Cavman

I am 100% and been going to VA dental since 2009. I am a stage 4 cancer survivor and it was in the right tonsil and nodes. I did receive strong radiation and lost much of my saliva glands and taste. The VA has left me presently with 1 full molar, 2 teeth grinded to toothpick size holding on a cemented bridge that has 2 teeth broken off it on each side, 1 tooth broken at the gum line with a steel rod also broken off that was helping bridge in, another tooth broken at gum line and one tooth that was grinded down to also help support bridge with a massive gob of buildup around it so it doesn`t cut my tongue. A catastrophe! I am left with some bottom teeth broken at gum line also and teeth extremely loose that root canals were done with them wiggly to the touch. My dentist said he could do nothing more for me and didn`t know what to do. I went to a university prosthedontics professor and he has no issue doing complete implants on the top and 3 crowns with a partial on the bottom. Implants would be snap in and out ones. They are cheaper. Complete price with extractions and surgery of teeth VA broke off at gum line is around $15,000, which is cheapest around because it is dental school price and will be done by a student overseen by professor. The VA absolutely says they won`t do the implants or pay for it with fee basis. They have the money according to my dentist and he stated vets much less than me with problems have gotten fee basis. Their reason.....My jaw will get infected and have to be removed due to radiation I took. That is the reason they say they won`t pay. I`m borrowing the money and getting it done. Any suggestions or comments as to what I could do?

No, his lung cancer wasn`t related to his death. What do you mean if she meets the mean test? What is that?

A local 72 year old vet who was 100% passed recently that I know and am trying to help his widow. He was 100% rated for about 3 years when he died of cancer. He also received A&A for the wife and now widow. He was getting ready to file for homebound for her also. She is totally disabled and has to have someone take care of her 24 hours a day. Their income went to 1900.00 a month with his VA money gone once he passed. Her mortgage payment alone is 1200.00 per month plus he had just financed a new car for 400.00 per month to get her and him to doc and back weekly. I know its a 10 year thing for her to continue to draw his VA, but is their anything I can file for her to try and get her help? Is she elgible for anything from the VA?

Isn`t it true if you are 100% disabled for 10 years or more and die your wife gets a certain amount of your disability regardless what you die of? Cavman

I asked accountant if I could save on property tax by being 100% service connected and it cost me. There is a question on the tax credit form that ask if you get VA disability and if so how much VA disability you get and because of what I get she had to change my amount getting back subtracting $800.00. A guy I know that is also 100% goes to the same accountant and he never mentioned his VA benefits and of course she never ask. So he is getting all his tax credit. If I hadn`t ask about possible property tax benefits for 100% vets I would have $800.00 more in my pocket. Its a Homestead Property Tax Credit. Cavman

Happy for ya... Cavman

The Facts: This act was proposed by President Obama. He then met with heads of Veteran`s Organizations. American Legion Head stated Obama would not change his mind even after trying to be talked out of it. The press reported it and veterans spoke out loudly in protest along with American people. The proposal has been dropped. Case closed. Cavman

Sincerely sorry to hear this. Cavman

Stretch: How long does it take for the fee to be dropped? Did you make any payments at all? Cavman

I applied for the $10000 life insurance policy and was surprised it was granted. Someone here told me to apply because he said..you never know. The letter stated how much the fee was per month, quarter etc. It also stated to pay it and a review is underway to see if the fee will be dropped due to a disability. Is this usually the way its done and being 100% will the fee be waived? Cavman

That was funny simple fly...I got half way through the read and had a birthday and stopped. Cavman

What did you do in the Navy? How did your PTSD materialize? Cavman

Because I`ve had Malaria so many times I can`t give blood...unless its my ex wife. Cavman

I would never use a VSO. Been there, done that...for a few weeks. Hadit is your VSO. Cavman

Bob: I agree that sooner or later it has to be put on the presumptive list. I know it has been being looked at for over a year now as possibly being the next cancer to go on the list. Sharon: Thanks for the decision. I also have found decisions where the vet hasn`t died yet. Again, I am 100&, but I want it in case it takes me out so family has a check coming in when I`m raising hell at Fiddlers Green... Cavman

I appealed my Tonsil Cancer AO denial and just got a letter stating it was past the year, which I knew. They did say in the answer that even though it is past the one year allowed time to appeal that they are opening up the claim and will make a decision soon. This probably means nothing. Is this the norm? Cavman

john: What about state benefits? Is an 80 or 90% IU P&T gonna get you benefits that require 100% disability? Cavman

A popup has been popping up saying new upgrades are available from Microsoft and we need to have them. Well, my wife clicked on the ad and our computer had a virus from it and just got back online. It also attacked my daughter`s laptop. Watch out for it. Cavman

I lucked out today and got a good dentist for a root canal. Many of them are kids that just got out of dental school and they train on us vets for a year before they go into practice on their own. She is gonna be very good. The big difference in dental at VA is they cut cost anywhere they can. They will drill through a crown and do the canal where the street dentist will replace the crown, but you can`t beat the price. I know I can`t afford dental for me and pay for wife and daughter. Cavman

Nothing in there about a raise. We need some stimulation, bailout or whatever you wanna call it before they run out of ink or trees for paper. Cavman

What exactly are your claims you are waiting on?

This seems to be a veteran positive place that vets come to get honest help from fellow vets. I kind of feel this is like our own little perimeter. I think I`m uncomfortable with inviting in outside press and I think others will be also. It will make many hesitant because of fear we have of losing what we have. Bottom line, I think maybe you should have ask and maybe taken a poll. Thats just my opinion. Cavman

Berta: Don`t you also find it odd that Tonsil Cancer doesn`t fall under any of the presumed cancers or isn`t on the list at all? Cavman

When I get my meds, within a couple days I reorder and haven`t had any problem so far. Actually that way I keep a backup supply. I wonder if you can keep reordering until your refills are depleted. Cavman

A very touching column for me. Someone who genuinly cares..finally. The Vietnam Vet has always been an embarrassment for the government because of the 56,000 young soldiers they sacrificed and to the public because of their view of us caused by a small group of soldiers who never did shit in the war but got high. In my outfit we would shoot an American drug head as soon as an NVA soldier. We are dying of cancers caused by AO rapidly and all will be rid of us soon. We all just hope some of us will outlive Hanoi Jane. Cavman