JohnM

John & I just finished emailing Tammy Baldwin

John like Vike17 said submit all of your claims at once, I did that for John and our VA Rep told us that we were the only one's that had it all organized other wise she would have advised us one at a time. This is the problem we are having with my Brother and Nephew is that their VA Rep told them one at a time and now it is causeing more headaches and wait time. So for them I have now typed up a formal claim form with everyone of their problems and on Tuesday we will be handing my Brothers claim at the Regional office in Milwaukee, Their VA Rep has done nothing to help either one of them. Matter of fact with my Nephew his mother and I went with hip to the Rep and he signed the sheet that I had typed up and she still did not file all of the claims. I typed up a letter in support of his claim stating if I can find all of this info in his SR's than there is no reason that the VA can not find them. Trust me they didn't even find the sexaul assault that was 4 pages long and I found it and when we went to the regional office I showed his Rep there, and he coppied it and now that is on file otherwise they did not even find that. My believe is if you do the leg work and have it all down, it will be better for you in the long run. I have told my Brother and Nephew that they need to get a different Rep they tried and that Rep also told them one at a time. Don't Believe that if it is all down you have a better chance on getting a higher rating. That is what I did for John and I also had all Dr. records, A lot of paper work and a lot of headaches but it was better for him in the long run JohnM's Wife Dianne

My brother has lung diseases, we found this article in his medical records : 919th engineer company (aromr) 11th Armored Cavalry anyways instead of writing the article out if anyone knows of this arricle and could anyone tell me if what they had to do would have involved any aspestos. thanks for your respondes in advance JohnM's wife Dianne

I sent the paper work in the end of March 28th for champva and for the life insurance for John, we heard back from the live insurance but nothing for champva

Pain is hell, I had my first knee replacement and then 5wks later heart surgery, insurance would not pay for a scooter so we went and bought a second hand scooter, mind you that I was heavy around 200 at that time a year after my first replacement I had my other knee done, I could not walk very far and for six years used the scooter I gained another 100 pounds and then had baratric surgery lost 150 pounds and I am now giving up my scooter for I do not need it anymore. So when the doctor tells you it is for your own good and to keep the legs moving, yes they are right but if a person can not walk or get around like myself you get worse before you can get better, for myself it was putting all the weight on and I could not do anything, I hated to go to a store. the walking was just killing me. so in this asspect the scooter was my survival but I don't need it any more and I would just a soon as walk, so depending on how bad you really are I would push the issue at least until you get feeling better. Just my 2cents JohnM's Wife Dianne

To get the Statement of Claim form Go to www.invsoa.homestead.com-forms when that comes up go to forms and arrow down to form 21-4138 you can then type it out.

Kris:He is definitly wrong; Go on the internet Punch in claim forms ( 21-4138) statement of claim Start by saying This is a claim for all VA benefits to which I may b entitled, including but not limited to, compensation for (XYZ) I am submitting this informal claim in order to preserve the earliest possible effective date any benefits to which I may be entitled. write any and all problems that you may have down. Make sure you have two of then, He must except this form have him stamp both of them one copy for you (DO NOT GO ONE AT A TIME) other wise you are just continually going to file a claim, Remember that they love paper work all kinds of it. Go through your medical records and hand them in also only give them the ones that state your illness, and would help your claim. Also it would help if you can ask them to write a statement in your behalf if it is at least likely or not cause by military service and explain to them that you are making a claim for VA Compensation. When they send you for a C&P its up to them to state if it is at least likely or not related, If they do then its a win for you.Good luck JohnM's Wife Dianne

Berta, have you ever heard of being diagnoised with DMII and then lost weight got it under control and then the dr. says you do not have DMII. but are gluclose intolerant.

This failure was from his Primary Doctor not VA, He didn't start going to the VA until 2006

This failure was from his Primary Doctor not VA, He didn't start going to the VA until 2006

Yes diagnoissed in March of 2006

His MOS was 12B40 and Corps of Engineers, HE said he dosen't remember, Back in The Early 80's He lost his memory. It was kind of funny, He knew his name, went to work with a trailor behind his car and when he got to work they said to him that was a nice trailor and he didn't know that he had it, didn't know that he bought it, didn't know what he was to do at work,or how to punch in, but yet knew his name and telephone and his daughters name. that lasted for about a day or two, work had him transfred to the hospital and they never really found out what it caused his memory loss, and of course today he has a hard time remembering things. So when you ask him something its hard to get an answer from him. He is now 65. He enlisted in 1956 and got out in 1967 and like I said he was in demolition and anything could be possible.

I asked him last night if he was ever exposed to asbestos at anytime. He spent 9yrs in the Army and got out 40 years ago, doesn't know if he was or not. His duties where demolition and corps of enginers. But in my research I found that asbestos was in military equipment.

Going through emmak's husband medical records and I am discovering that he has had lung disease for years. Question is Has any one heard of Parenchymal Disease, Lingula, Atelectasis and can it be connected to Vietnam Era? He also has a history of Chronic Brochitis. I am assuming that is also connected to Vietnam Era. Thanks JohnM's Wife Dianne

Tammy: Are you sure the letter does not mean that they are going to give him T&P and therefore he will not need to be TDIU? John filed for TDIU but because they gave him P&T they dismissed TDIU. P&T also means no further exam needed. Slow down and re-read the letter and then call your 800# and ask them to explain to you what the letter means. Good Luck JohnM's Wife Dianne

After one week in post John got his check. the 800 people in Milwaukee where very helpful and actually transfred me to someone who actually told us that he got 100%. Here in Wis I have to give them some credit for the help they gave us. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL! It will not be long now

It took about 3 weeks after it went to the rating board for us.

