vern2

Who is this doctor? What is his/ her area of expertise? This person is doing a general C&P exam on me

Anyone have any experience with this VA application? Downloaded it to my Samsung notebook. Looks good, but you have to know your dates in country and where your were at and were there any burn pits, contaminated water, etc that you could have been exposed to. Vern2

Yes, but make sure and check the actual award date of the newest award. I got retro, from DFAS, but they took 20% out for taxes. Got most of this back when I filed my taxes. I did not have to do anything to get the retro from DFAS. Remember, this is different than retro from VA. Vern2

I filed my NOD and requested DRO review early in 2015, was accepted at DRO level and was awarded 100% for heart and several other issues was awarded lesser amounts, but of course only get the 100%, plus SMC. I think DRO is way to go, but this is just based on my experience and the many errors that rater made in the initial decision. I did have a CUE going at same time, but since awarded 100% for same thing, I dropped the CUE. It was moot at that time.

Suggest you go ahead and file the NOD. Do not let this pas by!! The MEB process may drag on for some time, file the NOD! What you have heard is just not true. Good luck!

IMHO, drop her like a hot rock. She is not helping you. Are you able to handle the NODS on your own?

My son is retiring from service and had a strange call from VA rep. The son plans to submit his medical records to VA via CD that was given to him by medical records of his service (USMC). The VA rep stated that could not accept CD as policy would not allow them to use an outside CD in their computers. Sounds like BS to me. Does not the VA routinely request service members medical records from the various services medical branches? It would take a lot of paper for my son to print out these records and his C & P exam is Dec 12, I think. Does anybody have similar experience or should he have been given paper copies of his medical records by his medical section. I retired in 2005 (USAF)and was given everything on paper, no CD.

Yes, posed this same question to him today. He does have pain and some problems chewing. He has been referred to outside endorsements still on AD, but retires in 3-4 months. Has had major issues with teeth, since the injury in 96. Thanks for your help.

Thanks, sent this to my son. Thanks for the help! Vern2

Note: I posted this in claims research, but go no response. My son fell while in TBS in 1996. Broke part of #8 off and also did some injury to #9. This was noted in his Dental STR. He has had chronic problems since then with these teeth. # 8 finally had to be referred outside for root canal and build up of tooth. Tooth had lost blood flow and color. Fast forward. He is now retiring from USMC and is wondering if he has a valid dental claim. He talked over this with me and problem is that he filed his VA claim last week and failed to mention this issue. He is still AD for 3-4 more months. My reading of this VA law is kind of vague, as VA ratings mention loss of multiple teeth or jaw, etc. He still has issues with these teeth. I have asked him to go back to endo doc and get him to fill out a DBQ stating that dental problems are as likely as not due to the dental trauma in 1996. Anyone have similar issues or advice as to what to do? Vern2

My son fell while in TBS in 1996. Broke part of #8 off and also did some injury to #9. This was noted in his Dental STR. He has had chronic problems since then with these teeth. # 8 finally had to be referred outside for root canal and build up of tooth. Tooth had lost blood flow and color. Fast forward. He is now retiring from USMC and is wondering if he has a valid dental claim. He talked over this with me and problem is that he filed his VA claim last week and failed to mention this issue. He is still AD for 3-4 more months. My reading of this VA law is kind of vague, as VA ratings mention loss of multiple teeth or jaw, etc. He still has issues with these teeth. I have asked him to go back to endo doc and get him to fill out a DBQ stating that dental problems are as likely as not due to the dental trauma in 1996. Anyone have similar issues or advice as to what to do? Vern2

Sounds like a failure to communicate. IMHO, this is a CUE.

What date were you expecting?

Got a ramp letter when this first came about. I was rated 100% SMC for my heart condition, EED, Dec 15, yet 3 years later I get a RAMP letter, and several emails. Just ignored them. Maybe they are desperate, or just did a mass mail and email for some odd reason.

