allan

Non Combat PTSD? For Veterans who suffer from PTSD symptoms due to toxic or physical trauma, would submitting scientific evidence supporting the nexus, along with history of treatment for PTSD and exposures to toxins/trauma, be the same as a stressor letter? Thanks for any replies. Allan

hurryupnwait, I found it very easy to comunicate with Dr bash through email. I don't remember having to wait very long before getting a reply. drbash@doctor.com myelinman@hotmail.com

If the evidence is in at least "equipoise"? I know there are laws the VA has concerning equal balance of evidence. I don't believe this is practiced at the RO, AMC, or BVA levels. US Veterans must submit evidence that proves their case beyond a reasonable doubt, and then some. Equal justice under the law is not applied, neither is due process of law. The DVA hires theives to obstruct justice while they protect their identity. Equipoise is a word that gets tossed around by SO's. The DVA reconizes it as a word with nine letters. No one should expect this word to be applied at anytime to their claim. The same goes for the word, "expedite", "justice" and the list goes on.

RUMOR CONTROL: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE "VETERANS DISARMAMENT ACT" -- Misinformation abounds regarding H.R. 2640, the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007. Story below: ------------------------- One of the good things about the Internet is that so much information is available to so many. One of the bad things about the Internet is that anyone can write anything...and there's always going to be someone who will accept it as truth. Currently, we have that problem. An article currently appearing on many web sites and blogs speaks of the "Veterans Disarmament Act" and goes on to indicate that veterans with PTSD will have firearms taken away or will not be able to buy firearms (different variations of the article are floating around). There is no such thing as the "Veterans Disarmament Act." It is a name someone made up. The bill, if passed, would not take away any firearms nor would it prevent veterans with PTSD from obtaining firearms. In fact, the bill, if passed, could actually help many veterans who might be on the "no buy" firearms list get off it. The legislation referred to is H.R. 2640, the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007. You can find the full legislation on Thomas by typing in the bill number...do that here... http://thomas.loc.gov/ In 2000, the VA gave the names of 83,000 vets to the NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) database. Some sources say this number is 89,000, or even higher. The names were of veterans who, in theory, had been admitted to VA psychiatric units. Some claim these names were of vets who were involuntarily admitted...others say it included all admissions. We don't know for sure, but I suspect it was all admissions. According to federal regulations, firearms and ammo cannot be sold to anyone who "has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution." This is just one of nine categories of persons prevented from buying firearms or ammo...complete list is here... http://www4.law .cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/us c_sec_18_00000922----000-.html "Any mental institution" would, obviously, include a VA hospital mental ward. And, the government's definition of a "mental defective" is: “A determination by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority that a person, as a result of marked subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease: (1) Is a danger to himself or to others; or (2) Lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his own affairs. The term shall include a finding of insanity by a court in a criminal case.” One of the problems with the 2000 data dump was that there was no way to get off this list. But, H.R. 2640 is trying to resolve that situation. The NRA, working with Democratic lawmakers, has come up with some unique solutions. Read previous article about this here... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/ nf07/nfJUN07/nf061107-3.htm Now, take a look at the above-mentioned provisions in the bill... (1) IN GENERAL- No department or agency of the Federal Government may provide to the Attorney General any record of an adjudication or determination related to the mental health of a person, or any commitment of a person to a mental institution if-- (A) the adjudication, determination, or commitment, respectively, has been set aside or expunged, or the person has otherwise been fully released or discharged from all mandatory treatment, supervision, or monitoring; (B) the person has been found by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority to no longer suffer from the mental health condition that was the basis of the adjudication, determination, or commitment, respectively, or has otherwise been found to be rehabilitated through any procedure available under law; or © the adjudication, determination, or commitment, respectively, is based solely on a medical finding of disability, without a finding that the person is a danger to himself or to others or that the person lacks the mental capacity to manage his own affairs. Note that a person cannot be put on the NCIS list solely for a "medical finding or disability." This would mean PTSD patients who have not been committed. The bill would also require government agencies and states to update the information quarterly so that anyone who doesn't fall under the federal regulations would be removed from the list. Also, the government must provide a means for a person to take their name off the NICS list if they should no longer be on it. That provision reads: (A) PROGRAM FOR RELIEF FROM DISABILITIES- Each department or agency of the United States that makes any adjudication or determination related to the mental health of a person or imposes any commitment to a mental institution, as described in subsection (d)(4) and (g)(4) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code, shall establish a program that permits such a person to apply for relief from the disabilities imposed by such subsections. Relief and judicial review shall be available according to the standards prescribed in section 925© of title 18, United States Code. H.R. 2640, as you can see, is NOT a "Veterans Disarmament Act" nor will it adversely affect veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD. For those who believe in no controls on firearms purchases, H.R. 2640 goes too far. For those who believe in strict gun control, H.R. 2640 doesn't go far enough. You'll have to make up your own mind on this legislation. Just remember, it is NOT the "Veterans Disarmament Act." For more about veterans and guns, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here... http://www.yourvabenefits.org/ses search.php?q=gun+guns&op=or ------------------------- Larry Scott -- http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfSEP07/nf092407-3.htm

