KansasNavy

Thank you. I will try to break apart the C-File. Is it better to attach a pdf document or copy and paste it into the same box.

Has anyone come across a VA definition of what Marked Muscle Atrophy actually means? How do they differentiate between Muscle Atrophy and Marked Muscle Atrophy? Do they guess? Background: Two back surgeries, same location 5 years apart while AD When I was rated back in 2014, the VES Dr used the IVDS DBQ. (Question Number 6 - Functional loss) Dr checked the box Atrophy of Disuse when referring to my thoracolumbar spine. I am assuming this I think. Further down at (Question Number 8 Muscle Strength Testing) He checks: Does the veteran have Muscle Atrophy - Yes and notes Left Lower extremity. Then they note the measurements. Rater rated my back at 40% IVDS/DDD Static Rater rated my lower left extremity with 40% (Radiculopathy/PN) Moderately Severe Incomplete paralysis However, 60% just states Severe Incomplete paralysis with Marked Muscle Atrophy The muscle atrophy was very noticeable in my left leg (Mostly calf muscle) which is why he noted it and checked the boxes. It seems to me they overlooked the muscle atrophy or somehow decided it wasn't "Marked?

Thanks

Hello All. Is Diabetes Mellitus a presumptive condition? Was diagnosed recently 5 years after retirement. Hard to believe there weren't warning signs. will have to read up on Diabetes to see if anything in records might indicate it.

Thank you. Your calculator works. the one I have wasn't adding the bi-lats correctly.

Currently I am rated at 40% PN/RLS Left leg and 10% RLS Right leg. Should there be any bi-lat involved in this calculation? There isn't any, just curious if there should have been. Thanks

Its been a long process, but my son who is on the autism spectrum was classified by the USN as my permanent dependent in 2016. A couple of years ago the VA recognized him as my permanent dependent as well. Then last night the SSA approved him for SSDI and gave him income based off of his expenses etc... Long painful battle but one worth fighting. With that being said, does the VA offer any kind of vocational technical training for child who is a permanent dependent? I know he can learn to take care of himself and hold a job if given the chance. I am 90% disabled (all Static) does that help or make a difference? I didn't want to waste VA/anyone's time if no program actually exists. I know I probably qualify for the training. I have been searching this site but get a little confused sometimes. Thanks

on my C file paperwork all of my disabilities state Static.

All of my disabilities state Static on my VA paperwork. Does that mean the VA wont relook/reevaluate my disabilities in the future? The disabilities I have wont get better as I age. I am at my 5 year point and was curious if they will make me do a review automatically.

will do. I live overseas in Okinawa and we don't have much in the way of support/VSOs. I will try again. Thanks

Hamslice I did submit all the paperwork from the school with end dates, but never heard back from anyone and nothing ever showed up in E benefits. I actually submitted the same paperwork twice with no response. Is there a better way to submit it again? For the longest time I just figured I wasn't entitled so I gave up.

I am at 90% disability compensation. My daughter has been in college since August 2016. At 90% on the Pay table it talks about Children over 18 in school. Are they talking about college or high school? Should I have been receiving the extra $200+ from when she started college? She has been a full time student this whole time. Or is this only for younger children or an 18 year old still in high school. I submitted all the paperwork years ago when she started but never received anything communications wise about this issue. I made the assumption that I don't get any compensation for her while in college. Am I wrong? Thanks

Thank you for all of the comments. RBB is right bundle branch block. it sounds like I need to study up on endocrinology. I don't really understand what it means to have Diabetes or how its about to change my life. I have a Dr appointment with the PCM to discuss my new treatment plan.

Can Diabetes be secondary to another condition? I was just diagnosed with Diabetes at 53 which I think is kind of young. I am not overweight or sedentary and eat fairly healthy I think. I was awarded a service condition for severe anemia as well as an RBB heart condition. I am going to the Dr. to discuss my options as far as treatment, and plan to ask if something else could have caused the Diabetes. I retired 4 years ago and out of the blue it shows up. I don't understand all the blood work numbers in my military records or what they mean. Is it possible that there were signs of Diabetes in the service, but never caught by a doctor? I plan to ask the Doctor to help me understand, but thought someone here at Hadit might have dealt with Diabetes years later.

