stillhere

Had the what I hope is my last C&P and I must admit this was by far the most complete one I have ever had even dating back to my original one in 01" Don't know how this is going to play out but the doc covered every base for the DB2 increases I put in for. She also spent a lot of time with me, dopler test for ankles, and arms. ekg for the heart, xray and blood samples and urine and checked down there too. Anyhow thought you all would like to know and yes it was done by the QTC team! Still have not heard anything else as far as a follow up on the hearing or sleep apena all I can do is sit and wait. Goodluck with all your claims, Stillhere

Well I must be one of the lucky ones in this area even though I have had the heart attack 05' and two separate heart sugeries to place stents. I have been taking metformin 2x a day 500mg and the BS level has been right around 120. But I have lost quite a bit of weight and I think that helps. I would check with me pc and see what they think. Goodluck, Stillhere

OK all had to pay the tax man again so I finally got that out of the way. At least I did not have to file an extension as in years past! Anyhow called the 800# and got the new call center and the wait really was not long at all and the fellow seemed to be on the up and up with my claim. He said in regard to my hearing reopen claim that it was in fact reopened and if they need more information they would be in touch. On the sleep apena claim the same thing with the IMO I sent in and the sleep study they may not need anything else on that one either. He did mention a couple of times to make sure that I go to my one C&P that is scheduled for this week and I told him no problem I would be there. All and all a rather nice conversation I think I can only hope it all pans out the way he says. My hearing as you all might know is really going south and the VA just gave me a bluetooth application and microphone that goes directly through my hearing aid. This is really cool and I am hearing and testing as I go along. I have a cord microphone that I wear sometimes and it rest on my stomach Man what a loud ass stomach I have. Anyhow thank you all for your help and I hope my story will help some other deserving vet, and wish me luck I get my hearing SC!! Thanks all, Stillhere

Reads like this dealer is doing the old "let me talk to the Manager on you" If you have a signed contract he can not take away or change the price for the VAN. If he tries to be nice and tell him that you are voiding the contract. Please post the name of this dealership and where they are located and let them know you plan on doing it! I bet heads will roll then. Good luck, Stillhere

Thanks Ricky, I sent my VSO an email on Sat. adn he actually answered me on Sunday. He told me to call the 800# because if he called the RO they would pull my file to get him and answer and that would just slow it down. Stillhere

Thanks Rental guy I think I will call the 800# on Monday and see what they say. Would be nice if the answer was number 2# but I doubt that from the track record of dealing with the VA. Stillhere

I put in for increase DB2 for SC conditions of PN and wanted to add hands PN too. I have been scheduled for one C&P for the diabetes issues but... I also put in for sleep apnea with hyptertension and a hearing loss tninitus reopen claim. I go on the 17th of April for all the diabetes stuff but have not heard a thing about the sleep apnea, hypertension, or the hearing loss? What gives do you think? I have supplied a IMO from cardio doc on the sleep apena and one from my audiologist, plus the VA has my records for treatment at the VAMC. Do you figure they have all they need or are they waitiing to do them separate?? Thsnks for all your help, Stillhere

I am going in for a C&P exam for complications of diabetes I am asking for an increase for PN feet pain,is unbearable and I am on 2 meds now to just get it to the point I can function. I also have just been DX with Penicarius Anemia with B12 shots monthly. I am also having trouble with both hands tingling and numbness. Oh plus I am on 2 diff meds for HBP. I am asking for the hypertension that I have to be rated. Finally my questions which I know has been asked before "do I stop taking my meds" so the exam will be a full impartial exam showing my diseases and the effect of my diabetes or do I just take a list of my meds and tell them if not for the meds I would be in worse shape? Any and all feed back would be apprecaited. Stillhere

Thank you both for your replies. I appreciate your feed back I will drop this letter off to my VSO tomorrow and ask his comment. I still am quite a bit bitter that this was not taken care of in 1983 when I first went to the VA for help. I ended up having to pay for all my testing and aids myself until 2001 when the VA finally agreed to give me assistance because I was 50% disabled. The cost from 83 until 2001 was out of my pocket because they had denied me. Sorry for the Rant feeling a little down today and feet hurt like crazy. Stillhere

To Whom it may concern: Patient was seen at this center on march 14th, 2008 for a complete audiological evaluation. He complained of difficulty hearing in all listening situations and intermittent tinnitus that have been occurring for several years. Case history indicated no truama to head, otalgia,or ottorrhea. He has a history of excessive exposure to noise while in the military. He was exposed to gufire,grenade launchers, helicopters, and large machinery. Impressions: A severe to profound asymmetrical hearing loss was observed bilaterally. This hearing loss is consistent with his history of excessive noise exposure. Audiologic Test Results: 1. Pure tone testing indicated an asymmetrical, bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss, poorer in the right ear. 2. Word recognition scores of 68% in the left ear and could not test the right ear. your truly XXXXXX This is in support of my claim for impaired hearing. What do you fellow vets think? Stillhere

Tbird I am still having troubles, it seems it takes me 3 clicks to get to the post answer and the green popup banner I have to wait for it to load each time. Thanks, Stillhere

I don't have that form in my supposedly entire copy of my C-file which is about 4 inches thick. Thanks for the help though. Stillhere

Hey guys I got out in 71 and all they used back then was form 89 and I don't see any PULhES maybe they had not started with that one yet. It does say "hearing loss unilateral high frequency" connctive loss- mydia" Hard to read the grapgh they used and my outside audio lady said it definilty had it's start in service. Stillhere

