jefmil50

I have an annual all day in Tampa Thursday so I will bring my VSO my NOD, and go from there. Thanks!!

Gabapentin has been a life saver for me for the past 8 yrs or so. I have nerve pain/itchiness from my M.S. and it hs done wonders keeping that sensation at bay. Now it looks like I need to see about upping my dose because that itchines sensation is now in my chest and is unbearable at times. I take 600mg 3x a day so it appears there is room to adjust. The only side effects I experienced was drowsiness in the beginning.

I am filing my 1st NOD but have a couple questions. Currently I have a VSO as my POA but prefer to submit this NOD on my own I guess this method is ok? My other question is how do I submit this form, do I mail it to the VARO in St. Petersburg certified return reciept or is there a way to submit online what ever is the best?

Ok filling out the NOD today and see where we go. I am assuming the AOJ is St. Pete RO, and not Louisville Kentucky where the final decision letter came from?

My original claim was for A&A not knowing that I should have just asked for a higher rating than the m+k that I am at now. Here is my decision from 2008. SUBJECT TO COMPENSATION (1. SC) 5110 LOSS OF USE OF BOTH LOWER EXTREMITIES DUE TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Service Connected, Peacetime, Presumptive 100% from 06/15/2007 5125 LOSS OF USE OF RIGHT ARM DUE TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Service Connected, Peacetime, Presumptive 20% from 03/13/1992 70% from 01/16/2001 8018-8520 MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS WITH LEFT LOWER EXTREMITY WEAKNESS AND STATUS POST DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS WITH PULMONARY EMBOLISM Service Connected, Peacetime, Presumptive 10% from 08/29/1986 30% from 06/18/1990 40% from 03/13/1992 60% from 01/16/2001 to 06/15/2007 8520 RIGHT LOWER EXTREMITY WEEKNESS AND SPASTICITY, DUE TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Service Connected Peacetime, Presumptive 40% from 03/13/1992 60% from 03/29/2002 to 06/15/20007 7599-7542 URINARY URGENCY DUE TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Service connected, Peacetime, Presumptive 20% from 01/16/2001 6090 DIPLOPIA DUE TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Service Connected, Peacetime, Presumptive 0% from 03/13/1992 COMBINED EVALUATION FOR COMPENSATION 10% from 8/29/1986 30% from 06/18/1990 80% from 03/13/1992 (Bilateral factor 6.4 Percent for diagnostic codes 8520, 8520) 100% from 01/16/2001 (Bilateral factor 7.6 Percent for diagnostic codes 8520, 8520) 100% from 03/29/2002 (Bilateral factor of 8.4 Percent for diagnostic codes 8520,8520) 100% from 06/15/2007 Individual Unemployability Granted from March 13, 1992 to January 15, 2001 (Grant IU under 38 CFR 4 .16(b) SPECIAL MONTHLY COMPENSATION K-1 Entitled to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C 1114, subsection (k) and 38 CFR 3.350(a) on account of loss of use of one hand from 01/16/2001. L-1 Entitled to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1114, subsection(1) and 38 CFR 3.35(b) on account of loss of use of both feet from 06/15/2007 P-1 Entitled to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1114, subsection (p) and 38 CFR 3.350 (f) (3) at the rate equal to subsection (m) on account of loss of use of both lower extremities due to multiple sclerosis with additional disability, loss of use of right arm due to multiple sclerosis independently ratable at 50 percent or more from 06/15/2007 P-3 Entitled to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1114 subsection (p) and 38 CFR 3.350(f)(5) at the next higher rate or intermediate rate of subsection (p) due to the loss of use of three extremities from 06/15/2007 So the new decision came back ad said: The level of SMC is confirmed and continued at its current level. I remember being in my wheelchair and the examiner turned around to me and said yep 100 there 100 there and blah blah. She kept asking about me handling my finances. So after a half hour we went home and in 2 days this was final. This is pretty crazy but hopefully I can figure it out. I have no idea about saving that EED or even going forward? Jbasser yes my Neuro is pretty good and knows alot about these deseases so hopefully he can follow through.

