ArNG11

I have sleep problems and falling asleep is one sometimes . My provider said one thing to try to do is shift your thoughts to something easier to handle. Try thinking of 5 things to see, 4 things to hear, 3 things to feel, 2 things to smell, and 1 thing I can taste. You repeat if you get thru it without going back to sleep. If you continue the practice, it is an easy substitute for you mind to relax to and it may work. There are similar mind games you can find and try. Just pick one and stick with it for a while. Gotta try something, right?

I will try that. Good suggestion.  Last night I had some CBD and some Xanax but I will definitely try this approach.  

So I tried this approach and it helped.  A bit more complicated than counting sheep but the approach works very well.  GB thanks for the tip. Hope you are well.  Sorry I took so long to reply but I have tried it several times since then and it works like a charm.  I was impressed.  It is an efficient way to diffuse and calm your mind. Thanks again

May the Hammer of Justice rule the day!

Good luck!

Man I hope so.  The hearing went well, but that doesn't mean anything until I see it in black and white.  The Board has had the information before and all it got me was a remand for the VA Regional Office to lie some more.  They discounted my evidence and did not service connect my claims before.  But heh maybe the face to face brings up reasonable doubt this time to award me.  Doubt it, I may have to pay for another IME since they are discounting my personal physicians.  This is all a big circus.   I am with you, I hope the hammer of justice does fall in my favor.

You'll be fine. You have been working this for many months if not years. Read over your claim and practice on the points you want to point out.

Good luck to you.

Thanks GBArmy.  I just wish I could sleep and be rested but alas it is what it is.  I have been and will work on my points.  It is all I can do at this point.  Never Give up !  

Welcome Back ArNG11

good to see you on hadit   where the heck you been buddy?

Did you get all your claims approved? I was wondering what happen to you??.

yeah this covid has things all in a turmoil  I just stay home and only get out when I absolutely have to  and do social distancing   wear my mask wash my hands more and more  and just hope for the best.

Anywayz  Welcome Back.

Been living in Oregon, medicating with natural meds, reading about all the chaos and laughing at the VA and all their games. Kind of fell of the social grid a bit.  Dementia, never filed for that, but after the BVA seems  the VA took it upon themselves to add this to my claims.  Shennanagans trying to setup to discredit my testimony is my guess. Same old same old.

Wow.  I tend to do the same and stay home that is, only go out when I need to pick up the wife, food runs, same old stuff or when I get bored which is a lot.

With the claims I think I have the hips locked in, got to get some new ratings on the thyroid applied, and revisit some others but almost done.  I'll stop when Im total and permanent, with housebound. File for higher SMC when the time comes hoping not to get that bad but you know the drill.

It's nice to chat with people who remember you, this lockdown crap, has made me bitter and lonesome.  It blows.  How have you been? Always busy in the forums I see.  Thats great, Vets will always need help fighting.

BVA Hearing seemed to have gone well. At least for the higher thyroid ratings of 30%, hips I made my case but I didn't  get a real definite answer.  I mentioned the two favorable IMEs for the hips but this is a crazy circus as you well know. GERD is going to be another hearing I imagine.  with the regulation change I should eventually get 30% for GERD without myxedema. Now the waiting game and if all goes well the long wait for the regional office to implement the awards.  

Heh Buck sorry for the time in between.  It has taken me  a while to adjust and that is just to say that I can take the wife to work and barely with errors get home.

The scenery is so beautiful, I love the colors, trees, and although this is raining season here the weather.  It so beats Oklahoma.  Other than family and familiarity I won't miss OK much. 

Man I feel so how should we say "fish out of water " feeling. Definitely a change of pace.

Lived in Portland for ten years and loved it.  The rainy season is January until December.

yeah you were not kidding, but it has gotten better in the mid months

How you been Mr A   good to see you on hadit .

hope your claim is moving along?

I haven't been too great mentally but hanging in there otherwise.  Things with my claims should be good although I believe I might have screwed the pooch on one the timelines for my last Form 9.  The VA took over a year to provide me a copy of the last decision a year a go.  I did send in the NOD and I did send in a Form 9 however. I didn't know the date of the last effective decision so I wrote one up stating that I was contesting the last decision.  

It boils down to the effective date of my neck claim.  It should have the same effective date as my back since SMR's and the LOD for the back and the LOD for neck were all in my records in the hands of the VA at the time of my initial claim. Then the rest of my contentions I've rested on the medical evidence and independent medical opinions.

It looks like I may have 3 separate dockets dates but I am still not for certain on that since I can't get a complete answer from the VA via IRIS or helpline.

I've received the 90 day letter from the BVA for evidence before the Board issues a decision in my appeal. So everything is moving smoothly to my knowledge.

Keeping this all together is so taxing.  DOL, Social Security , OPM retirement, and Veterans benefits.   In all these years, and mind you, I haven't been at it as much as most on here on had it,  with my conditions, specifically the mental, which relies heavily on for recollection of events in my claims, I'm screwed.  Most days I can't tell you what day of the week it is, or what I had for breakfast that day,  if I remember at all, it is only after some big hints and recaps from my family that I can piece together whats going on.  Which lends to even more problems for  an already paranoid person, it sucks.  But I try to get by, try being the operative word.

In any case didn't mean to write a novel.  I was just excited to hear from folks I consider friends on here.How have things been on your front?

Amen Brother!

Hey Mr A

Good to see you buddy, hope your doing ok?

So so, been contemplating the two fusion surgeries I have been trying to avoid on my hands.  Most days have been a blur for me with meds. Things could be worse though.  

I won my SS case which was a plus.  Not sure if I had posted or rather talked about it much other than saying I got approved finally by the Judge.  Man it feels so good of sorts when you are vindicated that way.  Now the icing on the cake will be the VA caving in to what I am entitled to.

Buck how about you ?