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MarkInTexas

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Everything posted by MarkInTexas

  1. MarkInTexas
    Let's see.....my C&P where the VA-contracted medical doctor (Veterans Evaluation Services) diagnosed my inferred secondary conditions was back in August, 2012. I had no idea that these conditions were diagnosed until I finally received my C-File in July, 2014, and then immediately filed for the new claims after that. Everything else was under a NOD when I filed. What I did do was go ahead and get a private IME/IMO done for these conditions as well to help substantiate my claim and provide good backup for the VA doc's C&P information. I'm still under a NOD waiting for the VA to finish a de novo review, and did a couple more C&P's back in July of this year, so we'll see how it all goes. If I were you, I'd go ahead and file the claim, and then get a private IME/IMO done for your new conditions to push the VA into reacting. Sounds like a great case you have! Good luck! Mark
  2. MarkInTexas
    Better than Vegas odds, I reckon! You're right, Bronco! I missed out on an initial rating myself because I assumed key SMR's were in the file. Always, always, ALWAYS get the C-FILE and do at least two or three NPRC information requests before assuming the VA has everything that you need for them to have. Mark
  3. MarkInTexas
    I did on three conditions, noting that they are inferred conditions diagnosed by the VA's contracted doctor. I filed all three as new claims after I finally got hold of my C-File with the C&P examination results in it. The VA kept them up for a few months as new claims, but then "moved" them over to some pending area due to them being secondary to a couple of conditions that I had on appeal under a NOD review. (All are still pending.) I'll keep you posted if they turn out. Meanwhile, if you research "inferred condition" a bit, it will give you some information on these. Mark
  4. MarkInTexas
    eBenefits update: Still shows "Pending Decision Approval" on everything I have on appeal, with end dates moved to March 24, 2015 instead of January 11, 2015. Still no access to the Appeals portion of eBenefits until September according to the site. At least going in to the disabilities page through the Dashboard does give some information, although the accuracy must be way off still. Mark
  5. MarkInTexas
    I'm like Buck.....what's an Armed Forces Vacation Club? Mark
  6. MarkInTexas
    I send it via certified mail to the VARO as well as the Janesville center (for Texas veterans), as well as faxing it to the Janesville center (printing a fax confirmation receipt), and also upload it on eBenefits, then print the upload confirmation receipt. I know I'm probably overdoing it, and it probably is redundant making my C-File full of duplicates, but better safe than sorry. I've been burned before when I thought that the VA had received information when they either didn't, or lost it. Mark
  7. MarkInTexas
    I'm in the same boat as far as not totally knowing whether his IME/IMO report had any effect. As I mentioned in other posts, I'm also hoping the IMO from my oncologist of seventeen years, along with whatever the VA's C&P examinations from last month report will be bolstered by his report. I'm definitely open to any information, good or bad, regarding IMO or IME doctors, based on fact or personal experience. It will help all of us when we need to examine our own cases and make decisions on the next course of action. Mark
  8. MarkInTexas
    Houston VARO, Texas - 1 year and 7 months on a NOD requesting a DRO. Mark
  9. MarkInTexas
    I have read on here and elsewhere that the VA likes to throw a bone to Veterans by giving them a 10% for Tinnitus, then deny all other claimed conditions as a "first line of defense." Basically, it's a strategy that by shooting down a Veteran on most everything, and giving them that smaller amount, they think he/she will shrug their shoulders and take the consololation prize and walk away with filing a NOD. Probably happens much more often that we know. I don't know this for fact, but it does make me wonder. You're right about Tinnitus being something that disrupts your life much greater than 10%. I wonder who the individual who was that actually decided on that percentage for this condition? Mark
  10. MarkInTexas
    I'd say file your NOD regardless if you want local review, or want it to go straight to the BVA. Don't waste time, and take advantage of the wait to get IME/IMO's and as many ducks in a row as you can. I'd also say that if you know the employee's name, you need to report it up the chain immediately, and it wouldn't hurt to shoot an e-mail over to the Secretary, Under Secretary and an IRIS memo with a narrative regarding the facts of what happened. If you don't know the name, nail down date, time and location of the conversation. Just a thought. Mark
  11. MarkInTexas
