[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

WOOHOO! It took TWO years to get approved.....but we just received my brother's disability rating from the VA. 100% TOTAL and PERMANENT disability due to unemployability....due to Myotonic Dystrophy.

The letter shows how much he was awarded as of April 2011, then COLA increases each January. It doesnt show what his total back-pay will be, but I figured it to be a little over $70k....with $2800 per month.

He is also receiving $1000 per month from Social Security Disability along with Medicare Part A and B. I'm not sure if this will drop with his VA money?

I now need to research what additional benefits he will receive. His letter said free dental and an ID card with commisary and exchange privileges.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Sully

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Yes -I see the same things you mentioned as well as W/u that was never followed through.

Also this reveals Dx impression of peripheral Neuropathy in addition to the Myotonia and distal neuropathy.

Is his SSA award solely for the condition he claimed with the VA?

Yes...I get the idea from this ONE page that the doctor wanted to do some follow-up exams. However....he never did. My brother was also escorted by his supervisor to the hospital at Mt Home, ID (2 years later) for the same hand-issues. However, that visit was not documented or found in his SMR. I read through it twice now and found only the one page. I also found a mental health workup that was performed as a result of a "Command-Directed" psych eval. The results said, "no findings."

These two cases: hands and psych are both related to his disease.

I just got back from the local SS office. They would not provide us with ANY copies of ANYTHING. They said, that we should provide my brother's SSDI AWARD LETTER to the VA, and allow them to request the data. I asked specifically for the Doctor's letter, and they said, "no". Ridiculous.

BERTA, to answer your question....YES....SSDI was approved solely on the one thing that we are trying to get VA Disability for: Myotonic Dystrophy.

I'm still worried about two things:

1. We didnt file for his VA disability until April 2011. He was discharged in Dec 2008. That is over 2 years.

2. He told the doctors that he had this before he entered the service (although he never told his family and he was never treated or seen by a Doctor for it).

Sully

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

1. I still havent received the VCAA letter. I called them and they said, "expect it soon."

2. I will go to the SS office this week to get a copy of my brother's entire SSDI package to submit to the VA. They told me on the phone that his civilian cardiologist wrote a very strong letter.

3. GOOD NEWS (I hope). I received my brother's complete hard-copy SMR today (took over a year). I found ONE entry on 2 March 2005 where my brother was seen about his hands. I cant make out much of it....so I scanned it in for your assistance. I see words like "distal neuropathy" and "myotonia". But there are NO FOLLOW-ON appointments after this--which pisses me off. It is like they just forgot about him. He was actually directed by his supervisor to see the doctor in Japan and at Mt Home Idaho for his hands. But I only found the one entry.

Bad news: It looks like my brother told them that he has had this for 7 years (at that time). He states that he started noticing this at age 16. The computer font at the top says 1 year. The handwritten notes show 7x years. His ENTRY physical does not state anything from my brother or the doctors about his hands. Yet he admitted to this doctor in Japan that he started noticing this at age 16. His EXIT physical form, that my brother filled out, states that he has NO MEDICAL ISSUES (which SUCKS).

The VA will most likely argue one of two points (but not both): 1) He had this before he came in. OR 2) He did not claim to have this when he got out.

I'm not sure it really matters if he had it before he came in....because he passed the physical. I would also argue that the reason why his outgoing physical questionaire is blank, is because he was in a RUSH and very upset about being discharged (kicked out with 3-5 days notice). His mind was not focused on the importance of the document. Not to mention his reduced mental capacity due to his disease.

I have no idea where they (the VA) are going to go with this??

Any suggestions/thoughts?

Sully

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Sully,

Does he have any current VA service connected disability's ?

Not yet. I filed for him about 2 months ago....for a single line item: Myotonic Dystrophy. However, this disease affects many parts of the body. I'm not sure if his claim should have been filed against each area of the body....rather than just one (myotonic dystrophy).

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

The SSDI award letter should be sent to support his pending claim and the VA will send him an authorization form in order to obtain the SSDI records.

But -has he received a VCAA letter yet?

Has the VA acknowledged the claim yet at all?

I s this hisfirst VA claim? HAve they given him a C file number yet?

SSDI records usually contain an independent medical opinion and can often help a SC claim.

It might be better to wait for some acknowledgement of the claim from VA first.Others will chime in on that.

His SMRs and any other VA documents are surely still in the SSA office that handled this award.

