escalady

I wholeheartedly agree. As veterans, we fight for what is right, however, we then have to fight for what is justifiably right for our behalf.

Thank you everyone for the responses. I will file within the next day or 2. I have secured the records and have submitted for other copies. Thank you.

Hello, I am will be filing for my husband 100% temporary disability. I will have the copies of his records of hospitalization to submit at the time I do the claim on line. I need to also submit for other claims fie which I will not have copies of medical records for up to 30 days if not a little more. Would processing the requests separately affect processing times? For the sake of time would it better to submit the other claims to get them started and in the system without the copies of medical records? Thank you.

Hello, I am not sure if I am posting in the correct forum. I am trying to obtain some assistance in regards to my spouse who is a retired veteran; was 90% before a reduction to 80% (I believe) due to no-show for appointment. He is currently in the hospital and has been since 17 November 2015. He was released to a licensed skilled care nursing facility almost 2 weeks ago, which is where he is at this time. I read that it may be possible to apply for temporary 100% when hospitalization is greater than 21 days for service connected disabilities or for non-service connected disabilities where service conected issues are being cared for. My husband (legally separated) was denied ratings for liver disease, alcoholism, pancreatitis, along with a range of other health issues. He was admitted to the hospital under emergency situations and was med evac'ed out of the area to a regular hospital. Originally he had critically low potassium, magnesium, imbalance of electrolytes, high ammonia levels which resulted in altered status (hallucinations, issues with short term memory, eyes and body jaundiced, lack of ability to walk and communicate at times, etc.), low blood count (required 2 transfusions), high white blood cell count, etc. After 2 weeks, they determined that the mental issues had been going on for some time and that he had cirrosis of the liver and requires a transplant. In 2007, he was granted 50% sleep apnea, 30% anxiety, 10% for hypertension, 10% for reflux, rated at 0% for sinusitis, rated at 0% for hemorrhoids among a range of other health conditions. He had began having 3-4 panic attacks on a daily basis and failed to show for his exam which resulted in him being given a 0% rating. There is another rated condition that was reduced; I believe it was for 20%. He has had issues of unregulated high blood pressures for some time and multiple sinus infections on a monthly basis. While in the hospital and the licensed skilled nursing facility His blood pressure has been as high as 205/115 while in the hospital and while in the nursing facility has been on average 140/105. He is being treated with a medicine when it escalates.He has issues with digestion and complains of reflux.Currently has an infection and on antibiotics. My husband says his sinuses are bothering him, however, the type of infection won't be known for another day or 2.He currently has a hemorrhoid that is visible.I wanted to provide as much detail that I could and am willing to provide additional information if needed. I have submitted a form, so that I can speak on his behalf to VA. I understand that problems could arise if I re-open the claim for the 2 conditions that were reduced if I make an attempt to file for temporary 100% if he qualifies. I have read that the order of filing etc. is important. Any help or assistance that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Vync, I will definitely take a look at the information that you have provided. I also need to look into information on conditions that were denied and/or those rated at 0%. It is my belief and many others that my husband should have been at 100% based on his many health issues, however, he is a people person. He works with soldiers and enjoys sharing. He deployed for Desert Storm as a 13B, was exposed to the black smoke which filled the air, and witnessed what had been sent down range. Thank you again for leading me in the right direction.

Vync, thank you very much for your thorough response. I was told that I can fax the form and that it can take up to 7 days before it is in their system. For reference, the fax number that I was provided through a VA chat was (844) 822-5246. You are correct in regards to the letter sent informing about the reduction. I believe they gave him 60-90 days to respond before reducing. My husband has extremely high ammonia levels which affects his mental faculties. Normal numbers are below 30 and his has been as high as 196 a little more than a week ago. The doctors have stated that this has been going on for some time. He has made bad decisions, no decisions, and has failed to manage pretty much everything. He has had 2 accidents in the past 6 months where he was at fault both times. My husband has no long/short term disability insurance. I have the paperwork to file for FMLA and will do so within the next couple of weeks to protect his job for 12 weeks. His organization filled out the top portion with their information and it is up to me to get the rest filled out and turned in to them. Do you know how I go about filing for a hardship status? I am unsure at this point if he will be able to return to work.

Hello, I am a veteran, however, this post is in regards to my spouse, who is a retired veteran. He had been awarded 90% a couple of years ago. He made an attempt to have an increase for anxiety (was 30%) and another previously rated condition (20% I believe) re-evaluated. More than likely they would have been increased as I know that the anxiety had gotten worse with several panic attacks a day. There was a letter dated mid-2015 that stated he had missed his appointments for re-evaluation and so his ratings were reduced to 0% for both service related conditions. We are currently separated, so I was unaware of the disability compensation reduction until I found the VA letters when going through his things after his hospitalization. He was admitted to ICU for almost a week, remained in the hospital for 3 weeks, and was put in a skilled nursing facility about 5 days ago. He is still very sick. While in the hospital (regular), it was discovered that he had Hepatitis A and Cirrosis of the liver. We were told that he needs a liver transplant. I went online and conducted a chat with VA to find out how I could get the process restarted on the claims that had been reduced, but was told that I needed to have VA Form 21-0845 (Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party) in order to do anything on his behalf. I currently have the form signed. Upon further reading, I discovered that it needed to be sent with a claim and it was recommended not to handle this through the online system because it could take a significant period of time. He currently works for the DOD as a federal worker and they are unwilling to grant any type of advanced leave. I am also thinking of seeing if I can get him moved to a VA hospital because the nursing facility are not providing the care (daily labs, close monitoring, IVs) that he requires. Any assistance that anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.Thanking you in advance.