled in VA health care, and left active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Oct. 1, 2013 are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. This special enrollment period gives Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones an opportunity to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits.

My rating got bumped up to 70%. So no more property taxes!

I waited nearly 20 years to start this process, and I'm mad at myself for having waited this long. All those times I was dead ass broke, thousands of dollars in credit card debt, stuck in jobs that I couldn't afford to quit because otherwise I'd have to take a worse paying job and wouldn't be able to afford food.

The monthly payments don't make my hands work better, or my knees not hurt, or help my breathe through my nose, or help with my PTSD, but goddammit, I am significantly less stressed about stuff since my first rating earlier this year.

Luckily I'm in a job I love, with fantastic benefits and hours. And I'm married to a wonderful lady who brings home the bacon. I've been out of debt for a while, but I was always stressed about falling back into it.

Not anymore.

Hello fellow veterans! My question concerns the PACT Act, and I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with this?

I served during OIF from '05 - '06. I was exposed to burn pits and regularly burned things in barrels (although it was trash, not human waste or anything), however I've suffered zero long-term effects that I'm aware of, and it's now been 17 years (holy shit, time flies) since then. I'm reading that veterans should apply "just because", but I don't want to be the person that clogs the already overburdened system, and hell, it's been 17 years and nothing has cropped up, so I assume I'm fine.

Should I enroll even though I have no issues? It's unclear to me if they'll even accept a claim if someone has no issues (and why would they accept it, right?). The deadline is August 9th.

...or nieces or nephews, etc. I'm having these questions come up and I'm torn on this. On one hand my experience has been like no other- got a chance to see and do so many things, forged the best friendships, housing/education/medical benefits through the VA afterwards. But those cons - the higher odds for experiencing abuse, witnessing or performing horrifying things, etc...all the stuff that comes with lifelong damage..

What's everyone's take on this? Would you recommend the military for your kids?

I know it's on that other site but until we build our own it's probably the best one around.

This announcement is a companion post to mine on that other site.

If you need to do in-person proofing to get a DS Logon account, DO NOT blindly drive to the nearest VA Regional Office. Neither the VA call center nor the help desk at DMDC will tell you this, but NOT EVERY OFFICE DOES IT.

I just threw away an afternoon I could have worked a security shift only to arrive two hours away and get ramrodded back to the people who told me to drive down there in the first place. This is after the National Archives supposedly sent me my separation documents and ask.va.gov resolved my request without even doing anything.

The vet rep at my congressman's office will be in touch with me on Monday. I need VGLI and my NGB 22, which is only available through...well...nowhere, apparently.

UPDATE: Spoke with my congressman's office. Passing them details tonight. Oh, and I drove another afternoon during the workday down to Fort Wayne IN VAMC only to find that they don't do in-person proofing, either.

UPDATE 2: CONGRIT sent from their office to the DoD.

UPDATE 3: DMDC called me back to recommend I contact my state National Guard records bureau. Since I was last in the Virginia ANG she gave me the following address:

VA ARNG
ATTN: DCSPER, IPERMS RECORDS CUSTODIAN
316 10TH ST
BLACKSTONE VA 23824-3036

UPDATE 4: Congressman's office forwarded my DL and Passport to DMDC. Got proofed and an e-mail to activate my account. Requested records in DPRIS. In 24-48 hours we'll know if this is over.

I believe this should start up on August 1, 2023 but haven't found any good information yet on the VA or other useful sites. I attend brick and mortar, not virtual. Are they going up? Anybody have a good link?

I hope y'all have a great day today, this is a happy one so enjoy it! Non American vets too get in here and celebrate!

I'm gonna grill for the fam, set off some shit lowes baby fireworks and smoke weed to end the day.

How about everybody else? What's the plan?

What's everybody up to? Only see 1 post here so I'm throwing this out there.

My name is CannaVet, and I receive TDIU but am rated naturally at 70%. I was banned from the main veteran subreddit years ago for showing disdain for fascist policies and hope to build a more equitable community here accepting of all flavors of vet.

Share your stories, your struggles, your memories, here with others who can relate. Hope to hear from you all! <3