keepugessn

Larry J, OK... I did what you suggested and boy was that something. IRIS sent back a response that they requested more from the SOJ and they would let us know asap. Well today we got a letter stating that they needed for his TDIU claim a new VA21-2183 (verification of employment) from his former employer because they recently received one and it was wrong because my husband filled it out and signed it (BBBSSS). This was so unreal we could not believe it. The VA sends out employment verifications to the employers so there was no way my husband could have filled out or signed anything because it was mailed to the former employer not him. We called his former employer and they pulled his file and said they submitted to the VA this requested form over a year ago and had their copy in his file. I asked her to fax it to the RO in Oakland and also fill out and sign the new one they were requesting and also fax that one, then mail it to them and mail me both copies. Our questions are... we were told for months they had all records, and it was sitting on the DRO'S desk waiting for approval. The only way this would even be being addressed is if I had not bitched my poor husband into calling the VA because it had been two years with no response or even a letter saying it was being processed. Why did they not request a missing form until now after they verified several times they had it all? Who would of submitted a recent VA 21-2182 filled out and signed by my husband? Answer.... no one this was just a stall tactic on their part for losing his file. I asked the VA nicely to please send a copy of the form he filled out incorrectly because it did not happen and we want written proof of this. All I can say is I believe they lost his file or it sat unattended in some stack for months and no one knew where it was until we started screaming. They now say get the form to them asap and they will make a decision because we told them we had a hardship. Funny thing is, if they had done this and processed it right in the first place we would not have lost our home, or be in the financial situation we are in due to our illnesses. My husband is a PHx2/DFC/5 Air medals with V devices and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and so much more and he can't get the time of day out of the Oakland RO office. We are starting to believe in the hurry up and die theory......Thanks for listening....Donna and Buckwheat

Larry J, Thanks for the info. I will do that right now. I believe I signed the form in the AL office and the officer faxed it right then and there. I know they received it because they had me go to two doctors and when I called in Dec. 09 they said the TDIU claim was on the guys desk waiting for approval. But as to real hard paper I don't believe I have that. The AL officer does. Thanks Buckwheat....

Hi Everyone, We are a little confused with a call we made in regards to a TDIU application I filed in March of 09 for 70% TDIU...... 50 ptsd &40% loss of eye while shot down in Vietnam. Awarded 70% combined. Have Dupreyntens Contractures in both hands (no rating) with use of basically my thumbs only. It is said that is a secondary condition to PTSD and I am 60 years old. I was told the file has been sitting on desk waiting for decision since 12/22/2009. I have called several times and was told this again and again. I called two weeks ago and the American Legion officer in Oakland said he would get my file decisioned immediately and I would hear back from him in one week. Two weeks go by and today I call and here is the story I now get..... My file is sitting in an appeals office upstairs with about 250 more files on someones desk and they are waiting for a decision. But because there are so many files I can guess how it may take more time to get a decision. However it would be definitely decided in 1 month. First, am I wrong but I filed for TDIU and have not gotten a response as of yet so how can It be in Appeals? I have not filed one yet???? Since I filed in March of 09 and it has supposedly been sitting on some guys desk for months does this sound right, and now its in Appeals. I told the American Legion officer I felt some idiot lost my file and he started changing the story after he looked at the notes in the file. He said your right it was received on the desk 12/22/09 but well it should be soon. What gives with these guys???? What else can I do to get an initial response to my application, oh and by the way don't they have to send you a status update every 60 days or so saying they are working on my file? I have never received anything with this application since I filed it in March 09. This is with the Oakland office by the way. Any response would be appreciated and I know there are a lot worse than I still waiting to hear something also. Thanks Buckwheat and Donna

Berta, I thank you so much for the detailed information you have provided. My wife's ex worked for the county planning dept/environmental health dept., and he has contacts that we might be able to get somewhere with. Along with several attorneys in our family and with the contacts they have, we are going to look into this. You sure know your stuff and I hope if I have further questions about this I can ask you. Have a awesome day Berta. Lance and Donna

Berta, Thanks for the reply. I realize its not recognized by the VA yet every site I look up concerning AO and Cirrosis/Cancer of the liver links these two together. I cannot believe how many posts I read from Vets who had one or the other or both who never drank, or did drugs that have this problem. They are crying out, no screaming out for help and the peoples report on the Dioxin home page has this and tons more info stating the effects of Dioxin on the human body. I just took a small piece from it to show what I am finding. How does one go about getting the VA to recognize Cirrosis as a disease with secondary of Dupuytren Contracture which is caused by Cirrosis of the liver and I suppose that if you don't drink you have to explain the Cirrosis. I am sure there are many, many more issues not listed on the list for AO conditions that are directly caused by Dioxin. Dioxin/AO from the Dioxin homepage/effects of Dioxin on the human body.One would expect that, after exposure to high doses of dioxin, more of the toxin would accumulate in fatty tissues where it dissolves best. Instead, a greater proportion of it ends up in the liver (Abraham, 1988). Apparently, the liver, when faced with high concentrations of this poorly soluble compound, makes more of the protein cytochrome P-450 1A2 (CYP1A2) to which dioxin binds (Olson, 1994; Diliberto, 1997; IARC, 1997). This protein is quite abundant in the liver, and it becomes more so in the presence of dioxin and related compounds (Voorman, 1987, 1989; Poland, 1989; 1989a). It does not bind to dioxin as tightly as does the Ah receptor described below, but, because of its abundance, it is the major protein to which dioxin binds. I want to help...please, please what can I do to help all these other guys in the same condition as myself and others that are having such a hard time getting these things listed. I have the time where do I start?

