john999

I guess according to 4.16b bear should get TDIU, but if percentage is only 20% then it might be a fight unless he gets more. When VA C&P doctor says you can't work due to SC condition that should do it for TDIU, but who knows for sure?

Based on the general medical C&P I think you should get TDIU. What is your percentage rating right now? Two weeks to wait for C&P copy is not a long time. I think you have rounded third base and headed for home.

You would want to send the new evidence to where the claim is in appeal. Is it at the BVA? I don't think you can send new evidence if it is at CAVA. Where is your claim at now?

Probably half the Elders here were first DX'ed as PD's by either the military or VA. The military used the PD DX to rid themselves of many of those suffering from PTSD or other emotional disorders (including TBI) during the Vietnam Era. Many others were given LTH discharges for flunking drug screens in later days of the Vietnam War. They were not given a chance to make the case for self-medicating due to PTSD symptoms since it was not even recognized. How do these people get justice? They don't. They have sunk to lower depths of society over the decades and are voiceless and powerless.

papa I think you can find schedule of exams via VA.gov. Keep posting.

If you wonder why the VA does not spend more time doing outreach I think it is to save money. Many elderly in nursing homes may be eligible for A&A. I have yet to hear about VA doing aggressive outreach to them or their guardians for such purpose. My elder care lawyer did this form my Aunt. I actually did all the leg work. On my mother they stalled until she died. For my grandmother they said since her husband had served before WWI they did not have records to prove he was a vet. Of course, I think they lied or were too lazy to look. Every vet in the USA should be called or mailed something to help determine if they are eligible for benefits. As far as SMC, ha,ha I had to file for mine as a CUE. I never would have gotten it.

You might find your old unit on the net and be able to connect with old buddies who can verify your stressor if necessary. I found my old unit and two of my closest buddies after 35 years.

I do remember getting G.I. Bill going was not that hard. Why DEA should be such a chore I don't understand except I know it can be. It seems the school did most of the work for me back in the dawn of time when I went to school under the Bill.

It does not have to arrive until April 1, 2011. Even if you usually get it early. If March 2011 did not arrive you got a problem and make the call. If you change banks it can cause a problem.

In the VBM it even discusses claims that vets have made regarding murder or abuse of civilians as a stressor.

Considering the VA's rep I don't think our medical or claims information will ever be secure. The VA's natural inclination when they screw-up is to cover-up. My medical information has been compromised so many times in the past I just accept that everyone in the world knows all about me. &^%$ them! I got a call yesterday from a telemarketer about diabetic supplies. Only the VA knows about me being diabetic. I complained to FCC. Big deal.

I had a NP do my cardiac exam. The NP did an awful job. She was teaching another NP how to do cardiac exams. This is inexcusable in my opinion. I have never had a really good C&P exam. I won all my claims on appeals after suffering through these awful and incompetent exams. That is why I have said that the best way to deal with these exams is to have your own IMO doctors. I did spend 18 months going to the BVA to get another exam and I ended up with another one just as bad. The C&P exam is another hurdle we have to get over. I do wish anyone luck on getting this system changed for the better.

I think you should be able to get TDIU or even 100% schedular when all is said and done. Get copies of all records and keep them safe. The trasition between military disability and VA disability is something I don't know that much about but others here do. Keep posting.

There is always some judge or "Decider" who thinks a disabled vet could work as a greeter at Walmart. With SSD most have to get lawyers and just fight the power. I was lucky since I got it on my own but I had very professional doctors writing reports for me. They had done this kind of work before and knew just the proper words and I knew how to file out the self-questionaire. I still could have easlily been denied. I think they just flip a coin.

If you think surgery will cure your pain you may be in for a rude awakening. You are going off half-cocked and don't know what you are talking about. You read a little on the internet and now you are an expert on pain and opiates. Get a second opinion on your pain management. We are trying to help you from making a mistake.

Bradley V Peake is state of the art knowledge that this VSO should know well. These guys are a disgrace I think. SMC is confusing at times due to the different levels of A&A etc.

Sgt Make the VA do the right thing and withdraw you! You can get the script for Suboxone yourself. It is a narcotic as well. I took it and it made me itch like hell. I think you are over-reacting to this. I would not hand some private guy 3000 bucks if it is was my own money. It sure as heck does not take two months to get off your dope dose. I got off much more powerful drugs in a week cold turkey. It was not fun and I did learn the meaning of the phrase "kicking the habit". I would take 5.5 pills a day for three days and then 5 pills for three days and so on and you will be clear in about a month. You do not have a horrible habit. You are not taking 25 lortabs a day like an addict. You have chronic pain. Make the VA treat you for it. Give them back the stash and tell them you are thinking about suing them for malpractice. They made a grave error by sending you this double dose of dope. It is on them like when they sent my narcotics to unknown address in Maine by mistake.

Like if you have "anger problems" or have used any illegal drugs past or present.

If I get a bad C&P I just go get some more evidence to refute it. Why argue with them when your best bet is to just outgun them?

Who supplied it to you....the VA?

Bronco Are you adding new evidence to the 0% rating decision? I got 0% for heart condition. I got more evidence and appealed it. I then got 60%. I understand about the chopping up your claim. You have to fight for higher rating and EED. If you provide new evidence the VA will probably award ED based on the date they got the new evidence. I guestion if this is legal or not. I have been told it is and that it isn't. When you got 0% for hearing you must have gotten an effective date for the 0% rating which grants SC and a rating %.

I have withdrawn off of percoset before. You can do it yourself by reducing your dosage over a few weeks. The VA pain clinic doctors did tell me that I never should have been on opiates even though I have a SC DX of chronic pain disorder. How many hydrocodones do you take every day? I have a feeling you don't take that many. You are not a drug addict by any means. If you still have the drugs you got from the other VA give them to the doctor when you see him. Did you sign a certified mail receipt for both sets of drugs? The VA should probably have tried you on a long acting type of opiate. The trouble with many of those (morphine, methadone, fentanyl) is that you build tolerance to them as well. They have more side effects also including notorious constipation for morphine. I would tell the doctor that I was confused about where I would be getting my hydro and was afraid I would not get it on time so I took what was mailed to me. The VA gets their underware in a knot because they believe that most vets will sell their drugs for money if they get the chance. If you had taken a drink a day before your last urine screen you would be in trouble as well. I think I would just begin to taper off on my own and go see a regular doctor and explain your problem and see if you can get scripts from him for the vicodin. The VA will be watching you like a hawk in the future. The VA has screwed with me over opiates and getting them on time. It really bugs me as well. I tell them that I take the exact dose so that if it is two days late in getting to me it is a big deal. They sent my opiates to the wrong address one time and blamed me for it.

I have a opiate contract with the VA going on 6 years. To discontinue your pain meds without a gradual withdrawl is really malpractice unless the VA can prove you are selling your meds or not taking them. What kinds of meds do you get? Because I live in Florida I use the VA due to many pain clinics that are not legitimate. I would use a private doctor in the future if I were you. The opiate contract you sign is like a bear trap. I think you can beat this by explaining this mistake the VA made. I understand why you want an extra supply of the meds you got since the VA could change your meds in the future.

Remember that failure to assist can't be a CUE. In my case the VA never even gave me appeal rights and they admit it. No CUE on that score. How do you get due process when you are a 21 year old vet who is not even given appeal rights?

Right, perhaps the vet has DMII since this can cause all sorts of problems if suger is too high or too low. DMII is the disease that keeps on giving.