WVSERVER

Great job, way to hang in there!

Just want to check in and vet a little. It has been a very long road for me to this point. Well still no movement on my initial claim. I am looking at taking some leave from work so I can go to my VARO. I know no of the following is really relevant but it helps me to let it out. I have been having a lot of medical problems as of late and low and behold another doctor put his finger on GAD that I have been hiding very well for most of my life now. This issue got so bad during my AIR FORCE time it what drove me out. The doctor simply told be if we diagnosis you with GAD/Depression your career is over you will get a medical discharge that will keep you from getting any jobs once you are out. So I did my time hide the GAD and was back doored MEB/PED at the last second for sleep apnea and then was honorable discharged. I have not seen a doctor since but as the years have gone on the GAD has worsened. I had hope of getting on a police department somewhere but that is dashed now officially as I have gone on record seeking help. I took some anxiety tests and scored and 88 which was in the severe range. Also took an anxiety personality test and scored a 98. So anyway I just need an outlet and I am singing off. Thanks Hadit for listening.

Heres a good read. http://www.stripes.com/news/angry-veterans-demand-end-to-backlog-of-disability-claims-1.177964?localLinksEnabled=false

I have a major frustration with the sleep apnea issue. I was diagnosed and MEB/PEB in the Air Force for sleep apnea. The MEB/PEB found I need to use a CPAP and was C coded and returned to duty. My claim was received by the Huntington RO on the 4th of March 2011. It had ZERO! Movement since. So it my opinion they are really not wanting to pay out on this issue. I don’t think you could get any more open and shut then my case.

congratulations good win

When should I expect a C&P EXAM? As some of you already know I have an initial claim that has been in the 1st phase for 15 months now. I feel I sent them a really tight case. I had a load of medical records from civilian doctors concerning the conditions that I claimed. All dated during my years of service all lining up with the symptoms listed on the rating scale. Even provided MEB/PEB records for sleep apnea. There was only 1 issue that I was weak on records and that was my neck. This was the single issue I was seen exclusively on Minot AFB for. They already called me on it and asked for more evidence concerning my neck injury. With all that said when should I start expecting to get a C&P EXAMS? Is one required at all?

I am going to be honest I am new to this game myself. So I do not have the answers to your questions. But the old guard should be chiming in soon. Other then that I just wanted to say welcome to hadit.com. This site has helped me out a whole lot. I myself have struggled with anxiety at times it’s no fun. Hang in there keep you head up. George.

Been on a 15 month no movement wait so hopefuly this mean it is progressing.

Thanks Phil I got everythin singed and sent to them through the WV Dept. Of veteran services today.

Everyone thanks for the replys Carlie I am sorry but I have to ask what ROI are as I am not sure.

I have tried for about 5 yrs to get my service treament records. I have even been told they were lost. But the VA has told me many time they have requested and recived them. They are only giveing me 30 days to respond. The letter say's they will decide my case if they don't hear from me with in 30 day or sonner if I send back the form stating I have no additional infromation. I dont think I could get the record in 30 days could I? I imagine it's just a form letter and they have no intensions of deciding my case in 30 days. I havent even had a C&P yet. The other issue is sleep apnea which I was MEB/PEB for on active duty. I provided them a copy of the Medical Bord and sleep study that recomened use of a CPAP which started the Medical Bord. Once again thanks for the advice.

After 15 months of zero movement on an initial claim the VA has sent me a 2nd VA form 21-4138 and 21-4142, and a VCAA Notice Response. They are asking for me to send them more information on one of my issues (bulged C-4, C-5, and C-7). They say they need evidence that it existed from my military service. This is the single issue that I only seen military doctors for and do not have a copy of my service records to prove it. I seen civilian Doctors for the rest of my issues and had these records and sent them in with the claim. So I guess my question is what should I do? Just send it back in stating I have no evidence that it should be in my service treatment records. Does this mean there actively working my case? Thank you HADIT for all the advice in advance

Carlie and John999 thank you both for the replies. Carlie not to sound rude, but I really don’t know what I would do or who to talk to once I got there (Your advice would be appreciated)? It seem like every time I talk to someone at the VA I get the standard we have 9,000,000 claims in the system unless your terminal or homeless we will get to it when we get to it. I have been to my local VA here in Martinsburg about 3 times it did not help. Huntington is about a 5hr one-way trip. John999 I am seriously considering the senator option at this point. I just talk to my rep at the WV Department of Veteran Services who told me he would get an answer to what was going on. Well he did not even remember my name when I talked to him today. I told him the back story and reminded him on what he said. He apologized and said he would call me back by the end of the day, well needless to say no phone call. Hopefully I wasn’t to negative I know we are all navigating the same system and that everyone experience is different. I am just a little frustrated with my experience at this point. I am trying to understand that the system and employees are both are extremely overloaded. P.S John999 I was on active duty for six years.

