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Greg88
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Posts posted by Greg88
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Hi everyone, I got the the same Staus Change, Evidence requested past due, the funny thing is my AB8 letter disappeared also, Benefits Explorer still shows me at 100%. I received a call from Peggy and it's like talking to Schultz on "Hogans heroes" "I know nothing" could not tell me what was missing, if anything, it seems like all they want to do is to get off the phone, if a form was missing would'nt they tell so we could get it into the mail and save time, oh it's the VA they don't care about the vets time.
Greg
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I'm sorry, let me explain the VA scheduled the exam for June on 6/6 I received the letter from the RO saying that an exam was being scheduled, the problem was I was not at home, since DAV told me not to worry about the exam (the letter was sent out by mistake according to SO) I went away and did not ask my neighbor to highlight what came in the mail, I did'nt even bother checking. I got home on the 25th of June saw that exam was scheduled for the 24th and I had missed it. I called DAV that monday 6/25, they did not get back to me till the 27th, I had called the 800# and explained what happenend, DAV told me to write a letter and explain what happenend, I did, the DAV received the letter on the 29th, I tried calling DAV and got thru on the 6th and received a call back on the 9th, yes they had received my letter of explanation. The DAV SO was reading and suddenly blurts out to me "oh the VA wants to reduce your rating from 100% to 0%", I explode and say bullsh*t they cannot do that, I've been at 40% for 20 years, 60% for the next 2 and 100% for the last 14, I told him that he had told me the intial VA letter was a mistake and the reason that this was happening was because he told me not to worry about it. He then said he was not responsible for what happened. I told him the next phone call is to my congresswomen and his tone immediatley changed, "oh no you don't have to do that" he told me he would talk to the RO and straighten things out. I received nothing from the VA about a reduction, I kept calling but nothing from DAV or the 1-800#, finally on August 6th the DAV SO called me back and told me that my case was with ratings "coach" and not to worry, the following week I went to the RO (DAV is right across the hall from the RO) dropped off pertinent MRs from my private Dr.s and once again was reassured by DAV not to worry, the "coach was taking care of things" The next thing I knew on August 21 I received a letter scheduling new C&PS and thats where the 1st posting down at the bottom begins.
Greg
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Berta, I'm sorry I got side tracked in my response and did not answer your question, my DAV SO told me after I missed a C&P exam (that he told me was a mistake and would not take place) that the VA was thinking of reducing my disability from 100% to 0%, I never received any notification of this by mail or anything else. So my paranoia is a little up at this point, I'm just wondering if there going to try to reduce my rating, reading how they lose MRs and statements from vets does not help to alleviate my fears at this point. According to the examiner I have everything I had in 1997, for this exam they also got a letter from private MD who is a respected MD, the VA has concrete proof, but somehow I keep wondering if they will screwup. Actually at this point the main thing is they never mention the permanence of my condition, every letter mentioning my diabetes say that the rating is not permanent, so I keep wondering.
Greg
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Hi everyone thanks for the answers, the funny thing is I was declared 100% with a lot less evidence then I presented at this C&P, my condition is a lot worse these days than 15 years ago. I'm wondering if the gathering of evidence to prep for notification means that the VA realizes that people who have Type 1 diabetes don't recover and become "employable" and recovered after this amount of time.
Greg
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So I went to the VAMC where I had my C&Ps done for Diabetes, basically the examiner stated the my diabetes and peripheral neuropathy stopped me from working, examiner noted the severity of the peripheral neuropathy. One of the reasons I received 100% 14 years ago was because of the hypoglycemic unawareness I suffer from (type 1 diabetic for 36 years) the examiner did note that my blood glucose was 48 which is considered severe hypoglycemia, but the DBQs do not mention this little problem which causes a lot of seriuos problems for long term diabetics. On Ebenefits my status went from gathering evidence to preparing for notification in 5 days. The 2 DBQs that the examiner did were very strong in some case's but a little weak (in my mind) in others. The two exams were 26 pages long and very depressing according to my wife, the diabetes criteria for 100% is very ambiguous to begin with here is the criteria :
7913 Diabetes mellitus Requiring more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities) with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated 100%
I take 7 shots a day (all the DBQ say is more than 1 shot a day) my diet is stricty regulated (nothing in the DBQ) examiner does say restricted work and recreational in the DBQ. The episodes of hypoglycemia hospitalizations is way down since 2006 since I started using a Glucagon emergency kit, when my sugar goes low, I pass out (2-3 times a month), my wife gives me a shot of Glucagon I wake she gives me sugar (I can't afford the ambulance rides anymore in my area it's $200 to 300 dollars a pop. My DAV SO is basically useless at this point, I asked if they want me to fax the copy of the C&P, no we will wait for the decision is all they say. I have letters from my private MD and a filled out DBQ from him, the examiner took them and MRs, what does the VA rater take into account just the C&P or everything that they have, it's hard to get a straight answer.
