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Well my FOIA that was only about a month and some change old cleared today Ebinnies satiates that a decision notification was sent. My RO cleared to is fast I am wondering if I will get a copy of my STRS and C-file as I requested or a notice telling me why they can't provide them. I was told a few years ago by archives that my STR were missing they even showed me paperwork from my last base reporting they were lost. However since fileing for compensation the VA has sworn up and down they have them since I filed for compensation how ever when I showed up to my C&P only my dentist records were present. This however worked to my favor as I brought all the records I had, the RO pissed the doc off he actually went on a DOD website and print what he could find off the site. This leaves my decency claim and mysterious STR review/authorization review left.

Glad to hear it, make sure you are telling your doc about everything not just service connected stuff. There all odd that's why they work for the VA. Stay encouraged make all your appointment, refill your meds on time and don't be to shy to ask for a referral to another department if you think you need it. I really had to fight to get to see the VA chiropractor.

Harleyman I see no VBMS I have 3 thing pending at this time. 1. Claim Received: 01/22/2013 Claim Type: Dependency Original Estimated Claim Completion Date: The estimated completion date of 07/07/2013 is past due (Learn more) (still in claim received.) 2. Details of Your Claim Claim Received: 07/23/2013 Claim Type: Freedom of Information Act / Privacy Act Request Estimated Claim Completion Date: At this time, your Regional Office is unable to provide an estimated completion date for this type of claim Contentions: FOIA, George M Booth (New) ( in under review) 3. Details of Your Claim Claim Received: 07/30/2013 Claim Type: Authorization Review Estimated Claim Completion Date: At this time, your Regional Office is unable to provide an estimated completion date for this type of claim Contentions: STR Review (New) ( in under review.) Harleyman thanks for your reply, I really enjoy learning this stuff.

Good Job in haning in there and developing your claim. you gave outstanding advice.

Congrats, take a pause enjoy it then get ready for your next WIN!

Congarts stick with you will get it all worked out.

Good work way to hang in there.

As soon as Ebinnies come back up I will copy and paste the three open claims that Ebinnies shows, Dependency, FOIA and Authorization Review

I now have no idea butmI am leaning towards this just being the RO accessing my STRs as I have seen zero movement on it.

Sorry if this is late but you will do just fine. I was treated very poorly by military docs and did not see a doc for almost 6 years because of this. My advice to you is it not worth being anxious about, don’t go in blind know what you want as a result of your appointment and go after it. Make sure they address all you want addressed. Make sure you ask questions about med there interactions, the whole nine yards. Have it planed out before you go no one is going to be invested in your health care as you.

Hey Guys just brining this back to the top, I have been reviewing my C&Ps, and if some you you guys and gals will look at my c&p for depression I would appreciate it. I think the Doc mat have proved my case with her statements. I will post as soon as I can.

Some of these links may or may not shed some new light on this. http://vets.yuku.com/topic/82058 http://www.va.gov/vetapp13/files1/1300182.txt http://www.vawatchdog.org/Hearing_Loss___Tinnitus.html http://deafness.about.com/cs/latehearingloss/a/veterans_2.htm http://www.veteransforamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/3-Compensation.pdf http://38uscode.com/BVAappeals/BVA%20Cases/Lay%20evidence/0719862.txt My situation was a little different; I applied for tinnitus and hearing loss 6 years after my discharge. My saving grace was the Civilian ENT that the military sent me to he was an ex USAF DOC and new exactly what I needed even though I did not at the time. His test showed that I had high frequency hearing loss and subjective (Always present) tinnitus. Before I left his office that day he provided me with a copy of a letter he wrote that went back to the med group and in my records on base and at the civilian hospital. The letter stated that the hearing loss and tinnitus was a result of noise exposure due to my job as an Air Force Security Police Man, (Security Forces, his info was a little out dated) it as stated the types of long term nose exposure (Gun Fire, Helicopters, Simulated Explosions and HUMMVEE Engines) and gave an official diagnosis along with a treatment plan. Even though I provided this letter to the C&P audiologist she stated that since my STR showed I had chronic fluid on my ear and that I have never been in combat it was not likely connected to my service. Even though she had the intention of getting it denied by not accepting the letter which was written during my services dates and marking the less likely than not box she stilled proved service connection in her conclusion statement. Luckily the RO could read that day and read the letter and granted connection for tinnitus and denied the hearing loss as I have it but did not meet the threshold for the VA.

Thanks for the reply hoppy you provide some good insight. You were right on the money.

Thank you for the reply the 0% are sc. I do not believe either warrant an incress at this time. The things I am most concerned about are the denials as I know I was treated for the issues I claimed. I don't think I will see my STR before my times up and I am not sure how to proceed. Also no TDIU as I am still working.