I am looking for advice. Huntington WV VARO has had my initial claim for 15 months in the 1st phase with no movement. It does have several things listed. All items are in my medical records which I gave them a copy of. I was even MEB/PEB for sleep apnea. I provided them a copy of that also. They received my service treatment records last June. My rep from the West Virginia Department of Veteran Services say wait it out looking at the average time for a case to be determined in Huntington my should pop anytime now (It’s about 120 days over average). He says at about the 17th month mark I should ask for an audit. My Senator Jay Rockefeller says I should fill out a release form and let him look into it. That 15 months is too long on a initial claim. What do you Hadit vet think I should do if anything?

I agree whole heartedly.

Thanks for the link, I need all the good info I can get.

Another good read it can be found here. http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2009/VAOIG-08-01163-156.pdf VAOIG-08-01163-156.pdf

Here is a recent july 2011 IG inspection of the Huntington, WV VARO. Its an interesting read and can be found here http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2011/VAOIG-11-00522-231.pdf VAOIG-11-00522-231.pdf

I was med boarded for OSA when I was on active duty in 2004. It’s gone untreated since 2006. This topic has got me think I should try to see what my insurance would cover to get me going on my CPAP again. I did apply for benefits about 15 months ago. I provided the VA with the MEB/PEB results. It stated that I could finish my last 6 months of my 6 year enlistment with a C Code (could only serve in state side locations) but that it was recommended I could not reenlist with OSA. I think my biggest mistake was getting honorable discharged with no rating from the VA. I let it go since 2006 I think that has hurt my case. Anyway I went for my sleep study at a civilian hospital. I watched all these videos about OSA. The tech hook up the monitor then asked if I thought I had OSA. I said hell no! Well I fell asleep very easily as I can sleep anywhere. In a couple of hours the tech was waking me up putting on the MASK. It was all down hill from there. The doc decided I need a MEB/PEB this if after I had a mishap on duty leading to me bulging my C-4, C-5 and C-7 which the doc said it should cause no pain and would not require a MEB/PEB. Anyway that has been my experience.

I have been waiting for about fifteen months on an initial claim. It used to drive me crazy at first but now I think I am getting the hang of this waiting game. Try model car I personally like the 1to24 scale car and the 1to72 scale figures. http://www.finescale.com/ http://www.scaleautomag.com/

Congratulations, way to hang in there.

Congratulations way to hang in there.

Good Job way to hang in there.

Just to keep everyone updated I am now over 15 months on my initial claim. My veteran services officers from the State of West Virginia Department of Veteran Services contacted me and said he would look into it and try to get a detailed answer on were they are at on my case. He also stated he thought this time line was a little longer then it should be for an initial claim but he thought Huntington was still about 120 days behind due to the Agent Orange cases. Anyway I just wanted to update everyone I know there are those who have been waiting longer then I but when I see a broke system I want to do everything I can to see change to make it a little easier on the person who comes after me. I have emailed Sen. Rockefeller about 3 times now on my opinions of the system we call the VA and what I think would be good fair changes to the system. He has always has offered to look into my case. But as of now I have not taking him up on that issue. The Senator did state that it just a myth that your case go to the back and that it would take longer if he looked into it for me. Who knows I don’t want to take my chances I think I will just wait it out. Praying for everyone’s success George Booth

WOW Nice to meet you Old Ranger 821. I have nothing but respect for you. You guys paved the way for so many. I was always proud to be Security Forces. I think most of everyone always thought we were a joke because we were in the AIR FORCE. We usually changed there mind once they got to see how we operated. Once again Sir Thanks you are the first person I have met that served during safe side and was trained by the 1041st. The 1041 is considered the start of today’s Security Forces. We learned a lot about 1041 and the 820s in Tech School. I never served in any of the 820s, I was in the 91 SFG Minot AFB for my whole enlistment. I am still a little bitter about that.