This is a good time to see if you can either obtain a copy of them from SSA or at least a few copies of their actual medical determination.

This is why they didnt send them to you from NARA- because SSA got them.

But I dont think SSA will copy the entire file for you.

I was able to get a few copies for a fee from them of specific VA records.

Odd thing is....we have NOT yet received his SSDI AWARD LETTER. We have only received a letter with his PRK number and I used this to login to the SS website. At which point, I saw his award amount. I am hoping to get the AWARD LETTER soon.

The VFW rep at Andrews AFB helped us file for his VA DISABILITY about 2 months ago (at least). We have not yet received the VCAA letter (or any other letter).

Nothing from VA on my brother yet at all.

This is his first claim and no C number.

We were not asked to provide medical evidence on his SSDI....we only filled out a bunch of questionaires. However, we did provide contact info for his doctors. Maybe they provided the evidence directly.

Wow....I had no idea that the SSA would obtain his SMR as well. For us....their process was quick and painless.

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Sully,

First off he must be getting SSDI - not SSI, as SSI doesn't pay that high of an amount each month.

His $1036.00 is based on the amount he paid in (thru employment) of the last so many quarters he worked.

His bills have nothing to do with how much SSDI pays him. This is now a set amount for him from SSA

and will only increase by way of a COLA, perhaps in the future. This is usually a minimal amount something

like 15 or 20 bucks a month.

If his SSDI benefits were granted due to some SC'd disability's this MIGHT help his VBA claim.

The SS website had a statement that said, "They may change from one month to the next based on changes in income, living arrangements, and resources." That is why I thought that MAYBE he would get more if he was on his own. But I plan to call them tomorrow and find out.

I'm more curious about how I can inform VA that SS has approved my brother for DISABILITY payments, based on his Myotonic Dystrophy and his current condition.

Sully

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Good news!! I just received a letter from Social Security for my younger brother. It says that his DISABILTY has been approved. I logged into their website and it says:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our Social Security records show:

Your benefit type: Disability Your regular monthly payments are made on the: 4th Wednesday of the month Your current month's benefit amount is: $1036.00 This amount does not include any deductions you have, such as Medicare Premiums or payments on money you owe us (Overpayments).

The last year of work you reported was: 2010 The amount of earnings you reported for 2010 was: $30696

Our SSI records show:

Your SSI benefits are based on: Disability

These amounts do not include deductions you may have (like payments on amounts you owe us). They may change from one month to the next based on changes in income, living arrangements, and resources. Any changes reported on your record in the last 15 days may increase or reduce your next monthly payment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I need to call them tomorrow to find out for sure, but it would appear that his monthly amount is only $1036, because he lives with me (no rent or mortgage payment). I need to find out if it goes up, if he was to rent his own place. But...that is not why I am posting this information today. I wanted to ask a question:

Someone mentioned that if he gets approved for Social Security Disablity benefits, that this would HELP his claim for VA Disablity Compensation. If this is true, how do I get this new information to the VA? What should I send them? Do you think it will really help?

I have not received anything from the VA since initially filing for his benefits a while back....so they are still processing it.

Thanks all!

Sully

[Disability Comp. Starts When?]

Sully

Have you received your VA award letter yet? It should be under the amount you are entitled to. It should begin with "Your Award Amount and Payment Start Date".

Yes. On my first post (down below) I put the amounts and dates:

Total VA Benefit -- Amount Withheld -- Amount Paid -- Effective Date -- Reason for Change

$ 1,904.00 ---------- $ 85.00 ------------- $ 1,819.00 ------- 1-Nov-10 ------ Increased Award (Initial)

$ 1,904.00 ---------- $ 26.00 ------------- $ 1,878.00 ------- 1-Jan-11 ------ Retired Pay Adjusment, Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay Amount

$ 1,904.00 ---------- $ 00.00 ------------- $ 1,904.00 ------- 1-Apr-11 ------ Retired Pay Adjusment, Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay Amount

After reading this forum and vets.yuku.com, I have found several posts which say that the VA calls the FIRST MONTH your "STUB MONTH" and you do NOT get paid for this. My VFW rep, handling my appeal, used to work for the VA for 30 years. He too referred to this first month as the STUB month. My effective date of claim was 1 Oct 2010. My effective date of each of my disabilities was 1 Oct 2010. My effective date of payment is 1 Nov 2010---with first payment being on 1 Dec 2010.

