testtest

VA at it again...

OldGrunt said:
I suggest you research it for yourself. It depends on what kind of 100% rating you have. I am allowed to work and still know people that are 100% VA disabled and still are allowed to work. If it wasn't for my back getting much worse, I would have still kept working until I was 62. 62 was my retirement goal for many years, long before I got to 100% VA. I copied and pasted the first google search that came up. There are lots more. And if you really want to delve deeper into it, you can access the VA website to find out more. I am not trying to be a rear end about this, but you are wrong.

Yes, you can work with a 100% VA disability Permanent and Total (P&T) rating, provided it is a "schedular" rating. There are no income restrictions, and you can hold full-time or part-time employment without affecting your compensation. However, if your 100% rating is based on "Individual Unemployability" (TDIU), you cannot work above the poverty level.
View attachment 106010Stateside Legal +4
Key Considerations for Working with 100% P&T:
  • Schedular 100% P&T: You have no restrictions on working or income.
  • TDIU 100% P&T: You are generally prohibited from "substantially gainful employment" (earning above the federal poverty threshold).
  • Protection: A P&T rating means the VA has determined your condition is unlikely to improve, so working typically does not trigger a re-evaluation.
  • Exceptions: If you are 100% P&T, but your job requires abilities that contradict the severity of your rating, it could potentially trigger a review.
    View attachment 106011Cuddigan Law +5
In short, if you are 100% P&T (not TDIU), you are free to work without fear of losing your benefits.
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Your situation is in one of those convoluted gray areas...the language is up to interpretation. And when you think you have figured it out your still question the fore mentioned verbiage. Your stated you are not a veteran of any of the Armed Forces
One of my many positions post military retirement was a Veterans Service Counselor for the Great State of Tennessee. I dealt with many claims for vets and spouses, but I will say none were filing a claim/s for a federal non-military employee. So therein lies the idiosyncrasies of the system.
 
No, it is not a gray area. And who says I am not a veteran? I was in two branches of the service. First in the Army, then in the Marine Corps. I highly suggest you get in touch with your county VSO and get you up to speed on what you need to do for yourself. Shame on you for saying that about me. Do some research for yourself!
 
OldGrunt said:
No, it is not a gray area. And who says I am not a veteran? I was in two branches of the service. First in the Army, then in the Marine Corps. I highly suggest you get in touch with your county VSO and get you up to speed on what you need to do for yourself. Shame on you for saying that about me. Do some research for yourself!
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Well sir... I stand corrected. Where I got the idea you were not a veteran is puzzling.
 
OldGrunt said:
That's a negative. I'm not considered homebound. I am allowed to work and did. The only reason I retired early (I'm 60) is because of my bad back, which is not service connected. I know plenty of other guys who are 100% VA P&T who still work. I don't have any disability rating with Social Security. But I am now thinking of applying because of my back and 100% VA rating. And just a few weeks ago I had a pulmonary embolism. I'm on blood thinners until if and when the blood clots in my lungs go away. I can't have my back surgery until then. And even with surgery, my back will still get worse. This surgery is just to relieve some of the pain, but not nearly all of it. I have to wait longer for applying for Social Security Disability because I did make too much money when I was working. I did try applying before but was denied because of that. Once enough time goes by with little or no income (VA disability pay is not considered income), I will re-apply.
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Why are you not pursuing a claim on you back that just might be service connected?
The condition of your back doesn't need to be associated with a service condition. You just need adequate long term medical care and associated medical history of treatment to coincide with your failing back to convince a medical SSA judge to award SSA disability. Believe me it's a long uphill climb ask me how I know but rewarding.
 
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There is an age limit to apply for SS disability. Tried to get it but was told I was too old. Better luck to you, I am 100% VA., 70% damage and 30% IU.
 
3L120 said:
There is an age limit to apply for SS disability. Tried to get it but was told I was too old. Better luck to you, I am 100% VA., 70% damage and 30% IU.
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I applied for SS disability at 55 initially was denied. My 80% VA rating was upgraded to 100% about a year later. Out of the blue about two weeks later received notice I had been approved for SS disability, go figure. Know they are different government agencies but it appears there was some kind of coordination between VA & SS.
 
