Likewise Veterans. ...

ive been about the same amount of time , im at 70%did you just start going alot ? did you tell your primary your back is giving you issues i was combat mp was deployed to Iraq in 2001

@@jonievans5453No US military remained in Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War and the US didn't invade Iraq again until March 2003. If you are claiming Iraq service in 2001 you will likely be denied. Might want to check your dates.

Served for the Glory of God. Tithes is always first in the Lords ministry. God Bless you. God Bless America. Maka'ala, Ho'onani Ke Akua🐾

Man, that is great news. I am 40% for a lumbosacral strain. I am now feeling pain in both legs. It feels like needles are in my feet sometimes.

same here

Yes I’m thankful for old vets pulling me aside at my 10 yr mark and schooling me up. I went to the doc every 6 months leading up to my retirement.

You’re in good company, there. 🫤

Same here. Good guys always seem to get screwed by this. Best of luck to you brother.

Most of my claims I never went to medical for, you can service connect, however it sounds like you need a VA Disability attorney, call Berry Law they're great.

@@realtuffhuff3193 That's the plan. I went through the VSO and they really weren't any help. Waiting on this current claim to finish and I'll go lawyer. I don't want to wait years like some people did fighting for things here and there.

🙏

You earned 100% Veteran, God Blessed America. God Bless You. Amen🐾. ...

Thank you for the great information. I’m sitting at 70% currently. I have 40% for back pain and 20% each for lower L/R radiculopathy and 20% for an umbilical hernia. Question: My neck constantly hurts, my right shoulder hurts, and I do get tingling in my hands and arms as well as headaches and I can’t sleep well. Thats a lot. Should I file a secondary to my back pain for all of these? I heard you should only file about two or three tops for secondary conditions however I’m really hoping to get to 100% and want to be sure. Thanks for your service and advice.

Thanks for the kind words as always GTO Express, and yes, once you know how to phrase your true story, it’s really not difficult to consistently win. It’s like taking an open book exam

​@vaclaimsacademy I just found your channel, and I am currently my husband's battle buddy ... I am the force behind him getting the care, and this entire video is my life .... my husband is at 80% currently. He has the numbness in all limbs now more frequent than not. We already went through the podiatrist to get shoe inserts and that didn't help. He is in pain management and has been for years with little to no relief. We have been to spine surgeons .. currently being referred to neurologist to see If there is any relief for the nerve damage. The migraines ... the numbness .. (hands and feet, arms and legs) he has had both shoulders operated on in hopes that this would help alleviate pain / numbness in the arms and hands and then we have the mental. .. we have had some serious dark conversations in the last few months as the pain escalates. I will not give up on him ...he is currently trying to work a full time job (aircraft mechanic) and it's getting beyond physically difficult for him to continue. He misses works more often now than ever due to pain levels and its become a point where it gets so bad he now always has an upset stomach (vomits quite often) ... I don't know where to start ... he was rated 80% in 2018 and I fear if we try to push the rating higher he will lose benefits, not gain .. he is age 52 .. so I am not sure which path to take. We have copies of all military medical records during service (this is a unicorn file lol not sure how he got the entire thing but he did) along with all records from outside docs in community care ..... where do I start ?

Range of Motion detecting pain

Hope you are well Allen

Good luck my friend, I’m pulling for you. Don’t be afraid to fall back and reattack with a different strategy if you keep hitting a wall

God answers 🙏. Served for the Glory of God. God Bless America. God Bless You. Amen🐾. ...

1997 retired, living for the Love of God. Served for the Glory of God. God Bless America. God Bless You🐾

Cheers Kevin! ♟️

@@vaclaimsacademy I have my 50% for PTSD. Now I am working on my secondarys.

I appreciate the kind words Rod, it seems like you have a proclivity for visual/audio learning like many people. An appeal is probably the wrong route to go, firing the VSO and doing a supplemental claim with well written personal statements is nearly always the better option. VSO's dont really know anything about lay evidence so most wont be really helpful

Good question can I piggy back off this same? While in service I went to sick call for my back pains long story short can I submit a claim after being out 20 ➕ years? But I got denied 6yrs ago C&P examination saying not enough edvidence between 2001 and present.

@@genebuchanan7878 I got a letter from my ex wife stating that the problems started in the military and continued for at least til the time of our divorce about 14 years after I got out. My vso seems to think it MIGHT help but isn't real sure about it. My problem is that I waited until the pain got bad before I started getting any medical treatment, I got out in 85. More and more I'm thinking about talking to a lawyer , not real sure what my next move will be or even if there will be one. If I hear anything I'll keep you posted.

@@rodlively1413 thanks brother for the information we got to stick together on these VA issues!!

I have a question. While serving, I had several back issues, simple walking upstairs, moving a couch, and lifting weights each are documented in my health record. Now, 5 years after I retired, I ended up with 3 herniated discs in my lower back, which have been repaired since I was also told that I have degenerative disc disease. I should note that I still have back issues. Do I file a claim for back pain and degenerative disc disease?