This just plain stinks! It is an entire month. Most military retire effective on the end of the month. So there date of claim will always be the first of the month. They will therefore not receive an entire month of disability payments.

Sully

[Hadit Or Hadiit?]

It is hadit.com

I thought so. So...your webmaster has some cleaning up to do. It has "HADIit" all over the place (with two i's). Look in the BLUE BAR above, to the left of the FORUMS tab. You will see what I'm talking about.

Sully

[Disability Comp. Starts When?]

That was odd looking. Your response was inside my quote.

I did not get a check on 1 November. I got my first payment on 1 December (which was for November).

Per the VA....and per some others on this forum....that is the way they do it. They do NOT pay you for the first month. I'd like to see that in the regulations.....it just doesnt seem right. But I suppose I feel better knowing that they didnt just screw mine up.

Sully

[Disability Comp. Starts When?]

VA and SSA always pay compensation, one month in the rears.

Understood. And I apologize for not explaining myself well.

I'm okay with payment in arrears. But that is NOT the issue at hand. They are saying YES....your disability effective date is 1 Oct. However, you are not going to start accruing payment for that disability until 1 Nov....and then....we are not going to pay you until the END of November---actually on 1 December.

So....payment is in arrears. But they also ARE NOT paying at all for the first month (Oct). They skip it. Or so they told me on the phone. And that is how they figured my first (back-pay) check.

They are paying me for November on 1 Dec. That is okay.

They are NOT paying me at all for October. Not okay.

Sully

[Disability Comp. Starts When?]

Sully

In reference to your #2 question, I believe that it is a fact that they don't pay you for the month of the decision no matter if it is made the 1st or any other date within that month. Mine was made on the 2nd and that is what happened to me also. I know others will chime in on this one.

As for the "withholding". Could the difference in the monthly payment possibly be that you have a the VA life insurance and those premiums started being withheld? Just a thought.

Congrats on your success with your decision.

Handler

It doesnt seem fair that the VA wouldnt pay you for the first month. The VA letter says that my EFFECTIVE DATE on each one of my conditions is 1 Oct 2010. IMO, they should start paying me then. I dont like that my letter came in and says that each of my disabilities (aka conditions) have an EFFECTIVE DATE of 1 Oct 2010.....yet the payment table shows my payment EFFECTIVE DATE as 1 Nov 2010. If this was payment in arrears, okay. But they are telling me it is not. They are telling me that my payment starts on 1 Nov with the first payment being on 1 Dec 2010.

I did all the math, and the withholding amount is correct. Based on the concurrent receipt allocations for 2010 = 93.95% and 2011 = 98.18%. Starting shortly, the reduction/withholding will not happen on the VA DISABILITY side....it will occur on my MILITARY RETIREMENT side. Starting next month, my MILITARY RETIREMENT will be reduced by $26.00 and my VA DISABILITY will be fully funded at $1904. Or so I'm told.

Sully

[Benefits Delivery At Discharge (Bdd)]

I used the BDD program when I retired in 2009. I filed everything and had my C and P appointments 6 months prior to my actual retirement date. I had my rating back 15 days after my actual retirement date. It is a great program, just wish it would have came along earlier for other folks.

Did they pay you for your first month after your retirement?

I retired 30 Sept 2010. The effective date of all my conditions was 1 Oct 2010. They started paying me on 1 December 2010, for the month of November. I did not receive any payment for October.

Sully

[Disability Comp. Starts When?]

So....I finally received my very first Disability Compensation payment (back-pay check)--rated at 90% (so far). I retired effective on 30 Sept 2010. My effective date of claim was 1 Oct 2010 (as shown on each of my individual "conditions" that were rated).

The amount of my check was $9272.00. The only way for this at add up would be two payments of $1819 + three payments of $1878 = $9272. It seems to me that they should have paid me for 6 months (Oct - March)....but they only paid me for 5 months.

