stillhere

asknod, Great info here! I am not with a DAV or any service group but with the State of Virginia VSO. Not sure if that makes a difference or not? My case is parallel with Rick's virtually same o same o, Have not hear anything from anyone and I am coming up for my meeting next week at the BVA! Just guess I will do as you say and let it go and see what happens. Have been dealing with a very sick 90 year old mom for a while so not enough time to deal with this. Can I get an attorney if they don't give me what I want and appeal or for a recon? Stillhere

Same thing going on with mine but mine has been with the VSO since April 8th and has not moved back. Also VSO has not contacted me and I have go to the board 1st of June? Stillhere

Hi Berta, I hope this is what you are referring to: Docket # 06-15 885 Date June 4,2013 Stillhere

Strange thing at least I think so? I got a notice from BVA the beginning of April telling me my date for my hearing. I looked on ebenefits and it said with VLJ. When I checked back today it said with your vso who I haven't seen or used for years. If I do go with the lawyer I guess I have to fire them? But ebenefits says they are writing a supporting document for me? Like I said I have not heard from them at all! I did call the end of April but no one has called me back. Anyone know what I should do? I am getting to be a short timer again and already started my calendar! All my brothers/sisters from Nam know what I am saying!! Stillhere

Thanks to all I think I know how I want to proceed. Gastone I am currently rated at 60% for hearing loss and 10% for tinnitus. Like I said I appealed back in 2006 and took them till 2012 to finally approve. Everyone I will fight this just like John 999 all the way!! Stillhere

Hello well I am finally ready for the big shots in DC at the BVA. I have all my papers in order and planning on either going with a lawyer or not? I am really having a hard time trying to decide! I have gotten this far basically with the help of this site and one other and also a pretty good state VSO. (he is now retired) Should I give up a 20% fee and go with a lawyer or just wing it myself knowing if I lose I can still appeal to court or try a reconsideration with a lawyer. Little history Nam vet 69/70 central highlands with paper work showing couple of visit to medic for ear aches and problems with otitis Media. During exam to separate told by medic I flunked my hearing test (whisper test I think) and I had to stay an extra two weeks so they could test me further. I then signed a waiver so I could go home then, back to a exam 3 months earlier which showed 15's all the way across but the ent doctor hand wrote high frequency loss unilateral with otitis media. I got out in 71 and never looked back even though I knew I was having trouble hearing I was hopping it would not get worse. Well it did, and I went to the VA for help in 1984 but they denied me and I did not appeal. Don't ask me why, just to disappointed and had a lot going on in my life. Ended getting a hearing aide myself and going on with my life. I was 36 I think. Ran into a friend at AL and I was telling him what I did and he said I should try and get it reopened. I worked on that from 06 to 2013 when suddenly the VA called and had me in for a C&P well the dr. sided with me 100% and wrote a exam that blew away anything that the VA had. I was Very surprised to say the least and when I got my copy of the C&P I knew I would get service connected! Sure enough the VA granted hearing loss and tinititis but they only retro me back to 2006 the date of my reopen claim. I NODed and still nothing, so now I am at the BVA and really don't want to screw this up. But do I get a lawyer? What say you ladies and gents?? Stillhere

Thanks guys! Haven't picked a lawyer yet Pete. Probably going to tackle the lawyer early next month and then go from there. I figure a couple of weeks so they can review all my evidence and then head to the BVA. Stillhere

Hello All, Couple of questions on the BVA I haven't been able to access and not sure if even necessary, but would like to ask the experts. Is their a way to tell which judge is going to handle an appeal? Is there a way to find out their record of approvals? Thanks Stillhere

WOW! T-bird that is a great amount of info! Thank you so much! I was doing research in the BVA decisions yesterday and came up with a few of those but these are great and I will jump on them right away! I hope the OP and any one else with a hearing problem to the same! My BVA hearing is coining up this June so I will try and glean as much out to help as I can. Thanks Again, Stillhere