Greg
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Hi everyone,
I had my C&Ps done earlier this month, I've been SC for 36 years with Type 1 diabetes, Ebebnefits shows me going from gathering evidence to prep for decision in 5 days. I called my DAV SO (the amazing thing is they got back to me in 2 hours) the SO told me he does not understand why the status is changing so quick, he told me the RO is backed up with cases from 2010. My case is pretty straightforward, Type 1 diabetes- 15 years later complications start to arise 7 years later I'm at 100% and things are not getting better. Sept 2012 36 years with the disease complications worse than ever, to me it seems pretty cut and dry. But since the VA has not reexamined me in 14.9 years who knows.
Greg
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Berta I'm picking up copies of the C&P Friday and will head down to the RO on Mon. I'm bringing copies of everything to hand in to RO, while I'm there, I want DAV to show me whats been given to the VA, DAV has my POA and the RO is right across the hall from them. But the DAV so far on this little adventure has not done much and just kept giving me false reassurances. My DAV rep in JULY told me because I missed a scheduled C&P (I was away when the appt. came and went) the VA was going reduce me from 100% to 0%. This is the same rep that I called when I got a letter from the VA in Jan. telling me I was going to reexamined. The DAV rep said "don't worry those letters were sent out by mistake" I stopped worrying and bang C&P came and went. The funny thing is I told the DAV I was going to my Congresswoman and a panic set in "no no you don't have to that". The thing is I never received any letter telling me that I was going to be reduced. It will be interesting to see what was written on the C&P.
Greg
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Hi Everyone,
I called down the DAV today after checking to see if I could pick up a copy of my C&Ps from the VAMC (they said I could there complete now), of course no one answers the phone at the DAV office, checked my status at Ebenefits and status went from Gathering to review of evidence, I'm wondering if DAV gave the VA the documentation I gave to them, because at this point I don't have a single DAV SO I can rely on, a different one calls back each time. I'll pick up my C&Ps on Friday as see what the examiners wrote.
Greg
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Berta, yes it was claimed it was diagnosed in 1988 at the VAMC I used and they used it to raise my rating from 40% to 60% and then again as it progressed to a 100%, the examiner did all the test's from the Diabetic PN DBQ, it took basically 10 minutes, the DBQ says it should take 30, but when you have Type 1 for 36 years they make a lot foregone conclusions. In the outside medical world I'm not a tough case, but with the VA you always have to look for a curve ball. Any ideas how long it will take to obtain the copy of the C&P exam ?
Greg
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I'm trying to catch up on the VAs methods and madness regarding claims, I think it's appalling that the VA does not connect depression with PTSD, and to say that TBI is not an issue because 4 years have elasped so we can sweep that under the rug. PTSD is a serious condition, if you have it, it makes sense to believe that your going to have symptoms of depression. I stopped using the VA medical in 1997, I had my C&P medical for diabetes and after the exam, I see why I left, the VA does not use the appropriate professional to address veterans need and even if they do, your not getting someone who is at the top of their field, your getting someone who is at the 30 or 40% mark, they have a license but. The VA was using cost cutting well before the rest of the medical world started using it and the veterans suffered. I lived near a VA psychiatric hospital in the early 90's, on one the wards a young RN was almost beat to death with a pool due to short staffing. A suicide attempt is a serious sign of something going wrong, when they find the veteran dead, then they say" oops we were wrong" it seems he was depressed.
Greg
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USMC,
I left copies, after reading how things get lost with the VA I thought it better to cover my a**, I'll wait 2 weeks and ask for a copy from the VAMC where it was done. The funny thing was the examiner understanding of diabetes was not to update, I was told the examiners specialty was heart disease. When I mentioned some of my problems that I was having, I got a blank stare, it's like Joe Friday "just whats on the DBQ" the examiner did miss a few things, there is a question on the DBQ asking about scars and it's relation to the diabetes, 4 or 5 years ago I fell out of bed while my sugar was low and slept against an oil filled electric heater (the one that looks like a small radiator) I woke up with 3 coaster size 3rd degree burns on my calf, upper arm and opposite wrist, it was mentioned in the DBQ my MD filled out, but the examiner never asked, I wonder if the examiner will use what I left to highlight what was not examined. It's great to have a cheat sheet to help you fill things out. Since the examiner read everything I figured I save the VA 45 minutes of their and my time.
