rpowell01

Yep no more Xanax if you take pain killers as they are finding out this is what is overdosing veterans and civilians alike. I have left over Xanax and whenever I know I am not going to get a good night's sleep I won't take my pain meds and replace it with Xanax. I don't do this that much but I don't my PM doctor that unless they give me something to help me sleep I am going to keep taking it or whatever I have left. If they don't want me to start drinking they best give me something to help me sleep at night. I tried Melotonin, doesn't help whatsoever. I get sleepy but I cannot sleep.

For those who must take opioid painkillers there is a medication that will reverse the effects that opioids cause in the bowels. Opioids that attach to the brain nerve receptors do the same thing in the bowels and MOVANTIK is the medication you need. I am on both Morphine SR and IR and I swear I almost gave birth to a cleveland brown last Sunday. Its not fun whenever you cannot go but hurt horrifically. Movantik stops opioids from attaching itself to the nerves in the bowels but does not effect on what its suppose to do in the brain. Movantik works. The VA of course doesn't have this medication in the formulary but all you have to do is see a private PCP and most of the time they have samples of this medication they will let you try. It works!!!

I know a few, not on here but where I live. One of them had surgery from a Workers Comp Surgeon who messed up his back. So the Neurosurgeon at James A. Haley put in a cage in his lumbar and he said it helped him. But then years later Bay Pines sent him out to have cervical surgery at a private facility and now he can't raise his arm above his head and he now has MRSA because the surgeon sent him to some cheap rehab facility who didn't change his bandages. Him and his wife now has an attorney, a well known attorney, who is going to sue the crap out of the VA, the surgeon and the rehab facility. So I look at this and I don't want to end up like this. If the VA screws up then I will in fact go after them in claims but I have to allow them to at least try. Maybe I will be lucky and the can just remove the facet joints and fuse those areas. Won't know until I have my whole spine MRI come Sunday.

I don't hate the VA I just hate the System itself. I should I have surgery two years ago on my lumbar and 5 years ago on my neck. Bay Pines contracts their spine surgeries out to the lowest cheapest doctor in St Pete and Clearwater. I know this first hand as they did this to my uncle in-law. You can have the best surgeon in the world work on you but that doesn't say you won't have problems afterwards. I hear horror stories of people who had multiple surgeries and now have a cage in their back. I hear people who had neck surgery, fusions from C2 all the way down to T1 and they are living without pain. Actually a friend of mine had neck surgery because of tumor that was growing in his cervical spine. His Ortho surgeon along with a Neurosurgeon was able to get the tumor out. They had to wait 5 years before they were able to do any surgery because they had to wait until the tumor grew some in order to get to it. He has a cervical fusion from C2-T1 and finally lives without pain. Every single symptoms I have I talked with his wife about and she was stunned because he had the same exact systems. Trust me I had so many types of symptoms I don't know if I can ever have any new types. My point is it doesn't matter where you go get surgery its not 100% full proof that it will be a success. The spine is just one place on the body they have a hard time with. But you know what I am willing to at least allow them to try. James A. Haley has a Neurosurgeon on staff. Maybe he is good and maybe he isn't. I know the hand-nerve surgeon who did my right CT surgery was excellent. He told me that the issues I mainly have in my hands and arms are from my neck. He was honest and very respectful. There are some good people at the VA but the system itself sucks big time. I feel like they give people a number and whenever their number comes up we will get the surgery we should have had. Its my understanding that the VAMCs in Florida only has TWO Neurosurgeons on staff. Think about the back log they must have. Again its the system that is broken and our so called great leader up in DC is not helping us one bit. The system has in fact gotten worse since he took his oath. I notice things a lot of people may not even notice but I do see things and we are in fact no going in the right direction.

