Arch

I think good old POT is the answer! No Crank no speed no Alchol,( well mabey a little te hee) Im getting to that point where I feel nausious alot of the time I know from the past that POT helps that and may soon start back up.... Arch (Ol Pot smoker)

Yes, I was taking Lipitor and after several months I was unable to walk! Upon examination they found my right calf was about 2/3 the girth of my left leg. Just had a blood draw so they called the lab and ordered a CPK test and the physician Hospitalized me and "stopped" the lipitor on the spot. Some people do quite well on the medication, others do badly there are different physiologys of people. Tried there massive Niacin dosage and a few months later had a severe GI bleed, Liver failure was diagnosed? Dont know if they are related or not?? Arch 100% SC P&T USAF

Hey, Just for grins I would have my next of kin apply for the flag and burial benefits. Get the National Cemetary to do a grave locator search, (They say you are dead right) and apply for Burial benefits, If the cause of "supposed demise" was S/C apply for Dependants DIC. After they tell you you are indeed alive, and deny the benefit because death has not occured Yet, Use this a Irrefutable proof of their many many errors. Arch

With alot of help from Patty Murray's people and the threat of asking the U.S. Attorney to investigate "why the VARO does not follow the legal requirments of Title 38 U.S.C." I got the P&T retroactive for 2 years. My Wife deserves the CHAMPVA. These VARO DRO's are SOB's, I hate fighting my own Government for things that should be a "Given". Arch 100% P&T

For what it is worth, I get the same thing after most proceedures. Mine comes from Staph infections. Comfrey and red clover ameliorate the pain and swelling. If it is some Military related infection YOU NEED ANTIBIOTIC HELP I have a perpetual staph infection in my ears, skin, face, )scrotum edges( that hurts bad, behind the ears etc. See the Doc soon....If the first one wont help see more and more till you get help..... Arch

Thank you for saying this so well, I could obfsucate much more but what you said is well written../. Arch

VA rates hearing loss in a screwy manner! it has to meet a specific level before VA considers it disabling. Also tinnitus shows up as a notch in hearing, like; -10 -20 -20 -40 -20 as measured in five frequencies. the notch also affects speech recognition. My hearing aids stink!!! Arch

Never Never close any appeal. Closing my appeal on advice from the "stinking DAV"lost me $10,000 in back pay so I could get my GI Bill benefits before time ran out... Do not close out anything, wait 2 years its money in the bank. they will have to go back to your original filing date. and you get the back money anyhow... Arch 100% VA 100% SSDI 10% present and not accounted for :)

VA doctor made a comment with his finding that the possibility of surgery exists pending Heart and Liver doctors clearance. Of course they say only life sustaining surgery could be performed, VARO did not look at that! So no elective brain surgery for me. I am 65 this year and on 100% SSDI for the past 8 or so years. Its just thier way of screwing over me AGAIN. Spouses medical insurance here in Wa. state is almost $600.00 per month for high deductable coverage. So they take almost half of my compensation just for her coverage. Like the Vawatchdog site says it aint over till you get the brass plaque on your crypt. Thanks for the reply and Happy New year Arch

Well All, I want to wish a happy new year, and a prospourous one to all on the board. I won my 100% Schedular but no Champva for spouse, my living expenses have gone through the roof, Just had a $4000 repair on my eurovan. Everything is breaking or dying. I am Sooo depressed Im almost thinking of seeing the shrink again for more pills since thats all they will do?? I hope it goes better for the rest of you though, even with this "clinker" of a new VA Chief ... HAPPY 2008 TO ALL. Arch

My best advice is to go with an attorney, I have been on SSDI since late in 98. I was turned down 3 times and as soon as the lawyer got his cut of back money I was awarded 100% by an administrative law judge, PTSD almost got me jail time when the SS doctor said I did not have peripheral neuropathy. I stood up and almost grabbed th Doctor by the neck but I was removed by two officers, I was apoligized to by the Law Judge and awarded disability for the heart condition and DMII and a laundry list of other stuff. I was recently upgraded to 100% VA disability for Meniers disease, I still have to NOD the rest. Its never really over? Arch

Chickens will eat good now! Checked electronic deposit, its in there the back pay that is. Wifey poo did all the writing, not fair for us to have to pay $400/ month for insurance. But she does not trust the VA either..... Arch

