TexasCop

I keep finding people posting on the internet that they are trying to have CSA/Mixed tied as a secondary to TBI. I've read all the medical studies, which are pretty convincing, but does anyone know of anyone successful at going this route?

That's incorrect. They are not working appeals or records requests. Those are the folks who have been furloughed. The TVC was not ordered to move out. They were simply told that vets could not come in to visit with them. However, if that changes, they have arranged for temporary office space. I know for a fact the raters are still working. My TVC counselor, a supervisor, walked across the hall and talked to my rater last Thursday and I've had a couple of status changes since last Tuesday when they supposedly shuttered their doors in Waco.

I'm stagnant at 14 months and honestly, I think it's only fair that they finish the older ones first.

They already work across the hall from each other and have smoke breaks together. What kind of BS fluff is this story??

Unfortunately, I could see them doing mass denials for small omissions or procedural errors. It restarts the clock for them and (on paper) shows them bringing down the backlog. All it'll do is kick the can down the road, which the VA is pretty good at.

Bash is pretty flaky, but his IMO's are worth the money. Based on his IMO, I got 30% before I even saw a VA doctor.

Spondylosis is not completely congenital. It is also a byproduct of disc degeneration disease, which can be caused by injury. At the age of 23-25, your back shouldn't be like that unless you suffered an injury or there is a genetic link. During your appeal, you need to rule out genetics. If no one else in your immediately family suffers from DDD or spondylosis, have them write a buddy letter to that effect. If you didn't have any spinal traumas while in-service, you could articulate the constant heavy loads carried and/or all those runs we've all done on hard pavement/concrete. You should also get an IMO from a specialist tying it all together for you.

I've purchased AFLAC supplemental cancer coverage for years. With the track record our government has, I figure it's not a matter of if I'll get cancer, but when and where. We were exposed to a lot of stuff on that island and it'll probably be another 30 years before they admit to what all it was.

Have you tried an inversion table? It's like traction, but far gentler and you can do it in your own home. It's done wonders for my spine.

I'm tempted to mail a copy of Sen. Cornyn's letter to the director of the Waco VARO. It won't accomplish anything, but it'll make me smile. :)

The dates they allow for Agent Orange exposure are B.S. When I was there in 1992-1993, we saw some pretty weird fish. They had the old AO storage area fenced off, but there were no barriers preventing seepage into the ocean.....and guess where we got our drinking water from? I also recall an accident while I was there: http://archives.star...ews/story3.html >> January 1993: A burster charge or booster cup of 105 mm artillery shell ignites, but no World War I-era mustard gas contained in shell is released. No injuries. >> March 23, 1994: Accidental release of lethal nerve gas GB, or sarin. EPA fines Army $122,000. >> Nov. 19, 1994: A 6-foot rocket drained of chemicals explodes. No leaks reported. I was there for the 1993 incident and I know for a fact that there was a chemical release. The bursting cap blew the incinerator apart and shot mustard out the smoke stack, setting off all the surrounding NBC alarms. We were in MOPP gear for 3 days over that one. I'm glad to see someone qualify for PTSD for being stationed at that train wreck of an operation.

It helped me for several years. A strong core does hold the pain at bay for the most part. It's done wonders for my lumbar region. I still have the numbness, though.

I appreciate the excoriating letter by Sen. Cornyn, but it's all meaningless unless he actually holds them accountable.

I was informed back in June that they were shutting down that processing center in KY because it was not performing to promised standards. All my stuff got sent back to my VARO.

Robert, it sounds like something is on your sciatic nerve. It can cause numbness and sharp pains. During my last surgery, they nicked mine. It doesn't cause a lot of pain, but I do have permanent partial paralysis of my toes on one foot.

I keep requesting every single medical record they have on file for me. If I'm entitled to them, I want them.