The problem doesn't lie with the VA its mainly because of the DOJ putting pressure on ALL pharmacies. I have a friend who had problems getting his Oxycodone and he is on both Morphine SR and Oxycodone and he is on higher doses and gets his meds from the private sector. The problem is everywhere.. The VA's pharmacy is now most likely audited by DOJ. We cannot blame the pharmacies but the epidemic of abusers out there and DOJ putting pressure on US who are actually in pain. The DOJ has grouped EVERYBODY, ppl in pain, people with cancer and in pain in the same group of those who is abusing these medications. But I never had a problem with my VA pharmacy in Tampa. The only issue I ever had was UPS sent my pain meds to Kentucky while I live in Florida. I had to wait an extra few days and I went to the ER with my empty prescription bottle and the ER MD knew my situation and they already had my med list in their system from previous visits. I reported this to my VA PCP and VA Pharmacy and they said this was okay. john999 is right, do not let them push you around and say they cannot do this or that. The way I got my pain meds was I send hundreds if not thousands every single day to VA PCP who finally sent me to the VA PM Neurologist. I caught him in a lie and confronted him in a secured message about some lies he said in his progress notes such as saying he did an exam whenever he didn't. Whenever I confronted him about this he knew I was telling him the truth and started me on Oxycodone. Yes they are ignorant about upping the medications to proper dosages but I cannot blame them as our bodies builds up a tolerance to these meds. Now as for EMGs I had TWO, one by the VA that showed Bilateral Lower Radiculopathy in 2013 and I had another one in the private sector in 2015 that now shows CHRONIC Radiculopathy and now with PolyNeuropathy. Your not going to get TWO wrong EMGs and if they line up then you have a good diagnosis. Surgery will mess up EMG results because of the scaring so don't forget about that. They just don't have a answer about pain, they have tried mental health meds to no avail on many people. They THOUGHT that because pain comes from the brain they could cheat the body by loading vets up with mental health medications. Sorry but if break your leg and need surgery you don't give somebody mental health meds for their pain. NOR do you DECLINE to do surgery because of FBSS. Not everybody is the same and they are putting all of us with spine problems in a statistical grouping. They feel if they leave us alone we will be okay. They don't understand or appear to care that pain causes more problems in people's lives than anything else and I mean a lot of physical problems.

I also had issues and got it all straightened out by calling the Patient Advocates office and threatening my PCP with a Congressional Inquiry. Here is the thing folks, if a Pain management Neurologist/Specialist originally ordered the pain meds, the VA PCP CANNOT change that order without first getting permission from that PM MD. If you don't believe me as pharmacy. There are rules set in place for a reason so a non specialist doesn't mess with that specialist's treatment plan. Remember a specialist has more authority over your treatment than your PCP because he/she is the specialist. Now, there are a difference between those who ABUSE pain killers and those who are actually in pain. Out of those 29,000 that overdosed how many were in fact in pain? See the government, because of DOJ, are now placing all of us into one pool, abusers and those of use in actual pain and has proven are pain by tests such as an EMG or two. Now the VA is handing out sheets of paper that reads that accidental overdoses of those who are actually in pain is happening because of mental health medications those in the group such as Xanax. Can you believe that? After all these years they are now realizing people are not "overdosing" because of their pain meds but because they also were given, prescribed or took medications like Xanax. Let me tell you this, I have Sleep Apnea now because of the Chronic Pain. I knew something was wrong when my wife would tell me that I was snoring like a pig. It was nights I had no choice except to take Xanax with my pain meds as prescribed. I have Anxiety so I have a hard time sleeping at night because of that and because of pain. Believe me quit taking the group of meds that are in the same group as Xanax. No I don't get to sleep until 3am now, again, but I feel better whenever I wake up. I am not tired and sleepy like was whenever I was taking both. I am currently on Morphine SR and Morphine IR, just switched from Oxycodone. I hate Morphine but I have no choice as of right now until myself and my PM Neurologist can come up with a better solution. He has finally put in a surgical consult with Neurosurgery, after 5 years of upper radiculopathy and 3 years of lower radiculopathy. I am at the point where I want some of my life back and if I can most likely get some of it back with surgery on my neck, which BTW is the worst of the two, then I am willing to try that. I would rather try something than not to try something. I have already tried just about every conservative treatment there to no avail. I am now at the point I am willing to have them decompress my neck, one way or another before it kills me because of the straightening of Lordosis or it may now have started to go reverse. This is deadly so make sure you keep an eye on this if you have DDD or DJD or even Spondylosis which is both.

