Ready to Throw My Computer Through the Window

Retold by VA Disability Hub from VA Claims Insider. Quoted passages are Dwaine Esch's own words as published by VA Claims Insider. Dwaine Esch is the subject of this story, not its author.

When the process is the hardest part

Dwaine Esch flew helicopters for the U.S. Army, with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, until he retired in 2015. With help from someone in the Army, he filed his first VA claim at retirement and was rated 90%. As his conditions got worse, he decided to file for an increase. That is where the process got hard.

“I was trying to figure out how to submit my claim through the VA.gov website and I was getting so frustrated. I was ready to throw my computer through the window,” Dwaine recalled.

For many veterans, the hardest part of the claims process is not the medical evidence or the C&P exam — it is the process itself. The forms, the terminology, the online portal, the waiting. Dwaine’s frustration is one of the most common experiences veterans describe, and it stops too many of them from ever finishing their claim.

Finding relief

With a coach walking him through it by phone, Dwaine got his increase claim submitted, and he said things moved quickly after that. A couple of weeks after his C&P exam, VA awarded him a 100% rating.

Describing how it felt to finally have help, he said: “I just felt like a load was lifted off my shoulders.”

That shift matters. The stress of navigating a confusing system on top of the conditions you are trying to get rated can make everything worse. Getting help — whether from a VSO, a fellow veteran, or a resource like this site — is not a sign of weakness. It is the smart move.

Breaking the stigma

Beyond the claims process, Dwaine speaks openly about something many veterans still struggle to discuss:

“It’s important for veterans to know that it’s not bad if you’re having mental health issues and it’s OK to get help.”

Mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression are among the most commonly rated VA disabilities — and among the least talked about. Dwaine’s willingness to speak up is part of changing that.

What this story shows about the VA claims process

This section is VA Disability Hub’s own summary for readers, not part of Dwaine’s account. It describes general VA rules, not a prediction for any one claim.

• A worsening condition calls for an increase claim. When a rated condition gets worse, VA says to file a claim for increased compensation on VA Form 21-526EZ, not a Supplemental Claim. See when a Supplemental Claim fits.
• The C&P exam matters. Dwaine’s increase was decided weeks after his exam. Missing an exam without good cause can lead VA to deny a claim for increase, so read what happens if you miss the exam and how to prepare truthfully.
• There is more than one kind of 100%. A schedular 100% rating, TDIU, and the permanent and total (P&T) designation work differently. Our 100% rating guide explains each.
• Mental health conditions are rated too. Our guides to PTSD, depression, and anxiety explain how VA rates them and what evidence it looks for.
• Check who is helping you. VA Claims Insider is a commercial company. Free help is available from VSOs, and you can verify any representative’s accreditation before you pay anyone.

Correction — October 21, 2026: Updated his rating to 100% (first rated 90%), as the source reports, corrected the order of events to match the source, and matched quotes to the source’s wording.

Update — October 21, 2026: Added our own summary of what this story shows about the VA claims process and credited this page to VA Disability Hub, which retold the story from VA Claims Insider.

Dwaine’s story was originally shared through VA Claims Insider. Quoted with attribution for educational purposes.