Info On Service Connection

[red]

Hello to all, I have not posted in a while but read the posts every day. Now I am trying to help a friend. He spent two years active duty in the Navy and 22 years in the Navy reserve and is retired from this service.

'

This vet has 20% disability now due to a serious hearing disability which was determined to be service connected. He has applied for more disability using a heart bypass, stints in his legs for his reason. He applied for this five years ago, has not heard anything and is about ready to give up. Since then, (last week) he had to have his neck arteries operated on due to blockage. My question is this: Is it possible that he will get a % due to the non service conditions that he applied for 5 years ago. Should he send in his latest operation,(neck artery operation), do you think he has a chance of gaining a higher rating with the non service connected things that he has sent i and not heard from for five years. He contacted his local senator which did not help at all. He is ready to give up. He is using the dav's of America to help him. Should he join the Am. Legion and use them?

Does anyone have the 800 number for him to call and check on his status? I do not want him to give up. Any help from this great board would be appreciated. I hope all of you are doing well. Red

P.S. Should he try to connect something else that resulted from his service connected hearing disability?

[pacmanx1]

The number is 1 800 827 1000, I seriously doubt that there is a claim open for five years that is not a NOD or some type of appeal. I could be totally wrong but that is my opinion. When was the veteran active service dates, could he have been exposed to asbestos? Others may chime in.

[Berta]

1-800-827-1000

After the robot asks you to hit #1, then hit 2,3,1, and then 0

"He applied for this five years ago, has not heard anything and is about ready to give up."

The BVA has made the point in many decisions that the VA clams process is not a one way street.

We have to become proactive from day one.

Either he depended on a vet rep to file this claim and they didn't or he filed it and yet never received any VCAA letter nor any confirmation at all that they got it.

Is he a Vietnam incountry vet?

If so is his heart disease called ischemic heart disease?

"Should he try to connect something else that resulted from his service connected hearing disability?" He should claim anything that is potentially due to the Hearing loss.

It is quite possible that a severe hearing loss with balance problems due to the hearing loss could cause one to be so sedentary that they develop heart disease.

I read a DIC award on that basis some time ago.

Secondaries need medical evidence of the link to the SC disability.

[Berta]

1-800-827-1000

Either he depended on a vet rep to file this claim and they didn't or he filed it and yet never received any VCAA letter nor any confirmation at all that they got it.

Is he a Vietnam incountry vet?

If so is his heart disease called ischemic heart disease?

"Should he try to connect something else that resulted from his service connected hearing disability?" He should claim anything that is potentially due to the Hearing loss.

It is quite possible that a severe hearing loss with balance problems due to the hearing loss could cause one to be so sedentary that they develop heart disease.

I read a DIC award on that basis some time ago.

Secondaries need medical evidence of the link to the SC disability.

Geez -FIVE YEARS????I called them 3 times in the last 5 weeks and finally got confirmation they had my new claim. I also have a USPS tracking slip to make sure.

[red]

Ok, he just called the 800 number you all supplied us. They told him a decisions has been made and he should hear from them by mail in one to two weeks. That is all they would tell him, they would not tell him if it was approved. He did tell me that the doc who checked him did not think he would be approved. If denied, what is his next step? What a great board for vet's!!!! Thanks again.

[carlie]

If denied, what is his next step?

Filing a Notice of Disagreement - (NOD).

It is of utmost importance to study the Evidence and Reasons and Bases Sections of Rating Decisions to be sure of

WHY VBA denied and / or lowballed a claim.

In the Evidence Section you want to be sure to check what they used against what has been submitted.

[Philip Rogers]

Try calling the 800 number again and asking them what percentage of disability he's currently rated at. That should tell him if he won. If he lost he won't have any disability rating. They won't tell him if he won or lost but generally will tell him his current rating.

pr