Thats Correct Berta, no guarantee, I have had 4 surgeries so far and only the TIPS stent went well all the rest had other complictions. Its hard enough walking into walls, falling and knocking things down now. I Just dont trust "modern medicine". Im working on my approach NOW. At My senior age and with all my medical problems Surgery is not an option & Forget the Gentamycin injection in the ear. Tinnitus is bad enough now, Imagine turning the whistling into a roaring turbine.... Arch

Carlie, they truly do. We have an account there and was depositing the VA checks there,suddenly they required a WA DL number plus SSN on the check with that much info they can open an account elsewhere, I refused to allow them to write the numbers on the check. So they would not take the deposit of federal funds of a U.S. treasury check without a "thumbprint"... We no longer use BOA except for paypal and small change.... Bitterly Arch

Navy. I have recently been upgraded to 100% from 50% with vestibular disfunction. I allways thought the tinnitus was either blood perssure or someone talking about me? Over the military service I had variable hearing in the ear, to the point that I was accused of malingering. I now know this is the course of meniers disease. I have had all the tests also, and they initially called it vestibular disfunction,deafness with tinnitus. Vertigo is not allways a spinning sensation, it can be a loss of balance falling down or rocking sensation. I have fallen down my stairs, and fall constantly. Good news is there are 3 stages of meniers disease, the middle one being the worst with attacks of vomiting and high speed spinning, or where it tends to accelerate. I am now inthe "burnt out" stage of what is called Classic Meniers disease. Iv'e had a lousy life dealing with bouts of it, No one knows what its etiology is either, we are all a bit different. I have used Vallium ( death pill) antivert and am having the best sucess with a diuretic combo for my Liver disease its. Amiloride and furosomide, I still have ear pain constantly though. All you need is 2 or more epesodes weekly for 100% schedular plus cerebellar gait? Cant get a "gold standard" on that puppy though. watch out for attacks of tumarkin, I also have those thats dangerous.... Arch

The VARO increased me from 50% vestibular dysfunction to 100% schedular for meneirs disease. Failed to rate me as P&T so no Champva for spouse which pisses me off royaly, Doc suggested removal of skull bone and complete ear guts. Cannot guarantee I wouldnt only turn right for rest of my life... should get 4 months back pay due to some crazy rule to do with year in time?? Arch

Cowgirl, Yes I am reading title 38 and other U.S.Codes more and more. I am begining to think that the VARO's are actualy aliens or possibly a super computer to be able to screw us the "effecient" way they do, a mere panel of humans could not possibly be that good. QTC is the contractor that the VA uses to get favorable IME to their benefit. They are based in California, and thier CEO is "The Anthony Principi" formerly head of the Veterans administration untill he was replaced after the laptop went missing with all the Veterans files and SSN's on it. The Principal shareholder of that LLC's holdings is "Bill ex senator Frist" Getting the drift? And we get to be represented by a Mr. Ben Dover, of No town USA. Remember Veterans come first, then the chickenhawks and the rest of the upper food chain... Bitterly Arch

Well fellow veterans, I asked for your advice on attending the QTC scheduled exam. Indeed there is a regulation under 38Cfr 3.655 In which is titled "Failure to report for a scheduled examination" under this they can reduce your current compensation or not rate you at all as a no show. So I went to the examination with my spouse, who is also my caregiver as Im a bit shaky these days. As a buisness proffesional, she quitely and politely gave the package to the Doctors receptionist who gave the QTC package back and handed her a bunch of forms to fill out. these were mostly Insurance information and a Wa. State HIPPA form and a Hold Harmless clause for the Doctor ( I wont mention his name in this post) I refused to sign any disclosure statements or HIPPA forms as Federal HIPPA rules apply as per the QTC instructions, I declined to sign the Insurance forms or financial responsibility or the Hold Harmless clause for the Doctor or to give any Major credit card's. Following QTC's instructions to the letter we tried to explain to the receptionist, another girl, and Telephonicaly their office manager for at least 30 minutes how this visit is Contracted and paid for by the Veterans Administration through QTC. At this time my wife heard theDoctor who was hiding behind a wall ask " did they sign all the forms" the girl replied "sort of" at which point he came through the door and proceeded to tell us that we had one of his office staff in the back office in tears. And that this was unacceptable and that he would not be seeing me today. I was never more embarrassed and mortified in my Life to be treated this way. Incidentaly you should have seen the look on his face when he had to ask to be buzzed back in via the electric lock on the door like a cheap pawn shop use's, like a frightened coyote on a flat spot. We both left his Office with chest pains for the rest of the day. I still dont know why QTC was sending me to a Doctor who specialized in ENT allergies to evaluate what a VA Otoneuroligist diagnosed as "meniers disease". I did receive an apology from the VARO but it is only superficial and phony IMHO. The VARO did rate the condition as 100% for meniers, stating they already had 2 medical opinions in the treatment record, however the VA Doctor mentioned the possibility of surgical removal of the entire inner ear and under this did not rate it as "Permanent and Total" However I do not beleive the VARO can require you to undergo surgery As Im not 100% sure it will not make things worse. Also my VA hepatoligist does not reccomend any surgeries do to my liver conditions, also my Primary care Doctor at theVA says we should use caution due to my Blood thinning and prone to infections. Hows this for a Haloween Horror Story, All too true and Im still angry, I will have to NOD the Occult hepatitus also as they as usual distort the facts. As they say on VA Watchdog "It aint over till theFat Lady sings and you get the Brass Plaque as a marker" Arch