All, sorry it takes me awhile to respond back. I am in different time zone. Okinawa. And thank you all for the quick response. I want to make sure I do the right thing, and not waste everyone’s time by making a wrong, misinformed choice. I try to do a lot of research on this website, and I have been reading others CUE’s to help me understand the process. I tried to answer everyones questions. I tried to make this easy to read. Berta - How did the VA refer to your SMRs? Excerpt from my Decision Letter, “Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy. Service Connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied because the medical evidence of record fails to show that this disability has been clinically diagnosed.” The evidence does not show a current diagnosed disability. Would the above statement count as listing or considering my SMR’s? I know for a fact that the Dr didn’t look at my records, but no idea what the rater did. In "k". did they refer you to Neurology and do you have those records? I had tests done from a Guam Neurology exam in March 2010, an EMG where they hooked me up to a bunch of cords. A lot of numbers I don’t understand but, the conclusion states, “ The peripheral nerve conduction test of the lower extremity showed normal motor nerves (tibial and peroneal) but there were some findings suggestive of left sural, bilateral medial and lateral plantar neuropathy. The EMG showed findings suggestive of neurogenic changes due to active partial denervation of muscles supplied by L4, L5 and S1 nerve roots, which is suggestive of lumbosacral radialculopthy.” When they say bilateral, that means both lower extremities in my mind. Did the C & P doctor refer to them? The C&P Dr. actually only looked in the online system which only showed recent history back to roughly four years ago. He told me he didn’t need to look at my hard copy SMR’s which made me a little skeptical, but the exam only took one hour and being a newbie I didn’t know any better. Shame on me. Broncovet – Was the examiner a doctor? He is a retired Navy optometrist that VES has contracted to do C&P’s here in Okinawa. The Naval Hospital has given him access to their computer system; however there is only recent information in there, not the stuff that goes back 20+ years. He has no background in Neurology or nerve damage. Did he state he reviewed you entire medical records in the exam? If he did so state, you should be able to get the exam thrown out. Quite the opposite, he told me that he didn’t need to look at my records which I had in my hand, because he had the computer system. I took my records on the advice of everyone on Hadit. He just ignored them. Is there a current diagnosis? In March of 2015, in the Auto Cites section that lists Chronic Problems, they have listed Lumbar Neuritis. It’s listed all throughout my record over and over dating all the way back to the 2008 surgery. Also in 17 Dec 2013, I saw the neurology department and they gave me steroid injections and under the IMPRESSIONS: it specifically lists out Lumbago, Intervertebral disc degeneration – Lumbar, and Lumbar Neuritis. 27 Nov 2012 after doing a command hike, I had to be seen for another steroid injection. “Left sided axial pain worse than right, but shows paresthesia in his right lower extremity similar in pattern to the radic prior to surgeries. Some weakness in right leg as well as bilateral extremity pain at night to include right calf atrophy and weakness.” I have been treated for this lumbar neuritis for 15 years, which is why I claimed peripheral neuropathy originally, but I guess it has to be more specific. Although it wasn’t specific for my left leg but they granted that. Pete992 - Are you service connected for any other condition of your back or legs that could be considered as a secondary disability? Here is the real kicker; I am 40% for DDD (Injury in 2002) due to 3 ruptured disks at L-5 to S-1 with one surgery (2002) being Discectomy and the other a Fusion (2008). They also granted me SC for Left Lower Extremity radialculopthy (claimed as peripheral neuropathy) for 40% on just the one leg. But it’s all due to the ruptured disks, and two surgeries. (I actually fell off the C&P exam table because the Dr was trying to have me do one of the motor tests and my left leg is in pretty bad shape.) But the right is almost as bad. Additionally, they SC me for Restless Leg Syndrome on both legs, but gave me 0% even though I take a ton of Lyrica specifically for that. Also I couldn’t find the SC codes they used in my Decision letter or on E Benefits. Is there some other way to find out? Is it supposed to be in the letter? After reading all of your advice, I think I have to get the second opinion from another Neurology Doctor to negate the C&P exam or get another EMG. I was under the impression that all of my enclosures were actually diagnoses. I guess they are not. Back to the drawing board. Thank you to all for your wonderful advice. This sight has been a God Send.

