SueEdel

Does 100% IU P&T qualify under the ten year issue? I am having a difficult time finding an answer to this specific question. "Many DIC claims fall under 100% SC P & T for ten continuous years.....easy to succeed in" Berta

I've been a SC vet since 1977 with usual claims and such over the years. I was recently awarded on appeal 90% combined and 100% IU. I don't consider my disabilities to be life threatening although they have been seriously life altering due to MST event. I am rated for fibro, agoraphobia, colitis, vertigo going back to 2012. The condition that was turned down twice on claim and appeal is for hypertension. They agree I have it but refuse service connection. 1) Will my spouse still be eligible for DIC since I am at 90% with 100% IU P&T? 2) Attorney did file papers for the hypertension after denial of that appeal. My rational for continuing the fight is that I am more likely to die of something connected to Hypertension than from my other conditions. 3)If spouse is not eligible with my 100% IU, I think I need to fight for SC. If he is eligible it is probably not worth the headache of the fight. 4)If I fight for it I need an IMO to rebut the ludicrous statements of the VA doctor regarding only the hypertension section of the appeal. Thoughts?

Favorable decision earlier this month. They corrected their errors. At issue for most of us is the length of time it takes. If this had been properly processed they wouldn't need to pay employees to re-do the claim.

I submitted 21-4138. Six well written paragraphs. I contend that once my file was moved from Cleveland to Fargo in 2013 and Fargo called and asked about my employment situation they looked no further than the fact than I maintained some employment. The VA caller stated "I've never heard of anything like that". Basically you work or you don't. I don't believe they looked at this document. In another area of my claim they totally missed two letters of Nexus. Discounted them as unacceptable lay statements. One letter was from a VA doctor. The other for one who has treated me for 20+ years. Both properly written by VA standards to form Nexus. On appeal they seemed to have found and or recognized these documents and the 21-4138. They utilize them and quote them in their decision. My attorney didn't think it was necessary to submit anything else as the VA obviously missed these.

I received the refund today in the mail via check. The letter offering other insurance to purchase has not yet arrived.

Indeed. But the raters frequently miss this second section. They used the income level to deny me. When I mentioned to them the sheltered environment the person on the phone taking all the info stated "I never heard of that". Denied. All remedied now but took a long time. If the rater had read this info in 2012 they really could have avoided an appeal.

I just received a phone call from GSA FTS Regional responding to an email and no I don't need to file it. They said they have all the info they need. They stopped the deduction as of today. Refund will be 14-15 months of payment. Letter for additional insurance if desired will arrive in 7-10 days. when I was first disabled in 1977 they offered $1000 insurance and they paid the premiums. So my last purchase was for $9000.

Just wasn't sure this was the correct form. Seems ludicrous.

"Under certain conditions, the basic S-DVI policy provides for a waiver of premiums in case of total disability." After a 2013 decision I applied for the additional $9000 life insurance I was eligible for and because I was at that point denied TDIU premiums were paid directly from my compensation. i am now 100% P&T TDIU. I understand I can get a waiver. When I called the insurance the clerk was rather clipped and curt. They sent me a 29-357. Is this the correct form? Why would they need doctors info and records if the VA inself has declared 100%? This form is asking about treatment, physicians, employment. Wouldn't the decision letter showing disabilities scheduler at 90% with TDIU at 100% P&T suffice?

My first big expenditure was bath towels on sale. Less than $100.00. I am still trying to process everything. I do have 90% schedular. 100% P&T TDIU. Due to the way this was finally processed I have two items outstanding from this appeal. They finally decided the appeal and while it was in the works being mailed to me they set up two C&P exams which took place early this month. They have been written but not yet rated. One appears to be headed to non SC (hypertension) and the other fibro appears it will show as a correction in diagnosis.

Wonderful news! I am still trying to absorb all the ramifications of mine from last week. I am so happy for you. My envelope arrived before e-benefits updated. I do still have one outstanding contention and noted due to my e-benefits addiction that a date on the appeal which had been 1/12/14 was changed yesterday to 5/25/17. I am hoping that perhaps we will start seeming many of these long standing appeals resolved soon!

I agree with filing both. I did wonder if the source of your hep c could be the vaccine jet guns that were used at one time in the Navy.

