This!

I went through TVC, but the guy helping me kind of sucked now that I think of it.

Didn't review my files or medical history. Which I had a 450 page document that was provided from the Army to me. VSOs should poke and prod into your files and remind you to file for certain claims we don't even think about but suffering from.

Got out of active in 2021. Wasn't helped or coached on what to claim, like you said, just went in cold.

I thought the TVC rep would help me

Just filed my request for supplemental review as there were a few "NSC" which made zero sense as they all tied back to the initial which I got 50%.

We shall see said the blind man….

Great idea for a thread on this. Good to crowdsource some knowledge.

My VSO was DAV up in Ft Carson. Guy was pretty helpful.

I've been trying to get the inside scoop on how these claims work, mainly to help out others more so than myself. I still haven't figured it out, or found anyone that can explain it (I'll try again soon). So take what I say with a grain of salt, but my advice is to not hide anything from medical. Don't be a sick call warrior, but don't hide anything, and don't lie about stuff either.

What I mean by that is, let's say you've got back pain. When you do your annual PHA, or you do a physicial for a special duty, don't be afraid to write back pain. However, just clarify that it's intermittent, or occasional, something along the lines of "managed with occasional use of OTC pain meds and stretching." Or something to that effect. That will get things in your record that you've registered a complaint for back pain, for example.

It's not uncommon for people to show up a week before they're getting out, with 20 things listed on their separation physical that they want to be checked for to help pad their claim. And they want it done all in one visit. It doesn't work that way. The separation physical is just to determine if you're medically safe for discharge from the military, not to work you up for new problems.

One of my friends, and an Aggie doc, put out a couple videos about some of this stuff a couple years ago. I think he got busy and didn't keep it going. But you can watch what he's got out there on their YouTube channel.

Also, if you are active duty and suck at sleeping and have insomnia, get a sleep study done! That way it's in your medical records.

You'll see a general sleep specialist first then they put a consult in for the study. You'll show up to a sleep lab at night, hook you up to wires and then leave around 5am. I had a 34ahi and diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea. 30 years old, healthy and in shape.

I still struggle with sleep but I think I'm getting better

Yeah, just don't show up a few weeks before you're about to get out wanting a sleep study. Those usually take weeks, sometimes 1-2 months to get an appointment for. Sometimes you'll do a home sleep study, and if you have concerning findings, they'll set you up at a sleep lab.

Usually a good screening for sleep apnea are the STOP-BANG and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. If you score high on both, then discuss with your doc. Since a diagnosis of sleep apnea can significantly increase your VA disability, a lot of people come in trying to get the test with the goal of faking it. I have overheard junior enlisted getting out telling each other what they heard. Like go get tested when you're wasted drunk.

Regardless, because of that secondary gain, it makes it harder to get scheduled for these tests, and sometimes for the referrals to get approved (at least in the Navy).

https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/3992/stop-bang-score-obstructive-sleep-apnea
https://nasemso.org/wp-content/uploads/neuro-epworthsleepscale.pdf

Yep. Waking up in the middle of the night not being able to breathe is what finally got me in. Started overseas.

My sleep doctor listened to the audio of my study and he said "it sounded like two bears ****ing"

There is a lot of BS and a lot of claim sharks on YouTube posting bad info and/or trying to get you to pay them to help with your claims. Don't feed the sharks!

There is good info on YouTube though. TheCivDiv is one of the best I've found.

If you didn't get service connection or have a claim denied. Ask for a higher level review before you file an appeal. It's a lot faster.

Get a good VSO. If the one you have isn't helping you, go find another one. I meet with mine in about 3 weeks to file my BDD claim.

Can he help me with my BAS?

Tricare regions are once again changing

It's also going to be a different contractor, not Humana.