Railroader

Don't give up. It took 15 years for me to get SC for my allergic conjuntivis. I've also got a claim for allergic Rhinitis and the remand is for the RO to go over it again as one examiner said that is was likely caused by my deviated septum while in the service. I got 29,000 for my conjuntivis. So hang in there and always do the next step and stay busy until you get the surprise in the mail one of these days. Railroader

I had a rash all over my body and saw a dermatologist and the last visit they gave me a different medicine for it. When the doctors left the room the nurse ask me what kind of laundry detergent that I used and it was Tide with bleach and she told me to not use it anymore and to wash all of my clothes and bed clothes in liquid All and it is a clear liquid and can be bought in most store I suspose. My rash cleared up after I washed my clothed in the new detergent. It may help or it may not as your rash may be different than mine. Railroader

I got mine today in Indy.

You don't have to have taxes withheld from your SSDI but if you have Capital Gains,Dividends and Interest income then you may have to pay estimated taxes paid quarterly and if you don't then there may be a penalty and interest charged and it could be costly.

-This is pretty simple if you follow the instructions. If your income is high enough then you can pay up to 85% of your social security or RRRetirement pension. Social Security Benefits Worksheet—Lines 20a and 20b Keep for Your Records Form 1040—Lines 20a and 20b Before you begin: Complete Form 1040, lines 21 and 23 through 32, if they apply to you. Figure any write-in adjustments to be entered on the dotted line next to line 36 (see the instructions for line 36 on page 31). If you are married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2007, enter “D” to the right of the word “benefits” on line 20a. Be sure you have read the Exception on page 24 to see if you can use this worksheet instead of a publication to find out if any of your benefits are taxable. 1. Enter the total amount from box 5 of all your Forms SSA-1099 and Forms RRB-1099. Also, enter this amount on Form 1040, line 20a . . . . . . 1. 2. Enter one-half of line 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 3. Enter the total of the amounts from Form 1040, lines 7, 8a, 9a, 10 through 14, 15b, 16b, 17 through 19, and 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. 4. Enter the amount, if any, from Form 1040, line 8b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. 5. Add lines 2, 3, and 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. 6. Enter the total of the amounts from Form 1040, lines 23 through 32, and any write-in adjustments you entered on the dotted line next to line 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. 7. Is the amount on line 6 less than the amount on line 5? No. STOP None of your social security benefits are taxable. Enter -0- on Form 1040, line 20b. Yes. Subtract line 6 from line 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. 8. If you are: • Married filing jointly, enter $32,000 • Single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2007, enter $25,000 }. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. • Married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time in 2007, skip lines 8 through 15; multiply line 7 by 85% (.85) and enter the result on line 16. Then go to line 17 9. Is the amount on line 8 less than the amount on line 7? No. STOP None of your social security benefits are taxable. Enter -0- on Form 1040, line 20b. If you are married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2007, be sure you entered “D” to the right of the word “benefits” on line 20a. Yes. Subtract line 8 from line 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. 10. Enter: $12,000 if married filing jointly; $9,000 if single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2007 . . . 10. 11. Subtract line 10 from line 9. If zero or less, enter -0- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. 12. Enter the smaller of line 9 or line 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. 13. Enter one-half of line 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13. 14. Enter the smaller of line 2 or line 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14. 15. Multiply line 11 by 85% (.85). If line 11 is zero, enter -0- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15. 16. Add lines 14 and 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16. 17. Multiply line 1 by 85% (.85) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. 18. Taxable social security benefits. Enter the smaller of line 16 or line 17. Also enter this amount on Form 1040, line 20b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18. If any of your benefits are taxable for 2007 and they include a lump-sum benefit payment that was for an earlier year, you may be able to reduce the taxable amount. See Pub. 915 for details. TIP - 25 -

You could call 1-800-669-8477 in Phila, PA...or go to www.insurance.va.gov. Hope this will do the job. I took this info off the statement that I get at the end of the year from the insurance that I have through the VA. Railroader

Maybe you need to clear all your temp files and then defrag your files. Railroader

I am already s/c 10% for pes cavus and I don't remember exactly what I asked for in the increase and what the other problems were. It has been so long ago that I had almost forgotton about the claim. Railroader

Sometime one worries for naught. If your health hasn't improved then you should have nothing to worry about. Railroader

