Question:
Mr. Jim,
Award letter is a bit challenging concerning the final decision in regards to Individual Unemployment or 100% Schedular for PTSD. Effective dates listed: 1) IU Mar 27, 2017; 2) PTSD previously rated adjustment disorder with anxiety, Jul, 21 2017 old 70% New 100%; 3) DEA Ch 35 Jul 21, 2017 So the payment summary reads: $408 1Dec2016 Cost of living Adj $3024 1Apr2017 IU adj, minor child adj, comp rating adj $3024 1 Aug2017, Comp rating adj.
The explanation says this is the highest schedular rating allowed under the law for PTSD. No mention of IU except for separate issue/connection effective 27Mar 2017. I did file for IU online and found it to be complicated. My online file was incomplete but it likely generated me the subsequent C & P exam. I believe the IU was approved and it shows in the letter. But going to the C & P must have created the final comp adjustment at $3024 with the same IU pay granted 4 months earlier. Just wondering: am I 100% IU or Schedular P/T since one can't be both. The dates suggest that IU was bumped for Schedular P/T. Thanks, 22 yrs. Ret Iraq Bronze Star
Jim's Reply:
The award letters sent out by VA are always annoying...no two are ever alike and they never use plain English to tell us what the award actually is. In this case it appears to have been changed from TDIU to Schedular since your base rating appears to have increased from 70% to 100%...your condition worsened, noted at that last C & P exam, and VA appropriately adjusted your rating to be higher. You've been awarded Chapter 35 benefits for dependents and that means your rating is permanent with no future exams scheduled. Your rating is 100% schedular...not TDIU.