PfcBrink65th

They were in the initial claim as secondary to awarded SC TBI.( the residuals listed on the award letter were balance and memory, that was never diagnosed or even mentioned in C an P exam or by/to neurologist) The award letter says epilepsy was less likely than not a result of TBI because TBI was only moderate. I filed the claim for epilepsy as secondary in 2010 after being diagnosed and medicated by VA for seizures since 2004. The seizures got so frequent and meds were changed around between dilantin and depakote back and forth that after having a seizure in the VAMC. I was reported by neurologist to DMV and ordered not to drive for 3 years. Thats when I finally put in to add Epilepsy as secondary. SC TBI 30% was awarded by the Army during Retirement board when I was retired from active duty. When I filed with VA to add epilepsy the 30% was reduced to 20% I recieved a 100 dollar amonth pay cut, however I began recieving the 100 differance from DFAS (defense finance accounting service) who disagreed with the percentage redcuction. I now recieve 251.00 a month from VA and 100.00 from DFAS. The seizure I had in the VAMC was recorded during a sleep deprived EEG in which flashing lights were used to induce a seizure. The Record states " general epileptiform activity present" Dr Brenner St Louis VAMC 2004. I have appealed the decision made by VARO and it has been being processed for 2 years as of january this year

She is young, The issue that got OIG interested was that discontinuing medications and treatment was a patient safety issue. It took several months to get congressman Wilsons office involved, hell I even recieved a letter from the white house 5 months ago saying they would "contact and inquire with apropriate agencies" ......that went nowhere...lol. UPDATE....Contacted Charleston VAMC yesterday....gave referal from OIG....My neurology appts. and SEizure medications will be dispensed from the Beufort SC VA clinic that is 30 minutes away. Congressman Wilsons' office has also requested my claim to be expedited Thank You Berta

Called the OIG hotline they are contacting the Charleston VAMC to find out why my appts and meds havent been made or sent and ordering them to continue them after they looked up my VA file number to confirm they were stopped in april of 2012. It showed in the system a transfer request to SC but after that nothing. thank you. What do I tell the media relations office?? Not worried about confirmation as Congressman Wilsons office, The OIG, and my Attorney have already done so. Do I tell the media relations that the info is in regards to a media release. I have considered contacting the media. In regards to my attorney I spoke with her today also, I'm kinda PO'ed she waited almost 5 months after requesting to get my c-file before doing the Administrative appeal. She told me when I hired her she would get results faster than the 2 years The VA told me it would take to add the epilepsy as secondary to the already awarded SC TBI. It was found and diagnosed and treated by the VA neurologists as a direct result of a TBI. The new mandates will make that automatic though so all I need is to get it expedited. Its amazing how much time you have to sit on the phone all day when you get a medical hold (seizures) on your license...lol

My attorney is Ashley Crouch in greenville SC. My last name is Brinkley. I was recieving my care direct from VAMC 100% covered, yes I am Medically retired from active duty SC 20% TBI. Before I moved to South Carolina I only lived 8 miles from the Alburqurque VAMC in NM. Now I am 2 hours from the Charleston VAMC and after going 3 time to enroll and find out why I'm not recieving appts. or medications I was told all my records and C-file were in Alburqurque VARO. NM VARO will not transfer records or C-file until claim is resolved or withdrawn. Attorney has also had to file an admin apeall after requesting a copy of my C-file 6 months ago and only recieved a letter of confirmation of power of attorney, which was previously handled by DAV. DAV did however send a copy at my request to my attorney after I told them what was going on. Went to OIG website only found mailing address looking for email address.

did that all ready in april, med records were sent back to New Mexico VARO, South Carolina does not want to take over my care or claim until it has been resolved. I asked the same question and said the same thing you did. I was told to withdrawl my claim in NM and file new claim in SC and records and C-file will be sent.

