Comments on: How Does a VA Disability Rating Help my SSDI Case? http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/ Social Security Disability Blog - moderated by Jonathan Ginsberg Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:42:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: Brenda Davis http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-9695 Brenda Davis Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:41:54 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-9695 Greetings. After skimming through some of the above comments, I'd like to "nutshell" a few. If a veteran is in receipt of war-time Non-service connected Pension based on low income, there WILL be a dollar for dollar off-set with Social Security Disability benefits. If in receipt of service connected Compensation from VA, there will not. Also, VA awards Compensation based on conditions incurred in service...Social Security is awarded for all disabilities which prevent you from being employed. To make the process easy on yourselves, use free resources available to you. Most areas have county veteran services offices (field offices), and you can locate yours by going to www.vetsresource.com Either click on your state, or the state listing under the map. These folks are certified by various service organizations (American Legion, DAV, MOPH, VietNam Vets, etc) and will assist you with VA claims and act as your liasons for many issues you will have questions about. Also note: A VA doctor CANNOT file a claim for you, nor grant a Rating Decision!!! They know as much about the process as the Raters do about drawing blood. Please don't go it alone...we have enough frustration. My backround? I'm a retired USAF 1st Sgt &, you guessed it, former county service officer. Best to all! BAD Greetings. After skimming through some of the above comments, I’d like to “nutshell” a few.
If a veteran is in receipt of war-time Non-service connected Pension based on low income, there WILL be a dollar for dollar off-set with Social Security Disability benefits.
If in receipt of service connected Compensation from VA, there will not.
Also, VA awards Compensation based on conditions incurred in service…Social Security is awarded for all disabilities which prevent you from being employed.
To make the process easy on yourselves, use free resources available to you. Most areas have county veteran services offices (field offices), and you can locate yours by going to
http://www.vetsresource.com Either click on your state, or the state listing under the map. These folks are certified by various service organizations (American Legion, DAV, MOPH, VietNam Vets, etc) and will assist you with VA claims and act as your liasons for many issues you will have questions about.
Also note: A VA doctor CANNOT file a claim for you, nor grant a Rating Decision!!! They know as much about the process as the Raters do about drawing blood.
Please don’t go it alone…we have enough frustration.
My backround? I’m a retired USAF 1st Sgt &, you guessed it, former county service officer.
Best to all! BAD

]]> By: joann brown http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-9694 joann brown Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:44:10 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-9694 i currently recieve 50% VA disability for CHF.(35%) since my orginal rating I have been hospitalizd twice for my heart, my ejection fraction since being released is now22%. the rule state that below 30% is considered 100% disability with the VA. I have reseached other cases with almost the same problem being disapproved. i dont understand most of the medical jargon. Can anybody answer my uestion .What are the chances I will be approved for 100%? i currently recieve 50% VA disability for CHF.(35%) since my orginal rating I have been hospitalizd twice for my heart, my ejection fraction since being released is now22%. the rule state that below 30% is considered 100% disability with the VA. I have reseached other cases with almost the same problem being disapproved. i dont understand most of the medical jargon. Can anybody answer my uestion .What are the chances I will be approved for 100%?

]]> By: connie http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-9582 connie Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:34:42 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-9582 How long do you must wait for your first check after being found 100 percent disabled? How long do you must wait for your first check after being found 100 percent disabled?

]]> By: Frank J. Dutra http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-9497 Frank J. Dutra Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:54:56 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-9497 I was informed in Jan 2011 that I had prostrate cancer. I currently have been receiving 40% disability for over 14 years from the VA for NHL Cancer to liver. I filed my claim in Feb for the prostate cancer of which I had Brachytherpy in June of this year up in Seattle. I haven't receive anything back from the VA, is this normal. I understood that they would rate me 100 % for six months and then what ever after that. Does anyone have something to add? Thanks, Frank J. Dutra I was informed in Jan 2011 that I had prostrate cancer. I currently have been receiving 40% disability for over 14 years from the VA for NHL Cancer to liver. I filed my claim in Feb for the prostate cancer of which I had Brachytherpy in June of this year up in Seattle. I haven’t receive anything back from the VA, is this normal. I understood that they would rate me 100 % for six months and then what ever after that. Does anyone have something to add?

