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rpowell01
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Posts posted by rpowell01
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I still laugh at this rule for the fact that now I have paid in TWICE the amount of taxes to the government if you think about it. Once in June 1996 whenever they taxed my severance pay and currently as they recoup a portion of my pay. We can't double dip but the government can double tax severance pay. I never received those taxes back so how can the VA now take them back? Funny stuff.
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I actually think he has responded because in November I go see a Neurologist pain management. I understand after rereading the MRI why he wrote that because the IMPRESSION says something different than what the radiologist wrote in the FINDINGS.
I am not going to say what I want to say on here about these MRI report because they are not worth my words. But how can you say onething in the Findings and another thing in the Impression is beyond me. They are stupid.
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So yesterday I go all the way to Tampa to get a report of my MRI I had last week. The MRI report showed left foraminal stenosis. Finally they recognize the stenosis after 2 1/2 years. Today I get a letter from my VA PCP that stated the result of the MRI showing the arthritus and bulges but he did not mention anything about the stenosis. What a freaking joke. Did he not read the part where it showed foraminal stenosis? These VA doctors are comedians and should be on HBO comedy central because they don't know how to be doctors. Does he not know that foraminal stenosis can cause permanent paralysis if not corrected? I cannot wait the next time I see him so I can show him his letter and the MRI report. The MRI report stated nothing has changed from my previous MRI in 2010. I call that BS because in 2010 they DID NOT even mention the foraminal stenosis but this time they did. They don't want to help the veterans, they want them to suffer because they don't know how to do their jobs accordinly.
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Testvet,
I can't hardly remember anything much these days because of pain. I go today for an pain management appointment. I really do not know what to expect but I hope they can help me or give me something for the pain I have been going through for 2 1/2 years now. Tramadol is the hardest stuff I take but the chronic issue of the pain is now causing memory issues with me, short term memory issues.
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Anytime Cav...Anything to help my brothers and sisters...
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You need a Doctor's statement or IMO stating you cannot work and the reasons why. They seem to always overrule any C&P examiner. I did a lot of researchon the BVA and the BVA basically says the samething. C&P examiners are no more than PA and Nurse Practitioners...
I will say in my research that IMOs are the way to go. Go to a specialist that knows about your issues and see if he/she will write you an IMO.
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I just want to thank everyone on hadit for the needed support! I just found out on the document tab on ebenefits that my claim is finished and sent out! I have not recieved my Brown package yet, so i dont know the actual ratings of everything on my claim.
My claim was from April '11- Sep 12, 2012 (17months) UI/100% (eff.Dec'11) @seattle Varo :Ptsd/neck/shoulder/back
I'll post again once i recieved the letter. Also, i would like to donate to this great site for all the great advice i have read and recieved from everyone, once i recieve the monetary compensations of course.
PS. Hang in there everyone! Times are rough and I know it hurts for alot of us!
If i were to say, "how long claims take @sea," they can be around 17-20months from what ive gathered. Make sure you got the DAV on yourside as well, they did a great job for me!
God Bless!
Is that effective December 2011 but you put in your claim in April 2011? Kind of confused, I thought they have to back pay you to the date you filed your claim?
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Fred,
Here is what happens on a strain to the spine. The muscles tear away from the joints and then caused the vertebrae to be able to move around more then before. This is what caused the IVDS becuase the discs eventually rip away from the bone. I am a genuine example of this in my lumbar and cervical spine.
You will need an independent medical examiner to write up a "IMO" also called Independent Medical Opinion. They are not cheap and cost $$$ but in the end they are worth it. I am not advertising but I will say that Dr. Craigh Bash did mine and I finally have a connection to the question, WHY. He connected the dots and the VA will not do this for you. Yes he is very expensive but in the long run it will pay off for you.
Please understand the VA will not do this for you, so you will need to see a civilian doctor to have this IMO written. Since it is the spine I have to recommend Dr. Craig Bash, JMHO....Again the VA will not connect the dots for you, they will do the opposite and just make you suffer more. After I sent in his IMO to the RO it sure seems now that the medical side is treating me more seriously than ever before....
Hope this helps...
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Is the appointment calendar working for any of you? Hasn't worked all weekend for me.
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I want to add the best quotes ever from a famous President:
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It kind of feels they place TDIU claims at the bottom of the list over regular/increase claims. Even if you have all evidence in and even signed the 30 waiver I don't understand why it takes so long on a TDIU claim. Crazy if you ask me. I think there should be a timeline that is mandated by the courts. I find it appauling someone should wait over a year for a decision.
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since i have moderate spinal and foraminal stenosis in my lumbar spine, i have cramping in my legs so bad, i can barely waslk five feet. then i need to sit down for 10 minutes or so.
I hope I don't go there, I feel its getting better but I haven't tried to walk around the house in awhile. But I still have problems bending just a little to do anything. I have to bend way over and lean against the countertop just to cook.
I will say this, it doesn't take a person to go to college to be a great meteorologist. I am more accurate than the weatherman on TV any day!!!!
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I am also not happy with all that happen to me :( but at least now that I can't work any more I will be compensated enough to take good care of my wife and brand new Baby Boy.
WOW I have a 6 week old daughter so I know how you feel about taking care of them...
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I think the VA uses the Mayan calendar completion date.................
Maybe that's what their waiting for to see if it happens!!!!
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I want to add to the stupid list of Ebenefits. On the calender is reads:
"View details of your Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam appointments scheduled with the VA. Other appointments will not appear on this calendar."
