Hello Ms. NictheVet. I binge-watched your videos a couple of weeks ago, looked up the M28R references you outlined, and the other regulations concerning VR&E, and I'm happy to say that I was deemed Entitled (SEH) today during my 1st appt with my case manager!! Thanks for putting out this info, it helps!! You're the best 🏆
Well, Nic, I just thought I let you know that I had my intake interview this morning and just got an email telling me I'm entitled, and that it was all due to being fully and over-prepared thanks to you.
@@iamnicthevet I have an SEH for sure. 80% SC when I got out and about to get 100% PT probably in the next month or two as I have some high value claims in; some for things the VA should have rated me for on my way out the door and others for secondary service conditions... I can meet 8 of the 9 criteria and articulate and defend it easily, except I am kind of struggling with #6 Pattern of reliance on Government Support Programs.... It mentions in the CFR that Service Connected Disability Compensation is an example.... Is this true and is my reliance on it and VA health care and treatment facilities examples of meeting this criteria? Please advise. And Thank You for what you do for Vets.
@@noahynclan7929 If you cannot support yourself without your service connected disability income then you have a reliance on the government and therefore you meet SEH criteria # six. That also works if you receive any kind of Medicaid for your kids, any kind of food stamps or state aid or you have to go to the Salvation Army every winter to help pay your electric and gas bills. If you have any documented (or regular) reliance on government funding and you would be unable to maintain your quality of life if that funding were removed, you meet criteria # six.
I want to THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your clear, concise and informative videos. I watched 53 videos and some 2 to 3 times. I just finished my appointment and was found entitled. I started my initial statement knowing I had an SEH and VI and the conversation moved swiftly to what I would need for the second meeting. I used all your letters and had everything laid out. I had all my info and research for the second appointment basically ready. Your organized videos have been a god send for me because I was found entitled years ago in another state. I moved and this state denied me 4 or 5 times. Your videos helped me know how to fight back. I sent the letter giving less than 24hrs for them to prepare to deny me again and things worked out beautifully. It's unfortunate that I and other vets have had to fight like this; but just know that your content, comforting delivery and encouraging comments have made the difference for so many of us. I salute you!
I made my channel for veterans just like you who take the information, watch it, study it, print out what they need, make a plan, execute, and then get EVERYTHING they're entitled to receive. I'm SO happy for you and appreciate your thanks but you also deserve a congratulations for watching, studying and executing. Kudos to you 🎉🥳🎊
Today I Got my Entitlement!!! Going to school for Video production in SATX thank you, your informative content gave me the confidence to pursue my education...plus my Counselor is super sweet!!! Thanks again DH
YAY David. I'm happy for you, so glad my videos helped you. Please share with any vet you know. Make sure you get the equipment you need for the program and for future work. Congrats 😊
@@iamnicthevet yes ma'am I'm all over it!!! Got the letter transcripts ready, and my telling every veteran I know!! Thanks again God Bless, its life changing...DH
Outstanding David!!! I’m looking to get into the same field. Waiting on my interview with the counselor. @iamnicthevet I cannot thank you enough for these videos and all the information you’ve so graciously share. I’ve shared your channel with all the vets I know.
Good luck! congratulations. How long did it take for the counselor to contact you for your initial interview? I am still waiting it's been almost 2 months.
I needed to hear this. I actually lost my ability to be an ER nurse due to mental health rating of 100% t and p. I was worried and almost decided to not try. I ETS in 2011. Got 100% in 2021, 10 for tinnitus, 10 for knee, 100 for PTSD. I loved healthcare. Now I want to be a filmmaker. I actually have been working as a paid actor now for a couple of years and have met the most amazing people. To include offers of sub contracting with a few production companies in Atlanta. I just want help to pay for the classes I need and start up equipment. It's the only thing I have ever had joy in since I left nursing. How do I word that?
