I've won my VA case...

[Mike70]

like i said in the shoutbox, 1st time through and didn't have to appeal. I had several statements from people that served in my unit to back me up. it is nice to be liked and have friends. their statements made all the difference in proving my case. I've been rated at 70% disabled, which kind of surprised me. some of it is for the progressive and irreversible hearing loss in my left ear. the rest is for PTSD. I'm probably looking at a nice bit of back pay since i filed back in Sept. of 2011 I'm still going to continue to go school and drive on with life. I might just turn to writing now though.

[Mr. Clean]

Sweet......From on Vet to another.....Congrats!

[Tricky]

Good luck Mike!

[bassman]

I believe this is the first I've heard of your case, but congrats man!

[AcesandEights]

Yeah, didn't know about this. Glad the situation is finally resolved for you, Mike!

[Exatreides]

Keep appealing until you get 100%. My dad's a nam vet and says that's the only way to do it.

[MoonSylver]

Congrats Mike. You've earned it, my friend.

[Mike70]

I believe this is the first I've heard of your case, but congrats man! yeah, I didn't mention it much to anyone. I don't know if I'd call it superstitious but I don't talk about such things until i've won and the money is on its way. in short, I hatch my chickens and then count them. I've been told i can go after Social Security now, which i am going to do. I'm not superstitious about that one. i'd be surprised, given the huge amount of evidence i have from the VA and the opinions of several different VA doctors, if that case didn't come out in my favor as well. I got a shitload of money in back pay from the VA and damn was it nice to share it with my son. the monthly stipend i get has money in it for him and i if should die before he is 18, he'd collect pension benefits until he reached that age. i think a lot of people think that just because you get disability you don't have to pay child support anymore. Nah. they add money in for that.

[krisvds]

went through a rough patch there it seems? Glad things worked out for you. Congratulations indeed.

[Mike70]

went through a rough patch there it seems? Glad things worked out for you. Congratulations indeed. not as rough as some folks are going through right now. I simply went to the VA for treatment and was urged by my doctor and by a patient advocate to petition the VA for benefits based on my experiences. I decided to go after what i was owed. service in the army frakked me up, so it is only fair that they own up to it and pay up for the effect it has had on my life. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that i would be declared "completely disabled." I was floored and had to read the award letter a couple of times for that to sink in. even without the disability payments the number of services that i was eligible for from the VA would make life easier. Not everyone has the ability to get help from the VA.