Objee

Jan, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Boy will you enjoy the "attitude adjustment hour"! Veronica and I just returned from a family reunion and it's taken us a whole month to realize it's over for us. ENJOY and re-learn how to relax. Then come back and help out! Best to you, Chuckles and fambly. Ralph

Well, it's 6 days after the Decision Letter and the retro check just arrived. You're right, Dorothy, it's impressive! We'll see y'all in a week or so and I'll get you a rememberance Tbird as soon as we get back from celebrating. Love and success to all, Ralph

ORC Macro is the company conducting the VDBC survey. If you decide to participate, you may find that none of the multiple choice answers fit your situation. If so, refuse to answer as there is no accurate answer given. I did participate and refused to answer about 1/3 of the questions since none of the choices reflected reality at all. (I didn't strain to make any of them fit.) Ralph

Fantastic! You deserve every bit of it! Time to relax for a bit and enjoy. Ralph

Ricky, The crap you're going through is so far off the wall that you might try being off the wall yourself. How about - - - - Sending a Demand Letter as a Statement in Support saying that they failed to follow CFR procedures (you'll have to look them up) and have admitted such (stipulated their agreement) with the response to your submission of the C&P exam. You now demand that they proceed to properly adjudicate your case with all due haste or you will file a formal protest of denial of due process. Etc., etc. No idea of what they'll do, but it will be fun to at least tweak their two brain cells into trying to think. Regional counsel may become involved and the fun would only increase. Who knows, they might actually try to solve the problem!?!?!? Ralph

Berta, These problems you're having really "frost my cookie." If you get to the point where you prevail against the rep and state VSO, take the case before a sitting grand jury with jurisdiction and ask for a presentment of criminal conversion for the value of the "lost" paper. Whether you prevail or not, the process will alarm the hell out of the rep and state. Ralph

Thanks for your eloquence, kkp! Yep, that's about it. It's great to know you're not alone. An army of one? Hardly!

An FDA advisory panel agreed Dendreon Corp.'s Provenge is safe and effective for treating advanced prostate cancer. If approved by the FDA, Provenge would be the first therapeutic cancer vaccine. (Usually advisory panel approval results in FDA approval.) Ralph

Try what Pete suggests and if you still aren't satisfied, either a state VSO or the VA's IRIS email system - https://iris.va.gov/ - should get you good info. I also don't think you have a reduced rating problem. Ralph

The idea that TDIU isn't for over-65 veterans is ludicrous. Given the years it takes to get to a reasonable compensation level, during which a lot of veterans can't work, means there is NO retirement, or greatly reduced pensions. It took me from 1992 to 2007 to get to 100%. I spent over $100K of my retirement savings to support my family while I waited to get adequate compensation. Thus, no meaningful retirement. I think a majority of vets have similar stories. ;) Ralph

Tbird, the whole site looks very professional. Seems easy to use and I really like it! Ralph

Thanks, Berta. Veronica and I are taking daughter Maria and her kids to New York to see son Ferdinand and his daughter. Sort of a family reunion. Then we're going up to Nevada and buy a place East of Carson City and see how it is to have a life! Then, it's back to making war. Veronica was adamant that I owe it to our brothers and sisters. I'm not that good, but I'm glad she thinks so! ;) Love and blessings to all, Ralph

Thanks, Berta. Veronica and I are taking daughter Maria and her kids to New York to see son Ferdinand and his daughter. Sort of a family reunion. Then we're going up to Nevada and buy a place East of Carson City and see how it is to have a life! Then, it's back to making war. Veronica was adamant that I owe it to our brothers and sisters. I'm not that good, but I'm glad she thinks so! ;) Love and blessings to all, Ralph

He'd told me this a few days before I got the DRO decision letter. Actually, he said "SIT DOWN" first. It seemed so bizarre after 15 years that I just wasn't sure. But the letter confirmed what he told me! Even though he'd never lied before, it still blew my mind! Ralph

Jim, Congratulations on perservering until you won! Put out all lines, sailor, you're home. Now, take care of yourself so you can enjoy the many years to come. Ralph

