I’m curious whether anyone here has successfully appealed a VR&E retroactive induction denial under 38 CFR § 21.282.
I recently requested retroactive induction for college education I previously completed using my Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).
My request was denied because my previous degree wasn’t considered reasonably necessary for my current VR&E rehabilitation plan and doesn’t transfer into or reduce the requirements of my current training program.
However, my previous education directly relates to my approved vocational employment goal. I also submitted labor market research showing that employers in my field require or prefer degrees alongside certifications.
I’m considering challenging the denial and would appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through this process.
**For those who successfully appealed:**
Did you use Higher-Level Review, a Supplemental Claim, or a Board Appeal?
What was the original reason for your denial?
What evidence or arguments helped get the decision overturned?
How long did the appeal process take?
Did you work with a VSO, VA-accredited attorney, or VR&E Officer?
I’m especially interested in cases where the previous degree aligned with the approved vocational goal but wasn’t required for the current training program.
I’d appreciate any firsthand experiences, advice, or lessons learned. Thanks!

About a year ago, I applied for VR&E, but my counselor told me that the VA could potentially interfere with my disability compensation while I was attending school. Because I’m receiving 100% TDIU and have permanent-and-total status, that concerned me, and I decided not to move forward at the time.

Honestly, I’m exhausted from putting off my education. I want to go back to school, earn a degree, and build a long-term career. I’m willing to accept that returning to work after graduation could affect my TDIU benefits, but I’m concerned about whether simply attending school could put my monthly compensation at risk while I’m still in the program.

Has anyone here received VR&E benefits while on TDIU? Did attending school affect your monthly disability compensation, or did any issues arise during your training?
I’d really appreciate hearing from veterans who have firsthand experience, as well as anyone familiar with the actual VA rules. I want to understand my options before applying again.
Thank you for any guidance. I do not have any exams or check in the future.

Thank you to whoever take their time to give me an insight.

July 21 I had my first and only meeting with my counselor. We discussed my plan and the note we left off on was him telling me to get back to him as soon as I got my acceptance letter for school and he would write my plan up. While I was waiting on my acceptance letter, I received an email from him that he was resigning.

I have not talked to him once since. I sent emails and tried to call multiple times all to no avail. I am now in a situation where I have my acceptance letter, and have yet to be assigned to a new counselor, even though he has already been gone for a month. At this point, I don't even have a plan written up. I followed up on my end of the bargain and my counselor dropped the ball hard-core. Anytime I called the regional office. They just give me the runaround and tell me that I will get a counselor soon, but it has been well over a month now. I'm not sure what the appropriate next step to escalate this and ensure that this gets in front of somebody who can actually do something about it?

Hello. I'm pretty upset rn.

And trying to figure out if there's a better course of action than reapplying and starting the process all over again.

I spoke w my Voc Rehab counselor Sept. 23 and she advised that the officer did not approve my 5 months extension request. She emailed me the letter bc she knew I was not stateside at the moment and it was dated Sept. 11, 2026.

She told me that she recommends that I appeal and aim for the additional 5 months.

I am already enrolled in school with an entitlement of 12 months and 1 day pending. However, bc the 5 months extension was denied, I was told I had 1 year to appeal the decision.

After speaking w my School Advisor, last week, we came up w a plan of how I can finish within my entitlement window without irritating my disabilities so much.

I emailed my advisor today (10.16) and advised that I would like to move forward with the original 12 months and 1 day of entitlement and she emailed me back and said that she mailed a letter on October 11 AND advised that I was removed from the program since it had been 30 days from the dated letter on the decision that the 5 months was not approved.

I had no idea I only had 30 days to make a decision as that document says if I dont agree I have a year to appeal it, but there was no mention of the 30 days on that Sept. 11 letter.

She said I can reapply at VA.gov and omg I cannot go through more delays w this! 😩

I'm 90% rated so to my knowledge there needs to be a whole review or something under 38 CFR § 21.198 before I'm disenrolled. Is this correct?

