Stu Pidasso

Thanks for the replies. I got a call last Thursday from someone at the Winston Salem Regional Office. I was asked to varify a couple of things. The lady on the phone told me that my stuff was all done and that I should be getting paid sometime this week. She could not say on the phone what the dollar ammount was so my guess is as good as yours. I am 100% and they owe me backpay for 24 months for a spouse and 4 children. So I suppose that is a pretty good bit. Now I just wish that the letter would get here. I am very excited about being able to enroll my spouse and my children in the ChampasVA. Having health coverage for them will be a real relief. All in all I did pretty good in this proccess. I wrote my own statement of claim and gathered all my own paperwork. I kept it simple and stuck with things that I had been diagnosed with when I was in the Army and I did not fabricate anything at all. I almost fell in a bear trap when I had a C&P exam done by a civillian and he tried to add a bunch of other conditions to the claim. That would have been a real pitfall for me because I did not have a bunch of paperwork for those things.

No I got the descion letter way back in January of this year. I agree with everything said. For what ever reason they still show my claim as open and that is wrong because all I was doing was adding dependents.

I started my claim 14-Sep-1010 I was completed and rated 17-Jan-2012. I have been rated at 100% and recieving compensation. That is good I am happy about it. When I got my rating my dependents had not been included so I filled the paperwork out and sent it in. During the last 7-8 months I have waited and not heard anything from VA until last month. I talked to a lady on the phone, and she said that the claim I filed 14-Sep-2010 was still pending and that I just needed to be patient. I told her that was not correct and explained to here that I already had been rated and that I had recieved my confirmation letter. She looked in the computer again and said oh ok, so what is the problem? I explained to her that I was trying to ad my dependents and that I had sent in birth certificates and my marriage license. She told me that she would call me back. That was a month ago. Well this morning she called and left a message telling me that my claim that I filed 14-Sep-2010 had been completed as of today. She also said in the message that my claim for dependents would be processed at this time. She then after that said that she did not have an answer for me as to when I would be recieving my compensation because it had to go the approval department/office. I was blown away by all of this. I logged in to E-benefits and sure enough right there plain as day that my claim is pending. I look in my payment history and you can see where I got my back pay and where I get my compensation every month. So what I am now worried about is that they are going to kick my rating back or worse yet my compensation may be interuppted until someone can figure this out. I have been trying to call the lady back so I can find out what the deal is, but the number she called on only offers me a directory I cannot access. If anyone knows what is going on that would be great. All I was trying to do was add my dependents and get them some health care.

As some of you know my claim has been rather interesting. I started it September the 10th 2010, I had all of my C&P exams completed by March 28th 2011. My claim sat inactive for months. Finally in September of 2011 I got approved to expedite the process because of financial hardship. The thing is, when they approved me they also decided to send me to a civillian Dr to do all my C&P exams and X-rays again. This was horrible and I kept getting sent to exams over and over. Everyone said to just go and not question it. I tried to use a VSO they did nothing for me. I realized I was on my own and that this was more important to me than anyone else. So I asked QTC why I was having so many exams. It turned out that the QTC Dr had added 26 new conditions to my claim and VARO (Winston-Salem) was asking for evidence to support all of the things the Dr had added. I told them (QTC) to stop and send my file back to the VARO and that I was all done submitting evidence. I did not need to add to what was there. Well another month passed then 2. I wound up calling VA January 4th 2012 and explained that I am being evicted from my house and how I had already done everything I need to do to get rated. She explained that there were conditions on my claim with no evidence. I told her to remove them and make sure IU (individual unemployability) were removed. Then I made sure that she had the original 6 still there. Well I get a phone call last Wednesday. I have been rated at 100% p&t. I recieved backpay for 16 months at 100% rate. I put my own claim together, I never lied, I never streteched the truth, and I never asked for anything I did not deserve. I was able to accomplish this on my first try. I would like to thank those of you that helped me. This saved my family from homelessness.

I was rated 20% by the Army and VA back in 2005. I had a great job and was able to work and was on a ton of pain meds. I ended up going through a bad divorce and got heavily hooked on drugs. Well I ended up making a new claim September 14 2010. I claimed 6 conditions Bi-Lateral club foot, Herniated Disc, compressed cervical spine, PTSD, Traumatic Brain injury. ALong the way I got sent to QTC for no reason to repeat my C&P's I finally told them I would not be going to anymore C&P exams that I was fine with the evidence I had submitted. I knew I told the whole truth and had the information to back it. Well I got called yesterday I am 100% permenant and total with a lump sum of $43,868. I had them wire the money to my wife's bank account as I do not have one of my own. I am not sure how long it willl take to get the money. By the way the QTC doctor added 26 more conditions to my claim. I had them removed along with individual unemployability because I felt confident in what I was saying being thre truth. I am a first time go at this station. I have been told it is faster to wire the money but I am not sure how fast. We shall see.

I will for sure go, but I really would love to know why this is happening. It does not make any sense at all. I am starting to feel as though they are fishing to try and disprove me. I know that both of my other times I have gone to this C&P (VA in Durham, NC and this same Civillian Practitioner) everything I claimed was supported. It really blows my mind that the same exact Dr will be doing the exam.