Okay well I've been talking with my Pain Management Neurologist at the VA thru Secured Messages. The Neurosurgeon has ordered a NEW cervical and Lumbar MRI so see what exactly can be done for my condition. I need surgery and person knows if they need surgery, nobody has to tell them if they need surgery or not on their spine. A person who has spine issues knows more about their condition than the medical field does. The VA doesn't like to do anymore spine surgeries because of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. I requested the statistics of FBSS of those who had surgery for DDD, the removal of discs and then fusions and the statistics of those who had surgery for DJD, removal of facet joints with NO discs removed and had a fusion. Of course they won't give this info to me. I've talked with many folks who had the DDD surgery who are still in pain but not as much. I also talked with people who had the DJD surgery and they are NOT in pain and have FULL MOVEMENT of their legs, no tingling and their legs don't go numb whenever they walk. I haven't found anybody who has had the DJD surgery who has FBSS now.

rwskitch exactly 110% agreeable. I do pray all the time. The problem with me is I herniated a disc at C2-C3 and C5-C6 and the VA didn't want to touch me back in 2011 whenever I presented to them this information. Then in June 2012 I herniated my L5-S1 and again the VA didn't want to touch me. Now, I have nerve damage in my neck, upper thoracic (right smack between my shoulder blades) and I have lumbar nerve damage. I understand FBSS but I am now living with nerve damage which is not fun whatsoever. If you think about it I would have had a 50-50 chance with the spine surgery. But now its too late since the nerves are damage. There is no fix for nerve damage at the nerve roots. They don't regrow like other nerves. Trust me I will be very careful with the salad mix of both types of Morphine ER and Morphine IR they are putting me on. I will have to test it to find the right timings on taking them. As of right now I take my Morphine ER first thing whenever I get up then one at night. But what I do with the oxycodone is not what is prescribed. The Prescription says to take 1 every 4 hours as needed. But since I have been on the low 5mgs for 2 years now I had to adjust it myself by taking 2 pills around 9-10am then I take 2 more about an hour after my nightly dose of morphine ER. The reason is my body has become tolerant to the 5mgs and so I have to take 10mgs at a time to get any relief. If I don't, well I don't know if you know what it feels like taking a medication where your body has become tolerant with. It doesn't do much whatsoever. I told my PM Neurologist at the VA and the VA pharmacy this is how I have to do it and they said as long as I don't go over the 4 pills a day this if fine. Actually the VA Pharmacy people in Tampa helps a lot of people out and if you have problems with a certain pain med they can send a secured message to the PM Neurologist and get it adjusted or changed. They helped me a lot in the past months. They said they understand what I'm going through and they kinda feel sorry for me which is NOT what I want. I get a new MRI next week from my local hospital. My Private PCP is wanting to see how bad it has gotten. I just pray its not worse than the previous 2013 MRI but I am hopeful they may find out what is causing my shoulders to hurt like they do. The pain is all up in my neck stretching out into my shoulders and shoulder blades. Muscle spasms all over my upper back makes it all worse and worsens the should pain. Thanks for the info.

Yes I decided to just get away from the VA and I am going on the outside of the VA for my spine issues but for my meds I am letting the VA give them to me.. I've had enough of the VA and I'm declining the implant of the SCS. They BOTH have their pros and cons such as with the SCS the leads can move and cause pain levels to increase. With the Morphine Implant the hose can detach. Yesterday I go to PM thinking we were going to discuss both the SCS and the Morphine but instead they took me off the Oxycodone and replaced it with MOrphine instant release. So on my next delivery they are going to send me the Morphine IR. So now I will be on both the ER and IR. Here is the thing, OXYCODONE is 1 1/2 stronger than Morphine and is more addicting. So, instead of taking 4 Oxycodones per day they want me to take 2 Morphines ER and 2 Morphines IR. PER PM Neurologist in a Secure Message he said they give you a 7-10 day trial of the SCS. My brother in law about a year ago had his L5-S1 Facet joint removed and he is fine today. Yes he still has the OA setting in but he doesn't have the leg pains like he use to. I have another friend who just had THREE facet joints removed, no discs, and then they fused his back. He said he has his life back!!!! I have the same exact issues but the VA won't touch me unless a disc is affecting the spinal cord, this is per the PM NP I just seen yesterday. I guess I have to leave the VA and get help elsewhere. I find it intriguing that if your knee cartilage deteriorates they will replace it, if your shoulder cartilage deteriorates they will replace it but if your WHOLE spine cartilage deteriorates they say "DEAL WITH IT", even though its causing more and more nerve damage. Actually research shows Failed Back Surgery Syndrome happens more with people who has to have discs replacement compared to those who just have to have their facet joints removed. Maybe I just just live on the pain meds the rest of my life because either way with or without the meds my life is worthless!!!!

