jefmil50

Well I can not wait to see a percent up after your name rootbeer22. Wishing you all the best too!

I sent an email the 21st of April to the Under Secretary Ms. Hickey and the same email to the VA Secretary. Today I recieved an email back from "Bob" saying he has forwarded my inquiry to VA leadership for review and direct feedback to me. That is probably just a generic response so I will see how that goes. Still have not recieved an email back from Ms. Hickey as of yet. So I am still getting my NOD together to send out so I do not miss that 1 year deadline. It sure would be nice if my issue got solved before I have to go down the appeal road. Jeff

Welcome back oiler, very glad you are back and safe!

That is a great idea, georgiapapa!

Congrats, awesome News!

I was awarded 30% for ms back in 1991 and it was presumptive because I was discharged in 1985. It took 3 years just to come up with the diagnosis of ms. I started with optic neuritis and had a couple mri's in Syracuse NY that came up negative, the Dr. there even said I had a low grade glioma. Well I had a diagnosis of ms from a Pennsylavania Dr. Then when I moved to Syracuse I had a brain tumor. I took it on my own a decided to persue ms. Glad I went the ms route. It was in Syracuse that I was working with the DAV and Senator D' Amatos office to get both my VA and SS claims moving. Now here I am working on my claim at a very different stage. I am lost still trying to figure this claim stuff out. All I can say is your in great hands here at Hadit. Good luck I hope the best for you SubicBay0311!

My wife gets paid a small stipend each month for bladder care for me. I am with the SCI clinic here in Tampa and they were able to get a program approved to pay for a caregiver program. They pay each month a small amount to caregivers to provide bowel and bladder care. The caregiver just needs to be trained in providing this care. In my case my wife was trained to change my suprapubic catheter every 4-6 weeks. She also has to empty the catheter bag every day and change the bag once a week and what ever else is needed to keep everything sanitary. Like I said it is a small amount, but at least it is something. Just needed to add I am not a war vet, I was in from 79 to 85.

Congratulations, 100% P&T no more C&Ps!

Just read this too, it is great that he is ok. Hoping that you and your daughter can relax a bit now. Thank you for keeping us all informed!

Just recieved a copy of 21-526b submitted by VSO for my suprapubic cystotomy performed last September. He put on the form I was asking for 100% for that according to DC 7516. So I guess I shall see where that puts me, my VSO said I should go from M + 2k to M1/2 + 2k. Below is what I have now after my last decision. Does that sound right or should it be higher than just a half bump on the M rating? The neurogenic bladder will be taking out of this equation and replaced with the 100% suprapubic cytotomy under voiding dysfunction that is the way I take it am I right? loss of use of right arm due to multiple sclerosis 70% Service Connected 01/16/2001 loss of use of both lower extremities due to multiple sclerosis 100% Service Connected 06/15/2007 Also have a K for loss of use right hand due to multiple sclerosis neurogenic bowel due to multiple sclerosis 10% Service Connected 03/17/2014 left upper extremity weakness due to multiple sclerosis 30% Service Connected 03/17/2014 insomnia with hypersomnolence 30% Service Connected 03/17/2014 erectile dysfunction due to multiple sclerosis 0% Service Connected 03/17/2014 neurogenic bladder with urinary urgency due to multiple sclerosis 30% Service Connected 09/05/2014 They gave me an additional K for loss of use of creative organ due to multiple sclerosis

I have been reading through this whole thing and I wish you all the good luck and a speedy decision! Like you and many others here I have a lot of respect for Asknod, Berta, Broncovet, PR to name a few. They are great, good luck!

I am hoping this turns out good for Oiler1995 and his family, praying with everyone else!

deleted!

Well I called my VSO and he said he was going to have my 30% raised to 60% for neurogenic bladder. I said ok but then mentioned what I said originally in this post about the rating for this suprapubic cystotomy and the way it is suppose to be rated according to 38 CFR. He seemed like he never heard of that. I told him I should have a 100% added by law! So I called him back a couple days ago and asked him to send me something showing what he is doing about getting this fixed, he said ok he would. Of course it has been about a week now and nothing. I think it is finally about time to give up on all these VSO's.

Congrats and good luck on everything else!

I sent an email to Ms. Hickey last night concerning my latest decsion for increase. One of my contentions was for a suprapubic cystotomy performed in September 2014. That contention was never even considered in my claim. The superpubic cystotomy was mentioned and documented in my C&P exam but never was evaluted in my decision. If the suprapubic cystotomy was evaluted then it should have followed the regulations of: Title-38 Chap-1 Part-4 subpart-b 4.115b Ratings of the genitourinary system—diagnoses. 7516 Bladder, fistula of: Rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. Postoperative, suprapubic cystotomy 100%. So because that was not followed correctly and added to my decision I have sent a letter to Ms. Hickey and now I am getting a NOD together too. Just who gets the NOD, the RO here in St. Petersburg Fl? Or the intake center listed on the last page of my decision packet? Thanks!

I am still learning from everything you do and the other more experienced Veterans here. Wishing you all the best of luck!

Congratulations!

Congrats, totally awesome!

Congrats!

Well wishing you Good luck and a speedy decision in your favor!

Prayers going your way, I hope someone helps you there Good luck!

Thanks glider and rootbeer, Hope you both get your claims working in your favors soon too!

So gave a call to my VSO he is asking the RO to change the increase from 30% to 100% based on the suprapubic cystotomy that was performed in September of 2014. Like I have stated in previous posts, according to 38 CFR 4.115B a suprapubic cystotomy is to be rated under voiding dysfunction at 100%. I guess we just wait and see!

How long after recieving my decision letter do I have to file for "Reconsideration" ? I ask that question because Monday 4/12/15 I am going to call my VSO and ask him to send me exactly what he told me last week he is doing about my decision. He stated to me that he was going to ask the RO to change the 30% increase to 60% for neurogenic bladder and 100% for suprapubic cystotomy. So if that is true of him doing what ever is needed then I want written confirmation of this and not just a verbal confirmation. Never do trust h/she said from the VA especially. I know no matter what I need to keep track of the date to file a NOD in the 1 year time limit frame. Just looked at the "Evidence Considered" and the last one says, Tampa VAMC treatment records from November 14, 2014 to March 15, 2015. There is no evidence prior to that such as VAMC treatment records of July of 2014 which includes an admittance for UTI and an indwelling catheter prescribed by the ER admitting Dr. Also the VAMC treatment records from September showing suprapubic cytotomy that was performed because of acute urine retention. So any thoughts of whAT I should do? Thanks.