All, Sorry this is so long. I received a denial letter on a NOD that I sent to the DRO. DRO denied it based off the DBQ which the Dr at the C&P submitted, but neither the Dr or the Rater looked at my Medical records. I am unsure if this is best left to run through the normal appeals process now that the DRO denied it or could I submit the below as a CUE? I'm not sure if this meets the CUE Standard. I tried to lay out the case from start to finish with evidence. All of my enclosures are word for word out of my medical records. Do I have a case for CUE? Letters A thru K below are identical but apply to all three denial points the VA tried to make. I respectfully request the VA to call a clear and unmistakable error on part of the September 22, 2015 DRO decision letter from the Pittsburgh Regional Office and to correct it. In the above mentioned Decision Letter from the DRO, I was denied service-connection for Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy. In my original claim from 01 July 2015, I requested service connection for this issue based off of multiple entries in my Service Medical Records (SMR) which the VA has on file at the Pittsburgh RO. After I received my original decision letter dated June 04, 2015, I filed a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) on August 01, 2015 and elected the DRO process on August 16, 2015. I was given my C&P exam April 05, 2015 and service connection for Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy was not diagnosed on the DBQ with the Doctor stating, “I had denied any right sided radialculopthy.” This is an untrue statement, as I never stated that I did not have any radialculopthy symptoms and in fact stated the opposite, because in 2002 when I ruptured my lower vertebrate I had massive amounts of pain, numbness, and tingling in my right leg from my buttocks all the way to my feet. Over the last 15 years, the pain, numbness and tingling also spread into my left leg and foot and it has been at times disabling in both legs causing me to miss work. However, my right leg was not noted on the DBQ only my left leg was noted. Both legs have been documented in my SMR’s with severe peripheral neuropathy or radialculopothy. “A denovo review of your claim shows service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was denied because it was not diagnosed on Thoracolumbar Spine DBQ dated 4-15-2015. There was no objective evidence of right sided radialculopthy demonstrated on examination.” ================================================================ 1. The Decision Letter dated September 22, 2015 states that, “Service connection may be granted for a disability which began in military service or was caused by some event or experience in Service.” Enclosures a. thru k. clearly show that my claim for Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy clearly began in military service, and was in fact caused by the ruptured discs in my lower back followed by multiple surgeries to correct those ruptured discs. a. SMR dated 16 Sept 2002: PT REPORTS NUMBNESS AND TINGLING IN THE RIGHT BUTTOCKS REGION AND DOWN THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT LEG ALSO. RIGHT LOWER EXTREMITY, POINT TENDERNESS IS THE SI JOINT REGION. b. SMR dated 17 Sept 2002: MRI SHOWS THAT HE DOES HAVE A HERNIATED DISC AT L5-S1 ON THE RIGHT. HE HAS SYMPTOMS THAT ARE CLEARLY SUGGESTIVE OF THIS WITH NUMBNESS IN THE LATERAL BORDER OF HIS FOOT, A POSITIVE TENSION SIGN, AND DECREASED REFLEX IN THE RIGHT ANKLE. c. SMR dated 20 Sept 2002: PT NEEDS MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE AS ORDERED BY THE ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR. IT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY AN ACUTE INJURY LOW BACK PAIN WITH RADIALCULOPATHY. d. SMR dated 24 Sept 2002: HISTORY OF COMPLAINT -- PT DEVELOPED PAIN IN THE RIGHT LEG. THE PAIN WENT FROM THE BUTTOCKS THE WHOLE WAY TO THE LATERAL SIDE OF HIS FOOT. EXAMINATION – I THINK THIS GENTLEMAN HAS RUPTURED A LUMBAR DISC. HE HAS MARKEDLY POSITIVE LASEGUE SIGN ON THE RIGHT. (DEFINITION OF LASEGUE’S SIGN