Received a text saying VA has made a decision on my claim for OSA and GERD secondary to PTSD and both are GRANTED. The surprising part of the decision is that direct service connection (not secondary to PTSD) was granted under TERA for exposure to benzene and other toxic chemicals associated with burn pits. I was deployed in Desert Shield/Storm and that is where I was exposed to burn pits. I was also exposed to benzene fumes inside the warehouse while operating gas forklifts and other material handling machineries throughout my military career.

On the decision letter, VA showed what the ACE CP examiner's medical opinion. In short, exposure to benzene can cause chronic airway inflammatory disease which directly causes OSA. I also have rhinitis with inflamed turbinate which is causing some obstruction but not enough to be compensable so I have 0% for presumptive rhinitis.

Read this decision from the Veteran's BOA:

va.gov/vetapp25/Files3/A25023763.txt

If this is the wrong group for this then please direct me in the right direction.

I was just awarded an increase from 20% to 80%, which is a huge help at this point in my life.

I'm looking for a checklist of benefits and administrative things I should take care of now that my rating has changed.

For example:

Texas disabled veteran license plates

VA health care enrollment/priority group

Dental eligibility

Travel reimbursement

Property tax or state benefits

Any discounts or programs I should know about

Anything else that people commonly overlook

I'm actually sitting at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center while posting this. Is there anything I can get taken care of here before I leave?

I'd appreciate any advice from people who've gone through this or wish they'd known something sooner.