Ricky

I agree with Shane. In today's world single meds are used to treat several conditions and the smart guys at the labs search each for new uses for them. So eventhough their primary purpose is to treat a major condition they are also prescribed to treat a host of other conditions. Therefore, the prescription of a med does not mean it was prescribed for a certain condition. Hope that makes sense!!!!!!

Agree --- from my time in service in Germany 83-88 one could go to sniper school in Graf and could attend the German Jump School. Upon completion you were awarded the German Jump Wings which I think was officially reconized by the Army. Sooooooo one could say they attended jump school in Germany ----Same with Air Assualt as they had an AA school at Schofield Barracks. It is good that you have questioned his credentials, however, although things sometimes sound corny they might just be valid.

GUys why cant the CVA judge rule on that information which is of record before the BVA even though i didnt file a claim for it? My good friend the law does not allow the court to do so cause it is not within their jurisdiction unless each step of the process has had an opportunity to rule on the issue. How old are your girls? From my experience girls for some reason at about the age 9 tend to understand things boys that age can not comperhend. They understand that you are a great father and that you are working yourself to death (either mentally or physically) to provide the best life possible for them. God bless you and your children - hang in there!!!!

Just a note on the HTN. From reading your posts he takes meds to control his HTN. If he presents with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or and requires continuous medication for control of the HTN then you need to continue the fight for a 10 percent rating. Most doc's do not prescribe meds for HTN unles you have a diastolic pressure of 100 or higher. They prefer a lifestyle type approach (diet exercise etc....).

Also take into consideration that gov funds for building, roads etc are shelled out on an obligated basis. The new parking lot could have been in a budget line 3-5 years ago. As such it would have been obligated via a contract to a private contractor. Being allocated to a private contractor they WILL NOT resend for if they do it affects the private sector and could result in many many more dollars down the drain due to penalties for pulling the contract. Bottom line is that if a congress idiot pushes for a pot of money for a contractor in his/her district it will be built. Kind of like the if you build it they will come - in this case if they obligate it it will be built. We spent millions upon millions in Germany during the drawn down due to funds had been obligated to build new barracks, houses, TCM etc.....Eventhough we came home the facilities were built and then turned over to the locals. Pretty good deal if you ask me. We get into these things based upon Shane's description of you gotta spend it or lose it. So they will spend it eventhough the check does not actually get written until a few years down the road.

Joey the original CRDP amount for 50% disability was 100.00.....then fast forward to 2008. In 2008 a veteran was to have recouped the original 100.00 plus 69.76% of the remaining balance so if your figures are correct it should go something like this: Amount from you will receive from VA will be : 799.00 Amount you will receive from DFAS: 1665 - $799 = $866 PLUS 677.00 CRDP = Total payment from DFAS will be Retirement 866.00 + CRDP 677.00 = 1543.00 minus taxes. Remember you CRDP comes from DFAS and Not VA,therefore, it will be taxable. Bottom line is you get VA 799.00+ 1543.00 from DFAS which equals 2342.00 (somewhere in this ballpark) So you see you are a pretty smart guy!

Make sure you do not shoot any of the ducks!!!!!! (throw something away during your cleaning rampage that you did not intend to throw away)

I wrote my congress idiot about the whole issue to include putting pressure on Filner to hold hearings Vs this bull crap round table. He wrote back and reminded me that he had announced his retirement. As such his primary focus was on removing himself from office and assisting the new idiot during his transition. I wrote back and told him that since he was RIP then I surely hoped that he did not dip into the treasury department funds by accepting a pay check funded by the taxpayers he was supposed to assist. I am waiting for his reply.

Comp will only be paid for one MH issue no matter how many they say you have.

Nothing against you for each of us are quite different in our thinking -but we were ordered to a paticular place of duty to defend the cause at hand and not to go running around sticking our body parts into areas that we reasonably knew could give us the kiss of death. Now my personal moral opinion has nothing to do with your post but your argument above did not make any sense. My comments are/were not intended to pass any judgement on you and I hope you do not take it that way. Bottom line is that if the VA supports and pays for such claims then you more than likely have a valid claim and you should submit it!!!!!!!

Seems as though a person can not squint their eyes in today's time for it will surely kill them!!!

I agree 100 percent sir. He was going above and beyond to assist you based upon the rules of his office (looks like they need original signature on all FOIA requests - but can make an exception in extereme cases).

Keep in mind that the AMC is simply an extension of the VARO. Therefore, if your VARO is covered with claims the AMC more that likely keep it and function as the VARO making a final decision on your claim. Based upon what you have been told on the telephone this is what has happened. All remands back to the VARO are via the AMC some they keep some they don't just depends on the work load of the VARO.

I've been waiting 16 weeks for payment on my rating decision that I have on my desk in front of me. They tell me "it is being worked sir". Must take a long time to push one of the keys on the finance departments computer. Hope your wait is shorter!