IS STRAIGHT LEG MANEUVER USED IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF LUMBROSACRAL RADIALCULOPOTHY.) HE HAS NUMBNESS ON THE BORDER OF HIS FOOT AND IS INTACT NEUROVASCULARLY OTHERWISE IN THE LOWER EXTREMITIES. HE DOES HAVE A SLIGHTLY DECREASED ANKLE REFLEX ON THE RIGHT. e. SMR dated 26 Sept 2002: RIGHT LOWER EXTREMITY PARASTHESIAS AND PAIN. f. SMR dated 30 Sept 2002: ON EXAMINATION TODAY HE HAS SYMPTOMS THAT ARE CLEARLY SUGGESTIVE OF THIS WITH NUMBNESS ON THE LATERAL BORDER OF HIS FOOT, A POSITIVE TENSION SIGN, AND DECREASED REFLEX ON THE RIGHT ANKLE. g. SMR dated 08 Oct 2002: MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE THAT SHOWS HE HAS A PROMINENT CENTRAL DISC PROTRUSION EXTENDING TO THE RIGHT OF THE MIDLINE AND IMPINGING UPON THE RIGHT S1 NERVE ROOT. THERE IS SUBLTE RETROLISTHESIS OF L5 ON S1. HIS PHYSICAL EXAM SHOWS TENDERNESS TO THE RIGHT OF THE MIDLINE. HE DOES HAVE DECREASED ANKLE REFLEX ON THE RIGHT AND MARKEDLY POSITIVE LASEGUE SIGN. h. SMR dated 17 Oct 2002: SURGICAL OPERATIVE PROCEDURE i. SMR dated 16 Nov 2004: DOES PAIN RADIATE? DOWN BOTH LEGS. IS THERE NUMBNESS OR TINGLING IN ANY LIMB? YES LEFT AND RIGHT. ABNORMAL GAIT IS NOTED. j. SMR dated 22 Mar 2005: HAS OCCAISIONAL MIDLINE LOW BACK PAIN WITH RADIALCULOPOTHY. k. SMR dated 07 Jan 209: THROBBING LEGS MOSTLY AT NIGHT. MULTIPLE VISITS FOR LOWER BACK PAIN AND LEG PAIN. LEG PAIN HAS WORSENED. DDX RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME, REFERRAL TO NEUROLOGY. ================================================================ 2. The Decision Letter dated September 22, 2015 states that, “Service connection for Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy is denied because the medical evidence of record fails to show that this disability has been clinically diagnosed.” Enclosures a. thru k. clearly show that my claim for Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy was diagnosed multiple times, and was related to ruptured discs in my lower back with multiple back surgeries. a. SMR dated 16 Sept 2002: PT REPORTS NUMBNESS AND TINGLING IN THE RIGHT BUTTOCKS REGION AND DOWN THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT LEG ALSO. RIGHT LOWER EXTREMITY, POINT TENDERNESS IS THE SI JOINT REGION. b. SMR dated 17 Sept 2002: MRI SHOWS THAT HE DOES HAVE A HERNIATED DISC AT L5-S1 ON THE RIGHT. HE HAS SYMPTOMS THAT ARE CLEARLY SUGGESTIVE OF THIS WITH NUMBNESS IN THE LATERAL BORDER OF HIS FOOT, A POSITIVE TENSION SIGN, AND DECREASED REFLEX IN THE RIGHT ANKLE. c. SMR dated 20 Sept 2002: PT NEEDS MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE AS ORDERED BY THE ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR. IT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY AN ACUTE INJURY LOW BACK PAIN WITH RADIALCULOPATHY. d. SMR dated 24 Sept 2002: HISTORY OF COMPLAINT -- PT DEVELOPED PAIN IN THE RIGHT LEG. THE PAIN WENT FROM THE BUTTOCKS THE WHOLE WAY TO THE LATERAL SIDE OF HIS FOOT. EXAMINATION – I THINK THIS GENTLEMAN HAS RUPTURED A LUMBAR DISC. HE HAS MARKEDLY POSITIVE LASEGUE SIGN ON THE RIGHT. (DEFINITION OF LASEGUE’S SIGN IS STRAIGHT LEG MANEUVER USED IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF LUMBROSACRAL RADIALCULOPOTHY.) HE HAS NUMBNESS ON THE BORDER OF HIS FOOT AND IS INTACT NEUROVASCULARLY OTHERWISE IN THE LOWER EXTREMITIES. HE DOES HAVE A SLIGHTLY DECREASED ANKLE REFLEX ON THE RIGHT. e. SMR dated 26 Sept 2002: RIGHT LOWER EXTREMITY PARASTHESIAS AND PAIN. f. SMR dated 30 Sept 2002: ON EXAMINATION TODAY HE HAS SYMPTOMS THAT ARE CLEARLY SUGGESTIVE OF THIS WITH NUMBNESS ON THE LATERAL BORDER OF HIS FOOT, A POSITIVE TENSION SIGN, AND DECREASED REFLEX ON THE RIGHT ANKLE. g. SMR dated 08 Oct 2002: MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE THAT SHOWS HE HAS A PROMINENT CENTRAL DISC PROTRUSION EXTENDING TO THE RIGHT OF THE MIDLINE AND IMPINGING UPON THE RIGHT S1 NERVE ROOT. THERE IS SUBLTE RETROLISTHESIS OF L5 ON S1. HIS PHYSICAL EXAM SHOWS TENDERNESS TO THE RIGHT OF THE MIDLINE. HE DOES HAVE DECREASED ANKLE REFLEX ON THE RIGHT AND MARKEDLY POSITIVE LASEGUE SIGN. h. SMR dated 17 