I'm now being told that the FIRST month (in my case October 1-31) is NOT PAID AT ALL. They skip the first month (partial or whole)....then pay the 2nd month (at the end of the 2nd month). They are telling me that they paid me:

Nov 1-30 on 1 Dec 2010 at $1819

Dec 1-31 on 1 Jan 2011 at $1819

Jan 1-31 on 1 Feb 2011 at $1878

Feb 1-28 on 1 Mar 2011 at $1878

Mar 1-31 on 1 Apr 2011 at $1878

------------------------------------------------

All of the above paid in one check at $9272

Here is the table that was included in my VA DISABILITY PACKAGE for me:

Total VA Benefit Amount Withheld Amount Paid Effective Date Reason for Change

$ 1,904.00 $ 85.00 $ 1,819.00 1-Nov-10 Increased Award (Initial)

$ 1,904.00 $ 26.00 $ 1,878.00 1-Jan-11 Retired Pay Adjusment, Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay Amount

$ 1,904.00 $ 00.00 $ 1,904.00 1-Apr-11 Retired Pay Adjusment, Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay Amount

So....my questions are:

1. Is this correct. Do you NOT receive payment for your first month after separation/retirement?

2. Even if that month is a FULL month (in my case 1-31 Oct 2010)?

3. I assume that they are "withholding" the $85.00 and the $26.00 is because I'm not yet at 100% and I already received my retired pay. Beginning shortly, my retired pay will be reduced by the $26.00 and I will received all $1904 in my disability check. Correct?

Thanks!

Sully

[Hadit Or Hadiit?]

Not sure how to directly contact the webmaster....but I noticed something. I believe the name of this website is: www.Hadit.com However....I see all over the place two "i"'s (eyes). Like this, HadIit <-- there are two eyes (i's) in there (one ca$pital and one lower). Also...while I was logging in today, up in the upper (Internet Explorer bar) top left, it also had the two eyes (i's).

Just pointing it out.

Sully

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Dr. Cohen was a cilivian (GS-type) when he led the Quantico clinic and is now a civilian neurologist. Here is his bio from his website:

"Michael Cohen, MD Dr. Cohen was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland, graduating from Walt Whitman High School. He attended the University of Rochester, graduating with a BA with Distinction in English, and University of Maryland Medical School. He completed a full Internal Medicine residency at the University of Michigan, and Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, becoming Board Certified in both. He was recertified in Internal Medicine in 1999. He practiced Neurology in Prince William County from 1981-89, and then became the Medical Director of the Primary Care Clinic at the Naval Medical Clinic in Quantico from 1990- 2001. "

He went back to private practice in 2001 and his clinic is here in town. I was simply looking for a neurologist in town and lucked upon him.

Sully

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Berta,

First off, I want to thank you for your continued service to your country and those who have served. Your assistance on this forum is invaluable and I'm sure has resulted in milions of dollars being awared to veterans, not to mention the medical care that comes with service-connection. Thank you!

Yes...the VFW rep has been doing this full-time for quite a while. He mostly does BDD claims.

I requested his SMR twice through NARA and Air Force. Once in 2009 and once in 2010. Dont recall the month.

I applied for his Social Security Disablity around 17 March 2011. I havent heard anything back on that.

I'll log into The Air Force Portal and lookup my brother's old supervisors/commanders. I'll have to put together some details for them to cite in their response/statements.

I was told about this VCAA letter from the VFW rep when I filed my claim. Odd thing is....I never received it. Hopefully I get the one for my brother.

My brother's digital medical record is only about 8 pages. So a IMO review should be easy. His personnel record is also very thin. He only did 5 years of a 6 year initial-term enlistment. Because he did not complete his first term, they even denied him unemployment (in virginia). Sad....just dumped him.

Sully

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

I hope so....but I'm not a very patient person. And this process is ridiculous. At the same time, I'm trying to fight my own rating....but I wont muddy the waters with that.

If I had his COMPLETE paper & digital medical record......AND his COMPLETE paper & digital personnel record, then I could get somewhere. But I only have pieces.

I'm frustrated and tired.

Sully

"The fact is....there are two-types of Myotonic. Child-onset and Adult-onset. If my brother had child-onset, he would not have been a cross-country runner. He would not have graduated from high-school. He would be dead already. He has ADULT-ONSET Myotonic Dyst. "

A strong medical opinion -briefly educating the VA in the type of disability he has and highlighting the fact that he was fit for service would - hopefully -rule out any VA BS over when this disability began.

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Thanks again! Good case info....gives me hope.

I'm still concerned about the same two things that VFW was concerned with:

1) 19 month gap between getting out of service and filing claim.

2) My brother's comment about the 3rd grade swing set. Which really was a stupid comment....because it was an isolated incident and that could happen to anyone.

