all very simple and believable

[exlrrp]

You mean..... you mean.....You get money for all this too???? Well, you don't mean to tell me!!!!well Golllllllllllleeeeeeeeeee all this and a new bicycle when I was 12, too. Life is terrific, I love every moment of it. Well, if theyre gonna dole out the gummint cheese, I guess the ol lrrpster can hobble his walker on down and pick up his ration. Guess I'm entitled now
Don't worry about the percentage of my insanity, Ive known for a long time it was big, I have heard REAMS of testimony on this.(This was some of the nicer stuff) Now I have the best excuse in the world--my valiant service in the war did this to me, there it is in B&W YAY!!--this is cool because after all this time it's heroic--I just KNEW it would be if I lived long enough!!! I mean the gummint says so and they wouldn't lie to us would they? Not G Bush, surely? We can trust our government now, oh yes. They even said I performed satisfactorily under fire, so there!, which is nicer than anything LBJ ever said about me. I take back half the nasty things i ever said about Republicans
Some of the money I get from this will go to finance my Return Victory Tour of Vietnam. I consider it very poetic justice that the gummint sent me first time as a private first class and now theyre going to pay me to go Private and First Class. I love it!! ROTFLMAO !!
And I owe it all to you guys and Stolen Valor, you and it inspired me to do this. Thanks Jug!


James

[exlrrp]

Originally posted by 39mto39g
The James I met is at least 95% of something.
Ron

It may still look big but its all Viagra now lol
JAmes

[Stick]

According to the Americans with disabilities act you must reveal any and all disabilities at the time of job application. Tell your potential employer that you are a crazy VN Veteran, and you have proof from the VA to that effect, and see if they'll hire you. Now send the VA evidence that you have submitted job applications and you can pretty much assume that you were denied employment because of your disabilities. If that is the case, you are unemployable and have proof. Simple and it works to the letter of the law and can't be disputed by the VA.
As has been said on this thread, 100% has its advantages. You are now eligible for vocational rehab. Your minor children are eligible for higher education with a housing allowance. Your wife is eligible for ChampVA medical benefits. You can go onto any American Armed Forces base to do some shopping or take advantage of the recreational facilities. My ID card is the same as any other Troop. I am still an Sp4 and the expiration date on the card is indefinite. My two sons and my wife have ID cards that expire every two years but are renewable as long as they are my minor kids or my wife, and they have base benefits just as your dependants would if you were active duty. You can't lose. GO FOR IT!

[exlrrp]

[i]You can't lose. GO FOR IT!
[/b]

John: there aint a lrrp in the world that knows how to play for half the marbles.

Thanks

james

[exlrrp]

Originally posted by billr
James - now that the VA has rated you 10% for tinnitus, maybe your wife will understand why you keep telling her to answer that damn phone.

I'm not married, thank God, and neither is my girlfriend, neither of us can live with anyone. I was thinking of pushing her down the stairs sometime soon but she wants to go to VN with me and I can't get anyone else to go so we may stay together longer..
My phone has one of those quirpy doodleydo things anyway and the window rattling rap music cruising by makes hard of hearing fun.

At what point is my son eligible for free tuition in CA schools? same as federal? I already filed the paper with K Burke establishing date which the DAV never told me about, losing me 2 years of tuition payback.
thanks
james

[SEATJERKER]

...I can say that I'm both glad for you, and mad at you, take it for what it's "Worth"...

...I'm glad that you went to deal with the memories that haunt you, and again, "for what it's "Worth", I hope it has helped in your emotional well being...

...It's there in B+W, and Being the "sane" one here as I only receive 10 % for PTSD, making me 90 % all there, not including the other for the arm, or ears, so being only of sound mind, I congratulate you for your service, and efforts, and hope things stay in check...

...And on the side of "Mad", please take this with a grain of salt, I guess I feel mad due to your comment of "snicker" like they "bought it" syndrom, I feel like , and you have said it in the past" you went for this only for the "money", and although you truely do deserve everything for your encounters, I object to your "jumping on the wagon" only for the financial gain of it, My viewpoint is as such, and maybe it's just your form of humor in dealing with PTSD, but I do not agree with your "snickering" of any issues regarding PTSD cases, yours, or anyone elses...

