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Q832: Is anything being done for veterans with 90% disability? I read that the 90% mark has a barrier ceiling that requires a lot of additional information. Less attention and information then if you were less then 90%. My experience that doctors hesitate from nexus letters as it is. The VA should encourage nexus letters as a doctors responsibility. Not make them feel their putting their job on the line. Instead of asking them to put their necks out and feel they are very harsh for them to make. This year my pain has been a lot more then in the past which is difficult enough for them to put into word, they don't feel the pain.
A1: No, that is not true. Does not matter your overall % rating, the evidence requirement to get an increase for each individual rating remains the same. It is harder to move from 90% to 100% than from 30% to 40%, but it has nothing to do with the evidence or additional information. Overall ratings come from the Combined Federal Rating schedule in 38CFR. It's called VA math. I'm sure you've heard of it...3+3 does not equal 6. Your overall rating is not based off your % bad but off your % good. In other words, if you are 70% for an individual disability, then you are 30% good. Then, if you have another 40% individual rating, then you are 60% good for that one. Then you can multiply the 30% good times the 60% good. Take that product and subtract it from 100% and that's your overall rating. Confusing at best. I agree with you on the nexus letters being written by VA doctors. When you only have VA care, then that's the only doctors you have. I guess VA figures that they are paying the C&P doctors to do that. But, they don't. They simply follow the DBQ checklist. (DS) 3/2/22
A2: "Is there anything that can be done for a veteran who is 90% ?"
The question is much to broad. Are you asking how you can achieve 100%? Without knowing the veteran's ratings and medical history it is impossible to answer your question.
If you are looking for more money, you can file for Individual Unemployability. If approved, this would pay at the 100% rate even though the veteran is at 90%.
There is no barrier system designed to make it harder to achieve 90%.
Concerning the Nexus letter. Here is the problem. More than likely you are asking a doctor to write a statement he has no way of justifying.
Here is an example. A veteran ask a doctor to write a nexus stating in his medical opinion Item A from 30 years ago has caused Item B today. The doctor was not the veteran's physician 30 years ago and has no idea what the true medical situation was other than what he can read in the medical record. Since medical records are often sketchy at best, most doctors do not feel competent to write such a statement.
There are companies who "help veterans" and they provide a list of doctors who will write you a nexus letter for a substantial fee. Just tell them what your situation is a "BOOM" you suddenly have a nexus in the mail.
Considering PAIN as a part of your claim. In order for chronic pain to be rated, the source of the pain must service connected. For instance, while in service you were shot in the spinal area and now you have nerve damage which causes chronic pain. That is pretty easy to service connect.
However, many people with chronic pain fail to file for Depression. For example, a veteran with a service-connected back condition suffers from chronic pain. The chronic pain causes the veteran to become severely depressed. Now you have a claim for Depression secondary to the spinal condition and the chronic pain.
I hope this helps. (RJ) 3/2/22
A3: They'll feel the pain if you choose to share it. Not really, just a thought. The main thing is to realize that attaining 100% on its own is tough to get. However, 95% is not as hard. My suggestion is this: if it's been a while since you've filed a claim, consider doing a self-evaluation to determine if 1) any new condition have come up and/or 2) any of your present service connected items have gotten worse. If so, file for new or reopen existing a.s.a.p. (TB) 3/4/22