Many people will say this isn't possible, but I can honestly say yes due to the fact I had to move to anouther state and my records are still in possesion of the state processing my claim, even after enrolling in the new states VAMC system. I have been prescribed dilantin and depakote for seizures and resulting mood disorders for 8 years since diagnosis on EEG.I have a SC TBI awarded, and have severe epilepsy and psychiatric disorder diagnosed as a result by the VA. My claim is still being processed (3yrs so far) to have the Epilepsy added. The neurologist at the VAMC have diagnosed the seizures as a result after abnormal MRI. The VARO has ruled the Psychiatric disorder as secondary to epilepsy but ruled the epilepsy was not a result of the SC TBI I was retired for. The VA has reported me to DMV and I have lost driving privledges, after multiple injuries,concussions and requiring stitches from seizures. I appealed through DAV but they aren't effective. Contacted Congressmen and sent copy of records all they did was send letter of inquirery. Hired an attorney but since she gets paid on % of back pay she is content to drag it out as long as possible. I'm not worried so much about the claim anymore I just want Medication and therapy recontinued for now. Is their someone else I can contact? OIG? will the OIG even help or do they even bother, patient advocates have said the New VAMC here needs records to prescibe meds and appts. Had to relocate because severe financial loss due to loss of driving privledges and my new state VARO sent c-file back to prior state until it has been processed, and said they don't want to process here as I will recieve 3-4 yrs back pay, new VAMC has enrolled me but denied medication until my records are sent back, its been 11 months with no seizure meds and enrollment in tricare is waiting to recieve C-file. I also filed for general unemployability but VA says they aren't going to process that until my appeal is processed. I called the prior state of residence and told them I am not recieving meds because my new state is waiting for them to process and resend my C-file. They told me to withdrawl my original 3-4 yr old claim and file new one in SC and they will send records and my care resumed. Attorney says that will forfiet back pay. How do I get treatment resumed and who do I contact?Who do you contact if you have a SC TBI awarded, and have severe epilepsy and your claim is still being processed (3yrs so far) to speed up getting the Epilepsy added. The neurologist at the VAMC have diagnosed the seizures as a result after abnormal MRI. The VA has reported me to DMV and I have lost driving privledges, appealed through DAV but they aren't effective. Contacted Congressmen and sent copy of records all they did was send letter of inquirery. Hired an attorney but since she gets paid on % of back pay she is content to drag it out as long as possible. Is their someone else? OIG? will the OIG even help or do they even bother. Had to relocate because severe financial loss due to loss of driving privledges and my new state VARO sent c-file back to prior state until it has been processed, and said they don't want to process here as I will recieve 3-4 yrs back pay, new VAMC has enrolled me but denied medication until my records are sent back, its been 11 months with no seizure meds and enrollment in tricare is waiting to recieve C-file. I also filed for general unemployability but VA says they aren't going to process that until my appeal is processed. I called the prior state of residence and told them I am not recieving meds because my new state is waiting for them to process and resend my C-file. They told me to withdrawl my original 3-4 yr old claim and file new one in SC and they will send records and my care resumed. Attorney says that will forfiet back pay. How do I get treatment resumed and who do I contact?

Who do you contact if you have a SC TBI awarded, and have severe epilepsy and your claim is still being processed (3yrs so far) to speed up getting the Epilepsy added. The neurologist at the VAMC have diagnosed the seizures as a result after abnormal MRI. The VA has reported me to DMV and I have lost driving privledges, appealed through DAV but they aren't effective. Contacted Congressmen and sent copy of records all they did was send letter of inquirery. Hired an attorney but since she gets paid on % of back pay she is content to drag it out as long as possible. Is their someone else? OIG? will the OIG even help or do they even bother. Had to relocate because severe financial loss due to loss of driving privledges and my new state VARO sent c-file back to prior state until it has been processed, and said they don't want to process here as I will recieve 3-4 yrs back pay, new VAMC has enrolled me but denied medication until my records are sent back, its been 11 months with no seizure meds and enrollment in tricare is waiting to recieve C-file. I also filed for general unemployability but VA says they aren't going to process that until my appeal is processed. I called the prior state of residence and told them I am not recieving meds because my new state is waiting for them to process and resend my C-file. They told me to withdrawl my original 3-4 yr old claim and file new one in SC and they will send records and my care resumed. Attorney says that will forfiet back pay. How do I get treatment resumed and who do I contact?

No i do not recieve tri-care and elegibilty is pending availability of my C-file from the state it is being processed in. I served for almost 5 years but began having seizures about two years after the TBI. I guess I need to update my member profile as I am not a seaman or a recruit.