Jayg, Thanks for the help but what is PULHES and where on the exit papers do I find it. Thanks, Stillhere

again thanks to everyone for thier help in this matter. I am still a little steamed (after 20 years ) they could should have been honest with me back in 83! Anyhow this is where I am now I have put in for a reopen of my claim but I really think thats this is a cue but I will get back to that later. Went to my private audiologist and had her review my records and give me an up dated hearing test. Just got the results from her and they were very similar to the VA's test in 06 LE 68% and right ear 95% so pretty bad. Without my aid in I can barely hear anything. She is going to write me a report that says it more than likley as not started while I was in the military and as soon as I get that I will send it off with my claim. My main goal now is to get this service connected I will then go for the EED or a cue claim. My cue would be they had the information in 1984 that I had a high vrequency loss in both ears at discharge and they still denied it as SC even though thier examiner wrote it in my records. My hearing has gotten worse over the years but the main damage and truma was done while I was in service. Wish me luck!! Stillhere

Slim,Welcome and thanks for your service, from one Nam vet to another. This site is great and Berta is awesome, with the help here and of course my condition getting worse I am at 70% and did most of the paper work myself with the help here. so if you do not understand something do a search or post a question and you will get help. Good luck with your claim and if I can help I will pipe in. Stillhere

I have PN in both feet really givin me the dickens lately. I have also been Dx with pernicious anemia by my VA PC I have been told I will have to give myself a b12 shot for the rest of my life. The feet got so bad and the VA would not listen I went to my ousade podatrist and he prescribed 75mg of Lyrcia twice a day. Only been taken it 3 days but does seem to help at night. he said try it for two weeks and if nothing gets better he is sending me to a Nerologist. Also while there I point blank asked if this was because of my B12 defiency and he said no way. Hmph. Goodluck with your claims! Stillhere

Tyler, hello there I wanted to just jump in here and say have foun the 800# and the IRIS to be lik a salve to s guys/girls waiting for our cliams and not hearing anything. Case in point I called back in Dec. last year and about a claim I had in and the iris folks wrote me bak that it was working and to sit tight. Two days later I got the decesion!! Also if you have a 50% LV you should be at 60% for heart disease, are you rated for your heart?? Stillhere

Danang you are eligible per the FAQ on the VA gov site: Reimbursement for mileage or public transportation may be paid to the following: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 30% or more; Veterans traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition; Veterans receiving a VA pension; Veterans traveling for scheduled compensation or pension examinations; Veterans whose income does not exceed the maximum VA pension rate; Mileage reimbursement is made at the current rate of 11 cents per mile. Travel payment is subject to a deductible of $3. for each one-way trip. There is an $18. per month maximum deductible. You are not subject to a deductible if you are traveling for a compensation or pension examination. Looks like the VA hasn't plugged in the new rates yet. stillhere

Meant to get this to you sooner. Hope it helps. stillhere To whom it may concern: I am asked to provide documentation of disability for xxxx. He suffered a myocardial infarction in 2005 with emergency right artery stenting from an occluded right coronary artery. He went on to develop recurrent coronary disease with circumflex stenting in 2006. He has hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea. He is mediated on Coreg,Losartin, Aspirin, Metformin and Plavix for his multiple cardiac factors and health conditions. He additionally carries a diagnosis of sleep apnea. It has been established that sleep disorder breathing such as sleep apnea is common in men with coronary artery disease and is associated with coronary artery disease. I would note that diabetes is a significant risk factor for conorary artery disease. I would note that diabetes mellitus has been identified as a deveolpmental condition following exposure to agent orange. The patient served in Vietnam 1969-1970 with exposure to Agent orange. On the basis of these notations of sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, I would suggest a thorough re-evaluation of his disability status.

Not sure what to do in a case like this but I am sure someone will come along and help. I did want to let you know that I too have a problem with the exam that the doctor for QTC said they preformed. I recently got a copy of my C file and in it the doctor went on to say about the precentages of ankle movement and such. She never once touched me! Just sat in a chair and talked to me. Fraud! Good luck with your claim! Stillhere

Ricky, That is kinda what i was coming up with. I will have to ask my VSO if there is something to do about this. Thanks, Stillhere

congrats! Please do let us know I have a claim in now and would love the info. Stillhere

Bear in mind I am only trying to help. I just had a meeting with my VSO and he gave me a sheet that has a pretty good (I guess) definiton of nexus: Medical Nexus Opinion Letter\\ Cite service medical records,any rating decisions from the VA and/or statements from individuals. AND The VA may consider your issue if you send in scientific or medical evidence showing that your claimed condition is medically associated with service. If your doctor has expressed an opinion regarding the relationship of your claimed condition, send the VA that opinion, the reasons and basis for that opinion, and the clinical treatment records. In addition, the doctor should provide literature that supports the opinion. literature my consist of scientific or medical journal articles,etc,that support the doctors opinion of your currently diagnosed condition. The doctor should use the following wording "at least as likely as not" but VA will usually also accept "probable", "likely", more than 50% certain, etc.; in other words, phrases that throw the balance more in favor of the claimant. IN THE CASE OF A SECONDARY CONDTION: A secondary condition is a direct result of the primary condition. This is important because mant doctors like to include terms such as "contributed to", "may have", or "possibly influenced" or similar phrases in their nexus statements: these thypes of statements are not sufficient to satisfy the "proximately due to" part of the regulation "is possible", "could have", "may have", etc. As with any nexus statement, the best wording is " at least as likely as not" but VA will usually also accept "probable", "likely", "more than 50% certain", etc; in other words , phrases that throw the balance in favor of the claimant. I hope the above helps someone and Good luck with your claims. Stillhere