I guess my number has finally come up with the VA. They are now wanting to implant a Spinal Cord Stimulator in my lumbar and cervical spine. I have asked them to rethink this and to implant a Intrathecal Pain Pump (Morphine Pump). Reasons: TENS unit has been worthless for me from the beginning while the pain medications have helped me a lot. If the TENs units don't help me then why would they think the SCS would?. I have a friend who has the Intrathecal Morphine Pump for his low back and he said it works great for him. I have asked others people and even Dr. Bash. Dr. Bash explained that a SCS is just a TENs unit and there is no difference. He said he had that implanted in my before and it didn't even work for him. I asked my wife Aunt who knows two people who had the morphine pump implanted. In one person it worked great while another one it didn't. There are risks to both of them: SCS the leads can move around and the Pain Pump you can leak out water. One PRO to the Morphine Pump is that the medication is pumped directly into the spine so it will NOT go into the blood system and affect other areas such as the LIVER and the bowels (Constipation). A lot of people think they get constipated from the opiods because of an increase in core temperature. Actually you can constipated because the same nerve receptors opiods effect in the brain is the same with the bowels as the opiods effects the nerve receptors in the bowels. I learned this some time ago so now I use the purple cap medication to help keep water in my bowels (Cannot think of the name of the medication). I told my PM Neurologist at the VA that if they don't want to decompress my spine in certain areas or don't want to implant the Morphine Pump then there is no need to cut on me and I will just live on the current Morphine and Oxycodone mix they give me now. Your thoughts and input is very much appreciated. I go see my PM Neurologist in the morning to discuss the SCS and the Morphine Pump. Again I am only leaning for the Morphine Pump. I need to get relief and I want off the pain medications and I feel this is the only way to go for now until they decide to decompress or take out some facet joints in my back.

Also if you don't know this since it was a Federal Appeals Court that ruled on this and it didn't go to SCOTUS it means its now case law and has been case law. This also means SSA must in fact go by this case law if its brought up. They actually must adjust their policies to go in line with this case law. How does one use it for their own state? Simple, you just use this and if you see the SSA ALJ you just request to get it certified but since this is a Federal Case Law I don't think you have to get it certified. Anyway I hope this helps folks and they need to bring this up to their attorneys or like me, going pro se this time around on the SSDI review, it can be used as part of your appeals with SSA. I haven't found another appeals court that says otherwise and if their was then the SCOTUS should have ruled on this.

VYNC, If you read that case here is what its saying (http://www.irishbernhardt.com/how-social-security-disability-and-va-disability-benefits-interact/) So how do these benefits interact with each other? Let’s look at a couple of scenarios: The veteran who has been granted TDIU by VA first and then applies for SSDI benefits in Idaho is in great shape – Social Security must give the VA finding that the individual is unable to work great weight. The veteran who has been granted a partial disability by VA but not TDIU will still need to prove total disability to Social Security, but can rely on other, non-service connected disabilities to do so. However, as described below, the decision to rely on non-service connected disabilities can have serious implications. The veteran who has been approved for SSDI and then applies for VA TDIU benefits must determine why SSDI was granted. If SSDI was granted for disabilities which are all service connected, then that prior decision should be given significant weight by VA. If, however, Social Security relied on a mix of service connected and non-service connected disabilities, then VA may be quick to point to the non-service connected disabilities as the primary problem, and thus discount Social Security’s finding. In my case I was granted SSDI based on my VA Service Connected issues. I don't have any other issues except service connected issues. Then the VA granted TDIU but I am now fighting for P&T and request it be added to my appeal thats at the RO waiting for my RO Hearing hopefully in the spring. Then this past month Dec 7, I received a letter from SSA stating "You can go back to work, blah, blah, blah.". Well here is my evidence currently. I am doing everything myself to appeal the SSA decision in saying I can go back to work. The VA granted me TDIU AFTER the SSDI decision by the judge. This means SSA must give GREAT WEIGHT to the VA decision because all my SSDI contentions are just only VA service connected issues. Under the SSA is doing this to me because I'm only 47. If I were 50 they would have extended the benefit. Second, I take Morphine Extended Release and Oxcodone. People don't realize that if the SSA keeps saying I can go back to work then they are LIABLE under FEDERAL TORT Law because I would have to t drive to work whiling under the influence and job safety. Third, Dr. Bash examined me on December 12 and he is saying NOWAY can I go back to work. Fourth, my medical documentation from the VA shows that my conditions have in face gotten worse as I now have PolyNeuropathy in both my legs because of the chronic radiculopathy at L5-S1 that the VA refuses to touch. Yes I could possibly file a Federal TORT claim against the VA but I decided to wait on the P&T. That is all i care because this is now about my family. Your VA decisions do hold great weight on SSA because per the SSA CFRs it reads that any doctor who treats you holds more weight than a SSA doctor. Also a Medical EXPERT's opinion holds great weight over SSA doctors. SSA has lost this in appeals courts many times. Also with me taking pain acting medications I will get an attorney and will sue the crap out of them. They are liable. Last I have a recent email from a VA CERTIFIED Vocational Rehab Counselor who said "MY decision still stands You cannot go back to work". Rob

