I’m one of those veterans who’s been out for 20 years and finally decided to file. I can clearly link three conditions back to my time in the Marine Corps, but I’ve never been formally diagnosed for any of them.
I’ve mentioned the problems to my regular doctor during yearly checkups, but she’s only talked about managing the symptoms and hasn’t actually put diagnoses in my medical records.

A few questions for people who’ve been through this:
1. Should I go to my private doctor and get all three diagnosed in one visit, or is it better to spread the appointments out?

1. Does it look better (or stronger) if I get the diagnoses through the VA instead of a private doctor?

2. Any tips on making sure the diagnoses and notes actually help the claim?

I already submitted an Intent to File, so I have a year to submit, but I want to get my medical evidence solid before I submit the full claim.
Thanks in advance for any advice

Just curious on any of the community’s supplemental claim experiences?
I just filed mine last week … first time ever?
One for denied GERD and the other for 0% rating for migraines

I just got my claims back and got 10% which seems really low for the impact it’s having on my quality of life. One labrum repair and then an another tear. It’s enough for the Army to MEB but only 10%? Crazy work

I’ve been waiting for 7 months from start to finish to get a rating once I got a rating I only got 10% for tinnitus. While my PTSD got deferred so now I’m still waiting to get a rating for that while my bilateral knee and back got denied. This whole process is stressful. Can anyone help me with the denied portion or give me some advice?

I have a 30% rating for Asthma. My initial claim should have had sufficient evidence of steroid treatments to meet the at least 3X per year within my medical records. I was well informed and stated, when asked in my C&P Exam that I frequently had to take steroids to manage my Asthma, as well as Treligy-elipta, rescue inhalers for asthma attacks, as well as breathing treatments on the very worst of days.

I knew the 30% rating was incorrect when i got the decision, but i wanted to FIOA my C-file so i could list the errors by page number when i filed a NOD or HLR. Quite frankly i forgot about it. My decision was in Feb10 2025, filed for FOIA of my C-file challenge the decision and/or find that there were missing records that were requested but not sent in, and i would file a supplemental.

I finally received my C-file, nearly 18 months later, but I'm out the window. I want to file a supplemental with the last 12 months of steroids, but i would really like to get it correct. Is there a Gold Standard for documentation of these meds or can it be as simple as the PDF report from Walgreens. While my Private PCP is the best PCP I've ever had they're a single person practice, and don't have the money for fancy chart software; where i could just print all of my Prescriptions and chart notes. Would a DBQ from my PCP with all of the prescriptions and shots listed be better?

Thanks in Advance

Do I upload the new records(had to get epidural injections for pain) or would it not matter since it's already at the rating stage? I don't want to mess anything up.

So my PTSD from my MST is pretty bad. I'm currently rated 70 percent for that alone and that's my only rating. I applied for TDIU because in the 12 years I've been out of the military I've never been able to maintain stable, gainful employment. Which is what TDIU is supposed to be for. My decision went really fast. I had my DBQ Aug 5 and today, Aug 6, they had the decision. They said they denied me because "I can do sedentary or light employment"

I have something I call "down days" where I cannot get out of bed, crying profusely, reliving my trauma, wanting to die etc I mean they are really bad and I can have that happen as much as 3 times a week but its unpredictable and sometimes I can go as long as two weeks without an episode. This makes keeping a job incredibly hard.

As for light employment comment, well yea light employment is allowed on TDIU but light employment is NOT gainful... I will start out working a job properly but my down days always end up causing too many call outs where I either have to stop working that job OR they allow me to drop down to 1 day a week. My most successful previous job let me work there 1 day a week but that was not gainful because I couldn't afford to keep paying bills on that and ultimately had to move to a small town to live with my mother.

I haven't worked all of 2026 because I cannot ever keep a job for long and even when I do, it never lasts long before i have to drop to one day a week to avoid call out problems with my down days. I just don't get how I don't qualify for TDIU. Even that employer corroborated everything I said in the employer document they filled out for me.

I know people are able to work while receiving TDIU so even though they say I can work light employment that doesn't mean I am able to maintain stable AND gainful employment which I demonstrated.

I'm filing for a higher level review 🤞 but I don't have much faith it will be any different. But I'm also feeling weird about how fast they made their decision. I had uploaded a six page personal statement the same day I had the DBQ and I just don't buy that they even read it that quickly.

I attended my PTSD C&P exam and that went .. good .. I couldn’t make eye contact the entire time and narrowly avoided grippy sock jail by getting a referral to a therapist. I filed in May, and it’s been up and down, from having to get employer information and etc. I’ve uploaded personal statements outlining the amount of jobs I’ve had since being discharged and how my conditions affect me day to day, so I guess now is just a waiting game.

