Buck52

Well maybe you should get an IMO with a certified board spelizeing in your disability and ask the Dr to say your disability is'' likely as not'' happen/caused while in the military while serving in Iraq(be honest with the private Dr and let him know what the VA wants that you don't have, try to find a Private Dr That helps veterans and is veteran friendly. Private Dr' are expensive but it may be worth every penny, If the VA believes you served in Iraq with the DD214(they should)...but still needs STR'S To prove this disability happen and you were treated for it. but actually was not treated for it because of the surrounding circumstances. You could use Reasonable Doubt & with Explanation account along with the IMO& Buddy statements from the unit you served with during this time of question even though you or the VA can't produce your STR'S (write a letter of explanation for that) You need to stop worrying about this and wait and see what there decision will be? they will give you a reason they denied you...if they do? Its hard to say sometimes what they will do? depends on who your rater is and if he/she is having a good day. Did you get a denial? or Your claim is in Appeal & your VSO sent you a letter saying they need your STR'S? ........Buck

As for as prices at the Commissary We went to Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport/Bossier City,La (Where they took the President during 911) Anyway we didn't find the prices on Food Products to be cheaper than Wal-mart other than the no tax. It basically was not worth the trip from Dallas. Wife was disappointed. .............Buck

Excellent Question Fat. I was wondering as we all gain knowledge about the claims process over the years is it possible to go back and catch errors that were made after the claim is closed? say go back 15 years or so? or would it be worth the trouble? Mostly about EED Dates? .................Buck

What Exactly is it that you need? Do you need medical evidence to support your claim for Service Connection? And you can't find your STR's to support that? Is this your first claim? or is in on Appeal from NOD? They could not find all of my STR'S from Vietnam and Especially the one I needed to support my claim and I was deined. I appeal that and wrote out in detail what happen and there should be a record of it because I did report it to my CO at the time unfortunately they could not find it it either was destroyed or was blown to smithereens Your DD214 Should have it on it that you serve in Iraq as a combat veteran & where you served. I am not sure what the CFR'S numbers are? but a veteran can give an explanation of account what happen and that in fact it did happen with Buddy statements from your unit& unit commander...This is what I had to do. if no Records found but you have proff of serving in Iraq then you have the benefit of Doubt. Separation orders should have whom you served with in Iraq and when you were transferred back to the states. with dates of separation. ............Buck

:smile:Oh the wonders of our C-File. I agree Asknod is totally correct about the VA left us a Rand Road Map...we just have to decipherer it. Asknod is one of the best veteran advocates there is in my opinion. This is what I LOVE about hadit and When MsTird started it in 1997 for all of us to get on her raft. The Knowledge here on Hadit that we all learn from can never be replaced or a put a price tag on! All because of a wonderful nice caring lady Ms Tbird. its changed the world for many many veterans. I am very Thankful for HADIT and I am glad to help support hadit with funds sent in every year. ..............Buck

When I go see my VA Doc he might say hello how are you today I say Well Doc I seen better days, or if I am in a lot of pain I say not to good, when the normal thing to say is I'm good Doc & you. Usually my Doc just says how can I help you today and I just start telling him/her how I been feeling and things about how the pain meds are working or not working like there suppose to and any other issues I have medically. The Dr. sits there on the computer and looks at your lab work/reorders meds...while you just sit there...its that way for me anyway. These Appointments are far and in-between for most of us veterans, for me its every 6 months So I make my time during these Appointments count big time! Its during the exam is when the veteran needs to say how he is feeling and the problems he is having. I never did like that BS when they ask you on a scale from 1 to 10 what is your pain number? To me that's a useless question to ask a veteran, all the veteran knows is he is in pain usually severe pain & that's why he is there. Its up to the Dr's to check us out.. I agree with PUREREADY about waiting hours for your Appointment, Labs early am then two hours wait to go check in with your clinic then its anyone guess how long that wait is. I Dread going to my VAMC its usually at least a half day wait and some time an all day wait. When your at your VAMC its best to keep the conversation with the Nurse & Doc about your reason your there & let the Dr do most of the talking you just answer his/her questions the best you can & let him/her know about any other medical issues you may have. if the Doc gives you a new diagnosis ...then wait until you get home and ask here on hadit about it if it could be secondary to your existing disability's...to qualify you to file for an increase, Do not Ask your VA Doc that question. Unless your on good terms with your Doc and you been seeing him/her a long time & he /she suggest you should file!...but still do be careful asking the clinical tech or Nurse & Dr's about compensations questions...We can ask those questions here on Hadit. REMEMBER everything you say when your at your VAMC Appointments is put into the computer and later filed with your M.R's that could come back to Haunt you. just some more of my 2 cents ...................Buck

