Chuck75

With the situation as outlined below. 1. With any available test records in hand -- see a private cardiologist and possibly a cardiovascular surgeon ASAP. Further testing may be needed, such as an MRI. If either doctor prescribes additional tests, you will need to decide if you should go back to the VA for them (I'd suggest that you at least do this) If the VA refuses, then have them done elsewhere. There is a possible case of malpractice, coupled with serious patient injury (multiple heart attacks and resulting damage), if it can be documented an to be a result of neglect by the VA. The rules for this are beyond my knowledge, except to say that they are not the same as they are if you were dealing with the normal private medical care system and courts. Berta and others in the forum know much more about this than I hope to ever need to know.

It sounds like you will need to get independent medical opinions to back up your claim. I'd also look into something along the line of "loss of function/use of a reproductive organ", which is compensatable. I believe that constant or intermittent low level or greater pain can cause migraines. As to your options in the legal side, I cannot comment as to which way to go. My personal preference would be to keep burying them in paper until they do more or less what you can be happy to live with.

To me the big thing to do would be to get IMOs that connect the Depression to Obesity however it is medically reasonable.

I assume that you have a service connected disbility level that requries the VA to provide medical care for non service connected medical problems that result in the need for emergency care. Have you ever sent a letter to the hospital explaining the situation? Did the hospital contact the VA within the required time frame? (72 hours as I remember) In my area, the VA does not provide emergency service. If you think it's appropriate, you may want to contact your political representatives. They may be able to get a more favorable response from the VA. The hospital may contact the credit bureau. If so you should write a letter to the credit bureau contesting the hospital's debt letter, and explaining that the VA should be paying the bill asprovided by law. As far as them calling you two times a day. This might meet the harassment requirements of your local laws. You should talk to someone in say state consumer affairs to see if that is the case. You can (in theory) tell them to quit calling you. You do need to make a log of the dates and times that they called, and if allowed by local laws, record them.

What might you have in your service records that would service connect Parkinson's disease? You can certainly apply for veteran's drug benefits if that might reduce drug costs. I'd think that this will be difficult to service connect.

I believe that the veteran should have the choice. It might be appropriate to place limits, such as mileage to an appropriate VAMC in order to support the existing facilities. If the VAMC cannot/willnot provide the care needed, in the view of the veteran, the veteran should be able to obtain proper care. Health insurance. If the veteran is using other than the VA to obtain needed medical services, it should be that he/she has the prepaid equivilent of federal civil service medical coverage at the least.

I assume that the claim was denied. I also assume that the medical treatment and metformin is by the VA. (I take the same drug, but it was prescribed by my private doctor, not the VA). Since the VA changed the complaint to IBS, The VA reply (I believe) should be NOD'd, and the original claim reinstated. The experts on this forum should be able to tell you more than I can. The problem as I see it is that IBS is compensatable, and drug adverse reaction is not of itself likely compensatable, unless some long term or irreversable harm to the patient occurs. So changing the complaint to IBS was an attempt to move the problem to the nearest compensatable area, and the VA's take on the doctors opinion prevented successful award. Saying the patient does not have the "typical pattern" does not say that he does not have "IBS". http://www.medicinenet.com/metformin/article.htm Metformin SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects with metformin are nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, diarrhea and loss of appetite. These symptoms occur in one out of every three patients. These side effects may be severe enough to cause therapy to be discontinued in one out of every 20 patients. These side effects are related to the dose of the medication and may decrease if the dose is reduced. DRUG INTERACTIONS: Cimetidine (Tagamet), by decreasing the elimination of metformin from the body, can increase the amount of metformin in the blood by 40%. This may increase the frequency of side effects from metformin. There are other drugs than can be used instead of Metformin, or with a reduced dose of Metformin. If the VA is providing medical treatment, why haven't they provided alternate therapy? Not doing so may open up another avenue for a claim.

I'm really suprised that they would even consider you for active duty. That aside, problems you show below are/can be medically related, according to the med references. PTSD or stress is also considered to be a risk factor. I suppose that PTSD might be aggrivated by duties in the casualty and mortuary area. Getting a doctor or two to write an opinion saying so, and getting the VA to make a service connection are different things. I don't know how cataracts can be service connected, unless you can show exposure to microwave energy (Radar,etc.) while in the service. (for instance, I was an electronics tech that worked on shipboard radar, and later aircraft microwave systems as a civilian.) If I developed cataracts and tried to claim SC, the first thing would be that the VA might claim that the problem was caused my my civilian occupation (If they knew about it.) That would open up a whole new bag, since the military is extremely poor/lax when it comes to rf safety practices in shops. For one thing safety RF monitors get sent in for required calibration, and instead of returning, get sent to the highest priority user. If you were in vietnam, some recently released ranch hand data may help in making a service connection to heart problems. Seems that the results show a higher rate of heart problems and diabetes in agent orange exposed veterans than the control group. "While on active duty I had a heart attack and stent replacement", "Hypertension", "ED"

I'm afraid that you will need to find an expert to answer this one!. I don't think the government or the IRS has "reasonable" in its dictionary. And I don't want to think about state income tax either.

