Buck52

you already know this I'm sure.. If you die from a service -connected disability or a condition directly related to a service connected disability. if you have 10 years as total disability your spouse can get the DIC & if you have 10 year then there's special month payments if housebound or need asst, but any vet that dies and has been total disable yes she is entitled to DIC...the basic rate is 1195 monthly. payments change yearly so this is just a estimated. But she has to file for it within one year after but I'm not sure on that?... a lot of vets spouse don't think about it. Theres special monthy rate allowances if the veteran was totally disabled eight continuous tears prior to death add 254 I think its 8 years now! So your spouse is entitled I'm fairly sure! how long the wait is is anybodys guess but I do think VA moves fast on this type claim I'm not sure if the champ VA will stays the same I think it does Ms berta would know! btw I think your spouse is right on ''John you worry to much!

Jeff just my opinion, I suggest you request another PCP! Your Dr should have prescribe your BPM & Pain meds...I realize there busy with appointments but a Dr should listen to the you especially with your type of condition's. With your condition & the problems your having, when your care provider declines to ''fit you in''...I would not trust that Doc anymore! I knew a Veteran with your type of condition his Dr did him the same always waiting and not fitting him in ect,,ect,, his legs started out like yours and swellen & edema Blood presure was through the roof.. He add open heart surgery a month after he was denied his meds he is doing ok now but maybe if his Doc would have listen to him maybe he would not had to have the surgery. Also be careful taking medicine that is not prescribe for you different meds have different reactions when mixed with others so be safe on that..Research them

''Asknod'' has some truly great Information/advice I suggest re-read his postings about this issue!

Well you said the SSA is getting you a payee or wanting to to manage your SSD checks? I'm sure you can take care of you & $$.. I Apologize if you took offense to my post, that was just an example (about my friend) I was using to let you know SS don't always have to have it the way they see it , on the SSA web site you can appeal this issue on that web site without going to the SSA office keeps you from running around all over the place.

TiredCoastie I'm thinking starting in 2015 the VBA can over ride any decision made by RO either way denials or awards! .. I have not read the new '' V.B.M'' published by'' Lexis Nexis'' so not sure? ' just from comments by other members here. So I'm thinking you may need to ask for a VBA Hearing once you get answers on SOC because you will probably be denied again (without new evidence)...but they could send it back to RO. Just my opinion Its like there throwing the hot patato back & forth to each other...but this can be solved Some of the senior members here at hadit could help you Berta, Carlie, John999, & Stretch makes some good points here as well. Just hang in there Buddy

so sorry to hear about all your issues The VA has done you wrong, they should rated you 100% not the 80% but I don't blame you keep fighting until you win that's what it takes dealing with the VA. just hang in there. Good Luck!

some laws change this next year, issues at BVA level the BVA can over ride( sorta speak) a decision that RO makes final win or lose and I think if I understand the VA Has to start rating a claim to the highest Evaluation when there two evaluations in to one rating. and some changes in procedure with TDIU?? I have not read the specs on this yet Ms Beta would know or John999 & some others

Ask SSA if you can have your own POA?..I have a good friend that is on SSDI He can not manage his money blows it as fast as he gets it ect,,ect,, so his sister is his POA...The SSA was going to get him a payee too until him and his sis went to the SSA office. I Think you have the right to say who is in charge of your $$ if your capable taking care of you! Barb you can create your own SSA account at that web site mike mention above WWW.SocialSecurity.Gov just get you a user name and a password you can remember and once you sign up you can go into the SSA web site to your account only..only you can do this! you can check on when your money is in the Bank or when your check comes and just a lot of other things you can check on its the same site they use at the SSA office. You can even see how many years you worked and what you paid in all those years you worked. how much you paid in to medicare & SS how much your employer paid in..it tells you what you are getting paid for disability or retirement or other! how much ect,,ect,, you can also Ask about any information you want like this issue with the payee. its handy and saves a lot of trips to the SSA office.

That's Great John 47

Same here John, Actually it was the VA that got me on opiates and now they want to stop , this meds change is going to be bad all the way around its going to cause nothing but trouble/problems for the Vets. I'm suspicious as hell too! It's good Ideal to go get copies of your medical records after each exam from here on out rather or not your filing a claim , but just to see what they say about you!

