stillhere

I often times seek the help of the VA website and their studies themselves to aupport a claim and or as information when I am dealing with my PCP. It seems to be that many times she will just blow off a question as to is this related to that and I have to direct her to proof direct from the VA. Now she checks before I ask. Anyhow the below link has direct support for your question of a connection between sleep apenea and stroke: http://www.ciebp.research.va.gov/docs/Go_To_Sleep.pdf I hope this helps.

Not farmiliar with this particular test but I would doubt that any one test would be suffice to come up with a rating. You will be rated on any and all evidence you have provided. If you want to see where you fit in, go to the VA website and take a look at the ratings table for PTSD Mental Conditions the 38CFR and it defines the rate you should get.

How long ago were you rated by the VA? Not that it means much but just asking? if you have been rated in the last year then they may be waiting to see how you do in treatment. Are you going to the Vet center too? If so I would get a letter of support from them and send it to VA to help your deferred claim. One good thing is they have not denied your claimand it is still open and you can get more supporting evidence to be considered. Good Luck on your claim.

RJ, Thank you for your service! I can only say how I filed my PTSD claim. After a visit to a rehab counselor in which I was guard assisted out of her office. She put me into a consult with MH at my meeting the shrink talked with me and at the end he said I suffer from PTSD and I said are you sure and he said yes. That was in Feb.09 I called the VARO and told them on the phones that I had been DXed with PTSD and wanted to file. They started my claim. I went on to have monthly meetings with the VA shrink and under his suggestion I was seen bi-weekly at the Vet-center. Around June 09 I got a letter asking if I had anymore evidence to submit to support my claim and a request for my stressors. It took me almost 2 months to write them down and send in. My stressors were verified and I had my C&P on Nov. 18 09. I also submitted a letter from my Vet center counselor and I was awarded 50% on Dec.29, 09 From my reading of quite a few post on this site and others the vets that are having the most trouble are those that try and shortcut the system and actually end up having to wait longer. Get all your ducks together and you will go right through to an award. Send the VA a claim for after you have been dxed and you will do fine and save your date.

james you also might try to write out your financial condition and ask for a expidited award for what the VA has granted you so far. You can also once you become rated over 50% go to the VAMC elegibilty office and request reimbursement of the co-pay money for your SC medications.

I AGREE!

if these rules bear out it would appear yes. But with him already at 100% before his death you should be OK for DIC. With him already having a 100% for PTSD if I am reading these regs right they should go back to 2000 when he applied and pay you the retro not sure about what rated but I would say at least 60% as a guess. If you still have the denial read through it and see why they denied.

Hi Berta and thanks. if I read this correctly Nehmer will come into play and my claim in for an EED may just be granted as I had hoped. My cardio doc has already said that he will write ma a letter in support so we will see.

So here are my questions: First of all, can he file something about the VA missing that his burns were 3rd degree back in 1985? He had no instructions that he could appeal. There's surely no way that his burn scars changed from 2nd degree to 3rd degree over the 25 years.... If they're 3rd degree now, they were that back then. Plus, how the heck did they miss the scars on his head??? If they had just appeared magically, they wouldn't be SC now, would they? You can file and ask to have the claim reopened and point out the mistake that was made in 85. Might work and you are correct if they are 30% now they should have been 30% then. Second, how does he disagree with the examiner's findings on his shoulder? When the examiner (NP) told him to reach up with his left arm, he said it hurt. He said do it anyway. DH had tears rolling down his cheeks. It's even stated in the decision that he was in pain throughout the examination, but that he had little loss of ROM due to pain. They also state that he was guarded in his movements. You can also file and NOD or reconsideration and point out that he was in severe pain when using his shoulder. The same thing happened with his hands - the examiner made him squeeze a grippy thing and told him to squeeze as hard as he could, regardless of the pain. DH squeezed until there were tears in his eyes. Ergo, no loss of grip, no range of motion. When you file the other NOD add this too and make sure you make your point about the PAIN. I feel like we're looking a gift horse in the mouth, but at the same time, it feels like he's been cheated. DH should be compensated for the injures at the rate he deserves! Any thoughts or advice? Thanks! And if you think I'm being greedy, say that too, okay?

Sending it to NJ and not to where the case is being viewed, is not good. The BVA should have been the place to send it to support your claim. I agree with everyone else you need a good lawyer and you could win this.

Now that you are 100% the first 10,000 the VA gives you and you are eligible to buy another 10,000 for a total coverage of 20. The 113 they are charging you for the other 10 is kinda of steep. I pay 44bucks for mine.

Well "HOLD THE BOAT" thar little fellow! just when you think you are getting to the end of your rope you lose your grip. Now iris and the 800# are saying my claim for earlier effective date has been kicked back by the rater to the development office and it will have to wait until the regs have been rated for IHD being added to the presume list. Not surprised really and thought this was what was going to happen anyway but I was hoping I might squeek by. I knid of view this as a good thing that they did this instead of just a denial. What do you all think? I have heard also that the regs should/could be out by May

Well iris and 800# confirmed that my clai for EED was ready for decision since Dec. 1,09 the mid of Jan. they both again confirm that a decision had been made and wnet to the rater (I guess I am getting something not sure) In mid March iris and 800 confirm file sent back to development??? Guess they did not have one of their eyes dotted. Anyhow if your claim has a decision and goes to the rater what is the % that it is getting a award of something or does the rater also denie claims in his position?? Don't think I have seen that made clear before. Anyone know for sure?

I have read that a lot of these ILP are based on what the state will allow and budget. What state are you in? I think there is a 12year window too. If you rehab office does not do hobbies then ask about the program Quality of Life.