Yea I haven't had to use any of my SSDI because my wife only works in a Daycare and I never had to file. Whenever you get any SSDI retro SSA will sent you a form separating the retro for what year its part of . I thought for sure I would had to pay but after getting this form from SSA it helped me and my wife because it helps a lot on your IRS returns. I still don't understand how you can be TAXED on a supplement that is already taxed in the first place. Its crazy. Just like how the SSA is the only agency in the USA that discriminate against age. I haven't found any case law or Federal Law yet that says they can do this but I would like to be the one to fight this in court against them.

Yes my mistake because SSA still has that on their website. But please read this if you don't think the VA decision doesn't hold great weight in a SSA/SSDI decision: McCartey v. Barnhart, 298 F.3d 1072 (9th Cir. 2002

I don't know where to post this but I am seriously of thinking of speaking to an attorney about this. Back in 2011 I had an MRI that showed 2 herniations in my neck. Then in 2012 I had one from the VA that showed a herniation in my lumbar with STENOSIS. The VA refuses to do surgery and I just found out the reason recently. Because they don't have NEUROSURGEONS on staff at 98% of their medical centers. Nor do they have a orthosurgeon that works with the back. In 2013 I was told by Dr. Bash that if the VA didn't decompress my back I would be in a wheelchair. Well a few weeks ago I feel and the ER MD stated the same exact thing. If I had these two MDs write this on paper wouldn't this fit the criteria of a Federal Tort Suit against the VA for improper treatment or something in that nature? I've been falling a lot lately and its getting old. The VA docs don't give one rats arse about this and all they care is I enter some Chronic Pain Rehab Program which is NOT for somebody for my condition. Actually they cannot gurantee I will not be injured while in this program. This program is for people who has been on opiates for long term and they are already post operation. Anyway I would like to know what do some of you think. If I find a Surgeon on the outside that says "You need surgery now" can I force the VA to pay for it and how would I go about doing that without allowing the VA to use their cheap contractors like they did on my Uncle inLaw. They screwed his neck up bigtime and now he has not mobility in his upper left arm (biceps)..Hes basically paralyzed now because of this thanks to Bay Pines. He is some huge attorney saying he can win millions from this and he's working with him as I type this.

I'm 80% TDIU. I just had a review. The review is BS and they don't look at much except the same medical reports they had before. I was approved for SSDI in February 2014 retro back to April 2012. I just now had a review in December and they said I can go back to work. Luckily they don't have the NEW IMO from Dr. Bash and the new email from my Vocational Rehab from the VA that says "You cannot go back to work". Legally if one government entity says you cannot work then the other must comply but SSA doesn't do this. You can have all your limbs amputated and if your not 50 years old they will say "You can go back to work". How is the SSA allowed to discriminate against age is beyond me. Last, if your on pain acting medications like me, Morphine Extended Release and Oxycodone, there is noway you can go back to work. Of the SSA says you can and still deny you they are liable for you driving and on the job safety. You can actually file a Federal TORT Lawsuit against the SSA for this and win your case. Its been done already.