Hello hurryupnwait, You can expect the AMC and it's RO level rating specialists, to window shop for an unfavorable C&P and or try to pin your currant spinal issues on anything they can, POST service. If nothings in your post service records, like hurt your back while lifting a boat or patient reports back strain while hiking in snow. They may just make it up and deny anyway, but generally they will pick anything out like the remarks from your chiropractor and run with it. They will build a whole case around their theory of how all of these post service injuries caused all the intervertabral disc disease, scoliosis, osteoarthritis etc from lifting that boat. In the mean time, you can expect them to completely ignore, "ANY" and I do mean ANY favorable evidence. You can save yourself years of this cat and mouse game by getting an IMO from Dr Bash and submitting it. Don't expect any VAMC C&P examiner to be a specialist. Many are nurse practitioners,"trained" to provide the examination the way the VA wants them. If they are an MD, more than likely they will be an"Internal Medicine" Dr. If your health Issues are neurological/spinal, you will need someone who specializes in interpreting diagnostic tests like MRI's. Trying to get a C&P examiner to go through all your records and an examination in under two hrs is difficult for all the issues I have. Most VA examiners ignore your medical history and their opinion is only based on what they observe during the examination.

fwd from kelly VA struggles with disability claim surge http://www.2ndbattalion94thartillery.com/Chas/OutgoingBS.htm WASHINGTON (AP) — Outgoing VA Secretary Jim Nicholson acknowledged Tuesday that he's struggling to reduce surging disability claims from injured Iraq war veterans. Mr. Secretary this has nothing to do with any surge of claims. Before the war, it was the same old VA BS. = Deny deny until VA cannot deny anymore and then go to Plan B – stall and stall and stall until the Veterans or Widow comes up in the VA lottery in the hopes of Plan C = the Veterans death or just giving up. Give me a break here - this is so much BS. Addressing Congress for a final time before stepping down Oct. 1, Nicholson suggested to a House committee that the VA has yet to find a clear solution for long waits. The long waits are “As Designed” in the processes and procedures of the VA meant to do just as they have been doing for the White House and DoD since Vietnam as they allow Vets to die before their claim is approved or have them subsidize their own government created disability. Nicholson also said, though, he's proud of many accomplishments during his 2 1/2 years as head of the Veterans Affairs Department, pushing forward initiatives such as requiring screenings for brain-related injury, adding storefront walk-in clinics and boosting mental health counselors. Proud of what should have been done decades ago. Better late than never except for those fellows that killed or tried to kill them self because of lack of treatment or the VA process itself. But citing in part growing demands from a prolonged Iraq war, Nicholson also said the VA faces difficulties in meeting challenges and expressed sympathy to injured veterans who might have unfairly suffered as a result of unnecessary red tape. Sympathy? I do not think any Veteran or Widow wants your damn sympathy. Justice maybe but not sympathy. I wish just once we would get someone honest with a little dab of integrity in this office that would come out and say, we just do what the White House and DoD tells us to do. No different than the VA losing in court the Blue Water Issues they fought for the White House; and now the White House is trying to change the law since VA lost on their behalf. Making an end run as it where to rear end the Veterans like they had nothing at all to do with it. Sooner or later, we need to realize these are nothing but political appointees that do the dirty work our own Presidents that will not admit to nor try and fix. Although I think in 1979, Kissenger let the Political Cat out of the bag as to how Washington really looks at the military. We just did not believe it at the time. Actions now demonstrate that exact White House Philosophy recanted by Kissenger. "We have learned that, in many instances, we were not as sensitive to those needs as we could have been — and we have tried to adjust, while at the same time caring