john999

I asked for a guitar. The couselor said I needed a detailed report from my VA shrink to say why this would help me. I just went out and spent 100 dollars and got the guitar. It was insulting to me to have some non-veteran lay donw the law on me. The person was half my age and was lecturing me. I guess I could try it again. I think they were sticking it to me. Now I am housebound I don't know what they would say.

Wac That is VA cheapness at its worst. Of course, they should pay for a wasp sting in your case. That is a real emergency. You can't wait two hours and I bet if you called an ambulance you would have a real hard time getting the VA to pay for a two hour ride. Do you have other insurance? If you do then the VA really does not want to pay, regardless. You have to do what is best for yourself.

I think you could trade stocks because the money you get is not earned income. It is capital gains and maybe dividends. You could not work for a firm and trade at home if you are IU. Most people that stay at home and trade stocks go broke using their own money. The people who make money trading stocks use other people's money and earn fees. The word "Earn" is the problem for 100% vets, potentially.

I did the treadmill test and began to slip and fell. That was really good for my heart. I don't do those anymore. I do the chemical test. The treadmill is dangerous for a guy like me with PN in both feet. Unless you have symptoms I don't recommend these tests.

You may be bleeding to death but the hospital wants your insurance information sooner rather than later. Who says human life is priceless? Your life is worth X number of dollars in any court in the land. Just sue for wrongful death and you will find out.

I got "S" based on TDIU plus 60%. It was a CUE. I got 8500 bucks in retro. It only took about 5 weeks to get it. I just sent in Statement in Support of Claim asking for "S" based on Bradley V Peake. I had one single rating of 60% plus 5 10% ratings above and beyond the IU.

Uncontrolled pain is what drives people to kill themselves. There is a big difference between those who take morphine and tylenol. The guy who takes morphine has all sorts of side effects.

If I have a heart attack there is a major hospital within 5 miles of me. The VAMC is 15 miles away. Where am I going to go? I will go to Tampa General Hospital that is state of the art hospital for cardiac problems not the VA. I was told that the EMS people ask if they should take vets to VAMC and the VAMC detours them to private hospitals in my area. Now I have been hurt by private doctors, but I do not want to go to the VAMC if I am dying. I know that my VAMC has gotten in trouble for doing too many open heart surgeries on inappropriate patients. It is a teaching hospital with a university medical school next door. The VA is overrun with medical students, interns and resisdent from USF next door.

I got a BVA decision where the VA had rated me on "latent Schizophrenia" and my doctor had said "chronic, undifferenitaled, schizophrenia". These are two different DX'es. The BVA accepted my doctor's dx code. The BVA said the basic diagnositic criteri were the same and that the vet and his attorney did not contest the BVA's finding that the vet's condition would be better described as "Chronic, undifferentiated schizophrenia". This is from a 40 year old rating that I CUE'ed. Latent schizophrenia means you don't have the condition yet. Chronic schizophrenia means you have it and are unlikely to get rid of it. My CUE was denied at the BVA. Does this make sense? The VA had up until this point excluded my doctor's DX and his report, so I got 10% rating.

Treatment records or an IMO are the best new evidence. There is all kinds of new evidence such as lost service records recently found etc.

I am thinking of 20 years of "S" for Phil in retro. That would be a lot of money. I know Pete53 has the same CUE, and it also means some big money. I think the VA will fight this because of the amount of retro so you guys just have to live long and prosper. Me too on my CUE that is slowly working its way through the court. It is not as clear cut as "S".

When my doctors at the VA refer me I get fast appointments. If the doctor believes it is his/her idea you get results. I stay on good terms with them. I got a referral to a podiatrist in two weeks. That is light speed for our VAMC. I also got a unwanted referral to "pain school" in a matter of days. I think it is because I have learned how to look pathetic and yet willing. Sort of like a chicken that lays its head on the block willingly.

According to what Berta found the VA should have considered HB or A&A for Phil 20 years ago.

I think she should be able to cue this and get retro if the two 50% ratings are independent of the IU. The VA is just remaining silent on the "S" question and IU because they figure they can save money. They don't want to go back and review thousands of IU claims to see if they should get "S". That would go for 100% schedular as well. I would file yeaterday and just ask for "S" based on Bradly v Peake.

You know there are two VAMC's within 30 miles of me, and yet the VAMC very often tells EMS to take the vet to the nearest hospital in an emergency. I don't know why they do that. I do know that even these vets often have to fight to get the VA to pay for the ER visit.

If you have serious claims that will net you 100%, for instance, I would wait. If you have a bunch of claims in the ten percent type range you might as well file now. You would probably get 10% per foot if the VA rated you. That is just a guess. I would file eventually. Concentrate on your major claims and win those.

No, they won't do it. No health insurance will pay for it either.

You need to call the VAMC within 24 hours of admission to the hospital if you are staying and then within a few days they will transfer you to the VAMC from private hospital. If you go to a private ER you will have a big fight on your hands to get money from the VA unless the VA sent you there. How long were you in the hospital? You can probably get the VA to pay for emergency if it is life or death. I know it is not easy. Many probably know more than me. Just call the main line and tell them what you want or need and they should transfer you. You got to get it documented that you called. If you want to get the VA to pay for your care you will end up at a VAMC.

If I was dealing with the VA I would accept drugs from VA shrink. I would then just make a decision on my own about taking them. To be honest I think the VA does believe that vets who take drugs are more compliant and are better patients than those that don't. If you are compliant in all areas and still suffer significant symptoms I think that might show you are worse off than someone who does not take drugs. For instance, if you are trying to get rated for a chronic pain condition and you take morphine I think the VA would rate you higher than someone who does not take any pain killer.

I would shorten up the NOD to the basics and then hand carry it over to the RO and get a date stamped copy. You are cutting this really close. I don't think you can afford to fool around with this NOD much longer. Just file it and ask for a DRO Hearing on all the issues that were denied or low balled. You have five days to get this NOD to them.

For my information is there a psychological factor in asthma attacks? It might be pretty thin to try and connect PTSD with asthma.

Phil Why did it take them almost ten years to award "K"? How high did you have to go in the appeals process? I know "K" is less than $100 a month but ten years worth is OK. Your VA savings plan. Now you get "S" and what will be the next challange?

If you did not NOD the decision in time you will have to reopen by asking for an increase again. You will need your own IMO from a private doctor I think. You have to overcome the VA's previous denials with new evidence. You are not going to get that evidence from a VA doctor I don't think.

Yes. Treatment is an important factor in getting the highest rating possible. Treatment documents your PTSD symptoms and the severity of your PTSD.

If the brain tumor was a cancer that spread from the lungs to the brain that should be connected. If a person has lung cancer it is likely that there cancer will spread all over the body.