Has anyone been successful in getting an increase from 50% to 100% for a mental health rating?

It’s really true what they say. I thought I would be ok telling my parents you know since I’m their only child. Initially they were happy for me, but now I get why everyone says to keep it to yourself. This morning I get a message from my mom asking me for $500 for some dental work she needs done and she mentions now that I got my disability upgrade she figures she could ask me for it. I would definitely hook mom up, but I already paid my rent, paid off some debt and pretty much leaving me waiting to get paid from my job this week. She’s cool with it and said she use one of her credit cards but I feel bad I wasn’t able to help. I would have never felt bad if I never said anything.

I submitted an initial claim new claims for increase the supplemental claim. Throughout each step after I submitted the evidence and I sent ChatGPT and Claude recent decision letters and I would upload my CMP exam medical opinion and DBQ when they were available at each time they predicted the decisions to the exact person, except for the first claim where they gave me two possible ratings and obviously it could only be one of them. For those that are impatient once you get your DBQ’s and you can request them from the VA and they send them pretty quick. Just put everything into your AI and ask your AI to objectively provide a decision as if they were a VSR at the VA.

Had my audiology C&P exam today for hearing loss and tinnitus and wanted to hear from anyone who has been through something similar.
I served in the National Guard and was exposed to weapons fire of various calibers. During my exam, the audiologist asked about my noise exposure before, during, and after my service. I told her I was a student before 2019 and later worked in Fire/EMS, where I was exposed to things like sirens. I also told her I currently go to the shooting range about every other week but use hearing protection.
I explained that my tinnitus started around 2020, affects both ears, and discussed my symptoms. She did several tests including the regular tone/beep test, speech testing, and bone-conduction testing. There were definitely some tones I couldn’t hear. At the end she wouldn’t tell me my results, but she said I was “good at following directions” and that she had about 48 hours to submit everything back to VA.
VA is also currently requesting my National Guard service treatment records.
For anyone who has gone through a tinnitus/hearing-loss C&P:
Did your examiner say anything similar? Did you end up getting tinnitus service connected even if your hearing loss wasn’t compensable? And how long after your C&P did you see your DBQ or get a decision?

As the title explains, my tdiu was denied and I do not know how to move forward with anything. I’m 90% sure it was lack of evidence but for the most part I do not know how to move forward with getting an appeal and trying to obtain medical evidence that I cannot work. i am rated 70% for PTSD from MST and I have no clue what to do. I first submitted my statement and to be fair my work history is not extensive. I had one job at a warehouse that i was fired from after my disability legitimately kept me from doing my job and that was it. I laid in bed for basically a year with no motivation, i tried going to school but dropped out after a month and then tried again but still failed my classes because i couldn’t concentrate and my depression is so bad that i barely have the energy to get up and brush my teeth, comb my hair, or eat. I went to therapy for a while and it helped some but for the most part im still stuck and struggling to do anything. i’ve had job interviews that i missed because it takes me 45 minutes to even convince myself to get out the car to do something as simple as getting milk. My Vso assured me that my statement, notes from therapy, and my invitation to TDIU was enough for me to be accepted but once the c&p exam was done i felt like i blew it completely. i don’t know what to do or what to get done, i called the va but they answered me 3 weeks too late and i dont know how to handle the denial. if anyone has any advice id love to hear it.

I just looked over my DBQs (they came with my medical records when I requested them to EAS), and I saw that many ROM measurements were straight up incorrect. For example, I had previously been seen on base and my back ROM was measured safely under 30 degrees forward (I can barely bend over without any pain), and I gave the same movement at the C&P exam just for the doctor to put it down as 50 degrees initially and still only 40 after repeated use. What can I do after I get my rating back to try to appeal the results? And can I use the measurements given by my physical therapist in order to dispute the C&P exam measurements?

Just wondering how long it typically takes to get your call? I’ve been waiting 60 days without any movement. HLR on one claim, single aspect. What’s normal timeline wise?

Plan was to do 30, body said nope and LIMDU from knee replacement . What’s my % looking like? All of these issues are documented in my record and I’m assuming during the medboard process it’ll get reviewed.

Knee replacement
Other knee grade 2 OA, pain, pending surgery.
R elbow ulnar nerve transposition, arthritis, and limited ROM
Both shoulders bicep tendon tears (slap tear in one, surgery on the other for biceps tendonisis)
Lower lumbar sciatica, DDD,L3-S1 herniated discs (prior surgery - foraminotomy)
Cervical spinal stenosis, limited ROM
Migraines (2x a week)
Binge eating disorder, anxiety, depression
2 cardiac ablations (SVT, afib)
Chronic sinusitis
Grade 2 OA in both hips, right hip labrum tear and hip dysplasia

hey guys, if you have anybody taking care of you at home looking into putting in a claim for an R one

I'm looking for input from anyone who has actually rated GI claims or had a similar issue. I'm trying to understand how the VA should be handling my multiple GI diagnoses and the pyramiding issue.