Billy, A diagnosis of MDD can be from a mild head injury: "Neurol Clin. 1992 Nov ;10:815-47 1435659 [Cited: 2] The postconcussion syndrome and the sequelae of mild head injury. [My paper] R W Evans The postconcussion syndrome refers to a large number of symptoms and signs that may occur alone or in combination following usually mild head injury. The most common complaints are headaches, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, loss of consciousness and memory, and noise sensitivity. Mild head injury is a major public health concern because the annual incidence is about 150 per 100,000 population, accounting for 75% or more of all head injuries. The postconcussion syndrome has been recognized for at least the last few hundred years and has been the subject of intense controversy for more than 100 years. The Hollywood head injury myth has been an important contributor to persisting skepticism and might be countered by educational efforts and counter-examples from boxing. The organicity of the postconcussion syndrome has now become well documented. Abnormalities following mild head injury have been reported in neuropathologic, neurophysiologic, neuroimaging, and neuropsychologic studies. There are multiple sequelae of mild head injury, including headaches of multiple types, cranial nerve symptoms and signs, psychologic and somatic complaints, and cognitive impairment. . . . ." Is it possible that your 50% MDD came from the CT scan looking for head injury??? Ralph

Jerry, Doesn't sound logical to me either. Think I'd want a second psyche opinion before I'd be willing to go through shock therapy. Ralph

No check yet, but . . . . . . Here's what the letter says: Medical Description......Old Percentage.....New Percentage.....Effective Date Residuals of thyroidectomy......10%..............100%..........Aug. 28, 2003 for thyroid cancer Sleep Apnea.............................................50%..........Aug 28, 2003 Eligible . . . . under 38 USC Ch.35 This is considered a full grant of benefits sought on appeal and no further action will be taken. WOW! I can't wait for the retro I'll look up your address when the check arrives, T-Bird. God bless all of you and we'll keep fighting! Ralph

Berta, I think you did it again! This is a really intreiguing (sp) idea. I used a forensic physician to write my claim reopening opinion because so much time had elapsed between the in-service event and today's diseases. Forensic as in "CSI", etc. - a lot of TV shows out there are themed on forensics. A forensic specialist can set out a typical disease progress schedule as a medical opinion, detailing the likely progress of a chronic condition. If the importance of the forensic background is clearly explained, the courts should buy it even if the VA doesn't. This provides a reasonable schedule for advancing the disability level during the interim claim period. Ralph

THe Coast Guard (since it's not DoD) allows 100% SC disabled to fly Space A. BUT, it ain't the USAF, doesn't have the A/C inventory and destinations are limited. Besides, Larry, it's bucket seats in a 130. I use Orbitz. Ralph

Scotty, I think this is probably pretty common. I've never had a C &P exam. Treating physicians' progress notes have been used as medical opinions. Ralph

Jesse, My brother lives in Anderson, SC. He called Clemson and was told for you to contact the university to see. Info desk didn't have any explicit info. A bit far away for your boy, but still within reach. Ralph

Spike, Here's an "off the wall" consideration for sinusitis causes: The list of possible medications or substances mentioned in sources as possibe causes of Sinusitis includes: Alprostadil injection Alprostadil pellets Amen Anakinra Aromasin Atomoxetine Atovaquone Avonex Avopro Aygestin Benazepril Hydrochloride Betaseron Caverject injection Caverject pellets Consupren Curretab Cyclosporin Cyclosporine Cycrin Cysporin Depo-Provera Edex injection Edex pellets Enfuvirtide Exemestane Flomax Fuzeon Gengraf Habitrol Infliximab Interferon Beta Irbesartan Karvea Kineret Levitra Lipex Lipitor Loniten tablets Lotensin Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Mepron Minoxidil tablets Muse injection Muse pellets Neoral Nicoderm Nicoderm CQ Nicotine transdermal patch Olopatadine Optivar Patanol ProStep Prostin VR Protopic Provera Rebif Remicade Risperdal Risperdal M-TAB Risperidone Sandimmun Sandimmun Neoral Sandimmune Simvastatin Strattera Tamsulosin Topamax Topamax Sprinkle Topiramate Uroxatral And even the above isn't a complete list! Ralph

Jesse, Without medical insurance, competent treatment may still be possible if you can find a university's school of medicine or non-profit that is conducting studies of ailments like your son has. Haven't researched this myself, but you should be able to find pro bono help in this fashion. Ralph

Cavman. Please go back to the appliaction for disability life insurance and cross=check with your Decision Letter narratives. If you're even close to looking "clean" except for SC disabilities, APPLY!!! I'm a Chartered Life Underwriter and I know the business. Neither you nor I know what will actually "pass muster", so please apply if it looks at all like you MIGHT get approved. Again, the worst you'll wind up with is what you have now - no coverage. But, at least you will have tried. Ralph