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A Little Advice

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Zippeay

Question

I got my rating today and I'm not really happy with it for a couple reasons. It's a pretty long story but I'll condense it so it isn't too long. Basically I had elbow surgery to repair a ligament and the Doctor "civilian doctor" cut or damaged my ulnar nerve severly. My pinky and ring finger are numb from the tips of my fingers to the middle of my forearm and I've lost almost all the strength and cordination in my hand/wrist. I also can not straighten my pinky and ring finger they are "clawed". Anyway to make a long story short the Air Force medically retired me and gave me a 50% rating for my hand/arm.

Here is where I screwed up. I have a friend that went through something similar me about a year before. So he had done all the exams etc. While talking to him he suggested that I tell them I am left handed because that is my injured hand. I told him I couldn't do that but he told me if I didn't they would probably rate me at a 0? I was in shock and kept asking him if he was sure and he assured me he was right. To make a long story short I did what he suggested. On my rating it specifically say's that I am not left handed and they gave me 10% rating. I'm suspecting they gave me a low rating for lying to them. I can't really blame them for that.

I know I totally screwed up and what I did was morally and ethically wrong. I couldn't sleep at all last night because I feel like such an idiot. I also know that the 10% rating is probably extreemly low expecially since the Air Force rated me at 50% and they are supposed to use the same rating scale. I know they can differ depending on who is looking at the case but I was pretty shocked to see such a low rating for the type of injury I have.

I don't expect any simpathy for being stupid but I would like some advice on what I should do now. Should I just take what they gave me and be happy I didn't get in trouble for it or should I put in an appeal and hope they give me a better rating and not make a big deal out of this. I honestly hardly ever lie and I would never have done it if I wasn't told to do so by my friend. I know some of you will say I got what I deserve and I probably did but if anyone has some constructive advice I would really appreciate any help you could provide. Thank you -

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  • Founder

i understand you are in a pickle right now, but i have to say that lying to the va is unacceptable. frankly i'm not sure what to tell you to rectify this situation. i understand that you regret your actions and fear what may happen. i just don't know what to tell you, this is a good reminder for everyone though that honesty is the best policy.

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Good answer. Some times the truth hurts. By not telling the truth, why you could be stepping down to a lower level--------where you might find some VA employees. Do the right thing and tell the VA the truth. Bite the bullet. Heavens, if you are truthful, they may schedule you for a psyc exam wondering what the heck is wrong?

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Don't beat yourself over the head too much over this. If you feel you should get a higher rating, appeal. No telling how many lies (millions) the VA has strung out there to get veterans denied.

Anyway, you admit what you did was wrong, now go back to business and get the rating you feel you deserve. Just learn from this and be smarter next time around. I think you're a very brave and humble person to tell your story and that says a lot to me. Don't let other people influence you to do things you otherwise wouldn't do because it seems to me like you have a good heart.

Everyone makes mistakes and we all know the VA makes their fair share of mistakes. I had so many lies by my examiner on my first exam he should have been fired, hung out dry, and then stomped on. But instead he's probably been promoted.

People will be very quick to say you're doomed now but that is simply not the case.

jerr

While talking to him he suggested that I tell them I am left handed because that is my injured hand. I told him I couldn't do that but he told me if I didn't they would probably rate me at a 0? I was in shock and kept asking him if he was sure and he assured me he was right. To make a long story short I did what he suggested. On my rating it specifically say's that I am not left handed and they gave me 10% rating. I'm suspecting they gave me a low rating for lying to them. I can't really blame them for that.

I know I totally screwed up and what I did was morally and ethically wrong. I couldn't sleep at all last night because I feel like such an idiot. I also know that the 10% rating is probably extreemly low expecially since the Air Force rated me at 50% and they are supposed to use the same rating scale. I know they can differ depending on who is looking at the case but I was pretty shocked to see such a low rating for the type of injury I have.

I don't expect any simpathy for being stupid but I would like some advice on what I should do now. Should I just take what they gave me and be happy I didn't get in trouble for it or should I put in an appeal and hope they give me a better rating and not make a big deal out of this. I honestly hardly ever lie and I would never have done it if I wasn't told to do so by my friend. I know some of you will say I got what I deserve and I probably did but if anyone has some constructive advice I would really appreciate any help you could provide. Thank you -

Edited by jerrbilly
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Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advice either way. I think I'll take your advice Jerr. I did wrong and I admit it but honestly the Doc that did my exam lied about almost everything he looked at in my case. Almost everything he wrote down was either completely false or made up. It say's that I can tie my shoe's and button my clothes. He never asked me to do either of those things and I went in with flip flops, shorts, and a Tee shirt so he can't say he saw me do those things either. I also know he didn't ask me to do those things either. I can do both of those things but I do have difficulty because I don't have much cordination in my hand. Two wrongs do not make what I did right but I was in awe that a doctor would lie about my exam. I guess I don't understand why he would do that. Anyway I will post what comes out of this. I'm going to go see the VA on friday because they denied my melanoma cancer claim fully even though I was diagnosed before I got out. I still have active cancer? I just don't get why they would deny that if it clearly states it in my military medical records that I had it then and still have it now... It's just frustrating.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Let me be straight. Because the VA lies does not justify your lying. There is really no good advice but I will say this. Let your conscience be your guide.

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