KansasNavy

All, I am recent retiree, and recently about 3 weeks ago approved at 90%. I know my claim has to go through a DFAS Audit which can take upwards of two months. However, does anyone know if the BBE will come prior to the final DFAS Audit, or do they have to wait to release the BBE after the DFAS audit is complete? Thanks

Thanks Detel, I will as I love this website. so much information to digest but so helpful when we battle the red tape. thanks again

All, I don't post often, but I have been reading and following almost daily so I can learn from everyone's experiences. I live in Okinawa and submitted my claim 15 months ago. Had my C&P's about two months ago. I had to use VES contracted Dr's, and the experience was troublesome. Anyway somehow my exams got lost between VES/Okinawa/VA so in frustration I emailed Allison about two weeks ago. Within two days I had two different RO Directors contacting me and then magically yesterday E Benefits changes to Pending Decision, then magically today E-benefits show up with my final rating. It is sad that the only way to get some action is emailing the top of the food chain but it did work. I wouldn't have emailed her if I hadn't really thought they lost my records. Anyway mine is a great success story as they awarded me 90%. Not sure what to do next but will start learning some more from this website. will have to wait for the BBE to see everything in writing. Sleep Apnea - 50% DDD from two back surgeries/fusion - 40% Left Lower extremity radialculopothy - 40% RBB w hypertensive cardiomyopathy - 30% Right Lower extremity radialculopothy - 0% Anemia - 10% Thigh Impairment due to broken hip in two places - 10% Hiatal Hernia with GERD (two stomach surgeries - 0% ED - 0% But is SMC coded. I came up with 89%. Only thing I don't really understand or think I want to disagree with is the radialculopothy in Right lower leg as the same issues I have in left I have in right and its documented. Not sure how they missed that one. And the GERD. I still have issues with reflux etc... probably going to have to go through the testing again to get it increased.

Yes I do have one. I don't check it daily but at least once a week. I was happy just to see that the pending decision was new this morning. means someone somewhere is at least working on it. v/r

Detel, Thanks. I submitted my claims 15 months ago to Pitt RO since I live in Okinawa. VA contracted VES Dr's overseas to do my C&P's. (Whole other story). then I couldn't get VES to tell me what was going on with my claim. VA was saying VES had them, and vice versa. I finally got so fed up and emailed Allison Hickey. Received an answer from her in less than a week, and then I started getting emails from Philly, Pitt RO's from the call center Director, because the person at the 800 number was rude. then magically only 5 days after I received an email from the Pitt RO director my claim moved to Pending decision stage. So now I wait... Sad that we are having to email the Directors of the VA to get anything accomplished. Being overseas is really painful because we have no VSO's and apparently cant get one. Thanks again

When it goes to Prep for Decision, does that mean it is going to the raters or has already been through them and is moving onto someone else? Thanks

Had my C&P here in Okinawa one month ago today. By a VES contracted Dr. Is it normal to not hear anything for a month? I did have quite a few claims. EBennies says the same thing its said for over a year, Under Review. I know I have to be patient but curious if it was the norm. I will fill everyone in on how the appointment went after I see what he submitted to the rater.

I saw someone posted that they were awarded 30% for scarring from multiple surgeries. Do you have to claim them specifically or will they note that in the C&P exam and automatically give it to you? I have had two stomach surgeries and two back surgeries all in the same areas.

I checked and Doc is an optomologist. Why does this matter though? also I have had a sleep study completed and I was DX with Severe OSA. Been on a CPAP machine for over a year, was DX prior to leaving the military. There are no military sleep study docs available so I was sent to a Sleep Study Clinic. Still on the rock as well. So I found out the DR is contracted through a US company called Veterans Evaluation Services. Only DR they have on contract on Okinawa is an optomologist. I talked to another vet with back problems who went through the C&P with him and the Dr did not use a Goinometer (sp) like they are supposed too and had him bend all the way over even though he was in pain. sounds like I am in for a rough time with this Doc. Air Force presence is huge out here as well as USMC. funny thing is in their email to me they tell me all my appts would be on Okinawa except the eye exam. wanted to send me to Tokyo. couldn't an optomologist do an eye exam? Makes no sense thanks

Finally received my Notification letter stating that the VA had contracted a DR in Okinawa to do my C&P exam. Took 9 months to get to this point. My letter took two weeks to arrive in the mail. Not sure what to expect on how long before the DR will contact me to set the date and time. Does anyone have any experience with a C&P exam overseas working with contracted Dr's? Dr is not affiliated with the Naval Hospital here, so not sure if that is good or bad. I do know he is an optometrist, so not sure how knowledgeable he will be on Sleep Apnea, Back Surgery's,Radiculopathy, etc...

About 10 years ago I had discectomy's done on 3 vertebrate (L5, L5, S1). Then five years later as it had gotten worse I had to have a back fusion on the same 3 vertebrate. Didn't really help and it has just gotten worse. I was told that it would probably fall under Traumatic arthritis instead of IVDS? Does one rate less than the other? Was curious if anyone had the same thing done and how it went with the VA and how they rated it. ROM is very limited and painful. I take oxycontin daily as well as Lyrica twice a day for all the nerve damage in both legs.

Just retired about 8 months ago and submitted my claims to VA about 8 months ago. I had two lower back discectomy's where they removed parts of 3 lower back discs, and then had to have a back fusion on the same area about 5 years later. Condition only getting worse not better. Anyone have any idea what percent this might be? I know its all a guessing game, but thought someone might have same type of condition. it has caused all kinds of havoc with legs and nerves in my legs.