I was medically retired from active duty with service connected TBI with residuals july of 2002seizure th at 30%SC. During my last six months of service I sought and recieved treatment for waking up sore and incontinent. I did not know at the time I was developing epilepsy. In 2003 after a family member witnessed a gran mal seizure I went to the St Louis VAMC and underwent a sleep deprived EEG. I had a seizure on the EEG and it was recorded into my records and was prescribed Dilantin seizure medication. In Feb 2004 I began suffering severe abnormal behavior and was takin back to the VAMC psych ward for two weeks during that time I was medicated with Depicote mood stabilizers but the behavior continued. I was then given an MRI and the results were abnormal showing damage to the Temporal lobe. The behavior was diagnosed as a result of epileptiform activity rather than a psychiatric condition and My seizure medications were changed accordingly. I was then diagnosed with Post Tramatic Seizure Disorder with secondary Mood disorder caused by Petit mal seizures resulting from a Brain injury. I did not file a VA claim at this time because of Pride. I continued recieving medical and psychiatric treatment from the VA however. In Feb 2009 My epilepsy medications started not to work anymore and I began having seizures twice to three times a week. After having a seizure that resulted in a concussion requiring stitches at my job, I was reported by the VAMC to DMV and my driving priveledges were suspended and medication changed. I was also required by my employer to get medical clearance to return to work which the VAMC neurologist refused saying my seizures were too frequent. I then filed a claim with the VA. In 2010 I recieved an award letter saying they were lowering my rating to 0% because my records weren't available at the time of decision and no evidence was present. After contacting the VARO and supplying my personal copy the 0% was wirhdrawn and I recieved a new award letter of 10% 20% lower than from the one givin by the Army. I requested a DOR and the 10% was withdrawn again and I was awarded 20%. I filed an appeall. Because of financial hardships and continued denial of driving privledges because of continued seizure activity and lack of employment I moved in with my parents in SC. I then went to the Charlston VAMC and enrolled and recieved notification that when the RO my previous state of residence sent my records I would recieve treatment again. After my claim and recordsd were sent to the SC VARO and VAMC and was reviewed the SC VARO refused to process my claim because the amount of backpay accrued and my claim and C-file were returned to the VARO in which They had been sent from. After not recieving any appointments or medication from the SC VAMC I contacted the SC VARO to see what was going on. I was told then to contact the VARO who was processing my claim and have my records returned th SC VAMC. I asked isn't my med records in a computer system as I had been told? They answered that South Carolina isn't electronic as of this time and they needed my hard copy C-file. After contacting the VARO who was handling my Claim and had my C-file, I was told to withdrawl my 3 yr old claim and file a new one in my new state of residence and they would send my C-file to SC. It has been nearly 11 months since I have recieved medication or psychiatric care or seen a neurologist due to the claim that they need my records first.

When my claim was referred by my VA doctors and advocates to the Compensation and pension board, the ratings officers have either denied, dismissed, or stalled the doctors claims and test results without even reviewing the records or test results provided by the VA hospital. I am a medically retired veteran who was awarded and diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury resulting in permanent epilepsy and organic severe mood disorder. These Diagnosed conditions were formally made and entered into my permanent records, by 2 VA neurologist, several VA psychologists, and my VA primary care physician. I have since been prescribed a number of several seizure medications and mood stabilizers. I have also experienced seizures on the EEG machine recorded and witnessed on the machine and by staff. I have also spent weeks in a VA psych ward before being diagnosed with Post traumatic Seizure disorder not to be confused with PTSD. Post traumatic SEIZURE disorder is a form of epilepsy only caused by Brain injuries, that also causes severe mood disorders. The VA actually reported my condition to the department of motor vehicles, resulting in the revocation of my driving privileges. However when my claim and records were sent to the review board for Compensation and Pension, It was entered that my records were not available for review, but that yes i have a service connected Traumatic Brain Injury, and was granted a 20% ($251.00 dollars a month) but that my epilepsy and mood disorder couldn't be connected to my TBI because my "Traumatic" Brain Injury that resulted in my official medical military retirement was only a Mild TBI. Somehow this was obvious without even looking in my records because they were not available. This is the exact wording of the entry into my records which they now claim to have found and givin me a copy of containing all this information, but i am required to file an appeal that they say will take 3-4 years. At this time my case has been in review and in process for over two years, In that time they have made and retracted 2 decisions. Once I filed the apeall my appointments and medication has been discontinued by VAMC and I have been told to withdrawl and file a new claim.