DICK HILL

Congratulations. Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Congrats. You should get retro back to 03/2014. It may take a couple months to get the retro. My claim closed on 29 Oct 15 and DFAS said I won't see my retro until sometime in January 2016. Dick Hill

I contacted DFAS again today. Now DFAS is telling me I probably won't receive my retro pay until late January. For some reason DFAS is doing another audit before sending the letter to the VA to tell them to pay my retro. Did not give reason for the additional audit. Everyone have a Merry Christmas and a very prosperous and Happy New Year. Dick Hill

Your military retired ID card has nothing to do with getting VA care. You need a VA identification card. Don't make the mistake of thinking your private medical insurance will take care of everything - one day it may not. Also, the VA can re-evaluate you at any time and if you don't show up for a VA re-evaluation or doctor's appointment then you could loose your disability rating and the cash that comes with it.

I finally got hold of DFAS regarding my CRDP retro today 19 Nov 15. I was told DFAS has finished the audit on 10 Nov 15 and that DFAS would send a letter to the VA between 1 and 5 Dec 15. If DFAS finished the audit on 10 Nov 15, then I am wondering why DFAS is waiting until 1 Dec 15 to send the letter to the VA telling them to go ahead and pay my retro money. Any thoughts from anyone? Dick Hill

Would anyone happen to know what I should do to obtain a copy of the C&P exam done on me on 28 Apr 15 by the VA Contractor LHI? Would appreciate hearing from someone on this matter Thanks Dick Hill

No Gastone haven't seen the retro yet. I intend to call TX Vet Commission Rep in Houston tomorrow and ask her to check the status. Dick Hill

Thanks Navy04 and Vync. Have a great weekend.

I haven't been able to find anything on it here in Texas. Must be just an IL thing.

I was on EBenefits this morning and it shows my final total rating to be 80 percent. They awarded 30% for the deferred Plantar Fascittis Bilateral. They denied the deferred Cervical degenerative arthritis (spondylosis). I have not received the official envelope yet. So I guess my battle will continue depending on what the reason was for denying service connection for the Cervical degenerative arthritis. I just wanted to thank all Hadit members for your advice and tremendous help you provided during my battle with the VA. Have a blessed and very good weekend. Thanks Dick Hill

Very happy for you. Have a great weekend.

The VA has me confused again. Got a reminder on my 27 October 2015 C&P for the two deferred items (Plantar Fascittis increase - although I have already had 2 C&Ps on it) and my deferred Cervical spine issue. What is confusing to me is that the C&P section is saying that the C&P exam will also include by back. That was not a deferred item. In fact they increased my degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine from 10% to 20% and now they call it "degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with spondylosis and intervertebral disc syndrome". They awarded the 20% based on "combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees". Can anyone guess why they are going to examine my back again? Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Dick Hill

I received my letter from the VA today saying my total rating was increased from 50 percent to 70 percent. It says they have withheld money from 1 Nov 2014 and from 1 Dec 2014, and says I will get a retired pay adjustment from $836.13 to $1,334.71 starting 1 Oct 2015. The letter also says the VA has deferred 2 items of my claim for either "pending examiner clarification" or "pending VA examination". The letter does not address retro pay at all. I read a post on this site dated 5 Feb 11 where someone said if the VA defers any contentions that you won't receive a retro check for your claim until the deferred contentions have been rated. Does anyone know, if in fact, that statement is true. Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Dick Hill

I just noticed that the summary of benefits letter and current benefits paid letter both reflect my combined rating at 70 percent, but the effective date is shown as 1 October 2015. Shouldn't the effective date be the date that VA received my claim (20 October 2014)? I am assuming I should get retro pay back to 20 October 2014. Is that correct? Dick Hill