File your NOD for Fibro and CFS are definitely two seperate ratings. Just take a look at BVA cases concerning this issue. PN should be a sep rating also as it is a nerve problem. However the arth may be correct in that it more than likely covers the same body symptoms as the fibro and CFS.

The last one I went to see was a local Dav rep. At first I thought she was from another country as I could not understand her. However, I soon found out that she was so loaded on pain meds and alcohol she could not function. This was easy to figure out after she laid her head back against the chair and passed out. I left. She called two days later still with slurred speach. She argued with me about our meeting...... her argument was I never showed for the meeting!!!!!!!!

For some reason most of the VARO's are on this kick of not awarding 100 percent for PTSD on a P&T bases at the begining. It is probably due to the fact that they have come out with all this crap about cureing PTSD. Just hang in there and speak with your treating doc about the issue. When will give you an IMO stating that there is no way your issue will improve therefore it will remain static then ask them to make you P&T.

Rockhound - what does your treating doctor say about the tie in of the two?

This appears to be a case of a SO to close to the VA. It happens all the time with the guys and gals who are co-located with a VARO. Kinda like when a guy and gal work hand in hand for years - feelings get mixed up and strange things happen. Get your decision and then file a complaint on this guy with the national hQ's. Tell them in your complaint that SO's are paid to support veterans - give them guidance no matter what the issue is - if a vet brings in an true off the wall claim the SO should let him know, however, the last words in the conversation should be "if you really want to do this, the only way I see WE can win is if you do a, b, c, d, e and f. If you do not get this type of support then your SO needs to go.

Rockhound - I agree with you. Last year I sent a very detailed letter to the house committee on this issue. It provided basically what you have covered in that if a veteran is being treated for a supposed service connected issue by a specialist who prepares a detailed summary of the diagnosis, reason for the diagnosis and an accepted reason as to why it is service connected then a c&P is a simple waste of money not to mention the time attached to the claims process. Never heard from them. The only thing I can assume is that if a vet prepares his claim in accordance with the regulation and presents detailed undoubtable medical information the C&P exam is order to simply move the claim and credit can be taken for that move. And as we all know many, many times the one time look over C&P from a NP outweighs an medical information the vets submitts from a TREATING specialist. I can understand their actions if a vet goes doc shopping and comes up with a well documented IMO from Doc Abu when it is well know that for 400 bucks doc Abu will write anything. However, if the medical evidence is submitted by your TREATING doc then it should be accepted as is without any other requirement cause we all are told day in and day out that the rater can not make his on medical diagnosis - bull crap that is the primary reason the C&P is conducted. These guys have too much authority and wiggle room with a vets medical information submitted with a claim. Funny that when it comes to medical issues he/she are nothing more than laypersons but boy they sure can influence the weight of the medical information. I bet no one has ever seed where the rater listed in the rating decision that the C&P doc's medical opinion was not within the accepted standards of the medical community. sorry for the rant. Oops forgot the C&P exam is part of the duty to assist so you would never be able to prove that they were using it for doc shopping in order to deny a claim. All the rater would have to say is that the medical information submitted by you 45 year board certified neuro was inadequate so he scheduled you with a VA 4 year NP to maked a decision on your rare neuro problem which is listed on the medical communities list of Rare Disorders and affects only about 1 out of every 10 million people!!!!! Sad but true.

Bill does not have to be there. If the PVA holds his POA then they have full authority to represent him on any matter. I would obtain a statement from his doctor that he can not travel. If I were you I would force the PVA to call you as a witness so you can enter into the record Bill's symptoms - bedridden, house bound,etc... If the wife could be there as a witness she could testify as to the fact he is bedridden and she has to perform all daily activites for him such as bathing, puttin on clothing etc and to his mental state. The PVA should end it with a closing statement using all of this and discuss with the DRO the need to expidite the claim. They may tell the rep that they agree on the record or ask that he file the required motion to make this happen. The PVA is simply pulling your leg - the hearing is to present evidence, make argument and present witness' if the veteran requires.

Good news. Taxing it is no problem. Honest growers would simply have to roll, package and sell in the 7-11 stores. They could apply same laws as alcohol - no driving, no sell to anyone under 18 etc..... As with eveything there are those who will try to get around the law so you would see plenty on the street - same concept as alcohol bootleggers. We still got a house down the street that has a small square opening in the door. After 1 am when the stores have to quit selling you just go knock on the door - you want beer no problem twice the price at the 7-11, same with mad dog, whiskey etc...... age no problem.

Many, many congratulations!!!!!! Maybe you and your family will have some peace now!!! Have you been paid yet? The reason I ask is it seems that the VA in some areas are on this new kick of issuing awards and then taking weeks to issue payments.

Just call your supporting VHA and schedule an appointment. Tell them you are asking for your yearly free pair of glasses and exam.

Call him the guy is an idiot. What was his feelings about the initial submission of the claim? Did he support it or did he tell you the claim was a no-go. His initial feelings should give you some indication as to what type of rating he agreed with. Bottom line is he is a dummy for doing what he did and should be slapped - make him wish he had had a V-8!!!!!!