Anybody have any insight and can assist? 😭😭

I am eligible for VR&E benefits. I want to do a grad school program they’d approve but my two options are 1) a more than full time (at the grad level) accelerated 2 year masters or a 3 year masters that is considered part time in the first year but full time the last two years.

I wanted to do the 3 year masters to ramp up since it’s mostly full time just initially part time (as far as enrollment status) but my VRE counselor just keeps saying I have to be full time without any offer to discuss or maybe help me sort it out and find a compromise.

My question is two parts: 1) can I get VRE part time and my VRC is just stonewalling for some reason? 2) if I structure the program so I’m enrolled full time the first two years and my last year I’d be 3/4 time, will it kind of force VREs hand to pay my last year because they paid for two years of school already but my last year is just shy of full time?

I’m just really frustrated that they don’t even want to discuss it and they are being super inflexible.

Thanks.

So I applied and did Virtual Group Orientation last Friday and got an email I have it again tomorrow??? I sent all my documents prior to last Friday and asked a question cause they said they were taking attendance. I’ve emailed the eVA email a couple times and no one is responding. I can’t find any phone numbers. I’m in Arizona. I don’t know if I’m assigned to Phoenix or what part of Arizona. I’m in Kingman AZ.

Good Afternoon,

Context: I am 26, I was an AE2 in the Navy, got out about 3 years ago, worked in manufacturing for a bit as a technician and then as the shift manager for a little bit as I did CC online asynchronously. I graduated with an associate’s of engineering and transferred over to a full time student in-person at a university in Texas. This is my second semester in person trying to earn my bachelor’s in electrical engineering. I’ve tried my best, don’t even have a job right now (killing me financially even with disability and VR&E full-time) and I have taken the recommended courses that are required. I have an affinity for math, but I don’t get the calculus at this point (Calc 3 and Differential Equations). I have done tutoring and studied and I cannot get the hang of it.

Frankly, I don’t think I like this and if this is what engineering consists of, I’m out. It’s hard, these kids are complete assholes, and I’m tired of getting paid like an E-2. I don’t know what I like so that’s why I’m thinking of dropping school in general, but I’m not a quitter and I’d like to earn a degree. I’ve been praying on it. I know what I’m good at (working with hands, being in charge of people, and I like people in general.) I’ve been praying on it. I know with a military background and a degree, I’m supposed to be unstoppable, but I’m having a crisis here lmao.

Has anyone else experienced this? Anyone have any excuse being able to change their major this far into VR&E? Anyone else want to complain with me😭😭? You can also call me an idiot, maybe I need to hear it because my doctor gf says my frustration is very much not a bad thing.

I think I got overpaid because the math doesn't add up with how many credits I'm taking, and I can't get a hold of my counselor, so I can't confirm. I was looking at what I'm going to get paid for the rest of the semester, and it still seems off. What would the steps be to try to get this solved? I haven't been able to talk to my counselor for months.

Hey everyone,
I'm currently using VR&E at WGU, and my current term ends on December 31, 2026. My next term starts January 1, 2027.
As a continuing student, do I need to do anything to make sure my next term is approved and starts on time, or do WGU's military/VA team and my VR&E counselor typically handle everything automatically?
I'm mainly wondering if I should be contacting my VR&E counselor or WGU now, or if it's still too early since my current term doesn't end until December.
Just trying to avoid any delays between terms. Thanks

Hi!

State: Oklahoma.

If one gets approved for tuition & transportation costs to attend a tech center (for trade skill), is Pell Grant awarded in addition to it (SAI is -1500)? Or is one canceling out the other?!

FYI, Cost of attendance is $ 24.000 + possibly more if request will be approved for an increase of CoA for rent& utilities & higher transportation costs (70 miles commute one-way) & in home baby sitter (for sick days of child, so finaid wouldn't be lost due to absences).

I want to apply for state voc rehab to get training for a trade skill with very good job prospects as an AuDHD adult. I want to figure out what the financial overall situation is and if there will be a gap in funding.

Thank you for any helpful information!