Last week I posted that I had been scheduled for a duplicate C&P examination later this month for some items that LHI had already done back in April 2015. I was on Ebenefits last night and it showed “gathering evidence and said Decision Letter Sent. I then went into “Disabilities” and it showed my disability rating had changed from 50% to 70%. (GREAT NEWS). Also the summary of benefits letter has been updated to reflect my 70% rating effective 1 October 2015. And current benefit paid letter reflects combined evaluation at 70% and benefit amount $1,334.71 effective 1 October 2015. I looked at the “Rated Disabilities” and the “Pending Disabilities”. See them below: I have not yet received any back pay and I have not yet received anything in the mail. I have several questions below. Following was taken from Ebenefits on 5 Oct 15: Rated Disabilities Disability Rating Decision Related Effective Date cervical condition Deferred pes planus, bilateral Not Service Connected hearing loss, bilateral 30% Service Connected 09/14/2010 cardiac arrythmia manifested by frequent premature atrial complexes with normal conduction 10% Service Connected 12/01/1988 minimal fullness of the hemorrhoidal plexus 0% Service Connected 12/01/1988 plantar fasciitis, bilateral 0% Service Connected 12/01/1988 headaches, atypical migraine type by history 0% Service Connected 12/01/1988 hypertension Not Service Connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with spondylosis and intervertebral disc syndrome 20% Service Connected 10/20/2014 ?? osteoarthritis, left hip 10% Service Connected 10/20/2014 ?? osteoarthiritis, right hip 10% Service Connected 10/20/2014 ?? radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic nerve 10% Service Connected 10/20/2014 tinnitus 10% Service Connected 09/14/2010 Pending Disabilities Disability Submitted Type Actions Degenerative Arthritis (pain In Thoracic Region And Low Back With Minimal Ostephyte Formation On Thoracic And Lumbar Vertebral Bodies 10/20/2014 INC Pes Plantus (bilateral) Secondary To Plantar Fasciitis SEC 10/20/2014 Plantar Faciitis 10/20/2014 INC 10/20/2014 ?? Hip Osteoarthritis Secondary To Degenerative Arthritis SEC 10/20/2014 ?? Lumbar Stenosis With Right Forminal Stenos Secondary To Degenerative Arthritis 10/20/2014 SEC ?? Displacement Of Cervical Intervertebral Disc Without Myelopathy Secondary To Degenerative Arthritis SEC 10/20/2014 ?? Lumbosacral Sponylosis Without Myelopathy Secondary To Degenerative Arthritis 10/20/2014 SEC ?? Cervical Spondylosis Witouth Myelopathy Secondary To Degenerative Arthritis 10/20/2014 SEC ?? Lumbosacral Radicultits (right Sciatica) Secondary To Degenerative Arthritis 10/20/2014 SEC ?? Degeneration Of Lumbosacral Intervertebral Disc Secondary To Degenerative Arthritis 10/20/2014 SEC ?? Spinal Stenosis In Cervical Regions Secondary To Degenerative Arthritis 10/20/2014 SEC My questions are: - It says cervical condition deferred. Does that mean it needs another C&P examination before it can be rated? - Does anyone know why the question (??) marks are beside the disabilities in both the rated and pending disabilities area? - I was service connected on 1 Dec 88 at 10% for Degenerative Arthritis (pain In Thoracic Region And Low Back With Minimal Ostephyte Formation On Thoracic And Lumbar Vertebral Bodies. This disability is no longer shown in Rated Disabilities. The rating is 26 years old. I thought after 20 years, a rating was protected and could not be taken away and could only be increased. Requesting an increase was a part of my current claim. Also, I was service connected on 1 Dec 88 at 0% for Plantar Fascittis. This disability is no longer reflected in the Rated Disabilities. Requesting an increase was a part of my current claim. - Although Degenerative Arthritis (pain In Thoracic Region And Low Back With Minimal Ostephyte Formation On Thoracic And Lumbar Vertebral Bodies and Plantar Fascittis no longer appear in the rated disabilities area and it does not say they have been deferred, can I assume that they will eventually be rated or have I lost the ratings? Anyone’s thoughts on this will be greatly appreciated. Dick Hill Below is what my current claim was submitted for: Disabilities Claimed: DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS (pain in thoracic region and low back with minimal ostephyte formation on thoracic and lumbar vertebral bodies (Increase), PLANTAR FACIITIS (Increase), PES PLANTUS (BILATERAL) SECONDARY TO PLANTAR FASCIITIS (Secondary), HIP OSTEOARTHRITIS SECONDARY TO DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS (Secondary), LUMBOSACRAL RADICULTITS (RIGHT SCIATICA) SECONDARY TO DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS (Secondary), LUMBAR STENOSIS WITH RIGHT FORMINAL STENOS SECONDARY TO DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS (Secondary), LUMBOSACRAL SPONYLOSIS WITHOUT MYELOPATHY SECONDARY TO DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS (Secondary), DEGENERATION OF LUMBOSACRAL INTERVERTEBRAL DISC SECONDARY TO DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS (Secondary), CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS WITOUTH MYELOPATHY SECONDARY TO DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS (Secondary), DISPLACEMENT OF CERVICAL INTERVERTEBRAL DISC WITHOUT MYELOPATHY SECONDARY TO DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS (Secondary), SPINAL STENOSIS IN CERVICAL REGIONS SECONDARY TO DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS (Secondary). - -

