confusion99%

Well, just got home from C&P's...the first was audio for Tennitis. I already had rating for hearing loss , but rated at 0 pct. In that exam and rating tennitis was never mentioned. The exam today, they used some piece of equip. that they stuck in my ear and added pressure to a certain point. Then did the other ear. Have had half dozen hearing exams, never have had this test. Then into the booth with the headsets..about 10 words to repeat on each ear. Then tones at different levels only about 10 of those. Then about 3 tones on the bone induction. That was it. She then ask me what my job was in the Navy. I told her Radioman. The End.....She never ask one single word about the tennitis or anything else except what my job was. What is going on with this???? The Doc that did the exams for increase in DMII, neuropathy, heart disease, also ask very few questions concerning diabetes, ask a couple about the neuropathy in my feet, i.e. have cramps, and ask nothing about the heart disease. He just listened to my heart, ordered an echo and that was it. That has me worried to death, because I don't know what is in the records sent by the VA. Most of my heart problems are intermittent. A snapshot echo shows nothing.. My cardiologist realizes this and knows of the other problems because he has the evidence when I wore a halter monitor. But will they go by the C&P or by my cardiologist report??? The only good thing that may have come out of it is my BP was very high, he wrote it up, and it had never been applied for, just didn't because after reading the DBQ that is always asking for readings I decided to wait for something I could submit. My meds do control my BP pretty well. Guess the C&P exam affected me more than I knew for that high of a reading. Anyway, should I now go ahead and send in new contention for the hypertension or figure since they wrote it up on the C&P it will get added and rated. That's what happened with my original neuropathy, the person that did my DM exam added it and they rated it. In the mean time, guess I go back to the waiting game....but should I still file the nod/appear if no answer by the 1 year date??

How things have changed.. When I went from TDRL to PDRL, it had been 3 years since they retired me. I got a phone call and they ask if I was still having problems with angina...I told them yes.....A few weeks letter I got my PDRL papers....This was in SDiego in1980.

Guess I join your club....I too have 4 C&P exams today plus the overall for TDIU. These are all "reopen" issues from my first win on all these issues. I have until the middle of July to file NOD or appeal. I doubt if this will get settled before then, but could happen. If not, will fill all the NOD's and appeal, to CYA since these are referred to as "reopen". Don't really know what that means but will find out. I also spent 5 years on SSDI, which was mixed SC and non-SC reasons, but most of the non-SC's were pushed by my atty and they are mentioned a lot in the decision, where the SC issues were mentioned more in passing. So think that will work against me. The SC stuff has become much worse over the years. The SSDI stopped and was turned into regular SS retirement when I turned 66. I have been stressing over this to no end however when I got the QTC letters for the C&P's I am 90% sure this is with the same doctor that the SS sent me to for their exams when I went on SSDI. If I am right, this Doc. really did a bang up job on my SSDI physical working up everything he could find that was wrong with me and put the icing on the cake with my medical records for the positive decision on the SSDI. So maybe he will do the same thing for this one for the VA. He at least is an internal medicine doctor with 25 years experience and not a PA that trims toenails for a podiatrist. But, I am still stressed to the max. I am extremely paranoid about any dealings with the government as I no longer trust anyone anywhere in government. Anyway, wish me luck. even with the increases, I don't think it will push me more than from my present 80% up to 90% but maybe can get the TDIU along with the increase.