Having had several root canals over the years, I can say-- When the "bad tooth" is opened by drilling to the nerve, immediate relief of pain is normal. The area is inside the tooth is then cleaned out with bleach. If the drill went beyond the tooth nerve into the surrounding flesh, the bleach will burn some. If the gum below the tooth was opened (an alternate method) you will likely experience quite noticable pain for several days, and may have drainage as well. It's quite possible that the infection had already spread to the adjacent tooth befor the root canal was done. Usually, antibiotics will stop the infection, but it may take two to three times the period normally used for infection treatment with an antibiotic. Figure about 10-14 days using amoxicillin to be safe. Five days is the norm for the usual infection. I'm suprized that you were not given a script for codine if needed. The older method used to do a root canal was better than the current methods in my opinion. The tooth was treated with a palative stick in the tooth canal, and a temporary seal was used for a few days. The tooth was reopened, the canal cleaned out if needed, the pallative stick was either left in place or replaced, and a permenent filling was used. Now they use a rubber plug under the filling. These days, the general dentists want to send a patient to a specialist, and get at least payment for two visits (one before, one after plus whatever you pay the specialist. The total cost is about $500-600 per tooth. On the average, dental insurance pays about half. My old

You should consider writing a letter to the VA asking what specific information they need (Duty to assist). This sounds like they are just trying to delay until they can get their captive doctors to write unfavorable MOs to counter your favorable ones. "We have deferred a decision on the following issues because we need additional information or evidence:"

I ran across something that scares the "H" outta me. A recent request for a copy of my records to St. Louis got a reply that they had transferred the records to the VARO. And, indeed they did. Instead of taking a couple of weeks to get a copy, the VARO sends a copy when they sort of feel like it, or you start asking pointed questions and reference the FOIA in your written request.

Knock on wood--This hasn't been a problem for me. I originally went to the VA specifically for the "drug program" enacted by congress with prescriptions in hand. I do tend to provide the "script" and a copy of any relevent diagnosis or medical tests. If they refuse to issue, I'd ask for a signed written justification why they are not complying with the terms of the Drug Benefit program. :P

When the government is involved persistance is your best weapon. Once it is obvious that you will not go away, there is a strong desire to resolve the issue (one way or another)

I requested my records (Vietnam service, Navy) originally from the NRC St Louis. They actually had them! The original request was for specific items in the records, such as the DD214,etc. and had nothing to do with the VA. A second request was submitted over a year later, after the VA had awarded 10% compensation for diabetes. This time the NRC sent back a letter saying that the VA had the records. (VARO Decatur GA.) I copied the NRC letter, and wrote a FOIA letter, and included the appropriate VA form. It took the VA about one month to respond with the copy of my service records and "C" file. Are the service medical records complete? Yes and no. Military hospital records seem to be there, but records of treatment when I was serving on two ships are missing. We have partial deck logs for one ship. The more important ship (in my case) has no references in the medial records, and I don't have deck logs for it either. These (I don't have) logs should show that "combat" conditions existed (under fire, etc.) and other occurances that are important in the VA's determinations. The problem is that the events occurred over a several month period in 1967, and you must request specific dates, or pay for research.

I looked at the statement as a whole. Translated, if the remaining function of an arm & hand or a leg and foot is the same (or less) than it would be if an amputation existed, and a prosthesis is used --- special monthly compensation is appropriate. The question arises what does this mean, since there can be a great difference in functionality from one prosthesis to another. They are not created equal these days. "The part that I have a hard time understanding is the last part about the determination. Does it mean that if you can walk with a prosthesis then it is not considered loss of use?"

Bsed upon the "Secretary's remarks" in the HASS case, and the subsequent stay requested and approved, the Secretary's main concern is not the Veteran! But rather, how to avoid paying compensation to veterans and sort of stay within the laws and VA regulations, many of which obviously restrict what congress intended with the basic laws. "Giveth with the right hand, take away with the left" Besides, monies paid in veteran's compensation are not monies available for bureaucratic expenditures.

Like it or not the Marine Corps is considered part of the Navy. So, I guess it could be said that--- <G>

Yes, I received such a letter. However, to me it meant that I could submit additional info, (if I had any), or not, as I chose. The 60 day limit was mentioned, however, by doing so, you will stretch out the decision based upon what you submitted. Knowing that it would take months to collect data needed to backup additional claims, and the year limit still applies, although the letter did not mention it, I ignored the form. As a result, the award letter was sent to me about four months after the original claim was submitted. (Atlanta (Decatur) GA RO. ) At the moment, they are not doing so well. I recently sent them a certified letter (first week in October) requesting a copy of records that they "have on loan" from the national records center. I have received the "green card" showing that they received the letter. There is no notation in my file that they ever received the letter. I have been told that it would be a good idea to send them another copy of the letter.