Was a combat medic fist. Enlisted. Then selected to commission, wanted to be a lifer. But injuries required me to separate at that time two weeks before I was to be pinned. Life got really dark for a while. I just want this one thing. The lady I talked to on phone first kept telling me incorrect info. Completely read my paperwork wrong to include stating on speaker phone I had some kind of infectious disease when I def did not do not and havent ever had what she said. I got mad at her and hung up before exploding. She was 100%< it felt like, trying to deny me before she even read anything. But no idea why she thought I said I had a disease when I said I didn't. Weirdest call ever.
I'm employed. I am in a C-suite level position. I have a Master's degree. However, I am 70% PTSD, 50% Sleep Apnea, 50% Chronic Migraines. Bottomline I can't deal with the stress of a leadership position or dealing with people. This is all I've done and this is what my Master's is for. I want Voc Rehab to become a funeral director. I think it's going to be hard because of the assumption that I have it made. But I don't. I also have a back condition 40% and peripheral neuropathy.
Your situation is very doable, you just have to present it properly. I suggest you watch videos # 25, #15, #36 and # 37 and present your case as instructed in those 4 vids then you can be found entitled. Once you watch those for videos and understand them, if you have questions feel free to reach out to me again.
Oh wow this has help me so much. I wasn’t very sure that I fit any criteria before this video but after watching it I realized that a majority of them described my experiences over the past couple of years wholeheartedly. Thank you
Love all your videos; Organized, informative and you get straight to the point. I sincerely do appreciate all the info you so graciously provided. May you live a long, healthy and a full life. Thank you. Keep them coming...
Good morning from the Philippines, (caifornia native), signed up for VR&E, informed the paperwork was received, waiting in abeyance of the call. Contacted VA and got the Counselor's contact information here, but will give it a week or so before i contact them. Wonderful video series, up to 8 now, you are a godsend! I am 100% ptsd, aid and attendance, and about six other items. ptsd write up has "danger to others" notation. So, i am not people person, will be seeking out a degree(s) in AI, so remote work is the dream with a focus point on helping vets. I feel comfortable with the SEH route, value your investment in providing all of the videos to us as well as the research it involved. All the best to you and those seeking these benefits, will update once i have my interview, which i suspect will be online as i am unable to travel.
thank you for the kind words. FYI, they’re going to ask you to give them a copy of several job postings for jobs where you work from home in AI, they may argue that having a degree doesn’t guarantee a work at home job in the AI field, so be prepared to find some jobs to justify your request.
I just wanted to say thank you so so so much. I watched all your videos last night! Had my meeting this morning and was approved! While I was blessed to have a good counselor, because of you I went into the meeting with a lot of confidence and a game plan. Your videos have helped my family’s future immensely. Thank you from the absolute bottom of my heart.
These videos are super useful thanks! I found the regs and the m28r entries regarding SEH before seeing this video but this would have made it a lot easier if I had seen it first. After I filled out the RNI and other documents I sent a short statement that touches almost every point listed in the m28r under "Factors for Determining SEH" and included what proof I had readily available(social security statement, statement from HUD-VASH counselor, etc). So although I'm past the 12 year mark I just got p&t and I've been in HUD-VASH since June of 2019. I've also read the regs/m28r relating to the self employment track and I'm just as prepared to argue for it as I am my basic entitlement to VRE. Accepting "no" is not an option for me.
My husband was denied last year because he has a job, he has associates and is using GI Bill getting his Bachelor’s. I prefer for him to use Voc Rehab so at least our kids can use the GI BIll.
I wish I saw these videos before today. I feel so defeated and was denied entitlement because of not having an SEH. I don’t feel that they asked me enough questions about how my SCD’s have affected my work performance to really gather the full scope and come to this decision. I wish I knew that I had to do much more advocating. I have major depressive disorder and am currently unemployed as an electrician and have many gaps in 2022 alone of unemployment. Do you have any advice for moving forward? I have also received a lot of sexual harassment in my trade and have felt unsafe at work many times. It exacerbated my depression. I want to do more, and I feel unfulfilled at work. I want to be a firefighter, something that aligns with my interests and values. I do backbreaking work with little time to spend at home and long commutes to job sites far from where I live, with little to feel accomplished with. If I found any jobs closer to my current city, I would not make a livable wage. Should I reapply? Or appeal this denial? Should I hire an attorney or a VSO rep? I do not agree with their decision and didn’t have the chance to be asked any of the things I just mentioned.
