john999

I totally agree with Vync. I have been treated for pain at the VA for over 20 years. The VA has steadily reduced my pain meds with zero other realistic options for pain control. They gave me anti-depressants. I suffer pain and it has nothing to do with psychological issues. The whole thing is the VA is scared of the DEA. When in doubt throw the vets under the bus.

Back around 2000 the VA was handing out dope like candy. Now I can't even get an increase in the little pills that are 5% Oxycodone. At one time I had a script for Morphine and Oxycodone. It turned my guts to concrete and I told the VA to back off with the Morphine. Then they put me on Fentanyl strips. That was ineffective as well. When I complained they reduced everything.

Great post. I could not agree more with you. Those Medicare HMO's are really a scam. That is killing Medicare. I don't know how much longer VA will remain free for us disabled vets. I use the VA but I also use private doctors for serious stuff. Why do private doctors think they are entitled to be millionaires by the time they are 40?

Using the VA for your medical needs helps with online claims. The VA does not have to go looking for medical records. I recently filed for an increase for AO conditions. It was all there at the VA and my claim was decided in a few months. I don't love the VA but using them for care is a good idea. I have had good luck with online VA claims so I can't kick. I have never had to file additional evidence so it is good to see I could do it as discussed in the previous posts. Filing my original claims by hand, so to speak, was a chore and my evidence was lost again and again. I finally delivered all evidence by hand to the VARO and got signed receipts for all. This was a pain in the ass.

So true, Pacman! Force them to make an official decision. Maybe you could even get an EED for TDIU. If VA knew you were unemployable they should have considered TDIU years ago. When did you file for VA compensation for the first time? Generally, if you don't ask for TDIU or other VA benefits you don't get squat from VA. I can't see how you don't have a good claim for TDIU. I got it back in 2001 and I had been unemployable for about a year.

I would concentrate on a current claim for TDIU then you can work on the 100%. The sooner you can get TDIU P&T the sooner you can quit worrying about the VA reducing your claim, or fooling around for then years on appeals for your secondary claims. You can do both a claim for an increase and a TDIU claim at the same time. When you got your medical discharge how much disability did you get? I think you can win your claims because you have evidence of disability in-service. Have you pursued a mental health claim? I would start seeing a VA shrink about depression due to your medical condition and chronic pain. I got 70% for depression along with about the same for physical conditions due to agent orange. It all goes together. Before I came to Hadit I did not know about TDIU. I had just 30% for depression. Within one year I had TDIU P&T with a years retro. You just need information and ability to deal with the VA. How long have you been unemployed and unemployable? Are you getting SSDI?

Yeah, I like your chance at getting the knee connected as secondary. You know you have enough to get TDIU as is without getting 100% schedular. I had TDIU for years before I got actual 100%. Getting from 90% to 100% is very hard. You need an extra 50% to get there. VA math is a killer. I had 93% rounded down to 90%. I finally got 100% when I added an extra 80% and even then I got 98% rounded up to 100%. If you are not working just go for TDIU. Much easier!

You want to prove that you have a disability. You don't want to show yourself doing a triathalon to show disability. The VA might ask "Hey, if you can compete in a triathalon what disability do you have?" If you had a picture of yourself limping with a crutch that would be better. This is just my common sense opinion.

If you have DMII or use pain meds then you have a good case for "K". Ask your VA doctor to get you a script for this problem.

VA would rather you slip in the tub and break your hip than give you a walk-in shower. That is really penny wise and pound foolish. Maybe they think you will die if you break your hip or neck in the slippery tub.

High blood leading to heart disease and stroke is generally accepted medical science, but you still need a MD to say so. I had CAD diagnosed as secondary to service connected diabetes by a VA doctor believe that or not? Even so when I had my C&P the nurse that did my exam said my heart disease was not service connected. So that meant an appeal and I did win it. Bronco's advise is spot on and covers the hoops you must jump through. It is so easy for VA C&P's to just deny or low ball your conditions. Be ready to file an appeal if it does not to your way. If your high blood is service connected I think you have a very good chance of getting connected for heart disease, but get your medical evidence in line.

