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ArNG11

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Everything posted by ArNG11

  1. Well put Hamslice, I think IMO, the parents of this site would be proud. Cheers to them for all they do and have done. About the secondaries, well, what can I say or write, to Rivet 62, completely feasible, Hamslice so eloquently stated, "And yes secondaries can be higher then the primary condition. I have two conditions rated 30 each secondary to a 0% rated service conected condition. So, a zero got me two 30's." it just comes back to the formula. Service medical records, contemporary medical records and an independent medical opinion to tie them together. EVIDENCE is King. My only caveat, is that VA, will actually take the time to read the regulations and law, service connect the issue and rate it accordingly. At times you just have to go a little higher to remind them.
  2. Nah, not in the least, if you can't have open communications with your doctor then what is the point, you are there to work together using their expertise and your experience and outcomes to get the best treatment and best possible results for your conditions. At least that is my view on it.
  3. I was just lucky and fortunate to find this outlet. I hadn't had the experience of knowing or dealing with as many folks that are actually here to help compared to the others that I have heard are nothing more than a pissing contest just to degrade other posters, contributors, and make them feel inferior. Hope I worded that correctly, but I think you understand the point I'm trying to get across. This web site is good stuff, great people, and for an excellent cause. Not trying to knock other forums or anything just stating my opinion.
  4. " Yup you are absolutely correct. Not really smart to bite the hand that feeds you, but things can be done to level the playing field, I think that is a smart way to go about strengthening your claims, and taking care of your health at the same time. You, the Veteran, has to be proactive, it is your health after all, and no one else is going to care more about your well being than yourself, it would be self defeating, if you didn't look out, don't you think? These are just my opinions and two cents but I hope it make folks think.
  5. Rivet the big thing here is going to be to get a medical opinion that relates your neck injury to CSA or OSA not sure, I know they are different forms of sleep apnea, that affect different pathways of the sleep cycle, in any case, VA doctors will sometimes write a nexus but at times it can be like pulling teeth from a sleeping lion. Not to say you shouldn't try, it definitely has its merits. Would it be possible to save a bit for an IME/IMO, if you had both, the VA docs opinion and an independent medical opinion, the VA would have a dandy of a time trying to say no. just my two cents.
  6. So I am a little bummed, I forgot to get my powdery ground coffee for my espresso machine, well the wife's, but I use it daily.  I though we had another can but to my disappointment nope.  That's okay, I had some lemon ginger tea with the local honey and an old school toasted bagel with cream cheese.  Not perfect, but will do just nicely.  

  7. Other than my rants and raves, Mr. Cue you are a contender that is for sure. Wow. I really love this forum and the great folks I have had the pleasure to know, converse, and learn from. I am truly grateful that everyone shares their successes in getting the VA to follow the law. Makes me hope that eventually things will be made right for most and eventually all. Keep fighting we will get there together. Good day at the CAVC, reads more like a Great day, but that is just my two cents.
  8. I was doing some light reading again Bradley vs. Peake and trying to re-digest some that complicated reading but alas, reading it again is putting another type of ringing in my ear, this ringing being good of course, not the annoying tinnitus and possible ear infection I may have from COVID. At times you can be too close to something or in my case obsessed with the letter of the law, that you miss a lot. As a wise man once reminded me give it a K.I.S.S. Keep it simple stupid. Doesn't that come back to bite you in the posterior.
  9. Holy turds, man I remember that in Bitburg, Germany, we had the same problem, They didn't want to issue those muffs, too expensive, so they turned to the uncomfortable yellow disposable plugs. Then the contoured one and if you were lucky could get the molded to your ear kind. It make me chuckle, sad but true, lowest man on the totem pole I was Airman , then Airman First Class, I always had to do FOD walk. Too many times I remember the ZULU F15 going balls to the walls full afterburner and watching those suckers go full vertical at the end of the runway and some times breaking the sound barrier a ways up. Awesome memories not good for the hearing but the most awesome thing that I could watch live as a new member of the armed forces.
  10. Okay, well this ear ache is driving me nuts, and already I started getting too worked up,  Caffeine, sustenance, chilling out medication to the rescue.  Breathe in breathe out all will be okay.   ??? I hope?? Yes it will simmer down now.