Greg
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I went for my Medical C&P today, the examiner was pleasant and asked to see and accepted all my paperwork including medical records, filled out DBQ and Nexis type letter filled out by my private MD. She looked over all the forms before she started questioning me and told me she would review furthur after the exam. She did a thorough exam, but seemed a little more interested in the new things that have popped up in the last 15 years. I will wait a week and see if I can get a copy, overall I think it went OK, she mentioned that they have a person who collects all the MRs and info and brings it back to the Regional Office, this sounds like something new, most of the posts I see, the examiner will read it and hand it back to the vet.
Greg
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The only problem with staying with VA is there always trying to cut corners, I test my blood sugar 12 times a day (I'm a labile or brittle diabetic), I cannot tell you how many auto accidents and passing out in places where you should not. Nobody bothered to tell me at the VA that as time went on with disease my bodies ability to shows of hypoglycemia would decrease. When you first get the disease your sugars go low, you sweat and shake, but as the years go on the warning signs disappear, I can be at 40 and there may be little or no physical change in me, even my vital signs show little change. I stopped driving 7 years ago and working at this point is out of the question. I've been at 100% for 14.9 years with a disease every medical professional knows is permanent, the Marines say it's permanent, the VA we are not sure. Sorry went off a bit, they kept telling me once they got me on testing in1986 or 87, 1 bottle of strips a month, then they raised to 4 times a day, my VA Dr. told me there was nothing he could do, so I went private and started to be able to 6-8 times a day, never got a limit on syringes or any other medication I needed. I stopped using the VA for medical in 97 and only used them for eye checks till 2002. I'm 56 and if they say it's not permanent, I'll get my Congressmen and my Senator involved, it's getting to the point of just being stupid.
Greg
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I've been service connected diabtes type 1 for 36 years, I was treated by the VA from 1976-1997 for the diabetes and complications that set in as the years went past. I've been 100% since 1/98, this is the first C&P since 11/97, which is where they said I was 100%. My Dr. filled out the Diabetes Mellitus DBQ, but not the complications because one the complications for diabetic neuropathy, the examine will want do (it's a 5-10 minute exam, nothing fancy involved) Since the exam in 1997 I've developed hypertension, ED, and urinary incontinence, but since there not on the list that VA sent and not what I was made 100% for, should I even mention them. from what I've been reading sit and look and act dumb seems to be the way to go. If you say something and they see it the wrong way, it will bite you in the ass. Any ideas ?
Gregory
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Hi everyone,
I've got my C&P tomorrow with an NP, do I answer only what she asks or offer any elaboration, I hear the chance's are quite high that they will misinterpret what I say and use it against me. I'm bringing DBQs filled and a short letter from MD explaining whats been happening the last 15 years. My MD met with me on Friday 09//7/12 and looked at the DBQ went thru it and checked boxes that I had missed, so evidence wise I'm pretty backed up, will the examiner even read it "one never knows", the letter my MD wrote is 9 total sentences, so short and to the point. I faxed all the evidence down DAV at the RO, will the VA even get it is another question. Is it possible to send everything via VONAPP, so the VA has some documentation on what happening as well as sending via snail mail.
Thanks
Gregory
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Hi everyone, so I saw my private MD, he filled out the Diabetes DBQ added more evidence that I missed and filled out the Nexis type letter, that I wrote everything say's that I'm permanetely and totally disabled, the medical C&P is Tuesday, I'm bringing everything, DBQ, letter and medical records to the exam. Anything else that I might have passed up.
Gregory
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USMC, I'm wondering how this going to turn out overall, I have documented proof to bring with me, but will the NP even look at it and then it comes down to the point of the actual Rater to make a descision. I have been at 100% for the 14.9 years, so there going to need a lot more proof than just an NPs opinion. I think the DBQs in some case's hurt more than help, because they keep the examiner locked in on just those items.
Greg
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USMC, I was filling out the Diabetes DBQ to let my Dr. know what I will be dealing with, the examiner will be a NP, I'm wondering if she will just follow the DBQ or go into the questions more deeply, from what I've read some of the NPs just follow the DBQs tootha and nail, I wonder what her reaction will be if I hand her a filled out DBQ before the exam. I checked Ebenefits nothing on the Optical C&P. The Medical C&P is scheduled for 2 hours, I'm betting dollars to donuts she's done in 30-40 minutes.
Greg
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USMC, yes is it was done at a VAMC, so I will call tommorow and see whats going on with it. The thing is that on my orginal claim back in 1997, I never complained of retinopathy, the C&P examiner put it down without an exam, the VA had done all my eye exams through 97, no one mentioned retinopathy in 21 years before the exam, I saw it when they awarded the 100% and asked my DAV rep about it he said "don't worry about it." The key thing at this point is it was'nt my reason for filing in 1997 and it's still not now, the problem is that the Diabetes DBQ that NP will be using does not get into depth about whats keeping me 100% disabled. As my wife said to me tonight, "you are a lot sicker now than you were then" the question is will the VA see that.
