I have a service connected disability (not combat related).
I served 7 years, 4 years with the 82nd Airborne and 3 years with 1st Ranger Battalion, burned in on a jump in Ranger school, still managed to graduate, continued on for a few more years and got out on a medical discharge. It caught up to me a couple years ago with degenerative disc disease and no cartilage left in my hips. At 47 years old the VA replaced both of my hips, 6 months apart. My hips feel fine now and my back is what it is. When I could no longer work due to my hips the VA gave me 100% individual unemployability,which is supposed to be temporary. After my second total hip replacement I was supposed to be on 100% IU disability for one year, reavaluated, and given a permanent rating. A year after my second hip replacement I called the VA to see if the disability evaluation would be automatic or what. They said they had no claim in on my hip replacements and I was going to continue getting 100%. The best I can find out is that when you get 100% individual unemployability it continues for 5 years before you get re-evaluated. My VA rep told me to just wait and let the VA do whatever it is they are going to do. The only catch is I can’t have any “gainful or substantial employment “. In other words, I can’t earn more than the poverty rate. I just got a form from the VA asking about any employment I’ve had over the past year. I’m doing seasonal work at tourist attractions so I haven’t exceeded the poverty level for a single father with full custody of two children.
Is anyone else here on 100% individual unemployability disability? If so, what is your experience with it?
I served 7 years, 4 years with the 82nd Airborne and 3 years with 1st Ranger Battalion, burned in on a jump in Ranger school, still managed to graduate, continued on for a few more years and got out on a medical discharge. It caught up to me a couple years ago with degenerative disc disease and no cartilage left in my hips. At 47 years old the VA replaced both of my hips, 6 months apart. My hips feel fine now and my back is what it is. When I could no longer work due to my hips the VA gave me 100% individual unemployability,which is supposed to be temporary. After my second total hip replacement I was supposed to be on 100% IU disability for one year, reavaluated, and given a permanent rating. A year after my second hip replacement I called the VA to see if the disability evaluation would be automatic or what. They said they had no claim in on my hip replacements and I was going to continue getting 100%. The best I can find out is that when you get 100% individual unemployability it continues for 5 years before you get re-evaluated. My VA rep told me to just wait and let the VA do whatever it is they are going to do. The only catch is I can’t have any “gainful or substantial employment “. In other words, I can’t earn more than the poverty rate. I just got a form from the VA asking about any employment I’ve had over the past year. I’m doing seasonal work at tourist attractions so I haven’t exceeded the poverty level for a single father with full custody of two children.
Is anyone else here on 100% individual unemployability disability? If so, what is your experience with it?