  11. Yes you are perfectly spot on. It's , well it is my problem, I tend to over research and play doctor and lawyer wanna be in some respects as I know the oaths that these folks take or are supposed to take and abide by but seem to come up short. Then add the fact that, the average person ( if may say you and I, well US) have to navigate the crap that is the system and its pitfalls. There is so much you need to know and so much you need to not state specifically to be successful in this game that is the VA benefits system. Also knowing how to read can be a great asset. Again I owe thanks to this forum and it members because they can honestly unbiasedly interpret its rules, regulations, and laws. In turn I get a better understanding of how it applies to my claims and when I can help others do the same. Plus it helps that each of us has a bone to pick with the VA in some fashion or another. I just wish I could turn the emotion chip off and let the logic and reasoning chip take full command. My contentions follow, apply when they, the VA doesn't get it right, At times the BVA has a better track record, heck the CAVC has a better a better percentage , and I opine the Supreme Courts eventually step in and get it right, however, it is when they don't that is the issue with me and I am sure thousands of other claimants. I, in my opinion, just my opinion folks, would love to figure how to get "THEM" to be accountable for the wrenches that are thrown in the gears. Better analogy, ever seen what a bolt does to a turbo fan when it gets sucked in through the intake? It is a bloody mess. I sometimes feel like they through buckets into the intake, when steps forward are made. This is just my crazy interpretation of the struggle. Take it with a grain of salt please.
  12. I'm gonna take some chill pills, I think I am rambling and possibly going to the deep end again.  Breathe in, Breathe out, in and out, happy place,, all is good, all is calm.  Medicine medicine and breathe.  

  13. I don't like the sound of that process. The process would have serious ramifications on the effective date of an award would it not? We are not supposed to know the regulations surrounding a claim. Example you hurt you back in service, doesn't bother you while active duty, you suck it up, 5 to 10 years down the road MRI and radiographic studies, nerve conductions tests. How is a claimant supposed to know that they need to claim the neck , the thoracic & the lumbar sections, the nerve ratings for Radiculopathy and muscle issues like muscle spams and the such. Granted this would fall on your symptoms and complaints, and what the medical records show what was injured, however, would this not fall under the Duty to Assist in some fashion. You know helping the claimant to develop the claim. The VA is supposed to know the regulations and the laws surrounding a claim, under this pattern of logic if you don't mention it they don't have to service connect it because a claimant does not know any better. Or they service connect it when a claimant later files for those issues independently thus changing the amount of benefits a claimant would be entitled to along with the correct ratings for each affected compensable body part with the correct effective date.? Say again? Repeat last transmission? Rivet I'm not trying to overshadow and drown out your question, but something smells awful about that scenario and hits pretty close to home with me because of the similarities in how my back claim was handled, when my effective dates came into play, especially if the evidence in my Soldiers Medical Records indicated that there was more to an injury than what the claimant was aware he or she could claim. Yikes. Serious question, am I going off the deep end here? Or is there some logic to my gibberish? Analyzing this I dare say that I'm not wrong. Am I? I am clear as mud? In your situation if they service connect that is the biggest step, service connection. You could and understandably should fight the effective date because it was in your service records. Again a lot of if's
  14. I kind of wish that CPAPs would have that function, its just algorhythim and monitors right? Have a pulse o2, BPM, ECG combo type of monitor? Does that exist? It would be nice. I had experience with trying to monitor those reading with apple watches, Fitbits, Resmed, Philips CPAPS, and such, maybe even one that would incorporate holter monitor or is that too much overkill. The data stream on all that would be great though. What do you think?
  15. Unicco, like others have stated here, medical evidence relating A to B with medical rationale is what will win. Tying it to service and relating the symptoms to the disease and or event is what will get you over that hump, whether primary or secondary related to, I have to say that it is tricky, when it boils down to it you really need a specialist in the field, that is familiar with your records and the diseases that you are trying to connect, to rationalize a, at least as likely conclusion, using your claims file and specific symptoms and events, to win the at least as likely argument. The VA can work it, twist it, manipulate it, and so forth, but this formula is what is king, this formula is what will win. I'm sorry to say we all have had to jump through the hoops and follow this process but in time, I believe it to be the proven method. This is just my opinion and two cents. I hope that this helps you to reach some solutions to your claims. Good luck.
  16. I agree with you all. The jest of it is whether at the regional office, at the BVA, at the CAVC, an even if you get to the Supreme Court, eventually someone can read. I don't remember the original post about the BVA can read, I think I may be quoting something that Berta had posted or maybe even a post from others that I can't recall at this moment Exams that are quick are not always bad news, although I have examples in my claims process that have yielded bad results, I have had others that yielded fruits, those exams got me service connections and ratings increases. Sad that you have to triple, 10x4, check regulations, laws and evidence and make sure they have been applied correctly but these are the rules of engagement in the VA's benefit system. A claimant has so much to deal with. Again folks are probably gonna get tired of me referencing this but IMHO, WE, are so fortunate that we have this site. Some of the best people Ive had the pleasure of dealing with have been through this forum. Too many shoutouts to type out but you folks know who you are. Thank you, thank you, sincerely, thanks.
  17. Feel Better after plugging a 100 rounds but my wrist are sore now.  Still a nice distraction.  I think I may go up a caliber and also mess with rifles again.  Fun stuff.  Gotta put my gun membership to use now.  Later a nice ride on the Vespa should make my day great.   