Nope, called DMDC yesterday. Blamed outage on outside server. Tricare online and relay Health are also down. 48 hours so far, sure hope this is not Russian, or other governments doing this

I never went as fr as DRO. In both instances I used the NOD and requested a de novo review. First time in 2004, had finalized in 2007 with moderate retro (30%). Then disagreed with claim filed in 2012 for 100%, denied in 2014, filed de novo, settled in 2015 for large retro and 100% SC and several other SC were rated from 0, 10, 30 %. This procedure worked for me, as fired my VSO and handled my claims my self. Background: I was AF TAP program mgr, and advised retiring, separating members on how to files claims. I worked beside a VA rep in the USAF Family Support Building and had some experience and knowledge of what is needed in claim process. Still ran into Va roadblocks of lost medical records and outright denials due to VA not really looking at my evidence. My advice is to always make copy of anything that you send to VA and send certified , return receipt mail, and keep copies of all medical records. Filing a claim with VA for compensation is long process, in spite of VA telling people at the TAP briefings that claim be settled in 6 months. That is just BS! I wish I could be fly on wall at a DRO hearing to see what actually transpires!!

Suggest you take notes as soon as exam is over. Then when you can get a copy of the exam and immediately challenge anything this is contrary to what you private exams have found. The exams are not in your best interest and they will usually put unfavorable conclusions vs trying to help the vet. I fought them for 10 years before I was successful. The examining doctor is supposed to review you outside medical records, but rarely do this, even when given hard copies. My doctor told me he did not have time to read then but would read later! This never happened.

so, I will be 97 before I am protected. Yeah, and i do not think I will live that long. I will just take each day, one day at a time. Vern2

IMHO, fire the attorney. Let me see if I have this correct. Waiting a year for DRO hearing, and when you finally get notified, your attorney runs up the red flag saying they do not have you C-file from VA. Do as Buck suggests, go and take notes. Your attorney is useless, IMHO.

My experience in Hurricane Ivan was to use the State Farm Adjuster or who ever you have insurance with. Why use the public adjuster? If you are not satisfied with the Insurance adjuster, only then would I consider using a public adjuster. Remember, there may be a considerable wait for the insurance company adjuster, do document any repairs you make until the adjuster comes to your house. I took many pictures and save receipts for repairs that I made or contracted to make. My home had $56 k damage, but only had $500 deductible. Of course after Ivan, State Farm dropped most of Florida and now I have a $4k deductible with Universal Property-which is all I could find. Vern2

What about age> I was awarded 100% P & T in December 2015, and letter stated no more exams. I will be 69 in November. I thought there was some protection if you were over 65?

I would suggest go back to the civilian audiologist, who should have known to include a statement that he had reviewed your STR. I was a gunner on a tank and filed a claim for hearing loss (high frequency) and tinnitus in 2007. Denied by VA as they said no proof I had been a gunner as I had alleged. I had myself re-tested by my local military Audiologist, who found significant hearing loss and tinnitus. As a retire, she could not give me hearing aids, so went to VA with request for hearing aids and got them. Them I re-filed my claim and was finally rated at 0%, which I am happy with as this gives me free hearing aids I also submitted pictures of me on the tank on firing line with no hearing protection, in fact none of the people in picture wore hearing protection. I did not pursue the issue since I am 100% for heart and other issues.

A typical FOIA request may take up to a year, or more to get response. You can contact the NRC in St. Louis to get a copy of your C file. This usually takes a couple of weeks, which is fast by VA standards! I had a phone number, but have lost it, which I used to call the NRC (national record center) to expedite my request. I do still have a VA complaint number in my phone contacts, but not sure how useful this may be- number is 1-855-948-2311. Vern2

I do not trust the DAV. If I had trusted the DAV, I would be at 0% compensation, instead of 100% SC. It appears that VA appealed your 10% rating a 2nd time and brought this back to 0%. You need to get copy of your VA claim File and proceed from there. You may be owed compensation back to 1988. If the VA appealed your 10% rating from 1991 in 1994, there should be some record in you C file. When you get your C file and review it, then post again on forum with any questions. Yes, you may want to file the 21-4138, but not until you see what is in C file. This is just my opinion.

The state of being chronic or lasting on a long-term basis. What is a Chronic disease? Please explain what makes a disease be considered chronic? A. If a disease lasts for a long time or for your life time, it's considered a chronic disease. A person with a chronic disease needs to manage it and treat it all the time. copied from medical dictionary: Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012