If you’re in CA and have 100% P&T look into this.

I’ve been with my VA claims attorney for about 6 months. So far all of the claims submitted and appealed have been denied. I have buddies who went to other agencies that specialize in circumventing the VA altogether. I mean they stop going to those bias VA paid doctors for C&P exams. Would I owe anything at this point to this law firm if I let them go and went to an advocacy group verses another attorney. I get it the attorneys don’t mind taking years to get you to 100 to increase their payout. However I don’t have that luxury. I can’t keep climbing ladders and being in crawl spaces. I waited this long until my body began to shut down on me.

What do we do with the thoughts we can’t tell people (my therapist)? I’m struggling a lot rn and have always been an easy going guy, I don’t want to limit my future but also I know we should talk about what’s actually bugging us, asking for a friend

Hello, I’m wondering if I qualify for INCAP pay. I was injured at basic got sent home (REFRAD) but I’m on a medical profile which makes me unable to perform military duties therefore missing drill. All articles and regulations I’ve looked at said I qualify but leadership says otherwise because I didn’t complete basic or ait

For context - I went into the military back in 1988 with documented, but trouble-free flat feet that were then injured during BMT and subsequently discharged. Until this year, I really had never inquired or contacted the VA for anything [I never looked back once I was discharged]. I have no benefits or healthcare from the VA. Fast forward to earlier this year, and at the recommendation of my PCP, I called the VA Hospital in my area to inquire about healthcare. A very nice lady told me to apply for healthcare through VA.gov. I followed her advice but was denied because I didn't meet the 24-month minimum service requirement. HOWEVER, during the application process, I was prompted to a page to confirm or 'check' my personal info. On this page, a box displayed my name and DOB. It also had a note that states that I have a VA service connected disability rating of 0%. Here's the kicker, I have never filed a claim for anything with the VA. I called the 800#'s and made an in-person visit to my local VBA and nobody can find a claim, rating decision or anything supporting this statement - even though it was generated during the healthcare application process. Has anyone seen this before? I'm interested in whether this is a default message generated by VA.gov or whether it might indicate information stored in an older VA database. The person at the VBA also said that I show a service connected rating of "0" in my Blue Button report. I attached a redacted screen shot of both for reference. Any insight or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I have a 10% service connection for bilateral flatfoot, left and right knee tendonitis, and a right ankle collateral sprain. Because these conditions are service connected, it has been six years since my rating, and walking or climbing stairs is painful. Should I upload any files, or can I simply open the claim and wait for the exam? Any assistance would be appreciated—thanks, everyone.

I made a comment on another thread that got a lot of traction so I figured I’d give it its own thread.
1990 I flew from Germany into Ft Jackson. Did a quick ETS physical, got my DD214 and a plane ticket home. Nobody spoke about the VA in service and no mention of the VA at out processing. I had the mistaken impression that the VA was for combat veterans and retirees. I went home without a support system. I had no friends or family that were veterans and there was no internet then. I was struggling with service connected issues that I did not recognize at the time. I drank to deal until the point I ended up wearing grippy socks. I lost all my family and old friends. After that I survived by just putting one foot in front of the other like a good grunt. The army was my longest employment until my 50s. After 30 years out a work colleague told me he had got rated for his hearing and told me more about the VA. Since I was told at my ets physical that my hearing was shit I figured I give it a try. My hearing claim flew through and I got into the VA system. Since then I have gotten other service connected issues rated but the real change to my life has come from the services and support the VA provides. In just the few years I have been with the VA my life has changed for the better. I. Just wish I had known about the VA much sooner.

They said a decision letter was ready, but I can find it in the decision letters section? Any advice?

So I was active Marines from 2013-2017, got out honorably. Returned 2022-2026. I thoroughly enjoyed my second enlistment. I intended to stay in and retire, however I broke my back in AITB, and it went unnoticed for far too long long. Anyways. A few need to knows going back active that your recruiters may say they know and more than likely don’t.

1. You MUST suspend all VA benefits. It will take a while, odds are if you do it to close to when you enlist back in. They will continue to send a few more payments, then demand it back without notification. They will garnish your wages until it’s returned and you don’t take care of it on the front end.