"more likely than not", it's the monitor. However, similar symptoms can occur if the A/C power is low, or the computer power supply is getting tired. Sounds to me as if the monitor power supply is on it's last legs. New CRT monitors are going for $99 or so, LCD's are higher.

Several members of the web site are trying to help the vet. I am aware of the information you mentioned. The vet does have disabilities that are on the AO presumed list. (And others) A quick check of crewmwmbwers data shows that a realitively high percentage have AO related problems. To add insult to injury, the VA soes not seem to recognize that "brownwater navy" existed as a unique class of service, and lumps navy veterans under the "offshore" and "blue water" categories. It's important to note that the VA's statements in Hass show that they did and do not want to comply, and that the offical position taken was that any navy veteran should have to prove "feet on the ground" (Even those that served in the inshore waters, rivers, and deltas of vietnam. This is somewhat puzzling, since the vietnam rivers carried and carry to this day runoff from AO contaminated areas. All of that aside, the VA has taken the stance that when a ship is tied to a pier or in some cases such as LSTs, run aground, crewmembers do not routinely go ashore. Further, they seem to be willing to ignore written statements from comissioned officers and others when it suits them to do so. The VA region in question is one that is located in Ohio. Another issue seems to be that incorrect information from a government source is given more weight than correct information from other sources. It would seem that it is in everyones interest to get the DANTES info corrected. A quick check of various ships (LSTs, LSMRs, etc.) showed that thousands of navy veterans served in the "brownwater navy" The ships were small, not in current service, and not given the attention in the official histories and records given to the larger "blue water" ships. It's really quite sad.

The ship was the USS White River, LSMR-536, later LFR-536 after the change. The ship was an amphibious ship with shallow draft that allowed it to go close inshore or even in the delta and rivers. It fired approximately 60,000 5" rockets with a maximum range of six miles at targets in vietnam. The ship periodically rearmed at various naval support locations in vietnam, about every two or three weeks. The vet in question was on board during 1969. I was on the ship in 1968, and was able to prove from my service record that I did in fact have "feet on the ground". The vet I referred to is not that fortunate. The ship captain's written signed statement gives the following dates and locations. This is evidently also being ignored by the VA. At present, the ship related group on MSN has copies of deck logs for some dates in 1968 only. Cam Rahn Bay An Thoi 27 -28 Mar 68 15 May 69 3-4 April 68 17 May 69 13-14 April 68 19-20 April 68 25-26 April 68 18 June 68 24-25 June 68 3-5 July 68 13-14 July 68 28-29 Nov 68 7-10 Dec 68 3-4 Jan 69 30-31 Jan 69 14-15 Feb 69

This one is a real lulu! A vietnam vet has been repeatedly denied AO connection for various disabilities. The reason quoted is that the ship he was on "was not in vietnam in 1969". Dantes information available on the web from a gov web site actually shows a statement to the same effect, and is grossly incorrect for 1969. The ship in question was re-named from an LSMR class ship to an LFR class ship in early 1969. The actual name of the ship and the hull number were not changed. Evidently the navy historical research in or before 1991 missed this. Further, the ship was awarded combat citations and awards for it's participation in the vietnam war during 1969, including a citation from sec nav. Evidently the VA stopped checking when it found the dantes info, or the person doing the research would have found that the ship's deck logs (official records) show that the ship was actually in vietnam. Just to make matters even worse, the vet is not computer literate, and does not own a computer. Naturally, the vet is located in one of the VA regions known for low vet compensation. A high percentage of other crewmen have AO related disabilities, and have been sucessful in obtaining some level of compensation. It also may turn out that the VA is disregarding a written signed statement from the captain in command of the ship that states that the ship and (others) that the ship was in fact in vietnam during 1969. How can this sort of nonsense be corrected in a rapid manner. Is it cause for a CUE?

It's your life -- although we have both a va clinic and a va hospital in our area, neither offers true "emergency care" The emergency care section was closed at the hospital some time ago, and the floor space is used for routine medical exams, etc. Even though no VA emergency care is available, you cannot get the VA to pay for emergency care in the "normal" medical care system. 1. It is impossible to obtain the approval. 2. Any medical insurance medicare, medicaid, or similar coverage will allow the VA to attempt to deny coverage.

That's a bit odd--I've taken Plavix since 2001. Office outpatient surgery for lump in arm 2003. Dr. was prepared for possible hemorage, yet only minor easily controllable bleeding was present. It does take slightly longer for my blood to fully clot than it did before I started taking plavix and asprin. Blood clotting tests come out within a normal range. People do react to drugs differently.