I was boots on the ground in Nam in 1966....Was medically retired with unstable angina in 1977 and awarded 30% by the Navy and the VA for the heart condition. One year later, the VA decided to remove it completely stating there was no subjective evidence as to the cause. They said they sent me a letter in 1978 which I never received. I was not getting a check from the VA as my Navy retirement was higher. I did not find out about the change until 1992. That is when I started my fight with the VA. In reference to your question about IHD and PC.....I did not have PC, but, I started having severe pancreatitis in 86. Spent 6 months in the hospital on a cancer ward, no food or water for that entire time, living on TPN...My pancreas was covered in pseudo cysts and the duct was scared to a point that it could not pass enzymes and digestive juices. They did open me up to confirm yes or no on cancer and decided there was none. The same thing happened in 1993. I was living in the Philippines and was Medivac back to the states. Spent 9 months in the hospital again no food or water for that time and another 3 months after discharge, again living on TPN. Same situation with the pancreas problems only this time it had gone into auto-digestion eating digesting itself. They did the wipple except they left the gall bladder which later had to be removed also. I still have the pancreatitis every now and then suffering from severe pain bouts that last from 24 to 72 hours. I have to stop eating and just enough water to get by. I take demerol that I keep at home for such attacks. They have told me the only thing left is removal if it happens again....Since they mentioned alcohol use/abuse in my early career as the cause. This is even though I had totally stopped drinking in 1974. I finely got the heart issue resolved after the AO inclusion of IHD...but only from the date of filing. Nothing prior to 2011...but they have that as an open case under administrative review. Nothing for the pancreas problem. I havn't figured out a way to attack that one yet and fear they will deny saying it was alcohol related so it my doing and not service connected. Or, since it did not appear until 9 years after retirement, say no nexus to my years in service.

My retro came in two installments. The first took from July'13 (claim closed) check received Dec 24th '13...Great Christmas. The next installment came after the DFAS audit completed and that came in March '14. I may still have more depending on the outcome of retro time and percentage. I had been fighting that claim for 20 plus years. They rated it 60% from the time I reopened the claim in 2011. Then rated me 0 % for the years prior to that date, then opened a new claim the same date they closed the first one under administrative review for an increase in percentage. It has been sitting in gathering dust since that time. The only thing they requested for evidence was my hospital records here at the Military Hospital which they show received about 10 days later. Nothing else requested, nothing else sent, nothing else received. Just sitting there...So it remains a mystery.....

No MD's listed in Texas for IHD or cardiology for that matter. Anyone know of one in Texas? (San Antonio) or Louisiana?

I don't know about others, I received a package to get some release of info forms signed and one for previous employer. EBenefits then listed them as sent on Apr 3......The date stamp on the envelope I received on like the 18th was dated Apr 16. Then yesterday, they closed the request as never received. Sheeesh, it said I could get them myself and send them for faster results. I am still in the process of obtaining them from my Doctors. Looks like they can sure rush me after taking all the time in the world for them to do anything. I will be able to pick up the records Monday and will get them out to them. But, they also called me and told me they were scheduling my C & P for the 15th....So none of this info will be available for the C & P Doc. and, I know they do not have to look at anything I bring with me....feel I am already being set up for the shaft. These are all contentions they opened on every issue I have rated because I put in for IU. Seems they will deny increases on my ratings and then use that to deny the IU. I presently have a 60% for IHD and overall rating of 80%. I did not say I was filing for an increase on every contention I had rated. They did that themselves. Or, I don't understand how they do the IU cases. At first I was just happy it was moving...now I'm not so sure if it is just to push everything to appeal status.

I had the same thing about getting my records on my IHD claim....I took the form 21-4142 to the Doc's office. I explained that the VA wanted me to sign it, send it to them so they could send it to you (the doc)....I then said instead, can we skip the steps and can you fax the records to the VA, or give them to me so I can send them. They told me they would have to charge me if I took them, but they could fax them to the VA at no charge...the accepted the fact that the VA wanted the form signed so they could request the records. In my case I choose to pay and get the copies myself as I will deliver them myself to keep things moving, but for those that cannot afford the fees, ask for them to fax direct to the VA...good luck.

update....Have not had the eye surgery. My doc said he feels I will need lense replacement within 2 years because of cataracts anyway so a waste of time for the other. Since things are starting to get foggy, he is probably right. So I guess I just wait until I am near blind before they do anything.

Sorry for missing the last question to me on this thread. What finely took care of it was a standard steroid shot, properly placed in my back in the area of L4/L5 and L3/l4.....The pitformis muscle injection I had previously did nothing the first time and nothing with a repeat. Also, that shot(s) that worked has since worn down to nothing. Getting another round of injections next week. Hopefully it will work as well this time and last as long.

I did pretty much the same thing with 4 claims covering about a 5 month period. They put them all together. Seven months after the last one, they are just now starting to work my claim and that was, I think, after I made a trip to Houston to verify they had received everything. Now although they have DBQ's from my Doctors, specific letters written by my doctors, they say they are scheduling me for exams to obtain 4 different DBQ's. I'm trying to figure out what other info they think they will get other than what my doctor has provided already. I am not up to the idea of them reinventing the wheel again, because it may just come out square this time.