I currently have 40% for gastritis, 20% for avitaminosis.

- all of the below gastro issues have caused my weight to drop to 91pounds, among many other things.

How I got here

My original GI claim was not properly addressed. I eventually filed an HLR.

The HLR found a duty-to-assist error concerning my GI condition and ordered additional development, including a new examination/medical opinion.

The resulting decision evaluated Crohn's disease/IBD and assigned it 0%, while continuing my gastritis at 40%.

The decision explained that Crohn's/IBD and gastritis were considered coexisting digestive conditions and that separate evaluations could not be assigned for overlapping symptoms because of pyramiding.

The problem is that I don't actually have Crohn's disease.

The Crohn's/IBD issue was attached to my GI claim through this development, assigned 0%, and then it essentially disappeared from the later discussion.

Meanwhile, my C-file evidence documents several other actual diagnoses with favorable findings. Everything below is also present within service medical records.

GERD

Favorable findings:

• 10/4/2024 Esophageal Conditions DBQ: Formal GERD diagnosis, K21.9, diagnosis date 2014.
• Examiner documented symptoms beginning during service in early 2014.
• 10/2/2026 DBQ: Again documents GERD and states my GI symptoms began during service.

Gastroparesis / delayed gastric emptying

Favorable findings:

• 5/23/2024 gastric emptying study: objectively demonstrated delayed gastric emptying.
• 7/24/2024 Nutritional DBQ: 24-lb/>20% weight loss, severe lean-muscle loss, early satiety, poor appetite and nausea; examiner suspected gastroparesis affecting nutrition/absorption.
• 6/2/2025 Intestinal DBQ: formally diagnosed delayed gastric emptying K31.84.
• 6/2/2025 Medical Opinion: examiner stated delayed gastric emptying was at least as likely as not directly related to my gastritis.
• 6/2/2025 Intestinal DBQ: specifically answers YES to gastrointestinal dysmotility syndrome.
• 10/2/2026 DBQ: examiner again documents gastroparesis and states GI symptoms began during service.

Chronic Constipation

Favorable findings:

• 6/2/2025 DBQ: diagnosed chronic constipation K59.0.
• 6/2/2025 Medical Opinion: constipation found at least as likely as not directly related to gastritis.
• 10/2/2026 DBQ: constipation again documented with in-service symptom onset.
• In service treatment records

Chronic Duodenitis

Favorable findings:

• August 2024 EGD/biopsy: chronic nonspecific duodenitis.
• 2014 service records: gastritis and duodenal abnormality documented during service.
• 10/2/2026 DBQ: examiner specifically lists duodenitis and states my GI symptoms began during service.

I've tried multiple times to file for an increase for my gastritis and have specifically asked VA to consider my entire GI disability picture but but each time, I seem to get looped right back into the gastritis criteria. I submit a personal statement explaining that I wanted the entire GI system evaluated, rather than having everything reduced to the gastritis symptoms.

The decisions focus on whether I meet the next level under the gastritis criteria, while the other documented GI diagnoses and their favorable evidence don't seem to be meaningfully addressed, the Crohn's and IBS is never mentioned

- I have now filed all of these as separate issues per an Optumserve employee's suggestion.

1. Is filing these separately actually the right approach?
2. Why does the IBS/IBD/Crohn's issue seem to have disappeared?
3. When multiple distinct GI diagnoses are documented, how does a rater determine which diagnostic code provides the predominant disability picture?

Hello all, hope you are all doing well. Has anyone ever feel like their backpay wasn’t correct and called the VA? I got an increase from 60% to 90% on September 30, 2026. I did the intent to file on April 17, 2026. In the increase, I also go SMC-K but the back pay I have received is $3,738.55 which is about 2k less than what I calculated for increase from May to September. Should I call the VA, should I not, what should I do?

Thank you all for your advices in advance

I've viewing some of the stories here and I already have P&T rating for PTSD. I was in the Iraq war during the beginning. I was at a 10% when I left the army due to back injury. I left it like that for many years then sent an increase for just the back because the others issues were denied. I was increase to 50% and I did myself. A few years later hire a company for mental health and got 80% between back and mental health. Left it like that for a few years then went with the same company for the 100% and was awarded 100% P&T for ptsd. My main issue with everything is why after being awarded 100% P&T would anyone wants to add anything else to the claim after 100% P&T? Once I reached that, I was done with everything claim. Just a thought

I don’t know what’s going on with the VA lately, but I figured I’d share this because everyone on here is always talking about how slow everything is and how long they’ve been waiting.

