r/VeteransBenefits

Using new account because I don’t want anyone in my personal life to know that YESTERDAY I GOT 100% P&T. I’m so relieved this fight is finally a long horrible process. There is one slight problem that I don’t know whether or not will “poking the bear” as people say. My backpay is the correct month, but not the correct year. It’s about a $30k difference between the two which might not sound like a lot to some of you, but for someone who can’t work, that would be really nice to put away. Granted I’m still getting 15k back but 45ish sounds real nice. I called VERA and he assured me that if I do a supplemental stating that I’m only challenging the effect date, they wouldn’t re-open my actual rating. Since you guys got me here, I wanted to ask your opinion

The most recent version and so far the one that has made it the furthest excludes the updated language that solved most of the issues with the useless bill NY passed in December. Any NY 100% veterans and anyone who cares should immediately get on the horn with their representatives and tell them to get that shit back in the bill asap. All we can do s bitch and moan to the right people. Doing it here won't help us. Below is what I wrote to the senator and Governor feel free to copy paste and edit.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9006/amendment/C

Senator,
I'm writing in regard to the most recent version (C) of the NYS budget bill. Specifically the exemption of the updated language for the 100% veteran property tax exemption. The language included in versions A and B of the bill gave every struggling disabled veteran hope. It finally fixed the out right bad and exclusory language from the original bill signed in December. I suppose it was foolish to for the veteran community to actually get their hopes up that the government could show competence or compassion in anyway. Plainly I'm reaching out to gather any information available on how we can get that language included back in the bill before it's passing and not once more let down the veterans of the state.

I would appreciate some sort of response or acknowledgement of the let down. I know this is not exclusively any individuals fault but an explanation and perhaps some assurance that further language updates to the outright crappy version from December can be implemented would be appreciated.

Thank you to everyone on here that posts and replies to comments to help through claims. Just woke up to a notification this morning that my HLR was done…. Finally! I almost couldn’t open the decision letter because I was so nervous lol. I got bumped from 50% to 90% with back pay to July 2024. Thank you to everyone on here and keep up the good fight 🫡

Any help would be appreciated thank you!

I have tried googling, but don’t exactly know the answer so hoping someone has more insight. I claim my stepchild on my VA disability benefits. She was approved for ChampVa. I was curious how Chapter 35 benefits work if the stepchild lives out of state with their biological mother. Would she even qualify for Chapter 35, as I don’t provide 51% of her expenses? It would suck if she won’t qualify because she doesn’t live with us. Any advice/experiences would be helpful. Thank you

A bit of an odd situation. My examiner submitted a dbq for something I never claimed, but the VA didn't rate the dbq. From what I can see the dbq is favorable. Do I do a higher level review even though technically I didn't claim the condition?

Hey guys, im in need of some experienced opinions of ppl who know the answer to this. Long story short I got black out drunk at the Marine Corps Ball in 2024 and I somehow dislocated my knee and woke up with a killer feeling in my knee and a even shittier feeling of a hangover without remembering what happened :,). I asked some friends and they told me people were pulling me around and it caused my knee to somehow randomly give out and I just hit the floor for whatever reason. I have been having knee problems since then, and it actually dislocated again this past February when I was swimming in the ocean. I have multiple MRI’s, physical therapy docs, etc. in my med records documenting my treatments throughout the past 2 years but my concern is when I file my claim in a few weeks for my BDD, the VA may not consider my injury service connected due to it stating in my med docs that alcohol was involved with the initial dislocation and that I had some knee problems similar as a child (though ive never had anything like this happen before, these sublaxations were much much worse) is this the case or would it still be service connected due to it being a military function?

I have been trying to figure out my BAH rate for an upcoming PCS and honestly the whole process is more confusing than it needs to be.

The DoD calculator is okay but there are so many factors - with/without dependents, different zip codes, and the rate tables change every year.

For me the trickiest part was understanding how they determine which duty zip code to use vs where you actually live. Took me a while to figure out why my number was different from what my buddy was getting.

What part of BAH calculation trips you up the most? Curious what others have run into.

Hey guys,

Posting this for a buddy who doesn't have reddit.

His appeal has finally come back from 2019. Several things have been granted and the others have been remanded. He had a question that I searched in here and couldn't find.

Will he go ahead and get back pay now from the things they have granted/rated? Or will they wait to do that until all of the remanded items have been completed? It is already a significant amount of back pay he is owed $100k plus with just the things they have granted.

I was in the VR&E program and graduated May 8th and the term ended May 6th.

I was accepted into a grad program two weeks after graduation, starting in the summer. No overlap. I had planned on using my GI Bill. My university certifying official said it’s no problem to do this. I got a letter in the mail yesterday from the VA saying I do qualify for benefits but I will be paid none/unable to use my GI Bill for grad school.

Weirdly two days ago I got an email from the VA saying my previous school has updated my enrollment by the certifying official.

Not really sure what to do, can’t afford grad school without GI Bill worried the appeal is going to take longer than the summer session even lasts. Anyone else run into this issue after VR&E.

Calling in the morning but curious if anyone has any insight.

Does anyone recall the 10% off code for veterans for the month of May? I just remember it starting with C and ending with 10

Unfortunately my VSO had to step away due to health issues. They were training a new person, who is now swamped and overwhelmed. I think most are pretty understaffed. I don't feel good about staying with the current office. I am having a hard time locating an experienced VSO. Any advice on what to do or not to do? Northern Pennsylvania or South Central New York area.

I am retired and have tricare East. I just received a bill from my doctor's office saying I owe them an amount and it's labeled as "Tricare Adjustment" because tricare didn't pay them their full billing amount. I am wondering if "Tricare Adjustment" is something my doctor's office is trying to recuperate since they are not getting enough from Tricare? But isn't this the deal they have with Tricare in the first place? I already paid my deductible during my visit, so this should not be coming back to me, correct?

I filed for two secondary conditions to mental health. I received a decision letter today for them, in that decision letter there was a deferment to 'increase'. I never filed this and now have a C&P exam. I called the help desk and the agent seemed just as confused about the VA putting things that I personally never filed. Should I be worried?

IMA reservist. About 2.5 years of MPA tours but no orders other than IDTs, AT, and school tours in last few years. No deployments.

Non-generic breast cancer diagnosis—was NOT on orders when received diagnosis. Worth pursing a disability claim or no chance of service connection?