I'm batting 50/50...two exams, one good, one bad. The one good was at the VA clinic, the one Bad was civilian outfit. I just saw on my ebenefits that I am to be scheduled for another or more exams between now and June 15th. I worry also. I have reached a point that I believe everything is political, we are pawns...when someone at the very top is up for reelection....they loosen the strings on Vets and active duty and broadcast all day and night on TV what all the great things they are doing...Election over......orders go out to dig in heels and give nothing.....if at all possible. Of course that is only my OPINION. I'm at a point where if a government person in any position at any level of gov't tells you something....Figure only 20% of it might be true, and 90% of that has a spin on it. But we gotta do what we gotta do....They just had a big report on Fox News about how VA is screwing over everyone with hearing problems and something needs to be done about it. I know I fall into that group and sure most everyone on here is the same. Crazy how they tell you you are nearly deaf, give you a hearing aid, then say you have a 95% comprehension factor so zero percent disability.

I don't mind getting the records, I did that for the initial claim, so they actually have 90% of them already. I am just paranoid about that one test which showed me strong as a bull, healthy as ever. That said, all the other test shows the problems including the cath with the mention of the low ejection fraction (<40%) and mentioning the stent placement. Other problems were mentioned also, but those two things are primary for the 60%. Unless someone else chimes in with reasons it would be ok or to my advantage to drop the increase for the IHD, I will leave it along and get my records and send them in. I thought since they wanted me to sign the consent forms, that they would want to contact my doctors directly and have them send the records directly to VA. If that is not the case I can get them and send them. they also want work history from my last employer (over 5 years now without working), I already tried to get them to fill out the form and they just said, send to our Lawyers. They would not fill out or sign it. So I wonder how long va will wait, or how many times they will send the form before they realize they will not get it back. They already have my SS disability medical records. The problem with that is that my SS was for a number of other things included besides the IHD, DMII and Neuropathy which is VA connected. So they might use that against me. The lawyer based his case on other issues because they were more directly related to my job, not saying that the VA stuff wasn't. They just emphasized the other more. I have already spent my time on SS disability and after turning 66 it was converted to regular SS retirement. Since they did not mention any of the other evidence needed for any of the other issues, I assume they either have enough, or will fill in the rest with the VA physicals. I hope you are right about the IU....I worry as I have seen guys with 90% ratings get turned down. Of course I don't know what that 90% is based on. I'm presently at 80% and I should have enough (hopefully sure thing) other stuff pending excluding the IU that would bring me to 90%. Who knows what they will do. They are still trying to figure out how much to rate the time period from 1977 to 2011 for the IHD....They denied it a number of times. When they gave me the 60% they rated the time prior to 2011 at zero pct. and opened an administrative review on those years listing it as a new contention (request increase). They wanted my medical records for the past 20 years from the military hospitals I used which they got 3 weeks later in Aug 2011. It still sits in "gathering evidence" with nothing happening since it opened. So who knows. I think the only thing that got this other moving is my two trips to Houston to get things moving. I think that works. I waited 4 months for my payments to start after my initial award, nothing!!! They said I never requested to switch to VA payments. Sure enough the page was in the computer stuck with the other claim. The person I was talking to said, she couldn't do anything that they would process it when they go to that claim. I explained it pertained to a closed claim and I can't get my money until that 1/2 page with one question was processed. She ask what else she could help me with. I said "you have not helped me with anything! There are 10,000 people that work in this bldg. Can't you direct me to just one that can process that form or get it to the person that can???" She handed me a form in a snotty manor, write your request on this and I will attach a copy of the form and give it to my supvr. When I do so, she then said .......Is that all??? I was so angry I forgot to bring up half dozen other things and just left and drove the 200 miles back home...Sure enough the next weekend I got a call from someone at VA that wanted to verify some info on my dependency paperwork as she said she was working on both forms. Three weeks later, all done, 5 figure retro pay hit my bank account and monthly was started.....Two weeks ago I made another trip as Navy folks said they had finished the audit and sent it to VA a month ago..Va claimed they had not received anything. I again made the trip....This time the guy I met with was super helpful. He said he would followup on the audit...About 10 days later, I get another 5 figure retro CRSC check and now have that coming in also. So I would tell anyone who is within driving distance of their Regional Office to go in person...It sure helped me. I also think that trip is what got this claim moving too. Enough of my book, have just been off here for a while and needed to discuss with people who know what we go through. Can't talk to anyone else about all this stuff and it bottled all up and comes out at once.