You can reapply. If you have questions about whether or not you have an seh, you could email me, maybe you do and you just don't realize it. Some of the categories can be a little tricky, but there are some alternate categories that could lead you to the same end.
I was given the SEH and I went to to my 2nd interview with the counselor. I am being told that since I have only used the GI Bill and not Post 911, which I meet requirements, I would be losing benefits through the vocRehab program. so, what I was told to exhoused the 9 months and 21 days of my GI Bil and then get Post 911 and then reapply for VocRehab. I really don't like this ideal because they have granted me SEH now, but in 10 months things could change. In10 months I would still be under the 12years. I was a police officer and with my disabilities I can no longer do that work. I ask the counselor that I would rather get into the program now but I was told that is up to me. I get that, but I would like to know the best way to utilize the benefits Vocrhab has to the fullest and the counselor can't tell me. I was approved to go to university of Houston and complete a Master in Social work. So, Should I wait the 9 months and then get the post 911 and then get VocRehab? I am unemployable now due to the disabilities and I am stacking up on the student loans to get by using the Gi Bill. I would love to her your advice... thank you.
Erasmo Gonzales That piddly 9 months of GI bill is nothing compared to the up to 48 you get with voc rehab (more with an SEH). The fact that you have some G.I. Bill left and you’ve been approved for voc rehab means you will get the higher level BAH for the entire 48 months you’re in the program. In addition to that you’re going to get more with Voc rehab than you would’ve gotten with the G.I. Bill ... like they’ll pay for not only your tuition but your computer and printer and paper and ink and any supplies you need for school and accommodations you may need for your desk/office, certifications, sOftware etc. You also get free dental care while you’re going through voc rehab including free crowns and implants if necessary. There’s a lot you get with vocational rehab that you don’t get with G.I. Bill. Plus if you use gi bill first and come back to voc rehab later, it’s going to be harder to get vocational rehabilitation approved because they’re going to say you already have a degree. It’s not impossible at all (I did it and I helped lots of other people do it too) as there are ways around that (per my video #3 regarding bogus denial reasons) but it is more of a drag when you already have a degree. So my general answer would be to use voc rehab first. If you have more questions, shoot me an email and when you email me, let me know your rating (something occurred to me after I read your statement that may be helpful to you), Also please let me know what your undergrad was in. All of this is relevant information.
where is the documentation that say under 12 is just EH and over 12 years is SEH? I am under 12 years and during my entire meeting the counselor kept saying how I don't have an SEH. which now i realize i dont even need
that’s pretty common knowledge you could probably Google it and get the answer. You can also just pull up the location of the EH or SEH criteria from video # 16 and find it there.
Is it 12 years from my first or most recent increase? My last increase took me to 60% and is less than 12 years ago, my first/original was just over 12 years ago.
@@iamnicthevet They seem to be dragging their feet. Making me jump through some hoops, interviewing pros already working in the target field and write a report of my findings. Gotta love red tape.
I don’t answer questions about paperwork because I never want to influence you guys either way, so it's best that I stay out of it all together when dealing with federal paperwork for federal funding. Video #7 goes over vocational impairment details.
If no bachelors or associates and have a general under honorable without GI bill? Am i golden too with an SEH? should i wait until i get my rating for my others all i have been approved for so far is tinnitus but going for others including MH
Came across your videos at the right time! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I have just received notification that I am eligible & entitled to vocrehab and I am switching from my GI Bill with 10 months still left on it. I tried to get on the Self employment track so I could pursue my own photography business after I receive my Bachelors of Art in Photography but my counselor said I have to be on the "Employment through long term services track" because vorehab is paying for my degree. Do you know if once I finish my degree I can switch to the Self Employment track? I will be graduating with 13 months of benefits left over.
wow thanks for this Video! i'll watch them all before applying. By the way, may I ask if I will still be qualified for this even though i only have 1 month of GI bill left?
No one can answer that definitively, but I will tell you they will immediately frown upon that goal so you really need to have your ducks in a row and have a really strong argument that’s based on more than your desire to work in that field.
