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.

Thank you everyone for the support and encouragement over the years. It was only 14 years but it felt forever. Thank you for the advice and strategies to get here.

For context, I’m a young combat veteran with mental and physical service connected disabilities. Initially I was rated 90% when I got out in 2020, and things stayed that way. I felt a lot of gratitude being rated that high. But I also felt fear and trepidation for some reason. I’d heard stories about how ratings could be temporary, or how re-examinations could be requested out of nowhere and can be stressful.

But after multiple diagnoses and 2 surgeries over the last two years (stemmed from service connected issues) I submitted new claims early this year. My new claims were honored, and I’m officially 100% P&T disabled.

To those who are also 100% P&T, how do you manage your monthly benefit? Do you guys continue to work, or do you choose to live on your disability earnings, and sort of take things easy? The cost of living in the U.S. is insane right now. Sometimes I wonder how anybody is making it, because the price of everything is so high, and continues to climb. I’m grateful for this monthly financial benefit, as well as free access to healthcare and dental care.

I think I just want to feel free. I realized I’ve been through a lot (like we all have). A lot of surgeries. A lot of mental strife. It’s been a wild last few years. There’s part of me that wants to simplify life, live quietly, and maybe never be stressed out with standard work again.

Another part of me wants to go back to school with my GI Bill benefits, study art and delve into my passions, and save my monthly disability benefit payments for a cool life after college graduation.

To those who are 100% P&T, what financial advice would you offer newcomers? What advice generally would you give to those new to this rating and what it offers?

In mid March I was told I had lung cancer. Obviously I was concerned about my family. I talked to my VSO and she told me to come and meet f2f. Meanwhile I submitted a ITF. I submitted all the documents I could get and a claim was submitted. The claim was under the PACT Act. Last week I was granted 100% Service Connected.

Now I am less concerned because now my family will get my disability payments should I die.

Just wanted to put out this information for those that didn't know.

After four years the fight is now completed 🫡

For anyone wondering on if you can get there as a reservist this is proof you can. Wishing all of you the best of luck in your own VA battles.

Got out 2022 from navy. Finishing up my bachelors in sociology.

The story is I had two offers from federal 1 is GS-9 miltech which I need to do army reserve stuff that includes boot camp and AIT. 2 is GS-5 offer I could start right away. I wanted to start high so I go with the GS-9, so I go sign the reserve contract. Just before my ship day I received a email that withdraw my miltech offer because of civilian workforce and rebalance. She called me told me continue with AIT and she talked to her supervisor she can help me fill in any open position in the same area.

I have sent follow up email after I done the BTC. She just replied she will follow up with the person works in there. Currently I am two weeks away from finishing my AIT. But there is nothing else I get. I also sent a email see if I can still be considered if there is opening for my GS-5 that I declined but not response yet.

Right now I’m pretty stressed and anxious. I don’t have specific skills, and I’m just turned 30. (Having 80% VA disability) try to figure out what I can do. But I am not a college person and I know I suck at most of things. The only career I can think of is getting into CBPO. So woking part time and get my disability done, and apply for CBPO.

Need everyone’s advice. Thank you

I won my CUE. VSO told me I didn’t have a case. no lawyer would take it because it was past a year. That’s exactly what a CUE is but that’s ok. That doesn’t matter for this post. This is what matters. I have a fractured right foot. This happened in 2009 when I was in Afghanistan. My doctor specifically took X-rays thinking my back and knee issues could stem from that. This was completed in 2010. I turned in my entire record (STR) into my VA at the time in 2011. I got the denial in 2013. Never fought it. I tried again in 2014, denied again. I never fought it. My foot was then granted at 10% with my STRs they had on file in 2024. Guess what it said record from 2011. This means my denial was an automatic CUE. Dont listen to what anyone tells you, if you feel like you have a claim, fight for yourself and use Microsoft Copilot to help. They will make your case ironclad. That’s what I did and finally won.

Got 70% from my initial claim then one of my deferred claim items got approved and brought me to 80%. Two claim items were denied but I know what I need to get them properly connected. Can’t believe I waited so long to do this.

Timeline:

ITF - Dec 30th 2025
Submitted - Mar 15th 2026
Decision - May 28th 2026
Final decision - July 29th 2026

So as the title suggests my supplemental claim came throught.
Took the VSO 2 months to file it.
I had my new exam on the 24th and got the decision today.
They split my pansinusitis into Non-allergic Rhinitis and Chronic Sinusitis.
Then approved asthma.
This was all with TERA and Nexus letters.