I started a claim September 14 2010. I had my C&P exams complete by March 21st of 2011. The VARO Winston Salem NC had all my C&P results and evidence by the 28th March 2011. Since then I have had to apply for and recieved approval to expedite do to financial hardship. VA scheduled a C&P exam with QTC and x-rays. I completed them 27 September 2011. I just got a letter in the mail from QTC saying that they are expecting me to come and do the exam yet again. This will be my second exam in a month for the same conditions and the third one since I initiated the claim. I know that the results from my last QTC C&P examination have not even had time to get to my raitor. I talked to my local VSO last week and he never mentioned any of this. All he said is that my claim was suspended until the 22nd of October because the raitor was waiting on my C&P results. I am at a loss. I know that the day I went to the C&P exam September 27th 2011 I was given two places to go for them at the same time. I was able to get the x-rays done but not the physical exam. The physical exam was rescheduled for the next day. This was not a problem with my QTC case manager as it happens all the time at this location due to the Dr's office and the Radiology clinic sharing a parking lot and address. I DID NOT GET COUNTED AS A NO SHOW. Anyway I had the physical exam done 3 weeks ago as of this Friday and I half expected some things to be getting done by now because I have been approved to have this expedited. I am starting to feel like all that is happening is they are going to keep scheduling me for exams over and over.

Well just when you think that things are alread interesting they get more so. Today I just got a letter in the mail saying that I have yet another exam scheduled by QTC at the exact same clinic as before. This exam is examining all of the exact same things as the last one did. There has been no explanation for any of this by the VA and I can honestly see no reason to do all of this over. As a matter of fact QTC has not even had enough time to get my examination report to my regional office. I am really blown away right now. I have been to talk to my county's American Legion VSO. He does not call me back and acts like there is nothing he can do when I call. I suggested last week that perhaps he could call the AL office located in the same building as my VARO. He said that he guessed he could give it a try. He never mentioned any of this to me and when I call he acts like he does not remember my sittuation. I called him 3 times last week and spoke with him. One time to get him to inquire another time to get information and then the next nobody was there. I really at this point am about to just forget the whole damn thing. I am homeless hungry tired and really about ready to make someone else hurt as much as I do.

The tinitus was put on their by the patient advocate at the OIF/OEF office he said he included it because of my hearing loss. I was wondering about that myself. I actually did report to my C&P exam the thing is two of them were scheduled at the same time. I ended up getting to the other location within the hour I was supposed to be there. I called QTC immediatley and told them what was going on and they said it was fine that due to the location of my exam this sittuation is quite common. It is not like I did not show up at all. I also hitchhiked to get there. I did my very very best, but I cannot be in two places at once. I know how serious it is to report to exams, I remember when I did my first 4 C&P exams for this claim that it was stressed I be there on time. I would also like to note that I called QTC and not only explained my sittuation, but I had another appointment time for them ready to go. They told me on the phone that it was no problem at all and that everything would be fine. I do not think that what I said was completely listened too or understood when I explained this earlier. I suppose someone would have to be there to understand it.

Now that you mention it, how exactly do I get a copy of the QTC exam? I got copies of my C&P exams when VA did them and posted 2 of them on here

The issue is that they scheduled two exams at the same time in two different buildings that are side by side with the same address but different street names. So it was not my fault that I missed one of them. You really do not know the sittuation so I would recommend not passing a judgement with such a sarcastic comment. If you think I do not care about my claim it is obvious you have not followed too much of what I have said nor are you aware of what all I have done to make it happen. *** CONTENT HERE HAS BEEN EDITED OUT BY ADMIN. PLEASE REFER BACK TO THE HOMEPAGE FOR MEMBERSHIP RULES. I have done everything I was supposed to do gathered all my information sent all my letters certified, saved the proof of sending them along with copies, kept a phone log complete with names dates and times. When I arrived at the place to do the xrays I was told I was on time and I checked in and everything was fine. Once I realized that the C&P was not to be done here at the location I was at I called QTC they said not to worry that it happens all the time at this location because, as I said earlier the Address, Suite, and name are all the same just he street is different and the buildings share the same parking lot. I am aware that you do not want to miss exams I have had 5 of them now and made all of them. I was able to reschedule the exam right there on the spot. As a matter of fact I went over to the correct building found out the appointments that were available and called QTC myself and helped them set it up. I really appreciate those of you that have helped me by explaining some things and giving me good advice. I also want to send a big thankyou to Jbasser for explaining how IU works. I hate the thought of not being able to go back to work and be productive. It is hard to accept. I was an Airborne Ranger now I am just well....never mind. Anyway the exam today went great. The doctor said he could see what I was talking about and I feels as though this exam should go along with my others. What I was told is that he is not here to treat or diagnose. He is here to write down what I say and what he sees. I have not blown any smoke screens nor have I insinuated that I wanted something for nothing. Thanks again everyone!!!