Last year I filed a claim for A&A after being discharged from hospital for a Multiple Sclerosis exacerbation. Now a year later I had my C&P exam and the decision. The claim was denied pretty much because my current rating is above the A&A level I was seeking. This is my conclusion after reading several opinions between members of a few forums on my case. I have asked a few times of where to go next and I have been told file a NOD, SOC what ever. Well now I am wondering if I should have just asked for an increase or reevaluation instead of A&A? So on the issue of a NOD, what am I disagreeing with if my claim for A&A was turned down because I am already at or above that level? I am currently rated at smc m+k, and that rating was given to me back in 2008. Unfortunately my condition has deteriorated since then and probably need to be reevaluated. My big question is, is it possible to save the original claim time considering I asked for something that was never going fly? Am I just SOL on that claim and just need to start a new claim? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated?

Congrats, Semper Fi!!

Stretch, That was just to be funny listing hadit as my VSO! Thanks.

Well we barely can stand up let alone walk. I have a c500 Permobil wheelchair that I went into the exam room. No we are not housebound, my rating right now is SMC (M + K). I just got back from my local DAV to at least change back my POA, guess thay want some SOC from my pcp. I will get to go to Hotel James A. Haley next week to do a sonogram and mri so I should be able to get that part done. Like I have mentioned before, have no idea what goes on at this point, never had to not accept the findings. Yes I can feed myself but only if my food is prepared totally for me. My van is adapted so that I could drive for short distances if needed, but have not been able to drive since last relapse a year ago. The swimming part was a joke, I can not really swim with just partial use of my left arm, the pool is just to get into for therapy.

Well first time in 22 years that I am going to have to file a NOD. I asked for an increase but apparently that was worded in a way to not look like a complete denial. So basically here is my BBE more like a little bbe, that came yesterday: {REASONS FOR DECISION Entitlement to special monthly compensation based on Aid and Attendance Entitlement to an additional payment of compensation is established when service-connected impairment imposes a special level of disability. The current level of entitlement to special monthly compensation is confirmed and continued based on the evidence reviewed. we have review the information and evidence submitted with your application received on January 31st, 2013, as well as the VA aid and attendance or housebound examination conducted on January 29th, 2014 at the VA medical center in Tampa FL. There was no objective medical evidence that would warrant an increase in your special monthly compensation at this time. You do have reduced range of motion in your left upper extremity but are still able to feed yourself, swim in your pool and sometimes drive. We have therefore confirmed and continued your current level of special monthly compensation as previously authorized.} So that was my BBE literally in a nutshell. I went in to the exam room, the stupid lady asked a few questions and sent me on my way. She would not allow my wife to come into the room, for what ever reason I still can not figure out. Ok so I can feed myself but only if someone cooks and cuts what ever for me. Last year the VA had a lift installed on my pool because I can no longer walk in and out of the pool, and still need help transferring from wheelchair to the pool lift. Have no idea where they figured I could really swim, a little hard with just partial use of my left arm. I have a left foot accelerator and a steering knob, also the driver seat is a power chair, but driving has been extremely limited. Like I said earlier this is my 1st time that I have disagreed with a decision and need to file a NOD or whatever the next step is? I also need to know how to get the Brain Dead VSO off as my POA, that was an abortion from the get go, I will list hadit.com as my silent POA!! Just definitely need honest direction from here and this is the only place I have found in the real world.