...I've been jeered, laughed at, called a wanna be, and pushed into deep corners regarding PTSD, and to hear you, "a hellva soldier", "mock it", irks me, ...

...maybe it's me, my 10% PTSD eats at me, and if I'm only 10%, I can't fatham dealing with 70%...

...I just don't like hearing you "belittle" it like it's a walk in the park..........

[1CAVCCO15MED]

Can't get school money

Until you get 100% permanent and total. Then they send you papers with all the details. I think I am right in saying it is for 45 months at $580 per right now. There is an age limit for kids which I think is 25 but if you get it when they are older than that already there are ways to get an exception to that. Another thing, you are automatically 100% disabled for Social Security also if you get 100% from the VA. You would get back pay from the time you applied for Social Security so the sooner the better. If you get Social Security you automatically get Medicare. You do have to apply for Social Security.

[billr]

On the education benefits for your son - in order for him to qualify for Chapter 35 benefits the VA does have to rate you as "Permanently & Totally Disabled". If they grant you the Individual Unemployability, the will probably grant the P&T. In order for your son to qualify he must be between the ages of 18-26. However, on the Fee Waiver Program (that's a Calif. benefit folks) your son is qualified right now. The only requirements for that program are that you are a disabled vet (regardless of %) and HIS income was below $8,959 for 2001. This program has no age limit and marriage is not a bar. It is good at any Community College, State University and the UC system.
On Social Security, unfortunately Social Security is not bound by any VA decision just as VA is not bound by any Social Security decision. VA declaring you P&T does increase your chances of getting Social Security but it isn't automatic. If you are granted Social Security disability, you become eligible for Medicare after 24 months.
Someone mentioned that you are now eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation. While that is true, applying for Voc Rehab is counter productive if you want to get I.U. The purpose of Voc Rehab is to rehabilitate you to get you back in to the job market. When you apply for I.U., you are telling the VA that your disabilities are such that you can't get back into the job market.
There are indeed other benefits that go with receiving compensation at the 100% rate. (Remember that if you are granted I.U. you are not rated 100% SC, you are only receiving compensation at the 100% rate as if you were rated 100%, there is a subtle difference). I would suggest that you be sure to talk with Ken Burke and discuss all of the possible benefits, both Federal and State.

Bill R.

[1CAVCCO15MED]

It may be different out there but...

I got Social Security within two or three weeks after getting the VA unemployability. I had been turned down for the SS twice and was in the process of getting a hearing on the appeal. I was told in the letter I would get Medicare six months later. They went ahead and sent the card but post dated it. I got the SS in May of this year and the Medicare was effective in October. My VA decision was dated May 2, 2002. I tell you what has been a problem. It is my daughter actually gettin a check from the VA. She sent in the application in May, started back to school in August and has yet to get a check. There are not glitches in the paperwork, it just takes that long the first time. Hopefully just the first time.

[billr]

From the official Social Security Web-site:
General Information

Program Description

The Act and SSA's implementing regulations prescribe rules for deciding if an individual is "disabled." SSA's criteria for deciding if someone is disabled are not necessarily the same as the criteria applied in other Government and private disability programs .

Our rules for determining disability are different from the disability rules in other government and private programs. However, a decision made by another agency and the medical reports it obtains may be considered in determining whether you are disabled under Social Security rules.

I think what happens is when SSA gets the VA evidence stating that you are unemployable, they concede the fact that they are probably going to lose any appeal in the long run and grant the benefit

From the official Medicare Web-site:

Who is Eligible for Medicare?
Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. You might also qualify for coverage if you are a younger person with a disability or with End-Stage Renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).

Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:

You are already receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.

You are eligible to receive Social Security or Railroad benefits but have not yet filed for them.

You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.

If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if:

You have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefit for 24 months.

They probably granted your Social Security benefits retroactively and that covered the 24 month waiting period.

On your daughter's education benefits. It does take a while however, if it looks as if it is taking an unusually long time she should check with the veteran's office at the school to make sure that the proper paperwork has been submitted. About 90% of the time the delay in getting checks from VA is because the school didn't submit the paperwork properly. If she wants to check the status she can call: 1-888-GIBILL-1