I live in Indianapolis and have been in claims process for about 15 years. Started out 10% for pes cavus and finally 10% for low back strain and !0% for tinnitis. About six or so months ago they raised my back to 40% and I disagreed with the two year start date of my increase for back strain and I haven't been paid for the increase and haven't heard from them on this claim. I had a c&p exam for my feet and the results looked good for an increase but I haven't heard anything else on that claim. It has been about 9 months since the exam. If you live in Indianapolis email me and we will try to meet. I usually go to the VA and the VFW Service Officer downtown when I have business as it is better than through the mail. Even though I don't see much action out of them. Railroader

What is everyone's opinion of this exam. I am currently 10% S/C for pes cavus. I had an exam in Jan. of this year and the left and right are practacially identical. Is there objective evidence of painful motion? YES Objective Evidence: Wincing and pulling away from examiner during exam Evidence of swelling: NO Is there objective evidence of tenderness? YES Objective Evidence: Pulling away from examiner during exam. Is ther objective evidence of weakness? YES Objective Evidence: Not able to pearform ROM actively; muscle strength 3/5 Is there other objective evidence? NO Is there evidence of abnormal weight bearing: YES Evidence of Abnormal weight bearing: Unusual shoe wear pattern. IS THIS EXAMINATION FOR PES CAVUS (CLAWFOOT) ? YES STATUS OF PLANTAR FASCIA, WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A DROPPED FOREFOOT, ABNORMAL POSITION OF ANY TOES AND ANY LIMITATION OF ANKLE DORSIFLEXION: Plantar fascitis present; dropped forefoot; unable to perform dorsiflexion but able to obtain neurtal position with active ROM (not passive ROM). TESTS ==== X-RAYS: Bilateral feet xray results (weight bearing requested): The patient appears to a mild pes cavus deformity bilaterally. No fractures or dislocations are seen. No bone destruction or erosion is appreciated. Impression: 1. Mild pes cavus deformity. WERE THE RESULTS OF ALL TESTS INCLUDED? YES EMPLOYMENT HISTORY __________________ IS VETERAN CURRENTLY EMPLOYED? No IS VETERAN RETIRED? Yes DATE OF RETIREMENT: 1990 CAUSE OF RETIREMENT: Medical (physical problem) MEDICAL/PHYSICAL PROBLEMS: Back pain Bilateral foot pain IS THE DIAGNOSED CONDITION CONGENITAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL? Unable to answer. SUMMARY OF ALL EFFECTS ON OCCUPATIONAL AND DAILY ACTIVITIES: DIAGNOSIS OR ETIOLOGY OF PROBLEM: Pes cavus, bilateral PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH DIAGNOSIS: bilateral pes cavus GENERAL OCCUPATIONAL EFFECT: Significant Effects. THIS DISABILITY'S IMPACT ON OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Decreased Mobility, Decreased Strength: Lower Extremity, Pain IF NOT NOW WORKING, DATE LAST EMPLOYED: 1990 ARE THERE EFFECTS OF THE PROBLEM ON THE FOLLOWING DAILY ACTIVITIES: Yes CHORES: Moderate SHOPPING: Moderate EXERCISE: Severe SPORTS: Prevents RECREATION: Mild TRAVELING: Mild FEEDING: None BATHING: None DRESSING: None TOILETING: None GROOMING: None DRIVING: Mild ************************************************************************** WAS A MEDICAL OPINION REQUESTED? No I forgot to note that I wear rigid orthotic devices in my shoes and use a cane for balance. Do you think that I will get an increase or not? This C&P was done by a NP at the VA. Thank You, Railroader

