Minnysoda

Ms. Foster, this is John Dorle and I was referenced in this thread. I would be more than happy to talk to you, to see if either myself or Dr. Bash can help. I read all the posts and feel confident. Contact me soon though, as the appeal deadline is rapidly approaching and it should be worded and developed correctly. John Dorle 651.303.3062

http://benefits.va.gov/disabilityexams/ Is this what u r referring to? DBQ website attached.

First off, if you feel you are in fact competent, secure a letter from a qualified physician (preferably a Psychiatrist or Psychologist w/experience in PTSD) that would be willing to write you a letter to present to the VA in support of denying the proposal. My experience has been, that you will be declared "competent" w/a solid and well crafted letter. Testimonials from acquaintances to support the doctor letter would help as well. Since the opinion came from VAMC doctor or a doctor contracted w/the VA, you may be better served trying to get the opinion outside the VA/VAMC realm, if possible. If you are agreeable to the incompetency, then you would likely be set w/the VA's offer of the SDP program. In effect, a VA fiduciary would be controlling your compensation and how it is spent. This is not agreeable to most of the vets I served and often we try and get a trusted family member to act as the VA appointed fiduciary. This is assuming that the vet either doesn't want to or can't get a letter from a doctor to support competency. You, for now, may truly be incompetent to handle your finances and it may suit you better to have a family member w/a pretty clean legal track record, to be the fiduciary. Unfortunately, it will be a while before the VA releases the compensation. If you get on it right away, I would suspect 2-3 months depending on the VA regional office and how quick they work. I would also ask, are you under rated? Are you working? Maybe you should be at the 100% rate permanent and total. That would be the goal here, if appropriate. Good luck and PM me if desired.

As a past 20 year VSO, I hear what you are saying. It is like any profession, you have good ones and you have bad ones. In our profession though, it is crucial that they ALL be good, attentive and competent. My advice would be to interview the prospective VSO/NSO/POA. What may be a good DAV office in one VARO, may be a lousy one in another VARO. I just use the DAV purely as an example, all NSO's can be plugged into that. So, call and interview the American Legion, DAV, MOPH,VVA......Express your concerns. Your County should also have a CVSO that could be the "one" as well. If you want more info, feel free to PM me :)