for veterans of different wars and different eras," Nicholson said in testimony prepared for delivery to the House Veterans Affairs Committee. "My heart has gone out to service members or veterans who seem to have slipped through the cracks." Then you should have been honest enough to do something about it! Again, you had your chance to be a hero. Take your “heart going out” and your baggage and get out! Regarding the claims backlog, Nicholson said the department has hired 1,100 new processors to reduce delays of up to 177 days in processing disability payments. But he predicted another rise in compensation and pension claims this year, citing the additional applications pouring in during "the midst of war." This is also BS statement. You might get a denial in 177 days only. Getting actual financial help this 177 BS answer does not apply. The increase, he said, is coming from Iraq war veterans as well as veterans from previous conflicts who were prompted to file additional claims for new or additional benefits amid the current public focus on war-related injuries in Iraq. Had our own government and government scientists been the least bit truthful the above paragraph could not and would not apply. Instead, we get government lies instead of justice. "The claims backlog is an issue that has bedeviled me and many that have come before me," Nicholson said. "In fact, VA can influence the output — claims decided — of its work product, but it cannot control the input — claims filed." Lets see, every Secretary since “Bows and Arrows” has failed to address this same issue or solve the problem. So all of them in total could not solve this problem. Either we have had the wrong folks in there all this time or obviously the problem is above their pay grade and probably has resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and the Pentagon with many of them working on Capital Hill. He also blamed gaps in VA's mental health care partly on "areas of the country where certain specialty health care providers simply can't be hired, no matter what you would pay them." Nicholson abruptly announced in July that he was resigning. His appearance Tuesday comes amid intense political and public scrutiny following reports of substandard outpatient treatment at the Pentagon-run Walter Reed Army Medical Center and at VA facilities. In recent weeks, injured Iraq war veterans have filed a lawsuit against the VA alleging undue delays in health care, particularly in mental health coverage. The VA inspector general's office also found the VA repeatedly understated wait times for injured veterans seeking medical care and in many serious cases forced them to wait more than 30 days, counter to department policy. The report also concluded that Nicholson and VA Undersecretary for Health Michael Kussman earlier this year falsely reported to Congress that 95% of veterans' outpatient appointments — rather than 75%, as the IG found — were timely. Gee now whom do these two work for? You guessed it! In his prepared remarks, Nicholson did not mention the IG report while repeating his belief that the VA still offered the best health care system in the world. The VA has questioned the IG report's methodology and said it would hire a contractor to do another study. "To be sure there have been disappointments, but I believe we have made tremendous progress," Nicholson said. "Together we have made VA a stronger, more focused organization — focused on the very real needs of all of our veterans, especially those currently engaged as warriors in the Global War on Terror." The above two statements just reeks of politics - not facts! Among the achievements Nicholson cited: • Launching a campaign to reduce high rates of obesity and diabetes in veterans. Some 25% of veterans under VA care suffer from adult-onset Type II diabetes, which can lead to blindness, renal failure or amputations. • Creating a new multi-campus academy in partnership with U.S. nursing schools to address a nursing shortage and encourage nurses to work for the VA. • Hiring suicide prevention counselors at each of VA's 153 hospitals and creating a 24-hour prevention hotline in July. • Centralizing the VA's information technology system to minimize the risk of data loss. That came after nearly 26.5 million veterans' personal information was put at risk of identity theft last year after a VA employee lost a computer hard drive.

