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rpowell01

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Posts posted by rpowell01

    Input Requested....

    in Appealing Your Veterans Compensation Disability Claims NOD, DRO, BVA, USCAVC

    Posted

    Back in May of this year I sent a NOD by DRO to the RO on all my denied issues. I also sent with it a completed TDIU form. The only reply I received so far was that they were working on my case which I think is the TDIU because nothing on the letter talked about the NOD. I know its the "duty to assist" letter everyone gets.

    My question is this, should I send another letter requesting them to work on my NOD first instead of the TDIU or should I leave it as it. I do know for a fact that if I get my NOD approved I would be way over 100% but with the TDIU its only 100%. Also lets say the TDIU is approved does this mean you are only paid at 100% but still are at your regular disabled percent? I guess I am asking this because of state benefits such as Florida.

    Input please...

    Voc Rehab Counselors....

    in Vocational Rehabilitation

    Posted

    If there is one person who has the greatest Voc Rehab Counselor it has to be me. I had some issues with student loans and a pell grant that was applied to my tuition,which by the way was all straightened out after I talked with an Associated Director of FA at the college because veterans who fall understand the Voc Rehab should not have these grants and loans applied to tuition if they are under Voc Rehab because the VA guarantees payment. So, she emailed the school to find out why because she believes they shouldn't do this and she blind copied me everything. Anyway, she sends me an email saying "Since this was causing some trouble she afforded to have the VA pay for my internet bill that I paid in advance".

    I didn't ask her about this, she voluntarily came forward. I am in still awe after hearing about the horrors of others and their counselors....

    I haven't had good luck in getting good healthcare from the VA but I will say I have been given a really great Vocational Rehab Counselor.

    Ssdi

    in Social Security Disability Questions

    Posted · Edited by rpowell01

    I see what your saying now..On the application I did use the diagnosis of each thing I knew. Then whenever they sent me all those forms, to include things about the anxiety, I talked about the pain and how the pain affects my daily life and has increase the anxiety to almost an every other day issue. It comes and goes on a daily basis. My spouse even had to fill out some forms.

    I was put out of work in late April. Just last week whenever my spouse had our newborn was the second time I drove our car since being out, the first was to a VA appointment. The rest of the time, my wife drives because I cannot turn my to the right over my shoulder without getting these spikes or zaps which I thought was withdraws from venlafaxine but the psych doctor told me it wouldn't last this long. And, i do remember telling a private orthopedic surgeon about these issues and he checked me for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome but it wasn't a thorough examination just a quick one. Sorry for going on and on, I guess I just want someone to hear me because I have called out to doctors since January 2010 for help and really haven't received much support from then.

    Ssdi

    in Social Security Disability Questions

    Posted

    No no you dont understand. I didn't put neck pain or back pain on the application. Pain is not a diagnosis. I put the true diagnosis that causes the pain on the application such as Cervical C2-3 disc protrusion, C5-6 herniation, foraminal stenosis, etc...I put everything I have been diagnosed with having since 2007. It was a huge list.

    Ssdi

    in Social Security Disability Questions

    Posted · Edited by rpowell01

    My VA Psyche Doctor put me out of work on April 27, 2012. Just the week before last I asked her if I could go back and she said no. I have been working for 25 years so I think I have enough credits. I have had 2 doctors tell me I have a spine of a 60-70 year old person. I tried for 2 1/2 years but finally could not do it because of the pain I was in. Whenever you call your spouse crying from work kind finally takes a toll on you and your mind. I have memory issues now, I misunderstand people now on what they say. I can't sit long, I can stand long and I can't pick up a piece of paper off the floor without my back going out now. As I sit here typing this to you I have a sharp pain on the top of my left foot going around to the boot of my left big toe. I have pain my arms, I can barely hold my newborn who was just born on Tuesday. I have to hold her with both arms because she feels heavy. I have chest pains on a daily basis now since around April 2010. I can't move my head without my neck cracking and popping and sounds like Rice Krispies. I have actually been in pain with muscle spasms since my injury in 1994. Not a day has gone by that I haven't been in pain. That pain i was able to deal with but this nerve pain can go to h311 for all I care, it is evil. So you ask can I work?

    Forgot one thing. I have headaches since 1994 since my injury 3-4 times a week. Now, its a daily issue and no medication seems to help the headache, none of the prescriptions nor any OTC medication....

    I just have an issue of SSDI for not examining me. That is my concern I have. The VA doctor do not report all my issues. I have seen those records so I know what they do and don't report. They report what they want. This is another reason why I transferred out of Bay Pines.

    Thanks for information...

    Ssdi

    in Social Security Disability Questions

    Posted · Edited by rpowell01

    Thanks everyone. They said they said that I said I couldn't work due to anxiety, neck and back pain. I never, ever said in my application I couldn't work because of neck and back pain. I gave accurate diagnosis from MRI reports such as Cervical spondylosis, thoracic spondylosis, lumbosacral joint disc disease and C2-3 disc protrusion, bilateral arm pain, chest pain and C5-6 herniation causing foraminal stenosis. All of these are on MRI reports. The VA missed the herniation and I have the CDs to prove it when comparing it with the private MRI I had. I know they pulled that MRI report because they said they used the report from a private Neurologist who ordered the MRI. Also, I didn't see them use the reports from a private Neurosurgeon I went to, which would have shown weakness in my arms and legs.

