ronn

Last week I got a reply to my NOD filed 16jan ! I did not get a percentage increase of my 60% rating ! Instead they combined my disabilities into one at 60% ,IU granted with no furture exams for these disabilities. Two c&p s are sechueled for other claims mentioned in my NOD ! I'm happy with that!

If i file a tort claim with an attorny , Will there be any negitive repercussion from the VA ?

Nov. 2007 received a decsion rating me at 60%. Filed NOD 16 jan 08. Today I get a phone call from the houston regional office. A rating officer informed me that IU has been awarded reto to june o6 . I will receive all of my back pay in 7-10 days. Three C&P exams have been schualed for other concerns in my NOD. Don't think p&t will be a problem at all !

In my last award letter i was informed that i was elegiable for voc rehab. Signed up and went for orination and interrview ! They recommended me for ILP. From there an independent contractor came to my home to see how they could help me . After his report , the voc rehab counsler recommended I be given a grant for home improvements. This process has taken approx 60 days . And that is where we stand today. Approval must come from the regional office. I'll try to keep you informed as it progresses. Ronn

Is there any determining factors that can be noted as to those that took 4 1/2 months as opposed to those that took a year or more ? Had to ask to try and keep my sanatiy from all this waiting !

Yes, that is the gentleman that paid me a visit. Thanks for catching that

Today I had a visit from a young man sent by a voc rehab counselor to interview me to see how the ILP program can help me. He is a sub contractor. He calls him self a rehabilition engineer. He has his own web site that might be worth your time ! http://www.rehabengineering.com/homepage.html

IU for starters, them maybe a remodel of kitchen and bath so that i might live the rest of my life more independatly

While I have not been granted IU yet I expect to be soon . My vocational rehab counselor has recommended me for the ILP program. What can I expect?

They had me taking Trazadone & codine for awhile til my wife caught me trying to catch the swirling little balls of light ! Was having a good time ! :)

Carlie , sorry for your disability. The thing i think everyone is missing is the fact that he said you are a heavy smoker. Now you want compinsation for a respritory disorder. AM I missing something here. Your not alone.I smoked for 35 years and they want compensate my COPD !!

Here is the one I use Berta. If there is a better one I have not found it. I even use it to lookup my meds to see what there not telling me ! http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp Ronn

Guess that would be money well spent, with all the horrow stories I've read on the VA.

In my initial claim for cancer of the throat ,VA sent me a notice saying they were considering my claim for lung cancer. A week later i get another one saying throat cancer. The decision came with no mention of lung cancer. Thought it might have been a mistake. On my claim for increase , in two different places they mention a service connected miglignancy in your lung. They go on to say " No lung miligancy has been confirmed by the evidence of record." A few weeks after I was hospitalised for stroke, this one doctor came ih and wanted to stick a needle through my chest into my lung to take a sample. At first i said ok ! After laying there and thinking on it a while& seeing this long package & no sign of any antisedic, he walks in with 4 or 5 interns in tow. I told him he must be dreaming cuz no way was he sticking me wit that thing ! # 1 , I've never mentioned any lung cancer in a claim #2. Two other VA doctors , when I ask a direct question, answered that I do not have lung cancer Since it is mentioned in my claim decsion, I really don't know what to think. Any thoughts on this? How do i correct this ?

Thankyou both of ya. I filed for TDIU at the same time. that was denied . The vocal cord & the disequalibrem (learned new big word) they should have picked upon,but they ignored. I didn't have evidence of the stricture until it was to late to submit or it would futher delay my claim . I sent an iris request asking that it be considered. Yea right! They only considered evidence up to one month after i left the hospital. that is when it was reduced to 60% . I now have all my records. Reading medical reports i've got to look up every other word ,so it's slow and depressing . I feel I'll win, just one step at a time. semper-fi Ronn

Got my claim decision back finally after 18 months of waiting. Got an increase from 30% to 60% . Stroke was s/c and 10% for hypothyroidism was back dated to original claim date. 100% was granted for a period of 6 months then reduced to 60% for stroke residual. 20% for neuropahy in rt arm and 10% for rt leg. They overlooked a couple of things , such as a paralysed vocal cord and my equalibram is messed up! Also restriction of the phynax making swollowing difficult. Going to prepare an nod, so maybe i'll get 100% yet. At least now i have something to work with. Ronn

2 months 17 days houston regional office ! It was a claim for increase on cancer rating and claim for stroke, hypertention ,gerd, and hypothriodism .

16 long months. But I must add that I was ignorant as to how the system works and filed it as if it were a new claim !

Friday ,9 nov, I learned from the 800# that my claim for increase had been approved and signed by a supervisor on the 8th . Bill collectors are ringing my phone off the wall ! How much longer will I have to put them off before I see money by direct deposit ? No mention of the status of other claims I Can I read any thing into the fact that a super had to sign off on it ?

Call the place that sent you the notice & ask what kind of doctor your going to see. Such as general practice , neurologist, cardioligist ect. There suppose to give you that info if you ask. Then go here http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/index.htm That should answer most of your questions. Found that good info here on hadit before my c&p!

With the cost of gas, a room for 2 days might be cheaper!! I had A c&p 23 aug . Yesterday i called the 800 # and was told a decsion had been made & signed by a supervisor thursday. 2 months 17 days . nO OFFICIAL WORD YET.

Recent VA News Releases To view and download VA news release, please visit the following Internet address: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel VA and DoD Pilot Single Physical One Exam Used for "Fitness for Duty" and Disability Pay WASHINGTON (November 7, 2007) - In a landmark agreement to simplify life for service members with medical problems as they leave the military and return to the civilian world, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) signed a memorandum to pilot a single physical examination to be used by both Departments. "This agreement commits VA and DoD to develop a single process to assess the medical conditions of wounded, injured or ill service members," said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield. "We will make it easier for these heroes to go back to their homes, with the key questions about their eligibility for VA compensation already decided." The agreement, signed Nov. 6 by Mansfield and Dr. David S.C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, calls for a pilot program to evaluate a single physical examination that would be used by DoD to determine the medical fitness of injured personnel to remain in uniform and by VA for awarding disability compensation. Today's announcement continues progress on the recommendations of the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, co-chaired by former Sen. Robert Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala. The pilot, which begins late this month, involves VA and DoD facilities in Washington, D.C. Service members from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, and the Air Force's Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base will participate in the pilot. Medical evaluations will be performed by VA, although the agreement notes the physicals could actually take place in VA medical centers, military installations, VA contracted examination centers or other facilities. The memorandum says the process "lays the foundation for building a network of qualified providers and resources that will meet both DoD and VA requirements and ease the transition of members from military service to veteran status." The evaluations will be based upon VA's system for disability examinations and include an examination of medical conditions identified by military physicians that call into question a service member's fitness for duty, as well as other applicable medical conditions identified by the service member together with VA. To unsubscribe from this list, or to update your name or e-mail address, please visit the following Internet address: <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm> <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm>

As the saying goes " you can't teach an old dog new tricks. " No offence to anyone, but in this case I think it's true! :D

Proposition 9 - SJR 29: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the Legislature to exempt all or part of the residence homesteads of certain totally disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation and authorizing a change in the manner of determining the amount of the existing exemption from ad valorem taxation to which a disabled veteran is entitled." The amendment would authorize the Legislature to exempt some disabled veterans from paying property taxes and change the formula to increase the property tax break for others. Currently, 100 percent disabled veterans can be exempt from paying a portion of their property taxes, rather than be totally exempt.

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