john999

Yes, I think you should file for PH due to TBI. You probably shed blood, but it was inside your head which is more dangerous than outside. My great Unlce was gassed in WWI and had PTSD. I don't even think he got a pension or compensation. I found the BCMR not that friedly when I asked for an award that was denied me.

Chu Lai Be very careful about any "cutting" on your feet. People with DMII heal slower than those without DMII. I had a minor procedure done on my foot and it resulted in a staff infection. 10 months later after having to go into hospital I am still in pain on my foot. Now I have to go to a plastic surgeron to try and reduce the scar on the bottom of my foot. I spent one month of daily infusions of anti-biotic to try and kill the infection. If your pod cuts you or nicks you could end up with a staff infection. Go to the best pod you can find and let them know you have PN. People with DMII and PN have a much larger chance of losing a foot or leg than others. If I was you I would also get my legs tested for circulation problems. I had this problem and did not even know until blockage showed up on CT scan.

I have a 70% rating that got me TDIU in 2001. Later on I added some 10% ratings for various things. At last I got a single rating for 60%. What my rating after I got TDIU is is an extra 20% combined. I am rated a combined 90% now. It is confusing and makes little sense but it is VA math. So the VA took a TDIU total rating and added 5 10% ratings and a 60% rating and came up with combined rating of 90%. I am not even 100%. If I had hit 100% I think I might have missed out on "S".

Hadit is the premier site for vets who think and don't make snap judgements. Great website!

I would take the day and hand carry that NOD to the RO along with anything else you have that needs to be date stamped. I would not take the word of anyone about the dates. You may very well get your reconsideration, but you want that NOD timely and in hand if it blows up on you. The VA gets reconsideration requests and NOD's mixed up all the time. I would be nervous as your NOD deadline draws near. Fight a good fight and protect yourself at all times. I am not disagreeing with anyone that has posted before, but be safe first.

60%, and five 10% ratings. It was not until I got the one 60% rating and heard about Bradley that I filed for "S". The VA went back to the ED of my 60% single rating to award "S".

Stillhere I would get the cath and forget the treadmill. I could not get my heart rate up to the required level before my legs gave out. The chemical test was easy. If you have stents why would you do the treadmill/echo. You know you have a problem. Everything has a risk but that treadmill was the worst for me. I almost really busted my ass.

My wife has BC/BS and ChampVA. ChampVA works well with BC. BC pays first and then ChampVA pays the rest. The BC was about the only decent thing I got from my 20 years as federal employee.

Consider that there are many vets who are 100% or TDIU who are actually housebound. They have to prove it via medical evidence and often take a C&P exam. How many PTSD vets or vets who are disfigured can't bear to leave the house? I would say many due to fear, shame and social anxiety. The 100% plus 60% is arbitrary. There is no logical basis for that being the level where a vet is housebound.

I think when they propose a reduction after 5 years they are supposed to evaluate the vet's entire record and not base it on a single exam. This is at least true for 100% vets. That is in the VBM about the 100% vets.

I have been agitating to get the VA to build a Clinic in S. Tampa area since there is an unused old armory. The congresswoman said they were going to do it in January 2011. I am still waiting. It takes me an hour of driving and shuttle bus to get to my VAMC and I don't get paid for travel.

I live too close to get travel pay but becasue of parking situation it still takes me an hour to get to the actual hospital. They said I was the "only" one that did not get notified the dentist would be on duty with reserve unit. Yeah, right. It is these little indignites that make me hate these institutions. Does your private doctor stand you up frequently? Oh, hell No, or you would never go back.

Try Relax the Back Stores. Wait til the VA gets a load of the price!

Pete Call ahead and reconfirm those appointments. That is what I will do from now on.

I went for my dental appointment. They told me it was cancelled because my dentist was on reserve duty. I went to patient advocate and got a big "We are so sorry". I told them to stuff it. They could not bother to tell me this before I traveled by car and bus for an hour to get there. I am not happy with my VA dental at all. I guess I will just go back to private dentist. I hate being treated like dirt.

We know that if you are TDIU or 100% for a mental condition you better not work. Everything else is unclear to me. Unless you are TDIU you don't have to tell them you are working or not.

He probably does not know the answer to your question. It is easy to quote VA scripture. I had five 10% ratings and one 60% rating before I to "s" for what it is worth.

Going up and down hills or through swamps and jungle with 100 lbs on your back is torture especially when the 19 year old soldier is about 150 lbs soaking wet. This is a snapshot of Vietnam.

We sure do need it. Mine VAMC surgical unit was shut down due to flies. That means maggots.

You know this DIC thing is a big problem for me since my wife just does not want to deal with these things. Everytime I try to talk to her about it she shuts down. She is entitled to three survivor benefit plans including SSA, VA and my federal pension. She does not know the first thing about it. I have given up worring about it since she is not worried. I think they call it denial.

Maybe and maybe not. I don't think you can go there with just that information. The VA is a black box when it comes to how they do these things.

No!

Yes, she should receive it but she has to apply for it when you die. Teach her what she needs to know now. Others know how to do it since they are getting DIC.

Read your VCAA letter carefully. If it does not mention your claimed back injury something is wrong. They should send you to a C&P for the back if it is in your VCAA letter. Did you send them any medical records from private sources. You have to tell the VA where these records are or provide them.

The survivor has to file for DIC.