jbasser

Gentlemen,As Tbird said, lets keep this discussion civil. Just remember this, Mr. Cripps was the first Veteran to actually win his AO claim based on exposure to Agent Orange inside the Continental US. His methods worked or him and it is working for others. As an advocate for veterans, I have used local and specialty IMO doctors.The big question is not which doctor you use but how the IMO is written. Now for a local doctor that changes the game as it becomes an IME as the Doctor actually lays eyes on you. That ups the game. AN IME is the key here. Now a veteran must lug your claims folder and history with you because if he or she doesn't state they have reviewed the entire history, then the VA can use a Nurse Practitioner to offset the opinion. There is no right wy or wrong way to get a Medical opinion but one should always seek to be examined. A good point from ASKNOD on last nights show reinforces what I have posted on Hadit for years. If you need an IMO, contact any SSA disability attorney and ask them who they use for their IMO's. These guys always have someone attached and it is usually an occupational specialist who by-the-way, are hard to beat since the Occupational specialty is geared towards your disabilities in a working environment. This is how the entire VA disability system s set up. It is based on the working economy. Now lets be civil, we are all on the same team. Jbasser

Juan. Its been a long time Buddy. Happy to see the Neck get connected. It took them long enough. Dont be a stranger. Basser

Your goal is to get a 100 % scheduler rating. Only settle for IU as a backup. With IU as well as a 100 percent rating you cannot work. The IU part is unemployable and the schedular part of the 100 percent rating is based on the regs which state "Precludes employment" You could lose some benefits being IU. The main thing is Permanent and Total where you get the added benefits of ChampVA for the family and education benefits for the Kids. Also there may be tax benefits on the state and local level such as property tax exemptions for your home and Autos and ect.

This article is a WOW. http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20150304/statins-linked-to-raised-risk-of-type-2-diabetes

Not on a cue.It goes back to the date the claim was filed. J

Right Coronary Artery ischemia is Ischemic Heart disease and should be service connected according to the Part 4. Now the Rating alone will depend on the results of the ejection Fraction or EF or LVEF on the report. That number is the key. Hang in there Buck. Basser

http://tribunist.com/news/a-new-low-even-for-the-va-vets-corpses-found-rotting-in-chicago-vas-morgue/ Folks this has to be the worst VA story in the history of the VA. I am astonished at this news and I have verified it. Something needs to be done from the top down over this. This was from a whistle Blower.

On behalf of Jerrel Cook. 152601_GAO-NSIAD-94-266[2127829].pdf

Sierra, inside the VAMC is a tale of two different worlds. World number one is the VAMC which is ruled by the VHA. The second world is controlled by the VBA. The VHA is the health care side for treatment of medical conditions and medicines. The VBA is the group that controls Vocational Rehab, C and P exams and anything benefit related. A C and P doctor may work for the VMC and also do C and P exams but he is budgeted under VBA. Now being a patient in the hospital it is imperative for the veteran to have good representation while he or she is in the hospital. The rep can be a spouse or claims agent or VSO. These folks can relate your needs to the RO to start the informal claims process as your rep has your POA and can file a claim for you.. Another avenue is to take advantage of the social workers the VA provides. These people can connect the dots and work around the red tape on your behalf. We can have a Radio show in the next few weeks and explain this. Maybe we can get a VA rep on the air to explain in detail what to do if the need arises. Hope this helped a little. It has been awhile since I worked for the VA. Basser

It doesn't matter the condition. If an effective date interferes with a period of severance pay, the VA will offset it. J

Yes sir. That issue would go south like an elevator with a broken cable.

What is on your DD214? A copy of the orders should be in your personnel file. If you went TDY as a group then there would be one order with all listed names so anyone who went along may have a copy. Your unit archives are in DC. Get your dates together and write the JSRRC in DC to help find the unit records as there should be a log entry. First get you a good rep to interviene and stop the reduction. I would contact a claims agent or attorney instead of using a natl service officer.

All decisions are reviewed. Post decision. Maybe good news. J

call the 800 number and follow the instructions and get a call back, They can help if you are patient. J

Buck the age for priority claims placement based on advanced age is now at 90 years old. I just went through this with my WWII grandfathers claim.

Folks, PM me your name, State and Phone number and I am helping Dr Bash to prioritize. He will call you back. J

I have heard from Dr. Bash. He is grieving over his mothers desk and is now is asking for patience. He is starting to work again so folks, it may take a little time. For those that have deadlines, If you are close, you can ask for a 60 day extension from the VA. Dr Bash will catch up. Kathy, your situation is different since your not dealing with the VA so your case may need to move quicker. I will post more updates as I get them. Basser

I sent him a message. He usually responds to me but this time he didn't.respond. Something is not right.

Sorry for not picking up on this topic but Dr Bash has had a death in the family and is getting the Estate's affairs in order. Keep trying to contact him and you folks facing deadlines, contact me via PM or Send a message to benefitsagent@comcast.net.

Glad she is your X. Sounds like a WJ1..Whack Job first class. The VA is not stalking you. J

Housebound is covered by the SMC level of S. Now SMC S can be achieved two ways. The first way is to be physically housebound. (A Doc must say you are) The second way to get it is to have a disability rated as Total and Have another or combination of disabilities totaling 60 percent. That is called Statutory Housebound. Don't get confuses as the Regs say the word total and the VA likes to use the 100 percent issue but if you have IU for a single condition and have another rating of 60 percent either single of combined, you should be OK.

The VA pays DIC if the spouse dies and the cause of death is directly or a contributing factor is from a service connecred disability. The rate is a bit higher than you mentioned you received. I am sure Berta will see this and reply as she is the DIC guru. Basser

The nod starts the appeal process.That is how it works. J

How is an Xray going to show a disk problem? It is not going to. That doc is a Quack. Gamma Radiation from an Xray shows up as bone and can tell if you have arthritis. An Mri shows soft tissue like your disks. Go outside the VA and get your MRI. Do you have medicare part B? If the MRI shows you have a serious problem then you can go back on that doc for quality of treatment and other issues. J

If the answer is yes, I would like to hear from you. Please PM me directly and just reply yes in the forum. JBasser