I would say go for both, if your awarded a % they usually pay retro from that date. you have a good chance according to what your last C&P Examiner Stated. go get a copy of that particular exam. unfortunately a 0% rating does not qualify for compensation jmo ..................Buck

just now seen your Post #9 GP yes I agree with you on that! ..............Buck

Thanks broncovet, I'll try some of these! ............Buck

Do any of you veterans take meds for swollen Prostate? My VA Doc has me taking Tamsulosin and Finasteride (maybe misspelled? Anyway does it seem to cause indigestion and abdominal pain? It does me, I been taking this now for a year. go to my VA Doc the 4th...is there any other alternatives? Thanks .............Buck

You should have the service records of where and when you was in Iraq, even travel orders should work to prove that! Check your own records you have in your possession when you were discharged. As ''USMC_HVEQ'' Mention you should be able to get all your records from St Louis Even if you don't have any STR'S. some things go un-reported (in time of war) that's why the veteran has the benefit of the Doubt. You need to get your C-file and check it yourself...some lazy ass VA Employee may not look good enough and just wants to make the veteran sweat. your STR's could very well be in your C-file. jmo ............Buck

Well Asknod you didn't do anything wrong! If pointing out some inconsistencies that this veteran obviously has (from reading his CAVC case Docket to compared to what he posted, That Asknod only pointed that out to him, he should have been grateful if he wants help with his claim. Asknod was simply referring to him to be honest. Asknod is one of the best VA experienced adjudicators there is& fellow Vietnam veteran I'm very proud to get to know him and happy he spends a lot of his time helping us veterans. has he can back up what he says. Maybe this veteran can get help with his claim from some other site if he choose to do so....like maybe'' W.W.P'' just my humble opinion! ,.....................Buck

Also helps to be rated higher for/or incase a proposal to reduce...if your at 160% and the VA reduced you by 20/30/40 % then you have a ''cushion'' so to speak...and still keep your 100% rate. just some of my 2 cents! ................Buck

Navy04 A Veteran does not need to serve in a War or Conflict to be entitled to VA Compensation, he/she could only served in the US. if the veteran was injured any time he/she was on AD is entitled to VA Compensation & even if it took years after Discharge for the disability to manifest its self to hinder the veteran disable. These are in the CFR's don't know the Numbers off the top of my head but there in there. At my VAMC a lot of the Veterans love to tell stories of war that have never served in war time...to me I think they wanted to but never had the opportunity. if we can call it an opportunity? ...Actually I was serving in Germany of the first part of 1968, then came down on what they called a levee and got orders for the RVN, I Ended up serving two tours in Vietnam (to qualify for President Nixon early out discharge program).....first year was fairly bad I never like to talk about what I seen & went through, the second year was not so bad. but it was bad all over Vietnam For all the soldiers US Army,USMC, Navy and US Air Force. My opinion We were all are brothers and we watched each other backs. Some times I have bad thoughts of it and I probably will until the day I die All Veterans Will. I do remember when I first arrived to my unit how some the elder soldiers where in boonie hats & called us Newbie's New-boots, Mommys boy, as I looked at there dark tan weathered blistery faces with shirts off some how it didn't piss me off because I knew these guys have been to hell and back and now its my turn. If I had to do it all over again would I? hell yes I would. It's been such a long long time ago my memory fades me but what I do remember this In my life time I know I could never have met a better bunch of brave men than the ones I served with & did get to meet and know very well, Black or White we were all the same and I still think and feel that way today. I went from a young boy 18 to a man in the blink of an eye. ........................Buck

I Am fairly sure a veteran can use the evidence he had when he was awarded his claim & the VA must take into consideration that the evidence used was correct other wise how could the VA Propose such a proposal? other than the below mention This is why we need to check our C-file from time to time to make sure what's in it and this is usually why the VA Does random checks into the veterans C-file to send out those letters to propose a reduction because someone fiddle farted around with our C-file and added something in it to make the VA think our disability's has shown an improvement .or a VA PCP & an a C&P Examiner gives a veteran a fraudulent report some think that it rocks the boat to ask for increase or file new claims for SC...I Think differently if the truth is told. Most of the time its just a miss understanding or a miss -communication....and can be corrected back to its original form...this is specially true for the veteran with 100% P&T with no future exams scheduled and with a static or of nature Disability or Disability's Sometimes it helps to email Allison Hickey to help solve a problem like this. My way of thinking is I am content with my 100%P&T rating. So until something comes up that maybe SC and is a danger to my health Yes I will file for it to help my spouse if I die before her. ....................Buck

I would file for it for the reasons you mention...you could file for SMC's also if you get SC for these newer disabilitys & if they keep you housebound or your current disability's has worsen then why the hell not file? It would be hard for the VA to take away your current 100% P&T They need to prove without any doubt your current disability's has improved. jmo ........................Buck

I Never truly understood the fact that most in Congress gets paid well above anyone else by the Federal Government . Its Irrelevant where the $$ comes from and what program its allocated from obviously the $$ is there! The Government is the same for All people or is it?, so why not make the veterans compensation1/4 close to the salaries in Congress or at least twice the amount us vets are getting. Do the people in Congress that are very well compensated/or paid a high salary have to go through the worries like we veterans do about different things & VA taking away what they gives us in compensation of course they don't. opposed to what they get paid in salary is far and above more than any disable Veteran will ever get. So does a good education take a better stand than the brave men/women as veterans who have fought and sacrifice the freedom for all? jmo ....................Buck

