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11cvolley
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Posts posted by 11cvolley
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11: Just went back and chked your prev posts to get up to speed. It appears you were awarded PTSD @ 70% about 08/2012, did you get an "Inferred IU claim Pending" notification with this PTSD award? Did you subsequently file an IU Claim that was Denied? What was the VA's reason for Reducing your 30% SC and did you appeal that decision, DRO or BVA?
Were you or are you now using a VSO-Rep for your NOD or NODs? What does your Rep say?
Have you provided your VARO rating Dept with any and all New & Material Medical Evidence post Denial Decision? Are you sure they got It? It sounds like your currently waiting (2 yrs?) on a DRO Review, not a DRO Personal Hearing. If you don't have an actual DRO Personal Hearing request on file, you best be sure any and all New and Old Material Medical Evidence is in the rating Dept's Claims Folder. You won't know until well after the DRO Reviews your File and either Awards or sends you a Continued Denial in the form of a Supplemental Statement of case. Then it's too late and your BVA Bound, another 2+ years. I think your contention is you think you should have been rated at 100% for PTSD, right. That could be a tuff sell, depends on how compelling your medical evidence is.
As for the VA Vocational Rehab program. The Denial Letter is not an automatic. If the VA expert believes you are not precluded from completing the Voc Rehab Program due to your SC conditions, you won't get the "Letter." I think you mentioned that a VA C&P Dr (Psychiatrist-PTSD?) shot down your being unemployable due to playing Vidieo Games. Might be time to get an actual VA Vocational Rehabilitation Expert's opinion. Could only hurt if he/she believes your are capable of being retrained for "Gainful Employment Income" providing job. They don't care what previous training or education you have had. It's all about how you are today, do your SC conditions make you unemployable currently or not.
You have to do what your comfortable with. Looking at your previous posts, you need to do your due diligence and use any and all the tools available to you. Good Luck!
Semper Fi
Gastone
My 30% went to 0% because my ptsd is causing me breathing problems, not asthma.
I think what I got with my award was the paperwork to start an IU claim.
I have a VA lawyer, but the VA hasn't given him anything yet. Its been 6+ months since I retained him. Maybe the VA will send him my c-file after the DRO review???
I provided all new evidence and it is on file that I requested a face to face with a dro.
Going back and reading the c&p examine for iu/100%, the doctor is saying that I am much worse than previously thought, and his comment regarding video games is him stating i'm capable of some work. He never said/wrote anything about me being able to work.. I think whoever had my case rushed it and was looking for a reason to deny me to get to the next case; otherwise, I can't understand how playing video games would mean I can hold gainful employment.
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Just got off the phone with the #800. Lady said I opted for a DRO review a little over two years ago. Said she is sorry that it is taking so long, but said something about the RO was sent more people to help with the backlog... I'm glad they finally stopped the bonus programs for these people. I think they got it right on the money when they said the bonus program was making the RO look for any reason to deny a claim because denying a claim allows them to process more claims to get that bonus.
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Was your SSDI based solely on your VA SC issues? VA rater has to look at your SSDI award but doesn't mean it's a lock on IU. Depends on issues SS took into consideration.
Now this isn't guaranteed to work, think about requesting a DRO Personal Hearing. I'm not even sure you could do it at this point. Sounds like all you asked for was a DRO Review. I'm a firm believer in the need for face to face when it comes to VA Hearings.
I really wouldn't just rely on the SSDI to seal the IU deal. You could apply for VA Voc Rehab and if your as screwed up as you sound, get a Denial Letter in a couple of weeks. Now that Denial Letter would be a Deal Maker.
Semper Fi
Gastone
I asked for a face to face. For some reason I was thinking BVA. Thats why i'm a little confused to why its with a DRO awaiting a decision. My SSDI is based solely on PTSD. I wouldn't feel comfortable or okay with using the voc rehab like that.
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I had a decent discussion regarding IU with the DRO that handled my 6/27/14 Hearing. We had already discussed my Denial and he agreed that my N & M Evidence supported the IU Award. The main piece of N&M was a VA Vocational Rehab Denial Letter that I got after my 2012 IU Denial. The DRO said a Voc Rehab Denial letter indicating that your SC conditions make it impossible to achieve Voc Rehab goals is a deal maker when it comes to a IU rating. Who better than a VA Trained Professional Employment councilor to determine your Unemployability after taking all your SC Issues, education and work experience into consideration. He said a large number of IU claims are made by Vets that are just out of work or under employed. Their SC conditions don't preclude them from finding and maintaining "Gainful Employment Income," currently $12,???.00 per year. This figure is the US Census Poverty Income for 1 person. Give Voc Rehab some consideration, certainly couldn't hurt your IU claim.