Berta, There is a time when self help is no longer a viable option. I have noticed that these VARO's tend to lump things together and then make one single erroneous rating. I am in a similar situation although not as complex but in it's formative stages. I am considering hiring a lawyer and going for the throat or other vital zones. These people are definatly not equipped as some of the board members here, I even quoted title 38 to one of the #800 number flunkies and they did not know it existed? And "they are supposed to help me" I think not. NO 1, Go to the VARO and speak with a supervisory case worker, one who has some ability to understand the situation. If that does not clear up the VCAA situation then go to step 2. NO. 2, Hire a competent lawyer, one who will listen to the case history and the results which the VARO has adjucated and its weight with respect to the USC to which it applies. Also ask the attorney that you be "made whole" for all the aggrivation and time lost and suffering due to thier errors. (made whole is all back pay and losses including aggrivation, loss of sleep, worry and expenses, in terms of compensation and other losses in Dollars.) Arch

Im a bit worse, legs are swelling, Occult blood inurine, more pain.... The VA RO sob,s know this too. I Honestly believe they hope I will die before any decision is made... Arch

Well I am still waiting for paperwork from QTC on appointment with a "ear Doctor" Its already well established that I hqve vestibular disfunction, Now a VA Doctor showed me on an MRI why I have this, its called Meniers disease. Obviously it was this all along but its all in the wording and Knowledge of the physician.. I had an appointment with a Doctor on October 2nd but the QTC people could not get the doctor to agree to a "contract?" so now its supposed to be on October the 19th, And then the VA has to wait for the Doctor to file his report with QTC and then the QTC staff forwards it to the VARO. Talk about a cluster f??? this is Incredible since there are already 2 VA opinions, an MRI which he showed me the little bulb that was swollen twice the size of the other Balance organ, and an artifact found in the cerebellum. All the symptoms are all my complaints over several years, fullness, dizziness and headaches etc etc. All I can do is wait then NOD then go to the BVA. We are screwed by their ability to paper us till death..... Arch

Boy You Guys & Gals are Just Great I really appreciaate all the input, I think you all are right, there is a Reg that states If you dont show they can drop your claim. My Wife found it today in research of 38 CFR, now we cant get back to the section to print it out (too many computers ) I Will go to the QTC bogus exam, they are sending me to a doctor who treats allergies of the ear to determine "meniers" syndrome?? About par for VA. Thanks for covering my "Six" folks, Really feels good to have this board and all the contributing members .. Arch

No reps here, In Washington State They are all either lazy, stupid or corrupt!! This lady I spoke with is pretty straight so far, I have 2 favorabile VA Specialists opinions in the VA medical file. If they can come up with a "decent" Doctor, one who has an active practice, also is equal or better qualifications than the Army or VA doc's. I may see him, no more jerks please.. Arch

Looks like its equipose on the answers.. 2Do 2dont?? BTW the QTC people has called twice this afternoon since I said I would not see this crummy old (75) Doctor who I had seen once before. Had a friend drive by and look at his "office" It is a poorly maintained single story ranch house, looks like the kind of place you would wear rubber boots and gloves and a face mask to enter!!! They are in a real hurry to make another appointment. Too much of a hurry! Im going to take some time as I have 2 favorabile opinions in My Va medical file They call on the phone and represent themselves as calling Refference my VA claim. Not calling refference the Medical appointment. I said say "hello" to your boss mr. Principi, and by the way say Hi to the major stockholder Ex Sen. Bill Frist...... Thanks Arch