  18. Well gonna relief some stress, out to the range for me, may be a ride on Fergie around town.  Gotta distract myself from all the crap.  Just like I wrote earlier, except that this time Im actually going to do it. ADHD is a bugger.

  19. FERS is the Federal Employee Retirement System, SSDI is Social Security Disability Insurance, while they share some, a few things, in common they are different beasts altogether with their own rules, regulations, laws, and benefits. You could go out on FERS or OPM disability retirement. You have to look at all your options in order to see which would provide you the most benefits for your situation. It's difficult because of all the regulations so take your time in making your choice. If you are having difficulties it may be time to consider your options, again, this is dependent on your individual case and where you are in life and what struggles you are facing. I hope this leads you to make the best decision for your unique situation. Good luck friend.
  20. Up and at em.  Go, go juice from Espresso machine, toasted bagel with sour cream and onion cream cheese, meds, including the green stuff, (high CBD doses) and of course H2O to keep hydrated.  Its sunny today again in OK, the Vespa is calling to be ridden. Must accomplish that and heck might even go to the range to plug a few, as long as my wrist hold up.  In any case Great vibes for everyone on here.  Take care and keep fighting the fight.

  21. Nah that is great. That is why I like and enjoy the forum. There are folks on here, that logic and knowledge prevails over wrongly targeted emotion. I try to not comment of give advise when I get that way. My emotions tend to cloud my judgment and experience and I get carried away because I have taken the crap the VA does personal. It is a hard dance trying to be objective for me at times and I have to remind myself that it is what it is and not what I feel it to be, hopefully that makes sense.
  22. Something don't jive. With those segments mentioned what I wrote about the ratings applies. Thoracic and Lumbar is one segment, c spine is an independently ratable section on its own. Then there is nerve ratings and muscles ratings. Which all would need EMG and nerve studies. Take it slow and steady and make sure you go over the decision thoroughly.
  23. Not sure, you have to wait unfortunately, until they make a decision. Also you mentioned that this was service connected before???? Did you loose it? Did you actually have a rating? Was there an error? Can you clarify this a bit?
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