My ex-husband ceased to pay child support as of June of this year for our two teenage kids. I have a pending court case of over 4 months and nothing has been processed. ETA: We have an original court case from our divorce in 2016 that he has not been abiding by. Our original case was that he makes direct payments to me. This case is from another state that he nor I no longer live in so my current state is requiring I open a new court case for full enforcement.
I previously knew I could have an apportionment garnishment but it was never necessary. However, I now see that this is no longer an option as of January 2026. My ex-husband, who is 100 percent disability rated, also is no longer speaking to me since June of this year. My concern is that our oldest turns 18 in about 7 weeks and is a high school senior. I was looking into it today about the VA Form 21-674 and I am wondering what’s the best route to take or if I need my ex-husband to sign anything. I was looking at the form and I saw that my child can sign it himself once he turns 18 which is the age of majority?

One might wonder why I’m even doing this considering my ex-husband has never sent me the VA money he gets per child and he keeps it himself and even moreso now that he’s not giving me any child support. My thought process is I would rather let the VA know what the current school status of my son is as he transitions to college so he is able to receive the Chapter 35 benefits in college.

I guess my questions are should I wait until he turns 18 and have him fill out the form and send it in ourselves even without my ex-husband’s signature? I really don’t care if there’s a gap in the payment because we don’t receive it anyways. Or can I fill this form out now and sign it myself as the guardian of my son? And lastly, I am curious if anyone else has been in my same position with no longer having access to apportionment options? I was told that the state I live in could have the state he lives in garnish his wages, but he was fired from his job in April and his only wages that I know as of now are from the VA. I was also told that the state cannot garnish VA wages directly since it’s a protected benefit. Can I call the VA line myself since I’m not a veteran? I did send messages to my ex-husband for the first time in over three months today as I was letting the states handle the child support aspect and today I mentioned to him about this situation with our son turning 18 but he is not responding to me and I do not suspect he will. It is my understanding that his new wife has forbidden him from being in contact with me. We have maintained a great coparenting relationship for the past 13 years prior to all this which is why I never had child support going through the courts.

Hey everyone!

I’m considering switching my VA disability direct deposit to SoFi, but I’ve heard people say they receive their VA disability payments **6–7 days early** with SoFi. I know SoFi advertises early direct deposit, but I’m trying to find out if veterans actually receive their disability payments that early.
For those of you who receive VA disability compensation through SoFi, I’d love to hear your experiences!
**How many days early do you actually receive your VA disability payment?** Is it really 6–7 days early, or is it usually 1–2 days?
What date did your most recent VA disability payment hit your SoFi account compared with the official payment date?
What are the biggest benefits of banking with SoFi?
What are the downsides?

What benefits and services should we look into for my husband? I have added him as a spouse to my disability. Are there any health insurance benefits available to him if I’m 90% but being paid 100% TDIU? What about things like wills and life insurance? Education? We are also planning on buying a house this year.

Thank you in advance!

My attorney has gotten me to the maximum for my disabilities and effective dates. I'm totally satisfied with them through the process.

Do I need to release or fire them? Or do attorneys just stop working a file once it reaches its maximum?

Not looking to replace them, we're just at the end of our business.

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'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?

Received my results from my HLR . From submission to result was just over 5 months. The reviewer i had the informal conference with was phenomenal, I had listed her my facts and evidence that was already in my record and assured me she would do her diligence. She definitely did and granted me service connection for a much earlier date than I expected. I had been trying to get this claim approved for years and I feel like I can finally breath now.

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

Hey reddit, long time lurker, first time posting (throwaway). I've been separated nearly a decade + some years and rated 80% combined:

- 70% MDD with anxious distress
- 10% lumbosacral strain
- 10% tinnitus
- 0% hearing loss, left ear

My depression and anxiety has knocked me down hard over the last couple months I’m trying my best every morning.. On top of that we've had family crises (mom diagnosed with cancer, sister attempted off herself the same week we found out). I'm currently out on short term disability with FMLA running at the same time.

I know the math says my conditions can't combine to 100% and I know TDIU is an option on paper, but it's just me and my wife, no dependents, and I'm the only solid source of income (wife’s job is inconsistent).. so I'm hesitant about anything tied to unemployability due to having no money is going to make me more stressed out. Do I just have to bite the bullet and push through this if I don’t want my wife and I to struggle?

Questions now:

1. Is there anything I should be filing or requesting RIGHT NOW while I'm on leave?
2. Is an increase on the MDD realistic for someone in my position, or am I wasting my time?
3. Anything I'm not thinking of (secondary claims, etc.)?

Thanks in advance. Trying to do this right while I have the leave time.

