jbasser

This entire thing is just political fallout for the recent events that have taken place. OEF Vets have been the group to be pointed out and that is because it is current news. It will settle down again and we will all get back to normal. Once the heat is off, The VA will go back to its old ways and everyone who deals will continue to be puzzle pieces in the VA claims Game. Speaking of that, Someone should invent a VA board game. It can be a cross between Sorry and Monopoly. J

The Letter is an income verification letter to be used as proof of VA Compensation. Keep it in a safe place. Congrats. 100% P@T also entitles you to chapter 35 benefits as well as champ VA for you and the Kids if they are in the covered age bracket. In addition, he also qualifies for a DOD ID card to use the Exchange / PX at the nearest installation as well as take advantage of Military recreational activities. One biggie here is the use of Shades of Green at WDW. J

Mcaffe, I feel your pain. Congressmen can blow directly through the red tape and go straight to the Director. This can also be done through the VA Secretary. Hang in there, J

Mcaffe, you need to step back and take a deep breath. Something you have done has struck a nerve with someone. Do not mess with these folks. You will dig yourself into a hole you will never get out of. Anyone must use tact when dealing with these agencies as well as members of congress or the Senate. Any comunication should be in writing and written with respect toward the recipient. Good luck but be careful. J

Stretch your correct. 1. TS you also should get VA dental treatment 2 DOD ID card to be able to use the comissary, exchange, PX and recreation facilities. 3. Waiver of premium for Service disabled life insurance. ( Base premium only) 4. Preffered scheduling for VA appointments. 5. American Eagle pass with discounts at National Parks and attractions.( Camping) J

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002253.htm This defines the term malignancy from a medical prospective.

You just need a Doc to put it together for you. The Doc must provide a good Nexus. HTN is not a good thing to have, I have had it for years and it does take its toll on the body. I see your catch 22 about filing the claim. A new claim will most likely delay the one currently working, J

Jay, did your Primary Care Doc call you abou this MRI? The Radiologist report mentioned Malignancy. Have you had any cancers? The Radiologist suggested a follow up be done. It it was me and I could afford to, I would be at a Ortho Doc Monday AM. You should be calling to clarify the malignancy. ( Cancer with the ability to spread) I got a scare like this 3 years ago. J

Betty, you can always NOD an effective date. The BVA is loaded with published cases just like yours. Disagreeing with an effective date will not hurt a claim. You will still get your Retro and Monthly comp while the claim is ongoing. The regs clearly explain about missing service department records and they are different than corrected service records.

If a person applies for Chapter 35 benefits and is not service connected they will send the application back and say you are not entitled to the benefit and most likely would ask you if you were filing a claim. The Claim is the most important focal point because once granted 100 percent P and T you qualify for chapter 35 benefits for your spouse and children. As far as the effective date it says the date claim was filed or condition arose whicever is later unless you had previously filed a claim and was denied for missing service department records. Say the VA received those records then the effective dats should be the original date. This does not apply to the effective date of the reg change. J

Ron, if you meet the criteria for a higher rating for heart disease, It should be a no brainer. The Ratings are based on Test results and the ratings are based on the Ejection fraction, Congestive Heart Failure and other information. The most significant test is a Cardiac Catherization. It is an actual person looking inside and taking the measurements. For example, You have a heart Echo and your EF is 55 percent, You then have a heart cath and it shows your EF at 50 percent. The VA has to go with the Heart cath. It overrides other test results. J

If the spinal injury was from the Neck, C5 or C6 vertebrate, The CArpal tunnel may be related. You need to get all the records together and go see a doctor to help you summarize the record. That is the first step. File the claim then get the IMO. Tackle the physical defects first, then go after the mental claim. The VA seems to be able to twist up mental claims into a complex mess and it can take several years to get a claim processed.

That is not too odd. They are counting on the fact that if you get to a DRO or an Appeal hearing and you dont have a C@P exam on the record then it affords them what they want. TIME. The BVA will remand it back to the RO and tell them to schedule you for a C&P exam. It is all about the time the Government gets to keep its money. One way to combat this FUBAR is to provide them with a well written IMO with all the evidence summarized and an opinion rendered. They that forces their hand as they must get an exam to compare. A good way to find an IMO doc is to call a SSD attorney ans ask them who they use for IME's. They usually charge anywhere from 4 to 6 hundred dollars but these guys are usually Occupationa docs and can relate a disability to a persons lost earnings capacity. Good Luck.

From What I can understand about it, the director of C@P reviews awards over a certain amount or EEDs of 8 years or more. The claim remains unofficial until they actually sign off on it. Its been long enough Betty. In your case it has been too long. J

Betty, By all means I encourage you to call and set up direct deposit. That may be the actual delay in your situation. https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.ex...php?p_faqid=715 I hope it works out soon. J

I saw the interview. The Senator seemed upset and She has a good reason. I have never heard so much double talk. The Doc needs to resign but even better if he was fired. She is not the only house or senate member upset, There are several more. I would like to see a congressional inquiry into it. That would jump start the VA repair process.

They most likely billed the insurance carrier. They use medical codes for billing so most lilely no pertinant health information was disclosed. Be careful. Not disclosing insurance information to the VA can get a Vet into hot water. The VA tries to bill for every dime it can. I get EOB's and I wonder what the heck it was for. Good luck. J

You do want to go outside and use your tricare to go to a good Pulmonary Doctor. One that can differentiate between COPD and asbestosis. Then the DOc may tell you how to show physical proof. I got turned down on my asbestos claim and I was a Naval Insulator and removed asbestos. On the bright side, I got 100 percent for Restrictive Lung Disease and Diaphragm paralysis based on Pulmonary Hypertension. So there may be other avenues to get the lung service connected.

Betrayed, I have a feeling they are getting ready to throw the old COPD at you. They may go as far to say you have Emphyzema. If a Vet Smokes or smoked in service then they will usually attempt to use it against the Vet. A HRCT is a good tool for pinpointing a spacific area like a lower lobe but it may miss things. They should have done a regular CT with contrast and then a HRCT to check a spot in more detail. J

If he is a war Vet then yes, But compensation outweighs pensions for 2 reasons. 1: Pensions are usually very minute in Dollar amounts and may be taxable.

The Mail system is usually pretty precise and they will send cancellation or re-schedulings. Now if they do call you it may because there is not enough time or you were worked in for a particular exam like a C@P. Dial 1-800-827-1000. Type in the old ssn and follow the prompts to check your appointments. The C@P may not be on there as they are not often put on the coumputerized call system. J

Macool, Do you have the ROM's taken from exams. C@P examination? The VA is supposed to rate a disability based ont he loss of earnings capacity. May I suggest you find a Private Occupational Doc who does Exams for Attorneys for SSD cases to write an IMO. These guys are the ones who trump all Docs as they can relate conditions to employment. On an additional note, If I dad listened to my Vet Rep, I would still be at 10 percent and gettting nowhere. Good Luck. J

This has the statute of the facts being known at that time. In 87 a Turn Down for a Home Loan would not constite an informal claim. When you were Sercice connected, were you denied and did you present new and Material Evidence to re-=open the claim. If so the date most likely is correct. Now if the claim involved some type of Cue and you can prove it to be legal error, Then you may have a chance. This sounds very complex. Good Luck. J

John, I would like to add the old addage that if it aint broke, dont fix it. Keep on Posting. We Enjoy reading them. J

Acid Reflux or Gerd is a rateable disability. Probale means the VA thinks you have it. Does the VA prescribe any meds for Acid reflux? It cound be considered aggravation as some meds cause it. Naproxyn is one as well as large amounts of Ibuprofen. J