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According to the;Mayo Clinic, some common triggers of IBS in disabled veterans include:
- #1 Food.;The role of food allergy or intolerance in IBS isnt fully understood. A true food allergy rarely causes IBS. But many people have worse IBS symptoms when they eat or drink certain foods or beverages, including wheat, dairy products, citrus fruits, beans, cabbage, milk and carbonated drinks.
- #2 Stress.;Most people with IBS experience worse or more frequent signs and symptoms during periods of increased stress. But while stress may aggravate symptoms, it doesnt cause them.
- #3 Hormones.;Women are 2x as likely to have IBS than men, which might indicate that hormonal changes play a role. Many women find that signs and symptoms are worse during or around their menstrual periods.
- #4 Medication Side Effects.;Many over the counter and prescription medications taken to help manage a variety of physical and mental disabilities in veterans may cause IBS symptoms or make them worse.
Medical research does suggest a link between IBS and veterans with a mental health condition.
Finally, many over the counter and prescription medications taken to help manage a variety of physical and mental disabilities in veterans may lead to IBS symptoms.
Tdiu For Knee Injuries
Even if your knee injury doesnt qualify for a 100% disability rating, you may still be fully compensated at the equivalent of a 100% disability rating if you meet the requirements for TDIU.
While the eligibility requirements for TDIU are different from those associated with being assigned a disability rating, qualifying for TDIU for your knee injury can effectively result in the same compensation that you would receive for a 100% disability rating.
The VA doesnt usually give 100% TDIU for just a single disability. They typically add up disabilities and veterans meet the criteria like this:
1. You have at least 1 service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling, or 2 or more service-connected disabilitieswith at least 1 rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or moreand2. You cant hold down a steady job that supports you financially because of your service-connected disability. Odd jobs , dont count.
Taken from;
TDIU is meant to address the impact of your knee injury on your employability. If you cannot carry out substantial gainful employment due to your service-connected knee injury, you might be eligible to file for TDIU.
You may be eligible for TDIU if you have a disability rating of 60% for a service-connected injury or multiple service-connected conditions that result in a combined disability rating of 70% as long as one of the conditions is rated 40% or more.
How Common Is Ptsd In Veterans
PTSD is not something to feel ashamed of. Military service takes extreme bravery and courage, but no matter how courageous someone is, no one can endure intense combat without being affected. According to the VA, PTSD is common among Veterans, affecting both men and women in high numbers.
Women serving in the military have recently been diagnosed with PTSD in higher numbers. This increase in PTSD diagnoses may be due to the increase of servicewomen involvement in intense combat in the last few decades. In addition, many women on the frontlines in the war in Afghanistan were left with military sexual trauma . Sexual trauma often leads to PTSD for many men and women, regardless of whether it is endured in childhood or adulthood.
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Automobile And Special Adaptive Equipment Grants
Can a Veteran Receive Financial Assistance From VA to Purchase an Automobile?
Yes. Financial assistance, in the form of a grant, is available to purchase a new or used automobile to accommodate a veteran or servicemember with certain disabilities that resulted from an injury or disease incurred or aggravated during active military service.; The grant may also be paid, if disabilities are a result of medical treatment, examination, vocational rehabilitation, or compensated work therapy provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs .
The grant is paid directly to the seller of the automobile for the total price of the automobile. The veteran or servicemember may only receive the automobile grant once in his/her lifetime.
What Disabilities Must You Have to Qualify for the Automobile Grant?
A veteran or servicemember must have one of the following disabilities to qualify for the automobile grant:
- loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both feet
- loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both hands, or
- permanent impairment of vision in both eyes to a certain degree
Does VA Pay to Adapt a Vehicle?
Yes. Those qualified for the automobile grant, and veterans or servicemembers with ankylosis of one or both knees or hips resulting from an injury or disease incurred or aggravated by active military service may also qualify for the adaptive equipment grant.
The adaptive equipment grant may be paid more than once, and it may be paid to either the seller or the veteran.
The Basics About Disability Benefits
The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain if you are insured. This means that you worked long enough and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The program pays benefits to adults and children with disabilities who have limited income and resources.
While these two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. If you meet the non-medical requirements, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death.
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Best Way To Get 100 Va Disability: The Experts Guide
Fellow disabled veterans, if youve ever wondered about the best way to get 100 VA disability, listen up, because this expert guide is for you!
Brian Reese here,;VA disability claim expert, CEO @ Military Disability MadeEasy;and founder @;VAClaims Insider.