@@homeministries100 watch the entitlement playlist on my RU-vid channel and then, if you have any specific questions that were not addressed there feel free to follow up.
An “employment handicap” means; there is something that is hindering you from meeting the criteria that is necessary of a person to be “employed” in that particular field of “interest”. Example - So If I want to become a “Physical Therapist”; my “handicap”in becoming “employed” as a “physical therapist” is that I don’t have a “college degree” - So in order to overcome the “handicap” of not having a “college degree” to meet the requirements of becoming “employed” as a “Physical Therapist”; I have to obtain a “college degree”.to meet my end goal of obtaining sustainable “employment” as a Physical Therapist. Which means I’m “entitled” to overcome this “handicap” of not having a “college degree”- which I am required to have in order for me to become “employed” as a Physical Therapist. So since my interest is becoming a “Physical Therapist”; the handicap that I have is; not meeting the “requirements” needed to become a certified “Physical Therapist”. So in order to meet the “requirements” of becoming “employed” as a Physical Therapist; I have to complete all the prerequisites in order to be “employed” as a certified Physical Therapist.
I'm not sure if you're asking me a question or posting a statement but either way, this entire interpretation is oversimplified and misses the core issue. The employment handicap exists because you have not overcome your vocational impairment with education or training and your vocational impairment is that your service connected disability's keep you from obtaining and maintaining work. If it were as simple as getting a degree in order to meet the requirements of becoming employed, that's an educational issue, not an employment handicap.
I had an appointment with a counselor this afternoon for VR&E. I was denied because I am only ten percent, that was her decision because your only ten percent and you didn’t meet the SEH criteria. I’m well under the 12 years. I told I was EH she said we have to qualify you under SEH. Is that true
Hey, I was approved for Voc rehab and I started school on the 28th of June, just a few days ago. But I received my check from disability, but not from Voc rehab... I was approved in the 19th of June. I also saw on my payment history where it said retro/one time payment of 65.77 why is this showing a possible small payment? But it has no date on the payment history, but neither does my disability, but it came today... What are your thoughts on this?
Thank you for all the great videos. I am well under the 12 years but I meet the SEH with all 9. Is their any reason to argue SEH over the EH? Additional benefits with the SEH? Thanks all.
Not really, but understand, you can always bring it up after you’re entitled. Like maybe you find you need additional accommodations or some thing that is way beyond the scope, you can ask for it and if she suggests that you can’t get it or it’s too expensive or it’s not necessary, then you can bring up your SEH and use that as justification.
M28R vs M28C? Some not so friendly authors and moderators (haters) In fb group “Vocational Rehab, Chapter 31 (Veterans Affairs) Discussion Group” enjoyed mocking me asking questions very politely and citing M28R. They enjoyed mocking me. Whatever. Maybe they were themselves counselors. 🤷🏽♂️ You know I was told 12 years ago I had no service connection. 10 years of appeals, BVA Court of Appeals, awarded 100% with 10 year back pay. BIG CHECK and I’m sorry to say that I met lots of people like that along the way. Live and learn. Stay positive people. God loves you! 🙏🏽
@@dirtypvtryan M28C is the new reg but a lot of sad haters get their self-worth from Facebook. You have to ignore people like that. Ask the questions you need to ask, block people who try to clown you, you can always reach out to me if your question is not answered in one of my videos and then keep it moving. Anybody who doesn’t support you can kick rocks.
I'm definitely entitled according to your definitions. If that is so, will the VA benefits cover attending a university that is 2000 miles from where I live?
If it's virtual then it doesn't matter where it is but if it's on campus, you'd have to justify why you need to go to THAT school versus any school near you or any of the hundreds of schools closer than 2000 miles away.
@@iamnicthevet Thank you for the quick reply. Your services are invaluable! Until I realized they may have a problem with such a long move, I went ahead and enrolled locally and hoped to start this fall to make sure I can handle classwork and then transfer to my target school. I need to decide this week it appears. I'm thinking that may present obstacles to going to that school. I'm wondering now if I should not do that. Perhaps I should move first. . . I definitely want to take advantage of the educational opportunities. So many factors to consider.