Had my C&P exam that I requested for aid and attendance. I had the exam on the morning of Jan 29 2014 and by the time we got back home I checked E-Bennies and everything was updated already. So my status went from gathering of evidence to completed. As always I do not ever get to excited until that "BBE" arrives with good news. Below is what I saw on E-Bennies along with decision made and mailed, but guess like I said that still does not excite me. However if someone wants to throw some optimism my way and tell me it will be soon, feel free lol!! Claim Received: 01/31/2013 Claim Type: Compensation Claim Closed: 01/29/2014

This whole process is a matter of interpretation, which I believe has been stated on here somewhere. I have a motorized wheel chair that before last year was added in my clothing allowance, this year it was eliminated. The VA issued me this 27,000.00 Permobile wheel chair, and there is more damage to my clothing in this motorized chair than the manual one. Someone in prosthetics decided to make up her own rules based on how she interpreted it. The regulations state wheelchairs but does not make any rule that differentiates between manual or motorized. I have both an AFO and KAFO and mine have exposed hinges. So I am waiting now for some idiot to come and say this statement to me: "The company that makes this brace wrote a letter to the VA stating that their hinged knee braces do not damage the clothing in any way." How in the world the VA can use that as an excuse not to pay for irreparable damage to veterans clothing is beyond me. The manufacturer has no idea of what damage is done, no one goes to them reporting this damage. It is just pathetic, but expected from the V.A.

Thanks for that tip Berta. It is a reminder to me that, that is something I really just need to get into a habit of doing. Not only for Iris but almost everything I do that needs more clarity.

I have it on DVR, can not wait to get back home today and watch.

Thank you for laying that out the way you did. I do have a better grip, now I need to forward this on to my wife. It is hard for me to explain to her how this rating system works, and that is really just me. Although since my exacerbation from M.S. back in November of last year new symptoms like constipation and incontinence have come about secondary to M.S.. I am being treated for those. I was trying to explain to my wife that we are getting paid regular A/A with my rating of M+k, which comes to 4185.00. Even though we have all this new equipment such as a roll-in shower chair, hoyer lift, and other stuff it does not automatically qualify you to a higher level of A/A. We will go to this C&P exam and maybe at least get these new symptoms added that are secondary to my M.S.

Finally received my clothing allowance from last year after I was told they never received my forms. The P.V.A. resubmitted the forms and I got a call last week from the prosthetic chief that somehow the forms got stalled in the system. Now my bank shows the deposit for tomorrow, minus the Permobile wheelchair. Still do not get that but at least I am getting paid Yay!!

I have a C&P exam coming at the end of this month that I requested for A/A. Currently I am rated at smc (M), but is that automatically include regular A/A? When I was discharged from the hospital last December I went to the P.V.A. NSO and requested for a higher level A/A, E-Benefits just list the C&P exam as A/A. There are different opinions on this matter, and it is certainly confusing at this level. I have heard you have to be at the maximum rate (o) to receive a higher smc r1 or r2, it is r1 I was asking to get any thoughts? I have attached my last rating decision for anyone to look at and give me direction and I was awarded the right decision? Thanks! img003.pdf img004.pdf

Congratulations !!

Guess my answer may have just came an hour ago. I received a call that they scheduled me for a C&P exam at the end of this month, so maybe that is why my status changed!

Ok I have read different opinions on here about requesting your C-file, I have never done that so I went ahead and requested my file. The question I have is what is anyone's opinion of requesting my C-file in the middle of a claim, and do you think that request is the reason why my claim went from preparation for decision back to gathering of evidence?

Congrats!!

No letter for me yet and I sent the forms back in March. So guess I am still on the hurry up and wait!

Thanks, I will wait a little more!

Thanks. Yes I usually like to do it myself to just that I am in a more difficult claim process with a higher level of A&A, thought maybe it would help if a VSO started it. Guess I will just let it play out and use everything I have learned here to complete my claim.

My question here is, I have a claim in for A&A that was submitted through the PVA. So if I am unhappy with them for what ever reason and I decide to change my POA to D.A.V. or American Legion, ect. Will that change have any effect on my claim? The other question then, if that has no effect, is what is the best way to go about changing my POA for a claim? Thanks.