John999 that is the reason I am trying to get this done quick. If I die between now and the time of the VA getting around to it at least you an I will have DIC and I also have the insurance for the wive. Being 90% with PTSD and heart disease I am really paranoid that I am still working in sales and dealing with the stress of all this things. I have sent letters to both of my senators and my rep in the house to get this done have not heard anything yet.

Wanted to post an update on my claim for an EED for my heart disease. In calling the 800# and an Iris back in Jan. Both said my claim was waiting decission. This week March 1 I called and iris again and both said my claim had been decided and is at the raters. The both went on to say that I would see nothing more on my claim until at least May when the new regs come out for IHD! Leads me to belief that my claim for an earlier effective date has been approved and the rater will have to wait for the regs to see how to apply them. Anyone else get that too?? Also they both said my appeal to the BVA will nto move until the IHD claim has be settled!

There has and is and on going discussion and we are learning more about this Pilot Program at the atlanta RO. This pilot program at the start is coming across to me as a help for claims for increase where you have your private doc notes to submit or you are being seen at a VAMC. The VCCA would still be enforce because these are claims for increase. This program is looking to cut out the need for reduntant C&Ps and just going on the medical notes records being submitted. The way I see this scenario is a veteran who is already rated for a disability applys for an increase and sends in his records and the file would only need to be based on the notes of record and the doc's notes and the increase would go direct RO after review.

Stillhere wrote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anything posted on this web by someone that is not known is suspect. I did a search/google and can find nothing specific about this program being implemented in Atlanta or anywhere else?? I have also searched a few Veteran help sites and found nothing but I did post it on another site and they have questions. My other observation is we have quite a few members who work for the VA present and past and to date none of them have commented. I would appreciate some more feed back questions posted from them? Any reason why? Answer: If you find anything we are trying to say suspect, then we apologize. We're not here to confuse anyone or make anyone suspicious, although given the VA's reputation and past behavior and actions, I can't say I blame you one bit. You won't find anything via any type of search on the web because this program isn't out there yet. No announcements have been made about it other than within the VA that the Atlanta RO is putting it together. This is the first website/forum we have posted about the REV process. A formal announcement has not even been made yet. As we are working on finalizing the process and the details, we simply wanted to get the word out ahead of any formal announcement so we could here what veterans themselves think of it and get their feedback. I didn't even know about this website until Recurve brought it to my attention. But I'm going to stick around and answer questions, post comments, and guage opinions the best I can. So keep em up!

This is a new pilot recently selected from this link: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1852 This new pilot will put Veterans in control of thier claims- and we want your input. Hey folks, The VA has a new pilot program starting up at the Atlanta RO. Basically, this will cover SC claims for increase, presumptives already verified, temp 100% and ALS claims. Because of the back-logs, we have identified the above type claims mainly due to SC has already been established. We are in the process of creating an application, physicians statements for each disability system and the format on how we will process these claims. The pilot is named Rapid Evaluation of Veterans Claims (REV). We all know that the back-log is growing, so this pilot is soliciting your help. To qualify for this pilot, you are wanting an increase in SC conditions. For your outpatient treatment records from private physicians-You will obtain them. VAMC records-basically in the application you can inform us which VAMC your treated at and we can get them. Our rating board has developed physician statements that will be made availible for you to take to your treating physician or VAMC doctor. Once you have all your documents together, submit your claim to the RO. There will not be a VA medical exam, the application has a "waiver" for the VAE so we can rate your claim based on the material you provided to us.We will not send you a VCAA. The only correspondence you'll receive is the rating decision and your notification letter when your claim is complete. Please give me some comments, concerns and your questions. If successful, this pilot will be launched nationally. Admins-if Ive posted in the wrong section, please move. DRO's, RVSR's, VSR's etc please chime in also. Thanks,

I have had a similar problem and this is how I solved mine. I go to a private cardio doc and he often prescribes meds, first he gives me samples to cover two weeks. I then take his prescirption and fax it to my pcp and they authorize it to be filled and I get it in about ten days in mail form the MC. If he can not get samples for a few days have the attending doc write two scrips one for like a 10 supply and the other one for the regular supplied needed. Fax that one to your PCP. As fars as the er goes whenever he goes to the ER it has to be or should be an emergency. When he is first checking in he has to make sure and tell them he is under VA health care and the hospital will contact the VA for payment or the VA will send transport to get you and bring you back to the VA for care. The VA has a program that is called fee basis just for this problem. If he is having problems with getting this set up he should contact the patient advocate at the MC for help in doing this. Good luck to you and your dad!

Berta, The fed gov here has been shut down since Friday Noon. So I doubt you will get an answer to your call. Also we are due another big snow storm today Tuesday and lasting till Wed. night. They are saying another 8-20 some inches more. The Gov will probably not be open till Monday if then. Good Luck to you. Stillhere

To get to SMC you are going to need a 60% rating alone or combined. If the VA did your surgery go to the record release at the MC It's called ROI and ask them for a copy of when the operation was and read that. It should say what kind of cancer it was. But first I would go and get the latest checked out. Then just ask what kind of cancer it is. Either way get it taken care of. Good Luck to you.

Something is really strange with this. When they have charged my old insurance in the past they have ignored it and I don't see anything charged to me. Now I am under my wife's insurance and it will be interesting if they pay anything. I was always under the assumption that when you pass 50% they cover everything! Is this not true anymore??

Very interesting Berta. I had a appt yesterday with both MH and PCP while I was there the front clerk asked me if I had insurance. I am at 90% why would the VA need my healthcard. I am SC for quite a few things that the VA treats me for, I will have to watch and see if this happens. Thanks, Stillhere