1. Yes Dr. Bash wrote TWICE to the VA stating my conditions was permanent and total and said my condition would not improve but get worse. I am now dealing with SSDI reviewing my case on my 3 year benefit and they are saying "You can go back to work"...blah, blah, blah...The original SSDI decision was based on Dr. Bash's report because the AOJ/ALJ didn't believe the VA. You believe that? WHOA...SSA doesn't know what they are talking about, heck I am worse off now than I was whenever they approved it just Feb 2014. So now Dr. Bash did another exam on me just last week for SSA IMO and he stated again that I am permanent and total and that there is no sedentary work I could do. I cannot even stand at the door of wally word and say "Hello welcome to Walmart."...Unless they got a bed I can lay down after 5 minutes of standing or sitting there is noway I can do much. I knew my conditions would sooner or later stabilize but geez luiz I didn't expect to be this worse. I'm 47 and this is the reason they are saying "You can go back to work" because if I was 50 years old it would be different. Shame on our government for allow SSA to discriminate based on age which appears to be the only ORGANIZATION in the USA that can discriminate based on age!!!! Its just progressing and progressing and I was just told last week by the ER MD I seen for my 2nd fall in two weeks that if I don't find anybody to decompress my spine I will be in a wheelchair in the near future. 2 years or NOT I will file a TORT claim against the VA for not wanting to pay an outside agency to go into my back and decompress it. Yes that decision was in 2012 and I am getting worse. This was the 2nd MD who told me this and Dr. Bash was the first. My claim process would be a whole 500 page book and trust me they messed me up so badly they didn't even mention or bother to mention the EMG I had in 2013 nor include that as evidence. Yes that is a CUE but I have to wait until my appeals are exhausted before I can file the CUE. They need to change this policy because it would fix a lot of junk stuff the ROs write or do for the BVA in their SOCs.

I kept getting these applications from the St Pete RO on applying my daughter who will graduate high school May 2016. They kept sending them but I know that you cannot get Chapt 35 unless the criteria has been met, one being a living veteran is P&T. So after about the 3rd application I finally filled it out and sent it in. About 2 months later my daughter received the Certificate of Eligibility award letter qualifying her for Chapter 35. HUH? I've talked with JBasser and John Dorle about this and they also are kinda lost and Jbasser told me to file a IRIS question to find out if I am actually P&T and the RO hid this from me. Well I get the IRIS questioned answered and they said they don't see anything in them systems showing me P&T. So now I am kinda lost on this. Why would the St Pete RO send me these applications. I was kinda pissed at first wondering if I can file a TORT suit against the VA for this because now my daughter is stressed out over this. I wasn't about to allow her to use that letter then the VA comes back after 1 year or years later and say "Well you owe us money"..I am seriously thinking of file the TORT claim but has it no harm has been done like they have done on my medical treatment which is another title by itself. Yes I could sue the crap out of the VA for disregarding an MRI that was VERIFIED twice showing Cervical Discs herniations, one at C2-3 and the other one at C5-6. I still live with that pain today in my left arm...Okay getting off tracks. My question is this, is it possible they approved my daughter Chapt 35 knowing in the future or near future, because I have requested a DRO hearing before certifying my case to the BVA, I will be approved P&T at the RO Level? See I never requested P&T because I did not know it was a claim. But after I received my Statement of Case, I submitted EVIDENCE the VA didn't even utilize during the process. You cannot deny 2 EMGs and the second one showing my issues are getting worse. So I requested a hearing as I did NOT waive RO Jurisdiction and submitted both EMGs that was not even talked about on the SOC. I also submitted addendum from Dr. Bash that he made in technical error because the EMG backed him up so he has to update the report. I also asked/requested that the RO approve me for P&T since its not a regular claim and to add my other leg to the SOC since BOTH legs are secondary to my back and it could affect the over all outcome to the case at BVA. Hopefully I will have this hearing in Spring 2016, fingers crossed. So has this ever happened before or to anybody on hadit? Why would they approve Chapt 35 if I am not P&T. Yes I am on IU but I guess I am in their so called Stabilization period but that is only suppose to happen right after you get out of the military, per the VA regulations. Good thing is the RO overturned a denied claim of upper radiculopathy in my arms and gave me 10% but that wasn't enough to bump me up to 100% scheduler. So is it possible the VA/RO already knows if I am going to be P&T?

GJ Navy and congrats you squid!!!! J/k good job and I am happy for you and I know I will hopefully be there with you this coming spring when I think my SOC will be heard first at the RO hearing I requested before certifying to the BVA. The VA messed up and I have their foolsballs in my hand right now. They messed up so bad I could actually sue them in Federal Court under TORT claims but decided I am waiting to have that hearing and the BVA if needed. I think they will change my status to P&T.