Hello, would you be able to help me out a little? I’m 100% service connected. I was a medic in the army and spent about 20 months in VR&E going to nursing school, however halfway through I realized that all of my disabilities made it very very difficult to function. TBI/migraines became worse, worse PTSD, and depression and anxiety all got worse. I am now receiving care for them all but I have to stop nursing school, I changed my major to something in tech, which my VR&E counselor approved. But she told me once I am out of eligible months I will no longer be able to use VR&E for school. Would the EH option work for me? Obviously my ptsd from my time as a medic prevents me from being a nurse, I just found that out too late into schooling. If VR&E approved a bachelors in computer science do they need to see me through that degree to become employable or can they really kick me to the curb in 20 months?
If they approve you to get a degree and you run out of time before you obtain that degree then they will usually just extend your time. They don't normally let you start a degree knowing you can't finish it, because the desired end (for them) is for you to complete the vocational goal. That being said, however, she can extend your time simply because she wants to or she can kick you out (because you're out of time) simply because she wants to (though its unlikely). So you can either wait and see what she feels like doing or you can start constructing your strategy to prove you have an SEH so you can be ready in case she tries to kick you out due to time expiring. Your strongest argument is that you need the completed degree in order to be equipped to obtain suitable employment.
Hello I have a question? What if you are qualified for some criteria of SEH or EH and not all of it? Will you still be able to get entitle to something? And what if you was out of work for a whole year since your last job? Does that consider a good situation to be ?
Whether or not you’ve been out of work for a year has no direct bearing on your entitlement but it can help make your argument stronger when it relates to having an SEH.If you meet the 3EH criteria then you’ll be found entitled and if you meet the nine SEH criteria then you’ll be found entitled. If you don’t meet the criteria, you get nothing.
Do I need to be able to prove all 9 of these points to get SEH entitled? Or do i just need to be able to prove one or most of them to get SEH entilted?
Then more you have the better . For any ones missing you should have extenuating circumstances to cover those. Check video number 16 at the 6:31 mark for more info
Mam is there a way I can contact you to try and setup a gameplan for filing for my first vocrehab appointment? I got out July of this year, am rated at 70% for major depression w anxiety right now and I want to become a nurse practitioner. I have pending disability ratings for my bilateral knee and hand pain but im worried they might try to deny me and try to push me to become an RN instead. I am more than willing to pay if it means helping me get a good gameplan for taking on this appointment. Thank you!
I’m sorry but I don’t accept money from vets and I don’t do individual meetings. I have put out enough videos to cover every possible aspect of entitlement approval. Once you’ve looked at all of them, if you have questions about your specific situation (that are not covered in my videos) just let me know and I’ll do what I can to help I will tell you that pushing you to be an RN is infeasible because of your service connected disability’s ...so that’s what you should concentrate on communicating. People with your SCDs often move into the administrative side of nursing but because you want to be a nurse practitioner, that is just as stressful as being an RN so I would think that would be difficult for you to get approved. My suggestion is watch my videos on approval, when you’re trying to justify your path, you should give points as to why being an RN would exacerbate your service connected disability’s (line upon line) and then justify why being a nurse practitioner would not exacerbate your service connected disability’s. You need to point out how dissimilar they are. I can also tell you that most people in nursing who suffer from depression, anxiety or PTSD are trying to get out of that field so be prepared to defend that you’re moving in the other direction, because most VRC‘s are aware of it.
@@iamnicthevet gotcha, a little bit of an uphill battle but im gonna see what I can do. At this rate, would it seem it would be easier for me to go the route of say, an attorney than an NP? That was another option I was considering
@@GavinDaGrey anything you want to obtain is doable if you are able to communicate its feasibility. If you go in there and you’re confused and you can’t answer the questions and you don’t know how to deflect the attempts to deny you then you won’t be approved for anything but if you’re organized and you voice what you want and it makes sense then you should be able to get it no matter what it is.