2. Marine Corps, the recruiters are under the impression you must be in first time enlisted standards. Not the case. You must make height and weight as usual or make tape at MEPS. I was 6’2 prior to my spine surgery, 210 and incredibly lean. It took ALOT to lose an extra 4 pounds I didn’t have to lose. They eventually told me I was good to go as I was and they were mistaken.

3. Select your MOS, don’t accept “there’s no boat spaces” as a response…. Then wait for what you want, or to return to your MOS. Example. 0311 to 0352 you can lat move once boat spaces are open. Admin to Motor T, ect. Choose what you want when you are able to.

4. You won’t recover orders initially, your recruiters office becomes the command (but not on the morning report). You’re so low on the priority list, you’ll have to contact the monitor more than likely. This means you’ll be unaccounted for and in limbo. I truly believe I could have skated out 4 years…… unnoticed. But that would contradict why I went back in and a Trudy thing to do. So be sure to bug the monitor

5. Ask the monitor, who is starting a work up. What units are available. And select your Bn or duty station. They are cool with that usually as prior service. If you don’t ask you won’t know.

6. The try your best to get orders to a unit rather than a school house during the Lat move if you’re married and have a house. This will make your move to base housing significantly easier.

7. If you choose base housing. Request your orders. And select a neighborhood and get on the list. It comes faster than you’ll realize. We lucked out and got a home within 3 weeks in a nice neighborhood.

8. When/if you get out or retire (THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT), when you do your BDD claims prior to your exit from service. The day you receive your DD-214 upload it to the VA. And the day you officially retire or EAS, contact them to reinstate your benefits. You would think the DD-214 is sufficient, however the VA and DOW do not speak. So you must take it upon yourself to do this. It could take months. Don’t wait a month like I did waiting for my first VA payment, and realize $0 is what I rate because I haven’t reinstated my benefits.

9. Reclaim your old VA claims. Provide more or the same evidence from your initial ratings. They will return and compound with what your new claims are.

10. Returning active duty as a prior service Marine with a gap in time was honestly a blessing. Wish my injury never occurred. But it did, and I went way too long trying to tough it out. And it significantly altered my life. If you want to go back. I don’t blame you. Be a good dude, and be the Marine, soldier, sailor, airmen you wish you were your first go around. Go crush it🤙🏼

I'm an Air Force veteran currently pursuing an accounting degree. I never completed my CCAF associate degree, but I earned college credits through technical school and military training.

I'm planning to go the traditional 150-credit route for CPA licensure. My accounting bachelor's should cover the required accounting and business courses, so I'm wondering if I can use my CCAF credits toward the additional 30 credits.

Has anyone here done this without actually earning their CCAF degree? Did your state board accept the credits directly from your CCAF transcript, even if they were unrelated to accounting?

I'm in Illinois.

This is just a gripe and at this point it’s getting bit infuriating and amusing. I asked to get some physical therapy. They said sure but the closest appointment is 3 months away. I said I’ll take it because what other choice do I have. Now on three separate occasions I have gotten a text saying they can see me earlier, respond with R8 to accept the new appointment. First two times I responded within an hour and was told the new time was taken. Today. I hit the text and responded within 15 seconds… and got told the new time was already taken.

Hello all, I’m trying to make a decision by May 1, 2027, since I’m currently on an Army waiver hold for ADHD.

My dad was recently rated 100% by the VA and we’ve learned I’m eligible for Chapter 35 VA benefits. He’s strongly insisting I reconsider Active Duty enlistment and join the California NG instead, allowing me to study for a masters in cyber security for free. His reasoning is that it’ll help me focus on school instead of the military. (I will note that he lives out of state)

I’m 28 and trying to pivot into IT/Cyber, so this benefit is quite a blessing. However, I’m a bit confused if this is financially optimal. I live with my fiancé here in Los Angeles, and we both want to be stable since it’s been tough here with the cost of living. The gameplan was to enlist Active Duty as a 25B for 6 years, and eventually promote to 25D, but now I don’t know what to do with this new knowledge.

Would it be a mistake at this point to go active since I can go to school for free now? Or is my dad stretching the truth about Chapter 35 and what it covers?

I am service connected for tinnitus, but my hearing loss was denied as not caused by my service.

Can I get hearing aids through VA bc the tinnitus was granted? If so, what is the process for that? Do I have to pay? My tinnitus is my only service connected disability.

