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Mr. Nice! posted:They're going to probably refer you to a VSO because you're not at the stage yet where you need a lawyer. You can call up and possibly walk in to a local VSO today and get things started. I'm in central Illinois. I thought the NVLSP helped you prepare your case, putting together a strong packet, so you hopefully won't have to appeal later. I guess it won't hurt to at least see what they say, but I've got a pretty decent amount of veteran's organizations nearby to talk to if necessary. So far in my MEB/PEB and VA claims, I've been successful in what seems like a record time from the horror stories I hear about. VA claim took 60 days or so and my MEB/PEB was done in less than 6 months. Hoping my lucky streak continues.
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Jan 4, 2018 17:38
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U.S. Barryl posted:I'm in central Illinois. I thought the NVLSP helped you prepare your case, putting together a strong packet, so you hopefully won't have to appeal later. I guess it won't hurt to at least see what they say, but I've got a pretty decent amount of veteran's organizations nearby to talk to if necessary. So far in my MEB/PEB and VA claims, I've been successful in what seems like a record time from the horror stories I hear about. VA claim took 60 days or so and my MEB/PEB was done in less than 6 months. Hoping my lucky streak continues. VA claim time is much much faster these days with new claims entirely through the electronic system. VSOs are the ones that set up your claim and help with appeals. It's only after you've exhausted the standard administrative appellate options that you need a lawyer and take it to court. If you want to wait on the NVLSP, then go right ahead. I have no idea what their turnaround time may be, but I know via our veteran legal aid clinic we send all initial claims/administrative appeals to local VSOs.
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Jan 4, 2018 18:00
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Thanks, I appreciate your help. I think I'm going to see what my VFW can do for me, since I've already got all my claims paperwork together, and I can probably meet with somebody tomorrow, instead of waiting for who knows what the anonymous online lawyer will need.
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Jan 4, 2018 18:11
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Any idea on how long it takes to get setup for Voc Rehab? I applied a few weeks ago and start my next semester during the last week of January. I'm currently using a combination of Post 9/11 and state benefits, so ideally I'd like to hopefully get Voc Rehab to cover this semester so I'm not burning other benefits.
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Jan 4, 2018 20:19
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Around here it's about 4 - 6 weeks from when you put in the online thing to your first meeting. If you've got your poo poo together it rolls together pretty quick after that
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Jan 4, 2018 20:38
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If I have like half my GI BILL remaining, I can just use my Vic Rehab to finish my degree?
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Jan 4, 2018 21:21
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You're capped at 48 months total education benefit unless your Vocrehab counselor extends you. Doesn't matter if you use Post 911, VR or both. I thought I could use 4 years on VR then use Post 911. Nope! There was a small window of time a few years back both were independent, but it was changed back. I am currently applying for the VHA Post 911 rate even though I'm on VR, which is like an extra $700/month. lovely thing is the VR counselor doesn't believe me even though it says it right in the VA website and another counselor has processed other veterans to make it happen.
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Jan 5, 2018 05:50
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I'll be fairly close to the 48 month max once I'm done, however using Voc Rehab will let me preserve a bunch of my state level benefits (which are based on credit hours) to throw at additional schooling down the road. Really no downsides here that I can see. I'm partial Post 9/11 and the VA documentation I read just mentions Post 9/11 eligibles on Voc Rehab getting the regular 9/11 MHA rate (with no mention of partial), so I might see an increase there.
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Jan 5, 2018 15:10
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Booger Presley posted:You're capped at 48 months total education benefit unless your Vocrehab counselor extends you. Doesn't matter if you use Post 911, VR or both. I thought I could use 4 years on VR then use Post 911. Nope! What? Using Vocrehab doesn't use your GI Bill, and I thought you could use it afterwards. So after I get my undergraduate degree, I'm not going to be allowed to use my GI BIll?
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Jan 5, 2018 20:17
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You get 48 months of total benefits under any combination of programs. From my understanding you don't give up Post 9/11 if you get Voc Rehab, but it does count against that 48 month total from my understanding.
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Jan 5, 2018 20:25
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Soulex posted:What? Using Vocrehab doesn't use your GI Bill, and I thought you could use it afterwards. Depends on how much of your 48 months you've consumed, but essentially correct. The more I research, the higher the numbers of lies and bad info the Voc Rehab counselor has been feeding me. 
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Jan 5, 2018 20:38
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Been reading and yeah. Looks like I’ll have two years or so left after I graduate. Who do I have to talk to about extending it? Right now I’m on VR&E and the goal was to go to a school on WEAMS. I just went through the crap of being disappointed my graduate school wasn’t on there. I’m a comm major who originally switched from photo/video. Now I want an undergrad in photography. I might still be able to do it depending on transfers and poo poo but man. This sucks.