Its pretty bad at my VAMC & I Don't look for it to get any better. I don't think I could take a VA doc accusing me selling my meds I'd sure report him/her...these VA Dr have there a## stuck in that computer and don't truly listen to the vet,,,just say things like well all vitals look ok little borderline on this or that and usually they tell ya I' renewed your meds & ask you to sit on the beach breath in-out while they probe that stefscope all over, that's pretty much it..I'm getting not to trust them...don't know what to do about it I am at the point where I make my Dr say things twice three times just making sure I heard him it pisses him off but I try to make my exams count not to just get my meds scripts but making sure I don't have other medical problems and this last year I complain about urination dribble he check my prostate and found it swollen which I never knew...now taking meds for that. I'm up to the Plastic Gallon Baggie now to carry them In I was hoping a few years ago when the Government started shutting down all the bases with Vet Centers and Hospitals and only have a few open to only over crowd them..I mean it takes a good hour to find a place to park...I was thinking the VA would make a change and contract out a lot of vets to go to a private Dr. but this meds change is for them too! So what happens next?? It has to get a lot worse before it gets better I just hope no vet loses his/her life over all this.

Thank You Carlie for this link much appreciated!

I had always thought when they say ''this veteran disability is of nature &no future exams schedule!''...that they don't expect the veteran to get better? Anyone know what the VA means by that? But I understand how they rate (some of it) ..I was just wondering which one is better safer? sounds like to me maybe TDIU P/T is? if you never go back to work.... which when you get that award your not suppose to be able to work. Thanks Gastone!!!

Yes this is great for the vets and their family's...I always ask a business if they give Veteran's discounts if ya don't ask you won't never know... pays the tax! I was at Carls Jr the other morning they give Veterans discounts daily.

Same here john999, the free meds save me about 700$$ month or more! altho I get my injection (syringes) at Wal-Greens cheap cheap Stretch I'm thinking Percocet is a # II Narcotic also so yes it applies to the new change. I believe the VA Dr's hands are tied on this one. I am going to ask my new pcp next month when I go for a 6 month check-up does this mean we have to start getting 3 month check-up/ to get our prescriptions refilled? if it can be that way then maybe it be ok you can just order via phone I'm thiking maybe? maybe not - if not then this new change will sure have a lot of problems for the Vets. If we have to see a VA doc every 28 days for our pain meds...that puts a hardship on thousands of Veterans... for some veterans it's so hard for them to get out and travel due to there disability and their pain & some vets can't afford to travel altho they can get travel pay...see that's cost effective too. We all know how long the wait is at VAMC usually an all day adventure. The DEA and the Federal Government is doing this because in my opinion they think every veteran will become addictive to these meds or think they abuse the meds or resale or whatever they think ...Well what else is the vet to do? he can't help it if he got messed up in the wars or be disable...We have pain and the VA in my opinion don't care anymore and the first veteran dies because of this idiot change in Government...Congress needs to intervene with a different change

Sorry little off topic here...but a lot of veterans don't know they can get TDIU with a lower % rating. I have a question and I know its been answered on here probably 100 x But what is the difference between 100% P/T SC rating & scheduler TDIU P/T SC rating? I understand with a TDIU rating a vet can have a lower % rating but needs to be Rated 60% for the schedule rating under the CFR's, then they rate him 100% due to his disability and can't seek gainful employment ,(with medical evidence) they rate the vet 100% TDIU with or without P/T and if the disability is of nature then no future exams schedule with P/T So 100% P/T SC Rating and a Schedule TDIU P/T Rating both equal 100% for the veteran...compensation is or equal except for any additional SMC ect,,ect,,& dependents. So which one is better?? I Appreciate any comments on this! Thank you in Advance

Congratulation arng11 That's wonderful and with a VA loan you get the best interest rate around and no PMI makes those house payments eazier to make. I have a VA Loan also matter fact I just had a VA low interest fixed rate refinance or streamline loan It was from Quicken Loans. I'm happy for ya Buddy!

Chuck 57thSig Congratulations That's Great!

oic, Good luck buddy! Hang in there!!! you will win soon!

Forttiudine, you should mention all this to your Dr, even tho there's no cure you need to let the Dr know about your symtoms and what all you been going through this can cause depression really bad my friend and not sleeping and in pain all the time is bad on the old heart and can cause other bad disease. I also have Fibro.&Arthitice and Osteroperois <ms I tried almost everything under the sun diet exercise stretches ect,,ect,, ..trigger point injections,epidural injection & pain meds, the moist weather is bad for this condition also.. the only thing that seem to ease it up was Acupuncture I was skeptical at first but when I had that done at the VA it seem to help for a little while anyway couple weeks...so now I'm going to try it on monthly bases.