Today Ill be breaking down the best way to get 100 VAdisability using tips, strategies, and lessons learned from helping over 5,000disabled veterans increase their VA disability rating through oureducation-based resources.
Oh, and just so you know, these VA disability increase strategieswork regardless of your current VA rating, but especially if youre wonderinghow to increase VA disability from 80 to 100 and how to increase VA disabilityfrom 90 to 100.
What If The Applicant Stays On Or Returns To Active Duty
SSA rules state that it is possible to remain on active duty and still receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. This is dependent on whether or not the military member is actually able to perform work.
A permanent change of station move, changes in the recipients military career field specialty, or other factors may require a benefits review-SSA states that in such cases the military member must contact SSA with an update.
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The Prior Court Order Was Entered By Agreement; It Expressly States That My Ex
Not by a long shot. ;All the VA money is tax-free, so he would get even more money in the end by waiving a piece of the pension.;
Lets take an example: Suppose Johns total retired pay is $1,600 and the court awards Mary, his former wife, 50%, or $800. ;Then John obtains a VA disability rating and elects to receive VA disability compensation, which equals $600. ;This means that he waives $600 of the pension to receive VA payments.;
Now the pension-share payment from the retired pay center to Mary is only $500 a month instead of $800 . ;Shes short by $300 due to the actions of John in applying for VA payments.;
Johns income is now $500 from the pension and $600 from VA. ;If hes paying taxes at 20% federal, 5% state, then hes receiving net: $375 from the pension and $600 from VA, for a total of $975, while Mary will only be getting $375 a month.;
If John were to reimburse Mary, then hed pay to her the missing $300 each month, which is deductible for him on his taxes, and that only costs him $225 in his tax brackets. ;Thus he still has $750 after taxes, whereas before the VA waiver, he was receiving $800 taxable each month, or $600 after-tax income! ;And Mary has the full amount which the court initially ordered.
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Will I Lose My Va Disability If I Get A Job
No! The VA wants you to work, if possible.
The only time your job and income level factor into VA disability is if youre receiving VA Unemployability, also known as TDIUincome limits do apply.
In addition, VA pension benefits are based on income level and net worth limits whereas VA disability compensation benefits are based on level of disability .
Income and not worth are NOT factors in determining VA disability compensation benefits to eligible veterans.
For example, you can be 100% P&T and still have a great job that pays you well.
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How Much Time Do You Have To Request An Increase
The timing of your request for a change in VA disability rating is crucial. If it has been over a year since you were granted benefits, then you can request the benefits using the forms and procedures above. If, however, it has been less than a year and your condition is already worsening or you disagree with the decision, you need to appeal the initial decision, which becomes a lot more complicated.
Not to worry our experienced Veterans Law attorneys know how to navigate the appeals process which can be otherwise confusing and intimidating. Not only can we save you time and headaches, but we may also be able to get you additional compensation sooner than if you had tried to file a claim without a lawyer.
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Buddy And Lay Statements To Increase Your Va Disability Rating For Knee Joint Pain
Buddy statements;and lay statements can be instrumental in getting an increased VA disability rating for knee joint pain or a knee injury. You can submit these statements to the doctor who will be performing your C&P exam to help bolster your claim.;
Buddy statements from other service members or lay statements from family members often help to demonstrate how your service-connected knee injuries affect your daily life and employability. These statements can also support your claim for disability if your medical evidence doesnt adequately support your claim for an increased disability rate or if your service records have been lost. They can be particularly helpful in getting an increase to your rating upwards of 50%, depending on the severity of the symptoms described in the statement.; ;
You dont have to use a Veterans compensation lawyer that is nearby. We can work with you over the phone and apply or appeal electronically.
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Total Disability Based On Individual Unemployability
Veterans whose VA disability ratings do not combine to a scheduler 100% could qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability which is a program that compensates Veterans who are unable to obtain and maintain a substantially gainful occupation due to a service-connected disability at the 100% rate. Veterans can appeal their 90 percent VA disability rating or file for an increase in order to be considered for TDIU.
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When Can A Military Member Apply For Social Security Benefits Can Active Duty Apply
Applicants do not have to be retired or separated in order to apply for benefits. A currently serving military member is permitted to apply at any time regardless of hospitalization status. The military member or veteran can apply while in a rehabilitation program, attending outpatient programs, and regardless of whether the treatment is in a military hospital or civilian facility.