    It also helps to establish a solid point sometime DURING your military service when you began to have tinnitus symptoms......buzzing, high pitched sound, white noise, etc, and that it is chronic in nature from that point forward. I realize that tinnitus can probably develop later in life, and probably does, but it sure does help if you can pin it to your military service and certain events or a series of events. I ended up doing that, along with getting the private IME/IMO from a local audiologist prior to the VA scheduling my C&P, and it seemed to work. Just a thought. Mark
  12. MarkInTexas
    Congratulations! Thanks for your service! Mark
  13. MarkInTexas
    Congratulations! Thanks for your service! Mark
  14. MarkInTexas
    Agree with all.....upload on eBenefits ASAP, fax in and if you want to shotgun blast it, also send certified mail......I send to both the VARO and the Janesville address (for Texas veterans). Mark
  15. MarkInTexas
    Congratulations! Thanks for your service! Mark
  16. MarkInTexas
    Thanks, Julie! That gives me a good idea of how long it will take for them to route it over to the Houston VARO. Mark
  17. MarkInTexas
    Keep fighting! The VA scheduled C&P's for me as well AFTER I submitted IME/IMO's. Might be a good sign for you that they are taking your new evidence seriously, but need to confirm through their own C&P. (I'm just theorizing.) Good luck! And don't ever give up! Mark
  18. MarkInTexas
    Julie, They typically go by when they received your NOD, but that is quite a delay between your send date and their receipt. As long as you made it within your year due date, I would think you are ok though. That's great to hear about your C&P's though! Any time you can get them moving on something, that's a good thing, and also means that they are taking your case seriously. Good luck! Mark
  19. MarkInTexas
    Well, went to my appointment early this morning, and let the VES-contracted lab do a quick blood draw for a CBC. That covers it for the C&P appointments that the VA has set up for me yet again. Now the clock starts ticking once again. Let's see how my de novo review goes in the Land of NOD. Mark
  20. MarkInTexas
    You might think about scheduling an appointment with a local audiology clinic, preferably one that is veteran-friendly and knows how to write a good IMO report. It may not make the VA change their rating yet, but might well force them to order a C&P examination for you. Good luck! Mark
  21. MarkInTexas
    Definitely send out mutliple requests to the NPRC. I have done around 4 or 5 of them over the years. Seems like each time, I get something new......kind of a surprise in a box of Cracker Jacks. The VA didn't have my separation examination documents on file LOOOONG after they were supposed to have obtained them. The only document they had was a document I signed stating that I was opting "for" a separation physical examination to be conducted, which told me my memory was still halfway decent. Unfortunately the VA had already rated me by the time I received my C-File and learned just how much was missing. So the request for records to the NPRC began and low and behold...after two tries I received my separation examination documents along with quite a few extra documents. I'd hit them with requests every few months until you feel like you're only getting the same stuff back. Also, pour through your boxes of military gear and records. I found quite a few documents that the VA nor the NPRC had. Good luck! Mark
  22. MarkInTexas
    I use the American Legion as a VSO at the Houston VARO. I really don't know if they keep a "file" on me, but instead relay documents received from me via fax down the hall to formally file with the VA. At least that's what I can seen from my C-File on documents I've sent this way. Any time that I have been physically in the VSO's office, they pulled me up on the computer in the VA's system, which I'm assuming must be a portal to the VA's files that they allow VSO's to access. They may some small file containing my basic information and the power of attorney documentation perhaps though. That's just my experience. Not a whole lot admittedly. Mark
  23. MarkInTexas
    Julie, Yep, I've been in the Houston VARO spider web since June, 2010, and still wading through the Land of NOD. How about you? Mark
  24. MarkInTexas
    Thanks! I've been through VA-contracted C&P's and private IME/IMO's, but never had them ever go this far to do a CBC. I hope this means they are finally seriously looking at my conditions and evidence. Mark
  25. MarkInTexas
    Not sure what his rates are at the moment, but I was pleasantly surprised to pay $500.00 for the full IME/IMO for several conditions. That was the full and total cost for services. I also didn't have to pay a penny until I was physically at the Ellis Clinic, and about to have my examination performed. I'd say that they are A+ for these services and cost. Some of my conditions are secondary to others, and he worked up a nexus report for each, linking each to the other and providing his medical reasoning of how each should be service-connected. Now once again, my disclaimer is that I am still in the Land of NOD, and I'm not a doctor, and I don't have anything yet on how potent his IME/IMO was in service-connecting my conditions, but hopefully I'll know soon, and when I do, I'll immediately report back in. Hope I helped! Mark
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