ArmyDaughter

I don't think he seen anyone for the DM, to be quite honest I have found alot of things that I didn't even know he had! The crazy thing is, I'm going through all his medical records and one visit will say "CHF, HTN, Sleep Apnea, Stroke" Then you go a few months down the road and there's no mention of one or more of them and then they add new ones in and then on the next visit you have another group of diagnosis!! It's confusing, and contradictory! Think it's their way of making you confused so you just give up! Or could just be a lack of competence.....lol I know he went to a heart doctor back in the 90's and was diagnosed with CHF I believe (still going through records and trying to sort which doctor said what), but even by VA accounts and documents CHF is caused by IHD?! Another thing, they told me this Nehmer thing was initiated by a former claim for IHD made by my dad....but then in the denial letter when it references denial for sc death it says "During the lifetime of the Veteran, he did not submit a claim for benefits based on ischemic heart disease"......seriously?!? And one other question......dad wasn't service connected for anything which I found out when I received all this medical paperwork. But he shows as one of his rating decisions "Ischemic Heart Disease (Previously rated as Congestive Heart Failure) [Agent Orang-Vietnam/Ischemic Heart Disease] Not Service Connected, Not established by Presumption Static Disability" What is a static disability?? He has a couple different things listed as that. Thanks! Leah

So I attached the denial and evidence list, I apologize for the dark copy. I tried to lighten as much as I could without losing all ability to read it! Thanks for any help in advance!! Leah 120328105751_0001.pdf

Good Morning! So I had all intentions of bringing in dad's denial letter to work so I could scan it.......but it's Monday and it's laying on the coffee table :( I will get it scanned in tomorrow. I do not have a vet rep, I met with one a few weeks ago before I got my decision letter back and he told me that he didn't even know that dependents were included in Nehmer (and that was after I explained to him what Nehmer was). So not so confident in his abilities to say the least. I'm not sure that the heart disease was an issue with ssdi, I haven't made it that far into my records yet. I know he filed a claim for IHD in 2004 with the VA and was denied saying he had CHF, not IHD. The records I have been through to this point are very confusing, but did find the one doppler that stated IHD. And at that point there was no CHF diagnosis listed, that came later when he had the exam for the IHD claim. I'm hoping to get through some more of his records this evening and I will get the Nehmer denial scanned in as well. Thank you so much for your help :) Leah

Morning Berta! They denied my Nehmer claim stating that when he filed his claim for IHD they diagnosed him with CHF. I've made it through the first package of medical records and have found a couple interesting things. One was a doppler reading and the results showed (and I'm paraphrasing because it's not in front of me) aortic sclerosis and it says specifically "Ischemic Heart Disease". There is also mentioned a couple times so far that he was on aspirin daily for "Ischemic Heart Disease". He was also taking Plavix and HTN medication and hyperlipidemia medication. I'm sure I will need more than the doppler reading, but I still have 2 packages of medical records to go through! Thanks Leah

Okay....so didn't actually think of it that way, but I see what you mean by keeping it in order! So that saves me several hours this weekend! Thanks! Terry, I received information regarding my dad (who is deceased) because he had filed a claim. Have already went through the process and got denied, so now I am doing my research because I had no idea what all went on with his medical history. Finding out now that I have received his records that there was LOTS goin on! Now to sift through and see if I have an appeal :) Thanks for the help! Leah

So when I got home from work yesterday there were 3 large packages waiting for me! At first I was confused because I didn't recall ordering anything.....then I seen the return address! Wow....lot of information there!! I made it through about 1/3 of the first package and wow! There are so many things I didn't even know my dad had gone through! Things he was diagnosed with that I had no idea...guess parents hide things like that from kids sometimes! Haven't found any EKG's yet, but did notice that he was on multiple cardiac meds. There is much more research to be done and I'm thankful that I am a nurse and have been in the medical field for years. These records are so jumbled, from 11/04 to 4/04 to 9/04....duplicates of records it's crazy! So my plan is this weekend to clear out my living room and lay everything out and get it in order! Besides the EKG, Heart Attack, Stent Placement, is there any other key symptoms/medications they are looking for specifically?? Thanks Leah

