Okichewy1

If it was at a local hospital, they probably don't have them anymore. I needed some records from the ER at a local hospital I was at in 2006. Called the hospital records department and they stated they are only required to keep them for 7 years.

If this happened, I would really guess that everyone already receiving both would be grandfathered as any other bill passed has done. But can't see it happening.

I requested my C-file back in November 2014 along with a new claim for many contentions. I received my C-file on CD around 22 January and just had a C&P exam for 2 of the contentions from the claim. I have heard that if your C-file is already digitized, it probably won't hurt your claim status, since everyone can work with the C-file at the same time.

In January 2013, I appealed a denied claim for an increase to my hypothyroidism. I received the SOC in January 2014, submitted my Form 9 in February 2014. I got a call from my VSO after Christmas wondering if I submitted my new evidence to the RO about my appeal. I said no, because I was wanting a DRO hearing 1st. I had a new claim in from November 2014 for my hashimoto's thyroiditis and Goiter. The RO wanted to know if I wanted to withdraw the appeal and continue with the new claim or vise versa. I stated that I just wanted a fair C&P exam since the 1st C&P exam the doctor stated he had to cut and paste my information because he entered it into another veterans file. I have a new C&P this Monday for my appeal and my new claim stuff since I guess it conflicts with each other. I would assume that this could be a good thing if the new exam goes my way???

My VA doctor wrote me a NEXUS letter stating that my OSA was linked to my hypertension and hypothyroidism. Claim was approved within 2 months no C&P required.

Yeah, I submitted a request on 2 January and requested email response. Got a phone call yesterday from the national office stating they were doing phone calls vice other means to speed up the back log. She ended up submitting it to the RO because she couldn't find what I was asking for. I had a portion of my claim deferred for 2 items, but the original claim was closed. But Ebenefits wouldn't show what the status was for the deferred items.

On the original denial, they stated that I never had hearing loss or tinnitus claims in my Service record, but if you look at my STR is with my C-file it is all there (I think the private doctor didn't even look at my medical record) but can't prove that. The VA doctor that did the C&P for the re-open claim was mad as hell when I talked to him and he reviewed the denial exam report. There was a lot missed what he stated and he made sure it was in his report. I am just waiting now. Last I heard the RO wanted another MO and that was received on December 16th, but I do have some other issues on a new claim pending. Thanks for the information. Will post any updates when I hear anything.

I was wondering about a denied claim I had in 2012. I submitted for tinnitus and hearing loss. The VA sent me to a private audiologist for my C&P exam. He stated that he reviewed my SMR's and I didn't have tinnitus or hearing loss while in service. Claim denied. I didn't really know any better so I let the claim close without appealing. After some digging and researching, I found where my medical record noted tinnitus 2 years prior to me retiring. Also had 3 significant threshold shifts and a baseline adjustment while in service. I also found the VA FAST Letter 10-35 about hearing and tinnitus. I was a engineer equipment operator in the Marines. The private audiologist never mentioned any of my MOS's or weapons and acoustic noise that I was around. Also I found VA Training Letter 10-02 which talks about hearing loss and tinnitus. I submitted a re-open claim for both in 2014, went to a VA audiologist that stated it should be S/C and also had a NEXUS letter from a private audiologist back up the VA doctors findings. If the VA doesn't CUE this themselves, do I have a good chance at a CUE since the VA TL 10-02 states "If STR's mention a complaint of tinnitus and the veteran claims tinnitus and has current complaints of tinnitus, a MO regarding possible causation is not required. S/C can be established without an opinion about the specific cause of the tinnitus because it began in service". To me, the VA totally disregarded this training letter dated in 2010. I just received my C-file on CD and found in the C-file where the tinnitus is in there in my STR documents. I am patiently waiting for this claim to complete and see if they fix it themselves, but if not, could this be a CUE claim? I have had 3 RO CUE claims already go in favor of me over the past 5 years.