Thanks Tbird. The only big expenditure is a vehicle upgrade. I have a 1998 in very nice shape that is garaged and well tended but need something newer. I will be getting something from perhaps 2013-2015. Otherwise paying bills. Trying to lighten the load we've been carrying for years.

I was hoping that someday I would be able to report success on my claim to this forum. Today I. Am reporting SUCCESS! I tend to be a quiet lurker but garner the info I need and move on with it. This claim was started in 2012 (I've been in system as SC since 1977). The original decision was frankly a garbled up mess that looked like it was written by a fifth grader. It had no rhyme or reason to their findings. According to the documents i am now rated at 90%. I also have TDIU which was first denied because I earned too much money while the regulations state that if you work in a sheltered business ( like a family owned business ) you may still qualify regardless of income. i believe it is P&T. There is a statement of no further examinations. They made this decision prior to getting the results from the last C&P in May so that is still out there in VA land. After waiting and wondering for 5 years since the start of the claim it is difficult to believe we have a favorable decision. I am having a hard time allowing myself to trust them! Thanks to those who suggested which attorneys to contact in 2013. I sent a summary to 3 and all agreed I had a good appeal. I chose Katrina Eagle and she filed the NOD in 2013. She even addressed an issue I was unaware of and I was awarded 30% on it. i appreciate all of you being here for me and all veterans in times of need. Just having a place to vent or inquire is priceless.

How do I find out what other opinions are on a C&P examiner in Ann Arbor? Just looking for positives and negatives or quirks about her. Occupational Medicine is the specialty.

In a complicated claim which included hypertension that was secondary--the nurse who did the C&P quoted WebMD as her source for denial. Since WebMD did not mention chronic pain and hypertension being linked she discounted and denied. Seemed rather unprofessional to base her opinion on one website that any fool could access.

Good deal! Relax.

When my claim for HBP secondary to chronic pain and/or Anxiety was denied the nurse quoted WEBMD in her notes. I really thought she would "own" her knowledge and not use the internet to support her issues. I could find plenty of websites that state HBP is common with both chronic pain and anxiety.

C&P exams always make my anxiety shoot toward the sky. I must say that my recent exams during past year were the best experiences during C&P exams I have ever encountered. The examiners were polite and professional. I found examiners in years passed -back to 1977--were condescending which only made matters worse. It still makes me nervous to have to show up and be "examined". I think being anxious is the norm.

Once my claim was processed and I received the retro--I received one payment of $1653.04 which is the correct payment for 80% vet with spouse. Since that time I have been getting the amount listed below which is $0.49 per month different than what is stated in the ratings table. What the heck are they doing with my forty-nine cents??? The current benefit paid is as follows: Gross Benefit Amount $1,652.55 Net Amount Paid $1,652.55 Effective Date January 1, 2014 Combined Evaluation 80 percent

Congrats!

Wheelchair finally fixed today. It took getting a senator involved. The mobility company told all the VA contacts that they had been trying to call the vet. The mobility company did finally call and asked them "when did you move from Warren Michigan?" The Vet has lived his entire life (other than military service/Vietnam) in Toledo, Ohio. The mobility company called and said they would be there next Tuesday....then they called back and made an appointment within 24 hours.

Congrats! The waiting period is still way too long.

They were told by Ann Arbor VA that the company that repairs the wheelchairs would contact them Friday. It came and went. No call. They faxed a 3 page letter to a local senator today requesting assistance. This fax outlined all that has been done so far. Meanwhile the local Vietnam Vet organization was told of the continued delay. They contacted county VS again. VS made some calls. He was told it would be handled ASAP. (What exactly ASAP in VA terminology???) As of 5:00 PM no one had called. Wheelchair still inoperable.

Thanks for the info. There are a few people working on it. One issue is that while they are actually in Ohio--this VA clinic is under Ann Arbor MI. The VA office in Columbus said sorry they do not know the contact person in Michigan. They suggested contacting Congresswoman. The VS County Office did make several calls and is supposed to be getting back to them today. I will pass this info on. I suggested joining this forum. They are still fighting to get from 90 to 100%. Another bit of insanity on his claim--they signed for VA to get documents from hospital which is right next door to VA clinic. They got a letter that stated VA could not get those documents as they did not have an address for the place....