So I’m service connected disabled at 10 %  
This how it reads out


0% hemorrhoids
0% neuralgia of the medial nerve left hand
0% neuralgia of the medial nerve right hand
0% allergic rhinitis

All services connected from back in 1998

My hands are fucked up . From what information I find on line my right hand alone should be rated at least 10% .
Can anyone explain this to me ?

Update I’m 40% now . They denied a few things that I’ll readdress with my vso.

I think maybe @bubbleheaddiver works in that space and can help you understand.

Simple answer....the VA say your issues are service connected, but they are not disabling enough at this time to rate compensation.  If they become troublesome later, than you can apply to re reevaluated for an increase in disability rating.

Case in point, I have metal shrapnel fragments in my lower back that are rated 0% because they cause me no pain and left very minor scaring at the entry site.  

18Z50

I’m compensated at 10% for over 25 years . 10% payments for 25 years .

I'm 10% for a back injury I got while flying. It got progressively worse over the years, so I applied to have it reevaluated back around 2004 or so.

After the exam, I got a letter saying that due to new standards, I didn't even qualify for the 10% rating that I had, but that they would let me keep it.

Both of these. Go talk to the DAV or another VSO and ask them to walk you through the current processes.

Before you do that, pull everything you have together, and maybe start writing down how many people you are still in touch with, who could speak to the kinds of activities you performed while serving that could (did) result in the conditions you have since then.

You have them documented, you just have to meet VA's standards of "proof" of service connection to get that percentage increased.

(At least, that is my understanding of it)

They'll send you a packet with an explanation of their decisions.

The 0% ratings are actually good news, as they determined there was a service connection.  This is sometimes difficult for an individual to prove when you wait 25 years to file.

Plus the VA still has to take care of any issues you have related to those 0% conditions since they are service connected.

As others have said, talk to DAV or your preferred VSO.

Go to your VSO and file for increases, you need Nexus letters from your doctor for each condition saying they have gotten worse. Google Nexus letters for examples.

I’m a military retiree and have gone through the VA.  I will say there is more misunderstanding, misinformation and outright fabrications that seem to be perpetuated by veterans and the public. When I was waiting for my rating I heard every bit of bullshit out of people until I finally started asking people, “When did you file your claim or when was the last time you even went to a VA hospital?” It turns out people think they know more than they really know about the VA and how benefits are set up for people.

What some folks fail to realize is even though they were rated at 0%, that means the condition is service related and gives you access to medical care, not a revenue  stream.

OP, play the game and get your wrists fixed.  The VA is on the hook for it.  Best of luck to you and I hope you get better soon.

An amazing reason people hate the VA is because their "buddies" lie their asses off about their rating and try to use that as some sort of ego boost. I have seen it personally as a VSO. Guys come in talking about their buddy has 100% P&T and told them to come file.

Later on the actual "buddy" comes in and they are at 20% and had totally lied to get their friend to file to basically feel out the process.

Just worry about your own claim and avoid the "scuttlebutt" & sea lawyers lying to you.

Attached File

That

And..... the ones who tell you your literally "goin' to get paid" because you have sleep apea and a fuked up back.

"Dude, you're gettin' paid man, that fucked up body of yours is gonna be at least 80%... way easy $2000 a month tax-free".

Heard that myself many times.

I was medically retired from the Army in 1996 and at that time the VA rated me at only 10%. I had to fight the whole time to get where I am at now.

I applied several times for a rate increase with the help of DAV. I went from 10% to 30% then to 50% and finally to 70%. And 70% was the highest rating I qualified for with my service connected disabilities.

I worked civilian jobs until Jan 2005 when I had to quit do to my service connected disabilities. (bad knees which led to bad hips) I applied through the VA for another rate increase only to be told that I was maxed out at 70%. At that time I also applied for Social Security Disability. I informed my DAV Rep of that and he filed an appeal for me. The appeal was pretty much on hold until I was done dealing with Social Security.

It took from Feb 205 until Aug 2007 before I could go in front of a Social Security Disability judge. He took one look at my stack of military and VA medical records, asked me three questions and then approved me for Social Security Disability. Within 30 days of the SSD judge's decision, I received a letter from eh VA stating that they changed my rating from 70% to 70% UI. UI = unemployable individual. Which means that even though your rating is not 100%, you still get paid at 100% and have the same medical benefits. In my case, my bad knees and hips prevented me from being gainfully employed.

Sorry for the long post. But I wanted al to see that getting a VA rating or an increase is NOT guaranteed nor is it automatic. You have to fight the whole way. And having a good VSO represent you is very helpful.

I talked to dav today . I have some medical records that are not online on the va website. They are from the 1996 to 2002 time frame . I need to head to the hospital and request all my old records .

Yes, your "c-file". That is a good next step, because if it is not in the c-file, then as far as VA is concerned it doesn't exist.

Keep at it!

Thank you

send me a direct msg, happy to help out where I can. I am an accredited VSO

I sent you a message.

I went in today for my hearing test let’s see what happens with that . I have had eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee for 28 years .

That's definitely tinnitus.

Get every test you can, you earned them!

I didn't bother to fight to get my tinnitus rated for service connected since I am already rated at 70% UI and get paid at the 100% rate. It is documented in my VA records that my tinnitus and hearing loss is from military service. I get a new pair of hearing aids every 5 years free of charge from the VA. Hearing aids won't completely stop you from hearing the constant ringing but they do help tone it down some.

When I first contacted the VA about hearing loss, they said yes you have one, but no we're not paying for it. That was many years ago. Now they recognize my hearing loss is service-connected and I got 10%.

Which exempts you from a VA loan funding fee... forever