Thanks Berta! I know when I was little he was hospitalized for a heart attack....but that was like 30 years ago and I'm sure the chances of me finding those medical records are slim to none!! But I am hoping when I get the medical records I can find something they have ignored! Can't believe that if he had a heart attack back then that there was never any other heart disease until CHF diagnosis. I know he was treated at the VA for gangrene in his leg and they hesitated on surgery because of his heart. That tells me an EKG or a lab result said something they didn't like. But....we shall see what the medical records say! Thanks again! Leah

Happy Monday!! Well, I haven't been on in awhile....crazy at work lately! I did receive my envelope from VA on my dad's Nehmer claim. Everything was denied. Stated when he filed for Ischemic Heart Disease he was given a diagnosis of CHF...not IHD. So....whether he had reason for diagnosis of IHD or not I'm not sure. Have re-requested medical records so hopefully when those come in I can see what I'm dealing with. Thanks for all the help, will post more when I get medical records and know better what I'm dealing with! Leah

Good For Him!! Always nice to see someone achieve success with the VA!!!

Ahhhhh.......Gotcha! Thanks :)

Ok....what is SOP???

Ok, so am getting frustrated with the VA already and have only been dealing with them since October....lol Requested my dad's records from the VA around November 20th, called in December and was told that they were backlogged (imagine that) and it may take a little longer than normal. I called them today and they told me there is no request in for his records?!?!? Seriously?!?!? So, guess I will try again with the request!! These people are amazing!! Still haven't heard anything from anyone on my Nehmer claim, ebenefits says it was decided on Dec 15th so basically I'm waiting on the envelope, unless they decide to change that like they did my request for medical records!! Ha! Really wouldn't surprise me at this point sadly! Hope everyone has a great day! Leah

I hope it's right too.....and I hope if it's not I can figure out how to fight it! Honestly, when I first got this news that this was going on, it was all about possibly getting some extra money to help out with household expenses. But after being on this website and seeing how hard all veterans have to fight (and how much my dad probably did too), it's all on principle now!! I will fight to get every penny my dad should have....because it's obvious they fight to keep every penny they can from the veterans!! You are all amazing and I am honored to be here and get the reality of what you all go through on a daily basis to get what you so rightly deserve! Thanks for all you have done and God bless you in your continued fight for adequate compensation! Leah

I don't know Berta, the Ebenefits guy was kinda vague on anything he told me. Just said that if I had updated my info with the VA it should be fine. He said the claim was initiated on 10/25/2011 and my Nehmer letter was dated 11/18/2011. So that time frame seems to me to be accurate, because I know they had some difficulty locating me and had to go through one of my aunts. The NVLSP attorney was very nice, called him back after talking to Ebenefits and he said to notify him again when I receive something by mail. Hopefully it comes to me!! Thanks Berta!!

First of all....Hope everyone had a great holiday and New Year!! So I received a call on my phone last night from NVLSP attorney. Missed the call, but called back and left a message with him. Then today, I decided to call the 800 number for the va and see if I could get any information from Ebenefits rep. They told me that my claim was decided on 12/15 and that I should be getting notification by letter in the mail. My concern was that he said notification was going to my mother (who passed away before my dad). He told me not to worry if I had updated my information with the va and also told him when I submitted my information to Waco that I included her death certificate. He said it was probably when the claim was initially made, she was my dad's beneficiary. Sound right?? Anyway, just kind of nervous now and wanted to put this info out here to see if it sounds right, or should I be concerned :) Thanks for all your help!! Leah

Thanks Carlie!!