What if we have been at a job for 4 years? But you have no interest and i don’t have a degree. I’m 100% for ptsd/depression and that’s my reason for wanting to leave the job because it aggravates my depression. I started the job in 2018 with 30% depression and here I am in 2022 and I’m now 100% in depression alone. What can I say?
All my advice is based on you meeting the required criteria. Unfortunately, I think she's trying to resist giving you a degree and possibly trying to thwart your entitlement 1. If you're a federal employee, you must show that you at least asked for (and in some cases were denied) accommodations before your job is acknowledged as unsuitable by your vrc. With the SF50 she's probably looking for some position/department changes that you made during your tenure. If you sat at the same federal job for four years and never asked to be moved, she's going to deduce that your job is suitable 2. The fact that it aggravates your depression is not enough of a justification to say it's not suitable, she may be looking to say that. 3. Once you overcome those two hurdles you have to prove that you do not have the education or training to find work that does not exacerbate your service connected disabilities. Once you can overcome those three hurdles, then you can justify your entitlement. I suggest you rewatch videos #25 16 & 8 to get clarity on why you're entitled BASED ON THE FULL CRITERIA before you speak with your VRC again. If it were me, I would not provide my sf50 but I'd argue the validity of my entitlement.
@@iamnicthevet so would I just email her back and state that I will not provide those forms due to me knowing I’m entitled and give her the reasons why? She stated that we won’t meet again until she has those documents from me.
Hello there. Does the 12 years start on the decision date or the effective date. I was awarded a 50% rating in Dec of 2010 (not past 12 yet today) however, since I applied within the first year of being off of AD the effective date of the 50% rating went back to 30 March 2010 (past the 12 today). Could you shed light on this?
no, that's an SCD and maybe a vocational impairment but there are 9 criteria that make up an SEH. Watch video #16, starting at 6:31 to see the criteria
@@iamnicthevet Good Afternoon Nic the Vet. My name is Cheryl Dodd, AF Vet who was recently rated 100% VA disability making me eligible to possibly receive VR&E benefits. I have watched your videos, your beautiful, kind and strategic in your calling. I am in desperate need of your experience and counsel. Please call me 443-883-1522, before my next meeting with VRC We'd, Aug 5th) I want to be as fully prepared as possible. Thanks you so much for your willingness to be a guiding light in the VR & E darkness!😊 Be Encouraged, Cheryl
Hello. I will have had my appointment by the time you see this, if you see this. Regarding the SEH, some of the ones mentioned are no longer. I am not sure what #9 was three years ago, but right now it's 'Other factors that relate to preparing for, obtaining, or keeping employment consistent with the individuals's abilities and aptitudes.' Also, number 8 on your list is no more. The two that have been added are: 1. Extent and complexity of services and assistance the individual needs to achieve rehabilitation; and the one I mentioned above. I may be past my 12 or near it. I will find out before my appointment. I think I am past it and went through this video. I definitely have 8 of the 9 listed in the current SEH. I was approved last year (August 2022). She was great, but there was a lot of stall time which I think screwed me. She then had an accident and I got assigned another counselor at the end of November. Went from great to terrible!!! Nonetheless, my case was closed (education issue - time to complete degree and the counselor not wanting to extend it). I'd requested to speak to the supervisor who contacted me well after the date the counselor closed the case (think she did it on purpose). So, yeah. Hoping for the best since I'm prepared this time around!! Thanks so much for all of this!
As I mentioned, in the video, you don't have to meet all of the criteria, but the more you meet, the stronger your argument. A few things; 1. Don't get so caught up in meeting every single guideline, they can declare you to have an SEH with one or NONE of those items if they want to, but if they don't, the more you have the stronger your case. 2. Just understand how to communicate how you meet the criteria and you should be fine. 3. Item #8 from the video, actually is still in effect as are all the ones I referenced in video #8. I combined a couple, so you understand how to recognize it. I try to keep it simple so everyone gets it. The # is irrelevant. 4. They only added 2 new criteria; difficulty communicating and having a criminal record which is a great thing for vets. If you want to know EXACTLY what everything says, feel free to peruse all the SEH regulations at M28C.IV.B.1, 1.05, a