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Jan 5, 2018 20:40
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Booger Presley posted:Depends on how much of your 48 months you've consumed, but essentially correct. Same
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Jan 5, 2018 20:41
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Here: https://www.benefits.va.gov/WARMS/docs/admin28/M28R/Part_VII/M28R_pt07_ch04_secA.pdf So here’s the thing. I do photography as therapy. I shoot sports games and stuff and it’s my way to kind of work through my stuff. It helps a lot. I volunteer, I’m not paid, and the school uses my stuff if they want but I’m not working for their media. I’m not bullshitting here. It helps. I have 70% PTSD. Could this be a good argument for continuing that path?
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Jan 5, 2018 20:47
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Soulex posted:Here: I don't know. If it were me, and your therapy is VA directed, then I would find out how to work that therapy into the Voc Rehab process. My Voc Rehab counselor told me that if you can prove a masters will substantially increase your employment opportunities you may be able to continue beyond 48 months. The whole process seems very subjective and a lot rides on the recommendations of your counselor. Perhaps discuss not only therapeutic benefits of your current path but provide some research and hard data on job opportunities available from higher education. The whole program is designed to give you the tools you need to succeed in your new career so if you can prove greater success with more education anything is possible. I met with the counselor today and he fed me even more BS. The next closest VA is two hours away but I really want a second opinion on much of this because he's demonstrated his lack of knowledge. If you're in an area where you have access to more than one counselor, chat them up!
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Jan 6, 2018 01:10
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I basically went into an easy online school because I'm an idiot and I needed something to do while I waited for work season to start (I'm a scuba diver) and I wasted like a semester's worth of GI Bill for what was essentially a scam school. If I need like 6 months of GI Bill time to finish my degree can I just use my Voc Rehab? Or am I hosed and have to take loans out?
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Jan 6, 2018 01:25
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If you qualify for VR&E, you're good. It might be even easier since you're close to finishing your degree. Again, the counselor holds the cards, so... Do this: -Log in to your eBenefits account. -Select "Additional Benefits" from your Dashboard. -Select "Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program" - be sure to read the program information and to update your contact information - and apply for either the "Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program" or "Education/Career Counseling". -If it is determined that you are eligible, you will be invited to attend an orientation session, in-person, at the nearest VA Regional Office. -Servicemembers who have a disability that began or became worse during active duty and who have not yet received a service-connected disability (SCD) rating do not need to wait to apply. See VA Form 28-0588 for further instructions.
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Jan 6, 2018 02:42
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holy poo poo everyone should have free college and it should be way easier than the way it is now
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Jan 9, 2018 04:10
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white sauce posted:holy poo poo everyone should have free college and it should be way easier than the way it is now Yeah, they should.
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Jan 9, 2018 18:27
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Got my VR&E appointment for 24 JAN.  Hopefully this goes fast so I'm not waiting for money to live off of until it's decided whether I get to use Voc Rehab or keep going on Post 9/11.
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Jan 9, 2018 21:26
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I was just denied unemployability. They just said I’m capable of work. No other reason. I don’t see how.
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Jan 10, 2018 01:41
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I’m loving devastated. I was hoping on that to help us with bills.
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Jan 10, 2018 01:49
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Yea I was counting once on that too and also got denied here in NY. Buckle down. We ate a ton of rice and beans while I searched for a job and applied to school. Maybe start a fund on one of those sites?
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Jan 10, 2018 01:52
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Something you might consider, and only consider this if you're good with money, but I recently used the VA loan to buy a multifamily and rent out most of it. That revenue could cover the difference between disabled and unemployable. I paid nearly nothing down and my mortgage is $4000/mo with $5300 rental income. The VA loan can be little or nothing down, doesn't look at your credit score, and they waive the funding fee if you're disabled. edit: and hey, if you gently caress up, it can still take years for a bank to successfully foreclose on a disabled vet, lol
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Jan 10, 2018 02:02
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So, this is what I am writing in the NOD.quote:Statement from PTSD letter reads: I have no idea. I'm gonna fight this. It loving says it on the statement. Except at the end they're like "yeah no."