Okay well I messed up on the Brave Act. It never passed the first time and they changed the wording to something totaly different whenever it was passed in 2010 or 2009. SSA still has an article on the their website of the OLDER Brave Act. In it, it states that if a VA JUDGE says a veteran is unemployable then SSDI must use that Judges decision to make a decision to award SSDI to a veteran. So I am sorry they changed it so much it doesn't even mean the same than when it was first sent up to the House. Unless I am not finding the right one. Anybody have a link to the updated Brave Act?

Under the NEWER BRAVE ACT SSDI MUST also find any 100% or IU P&T disabled per the new laws. Read the Brave Act. Also if you have MDs that says you cannot work IMHO I would do everything myself. If I knew then what I new now, Attorneys just use exhibitis and present them to SSDI and the AOJ. Yes they may use their own MD but its nothing better than to use your own who knows your issues. Understand? SSDI will utilize your own MDs opinion over a SSDI contractors opinion. If you have a Medical Opinion it holds more weight because these days SSDI is not giving people SSDI exams which IMHO is illegal. Myself I am going through a SSDI Review but now they are saying I can work but nowhere does it talk about my RADICULOPATHY with permanent nerve damage, nowhere. I am requesting this to be added to my contentions because a newer EMG showed my issues to be CHRONIC and now with PolyNeuropathy in both legs that means I have permanent nerve damage. Remember read you read your decision closely because if all your contentions of are not on there request them to be added during the reconsideration or appeals whatever level is next for you. Myself I can't get an attorney because there is no retro with SSDI review cases so what attorney will pick my case up? Thanks to the VA I've learned a great deal from here and dealings of the VA. All the answers are in fact in the CFRs mainly 44 CFR. If SSDI doesn't take into consideration such things as a person on MORPHINE and OXYCODONE then that is a TORT claim in Federal Court and you can sue the crap out of SSDI because they are forcing you to drive high to work, cause safety issues on the job, etc...Understand? Myself I didn't put this on my APPEAL letter but I am going to bring it up during the DRO hearing with SSDI review because they MUST take medications into consideration per 44 CFR. Read that chapter it will give you ever detail what they do and you can tell by your decision letter what bull crap stuff they will do.

BE Safe because like me your Panic Attacks will cause you to be antisocial...I don't even go to my family's houses anymore they have to come to me. Its that bad. Just find something that allows you to get out.

You do know with new laws SSDI must also find you unemployable if the VA did? Also if a VA JUDGE finds you unemployable then SSDI MUST do the same per the BRAVE ACT. Read about it helped me a lot because SSDI is saying I can go back to work after 3 years of SSDI but the VA has already found me unemployable AFTER the SSDI AOJ made her decision. So SSDI must NOW find me unemployable just like the VA did.

Okay is there anybody up to reading my APPEAL LETTER for SSDI Review. Boy SSDI is messing up big time and I thought the VA were the only ones that were crazy. If you don't know if you are IU then SSDI must also apply you unemployable. The laws were changed some time after 2001. Anyway I need somebody, a 2nd person, to read over this letter for me and let me know what I need to change before Monday Night as I am taking my appeal letter to them Tuesday. Its funny how these SSA people still use OLD stuff the same AOJ said you were disabled on and they don't use the VA RO Decision letter on their review. Plus now that I am on Morphine and Oxycodone if they make me go back to work that could be a tort suit in Federal Court. No I didn't write this on there but keeping that on the back burner. Need help please PM me.

My SSDI review came up about a month ago and I was denied for extended SSDI for no apparent reason except they said I could go back to work. Nothing else on the decision letter. I am writing up my own Evidence with Exhibits but I would like a SSDI Advocate to help me with my case. I know there are Free ones out there per the SSDI decision letter but after googling I cannot seem to find one. Does anybody know of a free SSDI advocate who could help me with my paperwork? I've dealt with the VA and SSDI is easier but you just gotta know how to write this stuff up. Example: I was approved for SSDI in February. After the decision I Vocational Rehab said I cannot go back to work and I was unemployable. I am using that letter plus Dr. Bash's previous IMO that stated I cannot go back to work as my conditions are P&T. Plus my VA medical stuff doesn't show my conditions have improved. The only thing that shows improvement was the Radiculopathy but I now have PolyNeuropathy because of the constant nerve impingement. Anyway I really need somebody to help me write up my appeal letter before my hands fall off my arms...Thanks in advance..