I left the USMC in 91, and recently had a VSO help me enroll in the VA, which got approved. I have what he called a C&P exam I believe. A VSO helped me apply and put in a claim which he submitted on my behalf. Though, as I learn more about the purpose of this (it's importance), I'm wondering if I can add to that claim before my initial exam (first visit which happens in a month). Apparently I have quite a bit that could be covered and I need to say something now?

Any advice?

I filed a sleep apnea claim secondary to service connected depression and anxiety due to the fact that because of my mental health condition I put on a decent amount of weight which led to me ending up with sleep apnea and needing a cpap to sleep. Went from could kinda see abs to double chin life.

My main question is during the c&p exam will they ask how or why the depression caused OSA? Or is it just going down the OSA dbq page? Never filed a secondary claim so how does it go exam wise.

I graduated with my bachelors through VR&E on May 6 and was trying to find employment. Upon graduation, my counselor’s instructions required three job searches per week for 30 days as well as two forms which needed to be filled out. I had some questions about the forms which initiated this chain of events, delay after delay, and eventually a forced decision to attend graduate school and quit my job search so I can continue getting paid. Due to this, I was denied the 2 EAA payments based on an incorrectly filled out job search log which wasn’t brought to me attention until months later. Please read the full story before commenting.

Four documented stretches:
April 19–June 24: 66 days. I asked what identifying numbers to use on the forms and reiterated the unresolved issue in at least 10 follow-up messages. Some replies reminded me to submit forms without answering the question. I eventually found the information myself and submitted the forms and log.

June 24–July 6: 12 days and four follow-ups asking whether everything was received/correct. I was then told to resubmit through eVA and did so immediately.

July 8–August 3: another 26 days and four follow-ups after specifically asking whether my existing log satisfied the requirements. The July 8 instructions also listed a first-payment date of July 3—already past. By August, I was being told the log was inadequate. At this point the completed job search log was in their possession since June 24th.

I contacted another VA employee, called regional and field offices on different days and at different business hours, and repeatedly got voicemail. I finally reached an out-of-state office that directed me to Ask VA. A national hotline complaint eventually got a supervisor to review my case. Eventually, supervisors stated that the EAA is being denied because it was not filled out correctly and also informed me that my current GI bill usage for graduate school is blocked because my VR&E status was still active. At this point I was given an ultimatum. Drop of of school and pursue an aggressive job search/receive the payments, or accept the denial and continue my school. They stated if I chose to accept the denial, I can file an appeal(it most likely wont work because the denial is legitimate based on the job search log actually being incorrect as stated). My biggest concern at this point was having my bills paid. I am reliant on the housing allowance with the GI bill for this and due to this, I opted to accept the denial so I can get my VR&E file closed and have my GI bill approved ASAP.

August 26–September 25: another 30 days and three follow-ups after requesting VR&E closure to access my GI Bill, before a supervisor reported sending Education clearance.

Graduate school was a backup, not my preferred outcome. With no job and no timely guidance before I had to make an enrollment decision, I felt these delays forced my hand. Had I received timely feedback, corrected the deficiencies, and secured suitable employment, I would have chosen work instead. Once I committed to full-time graduate school, I stopped job searching.

I acknowledge my log may not establish the require qualifying period. But I submitted it in June and repeatedly asked what needed correcting. My argument is about the lost opportunity to address that, not that silence automatically meant approval.
My GI Bill is now active. I’m still awaiting the promised EAA denial letter and am only disputing the earlier period.

Has anyone successfully appealed a similar EAA decision or pursued equitable relief under 38 U.S.C. §503? Would a VSO or contacting a congressman help? The 2 EAA payments were going to support my move to a new school and help me get established as I started my graduated program if I didn’t get employment. Thankfully I am now actively enrolled in the GI bill and my housing is covered but if it is at all possible that I have a case here, I could really use those EAA payments as I’ve incurred a lot of credit card debt with my move due to never receiving the payments to cover the expenses. I have the email history saved and want realistic advice. My argument here is that these delays are unacceptable and unprofessional, as well as the clear ignorance communicated to me in emails which didn’t address my questions properly and the clear miscommunication between supervisors/counselors/other VA entities. Is there anything at all I can do here to get those 2 payments? Is there any program I qualify for to maybe compensate me in some way for this? I’m grateful my GI bill is approved now and that solved the major issue but getting access to those 2 payments would really help me out.

Hi I'm applying for ta and need help with this section

You are required to provide an evaluated degree plan from the school not later than after completing two courses. Ensure all your Civilian/Military transcripts, to include test credits have been sent to your school in order to receive the evaluated degree plan. Please forward the evaluated degree plan reflecting the transfer credits to your servicing Education Center in a single PDF file.

May sound dumb but I have no clue what the education center is and what the degree plan is.

Secondary question is

The va top up? I have ch1606 but online it says I've used all the funds but in order to get the ta I need top up?