indyman

I would suggest you get copies of C&P exams through ROI. The questions on mine done in Jan 2013 were very to the point questions. Does the veteran have DMII? Does the veteran have lower extremeties PN? It was very basic stuff. My NP was very good. She was friendly, but business like. She told me mine would be 30 to 90 days, but not to hold her to that. She further advised that backlog at the Indy RO is long. IT IS LONG. They have more than 18,000 claims with a over 125 days processing time on more than 14,000. My claim info was mailed to Augusta ME who developed it, then sent it all back to Indy to merry up with the C&P exam. Like the other posts, now the difficult time starts which is Wait, Wait, and Wait more. Wish you luck. From what I read it looks like you had good examiners.

I have read and also been told by the VA themselves, it is very hard to reduce on many ailments and injuries. For example, on Diebetes Type II, agent orange exposure and lower PN. Once you are diagnosed with DM II, you carry that diagnosis for rest of your time no matter what the improvement. Say you take oral meds for the DMII, and go by the diet you need to follow. You may come off the meds for a while and could always go back on them. Or HBP and go up and down and the meds you are taking suddenly quit working. So, you have to start using other meds. On broken bones I don't see how they can take the residual factor away. Once something is broken, it will show up on the X Rays. I don't think the VA likes to go there. Besides, in one of the other posts, they are far enough behind already.

That is real good information that you posted. And a bad hit on the VA. I don't like it when the clinics ask for your personal information in the waiting rooms, or in blood draw. Why not just ask for ID? Most of us have the VA card with the scan bar. Remember when one employee lost a lap top with many vet records in the data base. Then when they recovered it, right off the bat they said the information was not shared or had been compromised. Oh really? Makes you wonder doesn't it?

That was a very informative TL on IU. I noticed that when you file for IU and you have documentation of a worsened SC it improves your chances a lot. That's reading between the lines though. My concern on my IU claim is what if the rater doesn't notice the worsened disability. From reading on this website I think I would file an NOD, and a 21-526ez with evidence of the worsened disability. Is that possible?

Way to go. Happy for you. How long did it take.

I never got the call, but did get the letter. I did the same thing. I sent it in June 12, and got ten more percent in August 12. I think its a back door attempt at calling your bluff and hoping you will not sent it back, then they wait 30 days and write it off, even though you have a whole year to send in the info. But you will have to start over. You did right in my opinion.

I got one in the mail too. Tore it up, and threw everything away. I found many of the ?????'s to be quite personal and intrusive. There was no good intent in any of that survey. Stupid is stupid does.

I have applied for CA. I have two sets of afo's, one pr is hinged for easier driving, and the other pr is fixed. I wear the fixed ones in the house. They stop just under the knees.

Chuck 75. Ditto.

My hats off to you Megh. When I called the SSA today I told them all medical treatment for both service connected and non service connected were done by the VA. He seemed releived, and I have a tentative appointment arranged for late March. The way it was explained to me, the SSA will obtain the medical info needed from the VA, and then I take the physical I guess. I have completed my C&P and its on its 34 day. I have heard 30-90 days after C&P. I had several issues that arose during C&P, ie foot drop, worsened bi lateral lower PN, and moderal upper PN. Its nice to see a VSO who is a volunteer and is there to help the veteran, and not there to collect a pay check. The only time I hear from my SO, is a donation. Yes, I am a little bitter. I have gone through more VSO's than my afo's have gone through pants. Thanks for the info, I may reconsider and delay my SSDI appt.

This is interesting to me, since I have bilateral foot drop diagnosed in 2012 in Neurogy. Is it in Title 38? If so, can you advise. I read about the loss of use, but I must have missed the rating schedule on it. I have been afo's for quite a while now, and I believe it is secondary to my worsening PN. Doc made me walk up and down the hallway, and she then noticed it. It has not helped that much so far. As for your question, I have two sets of afo's. One set is hinged and allows the foot a little more freedom. Makes it easier to drive. The second set I wear around the house or out in the yard. Some people ask if I have polio. Anyway. good luck Smanginator.

If you are prescribed leg braces or (afo's) for foot drop associated with worsening bi lateral PN, and this is submitted with IU claim, would an warrant an increase?

Since joining this site I have learned so much and I thank you all for that. I have an IU claim that I was told has gone to the rating board. During my C&P exam the NP noted that my lower PN has worsened. She rated it as moderately severe from the mild category. And this was bi lateral. I am 10% bi lateral PN (lower) now. She also noted my carpal tunnal syndrome had worsened in my upper extremeties, and I more likely than not have an underlying overlay of PN at the moderate level. My question is: Since I do not think the IU will be awarded and I do not think they will increase my upper and lower bi lateral PN, since it came from a NP during a C&P should I file for an increase using the 21-526b, and refer to the C&P exam or wait until the decision is made. Also, since the C&P exam I have been diagnosed with osteoporsis. I am really at a loss on what to do with that. It was done at the VA. Is there any link between osteoporosis and PN. Also during the C&P exam the NP noted I now wear leg braces to walk (afo's) due to foot drop and worsening PN. Any input would help. I am chomping at the bitt to file the 21-526b but do not want to mess up the IU claim. Thanks folks. I meant what I said, you all are a ton of help.

Plummer, you hit it right. The VA foot drags more than my foot drop. Its pure and simple, guard the coffers and then get the bonus. How could they even justify a bonus when they are one million claims in the red. They hire, train and party. Look at all the scandals with the GAO, VA, BATF, its horrible. I have given up on my VSO. When I call her, I feel I am bothering her. And sometimes I think I know more than she does. I have started my SSDI claim and hopefully something will happen on that. I should have started the SSDI claim first, then went for IU. I just have a bad feeling on this one.