Thanks,

Frank J. Dutra

]]> By: sherri http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-9486 sherri Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:28:01 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-9486 @<a href="#comment-9189">steve</a>: Steve, my husband also suffers with several va disability issues. it has taken 18 years to get his ratings where they should be. concerning the issue of continually checking for threats, this is a ptsd systom called hypervigilence. my husband does the same thing. when filing for his last appeal on the ptsd claim, they finally sent him for a phsycological evaluation to determine his GAF score. ( how well do you function in normal every day life basically ). it seems the difference this time from all the times before was that i had gotten so frustrated that no one seemed to understand what this all meant to our daily lives that i wrote them a 24 page single spaced letter detailing how his personality and daily life had changed since he came home from the war. i included details on all his disabilities, not just the ptsd. i also included details on how his behavior effected and limited the lives of myself and our children, our household responsibilities, our social lives, etc. the more interference you can show to daily living, the more they listen. they will not realize that it affects something unless you point it out to them. a letter from a spouse or anyone else who has seen these things first hand is considered evidence. get letters from anyone who can testify to the limits this imposes on your lifestyle and ask them to include as much detail as possible. it really helped a lot in our case. @steve: Steve, my husband also suffers with several va disability issues. it has taken 18 years to get his ratings where they should be. concerning the issue of continually checking for threats, this is a ptsd systom called hypervigilence. my husband does the same thing. when filing for his last appeal on the ptsd claim, they finally sent him for a phsycological evaluation to determine his GAF score. ( how well do you function in normal every day life basically ). it seems the difference this time from all the times before was that i had gotten so frustrated that no one seemed to understand what this all meant to our daily lives that i wrote them a 24 page single spaced letter detailing how his personality and daily life had changed since he came home from the war. i included details on all his disabilities, not just the ptsd. i also included details on how his behavior effected and limited the lives of myself and our children, our household responsibilities, our social lives, etc. the more interference you can show to daily living, the more they listen. they will not realize that it affects something unless you point it out to them. a letter from a spouse or anyone else who has seen these things first hand is considered evidence. get letters from anyone who can testify to the limits this imposes on your lifestyle and ask them to include as much detail as possible. it really helped a lot in our case.

]]> By: Joseph http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-9382 Joseph Sat, 24 Sep 2011 05:48:59 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-9382 @<a href="#comment-8273">Mark Steelt</a>: You do'n make enought money for non service so go and get your regualy disability file with the DVA Aloha @Mark Steelt: You do’n make enought money for non service so go and get your regualy disability file with the DVA Aloha

]]> By: steve http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-9189 steve Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:25:48 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-9189 Hello, I have 10% disability from the VA. i am applying for a review and increase in said VA connect disability. i just apply for SSI. since I'm 10% all ready will they just rate at such are more? I have list of issues. I feel that when i left the Military i was sick. I always have to check and recheck my surroundings for threats. Wife says I'm paranoid. then there the stomach issues and the VA doctor says its my diet. i eating a lot of the pain medications and medications for emotional issues. all i want is to be normal again. Hello, I have 10% disability from the VA. i am applying for a review and increase in said VA connect disability.

i just apply for SSI. since I’m 10% all ready will they just rate at such are more?

I have list of issues. I feel that when i left the Military i was sick. I always have to check and recheck my surroundings for threats. Wife says I’m paranoid.

then there the stomach issues and the VA doctor says its my diet. i eating a lot of the pain medications and medications for emotional issues. all i want is to be normal again.

