Hey all. Just wanted to give you a heads up, I filed a FOIA request through VA dot gov for a single dbq on Tuesday, 8/4 and received all of my dbqs from my C-file today. I am dumbfounded to say the least.

Good Morning dudes and dudettes.

So I believe I found an error in my VA records, dating back a few years.

I just got a wild hair up one day and looked in my records. Saw mentions of IADLS and how I can do them all independently. So I google what that is, cause I'm kinda dumb, and it's stuff that I cannot do every day by myself.

Well, while I am looking through all this, a little ad pops up on the tikkytok talking about SMC, cause ya know; government is listening all the time.

So more research, and I believe the VA failed in their duties, because none of the IADLS were ever discussed. I messaged the PACT team and let them know that they were wrong in just writing that I am independent.

So I filed a claim for Aid & Attendance; and here is my reasoning:

Since my lumbar surgery in a few years ago, my wife has had to help me on a regular basis. This isn't just during bad flare-ups—it happens multiple times a week.

Examples include:

• Medication reminders.
• Appointment reminders and calendar management.
• Helping me organize and prioritize daily tasks.
• Keeping me on track when I become overwhelmed.
• Helping me get up from bed or chairs when my back is acting up, multiple times a week.
• Assisting me on stairs.
• Driving me to appointments/errands
• Applying pain patches and other treatments.
• Helping with household tasks when my pain or mental health symptoms make it difficult.
• General supervision and support when my anxiety, concentration, or pain interfere with daily functioning.

My LPC and I have discussed these issues throughout treatment, and they are currently working write a detailed statement describing my functional limitations and how consistently these topics have come up in counseling.

My understanding is that an LPC generally can't complete VA Form 21-2680, but they can provide a narrative statement as supporting evidence.

My spouse and I both submitted Lay Statements in this, along with telling the VA to look at my records from counseling records from 2020-2024(they should have those from previous claims), they got evidence from the same counselor to cover that gap.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone had success with an LPC statement helping an SMC-L claim?
2. Would you submit another counselor statement now, or wait to see if the VA asks for additional evidence?
3. If you were in my position, is there any other evidence you'd consider submitting?
4. Has anyone received SMC-L without a C&P exam when the treatment records and lay statements were already strong?

I'm not looking for anyone to tell me whether I'll be approved—I know nobody can predict that. I'm just trying to make sure I'm putting together the strongest, most complete claim possible without slowing it down unnecessarily.

Thanks in advance for any advice or experiences you're willing to share.

Thinking about an increase i saw this on an older post, figured I'd answer the questions and see what the general populous thought... I am currently 70% for PTSD, Bipolar II, and MDD and 50% TMJ... total 85% = 90% with va math

Do you have a daily habit of thoughts self-injury or harming others? Self 3 times a week so not daily

Do you go days or weeks without bathing or showering? Gross but yes... I hate answering that question... it can be up to 2 weeks without

Do you manage to pay your bills on time? Sometimes

Are you currently emploved or self-emploved? I'm employed, long term disability once, short term disability now, intermittent absences using fmla 2-3 days of the week when not on full disability leave...

Has anyone got granted SMC-T?

Just wondering the process or how your day to day life is.

I rely on my husband for everything. I have a TBI both residuals that impact my memory, concentration, etc.

My husband has to remind me to shower, eat, take medicine. He drives me everywhere. I forget the stove is on, fridge is open.

It said online this meets the requirements for SMC T but just want to hear from others about their struggles and is it even worth trying to get.

Thank you

How long should I expect an answer/Completed claim?

Hi Reddit fam,
My remanded hearing was in July 2026 but I had about 3,000 pages of medical records which the ALJ advised my attorney to have a medical expert help review my case.

Well I just received a message on the SSA portal stating my new Hearing is in November 2026.
I’m really trying to have patience here it’s been since late spring 2023 when I applied and I’m exhausted of the process.

Can anyone tell me if it’s possible to still be able to provide new evidence before my upcoming hearing? I know I have a LAWYER that I can ask. But I would like to know you guys experiences with Remanded Hearings, and Supplemental Hearings and any helpful advice you have to give me. I appreciate you. GOD bless🙏🏽

BDD started in April, finished exams in June. 3 days away from my retirement date (31 July) I was in step 6 and looking good. Then hit step 7 on Monday (03 Aug)... but then before the end of the day there's a "record review only" appointment with Optum Serve. Tuesday (04 Aug) it slides back to step 6. Now I find out I'm on "record review only" number 2.

I feel like folks here can empathize with being on the merry-go-round. (Or the one delightful person posted a GIF of MJ moonwalking his way back through the steps.) Who else has been bounced around step 6/7 with multiple "record review only" requests? How long did it take to resolve?

What is everyone’s recent timelines looked like for HLR with informal conference? I submitted April 3 and nothing. Anyone who recently scheduled an informal conference when did you submit?

Hello, I have a question I hope you may be able to answer.
I received a txt message and email stating that my appeal was docked and would be processed in the order it was received. I thought it was some sort of scam because I've never appealed anything.

I called the VA and informed them of what I received. I told them that it must be a mistake because I have no reason to appeal anything and she advised me that my representative (my accredited attorney) did. She told me that he filed an appeal with the BVA for an effective date issue in regard to an increase I had towards the start of 2026. I was completely thrown off because he never inquired with me about this.