Phaser said:
Why are you not pursuing a claim on you back that just might be service connected?
The condition of your back doesn't need to be associated with a service condition. You just need adequate long term medical care and associated medical history of treatment to coincide with your failing back to convince a medical SSA judge to award SSA disability. Believe me it's a long uphill climb ask me how I know but rewarding.
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My back is not considered service connected. I did try a claim on it years ago, but it was denied. The VA claimed my back conditions were not caused by the service. But claims on other injuries got me to 100%. Once you hit that %, you don't go higher. I had some other conditions I was going to claim before I got my 100%, but out of the blue, the claim I thought would be denied came through, and I was finally at 100%. My VSO said to not rock the boat with more claims that would amount to nothing anyway. I'm still covered 100% for any medical need. I just choose not to use the VA around here. That's why I keep my Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance going, even though I don't need to. Once I get my paperwork straightened out and am under a certain income limit, I will try again with Social Security Disability. It "should" go through this next time I apply.
 
OldGrunt said:
My back is not considered service connected. I did try a claim on it years ago, but it was denied. The VA claimed my back conditions were not caused by the service. But claims on other injuries got me to 100%. Once you hit that %, you don't go higher. I had some other conditions I was going to claim before I got my 100%, but out of the blue, the claim I thought would be denied came through, and I was finally at 100%. My VSO said to not rock the boat with more claims that would amount to nothing anyway. I'm still covered 100% for any medical need. I just choose not to use the VA around here. That's why I keep my Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance going, even though I don't need to. Once I get my paperwork straightened out and am under a certain income limit, I will try again with Social Security Disability. It "should" go through this next time I apply.
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Pretty much the same for me. Have 6 month checkups for the VA to continue providing my medications. Like you use my private insurance for everything else. Good luck on the SS disability.
 
rcurtner said:
Pretty much the same for me. Have 6 month checkups for the VA to continue providing my medications. Like you use my private insurance for everything else. Good luck on the SS disability.
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I don't even use the VA for my prescriptions; I use my own insurance because of the hassle I hear it is with the VA for meds. The two things I think I will let the VA handle is hearing aids and dental. I do need the hearing aids, as my hearing is now to the point of needing them. And about 6 months ago, I finally had the loss of one of my damaged teeth from an explosion in 2006 that nearly killed me. A bunch of my teeth were injured from the explosion, and I had to wear braces for almost 4 years to straighten them back out. But I was advised back then that some of those teeth might "die out" and fall out years later. And the first one did, and I think I have another that will fall out soon. One good thing I did hear about the VA is, is that they offer pretty good dental care. Once my wife gets sick of my toothless smile, I'll go check out their dental care! lol
 
OldGrunt said:
I don't even use the VA for my prescriptions; I use my own insurance because of the hassle I hear it is with the VA for meds. The two things I think I will let the VA handle is hearing aids and dental. I do need the hearing aids, as my hearing is now to the point of needing them. And about 6 months ago, I finally had the loss of one of my damaged teeth from an explosion in 2006 that nearly killed me. A bunch of my teeth were injured from the explosion, and I had to wear braces for almost 4 years to straighten them back out. But I was advised back then that some of those teeth might "die out" and fall out years later. And the first one did, and I think I have another that will fall out soon. One good thing I did hear about the VA is, is that they offer pretty good dental care. Once my wife gets sick of my toothless smile, I'll go check out their dental care! lol
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Had both ear drums blown out in Vietnam plus teeth damaged by using iodine tablets for treating water. VA did get me hearing aids and dentures. Have had a few glitches with getting meds but for the most part get them on time.
 
Sorry for not getting back to the thread before now. I spent all morning yesterday after posting this thread traveling to and from 2 appointments at the Topeka VA. I live about 50 miles from there and that is where I receive my care since they closed the CBOC 20 miles away several years ago. I have been satisfied with the VA with the exception of a couple @$$holes. I actually prefer the VA over civilian providers at least in my experience.
I did ask the 2 people I saw yesterday what their thoughts were on the AI review proposal. Neither had heard of it but said they could see where problems could present themselves.
I guess my issue with this AI thing is that most of all I don't trust the technology and then the other is that with all the vast amount of corruption we are seeing throughout the nation and literally billions of dollars being stolen that the government decides to target those of us who have served. I guess we are the low hanging fruit as we don't have the voice in government that the illegals and special interest groups have?
Even knowing the pain and disability that having served has caused me I would done the same thing. Would I recommend to a young person to serve now, probably not.
Thank you to all who have served. God bless.
 
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