I hope he feels OK. That is a rough procedure to go through. My wife laughed out loud.

You are correct. The first part of the bills was to make it automatic raise for the disabled vets and DIC receivers. But, if the think about it, its automatic anyway. The second half of the bills would be the part about rounding down. I read them, and they don't have much strength or popularity. I can not understand how a veteran getting SC at 50% and on social security is rounded down on one COLA and rounded up on the other. Its stupid.

I just read on standup4vets.org a politican has introduced a bill to "round down" on our compensation and/or DIC payments when the yearly quota is figured each year. He proposed it would save millions we are paying to our veterans. So there you have it folks, guarding the coffers once again. Supposedly the DAV is on top of this and opposing it. Read it at standup4vets.org.

I honestly feel the secretary of the VA is operating under orders of the president. The president on many occassions has stated publicly that he was determined to clean up the VA and its backlog of claims. The person who he appointed to do this, is not coming through in the pinch. There is no accountability. The backlog of claims is over one million strong and growing more. It is a shame when a veteran applies for an SC disability, goes through all the hoops, blows all the whistles, takes all the exams, follows all the instructions and is still waiting two years later. The same vet files for SSDI and has it in six months. I will not give up, and I have told my family when I go, do not give up on anything. I have said this many times, and I will say it again. This backlog is a complete, intentional, way of PROTECTING & GUARDING THE COFFERS. The second part of the mission is to completly frustrate the veterans into GIVING UP, and moving on. And the VA hoping the veterans will die before they have to address the claim. I know this has happened in Mid 2001 when veterans 70 and over had their claim files placed on the bottom in hopes they would pass away before the claim was worked. A whistle blower brought it to the surface, and then retired.

That is very good info to hang on to. I looked at one of my past ratings and I identified where the VA overlooked the benefit of a doubt. I bookmarked that info and if denied on my TDIU, or no increase, I can start my appeal using those exact pages. I am positive my DAV VSO knows nothing of this. The reason I say that is because I was just recently diagnosed with Osteoporosis at the VA medical center in Indianapolis, and I called my VSO and told her about it, and should I send it to her. She said no, it would not have any effect on my TDIU claim. Really? After reading this info, I think maybe I should have sent it directly to the VA. Any suggestions? That was an excellent read.

I had to send in 4 21-674's because they kept "misplacing them" when I think they were practicing their jump shots at the trash can with them. I went by the instructions and sent them when I was supposed to and they went certified, and I still experienced a delay. And if you have twins starting college, one will get it and the other not. The RO just can not handle twins well at all. They presume you are out to pull a fast one.

I got my exam results with totaled 84 pages. Comments on sedentary were a bit inconclusive in the way it was stated. But the final statement advised that due to my worsening upper PN and carpal tunnel sedentary (even selective) was not possible. The PN I think may have just been ending the whole day (which was actually about 5 hrs) with a positve view. And when I got my 70 % there was no statement in my rating that stated why or why not I was not considered TDIU. The who award was only about 2 pages, and a statement they had revised thier procedures in preparing award letters, but the review was done the same way.

After I completed my C&P exam, the NP advised me I would have a decision in 30 to 60 days on TDIU claim. From joining this very informative web, I have found out that an increase may be awarded and the TDIU denied. If so, I will file an NOD. My question: Is that good or bad to receive a statement of that kind from a NP. Was it lip service, or just a way to end an exam on a positive note? I do not know. This is the first C&P exam I ever had that when I walked out of that room I had no idea if it was good or bad. The NP was professional but very secretive. The NP was precise and positive in one area and totally negative in another. I was in a complete fog. On my other C&P exams I knew when I walked out that I had it or not. I am pretty good at figuring people out, but this one has me. Anybody out there had any experience with this? Or, am I in the same place as everyone else.

I expect the same thing on mine. The NP I had put in two places I could work a sedentary position, then put I could not work either due to upper extremities PN. I think I will follow under the shadow of a doubt rule, but I do not know at this point. I have had some of my SC conditions for over 25 years, and every time I try for an increase on something the VA knows they can not touch the 25 yr SCs, so they just denie the newer increase requests. You need to get an IMO, and a strong one. Maybe one that says the other examiner was mistaken. And you have SSDI as well. I am using that as a back up on Monday. But I may get hammered by the 5 yr thing that Cpt Contaminate brought up. My last full time job was 2008. I have had two part time jobs only in 2010 and 2011, and did not make a lot of money. So, I will call SSA on Monday and get the scoop or lied to. You need to focus, find a solution, get help and assistance (and I do not mean a VSO), get a lawyer. FIGHT FIGHT and FIGHT some more. A little secret here and I may be shooting myself in the top of the foot. I was in LE for many years. I retired from it, and started working as a VSR at the Indpls RO. I lasted only 8 months, and returned to a small PD and worked for 5 yrs. The PN and DMII got pretty intense and I walked away. During that 8 months I saw some pretty cruel things, and heartless acts in order they PROTECT the COFFERS. You have an uphill climb, but it can be done. Best of luck to ya. Indyman. P.S. I hope nobody holds those horrible 8 months against me. You would not believe what I saw and heard.

I know what a nexus is. But what kind of letter are you referring to. Where do I get it, and from who. All my medical needs are at the VA, and they could not pass on information about themselves.

During my last visit with my regular doctor at the VA she ask me how I was feeling, and I told her my feet, legs and hands had worsened. She looked at my blood tests and renewed some meds, then told me I was done. The whole thing lasted 3 minutes, and I waited an hour in the waiting room. Five minutes later when I was walking out, I saw my doctor walking out of the canteen with a plate full of chicken and fries, went into a room or office and that was my total time. Remember when we returned from Vietnam the VA hospitals turned their backs on us? I am starting to see that again, or maybe its been going on and I missed it.