I think this is funny because I can see ALL my OTHER appointments on that calender....
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So my best bet is to slow down the SSDI process and let the LTD run out because once they stop paying then they cannot take any retro, correct? My LTD does take back what my SSDI payouts I already checked that.
As for the TAXES I did not pretax my medical so there are NO taxes taken out since I already paid taxes on the policy. Basically if you paid for your long-term disability benefits with after-tax dollars, your long-term disability benefits will not be subject to taxation. Also, I paid for my LTD not my employer, this is the key to LTD using after-tax dollars also. If your employer paid part of the premium it would be taxable no matter what. But I paid the full amount.
Also, if my attorney wants my mental health records and I can't get them myself will the attorney be allow to get them? How can I go about getting this information to him?
I think my MH records are locked which is understandable and I understand why they do that... Last time I tried to get them they said I have to have a "permission slip" from my Psychiatrist to get them..Some VA form she has to sign.
I wont write a letter per week to the VA, I am only sending one letter requesting my claim be expedited. But I will say whenever I filed a complaint through IRIS last year about how long it was taking the process actually sped up and I was send an apology to my email. So I might just send another one for this one...
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I have life waiver premium on my disability insurance. It was explained to me about the SSDI and I am grateful they will help me with the SSDI. If I am not mistaken they don't touch what goes for my children only what comes to me? Luckily they can't mess with the VA payments I get.
I am going to call them tomorrow and talk with them about it.
Either way this has taken a load off my shoulders...I think I am going to write a letter to the VA each week requesting my TDIU or my NOD by DRO to be expedited. I figure a letter a week will bother them enough...
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I go to pain management next month after 2 1/2 years of living off of Tramadol. Yep you heard it, I haven't had anything except Tramadol which now is like candy to me. I was one of those lost boys who got lost in the mix of all the older gentlemen at my past CBOC. I don't recall ever seeing anybody my age over there....Anway I understand how those pills work, had to take them whenever I shingles for a month. I know what htey can do to a person.
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This is going to be different but it is important to me. I received a call this morning from my Long Term Disability Insurance and was told that I was approved for LTD for payment of 2 years with no questions asked.I will share this on hadit because I feel it is a piece of information I think is important. If it was because of a certain person who is well known to writing IMOs I wouldn't I been approved for LTD because the VA hasn't been WILLING to help in anything or any documents they would send them. I am not going to name no names so I will refer to him as Dr. B.
If it wasn't for his IMO that I sent them showing the extent of my disabilities I would be such a jam now it would be unbelievable. These companies are like SSDI and they work in the same manner. It is hard to get LTD and you have to have creditable proof of your conditions. On the good side of all of this is they are going to help me with my SSDI claim if I elect to. I am do have a 2nd appointment with an attorney on my SSDI claim so I am going to see what he has to say first. Anyway I consider this a success with the help of Dr. B... -
Congrats and remember you have earned every penny of it......But again, I am sorry you are in this condition.....
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I have always kept my Vocational Rehab Counselor informed of everything, appoints, doctors notes and whatever else...I sent her my IMO just to read and give me an opinion on the IMO. Well she sends me an email Friday stating that she feels I cannot return back to work. Again today she asked me when I filed for IU and I told her in May.
From the looks of things it seems she is going to write up a referral to the RO office for me to be placed on IU. She has asked me if I can go back to work and I told her I really don't know because of the issues with my lower back now. I told her I couldn't answer that question. Anyway I hope her referral holds weight for my IU claim if it does then I now have Vocational Rehab and and IMO stating I cannot work because of my issues.
I have thought of fighting the Vocational Rehab and going to college thing but decided if I am given IU or all my denied secondary claims and my new claims are approved then I will medically retire and stop college for now. I need a break from everything. I shouldn't have placed all this stuff on my shoulders AFTER all the pain my arms and chest appeared then on top of all of this having my gallbladder taken out. It has become too much and I need to just take a huge break from everything.
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I had PT on my cervical spine in December of last year for 4 weeks. At first it was good then I started having reactions to the tractions they were doing. I would go to work right after I left PT and man my arms and chest muscles would hurt so back and the headaches were awful. I will say though that my neck isn't as stiff as it was before PT but after PT my neck now sounds like "Rice Krispies" tilting or turning it. And if I sneeze wow pain shoots in both arms.
I am just tired of being in pain, just sick and tired of it. I feel bad that I cannot hold my newborn longer than I can but my wife understands....I think this is the hardest impact on my life right now..
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I have had lumbosacral joint disc disease for sometime now. In June of this year I did something to my back than caused me to go to the ER because of pain in my legs (read past post about this). The pain was in my legs then but not really in my back. Now its in the L5-S1 part of the spine (dead center) and if I do any work like washing dishes it hurts really bad. But, what what is bothering me now is I have tingling in my feet and my legs feels really weak and I am having a hard time walking. My legs feel funny. I do get the "sharp, burning " pain on the top and bottom of my feet.
I know people with lumbar usually have pain in their legs but do you guys experience certain days you don't have pain but have numbness and weakness in your legs and feet? This is driving me nuts. I cannot stand with my newborn child without my wife telling me my legs are shaking and I have no clue they are shaking whatsoever.
Freedom Of Info
in VA.gov Questions (formerly E-Benefits)
Posted
FOI is just a form you sign if you have reports that need to come from a private doctor for each private doctor. They give the doctors so many days to submit the documents and then they close it period out. If you didn't sign a form they still have a time period they do for the FOI just in case you submit something after you submitted your claim.