stillhere

I would also recommend that you download any articles that support your contention of the Gerd effecting your teeth and their conditions! My father n law had gingivitis real bad and had to have all his teeth taking out before he was 40 I think. Many things diseases can effect your hygiene in the mouth. Good luck, Stillhere

Sounds like the VA is stalling big time with you! Probably because you have won in the past if you ask me. Inspector General time? Or congress critter? As long as you have your dates in writing you should prevail! (famous last words, of course I didn't say when? Everyone that deals with anything government needs to always, ALWAYS GET IT IN WRITING! I CAN NOT say that enough. Years ago I got burned real good on a contract with our government and they tried to screw our company BIG time! Stillhere

Veterans, After reading some posts here and other sites and even on some BVA decisions. we veterans need to remind each other that in cases where there is Retro (any amount!) that is money and benefits we should have had all along and not a gift! In my case like many of the Vietnam generations we wanted nothing from the VA! And basically that is what they gave us, Nothing! Now because of so many of our brothers and sisters dying they were politically forced to recognize that a bunch of us deserve and NEED help. The politically push is what did it after so many dying! I can remember when I got back from Nam for me it was adios amigo to the Army. Even though when I mustered out I had acquired a significant hearing loss while serving, so much so that they weren't going to let me out without a waiver and keep me for two weeks. I then had no idea what that meant and signed the waiver and got out. Fast forward 13 years and I am married with a kid just born with a bad heart problem and need constant care and I couldn't hear him when he cried! So I went to the VA hospital thinking well they will give me some help to fix this problem which had gotten very bad in just 13 years. I asked for help and some how another I ended up in the C&P office to get a hearing test and then they said they would get back to me. I had no idea what that meant? I just wanted some hearing aide help! Well being as I just started my family money was tight especially with my son's problems and now I needed to buy hearing aides and have a testing done just so I could watch him. After about oh maybe a month I get this one page letter from the VA saying like 3 words total, No Service Connection found! Now that really floored me and brought tears to my eyes among other things that I said screw you comes to mind! So I packed up my lost faith and started working two jobs and we finally made it but it was not easy. Even if I just had the money for my aide and the doctors tests that would have helped! I grew very bitter about the VA, Army and Government altogether! Then comes Agent Orange and all the politics and Computer sites Like Hadit and suddenly the VA was forced to give us our benefits we should have had all along! Now I have a case for my hearing loss that if approved by the BVA will give me a sizable retro BUT IF they do I will not be half as excited or thankful for their help because they did not help me when I needed it BAD! I hope everyone on this site and guests reading this post know that I am thank full and would fight again for my Country but bitter tastes are hard to swallow! Stillhere Moderators I needed to vent/rant!

Were you terminated because of your disability? If so then you might have another fight on your hands. Get something that says you were let go because of your disabled back and the VA should put you at IU. Stillhere

At the end of decisions that I have read the majority that are approved (awarded) get sent back to your RO. They will change your disability rating and if it increases your payout you would get a letter about that. Then comes the part of retro if there is any that would be sent separate. Stillhere

So is this a CUE? And if so will the BVA go a head and treat it as such? Stillhere

I didn't quote a law I just filed asking for an EED. After getting my C-file years ago there was evidence that showed I had hearing loss that a doctor had written in his notes when I came state side and I was required to wear hearing protection. I showed the document to the judge and on the same doc I had checked that hearing loss box! She seemed to be annoyed that the RO had missed it. Hope this is enough but not hearing anything yet. Only been a little over a month. Stillhere

Sorry Berta& Pete, Ill try again. I have already had my day at BVA and just waiting for a decision. I did not ask or imply cue at all I just appealed for an earlier effective date than Jan. 2008 when they granted my service connection for hearing loss based on mainly my records and a C&P that was very favorable. Thanks, Stillhere

Hello All, I have a question on CUE that is rather puzzling to me? I remember Berta many times saying we can ask the RO's to CUE themselves. Can the BVA be asked to also? My point with my recent BVA appeal I asked for an EED because I wanted to not give up my right of doubt, that a few here suggested and I thought their reasons were solid. If you send your appeal to BVA asking for an EED and the BVA by chance finds it has a CUE. Will they grant based on CUE even though I did not request it? Thanks, Stillhere

Buck, You have a lot of folks giving you some good advise on where to look. Is their any mention on dd-214 of medals for his unit that he was also awarded? My old unit actually has a web site with many pictures and list of those that came home and served and different times. Try to find something like that by google the unit. I would also go to BVA decisions searches and google the unit and see if there might be something there. Stillhere

So sorry to hear we have lost another brother of Hadit! R.I.P. Stretch. Stillhere

Buck The part about finding the purchase orders for buses sounds like a needle in a jay stack but might work. I wonder if civilian casualty report from that time might show up something? Paper work in Nam was nest to horrible if you ask me! My records for a whole year in Nam consisted of 6-9 pages. Do you have his DD-214?? Thankful all my awards were actually on my DD-214 except for my CIB. Stillhere