Well here this goes, I was not able to get a ride to the c&p but I was able to make it to the appointment for my xrays and my hearing. As I expected I showed hearing loss in the right ear which is my shooting side. I also claimed that a rocket blast landed to the right of me and caused me to loose hearing and be knocked to the ground. So far so good. I helped QTC reschedule my exam I missed and I am going today to have it done. I told the lady on the phone that as far as I knew the second opinion c&p was to evaluate me fo IU I told her that I had written a statement saying I was not persuing IU and I was not interested in waiting to have an exam done and written up. I told her that I had already had all of my exams done and was hoping that the board would go ahead and rate due to the fact I am in a state of financial peril. I told her that a request I sent in to expedite had been accepted and I was expecting to get rated not sent in for more exams. I She said that from what she could tell the board had found evidence in my records that substantiated my disabilities that I am claiming, but wanted a second opinion before awarding IU. Also she said that since I am claiming bilateral knee condition and that it is a newer ailment they wanted to investigate that. When I got my xrays done that day they took x-rays of feet, ankles (both wait baring and non), knees, and spine. I know that my first c&p's which were done by Durham VAMC were very favorable to me and all of the conditions were supported. The other thing that the C&P at the civillian doctor today is supposed to be checking out is ADHD which I was diagnosed with in the Army and got medication for it. My mental health C&P that was done by VA supported my claim of PTSD, TBI, ADHD, and said that I was Axis one for PTSD and something else about anxiety and mood disorder my GAF score was 50 the psychiatirist said that she thought it would be difficult for me to attain education or maintain suitable employment she also said that these things were more likely than not related to military service and my deployment to Iraq. I feel like VA for some reason does not like the fact that my C&P's came out favorable to me the first time and is now trying to railroad me. Please someone tell me what they think. I am going to be going to Wilkins Family Medicine in Raleigh NC.

Well I talked to VA today. I was told I must attend the exams tomorrow. There are three scheduled, and it is very agrivating. I requested and was approved to expedite my claim based on financial hardship and now after all my exams have been completed since Mar 21st of 2011 they are sending me to a civillian doctor to get all the same exams done again. I do not understand why this is happening and I am not the least bit happy.

That is who originally told me to submit my claim. I was already 20% when I got out of the Army in 2005. I appealed and it got smashed back at me denied. I was too busy trying to work and all that fun stuff and did nothing more to persue it. Anyway, I met him by chance and we talked, he was surprised what my rating was and asked me to come see him. I brought all the records that I have and he was amazed to see that I had all the stuff I needed to start my claim and we got to work on it. He said that mine should have been easy to do and for the most part it was. It is just somewhere along the way IU got requested on the 9th of December 2010, nobody paid any attention to it and I have been sitting around waiting on a C&P exam that I had no knowledge and seemingly the VA had no knowledge of needing to be done. I sent in a hardship request and now magically I need a C&P done. The papers I got today that stated the exam time said that I am scheduled for the 29th of September 2011. So that would atleast be soon, but the thing is I am ready to roll now and even though I would most likely qualify for IU I want to go to work.

I went ahead and wrote a statement saying that I was not interested in filing for unemployability and stressed that time was of the essence due to my hardship. The date on my VCAA that came was for 6-Sep-2011 it says on there that I requested IU on the 9th of December. Also in that envelope was a release of information or POA for my county's VSO to be authorised access to my information. The date that I saw my VSO was 6-Dec-2010 the date that I was said to have claimed IU was 9-December-2010. What I think happened was that he requested it and sent that in to my regional office. The day that I saw him I turned in some additional paperwork to him that I was going to mail to VA. I believe that when he mailed in my stuff he also sent in the request. What blows my mind is that all of my other C&P exams and all of my information was said to be complete and was in the hands of my regional office as of the 28-Mar-2011. I called several times and was told that all the information that they needed and the appointments that were requested were complete. Nobody ever mentioned IU or needing another exam for it. So I eventually had to put in a hardship request and when I did 3 days letter I get an envelope in the mail saying that the hold up is my request for IU and that I requested in way back in December of last year. I would understand if just recently that had been put in my file and that was causing a hold up. In my opinion my stuff has been sitting and nothing has been done with it in quite some time and when finally it was looked in too the IU request was found. Today another envelope came in the mail telling me that I had an appointment scheduled and where I need to go to get my exam done. I called the infamous 1-800 number and asked the lady why I was getting this now when I was just told Monday that so long as I sent in a written and signed request to not evaluate for IU that I would be good to go. I already did all of my C&P exams and everything. I have been waiting since the 28th of March. I know that people wait a long time for these things. She said typically the short part is after the C&P exams but that if I was going to persue IU my wait time would expand again. I told her no I did not want it. She said that even though I faxed my vcaa in and told them I did not want to be evaluated for IU it was still too early for that to have worked through the system. I find it awful ironic that the day my appointment for my exam was mailed out happens to be Monday September 12 2011 the exact same day that I called and faxed in my request to not wait for IU to be done. I just hope that my C&P exams that were done before now do not get overlooked.