Oct 2002: SURGICAL OPERATIVE PROCEDURE i. SMR dated 16 Nov 2004: DOES PAIN RADIATE? DOWN BOTH LEGS. IS THERE NUMBNESS OR TINGLING IN ANY LIMB? YES LEFT AND RIGHT. ABNORMAL GAIT IS NOTED. j. SMR dated 22 Mar 2005: HAS OCCAISIONAL MIDLINE LOW BACK PAIN WITH RADIALCULOPOTHY. k. SMR dated 07 Jan 209: THROBBING LEGS MOSTLY AT NIGHT. MULTIPLE VISITS FOR LOWER BACK PAIN AND LEG PAIN. LEG PAIN HAS WORSENED. DDX RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME, REFERRAL TO NEUROLOGY. ================================================================ 3. The Decision Letter dated September 22, 2015 states that, “Service connection for an organic disease of the nervous system may be granted on a presumptive basis if it becomes manifest to a compensable degree within a certain period after military discharge. As the medical evidence fails to show a diagnosis of Peripheral Neuropathy within the time period specified under 38 CFR 3.307, service connection on a presumptive basis must also be denied.” Enclosures a. thru k. clearly show that my claim for Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy was diagnosed multiple times, and was related to ruptured discs in my lower back with the following Discectomy surgery and five years later a back fusion. a. SMR dated 16 Sept 2002: PT REPORTS NUMBNESS AND TINGLING IN THE RIGHT BUTTOCKS REGION AND DOWN THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT LEG ALSO. RIGHT LOWER EXTREMITY, POINT TENDERNESS IS THE SI JOINT REGION. b. SMR dated 17 Sept 2002: MRI SHOWS THAT HE DOES HAVE A HERNIATED DISC AT L5-S1 ON THE RIGHT. HE HAS SYMPTOMS THAT ARE CLEARLY SUGGESTIVE OF THIS WITH NUMBNESS IN THE LATERAL BORDER OF HIS FOOT, A POSITIVE TENSION SIGN, AND DECREASED REFLEX IN THE RIGHT ANKLE. c. SMR dated 20 Sept 2002: PT NEEDS MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE AS ORDERED BY THE ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR. IT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY AN ACUTE INJURY LOW BACK PAIN WITH RADIALCULOPATHY. d. SMR dated 24 Sept 2002: HISTORY OF COMPLAINT -- PT DEVELOPED PAIN IN THE RIGHT LEG. THE PAIN WENT FROM THE BUTTOCKS THE WHOLE WAY TO THE LATERAL SIDE OF HIS FOOT. EXAMINATION – I THINK THIS GENTLEMAN HAS RUPTURED A LUMBAR DISC. HE HAS MARKEDLY POSITIVE LASEGUE SIGN ON THE RIGHT. (DEFINITION OF LASEGUE’S SIGN IS STRAIGHT LEG MANEUVER USED IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF LUMBROSACRAL RADIALCULOPOTHY.) HE HAS NUMBNESS ON THE BORDER OF HIS FOOT AND IS INTACT NEUROVASCULARLY OTHERWISE IN THE LOWER EXTREMITIES. HE DOES HAVE A SLIGHTLY DECREASED ANKLE REFLEX ON THE RIGHT. e. SMR dated 26 Sept 2002: RIGHT LOWER EXTREMITY PARASTHESIAS AND PAIN. f. SMR dated 30 Sept 2002: ON EXAMINATION TODAY HE HAS SYMPTOMS THAT ARE CLEARLY SUGGESTIVE OF THIS WITH NUMBNESS ON THE LATERAL BORDER OF HIS FOOT, A POSITIVE TENSION SIGN, AND DECREASED REFLEX ON THE RIGHT ANKLE. g. SMR dated 08 Oct 2002: MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE THAT SHOWS HE HAS A PROMINENT CENTRAL DISC PROTRUSION EXTENDING TO THE RIGHT OF THE MIDLINE AND IMPINGING UPON THE RIGHT S1 NERVE ROOT. THERE IS SUBLTE RETROLISTHESIS OF L5 ON S1. HIS PHYSICAL EXAM SHOWS TENDERNESS TO THE RIGHT OF THE MIDLINE. HE DOES HAVE DECREASED ANKLE REFLEX ON THE RIGHT AND MARKEDLY POSITIVE LASEGUE SIGN. h. SMR dated 17 Oct 2002: SURGICAL OPERATIVE PROCEDURE i. SMR dated 16 Nov 2004: DOES PAIN RADIATE? DOWN BOTH LEGS. IS THERE NUMBNESS OR TINGLING IN ANY LIMB? YES LEFT AND RIGHT. ABNORMAL GAIT IS NOTED. j. SMR dated 22 Mar 2005: HAS OCCAISIONAL MIDLINE LOW BACK PAIN WITH RADIALCULOPOTHY. k. SMR dated 07 Jan 2009: THROBBING LEGS MOSTLY AT NIGHT. MULTIPLE VISITS FOR LOWER BACK PAIN AND LEG PAIN. LEG PAIN HAS WORSENED. DDX RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME, REFERRAL TO NEUROLOGY. The evidence listed in my Service Medical Records clearly show a diagnosis of Right Leg Peripheral Neuropathy. The VA's failure to consider and evaluate the evidence that the VA had in their possession manifestly altered the outcome of the decision referred to above.