The VA is really getting me confused. My claim finally got back to the "Prep for Decision" phase on 3 Sep 15. Now yesterday it went back to the "Gathering Evidence" phase and today 29 Sep 15, I received a call from the Frank Tejeda C&P clinic scheduling me for another C&P examination for my Cervical Spine, low back, and feet. Last April 28th the LHI contractor gave me a C&P for Cervical Spine, Throco-Lumbar Spine, feet, hips, thighs, and right sciatic nerve. My question is: Can anyone guess as to why I am being scheduled for another C&P from the VA clinic when it has already been done by the VA contractor LHI. Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Dick Hill

E-Benefits access problem the last couple days. When I try to access EBenefits, I keep getting the following message. An unexpected application error was encountered. We apologize for any inconvenience. An unexpected application error was encountered. We apologize for any inconvenience. Then I back out and try again and I get the following: Once I am here, I don't know what else to do to access E-Benefits. Anybody else having this problem? Anyone have any ideals on what I need to do. Will appreciate all advice. Dick Hill Welcome Richard Hill You are currently logged on with: DS Logon DS Logon Account Level: Premium Manage DS Logon Account Change Password Change My DS LOGON Username Manage Challenge Questions Deactivate My Account Manage Security Image none-selected.png Relationships This allows you to view and, if applicable, update Family Member account access. Manage Relationships Contact Information This section displays your address and email currently stored in DEERS. Update Contact Information Richard's Event History Date

The VA is beginning to confuse the heck out of me. On 17 Jul 15, I received a letter from the evidence intake center saying I indicated that I had received medical treatment from 4 different doctors and telling me to resign some VA Form 21-4142 because they had expired. On 21 July 2015, I resigned them and sent them back to the evidence intake center. I told the VA the forms are not necessary because I had submitted all relevant medical treatment records (EXCEPT VA TREATMENT RECORDS) as enclosures to my original claim letter dated 10 October 2014. On 21 July 2015, I also resent all treatment records (EXCEPT VA TREATMENT RECORDS) and referenced page numbers in my myhealthevet medical records where to find the VA treatment records. Now today (7 Aug 15) I received a letter from the Private Medical Records Retrieval Center in Virginia Beach VA saying they had sent requests to the doctors who have treated me and that I should contact those doctors and tell them that the treatment records must be at the VA by 21 August 2015. I have sent all treatment records to the VA twice now (Oct 14 and July 15. Can someone tell me what else I can do short of flying to Houston and grabbing some nuts, to get the VA's attention telling them there are NO MORE treatment records? All assistance will be greatly appreciated Dick Hill.

Elder, thanks for your response - the benefits I am seeking are increase for Plantar Fasciitis currently rated at 0 percent and increase for degenerative arthritis of lumbar and thoracic spines currently rated at 10 percent. All C&P exams were completed in April 2015 Dick Hill .

Today 6 Jul 15, I called the Houston number and was told my claim is in something called "deferred status". Been in this status since 3 Jun 15. I was thinking maybe they want something else from me, but I have not received anything in mail and nothing shows up on Ebennies requesting anything from me. Anyone know what this status might mean? Will appreciate your thoughts. Dick Hill

Today 6 Jul 15, I called the Houston number and was told my claim is in deferred status. Anyone know what this status might mean? Will appreciate your thoughts. Dick Hill

Today, I was reviewing my VA health records. There was an entry that said the following: Compensation and Pension Examination Completed Report: Results uploaded to national sharepoint on 26 May 2015. Does anyone know what "national sharepoint" is? Is this something a veteran can access? And, if so, how do I access it? As always - appreciate your response. Dick Hill

I tried getting on EBenefits this morning and after I got to the home page I kept getting an error notice every time I tried to access claim status. I called my local Texas Vet Commission Rep who gave me a number direct to the Texas Vet Commission at the VA in Houston. I called the number and was told that my claim was sent to the Board for final decision this morning. I am beginning to think that EBenefits is as worthless as most of the so called leaders in Washington D.C. For all the vets in Texas who are represented by the Texas Vet Commission, their number in Houston is 1-713-383-2756 Option 1. Thanks to everyone who responded to my post. Have a great weekend. Dick Hill

Rootbeer22 Thanks for your response. I have a call into the Texas Vet Commission Rep to see if they can find out what is going on. Again, thanks. Dick Hill

Yesterday I reported that my claim status had finally gone to the Preparation for Decision Phase. I was on Ebenefits again this morning (28 May 15) and the status has gone from Preparation for Decision back to Gathering Evidence and the estimated completion date went from August 2016 to March 2016. Then all of a sudden before my eyes the estimated completion date went from March 2016 to December 2016. I am beginning to think those jack rabbits at VA are trying to screw (pardon my French) with my mind. Also I brought up the pending disabilities page and it has a question mark after each pending disability. Can anybody guess what might be going on. Thanks Dick Hill