Since no one else is answering you I will try. IF you can show that exposure to any of those agents caused your symptoms then you could win. BUT you have to have kept your place in line so to speak and your claim/appeal in an active status to get the 2007 date! Stillhere

Buck, Helping other vets is good and has some great rewards. BUT, there are instances that happen and I know a few personally so a word to the wise. Berta wrote= Lots of questions here...I know.. but I also had experience with Special Ops claimants too, that could never prove at all how they were involved with Special Ops.Special forces Command. But they were unwilling to contact Command and JSRRC themselves or even try to obtain their 201 file from the Military. Sorry Berta could not get your quote above to bold for me. Anyhow case in point years ago I was up at my father n laws hunting cabin and one of the members brought a new guy. Now this guy claimed to be Nam vet, special forces and had brought a bunch of gar with him! Mostly new looking. Well my father n law just kind of listened to his stories and they just didn't ring true but we didn't say anything to make a fuss. Father n law was a Korean vet, and did not talk at all about the war and me being Vietnam and pretty much kept my mouth shut. We heard from the member who brought the guy about a month later and you guest it he was a total jerk and had never even been in the military!! I have had other things go on too so I just pace myself when I am helping someone to believe! Stillhere

I would recommend to contact VA health care about your homelessness and health first. Most medical centers have a C&P office and others who can get you started. Since you are already SC you can move this along pretty good yourself by sticking around here and getting suggestions. Stillhere THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

I filed Nod then a form 9 asking for an earlier effective date. I did not at the time quote a regulation for them. The VALJ at my BVA hearing seem to know her stuff and what I was asking the VA to do and why. I basically pointed out and showed her in my records where I had hearing loss noted by doctors before I was released from service. Unfortunately I ignored it for 13 years and did not apply for help from VA till 1984. That is when they denied me but in 2012 they granted it but only back to 2008. Stillhere

Pete, I spent a good couple of hours searching BVA decisions and CAVC and I have been unable to find where the above statement has held true. On the contrary I have many that do not support it? Can you point me to a docket # or case where I can read it? My claim for an earlier effective date is at the BVA now and If I end up having to appeal I could sure use that! In 1984 I applied for hearing loss and HAD a hearing loss that the VA audiologist said was severe to profound but they did not SC. I did not appeal then but I sent in another claim for hearing loss and they treated it as a reopened claim and gave me 70% but only till 2008. Stillhere

Buck, I have been having hearing problems since I was on AD and have been wearing an aide since 83! Filed for it in 84 and was denied but have stayed with it and finally won SC with a rating of 70% + 10 for T. But have an appeal in now for an EED. The numbers for your friend shows at least 70% and maybe more. There is a chart were you cam input those numbers that another member posted I think it was Husky but not sure. If I find it I will get it to you. Stillhere

Pete, My appeal for hearing loss will stand the test of what you have stated as I have evidence in my C-file of it and my SMR while I served and a doctors notation of hearing loss that I showed the judge during my appearance in court. I certainly hope you are right because there was other evidence in my file to support an earlier date RSG Sorry it is taking you so long on your retro and word from your RO but I have heard awards like this take a while. How long who knows but I hope soon! Also I might suggest you contact your congress critters to see if they can speed it up for you. Stillhere

VA lying is pretty much SOP!

Dr. Bash, helps another vet! http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/06/7-on-your-side-i-team-helps-wounded-veteran-get-full-va-disability-benefits-114721.html Stillhere

Well ladies and gents..... Just got back and first off my state VSO (Virginia) was not there. They went and got one of the reps from the AL and had a briefing with them. One was in training. Took a little longer because they had to talk with me first and then come back and talk with me again before going to the LJ. Not the best scenario but it is what it is. The judge came in and we laid out my case for my EED and she had a few questions but not a lot it was probably over in this than an hour. The feeling in the room was I had a 50/50 chance of winning my earlier date so I have to live with that. I am grateful to everyone here at Hadit and AL for letting me have my say/ Not sure what else I can do for this claim now because I held nothing back and all the facts as they occurred are out there! Stillhere

After reading this thread I think I personally have better knowledge of the things the VA makes us veterans go through! Still don't believe it is right but I understand it better. Stillhere

Well Have as much as I can ready to go for my BVA appearance. Did not lawyer up so I am relying on my statements and others with the medical information I have to get me the EED I am asking for. On reading here asknod and a few others I am VERY nervous about how this is going to pan out. Still have not heard a thing from my VSO and they have had my file since April 8th and I go in next week! I just hope my PTSd doesn't get me to blow up at them and I am able to proceed on giving my presentation OK. In my thinking I feel this is really cruel to have to put vets through this stuff when what we are asking is to be treated professionally and not have to counter all of their BS when it really is a matter of their incompetence in the 70/80"s when we were getting out. Most of their exams where useless from what I see and the only ones that got it right were the guys that complained! Back to the squeaky wheel gets their benefits and those that don't tuff nukkies! Oh well just ranting a little and feeling lots of butterflies in my gut! When will this be over?? Stillhere Oh hope my heart holds out for this!!