Got 100% increase to housebound and didn’t want it. Want to do?
Hey all, I have a situation and any advice is appreciated.
I have been receiving 100% for some time now. I attended a TBI clinic where the VA liaison recommended I “poke the bear” and increase my TBI and PTSD ratings because in their words I was pretty much guaranteed to not be decreased and it would be good to add it to my file.
Well, that’s exactly what I did. The claim just got decided and I was awarded housebound with an increase to my 100%. The thing is, I’m not housebound. Life sucks and I struggle, but I leave the house most days and I work a 9-5.
The only thing I can think that made this happen is I hadn’t worked for four months when I had my exam. I took it off to focus on my health, attend clinics, and find new ways to take care of my brain.
So my question is what do I do? I’m not homebound so I don’t think I deserve this extra money and I also don’t want to commit fraud. At the same time, I really don’t want to open up my claim again to get rid of it and risk “poking the bear” again.
Again, any advice is appreciated. Thank you!
Edit: you guys are quick! Problem solved. Thank you all so much. For anyone wondering the answer: 100% on a single disability (TBI increase in my case) plus at least 60% on others = homebound. And from what I’ve been reading it doesn’t mean you’re actually homebound. I still feel weird about it but will avoid poking the bear for now. Thank you all.