Congrats to you, thats wonderful News!!!

Well for the most part I have contractures in my hands that started curling up within the year after I left Vietnam. It is caused from Cirrosis of the liver and I did not drink or do drugs at that time nor do I do them now maybe an occasional beer but thats it. I have medical records going back a long time from reg doc stating the contractures and I am not sure of the hep c don't have any knowledge of having that yet??? lol thanks With the lung issues and this I thought for sure it was from AO though.

Thanks for the reply Ron I really appreciate it. From what I read if its not on the list, I need a doctor to show I have an issue with these two things and then prove I was saturated with this stuff, and then that the issues I do have are directly related to Agent Orange? Is that right? I am having trouble with how to put all this together but this site as been truly a godsend. Some of us may not post everyday or respond all the time but we are here and reading every word you all have to say and it helps alot. Lance

Hi all, Does anyone know if they consider Cirrosis a disease caused by Agent Orange? I have read articles that say it is the cause and as a secondary the Dupretryns contracture is from cirrosis. I possibly have both, definately the contracture but almost positive about the cirrosis. Have had since 1971/1972 after Vietnam where we ate drank and slept in the ao stuff. I was a door gunner and it covered us because we flew behind, under, around planes spreading the stuff. I have serious lung issues that are cronic but how do you tie the two together? Thanks Lance

Hi Jim, Hope you hear soon, we received a post card in the mail from the American Legion saying they were pleased to inform us that a decision was rendered by DVA. It was a donation card also...you would not send a ptsd/sc combat injured veteran a post card with a pleased to let you know statement on a donation card unless it had some form of a favorable decision that went with it would you???? But whos to say this is the DVA we are talking about. Anyone else get this card and get turned down????? Thanks Buckwheat

Major Congrats and a big woohoo. Although I am sorry it has taken you so long....kinda bittersweet.

Berta, Thanks so much, your awesome....I will do this asap. Donna

Berta, Thanks for the response I appreciate it. Well as for the other disabilities he has some form of contractures in both his hands they are all closed up except for his thumb and fore finger. He has high blood pressure, poor vision in the one good eye, and he has some hearing loss. They did the exam at the va and told him he had some blood in his urine, he won't go back to have it checked out. He went to the c&p mental exam they set him up for today. He called and said that the guy said he was sorry for making him relate the stories and he was going to help him out. I don't know what that means but my husband was in alot of combat action on those hunter teams, and special missions across the river.....so he really is tramatized to this day about this. I can only pray that they do the right thing and give him 100%. Here is a question though. If he is 100% along with the 40% for the loss of eye, which is still only 100% will he be able to work at all. He loves to fiddle around with cars, and this bothers him somewhat that he might not be able to work. Also when does one go to the ssa to file for disability benefits. Is it after they get the rating from the va or before. Last thing, my husband said he went to the va in 1971 and in 1980 for the ptsd and they refused to help him. Told him he was ok. Is this the date you were asking for because he filed two times and they did nothing for him.

Hi everyone, I am trying to help my husband acquire the silver star that Captain Frank Brinson (kia 1/5/1970 in Cantho, VN) who died in my husbands, put in for my husband. There are several written accounts of a herioc act that my husband did to back this up however I do not know who to contact and Cpt. Brinson is gone. Any help here would be great as I believe this would help him greatly as he still suffers from this tramatic event and since Brinson was so close to him and he was the one who put my husband up for it, it would mean the world to him. Thanks so much, Donna Stephens for Lance (Buckwheat) Stephens 8/69-6/1970 Cantho, VN Copperhead squad, 162nd AHC

This is probably a stupid question but please help as this is our first time here. Husband is SC Disabled vet 40% combat related loss of eye and ect. He retired out in 1970 and went to the va twice in 1971 and in 1980. He went for AO issues and PTSD. He saw and was involved in much, much action. Door gunner in the Delta on the infamous hunter killer teams...Best friend died in his arms and such in helicopter combat. They told him he did not have AO or PTSD. After several years 37 I believe he finally went back to the VA and got a service officer. Questions are 1) He had a physical on 6th and tests no response from doctor or anyone...does he get letter of results or should he call and go in again as he had blood and all but they did not tell him what to do next. 2) Do they auto check for AO again, does he have to register and if so where. 3) They told him they were putting him in for 100% delayed ptsd, he has two purple hearts and they made him submit for new dd-214 with the hearts on it as they were not listed but he had the orders for them and the medals. They turned this all in during 6/07. What should he do now and should he try to apply for SSD as he stopped working a few months ago and we do not know what to do?. Any help would be great. He will not ask anything, he feels like he's begging. Thanks Donna