Here was the letter: Department of Veterans Affairs Waco Regional Office One Veterans Plaza 701 Clay Avenue Waco, Texas 76799 To whom it may concern, It is my understanding that the VA has had difficulty obtaining my Service Treatment Records from both the Veterans Administration Records Management Center and the National Archives, with respect to my pending compensation claims. To the best of my knowledge and investigation, this has been an ongoing and fruitless search since March 26th of 2012. I have submitted copious amounts of medical records, to include some Service Treatment Records, to your office, as well as lay statements from witnesses who are able to establish service connection for my injuries and illnesses. I request, under the heightened duty to assist rules set forth by [JOHN A. MURINCSAK, APPELLANT, V. EDWARD J. DERWINSKI, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, APPELLEE. 2 Vet App 3632 Vet. App. 363; 1992 US Vet App LEXIS 1021992 U.S. Vet. App. LEXIS 102] that your office move forward with development of my pending issues and that I be afforded compensation exams as needed, under the VCAA of November 2000. For the VA’s review, I am also attaching an IMO from Dr. Craig Bash that should further serve to justify the VA moving forward with my claims, rather than waiting an inordinate amount of time for my STR’s. 　 　 Respectfully Submitted, 　 　 Clinton P. Turner III United States Army Veteran cc: Congressman Michael Burgess Texas Veterans Commission Waco (I redacted my personal info)

They keep sending requests to the NPRC. I have spoken directly to a technician at the NPRC while he had my microfiche on his screen and he confirmed that my STRs are not stored there. I ETS'd in 1994, so my files were SUPPOSED to go to the VA RMC. That apparently didn't happen.

broncovet, I was in a serious car accident in 1991. I was transported to Darnall Army Hospital at Fort Hood for cervical spine and shoulder contusions. I seemed fine until 1998 when my L-5 suddenly burst at the age of 27. I've had 2 corrective surgeries and am currently under chiropractic care for the problem. DDD is not genetic for me and the car accident was the only trauma in my medical history that could explain the early onset of the disease. Additionally, it was a side-impact (lateral impact) accident, which medical studies have shown put a torsional twist on the entire spine. I've submitted an IMO from Dr. Bash putting all that together for me, along with a slew of secondary issues I suffer from. USNDW, I tried that and struck out. I was hospitalized twice while in service and both have said all my records were retired to archives in the 1990's.

At the request of my Congressman's office, I have submitted a letter to the VA advising I have submitted enough medical evidence for them to move forward and to ask them to accept what I have submitted under the "heightened duty to assist" rules. Stay tuned.

I had two incidents that caused my injuries. One was a major car accident off-base that later caused my spine to develop DDD at the young age of 27. I never claimed it because of ignorance, assuming off duty accidents weren't eligible. The second was a patellar subluxation while I was overseas. I was going to wait until I finished my law enforcement career before I claimed it. I don't want surgery until I retire in 2 years for fear of being put behind a desk. Fortunately, I found a buddy who was stationed with me during the knee injury, so he issued a wonderful buddy letter. The accident, I was able to get a copy of the accident report. :)

My biggest mistake was filing a claim, then asking for copies of my SMRs. Here's a brief synopsis of what I went through..... Submitted an online request to the NPRC for my SMRs. A few weeks later I get a letter stating that since I ETS'd after 1993, all SMRs went straight to the VA. I call the VA 800 number. They say that once my claim was received, all files they had on me went to the WACO VARO. I submit a written request to the WACO VARO for copies of my SMRs. They write back stating they don't have them and to contact the NPRC. I resubmit a request to the NPRC, requesting the records and referring to the letter from WACO VARO. A few weeks later I get a written response that since I ETS'd after 1993, all SMRs went straight to the VA. I call the VA again and tell them what the NPRC has now said twice. They order a copy of my entire c-file from WACO VARO. Few weeks later, I get a parcel from WACO. It contains the claims I filed online, but no SMRs. They attach a letter stating my SMRs are at the NPRC. I call the NPRC on the phone and talk to a technician. I'm on the phone with him as he pulls my file and confirms no SMRs. I call the VA and tell them that I know the NPRC doesn't have the files, WACO says they don't have them, so they must still be at the VA RMC. They tell me they can't help me, they sent everything to WACO. I submitted a Congressional Inquiry. So far they're getting the same benign responses from all three departments. :-(

I served from 1990-1994. It was in 1993, I believe, when they created the separation between personnel files and medical records for the Army. Probably misfiled somewhere. :-(

I just finished my 4th month since I filed my claims and I'm still in the "under review" status. Not shocking, I'm still early into the game. However, they cannot find my SMRs. My Congressional review is also coming up empty. The VA is pointing their fingers at the NPRC and the NPRC is pointing their fingers at the VA. At what point do they just throw their hands up and admit they cannot find them?

And please don't think I'm bashing Bash (neat term?). God knows we need more doctors like him. I just have concerns over organization.