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Jan 10, 2018 02:27
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Dude I’m 100% VA and 90% DoD and they still say I can work. You might not be able to roll that boulder up the hill. Also if your IU then VR&E is out the window, or at least can be, because it’s an employment program. You might be better off trying to get a higher rating if you believe your more than 70% disabled. What conditions did you get a rating for and what % did they give you for them? Just look up the ratings guidelines and compare. If you think your more severely disabled than rated, knowing how and why and what they’re rating for will help. The standards are all published by the VA. Though it’s pretty dry reading.
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Jan 10, 2018 04:01
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LtCol J. Krusinski posted:Dude I’m 100% VA and 90% DoD and they still say I can work. You might not be able to roll that boulder up the hill. Also if your IU then VR&E is out the window, or at least can be, because it’s an employment program. VR and E should be ok. It’s rehabilitation but does not constitute employment. I’m not guaranteed a job. I did reading on that too. It would be a fight but there are people here on both iirc. Also I’m 70% PTSD and 40% combined legs so I fit both criteria. Apparently a lot of people get denied.
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Jan 10, 2018 04:38
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Sorry if I've missed it, but is there a listing anywhere of job sites for veterans? I recently graduated with a computer science degree, and found through the "how did you hear of us" dropdown when applying for jobs sites like http://veterans2work.force.com which I wasn't aware of edit: also https://jobs.hireheroesusa.org good stuff edit: https://www.veteranjobsmission.com/companies?tid=27&tid_1=All&tid_2=All&title=All Thom ZombieForm fucked around with this message at 02:28 on Jan 15, 2018 |
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Jan 15, 2018 02:08
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Usajobs
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Jan 15, 2018 03:40
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Meant to specify non-government jobs
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Jan 15, 2018 04:58
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Just gave the VA my Notice of Disagreement. My neighbor is a lawyer and wrote/formatted it for me after I gave him an example of what mine would look like (using CFR codes and such). He used the word Capricious which is a nice new word. It means sudden change through unaccountable behavior. I’m pretty sure I’ll get it this time. Selected to have a DRO look at it again, and reattached the letter from my doctor saying as much too. I also demand reasoning if denied again. How long you reckon I’ll wait to hear back?
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Jan 18, 2018 22:09
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Soulex posted:Just gave the VA my Notice of Disagreement. My neighbor is a lawyer and wrote/formatted it for me after I gave him an example of what mine would look like (using CFR codes and such). You'll get a letter back saying they've received it within a few weeks, and then a letter saying "we're still working on this" every few months for the next couple years.
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Jan 18, 2018 23:19
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McNally posted:You'll get a letter back saying they've received it within a few weeks, and then a letter saying "we're still working on this" every few months for the next couple years. As long as I get back pay. Also I hope not. He said a month but I doubt it will go that fast. Maybe TDIU is different? I can hope, but that usually ends up meaning I get poo poo on. The guy asked me if I had an organization behind me and I told him I had a lawyer. He was just making sure because he said he's seen a lot of people get hosed over by representing themselves.
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Jan 18, 2018 23:41
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I got a VA form in the mail certifying that I had health insurance for all 12 months of 2017. But my 5-year full coverage should have expired in June. I have some service-connected disabilities but only for specific things, but is that the reason why they'd say I was covered overall (eg a mistake).
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Jan 19, 2018 03:38
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Zeris posted:I got a VA form in the mail certifying that I had health insurance for all 12 months of 2017. But my 5-year full coverage should have expired in June. I have some service-connected disabilities but only for specific things, but is that the reason why they'd say I was covered overall (eg a mistake). If you have over 30% overall you're eligible for full VA coverage in perpetuity which satisfies the ACA's individual mandate.
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Jan 19, 2018 03:39
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Mr. Nice! posted:If you have over 30% overall you're eligible for full VA coverage in perpetuity which satisfies the ACA's individual mandate. ...I have free VA "healthcare" for life? 
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Jan 19, 2018 15:13
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They didn't tell you that? Well, that's not really a surprise.
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Jan 19, 2018 15:42
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Zeris posted:...I have free VA "healthcare" for life? wow where were you on one of the greatest financial days of your life? would it surprise anyone if this administration raised it to like 50% though?
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Jan 19, 2018 16:27
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Zeris posted:...I have free VA "healthcare" for life? Why do you think so many vets are dying in completely preventable ways under VA care?
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Jan 19, 2018 16:28
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Zeris posted:...I have free VA "healthcare" for life? Yeah, and if you got that letter you probably enrolled at some point. You can swing by your local VA clinic/hospital and get an ID if you haven't got one already. If you have better private insurance, I'd say use that primarily, but if you ever need to go to the ER or anything (and there isn't an MTF or VA ER nearby) the VA will foot the bill for that as well.
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Jan 19, 2018 17:09
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