I'm absolutely furious and wondering how high I can take this.My boyfriend applied for VR&E in October 2025. He had actually been in the program successfully a few years ago, but had to withdraw because of issues related to his service-connected disability.After applying, we heard basically nothing for months. In January, he attended a group informational video session and then spent months trying to get in touch with his counselor. He emailed. He called. He left messages. No responses.Finally, at the beginning of September, almost a year after applying, he received notice of an appointment scheduled for 9/24 to develop his rehabilitation plan.He joined the Teams meeting on time, only to be told by his counselor that he had another meeting and would need to reschedule. The counselor did not reschedule him during that call. My boyfriend immediately sent a follow-up email requesting another appointment so he could keep the process moving.Then this week we received a letter dated 9/26 stating that his VR&E case was being discontinued for "lack of participation and coordination."One of the reasons listed was that he allegedly failed to sign plan documents. How could he refuse to sign documents that were never created, presented, discussed, or sent to him? The entire purpose of the 9/24 appointment was to develop his rehabilitation plan, but that meeting never happened because the counselor ended it and said it would need to be rescheduled.The only paperwork he ever received from this counselor was the initial set of documents sent when the counselor was first assigned to his case. Those documents were completed, signed, and returned promptly. Beyond that, no plan documents were ever provided for review or signature.So let's review this: he applied, attended the required group session, repeatedly called and emailed with no response, showed up to the appointment they scheduled, immediately requested a new appointment when the counselor canceled on him, and returned every document that was actually sent to him. Yet somehow he's being discontinued for a "lack of participation and coordination" and for not signing documents that apparently never existed.Has anyone dealt with something like this before? Who did you contact to get it resolved? A supervisor? Regional office? Congressional inquiry? VA hotline? At this point I want to escalate this as far as possible because this feels completely unfair and frankly makes no sense.

Hi. I'm new to Reddit and Voc rehab. I am physically and mentally disabled. I have my BS and am going for a second BS. What can I expect from OVR? Especially financially? Do they pay tuition?

Can you share your experience how they helped you? Thank you.

Hello all,

Submitted for VR&E originally and was denied. Have since submitted a Higher Level Review July 23rd. Just curious if anyone has found success with submitting a HLR?

In addition, what is the timeline for a VR&E HLR that you all have seen? It has officially been 9 weeks (not too crazy long as far as the VA seems to go, I know). Should I call the VR&E Regional office?

I just don't want to run out of my Post 9/11 since I'm in school currently.

Did my appointment today, and the rep said “congratulations, you made it past the entitlement stage” to which I am happy about.

Now, I have to make it through the feasibility , which the counselor told me would consist of him going through my medical records and my Va psychologist visit that got me to 100%. It would also consist of an interview.

My thing is, I don’t want my hospital records to mess me up. I’ve been hospitalized more than 20 times for my diagnosis. I’ve also been out of the hospital for 3 years, almost done with my bachelors and maintaining a high gpa.

I think I will get it based off that and my current lifestyle but I could be wrong. I mean, I’m sure they can think that I’m influenced by my past but it doesn’t determine my future.

I’ve changed my life around over the years, so hopefully I’m approved for the feasibility interview coming up soon.

I got a job that makes 22 an hour and I'm told by my counslor that I make too much money to qualify for assistance with things like tuition or school accommodation assitance. So what exactly are they able to help me with?

Hello battles,

I have a VR&E appointment scheduled. My injuries are mainly my back and my legs.

My employment goal is to go to school and do a dual accelerated degree program. A BPH -> MPH epidemiology. That is my 1st choice.

How do I go about trying to get that approved at my VR&E apportionment. What do I need to bring with me? Do I need to do research and show the counselor stats? Any help would be appreciated.

I was found entitled for Vr and E. My counselor was incredibly understanding. I will have my bachelors degree in psychology in December. However, there is very little I can do with this degree. He agreed that a masters degree in the field would be essential for my goal of becoming a therapist. However, we left off on the note that once I received acceptance into the college, which I would pursue my masters degree, then he would go about approving and finalizing my plan.