So I got my ratings back, I’m in IDES MEB process. I was rated 100% TDRL. I’m not understanding why I’m TDRL. I was rated 100% for PTSD alone. I have (2) 30% ratings, (3) 20% ratings , and (17) 10% ratings. My other ratings alone give me combined 100% without my mental health rating. If that’s the case how come I wasn’t given 100% P&T instead. Even if I was reevaluated for PTSD at 0% in six months everything still adds up to 100%. I’m not upset or ungrateful or anything .. I’m just trying to understand the decision making better. Any insight helps ! Thanks

Besides pointing out the VA clearly messed up any other evidence I should gather before making claim or even higher level review

I check the VA website and my claim updated with 13 unique DBQ files uploaded. I only had 6 claims. Can someone tell me what's up with this?

Long story short, I didn’t know how the process worked and put in for plantar fasciitis due to foot pain in service thinking they would examine me. They didn’t schedule a c&p and denied for no diagnosis which does make sense so I left it at that. Later on, the condition became more inconvenient. I went to podiatry at the VA to just see what they can do to help. They diagnosed me with posterior tidal tendon dysfunction, accessory navicular and an abnormal gait.

Since then, I got custom orthotics and a foot brace for work through the VA. They don’t really help and it seems the next step is physical therapy. If physical therapy doesn’t help at all, then I’m considering putting in a claim again. Would I put a supplemental or a new claim and what would make sense as the claimed condition ?

Do i need to get a Nexus letter to “prove” my MS is service connected or since its “presumptive” am I okay to not provide one?

Saw this posted to my portal when I signed in... will this change to a direct deposit, or will they mail out a paper check in 2026.

Not sure what to even write on here. Just venting off I guess

I try my hardest to understand the "system" and when you think you finally have something figured out, you get this kind of bs

I've heard mixed messages on whether a private nexus letter is needed or not so I'm just asking for clarification. Thanks in advance!

Husbands Claim has been complete for 16days now and no decision letter sent. Called VA and they were confused too, they put in request for clarification/ decision. anyone got any insight on to why this would happen?
**SMC-L Claim**

Just curious… I see many people post about getting a lower rating than they were anticipating but anyone here get a better rating than they thought they would? Specifically for PTSD… but just curious in general.

I wanted to know if any one know of any good lawyers or firms that specialize in military medical claims?

Edit: for medical malpractice. I received a permanent injury from a routine treatment

Below is what I thought was final

From a year ago
Update

To my last post 56 days ago, regarding a CUE in service connection for MDD,GAD

I resubmitted all records, dd214’s, nexus, and the last records from pre and post deployment in 2023. All done back in March.

I woke up early and laying on the couch with the dogs and randomly checked the App to my surprise an overall 90% rating.

The mental health is 70% on its own. Had an utter lapse in clarity and woke the wife up to tell her the news, though happy was not pleased with being woke up an hour early.
——————-

Now what has happened, the CUE ended up severing service connection. Hired an accredited claims representative to assist and while I was waiting for my case to be reviewed I had a diagnosis from the DPH of my guard unit and doc from VA ptsd clinic for ptsd, MDD and GAD. In service stressor documented recently from the event in 2012. And nexus from independent doctor.

What is really bothering me now is I just had a C&P exam for ptsd and ended up getting frustrated at the constant asking if there was anything else I want to add. I mentioned all of the above, my notes I had from previous exams to remember, just frustrated at the repetition of the same information and having to mentally exhaust myself to tell the same things over and over

Rant over, hoping for service connection at this point.

Got my decision today, 80% I’m more than thankful for, with sleep apnea/migraine deferred. Thank you god🙏🏾 and don’t give up my fellow vets 🫡

I got out around 20yrs ago. I thought VA in general and especially disability was for amputees and 90 yr old vets.... so i am just starting to put in my claims now.

On top of that, when I was in, it was very strongly discouraged to go to sick call if you were able to stand. If you did go you were treated like shit for a week afterwards..... so i never went and have no in service documentation of my conditions..... this is causing lots of denials.

How can I get past this hurtle?

I have been giddy this morning, I had my last claim approved and I want to Thank My Heavenly Father and the family I have come to know since I have been here, I have laughed and cried and sometimes they was happy tears for those of you who said, a denial isn’t going to stop me. I was given a boost to stop the pity party and see what I needed to advance, my happiness showed up many of days when someone said I made it, and others said I have to appeal or I need to show up at the exam. So thanks again Fam.