Sully

Although this claim was denied it shows how this type of disability (often caused due to heredity factors )can be service connected.

http://www.va.gov/ve...es5/0740418.txt

"He did not have this before he came in the service (no symptoms that is). In fact, he was a very good cross-country runner. Now he has a hard time walking."

The BVA narrative and references to established VA case law in this decision supports your point.

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Thank you very much for your response. I really appreciate it.

It looks like I have a lot more reading to do, because I am a bit lost on all the acronyms: BVA, IMO, SMR, etc.

I requested and received his personnel record, which included information about his article 15s.

I requested and have NOT received his service medical record. I requested this from the national archives and air force.

I brought my brother to Andrews AFB on 5 April, to meet with the full-time VFW rep (who works in the D.C. VA bldg). This individual does ALL the paperwork, along with a power of attorney. He filed my brother's claim with just one "issue" listed: Muscular/Myotonic Dystrophy

I assume that his civilian neurologist would be willing to fill out the IMO documentation (whatever that is). I'll have to pay him....but I'm sure its worth it. My brother is already being seen D.C. National VA Hospital....due to low/no-income. He has a Primary Care Manager (PCM) there, and neurologist, cardiologist and optometrist. Maybe they can do some paperwork?

I dont know what a 201 file is?

My brother has the exact name/rank of his old supervisors who ordered him to get his hands checked out (3 times). But his digital medical record has nothing in it about these 3 clinic visits. I was hoping that his paper-copy record had something in it. Do you think I should contact his old supervisors/commanders to get a statement about his hands and psych evals?

I dont know if he has sleep apnea, as he has never had a sleep study. I'll order one through is PCM at the VA. I was speaking of his excessive sleepiness (myotonic symtom). He was late to work several times.

Thanks again!!

Sully

The VA will SC this condition with evidence that establishes an inservice nexus (link)

This is a 2009 BVA award for Myotonic Dystrophy

http://www.va.gov/ve...es3/0920216.txt

In part:

“In the instant case, the Board observes that Dr. Day's

December 2008 opinion does not address why the muscle pain

and/or stiffness experienced by the Veteran during service

was not due to the proximal causes indicated in service

treatment records. However, in reviewing the record in its

entirety, including Dr. Day's December 2008 opinion, the

Board finds the evidence to be in genuine equipoise as to

whether the Veteran's myotonic dystrophy, type 2, is

etiologically related to active service. As such, in

resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor, the Board finds

that service connection for myotonic dystrophy, type 2, is

warranted.

ORDER

Service connection for myotonic dystrophy, type 2, is

granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the

payment of monetary benefits.”

When I read this case -the IMO dctor's statement was lacking specifics and the VA had said therewas no inservice nexus.

It looked to me here that the BVA found ample evidence in the veteran's SMRs to warrant this award.

"have requested his hard-copy medical record twice over the past 2 years, but they wont send it. "

DO you mean his SMRs?

Who do you mean by "they" VA?

Or National Archives (NARA)

"I just helped him apply for VA C&P last week. I hope they approve it."

If this is his first VA claim-do you mean you helped him fill out a 21-526?

." His neurologist used to be in-charge of the Quantico Naval Health clinic, so he's very familiar with the military. He told us that everything that the military punished my brother for was directly related to Myotonic Dystrophy."

YES, that makes sense! Would he be willing to prepare a formal IMO that confirms to the IMO criteria here at hadit in the IMO forum?

"I have applied for Social Security Disability for him 2 weeks ago. I hope they approve it"

Yes me too- And when they approve this (I would think they will),then the SSA is good evidence for a 100% TDIU award from the VA.

Service records have to be poured over (I hope he can also get his 201 file)sometimes.

Doing that helped me with a few local vets-who also had some negative personnel stuff,which ultimately became evidence to support their SC claims.

It took me a great deal of time in these cases as these were the old poorly handwritten SMRs decades old and

I even needed my daughter's help (she was Vietnamese linquist-Cryto Intel USAF)

to decifer one of them.

Many I had to blow up on my PC before I could even read them.

In each case this decifered info from the SMrs, along with the actual SMRs , made it easy for these vets to obtain IMos and in one case the Vet's own VA doctor helped him with a nexus statement in light of the evidence we uncovered from the SMRs.

The sleep disorder-I don't know if that is medically associated with his condition or not but it looks to me if not- he still has basis for a claim on that issue as well if this is sleep apnea and he still suffers from it.

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Welcome to Hadit and thank you for your Service.

