Posted on May 25, 2018
Compensation 101: How did I get this rating?
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RP Members and Connections check out the Video above provided by Harriet Nix and Sgt Douglas Berger. Harriet and Doug would like feedback from all Veterans that have been through this process.
The Combined Ratings Table
Have you ever been evaluated for a Service Related Disability? Did you find the determination and compensation to be accurate for your disability(ies) or combination of such?
Our goal at onlyusa.us, is the final and complete abolition of The Combined Ratings Table, which has been in use for 100 years. This table is used to calculate related and consequential service disabilities in order to determine the rate of compensation for the Veteran. It is mathematically obtuse. It does not serve the purpose for which it was originally intended. We will not rest until this flagrantly misguided system is terminated.
The sad truth is that the VA already knows this method is inaccurate and, at times, unfair to the Veteran. Yet , they choose to continue usage, as an attempt to fulfill promises to the Veteran. A Professor of Actuary Science, from a prominent university, commented directly to myself via email:
“As an actuary who has worked with disabled life tables — we call them impaired life tables — in the past, I am sympathetic to the issues you brought up. The VA formula appears to assume that each disability is “independent” of one other which is true sometimes, but not true other times. An example would go like this: If a loss of an eye is deemed to be 50% disability; the loss of the second eye is not an additional 25% disability, but an additional 50% disability, adding up to a 100% total disability. On the other hand, a loss of an eye, plus a loss of an arm may be thought of as “independent” as the VA formula assumes. I find some obvious issues with VA formulas. The VA’s practice of rounding to the nearest 10% all but propagates that their formula provides only a rough guideline. Is there room for improvement? Yes. Will it make a huge difference? Only for some of those affected."
The Combined Ratings Table
Have you ever been evaluated for a Service Related Disability? Did you find the determination and compensation to be accurate for your disability(ies) or combination of such?
Our goal at onlyusa.us, is the final and complete abolition of The Combined Ratings Table, which has been in use for 100 years. This table is used to calculate related and consequential service disabilities in order to determine the rate of compensation for the Veteran. It is mathematically obtuse. It does not serve the purpose for which it was originally intended. We will not rest until this flagrantly misguided system is terminated.
The sad truth is that the VA already knows this method is inaccurate and, at times, unfair to the Veteran. Yet , they choose to continue usage, as an attempt to fulfill promises to the Veteran. A Professor of Actuary Science, from a prominent university, commented directly to myself via email:
“As an actuary who has worked with disabled life tables — we call them impaired life tables — in the past, I am sympathetic to the issues you brought up. The VA formula appears to assume that each disability is “independent” of one other which is true sometimes, but not true other times. An example would go like this: If a loss of an eye is deemed to be 50% disability; the loss of the second eye is not an additional 25% disability, but an additional 50% disability, adding up to a 100% total disability. On the other hand, a loss of an eye, plus a loss of an arm may be thought of as “independent” as the VA formula assumes. I find some obvious issues with VA formulas. The VA’s practice of rounding to the nearest 10% all but propagates that their formula provides only a rough guideline. Is there room for improvement? Yes. Will it make a huge difference? Only for some of those affected."
Posted in these groups: 
Compensation
Disability
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Disabled Veterans
Compensation Disability Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Disabled Veterans
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 41
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I have one disability rated at 70% but they give no percentage for my sleep apnea. I am adamant in stating the VA fuzzy math puts the veterans at a disadvantage.
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SPC Kelley McMahan
MAJ Ken Landgren - The down side to SSDI is that per regulation set and approved as part of the Federal budget in 2015 the SSA does not place the same level of weight on VA medical records as those generated by their own approved people. So VA Dr's are a rung down on the proof ladder so to speak. And I personally think that is BS as the SSA is not required to disclose who their consulting medical personnel are.
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SPC (Join to see)
Social Security looks for any excuse to deny benefits. I was disapproved for SSDI, but did get SSI. However because I was getting other money ($500 a month), I was only getting a measly $120-something each month. I eventually got rid of it myself because I was sick of the constant probing by SSA for more information and the guy I had been dealing with was such a jerk I wanted to unload him too. He was nasty and rude and I told him to shut the eff up once because he kept talking over me. After tearing him a new asshole a few times, he started to learn that he works for me not the other way around. The problem with some of these people is they stay in the same job all their lives then start to believe they might be important.
These people think just because they have a government job of authority they can piss all over us. This guy learned real quickly I don't take shit from anybody and don't have a problem putting them in their place. I've pissed off a lot of people in this toilet where I live and I'm not stopping anytime soon. No wonder I don't get along with liberals.
These people think just because they have a government job of authority they can piss all over us. This guy learned real quickly I don't take shit from anybody and don't have a problem putting them in their place. I've pissed off a lot of people in this toilet where I live and I'm not stopping anytime soon. No wonder I don't get along with liberals.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
It's for that reason I told my Finance Unit that we were going to give world class support. Support folks exist to help others.
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Took me eleven years to get my rating; then faced a couple of re-evaluations where they tried to take all or part of the awarded rating away. It is a deeply flawed system.
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Sgt Douglas Berger
It happens to often., keep in touch with Miss Nix (Harriet Nix onlyusa.us )she can be very helpful.
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SPC (Join to see)
I have a friend who is having the same problem. She was approved a couple of years ago and now they're trying to take it back. She claims to be getting 100 percent disability and full retirement (is that even possible?). I thought once a Veteran was approved that's where it ended. I didn't know they could reverse the decision. It just shows the incompetence in our corrupt government.
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http://www.vetadvocates.org
As I've said sevl times, aside from vet groups or law school vet law clinics, to us, my wife and I, NOVA is the best, honest....
As I've said sevl times, aside from vet groups or law school vet law clinics, to us, my wife and I, NOVA is the best, honest....
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates (NOVA)
The National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, Inc. (NOVA) is a not-for-profit educational membership organization incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1993.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Now, Natl vet group vet svc directors, of your vet group isn't getting anywhere by you, is also a good way to seek help higher up their food chains, we'd found....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Obviously, it has to be done judiciously, and one can't nag, however, if handled right, such higher up vet SVC directors can maybe try to apply some bureaucratic WD-40 to their squeaky local wheels, gears, cams, pullies, and/or belts, you know? Same for genl cou eels, however, they get involved in legislative and/or corporate stuff, however, I have reached such genl counsels about my mother in law's thing, so it def is doable, honest, of also handled right....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
If after trying all that, NOVA also, you don't get anywhere, I might be able to refer you to those I'd chatted with, however, the group for my mother-in-law is large, as I'd said, and busy, so try NOVA first, pay any needed retainer if they take you on, sign what they want for their contingency fee, then do exactly as they said, even of they take their chunk, trust me, they're well worth it, I think the paw was also relaxed awhile back to let VA qualified attorneys take case before denial, before that legal change, one had to be denied by a vet group first, then go to an attorney, no more, I think, I'm not sure, check, however, that was my impression....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Hope that helps, in any event, if you want to chat further, I'm here, as I'd said, didn't mean to overwhelm, merely to explain, OK? I'll wait now, hope was of at least some use....
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