Just looked at E-Benefits and see some movement, but have some questions. First I noticed that there was reference to FDC, it says Excluded requested 4/9-closed 4/9??? what is with this??? Note: also they have lumped multiple contentions all into one claim......But, they added a bunch, that I really didn't ask for, unless they took it from my req. for IU...They added increase for all my previously approved contentions and ratings....I did not ask for that but on the form for IU it ask what disability causes me to feel I need IU...(forget how it is worded). So I listed everything in that spot. They also have waiting fore VAEQ....so I assume I am to be scheduled for a C & P in the future?? Also...they are requesting medical records from both my Cardiology doctors....I assume this is because they opened an increase in my IHD...which is presently 60%.....I do not want to do anything with this as I know I do not rate a higher rating and was not asking for one..... Can I write a letter and inform them that I would like to drop the request for increase in IHD???? That seems to be the only thing they are looking for more evidence on. I already sent a lot of evidence for all the other stuff. If I get them to drop the request for increase for the IHD, this should negate any further need for evidence in this area and get the thing moving forward again??? or am I all wet in my thinking.... I am paranoid on a lot of things with the VA...I sent them the stuff I felt was important for my claim on my IHD....and got my decision....Now I feel they want my records from my Doctors to look for something to reduce it or something...as I do have conflicting evidence in my tests..Some showed solid evidence for the 60% rating...other tests shows evidence for 30% or even none.. Specifically a treatmill test that showed a METS of 11.5 But a cath showed ejection factor of <40%. Need advice on what to do.

Thanks to all so far for the advice. I guess my concern was more with them having info on my care. I didn't think about having my present docs keep the VA in the loop as far as info is concerned. Yea, if they mess up TFL that will make a big difference, but right now they cover everything medicare doesn't cover so it makes everything free. I get all my Meds at a militlary base Pharm, so no cost there either. I will make it a point to go to VA though and get my status changed to reflect my new percentage and get my category changed. Thanks for the feedback.

I was approved for my claim back in Jul. 2013....once I got shifted from Navy retirement pay to VA compensation it took only a couple of weeks before I received a rather large (to me) retro pay check. I doubt there was any time for any type of audit between DFAS and the VA. I then applied for CRSC it was approved about a month ago and this month, I received my first check. Have not received any paperwork concerning any of this except an approval from the Navy and a note saying they forwarded it to DFAS. It says retro to 2008 for some things and Oct. 2011 for others. My question is.....seems no audit has yet to be done, or processed one of the two. Should I not still have a lot more retro coming since it doesn't seem to me that a DFAS/VA audit has happened, or VA has not yet acted on it. I don't think from what I read on how this works, that DFAS will owe me any back pay, as I have been receiving retirement all this time. My understanding is that it gets bounced back to VA to make up the unpaid CRSC equivelant. I tried calling DFAS, but they are not accepting phone calls concerning CRSC as the phone disconnects as soon as I am transferred to that number. Can't get any info out of peggie or iris. Any ideas of what might be going on??

I have never used VA health for anything except once for getting hearing aids. I was also placed in a very low catagory since I only had a 10% rating at the time. I have since been increased to 80% due to IHD and DM2....I also have some further pending claims and one for TDIU. I am happy with my present Doctors. My outside care is also free due to having Medicare and Tricare for life so there is no financial consideration. I do not like dealing with the VA for anything that is not absolutely necessary. My question is.......should I start seeing the VA for my medical issues of IHD, DM2 and Neuropathy which is the basis for my TDIU claim? Do they hold it against you if you prefer other care??? Here in San Antonio, the VA is a nightmare, extremely overloaded with Vets as it is. They treat you more like herding animals and seem to resent you even being in the bldg. So why should I subject myself to that unless there is some major benefit for my open claims. Appreciate any opinions concerning this.