All, So I filed a NOD about two months ago on 3 contentions. Originally E Benefits had a decision date for Jan 2016. Then about 3 weeks ago it went to March of 2016. Then today it now says that all 3 are Pending Decision Approval. When I received my letter from VA asking if I wanted to go the normal appeals route or DRO, I chose DRO. I really think I had a CUE, but didn't realize I could do a CUE at the time. My question is, has anyone ever had a DRO Review go to pending decision approval so fast? I am thinking that its probably not good news since they appear to have made a decision with such haste. The DRO hasn't even contacted me to ask any questions as I am overseas. I hope against all hope that the DRO didn't just pencil whip it and deny them just to move it along to the normal appeals process. After reading all the horror stories here at hadit, I just fear the worst. I know I have to wait on the envelope, I was just curious if anyone had ever seen it move so fast. Something seems amiss. The 3 items I NOD'ed, I feel they really just blew over them during the C&P and didn't look at the evidence already in my records. That's why I think I screwed up, and probably should have done a CUE instead.

Ok, so I filed the NOD, but now just learned I can request a DRO Review for that NOD? This way they can potentially make the change at the RO level without going further into the appeals process. Not sure if that will speed things up, but doubt it. Do I have to make some kind of special request on e-benefits once the NOD makes it into the system? There wasn't a box to check on the NOD that I saw. Should I have stated that in the writing portion? Will a call to Peggy fix this?

