afret

I am working on an appeal presently. I submitted an IMA that found numerous disabilities that were unknown to me and all are related to my service connected disability. It is my understanding that when the VA receives medical information that indicates or shows additional medical conditions that may be service related that they are required to then open a claim on those items and notify the claimant (me) that they have done so. I need to know what regulation in the VA claims process states this. Thanks, Art

I am working on an appeal presently. I submitted an IMA that found numerous disabilities that were unknown to me and all are related to my service connected disability. It is my understanding that when the VA receives medical information that indicates or shows additional medical conditions that may be service related that they are required to then open a claim on those items and notify the claiment (me) that they have done so. I need to know what regulation in the VA claims process states this. Thanks, Art

I am working on an appeal presently. I submitted an IMA that found numerous disabilities that were unknown to me and all are related to my service connected disability. It is my understanding that when the VA receives medical information that indicates or shows additional medical conditions that may be service related that they are required to then open a claim on those items and notify the claiment (me) that they have done so. I need to know what regulation in the VA claims process states this. Thanks, Art

In addition to the above, the Illinois Secretary of States Office will issue a free Disable Veteran License plate which has a free renewal each year to a 100% disabled veteran. There may be an initial fee for issuance of I think $25.00 for the plate itself, but renewal thereafter each year is free. The Illinois veterans site does not show this particular benefit - I have written them and they don't care to advertise it as a benefit on their veterans site. You will have to go to the Secretary of States site and do a little searching to find it, but it's there. Tammy Duckworth is kinda slipping up on the job in this regard. You might try sending her an e-mail on this, I did e-mail and snail mail. No results except a letter from a minor functionary stating all is well, move along...move along.

Only if your disabilities have increased to the schedular level of 100%. If you feel that your disabilities are now more severe than your current ratings reflect, file a claim for increase in your ratings. But to go from 100% IU to 100% schedular on a whim, the answer is no.

According to the info that I received from my VSO at the Chicago VARO there is an activity within the VA on the hypertension front with regards to assigning it as a presumptive condition of AO. This is a very, very early development and it IS being discussed at the higher levels so it is at least confirmed to me that the subject is being addressed within the VA at the present time. His advice was to watch it closely as it may just occur, but, as in all things governmental...get out the fishin pole and wait. AFRet

Because everyone knows the VA is not political. And you know what they say when you can't take a joke. AFRet

Or the vet could have been a democrat! Being dead doesnt stop them from voting, why should it stop them from VA benefits. J/K

Gather up all your documentation and letters from the VA, go to the nearest VA medical center...look up the Veterans Service Officer, every VA medical center has them. Either the DAV, American Legion or Veterans of Foreign wars VSO. Sit down with him/her explain your problem...show them your paper work...go from there. I do not think you are going to be able to be effective by remote control, you are going to have to go in and see a VSO and start the ball rolling. AFret