Most of us that has had a'' proposal to reduce'' fight to keep it, If you get a negative report in an C&P Exam & get a letter to propose to reduce your SC disability. Its always best to get a Private IMO/IME from a board certified speclists within your disability(with his/her credentials) on the report,& The Dr uses the VA's criteria to address your SC Disability's. The VA Raters and DRO's will usually take the opine of a Qualified Speclist in the field of medicine that meets the disability of the veteran over a VA Dr. .........jmo .............................Buck

Well said broncovet All veterans should read this and add it to there favorites for future use! Thank you for posting this great info! .............Buck

I read Bluewaters post and I totally agree with You and Asknod, This veteran is obviously bitter at the decision he received. I read Asknod post and I read into that asknod was only trying to point out to the veteran his inconsistencies of his post, and this veteran was caught red handed in some very important things to be proved was not true or accurate THAT he mention in his post here on hadit. To me my opinion this veteran should have came back to asknod and thanked him that he was totally correct &said (It's obvious that you Mr Asknod you are highly intelligent & experienced with in VA Law) As for as Asknod reading about his CAVC case Docket(13-0218) this ''Bluewater'' veteran obviously don't know that when a veteran goes to the BVA for adjudication of his case, the case is transcribe and placed for public record as to be given a docket/case No. (for anyone to read) I Am only guess he contacted MsTbird and ask to delete his post. I am very glad we have people like Asknod & you Me Berta Here on hadit & I can only imagine about another million veterans would agree! & Equally as glad Ms Tbird has this site up for intelligent people whom have study & experienced the VA Law such as you and Asknod & Others Have unconditionally Help us Veteran's that does not have the knowledge to prepare for our VA claims. jmo .............................Buck

If I could not sit or stand more than 10/15 minutes at a time I would not have took a 4 hour class with 10 minute breaks every hour! I am surprised the VA did this to reduce a veterans disability! & surprised at the veterans with Back problems/disability took the class! I have had turn down opportunities because of my disability's & left out of the happiness I can't have with my grand children, things like hold them and understand them play games ect,,ect,, because (hearing impaired), other disability's as well & not getting to have fun with your grandchildren is very hard for most veterans. Even tho pain meds helps with the physical pain nothing can bring back the love and fun your missing out with your grandkids & loved ones! go to a park and watch the daddy or the grand paw's having fun with there kiddo's and you can't because of your disability. I consider my self lucky compared to most veterans with worse disability's than me & my children and grand children understands. but even so a crippling disability is what it is! I would gladly give up my compensation to be able to work and enjoy the love of my family. I am glad to get what the VA gives me for without it I/d just be living on SSD...and not have most of the things I got because of my VA compensation. AS for as talking with your VA-PCP or C&P Examiner its Always best to be honest & friendly. the truth always prevails. However what some of the things PUREADY mention I agree but still that is up to the veteran how they want to greet the Doc. to say things like ''I'm doing good doc & you'' is just a general way to greet someone, rather or not your not doing good is Irrelevant. You go to see the Doc to get your pain meds and make sure your not having other problems that your Doc needs to know about.,,,period. The only thing with my experience is Some not all but some of the VA Doc do write up things in their reports that was not said, Now how a veteran can prove that is yet to be determined. I Also Add this , I realize some veterans are just paranoid .& a cute pain/fatigue makes us think crazy things at times. All in all All of us veterans are in this together as fellow Brothers & We all should be thankful we are here and getting what the VA gives us, at least were above ground. jmo .....................................Buck

Elder Hadit member Asknod has some good information on his web site blog. https://asknod.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/2015-va-updates-on-getting-your-c-file/ ......................Buck

''Doc wrote that this is the natural progression of the disease(DDD). And she noted that there was an X-ray from my AD time that showed then the DDD already starting''. (Still not showing a' 'Diagnose''? You need to show it was an injury while on AD, any medical records or hospital treatments that you injured your back while on AD as evidence! if your asking for increase and have a Diagnose of your Back injury for DDD and you are Service Connected for that Injury then you need a IMO or IME to show that the injury has got worse. Asknod is correct as for as a CUE. jmo ..........Buck

Not sure? There's a difference being rating 80% vs 100% even being paid at the 100% your suppose to be 100% extra scheduler. even if you show a combined rating of 80% you should still be consider 100% and get all the benefits that come with 100% but the 100% P&T Have better benefits than the 100%. 100 % P&T you usually get chapter 35 benefits for your spouse and ChampVA Insurance and your spouse can go back to school & get a degree I hope you get all this straighten out soon ..................Buck

I believe that some of our hadit members are Federal Employee's or Ex Employees. Georgiapapa is a Retired Federal Marshal He would have some good information on this! .....................Buck