Have you applied for VA disability as it appears that your brothers problem started while he was serving?

Yes Pete. On 5 April, we completed his VA disability claim with the assistance of a full-time VFW rep stationed in D.C. The VFW rep is concerned about two things:

1. The time frame between my brothers discharge (Dec 2008) and date of claim (April 2011) = 19 months

2. When my brother was diagnosed by the neurologist in July 2010, the neurologist did a hand-squeeze test, whereby my brother squeezed the doctors hand really hard for about 10 seconds and then was unable to let go. This is a sign of Myotonic Dystrophy. Many other tests were performed as well...including genetic testing. But my brother, being a bit-slow (Myotonic affects cognitive as well), was hung up on the hand grip thing. So....when the doctor asked him, "When did you first notice any symptoms?" My brother responded with, "When I was in third grade, I was on the swing and when I got off, I had a hard time letting go of the chains." So...the doctor wrote down that he has had this disease since he was 7 years old. The VFW rep said that the VA will definitely try to deny my brother's claim because of this comment/statement. There were no other symptoms that ever presented themselves (until he was in the service). He was NEVER treated for any symptoms (until he was in the service). This one-time, 3rd grade incident, was just my brother's mind messing with him. You have to understand how he thinks. On one hand, he is intelligent. On the other hand, it is like talking to a 10 year old. The fact is....there are two-types of Myotonic. Child-onset and Adult-onset. If my brother had child-onset, he would not have been a cross-country runner. He would not have graduated from high-school. He would be dead already. He has ADULT-ONSET Myotonic Dyst.

[Myotonic Dystrophy 19 Months After Discharge]

Hello all,

I am a retired USAF Major with 90% service connected disability. My younger brother was involuntarily discharged in Dec 2008 due to several minor infractions (sleep disorder, cognitive issues, hands locking up, not following technical order manuals). He received two Article 15s in his first 5 years (on a 6 year inital enlistment). He was also Command-Directed twice to undergo psych review. His discharge was GENERAL with HONORABLE CONDITIONS. The Air Force put him out with 3-days notice....full out-processing then escorted him to the gate with a one-way bus ticket home. He had no where to go....so I took him in. He's been with me and my family ever since.

Shortly after he moved in, I started noticing "issues" with his hands and his cognitive ability. For example, one day I was leaving for work at 0600 and pulled the OVER-FLOWING trash can to the curb. I asked my brother to pull the trash can in later (as I drove away). When I arrived home from work that day, the trash can was pulled in....as I requested. However, it was still full. I said to my brother, "I see the trash company did not come today." He responded, "I dont know." I was puzzled....and asked a few more questions. I then said to my brother, "When did you pull the trash can in?" He said, "About 5 minutes after you asked me." Even though it was overflowing. I asked him to bring it in.....and he did. He didnt even think to FIRST allow the trash company to empty it.

This was his major problem in the Air Force. He could follow instructions exactly as stated....the way he learned it. But he could not adjust/modify.

Anyway....I brought him into a neurologist in July 2010 (19 months after his discharge). The doctor diagnosed him in 15 seconds with Myotonic Dystrophy. He did several other tests including a full genetic workup which definitively shows DM1, full-body, full-expansion, Adult-onset, Myotonic Dystrophy. The muscles in his hands, forearms and his triceps are almost non-existent now. His feet and calves are also very weak. He has fallen down the steps 3 times now (that I know of) and thankfully only broke his foot. His neurologist used to be in-charge of the Quantico Naval Health clinic, so he's very familiar with the military. He told us that everything that the military punished my brother for was directly related to Myotonic Dystrophy.

While in the service his supervisors ordered him to get his hands looked at 3 times for WEAK and LOCKING hands. He was a Munitions Maintenance tech. As I said earlier, he was also command-directed for psych evals. All tests were always negative. He was never seen by a neurologist. I have a copy of his digital medical records and they show his psych reviews, but not the HAND exams. I have requested his hard-copy medical record twice over the past 2 years, but they wont send it.

He did not have this before he came in the service (no symptoms that is). In fact, he was a very good cross-country runner. Now he has a hard time walking.

I just helped him apply for VA C&P last week. I hope they approve it.

I have not yet applied for an upgrade/correction to his discharge (up to full honorable). I plan to this week.

I have applied for Social Security Disability for him 2 weeks ago. I hope they approve it.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice?

Thanks!

Sully