No one is ever sure how long anything takes, but if it can take months to get a dependent added, or once a claim is approved to get switched to draw va compensation v/s retirement pay, you can assume it will take months for anything to happen with your claim. The problem is first you have to get someone to read it....if it goes into a stack of "not yet started" claims, it will sit there until someone picks it up. I had one claim sit in "received" for 6 months before it moved to "review". After my major claim was approved, and waiting 5 months to get switched from retirement to va compensation, I ended up having to drive the 200 plus miles to the Houston office to get them to process the simple form. So, it all depends on where you filed and if they have anyone there receiving things that can read. In my case they kept saying they had not received the form.....After I arrived, sure enough, it took 30 seconds to find it in the computer. It had been stuck in one of those other claims I have sitting there waiting to be looked at. So I guess you could say 30 days to 30 months. I would see about filing a hardship case as that may speed it up for someone to look at it. Since it is a slamdunk case for approval, it might get you your money sooner than later.

I'm 66, I'm just checking into the eye surgery. I have decided it is one of the single most irritating part of my life, It is actually unnecessary from the standpoint that I can wear glasses. But I really can't see anything clearly that is within 4 feet of me. I am actually 20/20 for driving purposes, but, I can't read the dash board, so don't reallyt know how fast I am going...lol. It just makes it so difficult for me shifting back and forth...I have tried bifocals with pretty much plain glass for the distance and the cheaters for things within 4 feet, but I hate them, they make me dizzy shifting back and forth so I won't wear them. My daughter-in-law was similar at 20/300 or so on her close up vision. Not good for a Pharmacist that can't read....Anyway, she got the surgery and is now 20/10 up close so no more glasses. I will now go see what her surgeon has to say about mine...Don't know if they can or will do it or not, but at least I can now check it out and get it done if feasable.

No, I mean they took the 30% disability rating away. The letter I never got said that due to lack of "organic evidence" so they just removed the service connection even though I had enlistment physical and 3 reenlistment physicals without heart problems, theyt decided it might be something pre existing. I didn't know about it until 1992 when I went to the VA for something else and decided to check and see if I could get refills on my heart meds. I normally got them filled at military bases and never delt with VA. But bases were closed where I was, so didn't have that option anymore and had been buying them on my own. Everytime I tried to reopen the case, they would deny and send copy of the letter I was supposed to have received, saying the door was closed because I did not appeal the letter.

I thought I had received a big Christmas present last week. Last Friday, I looked at ebenefits and saw that they finely completed my dependency claim and my form to switch from Navy retirement (medical), to VA benefits. I had been awarded 80% back on Aug 6, 2013, up from 10%. So I could finely get started in drawing my benefits. I thought that was a great Christmas Present, until this morning, Christmas Day. I new since I was drawing retirement, that now an Audit would have to be done between VA and the Navy. As I was drinking my coffee this morning, for some strange reason, I logged into ebeneifts as I had done most every morning to see if any movement had taken place. To may surprise I saw they now listed my compensation amount ($1754/mo) on my letters. I then decided to log into my bank account to check for any fraud, like I do most every morning. MERRY CHRISTMAS...what I found was a deposit for at least part of my Retro. ( I guess what they could do before the audit). It was a sizeable amount (over 25K). I had not expected any retro until at least maybe April 2014. So now I have the money to take care of some medical issues I cannot get through VA. Like eye surgery, (the new laser stuff), and a new set of dentures that I have needed for about 3 years. Don't know what I will do with the rest, In my mind, I don't really need anything else. I live pretty simple and am debt free already, so don't have a bunch of debt to pay off. Maybe buy an AK47 or an AR15 for when the civil war starts, otherwise probably will set up college fund for Grandkids with it. This has been a long fight, going back to 1992 when I found out they had taken away my 30% for heart disease that I got when I was medically retired in 1977. That left me with 10% for another issue.They quietly took it away in 1978. They said they sent me a letter and I didn't appeal so it was final. Of course, I never received the letter.All those years, it didn't mean any more money, as I was getting more from my Navy retirement, it was just the fact that they did what they did. So now, at 80% the VA benefits are more than my retirement, plus will get XX amount in CRSC benefits, to be calculated. It sure did come as a surprise this morning. I still have a few contentions in the works including IU, but for now I got a lot more than I ever dreamed I would end up with. Hope everyone else has some kind of Christmas surprise gift that makes them as happy as this has made me.

