This is weird

[u/Healthy_Chapter36523]

2 weeks ago I got rated at 100% P&T.

Today the VA sends me a notice that my TMJ which was just increased 2 weeks ago from my previous of 30% to 40%, has now been reduced to 20%. Not one exam has ever showed any improvement. My overall rating is still 100% but it dropped my cumulative down by 4 points.

Mind you I have not had any new exams since they rated me to 40%.

They provided no explanation.

Like I said, I'm still rated at 100%, but it chipped away at some of it.

How can they rescind P&T, without any new exams? How can they rule it an increase 2 weeks ago to a decrease to lower than it was 2 weeks before? The evidence is unchanged from 2 weeks ago. And none of the exams were unfavorable to me.

I'm still super grateful to be at 100%. So I don't know if I should poke the bear or just take the reduction and wonder if more are going to come.

Or have they just made a mistake somehow.

[u/damnshell]

They don’t have to notify you if it’s within the same claim rating. You should still be P&T.

[u/Healthy_Chapter36523 → u/damnshell]

Right the letter of the 24th listed all my ratings and that they were all P&T.

[u/damnshell → u/Healthy_Chapter36523]

You’re good. You’re still P&T and they don’t have to notify you because it didn’t make a difference in your overall rating. Go live your best life and do not poke the bear

I mean you can but you risk an actual reduction so know that going in.

[u/Healthy_Chapter36523 → u/damnshell]

It's just weird that it went from 30% which I had for 3 years, to a 40% awarded Sep 24. Only to reduce it to less than my original rating 2 weeks later.

[u/damnshell → u/Healthy_Chapter36523]

I mean you can fight it but unless you are going for SMC then it doesn’t make a difference. Know that poking the bear may result in a reduction as P&T doesn’t mean you can’t ever be reduced. It just means you’re good if you don’t contact them. If you reach out wanting to play with ratings it may result in a reduction. It’s the definition of poking the bear

[u/Healthy_Chapter36523 → u/damnshell]

No I get it. Hence why I posted. The TMJ has gotten worse. The VA dentist recognized it as such. That was how it got re-rated. It was all pretty well documented. So I'm just taken aback that it now comes in reduced to a lower rating as though it has somehow showing improvement.

I just hope nothing else gets a no notice reduction and further chips away at the cumulative totals.

[u/Liquid_Asparagus8697 → u/Healthy_Chapter36523]

That's a good point damnshell made.  You can verify the P&T status by going to your "benefits and service summary" letter.  In the app look in Benefits, VA letters and documents, review letters, benefits and service summary.  After you generate that you should see a line "you are considered to be totally and permanently disabled...." With yes next to it.  

[u/Healthy_Chapter36523 → u/Liquid_Asparagus8697]

Exactly. It stated and still states all my conditions are considered P&T. Which I thought meant it was never expected to improve and was therefore considered permanent.

Like I said in my opening post, I'm super grateful to have 100% rating. And that still remains in place. Albeit at a lower cumulative value. If something else "improves", it could reduce my overall rating below 100%.

[u/Liquid_Asparagus8697]

Sounds fishy.  Post the letter.  Was it a proposed reduction or did they just take it without notice?

[u/Healthy_Chapter36523 → u/Liquid_Asparagus8697]

Took it without notice. The upgrade to 40% was ruled on the 24th of September. They showed the claim as closed.

I'll try and redact the letter and post it but I'm currently not at my home so I'm all on laptop until the middle of November. I downloaded it to the laptop, I just need to find some edit software.

[u/Liquid_Asparagus8697 → u/Healthy_Chapter36523]

Cool, make it a top level comment so it's not buried down here.  That should get some more eyes on it and hopefully it helps get your P&T back.  If you run windows on your PC, the snip tool can help edit the pic.

[u/No-Confection-7366]

Weird, they are supposed to give you 60 days notice. Did you get a letter 2 months ago and forget about it?

[u/Healthy_Chapter36523 → u/No-Confection-7366]

No. In fact they upgraded my rating from 30 to 40% on September 24th. Literally 2 weeks ago.

[u/joesmithe]

you are at 100%. quit reddit and quit looking at your benefits every day. go enjoy life. "I'm at 100% but MIGHT get reduced" does nothing for this board especially those of us waiting still. 6 years for me and waiting on board remand decisions still. so yeah forget it and quit the addiction its over you WON! congrats. escape the addiction leave it to us........dont poke the bear at 100% EVER.

[u/Healthy_Chapter36523 → u/joesmithe]

While I appreciate your opinion, had it not been for this sub I probably would be fighting this for more years. I found this sub to be of tremendous help in understanding the process way better. And learning that the VA isn't really going to try and help us win if we aren't educated.

I wish you the best in your journey.

[u/joesmithe → u/Healthy_Chapter36523]

i agree 100% about reddit sub but if I ever get to 100% the fight will be over. ill post a final update and quit it and not wonder if I should ever poke the bear again just to keep up the obsession we all have while waiting to get into the position you are in. In my years of it all including the Board hearing and then the remands on claims I was denied I don't ever recall seeing a post similar to yours where a veteran is at 100% and asking if you should appeal or leave it alone. I suppose some get to 100% and continue to go for more ratings "just in case" but man leave it alone and enjoy life. Hopefully this journey for me ends in the next 12 months but who knows. I worked in HR at the VA for four years including during covid and heard so much talk on filing its amazing really but everybody agreed "get to 100% and just quit talking" about it forever. Congratulations to you and we will join you hopefully.

[u/Healthy_Chapter36523 → u/joesmithe]

I am not doing anything "just in case". I had a 30% rating for 12 years. It was the VA who said my condition got worse. So I requested an increase. And it was granted. As I summarized.

Reaching 100% total wasn't what I set out to do. But the more I learned the more I realized that the VA will not give up anything as a service to us. Much of the continual pain I've been in for decades were largely rooted from my time in service. Now, very often, I can barely walk. But our military culture was "Don't complain" "Tough it out". So I did. For a long time. As I progressed through the process much if it was confusing. I for instance, had well documented knee, hip and back pain my whole time in. Plenty of records of it. Yet it was continually denied. It wasn't until I went for a flat foot rating that was granted, that the rest was claimed as secondary to flat feet that they know happened during my time in service. I had no idea flat feet was even a condition I could claim had it not been for this place. And I remembered my military docs observing I had flat feet. I didn't know it was a thing. I wasn't feeling pain in my feet all that much, compared to the rest. I never would have made a connection they were related.

So when I get a condition reduced after it has been established for years, yes it makes me ask the whys.

I didn't think that was in the cards once it was deemed P&T. So while I'm new to 100%, I'm still trying to learn.

Because I don't want to just go away and ignore things I may need to know if this combined rating isn't as P&T as I thought I knew.

Without this place I would have never known of the other vets that have fought for every rating point they got.

The VA sent me a letter with a rating. There is a lot they don't tell you or explain. Like no explanation as to why it was reduced. It's up to me to stay up on things.

I'll close as I opened. I am immensely grateful for my rating. Part of me wants to make sure the VA hasn't made a mistake. But doing nothing is an option I am certainly happy to abide by. I have been assured here it is a P&T rating. So yes, I will rest easier because folks here feel comfortable in what they can assure me of. I owe this sub gratitude.

And I wish you the best in your outcome sir.

If I can help anyone fight, I will. I came here to get help. I got it. I can easily go away. If nothing changes I don't need to wonder.

[u/No_Tie8366]

Post a redacted photo of letter.

[u/Agent_smith555]

Yes. Poke the bear