Go down toward the bottom of this and read the Underlined pargraph and it will explain what you need to do. Railroader September 22, 2004 M21-1, Part IV Change 206 <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 16.2pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-pagination: widow-orphan" align=center>SUBCHAPTER VI. CLOTHING ALLOWANCE</H1> 25.09 ANNUAL CLOTHING ALLOWANCE a. General. Under 38 U.S.C. 1162, VA may pay an annual clothing allowance to each veteran who applies if the veteran has a service-connected disability or condition or a disability compensable under 38 U.S.C. 1151 that requires he or she wear or use a prosthetic or orthopedic device that wears out or tears clothing (38 CFR 3.810). The clothing allowance may also be paid if the veteran uses, for a service-connected skin condition, medication prescribed by a physician which causes irreparable damage to the veteran's outergarments. (1) Irreparable damage does not include stains that are removable through regular laundering or dry cleaning. (2) Approval of a claim based on use of medication requires a medical determination. (3) A skin condition requiring use of medication is not considered static, and a redetermination is required each year. b. Jurisdiction for Processing Annual Clothing Allowance Claim. In August 2003, the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) transitioned the processing of annual clothing allowance claims to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Therefore, any annual clothing allowance claim received by the regional office should be forwarded to the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic of jurisdiction, for the attention of the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. Exception: Accrued Clothing Allowance. Claims for accrued clothing allowance due and payable in the case of veterans who met the eligibility requirements as of the August 1 date prior to death either based on rating decision, or evidence in file at date of death, are to be processed by the regional offices of jurisdiction. The regional offices should not refer these claims to the VHA. c. Claim. Consider any communication from a veteran describing the device or medication used because of the service-connected or 38 U.S.C. 1151 disability/condition and requesting payment of the clothing allowance a claim for clothing allowance benefit. d. Soliciting Claims for Clothing Allowance. If a rating decision establishes service connection for anatomical loss or loss of use of a hand or foot, inform the veteran of potential eligibility for the clothing allowance. Send the veteran VA Form 21-8678 (soon to be VA Form 10-8678), Application for Annual Clothing Allowance. If the veteran returns the application, forward it to the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic of jurisdiction, for the attention of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. e. Determination of Entitlement. In order to establish and authorize initial and recurring for a current or next ACAP, as appropriate, the following criteria should be met: (1) The disability is a service-connected anatomical loss or loss of use of a hand or foot. (2) The veteran certifies, because of that disability, he or she wears or uses an artificial limb, rigid extremity brace, wheelchair or crutches. 25-VI-1 M21-1, Part IV September 22, 2004 <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 16.2pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: widow-orphan">Change 206</H1> (3) The use of the prosthetic or orthopedic device is not contradicted by medical evidence of record. (4) Eligibility in claims based on other service-connected disabilities or other devices, appliances or medication, and claims involving contradictory medical evidence of usage requires a determination by the designee of a VA outpatient clinic Director. (5) A veteran receiving retired pay is not required to waive any portion of it to receive the clothing allowance. (6) Authorize payment of clothing allowance to a hospitalized veteran (competent or incompetent) who is otherwise entitled. NOTE: If an application for clothing allowance is received but no claim for compensation has been filed, forward VA Form 21-526, “Veteran's Application for Compensation or Pension,” to the claimant. Inform the veteran service connection for the disability requiring the use of the prosthetic or orthopedic device or for a skin condition is a prerequisite for consideration of entitlement to the annual clothing allowance. If the veteran returns VA From 21-526, forward the annual clothing allowance application to the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic of jurisdiction, for the attention of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. Annotate on the clothing allowance application that a compensation claim is pending. However, if the veteran returns only the clothing allowance application, forward it to the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic of jurisdiction, for the attention of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. f. Continuing Entitlement. Presume a service-connected anatomical loss or loss of use of a hand or foot requires use of a prosthetic or orthopedic device that wears out or tears clothing. Consider continued eligibility for subsequent years to be established so recurring annual payments are released without need for a supplemental claim. g. Annual Clothing Allowance Payment. VA issues the Annual Clothing Allowance Payment (ACAP) to veterans with existing eligibility on August 1. Each ACAP requires entitlement on August 1 of the year for which payment is made, e.g., a veteran eligible as of August 1, 2003, is entitled to receive the 2003 ACAP. The pay date for authorized recurring ACAPs based on recorded master record data is the first of September. Processing authorization for payment of a current or future ACAP establishes a C&P master record code to provide recurring annual payments or a computer-generated development letter/application for a subsequent ACAP. See part V, chapter 11 for more information on ACAPs. h. Processing for Payment (1) Entitled for Current ACAP. Computer payment on an award of initial entitlement or a redetermination of entitlement to ACAP for each year is made September 1 of that year or on the processing of the clothing allowance transaction, whichever is later. (2) Initial Entitlement for Subsequent Year ACAP. If a veteran's entitlement is effective after August 1 of a specific year, he or she is not entitled to that year's ACAP. (a) In such cases, eligibility for initial payment for the next ACAP may be established under criteria of subparagraph (e) above or based on medical determination pursuant to subparagraph (e) above.

You should sent your request to the Prosthetic Department or to the name of your medical center. I sent mine to the: Richard L Rouderbush VAMC 1481 W. 10th Indianapolis, IN 46202 I was getting clothing allowance for Pes Cavus since 1992 and after they changed to whom you sent it to from the RO..I started having trouble collecting it. They told me that they didn't like to pay for Rigid Orthic Devices. I also wear a back brace and I claimed it last year and there were no problems. Railroader

Three or Four 0% rating can be converted into a 10 percent rating

I told my wife that I was a Kentucky colonel and she laughed and told me that she was the General around here! So I didn't try to pull rank on her anymore...lol Railroader