So I called the guy back last night and left a message, so awaiting that call back. Sent another email to the NVLSP. Called medical records at VA and was told they were backlogged (imagine that) so they couldn't tell me when I might receive my records. Said something about a 20 day window, but I assume that actually means nothing with the VA....so I've learned :) Who do I contact to get a vet rep?? Didn't know if that was actually through the VA or through some other organization. Thanks! Leah

Berta, Yes I did receive a Nehmer letter and sent an email to NVLSP, but have never heard anything back from them. I will email them again and see if I can find out any info. So do I need to request a vet rep, or is that possibly who called me the other day?? I have his number, so I will call and ask him this information, when I talked to him I told him I had requested medical records and he said he could do it for me. So maybe he can find out if those other records are with the VA and if he had a C file and for what conditions he may have been denied for along the way. Thanks so much for the info!! Leah

Good Afternoon!! So I finally tracked down the attorney that my dad used (thinking she might have some medical records the VA doesn't have) to get SSDI before getting VA benefits. BUT....when the receptionist called me back she said he had picked up all his medical records in 2002, and even if he hadn't, it has been 9 years and the record would have been destroyed after 7. So....my thought is that he turned all those records in to the VA because that's about the time I believe he was SC. Does that mean those records will be included in my request for medical records from the VA or will I have to request those seperately??? Thanks in advance for any advice! Leah

Well crap!! Nope, didn't send priority....guess it's a good thing I made copies of everything I sent! Thanks for the heads up though! Guess I will try to call tomorrow and see if they have it yet and if not get started resending!

Thanks for the responses! Helps to hear what all the opinions are as to what is actually going on in those offices in Waco!! Am working now on figuring out which attorney my dad used to get his SSD. But my question is, I'm not sure when he filed the claim on the AO. If he didn't file that until after he dealt with all the attorney's for SS will it make any difference what the physicians (if any) said before the claim was made?? I thought that they were just concerned with the timeframe from the date of the claim and after because the date of the claim is what they retro back from?? Because from my understanding he wasn't denied the claim because they disputed the claim that he had IHD, only that it wasn't an approved diagnosis on the AO. I apologize for my stupidity upfront....lol I am just still trying to figure this out! I sadly didn' t ask the guy that called the other day many questions because I was so blown away he was calling! Just curious if he could 1) get me a copy of the claim my dad filed or do I have to request that somewhere else? 2) tell me the date my dad filed the claim, (which I'm sure is on the claim itself, but just curious if that is information he has readily available). I'm assuming from what you all are saying he is a vet rep assigned to my dad's claim, but not sure exactly what vet reps are supposed to know or not know about what is going on. And last question, I promise! When I talked to him he asked if I had submitted my information yet. Which kind of concerned me because I had put my stuff in the mail on 11/30 and he called me on 12/9 and hadn't been notified that anything had been received. Is that normal or should I be stressing because it's lost in the mail somewhere?? Again, thanks for all the help I have received here!! God only knows how lost I would be without the people here!! Leah

Thank you Kelly! I really don't mean to sound unappreciative, just seems odd to me that I would get a call! Especially when I received the call I was reading here about others battles that have been fought for years!!! Was exciting to hear from them, but just feel there are so many people who deserve to have their claims settled before mine. Welcome to the VA I guess :)

Ok, so for those of you who don't know me I got a call about an Ao claim a few weeks ago and it is for my dad. I have received a packet and submitted all information plus some. Reason for my post is I got a call tonight from the 800-827-1000 number and the guy was very nice and very informative! He talked me through all the forms that were sent to me, asked if there were any other forms or medical record I would like to be considered in my rating. I told him all my dads medical info should be through the VA. Then I thought about when my dad filled for social security before be got his VA disability. He had an attorney, and not sure if she sent him to another physician or not!. Told the guy I was talking to that and he said to send the info of I got it. Here's my question! This guy was very informative! Seemed very interested in me knowing what all my options were and that I could submit any info I had to supplement my case. Even told me if I had information after the rating I could submit it and get my rating changed. Gave me a phone number for his desk, told me the hours he was there and if he wasn't there to leave him a msg and he would get back to me within the day. Is this one of their tactics? Just curious because I have NO experience with the VA!! Any advice wod be appreciated!

Thanks Berta!!

I don't know about the Ebenefit, is this something I should look into or is for the veteran only?? I'm just his daughter, not a spouse so don't know if they would let me do that. Guess that is something else I can research while I wait