As for your current DRO Review, I trust that you have supplied Post Denial Decision New & Material evidence for the DRO to consider, if not you could be screwed. What New evidence did you submit that supported your contention that you should be Schedularly Rated at 100% as opposed to the rater's 70% award?
Semper Fi
Gastone
My SSDI. For whatever reason, when they denied me an increase, they said I failed to check mark the box on the form for an increase indicating that I get SSDI for SC issue. So that was my new evidence even tho SSDI approved me with only my VA records. I never seen anyone from SSDI. Just submitted the app and talked to two people on the phone.
I haven't worked since mid 2010 and didn't apply for SC until a month after I stopped. I knew I couldn't ignore my issues any longer when I couldn't handle an at home call center job.
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Check out BVA Decisions 2013-14. If you got a BVA Hearing in 2 yrs, would be very unusual. Unless you have sent in N & M Medical Evidence post NOD Denial, your dance with the VARO rating department is done. A N&M Evidence triggered Review by a Sr Rater or DRO is a possibility but barring that, your claim will set at your VARO until Certified and transferred to the BVA for your Hearing. Have you received the VA 90 day New Evidence cut off letter yet?
Semper Fi
Gastone
After the denial for an increase I got that letter. Thats when I wrote them back requesting the in person BVA. I also sent them a 3 page document stating my objection to their reason to deny me IU or other form of 100%. The C&P doctor said I am much worse than previously thought, but then the doctor says that because I play PC games I am able to hold gainful employment. The sad part is the VA denied me IU because of the doctors pc game statement.
Looking back at that letter I actually requested a review by a DRO. Which is where my file is right now according to the #800 number. My lawyer hasn't got my files yet, but tells me they're waiting on a statement of the case.
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To make a long story short, I filed a nod to get my 70% to 100%, then requested a BVA in person when they said no. The #800 people say its with a rater awaiting a decision, but its been there for over a year and nearly 2 years on step 1 under appeal statues on the website. I keep getting told they could decide to grant me 100%, but if not they will move it along to the BVA. Is this normal or are they telling me the wrong thing and they're really working on the BVA already?
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Filed for PTSD June 2014 got my denial today. Guess I should have read up on it more I was only diagnosed by my pcp and not MH doc. I thought I would at least get a C&P but nope straight to denial. So now I got to get in and see MH for it which I really have been dragging my feet. Now I will see what MH says and hold off on the nod till I get some visits in and file my nod at the latest possible. My SSDI diagnoses PTSD was no help
I think there is 3 things you have to prove to the VA.
1. You have been diag with ptsd
2. You had suffered a traumatic event while on active duty.
3. You have to link 1 and 2 together.
The VA is going to look for any reason to say your ptsd was caused by events before or after your service.
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The VA is like that robot from robocop. "You have 5 seconds to comply." Meanwhile the VA gives you this in code, "when we say within a year we really mean you're super lucky if it is done in 10."
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Walk/jogging would that have an affect on my ptsd iu claim?
I'd say yes since most raters think you have to be locked away and can't do anything. I can see them spinning jogging into, "highly motivated, able to handle stress, stays on task, focused, career oriented, ect."
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How did you get 100% for ptsd when you have a job?
I was denied IU and 100% for playing video games......
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Video games are my way to escape reality. This c&p doctor also brought up my intelligence and how 'well' I wrote my before and after letter. I think its very shallow to judge someone's ptsd based on their intelligence and ability to do individual hobbies that don't require any interaction with people. As for not reporting it, it would feel wrong to not tell when asked what I do to pass time. Focus isn't that hard when playing video games, but judge my focus outside around people or even out in my front yard mowing grass and it is a different story.
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After, for whatever reason, the RO moved my claim from BVA process back to a DRO. They claim to have been waiting on my SSDI records so the DRO can make a decision. Well they had my SSDI records for over a month now. When I call to check on my claim they either say, DRO is waiting on SSDI records,' or, 'DRO has got my SSDI records and is working on a decision.' I'm so tired of this waiting crap. I made no mistakes, the VA did when they decided playing video games was a good reason to deny me IU. Deny deny us from money that isn't their money, but taxpayer money. And why do they deny us? To get big bonuses! Is there any groups protesting teh cleveland RO?
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I have my CnP exam next week for ptsd via mst. Has anyone had success with this?
I have, but I saw a non-VA doctor for my C&P.
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You should've told her that you shit rainbows, clouds part when you have a 'good' day, and you don't know why the F everyone is saying you have issues. Just don't tell them you play video games because that somehow means you're an outstanding citizen that is ready to run your own fortune 500 company.
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This is another example that vets should not discuss childhood problems at a VA C&P exam. I don't know why you only got 50% except the VA tries to low ball us all in hopes we won't appeal. I don't know if the VA blamed part of your disability on childhood ADD. I told the VA about some teenage years skipping school, and they are still trying to use that against me almost 25 years later.
