John Purser

I've been waiting over a year for a court date and have been told that it might take another year before I'm seen. I'm using an out of state legal service to handle my case. Is this normal or have my lawyers really screwed up? Thanks, John

Will do! That and errors and omissions.

I got a copy of my C file after a 9 month wait on the Seattle RO. I'm posting this so others can get an idea of how long it might take for these records. Now I'm just waiting on my military medical records which should be arriving in a week or so. Next week I file for depression as secondary to 20 years of chronic back pain.

Good Point. That makes sense. Thanks! John Purser

Thanks Phillip. I have been confused about that as well. I've received advice to wait and to act right away. Perhaps that's worth starting another thread. Appreciate the help. John

Brilliantly helpful. Thanks again. I am however confused, I thought I had to file a claim in order to get a C & P exam. Your line about taking the records to the C & P and then filing the claim later has me confused. Have a messed up my vocabulary or read you wrong? John

For the record, I applied for my C file last May. The VA replied with a letter saying it would take at least 9 months to reply. So far no records so I'm thinking they weren't exaggerating.

Love the link. I'll need that next. Cool. I'll have to get a copy of my C file in order to be sure what the VFW filed for. My memory really is so bad these days I don't trust myself to remember to brush my teeth most days. Apparently it's a symptom of depression. Fun stuff. This is all related to the claim I'm going to file for nerve damage to my leg and depression. Okay, you've given me a big chunk to chew with that link. I'll dig into that and no doubt post again with more questions. I'd still like a clear example of how to use (for instance) the medical record of my EMG in my claim for disability for nerve damage in that leg. Do I specifically reference that medical record when I file for the claim? IE: RE my EMG of MM/DD/YYYY the results support my position that my disability rating needs to be adjusted to reflect a NN% rating for nerve damage to the leg." or do I just show up for the exam with a hard copy in my hand? How do I USE what I find? Please. And Thank you! Sincerely, John

PAY DIRT! Okay, this I can use. But how do I use it? When the VFW filed my claim they pretty much just said "his back hurts" and sent it in. There was no mention of specific medical records, just a line about the examiner needing to get all my medical records. Now that I found what I'm looking for how do I use it? For example, I had an EMG (electromyography) done to verify the nerve damage in my leg. This directly relates to the disability I'm claiming. How do I use this medical record in my claim? Stop asking questions? When that happens just shovel the dirt back in the hole cause I'm done! Thanks, John

Thanks. I was pretty sure I was well and truly screwed when I figured out what happened. My SO told me that immediately disagreeing would "weaken my case" so I should wait a couple of months before filing the NOD. When I came back for my scheduled appointment she was at a seminar so I was told to come back in a week. I did but then she was on vacation for 2 weeks. When I finally saw her she just stared at me. She'd forgotten all about it. Perfect. She never did tell me I'd lost my claim rights. I had to figure it out. No paper trail. Just a sorry record of me passively taking directions. So I know better now. I hope others are reading and paying attention.

That's funny. I just ran across some binders in the basement. Guess I know what I'll be doing with them. Okay, got a technique and tools. Now what am I looking for in my records? Typos? Snide comments? Honestly, I don't have a clue about what I'm seeking here and how that relates to my claim. Please don't underestimate the depth of my ignorance.

Thanks for getting back to me guys. I know I should review my medical records but what are some specific examples of what I'm looking for? I've generated over 2" of records in the last 2 years. I need to know what I'm looking for. Thanks, John

Sorry. Posted on the wrong thread.

The last straw for me with the VFW was when my SO failed to file a NOD within the claim time. Now, a year later I'm filing for recognition of increased disability (the disability arrived 3 years ago!) again. If I win this round is there a path for me to go back and say "I told you this was so in 2006!" and get back disability or is this just gone for good? Thanks. John Purser

Okay, this sounds like a stupid question but personally I've got nothing against a good stupid question. Better to look foolish than live in ignorance. Per the advice I received here I asked for and received about 2 years of records from my current VA medical center. I've still got to ask for my records from 3 other VA medical centers. Now that I have these latest records what do I use them for? My situation is I've got a back rated at 40% from a jump accident and receiving disability for that. I've also got nerve damage and depression, both diagnosed by the VA and with varying support for their being caused by the back injury. (trying not to go into too much detail here) My goal is TDIU as I've been bed ridden for nearly 3 years now by back pain. I'm about to apply for increased disability, I'm waiting for a copy of my C file (9 month backlog in Seattle for copies). Thanks, and type slowly when you reply. I'm may well be just as dim as the question implies.

Thanks Testvet. I experienced a similar level of "service" from at least one "Service" Organization. I'll fire that letter off. I want those people out of my life for good. John

Thanks jbasser. I was wonder if I need to specify an office in the regional HQ.

I found the form and I believe you're correct in how it works however at this time I don't have an SO to replace the VFW. I've made so much more progress since I started hanging out around here I'm going to try this on my own unless someone can tell me of an outstanding one in the Seattle/Tacoma area.

I've found some prior posts that say I just need to send a letter saying I revoke it but is that correct? And if so, where do I send the letter? I don't think this is a big deal, just house keeping. But the less the VFW can do "for" me the better off I am. Thanks, John Purser

Carlie, I've had three VA psychiatrists and they don't seem to be in complete agreement on what exactly is wrong with me. I'm not sure how much of this is just not knowing what they're doing, or me not presenting clearly, or them being afraid to disagree with the person who came before. To make it worse my civilian psychologist strongly disagreed with all but the depression. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me but I DO know that something occasionally grabs me and shakes like a terrier grabs a rat. I get thrown into an emotional dungeon where it physically hurts just to live and I may be there a half a day or maybe a week. And on top of that my memory STINKS and I can't focus for squat. I used to "treat" this with a long walk and/or a bottle of bourbon but my back stops me from the first and AA stops me from the second. These days I just try to keep the pain limited to me. Sorry. Whining. Per the advice below I'm going to get a copy of my med records and see exactly what they've put in writing. My last psychiatrist visit the doc put in writing that my pain was making depression worse. Looks like that's my best bet. Thanks for your tip. I definitely won't "shotgun" my complaint now.

What my psychiatrist and research about Depression tells me is that my service is unlikely to have "caused" my depression in the same sense that it "caused" my back injury. Instead it's more reasonable to say that the 20 years of chronic pain has worsened my depression and that my current immobility has not only made the depression worse it's stopped me from my previously healthy way to deal with it which was exercise. Thanks for the info on your TDIU claim. After about 3 years now of doing this wrong I'm trying very hard to do it right.

Thanks Larry. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me but it might pay off. I'll get a copy of my records, then I'll know what I need from the psychiatrist next time I see him.

My apologies to everyone who responded. My new depression medicine knocks me out and makes thinking rather difficult. I decided to wait until this morning to respond rather than waste everyone's time with gibberish.

So you're saying you're only qualification is that you've been there, done that, and got the brass ring? Well that beats the hell out of my current expert (me) or my last ones.

I've had three VA psychiatrists and been diagnosed with depression, PTSD, and bi-polar disease. The one I have now had no problem stating that the 20 years of pain and my current inability in move about was making my depression worse. I'll ask him about Major Depressive Disorder at my next appointment which is in January. Currently the meds he has me on make me pass out for the day. Not a viable solution IMHO.