kate7772

Just wondering if there would likely be any updating on eBenefits or Myhealthevet tomorrow. Thanks Kate

This is even though they date-stamped it received within the time frame? And if they deny it due to this, will they do it right away or wait a couple years?

Had the C&P. Seemed to go well. The examiner was very nice and had no problem allowing me in the exam. Seemed pretty standard:family history, childhood, education, military history and problems since. My husband had a difficult time emotionally relating the stressors but did so thoroughly I think. Just took a lot out of him. After the exam, he took a 300 question mostly true/false test. This I did not sit in on. He said it was things like: Do you hate your mother?, Abuse?, Would you like a subscription to Sports Illustrated?..... My only concern is that the examiner asked if my husband thought his kidney disease was contributing to the difficulties at work (lots of anxiety, panic attacks, many mistakes....). He had to cut back drastically on hours a couple years ago due to the edema from the kidney disease and that is when the ### really hit the fan with the accelerated PTSD symptoms. His VA counselor said this is a common occurrence when a veteran suffering from PTSD cannot work as much. Hope this examiner realizes this also. So, now, we wait and see. On ebennies it says exam is due back today so maybe it will be on Myhealthyvet soon. Thanks for all the advice given here. Kate

Why?

We filed the NOD within the 12 month period and had it hand stamped. Don't know how we missed signing it. We are now past the 12 month time. That's why I wasn't sure whether to use today's date or the NOD date.

The check box doesn't say anything about formal or informal. Should I write it in or just wait till the hearing to request informal? We did include all the new and material evidence with the NOD, including 2 IMOs. Any thoughts on the signature date question? Thanks. Kate

My husband had two C&Ps on different dates in the past week. The first was for hearing and the audiologist reminded us to fill out the travel form, which we did. Have never done that before and didn't realize we could since he is not service connected yet. But, on the second C&P, we forgot to do it. Is there a way to do this online? The medical center is about 1-1/2 hrs away. If not, I suppose we could get one from our local VA center. Thanks Kate

My husband received the form asking if he wants to be heard by a DRO Review Officer or traditional appeal. From my research it seems he should opt for the DRO but there is no option on the form for formal or informal. Should this be written in or just check DRO and that's all? Is one better than the other? Also, they sent the NOD back saying it wasn't signed. We could have sworn it was but will sign and return as requested. For the date signed, should he use the date of the NOD or the date actually signed (today.) Thanks Kate

My Husband has his PTSD C&P tomorrow and he is understandably nervous. One thing we wonder about is, should he volunteer information and problems or just answer as asked? Any other tips to help things go smoothly and help them understand? Another thing I am concerned about is that my husband is still working about 16 hrs a week but just barely. He really isn't functional at work and not capable. The only reason he is still working is that I work at the same place and same job and do about 3/4 of his work. He forgets things, doesn't finish tasks and most times cannot work with his customers. We have developed a system where I fill in for him and so far our managers are unaware. He has gotten so many notices that he is messing up on things. We are petrified that he will be fired and maybe both of us. We are not costing the company any more but I know they would not be happy about it. To make the situation worse, the owner is anti-veteran. He really isn't capable of being employed but he is. Any helpful advice? Thanks, Kate

My husband's claim has the same wording.

Did you have C&Ps? My husband's claim was filed in April and went straight to review of evidence for several months, then to pending decision approval for one week before being sent to gathering evidence and C&Ps were then ordered. Those are taking place next week. Kate

Has anyone had a C&P at Wade Park Cleveland? My husband has one scheduled and he is very stressed about it. The info on Ebenefits says 'psyo Purdum'. Is this the doctor's name? Anyone familiar with how he/she is with the exam? vet friendly? likely to allow me in with him? Thanks Kate

His website is veteransmedicaladvisor.com. All his info is there. Good luck. Kate

Fax not going through. Not sure if it is the fax numbers or Faxzero.

Thanks Berta. Just sent fax through using fax zero (never used them before, hope it works.). We will see if she answers.

I recognize one of the names from Louisville as the person who requested C&Ps for my husband's original denied claim. Do you think it would be out of line to fax her and ask what the hold up is on scheduling the C&Ps that were ordered to be scheduled back in July? Thanks Kate

Berta, Do you have a contact for the Louisville, KY office? Thanks Kate

Is there a way to get the regional offices phone numbers? Been trying to contact a specific person at the Cleveland regional office who had checked something out for us and cannot do so. Tried calling the 800 number and asking to be put through and they will not. Got the contact name while at the office but neglected to get phone number. Thanks Kate

My husband's has the ? Too.

So, what does this mean?

