Yesterday, when I checked the mail, I got a fat envelope from the VA. Nervously, I opened it. Boy was I surprised!
I had put in a disability claim for MS and eye problems associated with it. I was floored when I read that they actually gave me disability for it! I now have 30% for MS with history of Vitreitis of left eye.
What it also means is that they have decided I DO have MS after all. So, not so lucky there, but lucky that anything to do with the disease is totally free to me at the VA.
On top of that, they pay me for it! So, with my other disabilities, my combined is 60%. That is TAX FREE money in my pocket to the tune of $974.00/month. Totally worth 19 years of military service, I tell you!
I also think that being over 50% I get concurrent payments which means that I will not have my retirement pay deducted by the amount of disability I receive. That means when I am 60, I will have all my military retirement coming to me too. Finally things have sort of gone my way. Too bad I had to get MS to make it so.
I just wanted to share this with you in case there are other military types out there. As long as you are dx within 10 yrs, I believe, of leaving Active Duty, you have a chance of getting a claim in and approved. I was at school at Fort Sam when I got the Optic Neuritis. That was in May 09. So, they considered it during my active duty service, even though I am back on regular National Guard status until my retirement in NOV 2011.
I had put in a disability claim for MS and eye problems associated with it. I was floored when I read that they actually gave me disability for it! I now have 30% for MS with history of Vitreitis of left eye.
What it also means is that they have decided I DO have MS after all. So, not so lucky there, but lucky that anything to do with the disease is totally free to me at the VA.
On top of that, they pay me for it! So, with my other disabilities, my combined is 60%. That is TAX FREE money in my pocket to the tune of $974.00/month. Totally worth 19 years of military service, I tell you!
I also think that being over 50% I get concurrent payments which means that I will not have my retirement pay deducted by the amount of disability I receive. That means when I am 60, I will have all my military retirement coming to me too. Finally things have sort of gone my way. Too bad I had to get MS to make it so.
I just wanted to share this with you in case there are other military types out there. As long as you are dx within 10 yrs, I believe, of leaving Active Duty, you have a chance of getting a claim in and approved. I was at school at Fort Sam when I got the Optic Neuritis. That was in May 09. So, they considered it during my active duty service, even though I am back on regular National Guard status until my retirement in NOV 2011.
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