Luckily they didn't use my habit of missing school to hangout with friends against me. I agree with John, DO NOT disclose more than you need to, keep it short and simple, and tell the truth.
I understand what you guys have said and I see your side, but it's important to me to tell the truth as I understand it. With the PTSD and alcohol problems, I'm pretty susceptible to guilt, and something like purposely distorting my mental health history would most likely lead to strong feelings of guilt. It's unfortunate that telling the truth would work against me, but so be it. I believe with patience and hard work that I'll eventually get what I deserve.
Honestly, tell the truth. I also had a drinking problem and disclosed it. Never was used against me and I was granted 70% the first go at getting SCed. Telling the truth sets your mind at ease, helps tailor your treatment which is what matters most. Your mental health is more important than a rating imo. If you feel it needs to be disclosed, then do it.
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Prazosin you got to keep upping your dose until they stop. IM at 10 MILLAGRAMs. At first it works for a while then the dreams come right back. I was taking Wellbutrin also prazosin and I my dreams was emotional and vivid like I was watching a movie every dream was sadness. I stopped taking welbutrin and it stop so I don't think it was prazosin it might be the combination of the actual crazy med and prazosin mix. Prazosin seems to black my dreams out when I wake up like I don't remember. What I dreamed about I just know it was a wild night I wake up bleeding sometimes bruises from going crazy in my sleep. Soooo I think you should see if your psych will up your dose of prazosin a milligram until you find the right dosage to erase your dreams
I take 10mg as well. 5 2mg pills. For whatever reason the doc has me taking 4mg in the morning as well.
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Well its another day. I have been still going to therapy. At night in the middle of the night when I wake up IM having vivid hallucinations. I have pretty much been locked down in the house. I have not been put in a position to be angry. I'm wanting to be isolated to another level. All I want to do is avoid all problems. Before I go to sleep its like the shadows in the room is watching me. I know it sounds crazy but THATS the feeling I get. I been seeing floating spiders are a lot of black bugs if I wake up at night. OOOH well its kool I'm getting use to it. My dreams I don't remember them. It's usually like that then all of a sudden IM back down nightmare row. Well THATS whet IM at right now. Inside the house. :-/
Does prazosin make your dreams more vivid? I take prazosin and it hasn't really decreased nightmares, but every night my dreams are very vivid and sometimes I can't tell if I am dreaming or not. Pls don't take that med with anything not prescribed, including beer. It can be a total mindf***.
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Sorry, i forgot. I'm on lorazepam, 1mg 3 times a day. I was wondering if it does help with sweating. Getting into the dermatomes is a pain, and i'm looking for other solutions or aids.
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I been dealing with hyperhidrosis ever since the military. I just want to know if lorazepam can help with the sweating, puddles of sweat, when I try to go to the store with my wife and son. I've never addressed this with the VA because of how long it takes to get seen, and the 3 responses I get when I am seen.
1. Lose some weight
2. You have severe anxiety
3. got to see a dermatologist, weeks waiting, then canceled, I give up
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I advised her to what has been said here. Her only reply was, "good luck on the attorney getting any money from me." Thank you for all your input.
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did the lawyer do any work on the claim, because I bet the VSO didnt do much. Id send the VSO a bill and the lawyer a check.
I don't know what kind of work the lawyer could have done since they never got access to her files. Her story is very similar to mine. She retained a lawyer after being denied an increase, but the VA went back from starting the BVA process and granted her TDIU based on a CUE I think.
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Someone I know retained a lawyer. She told me that the VA denied the request for her lawyer because the DAV is her current power of attorney. She got her award letter in the mail today and the total amount of back pay in her checking account. Does she still have to pay the attorney the 30%?
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My lawyer's rep couldn't answer my question, so I was hoping someone here can. I been waiting for the BVA process to start. So I called the 800# and to my surprise the lady I talked to was very helpful. She said that my claim is with a rater and waiting on my SSA records, then the rater will be a decision. Does this mean I might not have to go through a BVA and the VA could go a head and grant my request for 100%/IU/TDIU or whatever?
Waiting For Bva?
in Appealing Your Veterans Compensation Disability Claims NOD, DRO, BVA, USCAVC
Posted
I just did a little googling on SA and from reading other people's post is like looking in a mirror. I had to move the garbage can into my garage so I could take the trash out. I don't like having windows open or the blinds open in fear of people seeing me inside my house. I get super quite when I hear someone near the house. I've even missed getting my medicine that I have to sign for. But I do have good days when I can go out. For the sleeping part I have times when I wake from a nightmare I found that I punched the fan next to me or kicked. My wife says I don't snore.
A lot of the symptoms on http://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder-and-social-phobia.htm I have, but won't that give the VA reason to lower my ptsd rating?