I have spent the past few months waiting on acceptance as I will start in the spring of 2027, but I have also been operating under the assumption that my schooling and therefore income will continue into spring of 2027 as I have a family to support. I received a message out of the blue that he will be resigning on the 18th of this month and that I will be assigned a new counselor. Now I am worried. What are the odds that a new counselor swooped in and just decides that my bachelors degree is enough and they decide they will not participate in approving my masters degree plan? Is there anything at all that can protect me? I guess I am just feeling a lot of emotions about this right now and would appreciate some insight from people who know the program much better than I do.

I have seen a lot of negatives about VR and how it can be almost useless, to say the least. I have achondroplasia with pretty bad spinal stenosis, bowed legs, the whole 9 yards. I am basically bound to office work; I have experienced physical labor being a field technician during my 12 week internship (which was related to my degree). Almost every night I would have to take Tylenol for really bad aches and pains.

Anyways, I am interested in tech, have a bachelors in IT, a certification, and my IT field technician internship as stated above. I understand tech is very over saturated right now and really that can be said about any office job in general. I have applied to a little over 100 places since my internship ended and have received nothing but 1 interview and a good handful of rejection letters. At this point it is coming down to needing any sort of office job in general, regardless of my degree.

So that leads back to my original question. Does VR actually help? In their eyes I may seem more than capable of landing something, yet I am clearly struggling.

The whole reason I discovered this in the first place is because I have a friend that couldn't land any work anywhere either. He just finished basic training and then pretty much had a job he was interested in handed to him on a silver platter. Which, I get it, it is the military with a lot of risks, but I would honestly do that too if I could. That basically led me to finding this and Blind Institute of Technology (which was worthless). It is just sort of depressing to me that no matter how tough things get, abled bodied people always have that fallback option, and there is nothing really like that for disabilities. Besides VR obviously, which is why I ask, because of the bad reviews.

hi i have my intake meeting for VR (Connecticut) in a couple weeks! i have multiple physical disabilities and am hoping to get funding and support for a 4-year audiology graduate program. I must do this grad program to earn my license. if anyone has any tips or advice for the meeting it would be greatly appreciated :)

Hello everyone,

I'm posting the points that the representative at the university sent in the Comments section

I recently inquired about Iowa's state tuition bill that recently passed. I reached out to a university to ask about the requrirements and applying. I received an email back but it doesn't seem right to me.

I am TDIU but they want me to exhasust my VR&E benefits. I am eligible for VR&E but that would conflict my TDIU benefits.

Thanks for your help.

I'm starting a grad program sponsored by VR&E in 2 weeks. I don't have a laptop. I been trying to reach out to my VRC since July but he has not been responding. Same with the regional office as well. I emailed and called multiple times and silence.

Any advice?

What is the point of VocRehab if they won't actually do anything for you. I came up with my plan, I took steps to put that plan in motion. I have a five year plan written out to every detail of what I need to do and what's required to do it. I've secured my own funding.

VocRehab is just completely clueless and they have nothing to offer. It was just a complete waste of my time and state resources. I would have been better off not even involving them. They don't remove barriers to your employment. They create them. I need an ebike. It's perfectly reasonable and within the rules of VocRehab and they can justify the expense and it would help not only to get to school, but doctors appointments, the grocery store. They won't even help with that. They want someone with PTSD to be trapped on a public bus for hours and I'm just not going to do that.

I specifically looked it up to see if it was actually a thing to get help with, but apparently not in Florida. I just don't understand what their role is other than create more paperwork. They won't even help with a computer for school. They won't help pay for transcripts. They won't help with any school application fees. Nothing.

I’m currently enrolled in school. I’ve already been deemed eligible for VR&E. My counselor claim she is making a plan which would take a couple weeks. This was over a month ago and now my school won’t let me enroll anymore until I pay my tuition. I keep reaching out to my counselor and she won’t answer. I’ve tried calling the state number VR&E and no one calls me back any ideas of what to do about this?

The state is NYS.

Update**

I called the state office number, stating I would be getting in touch with my elected officials over this matter. Wouldn’t you know, within less than an hour my counselor reached out to me, with plan ready… This just proves she was ignoring me…