I got my notice in Oct pete53 says the same as yours, I think this is going to cause a lot of problems, I see where ii says ''you may want to talk to your provider about a ''none -Hydrocodone pain relief alternatives'' who are the kidding? bunch idiot's then it says close to the bottom To request a refill dial 1-800-849-3597 option #1 then enter your SS# then enter option # 2 and use the prescription # ....since this change your going to get this...''This prescription is not refillable at this time''. Some other changes has to be made & I don't know what they have to do but this change is not going to work! in my opinion. but I guess I shouldn't complain I've always been crazy its kept me from going insane....Waylon Jennings

cruiser07, The VA messes up veterans claims all the time they have a few ''careless VSO working for them and its quite possible someone slipped up and mailed the wrong yearly letters....They been know to do that and also lose the veterans claims altogether. I could be wrong but it is my understanding when a veteran is awarded 100% P&T that's it... he should be able to relax and enjoy his life the best he can and not worry about having any new exams. P&T Means he is Totally & Permamently Disable and some award letters say this veterans disabilitys are of nature and no further exam's /evaluations scheduled. That means to me his disability's will not get better. & unless the VA finds precise new evidence stating'' the veteran disability's have gotten better over the years''..... The VA sends out proposal to reduce and if you guys have not received a letter then you should not worry! You can request a DRO hearing to settle this about P/T... and put your mind at ease As we all know the VA Can call us veterans up any time for a new evaluation but that's most like not to happen especially after 20 or longer years being rated 100% P&T.

You need to find his first award letter dating back to when he was FIRST awarded the 100% P & T. and any letter proposed to reduce his 100% P&T that's what you need to look for in his C-FILE and of course any other disgreement's. if you don't request his C-FILE by mail and you make an appointment Ms Berta had some good points rather or not he needs to be with you? usually yes he does however you can request when you make the appointment that you are his POA and he can not travel due to his disability's and ask that you are able to see his C-FILE you may need to take marriage lic and proff you are his spouse ask the VA what Idenifcations you may need they should tell you...do this before you make the trip. I was just thinking this just for this conversation just what I was thinking about... About the mistake on his P& T 2010 letter ''clerk from RO said it was a mistake''....& The change about the effective date (what the change was?)& why they came to that decision. THE DATE OF 01 Dec 2011 stating'' the effective date on the last change to your award'' The VA has to state what that change was! In my opinion the RO clerk should never told you that was a mistake he was not P&T all of this should be in writing! I think maybe something was lost in the mail?? and you guys never received the letters the VA sent out... if they did? What if this veteran ''never received'' the letter(any letters) telling about this change? and he never knew anything about it? would that be CUE? AS for as him being evaluated he should be protected from the 20 year rule like Phillip Rogers stated above. As for as opening a can of worms, if he never received a letter propose to reduce his 100% P&T ... I would wait because right now he is consider to be 100% P& T.... & you are getting ChampVA...That's not been taken away That's your prof he is 100% P&T & as for him not going to the VAMC in years that's fine too, can use his private Dr's exams that was on your insurance...that's good evidence as to his disability's I suggest you research DIC In reguards to your question about service connection & non service connection widow benefits. hadit has some web sites for that & Ms Berta put up some good links.

Well you ask in your second paragraph? '' I would like to know if I will be eligible to receive this benefit (DIC) if MY husband passes from a non service connected reasons'' the answer is yes and no if he passes from a non service connected reason , there's some prevision?? I'm not sure what all that involves but you could get something I'm fairly sure, it maybe the 1151 berta mention?.. it could be more like half of what your hubby is getting now, but there are some certain circumstance/conditions to a non service connected death yes there would be some compensation for the veteran widow. I had assumed you meant service connected being he is a Combat Vietnam Veteran. And Why would you want to get another evaluation? if he is 100% P/T? I don't think the VA would reduce him after all these years? If your worried about those letters? request appointment from your VARO to see his C-File (claims file) or have them mail them to you.. and check his C-File see what all is it? compare your letters you have with what is in his -File. And its great your hubby is taking good care of himself via exercise but the VA don't need to know that! Or you guys could just do nothing until you hear from the VA wanting a new evaluation? simply because he may never get one.. He is 100% P/T ....in my opinion the only way they can reduce him is if they find fraudulent of the claim he/his vso filed 20 OR 35 years ago or so? It won't open up a can of worms checking on his c-file (lot of vets do that) but if you contact the VARO about another evaluation or increase in rating that will prompt an evaluation. That's why I mention just don't do anything until you hear from the VA wanting another evaluation. Its actually good he has been getting 100% p/t for 20 years or so with no evaluation! 100% p/t means the VA Awarded him compensation due to his service connected disabilitys while in Vietnam, that is an honor for all veterans to get that .. Maybe I don't understand your question and I'sorry I was only trying to help I Slute your hubby. I too a Vietnam service connected veteran 100% P/T from injuries received in Vietnam. Maybe some others can chime in here and help you. Good Luck & I wish you both the best.

yes mam it helps thank you.. I use to have a good relationship with my pcp for like the last 15 years or so before all this meds change...Now my pcp is changing VA Clinic and going to another town...so for I have not had any problems other than late delievery but this change scares me. Thanks for your info!