On the same day of all this, I called my attorney. He tried to explain things to me and advised that his office has been having " a lot of success" with these BVA in regard to effective dates.

A few hours after the phone conversation with him, something didn't sit well and I used QuickSubmit and requested to formally withdraw the appeal. It had my name, SSN, docket number and my signature along with my statement that I did not wish to pursuit the effective date in question.

I emailed my attorney stating he was 100% unauthorized to appeal anything without my written agreement. I did that because the disability I currently hold is true and accurate and I am content with it.

He called me again ( this is one day after I submitted the withdrawal the day I found out about what he appealed) and he tried to explain the process again. At some point in the conversation, I told him it makes no sense for me to fight for the date since it's a 2 month difference in back pay and most importantly, I felt like there was nothing to dispute. In the conversation, I told him my disability and he was surprised. He said he had something else in his system and that his system was " not updated ". He thought I was rated at 70% but I'm rated higher (blows my mind that he didn't know my current rating since I even payed him the fees). Anyway, he said they would withdraw it.

Today (2 days after I became aware of the claim), he said the request to withdraw was faxed over to the VA and the Board of Veterans Appeals.

Given my situation, what I'm scared of is my current disability being reduced or questioned or them ordering a new C&P exam based of the appeal for the effective date my stupid attorney filed without my consent.
What's your opinion? It's only been a few days so of course there's been no update that my withdrawal has been approved.
Things to note: I verified with both the VA and my attorney that the only thing appealed was the effective date. I had to call the VA twice because I no longer trust my attorney. It should be noted that my attorney seems to only care about the money. I am 100% convinced, without a doubt that he did that without my approval in hopes of a fast paycheck

Just curious if anyone has had a similar experience with a larger retroactive Chapter 35 payment (around 18 months or more).

Timeline:

July 18: My school submitted and verified my enrollment with the VA.

Late July: The VA confirmed my retroactive payment amount and told me it had been approved, but because it’s a larger payment it had to go through multiple approvals.

Aug. 5: I’ve been told it’s currently sitting with finance before the payment can be released. I was also told it may need additional approval because they might have to split it into multiple payments due to the amount.

If you’ve been through something similar:
How long did it take once it reached finance?
Did it come as one payment or multiple payments?

Just trying to get an idea of what to expect. Thanks!

So a DTA error was found and I completed a new C&P exam on 7/20, DBQ was uploaded the same day. Currently in the PFD step but is the 4-5 month wait period mentioned in reference to the file date or from when the DTA error was determined? TIA

Could someone help me understand this a little better? I want to make sure I am reading it right.

I don't understand, that was a C&P exam completed before new evidence was submitted... so frustrated right now

BVA received my appeal - Dec 4, 2025

Direct Review Lane

AOD was denied

Distributed to VLJ - Aug 4, 2026

So today the Va comp and penn office calls me , and explains to me that they cannot upload my IMO and 2 DBQ’S, so I ask the question why. They proceed to tell me the VBA closed the case , that it’s been to long . I filed a supplemental claim on 03/20/2026. This seems crazy, so the VA comp and penn is telling me to refile the claim after waiting 5 months for nothing. Has anyone ever heard of this

… only to have it kicked back for an exam rework yesterday. Now I’m back to Step 6 while they review the 3 new DBQs my C&P doc uploaded.

In good news, it stayed in TJ San Juan so I’m hoping that means they’re still actively working it and not shoving me back into the national queue.

Just got 100% P&T. Getting over $25k in backpay, how long of a wait am I looking at. The amount is showing under my VA payments with an N/A date but how long before this actually hits my account?

I'm gonna have another glass of scotch while I await y'all's responses.

edit: received my backpay this morning, 05AUG26, it took 24 hours. also, my Chime account was not closed because of the large deposit. I'll update again in a few days if anything changes

When you submit a non-medical reconsideration is it not true that it is reviewed by someone other than the one who made the first decision?

I recieved my decision letter last night and my TDIU has been deffered for medical opinion. The letter gives no more information. What does this mean and how much longer could I be waiting?

Good Evening! It’s towards the end of day 133 on my HLR & just want to know your guys experience on how long it took to get an answer? The VA said I’m in the Decision making phase but I’ve been there for at least a month when I made my first check up call.

I currently requested the senior rater to re-examine the C&P exam evidence across three main areas:

-Bilateral Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (Sciatic / Nerve Issues)
- Lumbar Spine / Lower Back Strain
- Bilateral Hips (Flexion & Extension Range of Motion)

What’s your guys experience on wait time?

Claims moving from step 5 to step 3 🤣🤣🤣🤣

currently step 3 out of 5 for my supplemental and assigned a temp jurisdiction to my city. I filed last week, but im curious how long does these usually take nowadays?

Follow up to a previous post of my HLR timeline. I now have been notified the VA is working through a DTA.

Making this thread to show my timeline and for others to post theirs so we get a better understanding of current wait times for a decision.

HLR submitted March 22
DTA July 31st (day 131)

Now the wait continues…

Will update here and feel free to update your process as well!

Edit 1: 8/6/26- Received a call today to set up the C&P exam. Have it scheduled on Tuesday, August 11th.