I fully expected my C‑File request to take a year. I’ve got split time between active duty and the National Guard, so I assumed it would be a mess. But they got everything back to me in eight weeks — service records, old DBQs, claim files, in‑service treatment records, all of it. Eight weeks. I’ve been out for over 25 years and they still pulled everything together fast.

So for anyone out there waiting forever, things are moving. If it’s been a long time, it might be worth giving them a call, because a lot of this stuff is coming back quicker than people think.

It’s not always as bad as it looks on here. Sometimes the VA actually surprises you in a good way.

Multiple c&p exams scheduled...what are my chances of winning compensation? Thank you

I’m looking for some advice from anyone who has successfully service connected conditions stemming from Army Reserve service, particularly airborne operations, without an LOD. For reference I’m currently at 80% with other claims.

I served in the Army Reserve from 2007–2013 as a parachute rigger and was on jump status for most of that time. I completed Airborne School and had roughly 40–50 jumps during my Reserve years, in addition to jumps during my initial active-duty training. A lot of those jumps occurred during drill/IDT or annual training. We jumped with equipment, and some landings were on, asphalt/tarmac.

I currently have issues involving my right hip, right shoulder, and cervical spine/neck that I believe are related to the cumulative impact of those jumps and specific hard landings. I recently filed/supplemented claims for these conditions.
The problem is that the VA appears to have considered only my active-duty records from around 2007–2008. My Reserve drill, annual training, ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA periods, and the jumps that occurred during those periods don’t appear to have been verified or considered. I was in the Reserve until 2013. They do have a copy of my jump log.

I don’t have LODs for the injuries. At the time, like a lot of people, I didn’t go to sick call every time I got hurt. I continued jumping and doing my job. I do have my airborne qualification/service history, and I have a buddy statement from someone I served with describing our jumps, hard landings, equipment, and conditions.

The VA recently denied the hip, shoulder, and neck claims, and from reading the decision it seems like a major issue is the lack of documentation tying the conditions to a qualifying period of service. I’m now working on obtaining my complete Reserve personnel records, drill/retirement-point records, annual training orders, pay records, jump records, and anything else that can establish exactly when I was serving and jumping.

I’m also considering having a civilian orthopedic/medical provider review my records and write a nexus opinion explaining whether repeated military parachute jumps and hard landings are at least as likely as not responsible for or contributed to my current neck, right shoulder, and right hip conditions.

For anyone who has dealt with something similar: How did you prove an injury/event occurred during drill or annual training when there was no LOD? Were orders, LES/pay records, retirement points, jump logs, buddy statements, or unit records enough to establish the qualifying service? Did a private nexus opinion make a difference? And if the VA made its decision without obtaining or considering your Reserve service records, how did you address that on appeal?

I’m not expecting the lack of an LOD to make this easy. I’m mainly trying to figure out the strongest way to document my Reserve service and airborne activity and give the VA the evidence they need to properly consider the claims.

https://preview.redd.it/turbw0irmwth1.png?width=1026&format=png&auto=webp&s=42ded175063b8579e3374cf9b52196747c581004

First appointments are scheduled. Ready to get these things knocked out! Any advice for a first timer?

Diagnosed with OSA by sleep study and prescribed CPAP. Service connected for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis; required sinus surgery.

Initially denied in May 2026. Filed a supplemental in July with a private IMO supporting secondary causation, backed by pages of medical literature. VA sent me to a C&P exam. C&P examiner’s opinion appeared favorable. VA requested a rework addressing aggravation/baseline; the addendum still appeared favorable, but VA denied.

Denial discounts the private IMO as based solely on my reported history, denies aggravation for lack of a baseline, and also states no causal connection.

Planning HLR with an informal conference. How should I challenge the treatment of the favorable opinions and the causation versus aggravation issue?

Anyone dealt with a similar denial?

Edit:

Adding screenshots of the denial for context. My private IMO was six pages, with only a couple paragraphs describing my statements. The rest included medical research/literature, review of my medical records and DD214, and the provider’s rationale linking OSA to my service-connected sinusitis/rhinitis through causation.

The denial characterizes it as based solely on my reported history and gives it little weight. It also denies aggravation because no baseline was established. My understanding is that a baseline is required for aggravation, not causation.

The decision also rejects causation, but I’m questioning whether it adequately evaluated that opinion and explained why it was discounted.

Hello. I filed my initial claim of shoulder dislocation and pain, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. I had my exams for both early September, DBQs were uploaded next day and I was sent to step 4 day after. A week in step 4 I went to step 5, where I then went back to step 4 3 days ago, step 3 2 days ago, and today a PTSD DBQ was ordered. I never claimed anything regarding PTSD and didn’t mention any triggering events in either of my exams. I’m wondering why a PTSD exam was ordered?