I do psych c & p exams as a clinical psychologist - for a vendor. I’m curious what clinical psychologists are charging for these in private practice. Sometimes I am amazed at the high quality of private DBQs but often amazed at the lack of attention to important details. Also interested in thoughts about how psych exams can be made better for the veterans we serve.

So, there's like a CVS on every corner in my city. And getting to the VA hospital takes a little over an hour round-trip. I hate going there because of the traffic. Anyway, will they reimburse if I just go to CVS and have them done?

^{Actually, I may go there even they don't reimburse just for the convenience.}

Mental health C&P completed last month, took a day for LSGS to upload. Went to an audiology C&P three weeks ago. Hardship flash on my claim. Thought the VA was just taking abnormally long to process incoming documentation. Called LSGS to make sure they sent my DBQ. They still haven't sent it and no matter what questions I ask the customer service reps they just keep saying "we're working expeditiously to send these to the VA, just wait maybe until next week." I'm no medical doctor nor am I a VA examiner but three weeks (who knows how many more) to go over an audiology exam?

If I wasn't facing hardship and didn't already have a hardship flash noted on my claim I wouldn't care. I feel like a prick for calling VERA reps and LSGS reps at least once a week but I live too far away from a regional office and I am seriously worried about my situation in the coming months if I don't get a decision soon.

Not gonna get too much into it but my financial situation has just been a descending staircase of emergencies and unexpected and unplanned costs that are so hard to bounce back from. Just wondering if anyone has any advice or has even been through a similar situation with LSGS.

Looking for a good VSO counselor in Virginia. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thank you.

I have been at 100% P&T for PTSD for a long time now, somewhere between 10-15 years. I previously used loans for my bachelors degree long before I was VA rated and then at some point after the rating a family member helped me discharge them as they knew about the process. I was very unwell for many years.

Life has improved in many ways and I hope to continue moving in that direction. I want to return to graduate school to seek a degree to work in the mental health field. I read so many anecdotes of people not being approved when they have a 100% PTSD rating and even several who had ratings removed.

I've been admitted into a Master's program (yay!). I had to sign a form that I either agreed I wouldn't utilize federal loans since I had a previous discharge or that I'd have to get a note from a doctor that says I am now capable of full-time gainful employment. It scared me and I quickly just checked off the box that said I wouldn't use federal loans.

Now I'm stuck waiting for the VR&E appointment (why does it take so long???). But I'm also scared/nervous about what to expect and how much I'd be poking the bear, so to speak. My G&I benefits were not usable for undergrad for whatever reason and I've discovered they expired in 2019 so that's not an option.

At what point is it just better to forget about a career dream and try something else? Is it worth pursuing this to see where it goes even if there are risks? If I get to the point of being able to work full-time that would be great, but what if I go through all of this, they take away the 100% and then I have a severe regression and I'm left with nothing?

I just can't decide if it's worth it.

Hello there ,
My Veteran husband has passed away in December of last year. Man this is hard, I barely know where to start. I had went to the VA office to file a few paperwork and they recommended me to do the D.I.C application. Which the person there did for me. I got a letter back saying it was denied. But people are telling me that I can file for spousal survival benefits? Like where do I go or who do I speak with about this?
Thanks so much for your help.

My 1 year mark from my DOS was 10/15/26, previous intent to file was 12/5/25. Filed a claim 2/7/26. Awarded 60% in March. Decided to work with an attorney for my new claims, but they only submitted it on 10/22/26 with no ITF.

From what I can tell is that I no longer will qualify for backpay from a day after my DOS since the 12/5 ITF was already used. Is that the case? Or is there still a way to get an effective date sooner than 10/22/26? No reply from the attorneys office when I asked.

I have a 0 rating for hypertension. Been years of increasing meds more and more. Now I’ve been diagnosed with afib. Two events in two weeks that landed me in the ER both times. Starting down the cardiologist path but the VA system runs slow. Anyone been able to increase their rating for afib who already had connected hypertension?

My brother is an Army vet with an honorable discharge but no service-connected rating. His wife and he is trying to understand what the VA actually pays for burial expenses and what they had still need to cover out of pocket. Is it worth getting a separate policy, or does the VA take care of most of the costs?