Yes, but if you feel pain when you unhinge your back from the upright position, during your C&P exam just explain that to the examiner and don’t lean forward too much into pain and you should be within the 30 degrees. That will be rated at 40%

@@isaiahrasmussen8601 during my CMP exam I barely moved forward a fraction of an inch and the CMP examiner said I moved 60°. That is absolutely false because if I did actually do that my back would’ve flared up then on the repetitive motion estimate she gave me 40° and estimate during flareups she gave me 20°, so it’s easy to say oh don’t bend that far and you’ll get 40% but it actually goes by what the CNP examiner says. Everything else on the exam I feel was excellent. I think she was fair as could be. I just don’t understand why she said I moved 60° forward on the passive and active range of motion test that is just wrong not even close to what I moved, she did use a goniometer. When they rate me I hope it’s rated on the flareup as that range of motion was 20° and that would give me the 40% back rating. I’ve read on several lawyers websites that are all accredited and they say they have to account for the flareup so I should get the 40%. hopefully I will know soon.

heard anything back yet? I resubmitted for back pain recently where I was denied, this time with a MRI/ diagnosis of bulging disc and a pinched nerve

@@jessiesineath7702 got seen by a specialist and was told I should get %20 minimum just for the back. But still working on setting up exams to get seen and talked with.

@@jessiesineath7702 I got 60 percent this week took over 40 years had about the same problem you got that MRI is good I believe that what got me my 60 percent and 8,600 dollar back pay less than 6 month do not give up try to get a C&P examiner she look out for me it really up to them it some good out there as well as bad.

Thank you Wayne

Hoping for a favorable rating for you. Cheers

How did it go? Did you have a private provider do the dbq? Thanks for your time. I've been out since 2001 and have radiculopathy so filed and hoping I can get it connected

update?

Update?

Bridell, you’re coming with the firepower, I like it. Wishing you luck my friend

Thanks for the kind words, your first move should definitely be to download your STRs from Tricare Online

How can I be the man when you’re the man Alfred ♟️

@@vaclaimsacademy Jordan I value your time and thank you for your commitment to help are fellow vets. I'm also AF, Security Forces. HUAAA. Can this work on denied claims? I thought VA records counted as well. I guess they only care about military. I will be the man under your guidance. Im just waiting one more week and getting the course. Double dip? took me out .😄

@@alfredtineo3023 There’s almost always something that can be done with denied claims. I hate to give a vague answer but it just depends on what’s in your service treatment records as far as what you can build a winning claim on top of. I can tell you that 80-90% of denied claims are filed suboptimally. So while I cannot guarantee a win per se, I can guarantee we submit a damn optimal claim. The key to maximizing your claim is taking the strategic and optimal route, and that’s the clear path the course outlines so well

@@vaclaimsacademy thank you for the feed back. My case is different because im Guard that happened to acquire over 3 years active duty time including deployments to Iraq. I could sworn having them documented in my VA medical meant something. Definitely with your guidance we will figure it out. Thank you Jordan.

Thanks Rawlins

A good personal statement is the missing piece here, this is a classic example of what I often talk about. In reality, they probably skimmed through your medical records and didn’t read the part about radiculopathy. The key is to anticipate the laziness and give yourself a voice to exert your interests and influence over the process. This is where bulletproof personal statements come in ♟️

Great work, you should be getting some good news in a couple months

Any update?

Yes, granted service connect on November 21 for Back, plantar fasciitis(bilateral), tinnitus, and radiculopathy both legs. Combine rating 50%. But I submitted a new supplemental for flatfoot on 12/4/23 and the VA updated it to an increase for Plantar fasciitis to include flatfoot. Had C&P exam for flatfoot on 12/11/23.

Been on preparation for decision since 12/12/23 for the increase

Thanks Kev!

Make sure you have an updated diagnosis showing that you are still getting treatment. Other than that, you’re good to go!

Great question Corey, the other bends do NOT impact your rating according to 38CFRs language. Thanks for the kind words my friend ♟️

That's great info a friend sent me. I wish I had this when I retired in 06 and got denied. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

@@vaclaimsacademy sincerly thank you. I have a TBI claim deferred 2 years with Army surgeon report wiring my fractured skull together week in Army hospital. When ever I feel like giving up I come across your videos

Hell yeah! Go get an MRI. Also, let your VA PCP know you are experiencing tingling and numbness. Are you service connected for your ankle?

Yes 0%, so nexus not an issue. The injury was 55 yrs ago! @@bobbytatum84

I am 0% for fracture of the right fibula. Happened a loooong time ago@@bobbytatum84

The diagnoses need to be in your service treatment records, otherwise it will be quite some work to get service connected Gwen

Your personal statement with a service incident and a current diagnosis will give you meat on the bone. If all fails call Berry Law they're great.

Thanks as always BA

I’m really glad to hear that Melvin, cheers

That’s a bad look if it appears you skipped on your C&P. Do your best to alter that perception as far as the VA seeing you that way through communicating with them exactly what happened

Great question James, you won’t actually claim it as a secondary on the form, but structurally on Va.gov itself when you submit your claim. It sounds much more confusing than it actually is, for a government website the new Va.gov is really user friendly. List all your claims

What are you trying to claim?