I just filled out the paper work this week but before mailing it I called, the gentelmen was very nice to talk with. I had questions on my HMO and and renewing it, talked to him about nursing homes. His reply was if I have medicare and champva that's all I would need, and if I could find an insurace co. that would cover for nursing homes then I should snap that one up otherwise I should not need any other insurance. Although champva does not cover nursing homes.

Do not live with the pain, it will eventually make it worse for you. apply for SSD and then apply for the 100%. You do what you have to do, I know it is stressfull. Depending on the type of work you do, you will most likely get SSD if the DR. Says you can no longer lift,pull, push, climb, bend,ext.but it does take the initial 6 months. Have they sent you to the pain clinics to RF the back and if so did that help? With JohnM's back it took them 6 months decide on surgery and then it did not really help, but he can at least walk. The Dr. at the pain clinic RF'ed JohnM's back 4 times and it did nothing for him. He lost his job because he was off work to long and the day before his surgery he recieved a letter of acceptance from SSD. The bills will always be there but your health will not. If having surgery will help you get around then I say to you GO FOR IT but again you need to do what you need to do. I know for JohnM he is able to get around not as fast as it was years ago but for now he can at least walk. At this time another surgery will not help him and he knows eventually he will be in a wheel chair so for now he is happy to be able to get around the pain is still there and there is times he can not get out of bed or walking to much will also cause an increase of pain. I wish you all the luck in your desicion. I am sure my responds did not help you in deciding "living with Pain is stressfull" and "stess is not good for your health especially the heart" JohnM's Wife

Thank you for your post. I respect your opinions and answers but I will not accept your Negativity after your respondes. A group moderator you are not! We are all here for help and if I knew the answers I would not be posting. We are not boggis people and we are not taking advantage. Please respond to questions without adding your negativity respondes. Thank You JohnM's Wife For information: This is service connected and we can prove it, we need to get it written down the right way and yes we are filing a claim. And yes we do have documentation from DR.'s

Vike 17 yes he does have SMR's showing knee problems and others, Yes he was in combat (ground Vietnam ) I just called Milwaukee and asked about expitting his claim and she said yes to 2nd to PTSD and Yes 2nd to DMII and should file due to veteran's poor health. Thanks for the info

RickB54 Thanks for your responds,although we can connect and will connect his disabilities to SC, Its just a matter of getting it down correctly and there is a lot to get down, I know I haven't given to much info on his case but right now it is to much to write down. As far as DMII that's a given if in Vietnam it has been controlled by diet until lately. As far as heart that can be connected to DMII also. And let me remind you and anyone else that may have problems like my brother STRESS puts a lot of strain on the HEART also as for PTSD, You can link heart problems to the PTSD also due to STRESS. At this point he has 50% PTSD so as far as insurance goes we know that he has to be 100%, AS for hardship Case well I am not sure if this is a hardship case although an anuryism good go at anytime today or maybe 3 years from now. He needs to have someone around him to care for him because of this and who knows what and when it will happen, he should no longer drive because of it, no longer be alone. Any other help for anyone will be appreciated. Thanks JohnM's Wife

Good Morning Everyone Now that John is 100% I can now help Emak with her Husband & Son. Son we have already in action Husband is another Story. And really need some help! Emak's husband is my Brother and I am affraid we are going to lose him sooner than we want. Leroy was in the Army for 9 yrs. He served in Vietnam, something to do with the Berlin wall not sure on all of this. Ok here it goes. Leroy has had many medical problems, but like John and I did not know about compensation till last year. He is border line diabedic, has osteoarthritis, heart problems, and now found out that he could have an anurisom ( spelled wrong ) at anytime and nothing they can do about it. When he first filed his VA Rep had him file for PTSD and nothing else, 6 months later he was awarded 50% now he has to wait for everything else. I called Emak and told her to file for A&A. How can we get this to go faster than it is and if we should lose Leroy will Emak still be able to continue his caim? And if he gets 100% will Emak beable to get DCI and Champva if he should die before the award ? I personally believe after all is said and done he will recieve 100% evidence is there but for now it is putting a strain on the family and his health Thanks in advance for any help you can give us.

Cavman, this is a good question, I have been trying to get an answer to this myself but so far no such luck, right now we are on John's HMO policy from work and next Feb. he will be able to get medicare I am thinking that we will take a supplementry policy out for us then, just to be on the safe side. This year our insurance cost us 8 thousand and although it is worth it if anything should really happen I believe with John's VA and me having ChampVa a supplement would be sufficent along with medicare. I have plenty of time yet so if I find anything out differently I will for sure let the board now. Right now I am just applying for the ChampVA. Question on applying for it, does anyone know if you send all the paper work from application to meds to one place and all of them together. or do I need to wait on the meds? Question on filling out the OHI form. I have been trying to fill this out on line and then printing it but for some reason it says if it scolls it will not print does any one know how to get this printed out after you have it filled? I think printing is better than writting it in. I had my daughter-in-law do it at work and she to had problems getting it printed out. Thanks Dianne, JohnM's wife