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Schedular Rating The Primary Type Of Va Impairment Rating
The Schedular Impairment Rating is the most common kind of rating. ;It is also the one that most of you will instinctively get or understand.
In its basic premise, it is straightforward, simple, and understandable by normal humans that dont speak bureaucrat-ese.
Heres how it works.
You look up your medical condition on the VA Impairment Ratings Table in 38 CFR Table 4 this is known as The Schedule of Impairment Ratings, or simply the schedule. ;.
When you find your condition on the schedule, you match the symptoms YOU are experiencing with the;symptoms that the VA says are important for a ;rating at a particular level of severity for;that condition.
If you have symptoms X, the schedule says you should be rated at 40%. ;If you have symptoms X and Y, you are rated at 70%. And if you have symptoms X, Y, and Z, then you are rated at 100%.
Every condition has its own rate-able symptoms in the schedule, and each has its own compensation levels. ;For PTSD, for example, you can get rated at these levels. ;And for sleep apnea, here are the VA disability ratings levels that are available.
For most knee ratings, you can only get rated at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 percent.
You get the idea and if you need to properly assess what the schedular rating criteria are for your condition, you can learn more in a post like this.
Schedular Sub-rule 1: Combined ratings.
Schedular ratings for multiple conditions are combined, not added. ;
Schedular Sub-rule 2: Analogous Ratings. ;
Are You Currently Engaged In A Substantial Gainful Activity
The first issue you will face in determining your eligibility for SSD benefits is the question of whether you are able to work or engage in substantial gainful activity.
Under current SSA earnings guidelines, if you earn $1,130 or more per month gross pay, you are engaging in substantial gainful activity. You would not qualify for SSD benefits. However, if you do not meet that threshold, you would move on to the next step in the evaluation of your eligibility.
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Va Disability For Hearing Loss And Tinnitus
In most cases, hearing loss VA disability claims among Veterans are typically a direct result of prolonged noise exposure from things such as:
- explosives
- training incidents
- and much more
Unfortunately, hearing loss can have a long-term effect on Veterans ability to live everyday life. However, if you experienced any hearing loss due to your time in the military, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits.
Please note that in many cases, a hearing loss claim is one of the most challenging claims to get service-connected. Many times, these claims receive a low rating or are denied.;
If Your Application Is Denied
After we review your application and the information you provided, we may decide you do not meet the qualifications for disability benefits.
If you disagree with our decision, you have the right to ask us to look at your application again. The notice you receive from us that says you don’t qualify will explain how to appeal our decision and the time period in which you must make the request.
If we decide you don’t qualify:
-
Because you are not disabled under our rules, you can appeal our decision online.
The online disability report will ask you for updated information about your medical condition and any treatment, tests, or doctor visits since we made our decision.
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Gather Documentation Of Your Illnesses And Injuries
Youll need documentation of your injuries to support your claim. Documents you should submit with your application may include:
;;;;Medical clinic and hospital records related to your injury or illness. While your benefits application allows you to sign a medical records release, many private medical providers ignore VA requests for these records. Submitting medical records with your application eliminates this problem.
;;;;Supporting statements from friends, family, clergy, law enforcement, or other veterans regarding your injury or illness.
;;;;VA medical and hospital records related to your injury or illness.
What Do I Need To Know About Advance Designation
You should be aware of another type of representation called Advance Designation. This relates to the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018, which was signed into law on April 13, 2018.
Advance Designation allows capable adult and emancipated minor applicants and beneficiaries of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Special Veterans Benefits to choose one or more individuals to serve as their representative payee in the future, if the need arises.
To help protect whats important to you, we now offer the option to choose a representative payee in advance. In the event that you can no longer make your own decisions, you and your family will have peace of mind knowing you already chose someone you trust to manage your benefits. If you need a representative payee to assist with the management of your benefits, we will first consider your advance designees, but we must still fully evaluate them and determine their suitability at that time.
You can submit your advance designation request when you apply for benefits or after you are already receiving benefits. You may do so through your personal account, by telephone, or in person.
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Social Security Disability Benefits For Veterans
Qualifying veterans can receive Social Security Disability benefits even if they already are receiving VA disability benefits. Medicare and TRICARE benefits may also be payable concurrently depending on qualifying circumstances.
The Social Security Administration official site says that more than 600,000 veterans received disability benefits in 2016, and that vets may not realize they may qualify to receive both Social Security and VA disability payments at the same time.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports nearly four billion veterans report suffering from some form of disability. What Social Security options are available for those who have served?