Gregory
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USMC, interesting, I brought the letters from the Opthalmologist and she did not put them with my records, I called after posting the message and they said they had all they need for the C&P, the thing about this is the retinopathy does not disappear and not putting a copy of the opthalmologists letters in with my file makes me more suspicous. I don't trust the VA at all, especially whe it comes to ratings, it seems that their looking for a way to decrease things and have you start again. Looking at the case you've posted they don't give a lot of evidence for their denial. How soon will the C&P be available.
Gregory
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Hi everyone, I've been service connected Type 1 Diabetic for the last 36 years, I've been at 100% since 1998. Todays C&P was the 1st one in 14.9 years. Since 2001 I've been using private opthamologist and PCP since my wife had good insurance, in 2006 I was told I had mild diabetic retinopathy same in 2007 and 2008, this was diagnosed by one top retina guys in the field. The usual visit lasted 2 hours with tons of pictures of the inside of the eye (which you can have done at JC Penney these days for $35 bucks) So I showed up 10 minutes early to exam, not one other PT. there, now this is an Optometry clinic not an Opthalmologists clinic (surprise #1) There was a 5 minute wait and the Optometrist started exam, I gave her the letters showing what my opthalmologist found and she did a 35 minute exam, she said saw a healthy retina, I asked her about the mild retinopathy and she tells me "with good diabetic control it will go away" which is crap, it will heal but it will scar the retina. Not one picture was taken of the inside of my eye. So now I'm wondering should I be worried.
Gregory
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John, I was reading one your past posts about looking dumb and pitiful that was written in 2009, do those rules still bear listening to ?
Gregory
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John, the problem I have with VA is continuity of care, when I was using the system through the 70s, 80s, and 90s, I had the same Dr. he retired from the VA in 94 or 95 and then all I got were Endo residents that thought they would cure things (in their own minds), and then they start prescibing new meds and insulin and bang I'm passed out somewhere. In 1987 my Doctor had to take a leave of abscence from the VA (his mother was dying in Italy) a resident took over for the 6 months he was gone, she thought it would be a good idea to try me on a new invention the "Insulin pump". I tried it and and after 3 weeks one day I ended up 100 miles from home in the passenger seat (I was driving) pump torn out and laying on the floor, p*ssed my pants and my clothes drenched with sweat. A lot of VAs are associtated with teaching hospitals and the veterans end up being lab rats for these students (even if their doctors) their still students. The VA used to be great at R&D, they had MDs that stayed for years and years, but from what I've been hearing the Doctors don't hang around as long, actually thats not true, the psychologists and psychiatrists seem to stay a long time. Because of my condition I test my sugar 12 times a day and the VA is real cheap about test strips, they start moaning and requiring all kinds of approvals if you test more than 5 times, talk about pennywise and pound foolish. I do have to include that I use Tricare for all my medical right now and it's been very good, it just occured to me that the VA can see all prescripitions through Tricare if they want to.
Greg
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USMC, it's funny you mention the SO, when I went down to the RO to visit him he gave me his usual "don't worry about it" but try to get him on the phone or any other modern communication device and nothing. At this point they reassure me this exam is nothing to worry about, but so far I have seen nothing to impress me. The DAV SO I had in the 90's who got me the 60 and 100% was diligent and on the ball, he know sits on the VA Ratings board in Houston. My doctor looks puzzled when I tell him that the VA says (since your Diabetes Mellitus condition is not considered permanent) he replies "thats just stupid". The funny thing is that the complications they list on the letter they sent me and the ones in the DBQ (not even mentioned) are not the worst part of the Diabetes, the main problem is I just pass out because of the time with disease, as time goes by our bodies adjust to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) normal start to sweat and become disorientated when there sugar drops below 70, I can be at 35 and seem reasonable and then I hit the floor. The thing is most MDs know this and know that the disease kill's you slowly, piece by piece. According to everything I have read I think they want see if I've been given a cure and that I'm also 25 years years younger LOL. But I think the timing plays a big role in this I turned 56 in August and with everything thats in the CFR 3.327 I meet all the requirements of not being bothered again, but this is the VA and who know what there thinking.
Greg
Ebenefits Show's My Claim Moving Real Fast. (But Is It Really Moving At All)
in VA.gov Questions (formerly E-Benefits)
Posted
Last night before I went to bed I checked Ebenefits and saw Change in Status, evidence not sent notification letter sent and the rest of the BS Ebenefits gives, but since a lot of vets received the same message, i'm less worried now then before going to bed, instead of putting all this worrisome verbage up there, why not just put "Pending" and that's it. It would be a lot easier on us vets if the VA and DAV used email, we all realize that the VA and DAV hate to pick up a phone and contact us, it's time they moved into the 21st century. They really don't seem to worry about the stress and anguish the waiting causes.
Greg