GERD/RLS/Right Lower Leg Radialculopothy... Question is how the process works. I filed my NOD, does it now go back to the raters? If not who actually will review why I disagreed with them on the award letter? I actually think it was the VES contracted DR who screwed up. I know this is the first step. I submitted 4 pages of why I disagreed, and pulled the evidence out of my SMR's. I didn't have any new evidence because I believe they flat out overlooked what was already in my records. I just pointed the way so they could find the info easier. Thanks

Traveler, I know your pain. If you are retiree, the VA has to do that audit. word to the wise, take Berta's advice and send the award letter to DFAS yourself. More often than not if you let the process work on its own, it will get screwed up as it did in my case. I gave the VA two months to work through the DFAS audit, only to find out the VA never sent the award letter to DFAS. Wasted two more months of my life waiting on the VA. Its what I get for trusting the VA to do the right thing. I just faxed my award letter to DFAS hoping they can start the process sooner. I would call and bug the VA and DFAS every week until they get it right.

All, I took your advice and went ahead and faxed my award letter over to DFAS this weekend. Cant afford to wait on the VA to get off their butts. I thought I would call DFAS in a few days to make sure someone did get my award letter. Still betting it takes them two months or more. But I am learning if you don't push someone to do their jobs it doesn't get done. Thank you to Jumpmaster for giving me the DFAS fax number.

Hello all, this is probably in the wrong forum, wasn't sure where to put it, but thought I would let you know what happened in the hopes, others will read this and not make the same mistake I did. Two months ago I was awarded 90% and am so thrilled. Even received my official letter making it official. I was told it would go to DFAS for an audit since I am a retiree so I naively assumed that the VA do their job and send the letter etc... to DFAS so they could process the audit. I left them alone for two months because that's what I was told it normally takes. I called DFAS today (Overseas so I had to call middle of the night) and the lady was very nice but said they don't have any record of it, and that the VA never sent the letter. I was kindof in shock... cant believe they screw up everything. So I then tried to call the VA 800 number. An hour plus wait, only to be told they will look into it... Didn't get anywhere with them... Now I have to wait another two months or more after they finally send the info to DFAS... My advice after you get your award (for retirees) percentage is to call the VA and hound them on a daily basis until they submit their paperwork to DFAS and then do the same to DFAS. Frustrated as hell with the Boobs at the VA

Thanks for the quick response.

All, I am overseas Okinawa, I am getting ready to mail my NOD off, and the letter states I should send it to an address that wasn't listed in the letter. My RO is Pittsburgh, should I just mail it there? Also in Ebenefits, Is there a way to do this electronically? that would be easier, but I haven't been able to find a way to do that. Thanks

Thanks Detel, I live in Okinawa and mail takes horribly long time. Still waiting and thought maybe the audit had to be completed first.