First I would like to say that I feel the VA was more than fair in my rating and I am very satisfied but there where things that were denied that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I was treated for while in service. I had served in a rural area and most of my medical care was done by civilian practitioner at the areas major hospital. I had all the records from these civilian practitioners. The contentions that evolved these civilian records were all granted service connections. However the few contentions were I was treated by a military practitioner we all denied service connection as I do not have a shred of these records. I have requested a copy of my STR and C-File but my RO is still saying they cannot even provide an estimated completion date for my FOIA request. Once I have my STR I am hoping to find these records that I am missing. I have called the Medical Groups records section at my previous station to see if they had any of the records in there system still but I missed the 5year purge mark and they were all purged from their computers. My claim was handled by the Huntington RO it was received by them on 3-4-2011 and was completed on 3/1-2013 this was an Initial claim. They made their first decision on 11-2012 they awarded me a combined rating of 70% and remanded 2 contentions. They made a decision on those 2 contentions on 3-2013 and entirely completed my claim they awarded 0% on both so there was no change in rating. So my main question is as I am approaching my year mark what should I do concerning the contentions that were denied as I don’t have any records of them should I file a NOD, appeal or something else I haven’t considered yet. To help some of you all who care to chime in and help me brainstorm I will provide you with as much detail as humanly possible so you may develop an accurate opinion. I have been service connected for the following contentions. I see VA DOCS for issues unless otherwise stated. Obstructive Sleep Apnea with C-Pap 50%. Was med boarded in the USAF for this issue? Hemorrhoids 0%. Doc in USAF refused to treat this issue correctly which actually led to me having to have some emergence treatment when it all went south. Hydronephrosis of the kidneys 0%. Had a rash of kidney stones that were improperly treated by the USAF Docs that lead to scar tissue and build of fluid. VA states they don’t believe I still have it but could at any time. The VA conducted no test but did labs. IBS, GEERD and Hiatal Hernia all with chest pain 30% combined. Have had plenty of stomach problems since about 2004 till now was diagnosed with all in the USAF. Tinnitus 10%. Was diagnosed in service. Mitral Valve Prolapse with chest pain 0%. Was having major chest pain that continues to this day was reviled by Echocardiogram. USAF and VA Docs say it should not cause any pain, recently I had a civilian cardio doc said it was the cause of my pain but was benign. I am currently waiting on result of an ECO and Stress Test that the VA insisted on repeating. My EF was 60% but the Doc said the valve was actually swollen. Allergic Rhinitis 0%. Was diagnosed in USAF. The following contentions were denied on the basis of; there was no evidence in STR. Depression and GAD. C&P exam gave me a solid diagnosis with a GAF of 62 but said it was due to my poor up brining and not service related. Showed all sings of both for the first time in my life in service was referred to a USAF Physiologist by USAF Docs who told me he did not want to officially diagnose me with depression as it would ruin my career. This was after my gun was taking from me for a month and I was forced as an NCO to clean my squadron because I asked for help. I knew that going in and was willing to pay the price I just did not get the help. Needless to say I never tried to get help again and I was a mess. This was a big component to me leaving the USAF. I knew I needed help. Flat Foot. I was diagnosed by USAF podiatrist and issued inserts for both shoes. Minor Bulge C-4, C-5, and C-7 steped out of a uh1 n huey a little too early and landed wrong with a 40-60 pound combat load. CAT-Scan was conducted on base it reviled the bulge. My current meds are as follows all issued by VA SIMVASTATIN 1 20MG TAB a day OMEPRAZOLE 1 20MG EC CAP a day, used in USAF also PSYLLIUM ORAL PWD (Fiber), Used in USAF also ACETAMINOPHEN 325/BUTALB50/CAFN 40MG TAB as needed for headache. Flonase 50 MCH a day nasal inhalant. Used in USAF also Cetirizine 10 MG a day for allergies. Dicyclomine 10 MG 2 a day for stomach cramps, used in USAF also I have 2 labs that are off Cholesterol: 220 GLUTAMYL TRANSFERASE (Liver Function) 68. Has always been high first noticed in USAF. P.S if you had the patience to make it this far and you provide feedback thank you I am very great full.

There's a good documentary that was done by PBS call the wounded platoon it also on Netflix it talks about the problems in Carson

Harleyman thanks for the info; I was thinking since contentions were listed as STR review that this was the RO accessing my service treatment records for the FOIA is this possible????. I can tell you two thing that I am sure of 1. I am very thankful for your reply and 2. I hope you are right.

Details of Your Claim Claim Received: 07/30/2013 Claim Type: Authorization Review Estimated Claim Completion Date: At this time, your Regional Office is unable to provide an estimated completion date for this type of claim Contentions: STR Review (New) Does anyone know what this is about it pop up on ebenies today. I have a pending dependency claim and a freedom of information act claim that is also pending. The dependency claim was been there since jan of 2013 the foia is new. The STR review I have no idea but I think it connected to the foia . Does anyone know.....

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Hopefully I find a more suitable job here in the near future.

I haven’t been on this site for a while due to being busy with college. Today I learn that the VA has assigned 0% to two of the issue that were remanded in my case. Allergic Rhinitis and Mitral Valve prolapse with chest pain. Now that there all done I am getting a copy of my C-file and of course a NOD is in order for some of the issues. Also I was approved to meet with a Voc Rehab counselor they only down side is its 300 miles and some change away. I will try to keep everyone updated as I go. Once again thank you to everyone for sharing information I would not be here with out Hadit.

Most places will provide you with a disabled vet’s discount of veterans discount if you ask. In my experience.

Look over the Veterans Health Benefits Handbook very closely. My claim went over 22 months. I did not receive a copy of the Veterans Health Benefits Handbook until I was service connected. The copy I received was specific to my information. It told me I qualified for ter1 because I was combined 70%. But maybe you already know that I am reading this post wrong.

For all having a problem with OSA and there CPAP’S this device might be worth a try. http://www.drstelmach.com/tap-times-if-youre-tired-of-snoring I have had OSA since 2005. However it’s gone untreated since late 2006 when I left the Air Force. Have my first VA Appointment on the 18th since I have been SC for OSA. I was MEB/PEB for OSA while on active duty but chose to wait almost 6yrs after I left the Military before applying for benefits.

Well said Pete in the end the VA answers to no one. I personally believe that it’s a money problem. A 70% has to come off the list before they can add 70% and so on. Same thing with the delay in MGIB payments. A-C gets paid on this date the rest later. They are some how robbing one account to pay the other. Just my opinion.

Great News Papa!!!! Glad to hear it, way to hang in there. I bet you will see the retro in the next day or so.