    They said that "your condition is not severe enough to be considered disabling." I want to thank the VA for this because I have been improperly treated by Bay Pines and my PCP and its all on record at Bay Pines. This is why I transferred to James A. Haley. I just recently requested another MRI to my PCP and he stated "no it has been only two years since your last one". Such BS if you ask me because things have gotten a lot worse, big time. Then there are all the denials to see a specialists at Bay Pines or James A. Haley. Bay Pines kept denying me to see a specialist (Neurosurgeon and Orthopedic surgeon) because of that geek Dr. Graham, who works out of Atlanta but contracts with Bay Pines, said that Bay Pines was short staff and that James A. Haley was short staff. Well he was caught in a lie whenever a James A. Haley ER doctor told me that was a lie. This is why I transferred out of the Bay Pines System. In my opinion they are not equipped for people my age and the younger veterans. A good story of this is a friend of mine who was going to Bay Pines. They treated him so badly that he finally went off on the doctors and they had to call the BP police. He went home and transferred to West Palm. He said there is a huge difference there because there are a lot of younger veterans there. Maybe that's where I need to go for my issues. But, I will test James Haley out first. I am actually waiting on the new hospital in Orlando to be completed then I am going on there if James A. Haley doesn't help.

    Anyway I am okay with the decision, the VA has given good training with denials so no sense to be upset, and I have a consult with an attorney soon enough. I bet a new MRI will prove all of them wrong because a person knows his or hers body better than they do and they do know when things change or is different.

    But, again it should be unlawful for the SSA to give a decision without a proper examination first. Looking at medical records that are over 1 year old does not show CURRENT issues. I think I am going to file a complaint of this manner to a Senator this coming week. There should be standards and the SSA is a joke on this issue.

    Ssdi

    in Social Security Disability Questions

    Posted

    I have an appointment with an SSDI attorney in Lakeland, FL on the 23rd of this month. So, I hope they will take my case.

    BTW, anybody on here seen or hear from Dr. Bash lately. I sent him my files and I haven't heard from him in about a month. Don't know what is up with him with him not answer phone calls or emails but I am starting to get a bad feeling in my gut about using him.

    Ssdi

    in Social Security Disability Questions

    Posted · Edited by rpowell01

    I filed SSDI back in May and it was denied. I cannot believe they do not give you a physical and make a decision without an physical. That is crazy and this should not be allowed.

    From here should I file an appeal on my own without an attorney or let a SSDI attorney file the appeal? Also, anybody know any good SSDI attorneys? I know they are all over the internet and it seems Bergmann & Moore, who advertise on hadit, does not do SSDI. I need some help finding a good SSDI attorney.

    Thanks,

    Rob

    edit:

    Talked with an attorney a few minutes ago and whenever I told them I was 43 they said that probably why I was denied. This is some crazy stuff...How in the world is this allowed? Seriously.

    Venlafaxine

    in Entitlement - Veterans Compensation Benefits Claims

    Posted · Edited by rpowell01

    Well I think I have come up with a solution. I read on the net people actually opening up the capsules and weening themselves off it is this way. It seems the pharmacyst lower dosage does not help and a lot of folks have these brain zaps. As luck would have it I still have a whole bottle of the medication on my counter so I did what others have done and opened the capsule, dumped out all the little beads inside (a couple hundred from what I could see) then I put about 30 of them back in a capsule and took it. As of this moment the brain zaps are still there but now tolerable enough it does not affect me.

    Also I was testing what brings on these zaps while I was waiting for my appt today and it seems that if I turn my eyes to the right it brings them on. If I turn my head and/or eyes to the left I am fine. Even if I turn my head to the right it brings on the zaps. Odd but something in the left part of the brain seems to cause it or the left side of the brain or something else up there produces the serotonin that causes these withdrawal effects.

    I will see how long that dosage I created last and will adjust the dosage then wean myself off over the next 20 days. I just don't think the low dosage they give you is accurate. I believe they should change the dosage by mg and not by how many you take in one day. JMHO.

    I write this just in case others ever experience the same thing to help them learn about it.

    Venlafaxine

    in Entitlement - Veterans Compensation Benefits Claims

    Posted · Edited by rpowell01

    Well its been a week (I think, I lost what day it was, truly) since I took the last low dosage of Venlafaxine and well the "brain and body zaps" are horrific. They come and go throughout the day. I mainly get them in the morning right after I wake up. I read on the net that the people are taking Vitamin B and Omega 3 that helps to dull or give relief to the zaps. I am going this morning to CVS to pick some up.

    Also my lower back to my leg issues have all come back yesterday just by me carrying a small basket with eggs in it at the grocery store. There is something going on with my lower back because if I walk around the house one time my legs begin to go weak and start to hurt and I feel the pain in my lower back at L5-S1...not good but hopefully the docs at James A. Haley can figure it out soon.

    I thought about something that I remember. I remember telling an orthopedic surgeon who I was seeing last year about these same kind of symptoms but at that time they weren't as bad. I am wondering if this is related to my cervical spine or thoracic spine issues.

    He did mention thoracic outlet syndrome. Anybody have this and does this sound like a symptom?

    Venlafaxine

    in Entitlement - Veterans Compensation Benefits Claims

    Posted · Edited by rpowell01

    She gave me 15 mg of Mirtazapine after deciding to take me off the Venlafaxine. I took the Mirtazapine once and that was it. It made me sleep 20 hours and I can't do that. All that lying down causes my neck, back and all the radiculopathy hurt worse. My sleep is messed up because of the Venlafaxine and everything is backwards for me at the moment. Also, now that the pain has seriously come back I thought I was having a heart attack last night (Sunday-Monday) but of course its the radiculopathy from my neck. If there is anything i can wish for it would be for somebody to go in my neck and correct this issue. It is not fun and it is hurting me more than anybody can ever know.

    A good thing is James A. Haley Hospital in Tampa has transferred all my stuff to them out of the Bay Pines System at my request. I did this as I was denied 2-3 times from the Bay Pines system to see a surgeon at James A. Haley. I have a appointment over there next week.

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