Yea, the first time I put in a claim for my Diabetes II back in 2002, I did so under AO presumptive. My trips in country were all TDY's as we maintained a detachment there. My PCS station was in the Philippines. They denied the claim staying there was nothing in my records that shows I was in country. I later was told there were NO TDY orders in my records at all, evidently they had been purged. Well years later I cam across a copy of one of TDY orders and reopended the claim with new evidence. After filing the claim, I noticed on ebenefits that the requested copy of TDY orders from my records. It was amazing they had copies out of my service record within 10 days. But, the first time before I sent them a copy, they denied their existence. So much for their efforts to locate them. It was more difficult to hide when I sent them a copy. When claim was approved, effective date was the 2002 date.

I previously had the same dx....As soon as I told them I had a pain in my buttocks deep inside the muscle, that was their immediate jump to conclusion....But, nothing they ever did from injections to physical therapy ever did any good. This round of injections is the first relief I have had in 15 years... My point, you may have been miss diagnosed. I would consider 2nd opinion, especially if you have damage at L3/L4 and/or L4/L5. I say that because that is what I just had treated and it immdiately relieved the buttocks pain. The fact that the injections did nothing for you is another indication it may not be the problem.

I have to +1 the USAA. I got tired of continued rate increases with my previous homeowners and my auto. I did a little research and by combining both with USAA I save close to $1000 a year. However I will have to say, the raised my rates this past renewal with no explaination other than "Texas requirements caused the increase. My Homeowner is a shade over $1200 on a home value of $315,000. I do have the 1000 deductable on most things. A couple of areas are only $250. My auto is not any cheaper than my previous insurance company, but that said, I had to sue my own insurance on an accident where I was a pedesterian. I then was rear ended where I slowed for a major fire on the hwy, and the guy behind me never took his foot off the doing 65-70 when he rearended me. (was he texting??). The worse part is I was on a motorcycle. We both had the same insurance company. I have been in a lawsuit with them for over 2 years now. So with the reputation of USAA I don't mind paying the same or a little more to NOT have to deal in court anytime I have a claim, especially when neither was my fault. Insurance is not always about the lowest price.

Thought I would give an update...suprise, surprise, surprise. The trip to Houston was on Thursday..and as I had mentioned, I had little hope that the person I talked to would even do anything with the note she had me write. Well guess what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saturday early afternoon, I get a call from the VA in Houston. They wanted to verify some info on my Dependency claim. Seems when they scanned it into the computer, they scanned the form only and not the attachment I had with it. The attachment had reference to items covered on the form which I ran out of space. So what she was looking at was incomplete as she just had the form. I gave her the information, she said she would add it to the form and was processing it. She also said she was processing my request to be shifted from US Navy retirement to VA compensation which was the form I went to Houston about that they claimed the did not have, but the did. SOOOOOOO, even though the person I was talking to showed an attitude as if she could care less, at least she did give it to her supervisor as she said she would, and the supervisor got someone on it right away. they said everything should be complete within 2 weeks. I noticed it has moved from "received" to notice of completion by 3pm this afternoon (monday), Very happy with that...Just maybe I can get some money coming in by the first of the year and maybe within a few months after that the retro. I do know the Navy is very cooperative and is waiting patiently for the VA to get me switched so they can process CRSC and audit from their end. After I suggested it to them as an alternative of getting the form to the VA to be processed , of having me send it to them and they would send it to the VA through their direct channels. Can't beat that with a stick for willingness to help move things along. So there is hope. But, really didn't want to give everyone at Houston a black eye because someone is moving on it now. And Yes, by all means, if you send multiple things to Houston, or any other I guess, if items are for more than one specific purpose, place each separate item into different envelopes for different reasons with the reason printed in large print on the outside of the individual envelope, then put all in your big envelope and mail certifed return receipt required. It might help get things to the right people.