The problem I see with that is, how many civilian docs will be willing to participate since the payments will likely be a nightmare for them.

We filed the NOD yesterday in person at the Cleveland regional office. Got it date stamped. It was a strange day. Planned to leave home about 9 am for the one hour plus drive. Due to a lot of delays, didn't get to Cleveland until about 2pm. We wanted to visit DAV first to see if the NOD needed tweaked. Mistakenly went into the regional office while attempting to find DAV. They gave us directions to the DAV office but said they were closed on Thurs. afternoon. We were very disappointed to not be able to speak with DAV first but decided to go ahead and file anyway. A gentleman walked by at that time and asked us to come into his office. He first suggested we file a reopen/reconsideration but when he realized the date, said that would not work. Said he was just hoping to help us avoid the 3-5 year wait. Anyway, he logged into the computer to check on my husband's claim. C&Ps were ordered on July 7 and still not scheduled. He said that isn't right and said he would send an email to the person who ordered them to find out why it is taking so long. These are for the current reconsideration we have in. This is for PTSD and hearing/tinnitus. We decided not to file a NOD on the tinnitus/hearing and the PTSD was listed as a new claim although it was originally filed as irritability, nervousness, anxiety. The PTSD was not actually diagnosed until Jan. 2014, after the original claim was denied. Not sure they would have gone back and connected the two anyway and we decided the long wait of an appeal was not worth it to find out. So, we will let the " new" PTSD claim play out. I know we are possibly giving up some retro but my husband is 68 and I want him to enjoy this time and if he can possibly get service connected for the current PTSD claim, there will be a lot less stress. There were some references in the computer to the fact that VA is conceding the stressor and also the fact that he was subjected to noises despite his MOS not being gunnery or anything of that sort. We filed the NOD on kidney disease which is a Camp Lejeune water issue. We never included it in the reconsideration due to waiting on an IMO. I feel we have some good supportive evidence in the NOD. In answer to someone's questions: We did have good new and material evidence we submitted with the reconsideration and apparently VA agrees since they are requesting the C&Ps and made several statements in the computer notes that sound positive. We will see. I wish we had filed the reconsideration earlier but were originally planning to include the kidney disease, so waited a while before deciding we were not getting the kidney evidence fast enough. Reconsideration was filed in May, about 9 months after the original denial. We knew with the time frame, it was a crap shoot. Anyway, maybe it was a blessing that we got delayed yesterday. I really feel like the VA guy was trying to help and maybe his email will get them moving. Wish we were out of Cleveland because then he would likely know the person who ordered the C&Ps but since the kidney disease is Camp Lejeune, all my husbands current claims are in Louisville. One of the other VA workers said "you guys must be important, that guy is the big boss". I guess all things worked as they should. Hopefully. Kate

Yep, that's why we are hand delivering; to get a date stamped copy, as advised here. Went to local VSO yesterday to get help with the NOD and generally have them involved in case we need them in future. Left after deciding their help would be a hinderance. This same office really messed up the original claim. The new VSO there is quite good at assuring how wonderful she is in her job but proved otherwise. She was offended we insisted on taking the NOD to hand deliver. Messed up on putting dates in and insisted we did not need to include things that the VA were likely to have. Also said we only had 30 days from the denial to file the NOD and now just needed to ask for an appeal. My husband brought the correct info up online to show her and she conceded. We plan to visit DAV in Cleveland first to see if anything needs tweaked and then take the NOD down the hall to VA regional to get a date stamp. Do we need to do anything besides watch them stamp it, like get a receipt or anything? Also, the NOD will need to go to Louisville since it involves a Camp Lejeune water claim. As long as it is stamped by Cleveland, I assume it doesn't matter if Louisville receives it after the due date of Sept 19. Correct? I imagine it will languish in Cleveland for a while. Thanks, Kate

We are hand delivering my husband's NOD to VA regional tomorrow. Should we include all IMO's, private medical records and pertinent literature with the NOD or wait until a later date to send it in? Thanks, Kate

My husband has several claims being considered, one of which is unemployability. This was originally filed due to bad advice from his VSO. After much reading on here, we realize he is not entitled to receive unemployability at this point. He works limited hours due to his disability but, partially due to the fact that I work at the same place and help him often with his work (commission sales), he makes over the threshold. Now, we are wondering if he should request to have the claim dropped for this one contention. It will likely hold up the decisions on the other claims and is just clogging the system for no reason. Had we known then what we know now, we never would have filed it. My main concern with dropping it now is the fear that VA will somehow screw everything up and drop everything or something like that. Or, maybe the process of withdrawing it will cause even more delay. Any thoughts on this? Thanks, Kate