Mike_S

I'm looking for the same answer but I'm P&T getting 100% for TDIU 70% rating for disabilities. I think the P&T could mean permanent and temporary. They could easily get pissed and change it. There are claims I should appeal and I have a few months left for that and a NOD. I am preparing everything while I decide. I think ASKNOD would probably tell me to file everything.

Gastone Have you seen another connection between SA and CAD? IM please, I don't want to hijack. To add to this discussion. My ED was secondary to CAD but at 0% but SMC was added because of it. I was surprised.

A seminar would be a great idea. It took me a year to understand what was needed for a hopefully successful claim and some group training would have sped things up. I'm glad I did it my way. The DAV had quickly filled out some forms for me in less than an hour and wanted to submit them right away. I hit the pause button to try and understand the process better. Looking back at what they did I would have gotten 10% with all other claims rejected because the forms don't make it easy to show secondary conditions. I got 100% connecting the dots myself. VSO's should have classes to help us do it ourselves if we wish.

How did you get something for malignant melanoma? I submitted that in a DBQ just thinking it may become presumptive or secondary to something I already have.

Maybe the Veterans Choice program can help you. https://www.hnfs.com/content/hnfs/home/va/home/provider/veterans-choice-program.html

What was found and how did they find it or test for it? Of course, I agree to do anything you can that is invasive outside the VA. Stress tests and echo are fine IMO.

Thank you all, Went in todayfor the exam. It was just an hour and she said it was preliminary and there could be more. It was in fact enough time for her to get some of the general information which they already know and I'm sure is really to see your demeanor, how you dress and groom yourself, eye contact and we just need to size you up stuff. She was really attractive and was pleasant to talk to. I hope I didn't stare at her boobs to much. <- I almost never use those emoti-things. I don't know if it went well or not but that part is over for now. She did bring up SA but I didn't push it. I'll keep you all posted.

I am only some percent PTSD and as much as they all have scammed us with a great big xxxx you for your service, I will do my best to leave them with the crap we all deal with. Beyond that, this is the future. We know who you are, where you live and the members of your family. I'm tired of being spit on.

And, you took the time to write an excellent book that helped me with my claim in addition to this site and some of Chris Attigs ebooks and claim workshop.

I'm going to bring copies of sworn statements from friends that describe how I am. I submitted these with my claim and I want to make sure the Dr. has them and KNOWS that I submitted them. Who knows? Hope for the best and expect the worst, remove round from chamber.

Why so little time? Is this exam just to blow me off and say they found nothing? Department of Veterans Affairs Best Practice Manual for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Compensation and Pension Examinations III.Recommended Time Allotment for Completing Examination Initial PTSD compensation and pension evaluations typically require about three hours, but complex cases may demand additional time. Follow-up evaluations usually require an hour to an hour and a half.

You will also need a sleep study to show you have sleep apnea.

I just filed a FDC last November. I am still waiting of a C&P for PTSD. I know I will get the AO presumptive for IHD. You can see I have a long list of things I feel are secondary to IHD and I learned a lesson. File a claim for things you feel are service connected or get screwed for not claiming them and lose $$$ for not doing so. My IHD was documented by the VA from about 2001. I had my heart surgery (CABG) in 2006 but the VA never mentioned it when it became presumptive taking needed money from my pocket. I found out by accident when I had an AO exam. I thought I had volunteered to be part of a database that would help other vets in the future. I never had any thoughts of compensation because I never thought there was anything to be compensated for. I filed for Sleep Apnea because I never had sleep issues and did not snore before my heart surgery. I documented this and presented with my claim sworn statements from people that were with me before, during and after my CABG. I was overweight before and after the surgery. The VA looks at being overweight as THE cause of SA and will always use it to reject a claim. All overweight people do hot have SA, 70% of people with SA are overweight. That does not make weight THE CAUSE of SA. I submitted - http://www.journalsleep.org/ViewAbstract.aspx?pid=25806 and https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-082.html I don't know if the rater will even look at the documents but they have them with my claim. I am 68 years old so I get what I get from SS at the reduced rate. Maybe I should argue for the full rate.

The VA did prescribe Nifedipine as one of the BP meds I am currently taking. My Hypertension is very hard to control and my VA Cardiologist referred me to the PharmD to better control it. We tried many BP meds for nearly a year and finally had some success. The C&P cardiologist also denied the connection for Hypertension and AO but I submitted my claim and included these articles. We occasionally sprayed AO from our Huey. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17006952 http://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/agentorange/reviews/newsletter-winter2012.pdf Page 6 Edema - I used diagnostic code 7121. I don't have varicose veins. Should yield the same result. I asked for at least a 40% disability but it could also be 60%. Edema has been documented in my medical records frequently since my CABG. Do you think a rater will look at all of my records or take the easy way out using the C&P exam?

Thank you Berta I'm still waiting to see if the rater will see it that way. I think the C&P doc shit canned rhe Edema when he stated the cause of the Edema was the BP med Nifedipine which I have been taking for less than two years even though the problem started with my heart surgery 10 years ago. That and the scars will be part of a NOD which I understand can take 3 years or an appeal which will take longer. I don't think I will be around long enough for either to happen. I have only had the one C&P so far and it has taken me nearly to make the connection with my brain issues and the CABG. The VA did not help with any of it. The only way I could find to claim it was with the TDIU. I have no weakness in my extremities from the stroke, just cognitive issues. I don't get SSDI, I took SS at age 62 at a lower rate just to have some income. Is there something else I should apply for from SS?