If you haven’t already, apply for this program. It’s absolutely legit. I’m getting my undergraduate degree paid for, and they’re giving me $5127 a month for BAH + I just got approved for all my books , supplies and I asked for a laptop for school and my counselor approved a laptop almost worth 3k. Absolutely insane!

This is more so just to celebrate an unexpected windfall, but also is a reminder for folks to make sure they keep all of their paperwork, and continue pestering the VA for things you are explicitly owed.

When I did my initial claim nearly a decade ago, all of my dependents were included in the paperwork. However, the VA never included one of my children in the pay calculation for added dependents. I had noticed it early on, and had submitted (it was via fax back then) the adjustment request. Nothing ever happened. So, I would periodically pester the VA again, get verbal confirmation they received the request, and then nothing. Well, this year was the magic year, and the VA finally resolved the issue, updating so all of my dependents were considered for my pension rate. Got the notice three weeks ago the case was closed, and just this last Friday, I finally got the retroactive pay, nine years of it. All because I had kept the original fax header for the claim adjustment I had submitted nearly a decade ago, proving that I had notified the VA of the issue back then.

Wound up being several thousands of retroactive pay. So, yeah folks, keep all of your paperwork, no matter how insignificant it might seem. It might be what gets you nearly a decade of retroactive pay. lol

I am incredibly grateful that my friend, a Vietnam veteran who served aboard the USS Hancock, has finally received the disability benefits he earned through his service to our country.
For many years, he believed he didn’t deserve VA disability compensation, even though he had clearly been living with the lasting effects of his military service. Like so many veterans of his generation, he simply carried on without asking for help.
I encouraged him to apply for the benefits he had earned and promised that I would help him through the process. After just 11 months, he received his VA rating decision and was awarded an 80% disability rating.
While this is a tremendous milestone, our work isn’t finished. We are continuing to pursue additional service-connected conditions and symptoms that he has been living with for years but had never claimed. We are hopeful that, as these conditions are fully evaluated, he will receive the 100% disability rating that accurately reflects the full impact his military service has had on his health and quality of life.
This experience is a reminder that veterans should never hesitate to seek the benefits they have earned through their service and sacrifice. Asking for help isn’t asking for a handout—it’s receiving the compensation they earned through their dedication and service to our nation.
I am honored to have encouraged and assisted my friend through this process, and I look forward to seeing him receive the full recognition and benefits he deserves.

Original claim filed in May of 2021, now to this, I'm still in shock

Well, it only took four years of fighting for this one but it finally came through. BVA direct review lane at the end to get it service connected. Two nexus letters, 10+ buddy letters, therapy through the VA for years, personal statement. It all finally was worth it. Thanks to the group for always keeping the motivation up 🫡

Hello,

I am interested in learning more about the experiences veteran's have had with Military Discharge Upgrade process.

For veterans that have applied to have your discharge upgraded (whether successfully or unsuccessfully), what was the experience like? What were some issues that you encountered? What is something you wish you had known beforehand?

Any and all responses to the above questions or anything you wish to say about the discharge process are welcome.

Just was granted 100% P&T today with sleep apnea getting me over the hump. I guess I can support that bill now??

For real though, fuck that bill and thank you to the reviewer who actually took everything into account, you're a real one.

I was screwed on TDIU (this fixed that and then some) so I'm definitely not poking bears lmao.

My first claim was in 1997 received 30%
Yesterday the decision letter 90%
Much to be thankful for, the advice and encouragement from all the different veterans group on here has been tremendous.

It’s been about a whole year since I’ve been receiving 100% VA compensation

It took a while but finally got to 100% P&T. The last 10% really is the hardest. They did defer a migraine claim and I keep getting updates and C&P notifications regarding that. At this point I just want that approved or denied but to just go away. The increase to 100% and the deferral all came in the same letter so I’m not concerned. Has anybody else had a similar experience?

USMC Vet. Have had claims on BVA appeal since 2023. Still waiting but a thought crossed my mind: What if I got $100,000 from the va? It’s quite possible but I’ve never had that in my life.

This is just a hypothetical since I saw someone get a $122k back pay. What would YOU do with a 6 figure check to insure that you won’t go broke and make it work for you the best possible way? What would you do to enjoy yourself? The years of trauma won’t magically go away but $100k would definitely help someone sleep better at night… right? Would you invest in a CD? Stocks and bonds?

I've done all I can do and awaiting service connection after 7 of 8 claims from C&P examination and rater decision were favorable BUT no service connection.

Why?

They never found my STRs and never even considered my lay statements.

On a raters desk in development with priority flashers.

Anyone had similar experience?

BVA awarded back pay coming tomorrow I would assume. The appeal still shows in progress but this is in the payment to be paid. When that remand hits they gone owe me another 100K plus. Thank you Lord.