After reading your plight I can relate. I got out in 1971 Dec. 14 now that date is important because it is so near Christmas but a little more on that later. There were a lot of us getting out that day with the Army draw down so we were thick as thieves in the hall way. I was given the whisper test and was told I would have to stay another 2 weeks so they could fully test my ears because of the back log! Now being like you 21 and wishing to be home for Christmas I opted to sign a waiver back to an exam I had 3 months prior to being stationed at my last post. I did not remember anything of that test but when I did get my C-file I found it had 15's all the way across on my test!! Not sure how that happened since at my induction audio test I had a 55 in my high frequency at 4000? I have been told there is no way that it could have improved like that! Anyhow I was denied in 83 when I finally went and applied and got denied, now I appealed in 06 and got approved at a rate of 70%! I am now appealing to get my original date back to 83'. I will keep up with your situation as it plays out and if I can help I will let you know! Stick to your guns and that C-file when you get it will make great reading! Stillhere

Berta I am not in upstate NY but in Washington, DC where there is some of the worst traffic this side of hades! My appt.s in downtown DC take anywhere from 2-3 hrs to get to and back total 4-6 hrs. and I am only 22 miles and 3 bridges away!! Stillhere

I will always call it amazing that the VA can actually look at our files that have been going on for 10, 20 years and then say oh yea lets grant this and maybe they will not appeal?? My appeal that is now at BVA is like that! They approved it but only as far back as a retro of $24,999.00! Now we guys/gals that have been around for a while all know that it only takes one signature! Suspicious? You darn right.... Stillhere

Thanks all! Gastone see you marine and in Nam in 69. We're you on highway 1 in central highlands? Spent my time there up above DaNang with 1st Marine Division across the street. Welcome Home brother! Stillhere

Appealing for a Earlier effective date. Appeal letter was sent to me when appeal certified and got letter from BVA two weeks later. Went to ebennies and it shows already with law judge?? Is this possible? I also requested a hearing with the judge and have heard nothing on that? I haven't been around for a while not feeling particularly well right now just trying to hang on for a while or more. Stillhere

Not sure what a PTSD intake exam is but if the numbers are your Gaf score then they feel you don't have PTSD. Have you actually been Dxed as having PTSD? Stillhere

JBrown, Check your letters on ebennies that you can download for commissary and post ID. What do they say? If they say 100% P/t then you are fine. Stillhere

This could be a good time to ask for a reconsideration and base it on your information that covers your Sept. date. Usually reconsiderations go quicker? Would be nice to pick up the phone and call but not with anything dealing with government! Stillhere

I was able to claim temp 100% twice actually. Each time I had a stent placed after my original heart attack. I sent in a claim and was awarded. But I was only awarded one month for each because you had to be in the hospital or your Dr. limited your activities for at lease I think 21 days? Check your hospital note your Dr. gave you at discharge. Good luck to you and Welcome Home! Stillhere

Why do you have your post "No Hazing"? Just wondering and you don't have to answer. I would like to say I have been a member for a few years and this site is one of the best and one of the major reasons is the moderators. Stillhere

Buzz, He can get his records from the cardio doc himself and any other records of ANY care he has received at a VAMC by going to the ROI office! Stillhere

Thanks everyone. John my claim is final from 84 and I did not know I could appeal. Only received the one page letter. I am watching your case very closely and pulling for you to win! The VA has an obligation to right the wrongs that they placed on veterans historically. I personally believe my families life would have been better if the VA had granted my claim back was raising my family and having to do without because of me limitation from my disability! Stillhere

Take a look at the forum for IU or quickly apply for your other disabilities that could get you to 100%. I would also suggest you start looking at SSA. You don't mention how old you are but I doesn't matter if you are disabled. Stillhere

My lawyer said that I could file a cue for not getting a letter that I could appeal my denial. Will this work? When I received my C file a few years back I noticed that there was no copy of the appeal process letter with my denial. I told the lawyer that all I ever got in 1984 was a denial letter with just the words no service connection. Now on the back of the letter way down at the bottom in light blue ink it did say I could appeal but I did not see it. Anyone ever won a cue for this? Thanks, Stillhere

They tried that once on me last year and I jumped both feet all over the doc that was backing up my regular PC. When my regular PC got back she put in one for my 90 pills. I think the doctors are being tracked by the VA to see how many opiates they write. Hell I just went through a gall bladder surgery and besides the IV stuff they were giving me I was doing 2 percs every 3 hrs. And still wanting more pain was over the wall. Better now but back is still gonna need them. Had me on ebrell the injection stuff for my back once a week but I get sick to much to really take it. Works pretty good at limbering me up but not perfect. Stillhere

Yes if they say you can work then you will not get IU. Stillhere