Veterans Support Group

This community is dedicated to all veterans of armed forces, and the health and life challenges they face. A veteran often refers to retired armed services personnel, one one who has served in the armed forces and has an honorable discharge. Join many others in sharing your experiences to find support.

226 Members
1,176 Posts
0 Online
Personal Challenges
/ Veterans Support Group

phew

jimmysquirrel
jimmysquirrel
I just got my disability claim approved after only 5 months. Percentage should be higher, but my foot is in the door and i can start getting the medical stuff that i have needed for a while now... thank gods.
Community LeaderWanderingVet
WanderingVet
congratulations. Just wondering, ... is that a service connected disability award or NONservice connected?
jimmysquirrel
jimmysquirrel
yes, it is a service-connected disability. i developed ulcerative colitis while in the military
Community LeaderWanderingVet
WanderingVet
The reason I asked is to maybe help you increase your benefit amount. Max benefit for service-connected, single veteran is right at $2500 a month. That would be "100%".

But it is not as simple as that, .. you could be 60% PTSD disabled and deemed "unemployable" by a doctor, .. and that would take you to 100%.

I recommend you inform your doctor of any and all maladys, health problems, emotional problems, etc. Building a complete health record is essential. Throughout the rest of your life, as problems increase in severity or develop anew, you can file future claims and based on the record, your benefit can increase substantially.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I absolutely agree with wanderingvet. Keep plugging away at them.
Unemployability might sound bad, but it's not.
It's really very good. It can get you 100%, and with the help of a pschiatrist, they might even back-date it.
jimmysquirrel
jimmysquirrel
well, i am a veteran, but not a VFW... i did not go play in the sand-box, i wanted to, but this condition developed after a chemical spill thing from one of the chemicals on submarines... so i do not have ptsd, but there will be times that i will be unemployable and in the hospital
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am glad you got your claim! I know that some VA's have issues, but I have recieved fantastic care for a number of things at my local VA hospital. Make sure that you let them know of any changes AT ALL in your condition. Once you "have your foot in the door" they are pretty good about keeping up with things (again, in my experience, which seems to have been unusually good!)
bluesun
bluesun
wow awesome! mine took a year, you are so lucky!