]]> By: Al Leslie http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-8784 Al Leslie Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:34:15 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-8784 I just began receiving Soc. Sec. Disability and the VA Non-Service Connection Pension. I received a Pension check for three months covering the date I applied. I had informed the VA I had been granted Soc. Sec. Disability. Today I was informed via phone that my Pension monthly payments would be reduced and I would have to repay the 3 months check because I am receive Soc. Sec. Disability. I was informed that I would receive a call within a half hour with more details. There was poor phone reception, and I have made numerous unsuccessful attempt to reach the party who called me (not having pen/paper to copy her name). I had been informed that neither Soc. Sec. Disab. nor VA Pension had any effect on the other (neither would be reduced due to receiving the other). I am unclear as to the situation (do I own/will VA Pension payments be reduced/etc. I had been homeless, but upon receiving the 3-month check, I purchased a vehicle and have been accepted to move into an apartment complex on Sept. 2, 2010. I would appreciate any assistance you may have to clarify this matter. Thank you . . . Al Leslie aldardan2000@yahoo.com I just began receiving Soc. Sec. Disability and the VA Non-Service Connection Pension. I received a Pension check for three months covering the date I applied. I had informed the VA I had been granted Soc. Sec. Disability. Today I was informed via phone that my Pension monthly payments would be reduced and I would have to repay the 3 months check because I am receive Soc. Sec. Disability. I was informed that I would receive a call within a half hour with more details. There was poor phone reception, and I have made numerous unsuccessful attempt to reach the party who called me (not having pen/paper to copy her name). I had been informed that neither Soc. Sec. Disab. nor VA Pension had any effect on the other (neither would be reduced due to receiving the other). I am unclear as to the situation (do I own/will VA Pension payments be reduced/etc. I had been homeless, but upon receiving the 3-month check, I purchased a vehicle and have been accepted to move into an apartment complex on Sept. 2, 2010. I would appreciate any assistance you may have to clarify this matter.

Thank you . . . Al Leslie aldardan2000@yahoo.com

]]> By: Spanky http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-8521 Spanky Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:46:01 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-8521 Folks: It seems like many of you are trying to do things too fast. Step one--Prove your condition exists and then link it to your military service. Use physical exams/Tricare referrals top do this. Do this for each rating. Step two: Get your VA rating where you want it to be. Appeal and ask for hearings if the VA disagrees. Use a Veterans service organization to help you (DAV, VFW,ect.) File your documents together, with Dd214, physicals exams, other medical records. Don't make the VA ask you, give it to them first. Making their job easier will help you. Step 3: Once the VA rating is secure and you are at 100% combined rating (not UI) file for SSI. If you are <100 but are VA unemployable, and receive a 100% based on Pension (Not compensation) I am pretty sure there will be an offset. I recommend you stratigize before plowing the field. Spanky Folks:

It seems like many of you are trying to do things too fast. Step one–Prove your condition exists and then link it to your military service. Use physical exams/Tricare referrals top do this. Do this for each rating.
Step two: Get your VA rating where you want it to be. Appeal and ask for hearings if the VA disagrees. Use a Veterans service organization to help you (DAV, VFW,ect.) File your documents together, with Dd214, physicals exams, other medical records. Don’t make the VA ask you, give it to them first. Making their job easier will help you.

Step 3: Once the VA rating is secure and you are at 100% combined rating (not UI) file for SSI. If you are <100 but are VA unemployable, and receive a 100% based on Pension (Not compensation) I am pretty sure there will be an offset.

I recommend you stratigize before plowing the field.

Spanky

]]> By: Rick Ingersoll http://www.ssdanswers.com/2008/10/31/how-does-a-va-disability-rating-help-my-ssdi-case/#comment-8507 Rick Ingersoll Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:11:04 +0000 http://www.ssdanswers.com/?p=227#comment-8507 since 1996 I have been debateing with the VA about my Carpel Tunnel in both hands, well today I had an appt with the contract doctor for the VA, and was in his office for about 15 min, and explained about my pain and blah blah blah, he said okay I'll put you in for 100%. Is that good so do they owe me some back pay or? 100% with spouse is how much a month? since 1996 I have been debateing with the VA about my Carpel Tunnel in both hands, well today I had an appt with the contract doctor for the VA, and was in his office for about 15 min, and explained about my pain and blah blah blah, he said okay I’ll put you in for 100%. Is that good so do they owe me some back pay or? 100% with spouse is how much a month?

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