Guppy

Thanks for reading my long explanation scenario. I am meeting with a "State veterans" employee next month. I live on the other side of the country and will be traveling home for a month to get this stuff rolling. During our several conversations she doesn't seem very "gung-ho" , about getting the conditions rated. Just more focused on getting basic A & A. I feel like I can maneuver through the ebenefits system effectively and am hesitant to turn his representation over to her, as she is insisting. Can the system be effectively negotiated by a lay person with brains? ;)

Lost and confused... In the big bad VA world... Ask three people, get three different answers... This is a long post, but it wanted to be all inclusive On behalf of my Vietnam Veteran father, USAF, Decorated rescue helicopter pilot, 21 years... I ask the following series of questions, that I am unable to get a "clear" answer from any person on the other end of a phone at a VA call center or RO, or VSO. Sometimes I feel like I know more than they do?! Help....... He has been rated 100% SC P and T for 2 years for CAD, following placement of 3rd stint, after many years at combined rating 60% for hypertension, tinnitus, perforation of ear drum, mastoiditis. Two months prior to the 100% rating he developed AO related limited stage Small cell lung cancer. He was temporarily rated at an additional 100% for this during treatment for 6 months., housebound also awarded for six months. After the 6 months he was dropped to 0% due to lack of diseases present. He NEVER went in for any follow up C & P exam for " residuals" of the cancer treatments, both chemo and 10 brain stem radiation PCI treatments. He was feeling "good" and was happy to be beating this horrible odds cancer. I wasn't in the loop about how he followed up with his medical care until most recently, as his condition , 2 1/2 years past treatment now has begun to deteriorate on all levels, physical, cognitive and mental. He now has bowel and bladder incontinence , mobility limitations (walker), soon wheelchair,, and difficulty with communication and speech ( almost Parkinsonism in nature), COPD, asthma , non diabetic Peripheral neuropathy and Oxygen therapy 24 hours a day at 2L at rest. Seems like a no brainer, Problem being.... Aside from the incontinence (which in and of itself is demoralizing for him) , he had pre existing degrees of all the conditions listed that we're not on file at the VA because he didn't think they were service connected , but NOW they are debilitating and most certainly exacerbated by the "temporary" service connected active lung cancer and treatment., now rated at 0%. I have requests out to his private sector doctors for records as well as applicable DBQ's , as well as a housebound and aid and attendance form completed by his primary care physician. So finally to my ultimate question, are these secondary to his lung cancer disease or residuals, ? Which form(s) should we file, use Ebenefits. ? , FDC? Everyone I have spoken to on the "help" lines gives me a different answer,,, this is my favorite,.. " he's already rated at 100%, you can't get anymore than that"? WHAT ?! How about SMC, housing grants (SC respiratory conditions), added conditions for eventual DIC for spouse.? Etc.... Am I crazy or headed in the right direction? He spent over 1000 days in Vietnam flying through Agent Orange in a helicopter., ....I need... Help.. Thank you