I would have your wife reapply. I think the Caregivers program turns everybody down the first time. Do you have a physical disability as well? VA has perverted the intent of the Caregivers Program. They pretend you must be bedridden to get the care. If your wife has had to quit work to care for you then you deserve it. Maybe get a doctor's note saying if you don't have care from your wife you will need to be put in a nursing home. You are entitled to VA nursing home care. VA does not want to pay for that. You have to stand on their necks to get help. I might write my congressman as well.

If you want to get evaluated for a higher level of A&A do have to file a claim first or can you get an evaluation from VA first before you file? I got two 20% ratings for both feet and a 40% and 30% for my arms. I got "S" but what do I need for higher A&A? I am not even sure if it worth the effort to claim it.

If you file for A&A or for a new claim then VA will probably just give you a C&P for the A&A or the new claim. They just have too much on their plate with hundreds of thousands of new claims under PACT and with aging vet population. Older vets have more wrong with them and their conditions tend to get worse.

After I got TDIU P&T in 2001 I have filed 7 other claims all of which have been successful. I have never been called in to have my original claim looked at in the last 20 years. VA is too busy with PACT to go after old claims. They have many thousands of new claims to worry about.

If VA wants to examine you and you refuse you have a problem. I would avail myself of VA care if I were you just for documentation reasons. VA keeps good records of your medical issues. I got service connection for 7 different conditions related to agent orange and it was all in my VA medical records. It was a slam/dunk. You can go to the VA and let them treat.

Most definitely get VA doctor. That is how I have won all my agent orange claims. You may think VA medical is poor, but they do keep a long trail of documentation. That doc. trail will win your claims for you. I have been getting VA care for many years and my "problem list" is as long as your arm. Plus VA gives you meds for every condition. This is proof of the severity of your problems. It makes claims for presumptive conditions so easy. When VA asks for medical it is all there at the VA already. I know Burn Pit presumptives are a mile long

Is your DM11 service connected? If it is then there are many secondary conditions related to it. You should check it out. Do you have toxic exposure?

You never know about C&P exams. The last one I had was so good it lead to 100%. The C&P nurse/doctor was pretty incompetent, but it was to my advantage. I had asked for increase for my DMII and, instead, got 80% for PN which I did not expect. As James says I would not fear the exam if you have ducks in a row. Since you do have toxic exposure I feel optimistic about your outcomes. Continue to go to VA for healthcare and keep track of additions to your exposure profile. Were you exposed to burnpits?

If you have toxic exposure based on VA assumption then all things are possible. VA assumes I was exposed to Agent Orange. On that basis I have eight conditions which have been conceded to be service connected. These conceded conditions have secondaries. I would work the toxic exposure issue to the maximum degree. What is your exposure? I would definitely try to get 100% because you can continue to work and possibly receive SMC benefits at the same time. Getting 100% VA benefits will make your eventual retirement a whole lot better since those benefits are tax free. You combine 100% and usual SSA benefits and you have enough to live on. Think ahead to your retirement and make the plan. Age and disability creep on you really fast.

I think you need a real expert to help with your A&A claim. The VA does not even understand their own system. They do tend to award lowest level of A&A and then let you fight for more. A&A is a distinct world of the VA where the language is so ambiguous the VA can deny these claims or spin them out forever.

Just from my experience I would think the VA would order a C&P just to take a look at you. If you do go for an exam just be sure to look your worst. If you could arrive in a wheelchair that would be best. Make sure someone else brings you to the exam. I got HB due to 100% plus 60%. That is the easiest way. I would prepare for a battle and hope they use common sense. There are people that are experts with these things, and I mean No Result. VA tends to give lowest rating for A&A as possible.

PF can really cripple you if it is bad. I have DMII so I claimed nerve damage to my feet. I got 40% on each foot. If you have DMII it is good to claim PN because you can get much more money than flat feet or PF. The test for PN is a physical exam. They prick your feet and ask if you feel it. When your feet really hurt and swell it is hard to know just what is wrong. Don't get surgery for your feet if you can help it.

That is something to think about if you do a lot of volunteering and are TDIU. The thing is how would the VA know that you volunteer two days a week at the local library. If you volunteer at the DAV or VFW in high profile situation that might not be good. The weird thing is that most VSO's are disabled vets. I believe that there is an age exemption for those who are TDIU and want to work. If you are 70 years old will VA come after you if you bag groceries part time at the local market?

You really never know what these guys will say on your report. Some will be hostile and some favorable. It is a crap shoot. I have had these C&P docs say some outrageous things to me about other vets.