Hello Kryptos, what your experiencing "is" DVA health care. Going through the Patient Advocate first is the chain of command. You will receive the proper forms from the advocate to change PCP's. Once you file the complaint, it is likely that you will be labeled a trouble maker and the high quality care you've been receiving, will start to deteriorate at that facility. Oh yes. It can get worse. Your meds may be constantly late or they may withhold your pain medications all together, forcing you to go through constant withdrawal symptoms, and you can forget about any referrals for needed specialty consults or diagnostic MRI's. Dead Vets don't complain as much as the live ones. It's all about the illusion of health care. If you file the complaint, the VAMC will provide you with someone, but it may be two years before you see another MD. You will get much better care through the PA’s and nurses, but your consult requests will get denied when they submit them to the VAMC’s Dr’s to sign off on. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear the Dr your complaining about, is the one that signs off on the consults, until you’re authorized to change. If that is the case, you’re screwed for care for the next year or two. If you stay with the currant VAMC care provider, it seems like you’re going to be screwed as far as receiving care, while you’re under their care. Choose wisely! Allan

It worked for me that time. It's in rich text(rtf). Let me know if you still have trouble..... allan

Atomic Veterans Revisited Through Depleted Uranium Exposure Rokke, who has been sounding the alarm for more than a decade, says he has reactive airway disease, neurological damage, cataracts and kidney problems. He blames his health problems on exposure to DU. “This whole thing is a crime against God and humanity,” he said. http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/ful...arisco10222003/

[Federal Register: March 20, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 53)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 12983-13016] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr20mr07-9] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38 CFR Part 4 RIN 2900-AM60 Schedule for Rating Disabilities; Appendices A, B, and C AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is revising its Schedule for Rating Disabilities, Appendices A, B, and C to include all current diagnostic codes. Appendix A is also amended to include all the diagnostic code historical information since the last review. DATES: Effective Date: This amendment is effective April 19, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trude Steele, Regulations Staff (211D), Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-7210. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Schedule for Rating Disabilities, 38 CFR Part 4, Appendices A, B, and C have not been updated since July 1, 1988. These Appendices are tools for users of the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The Appendices reflect changes to the diagnostic criteria in the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. We have amended the Appendices to add changes to the Schedule for Rating Disabilities since the Appendices were last updated. Additionally, we removed language in Appendix A that showed when a diagnostic code was updated to correct spelling, revise text, or other additional changes, which had no impact on the disability code. Those changes were incorporated within the text when amended. All diagnostic codes in Appendix A will now be categorized by when they were added, removed, whether the criterion was amended, and whether the disability evaluation was amended. We will continue to include the date for historical purposes. We revised Appendices B and C to provide the current diagnostic codes and disability terminology. We will continue to update the Appendices as the Schedule for Rating Disabilities is revised. Click on link to access the complete word document.

It would be interesting to do a study on recordings & transcrips & compare them with what veterans record. You may discover those so called errors are intentional. I've also heard it refered too as "salting a claim".

No retro, no access to legal counsel through US Attorneys. Problem resolved. Please continue to increase our spending and we will continue to keep and spend it anywhere, but on a Veteran or their families. Thanks Chumps! Signed, Theirs now, yours next.

FWD: http://www.2ndbattalion94thartillery.com/C...nstatements.htm September 16, 2007 To All the Veterans Benefits Disability Commissioners (VBDC) Subject: The VBDC recommendation that the Veterans Compensation only start on the date it is awarded by Veterans Affairs and not the submittal date of claim. I apologize for not being there for this meeting but I have a meeting with Congressman Bob Filner on many of the issues you as a committee have been discussing; and that takes precedence. I cannot afford to do both. I did want to pass on my complete and utter disappointment with this recommendation for our Nation’s Veterans by the VBDC. In this subject, I feel you have been grossly mislead or you are not looking out for our Veterans. This Commission must remember that Veterans Affairs does not work for Veterans but White House Philosophy to stall and deny as long as possible. Veterans Affairs is a Federal Agency that is not to be trusted and already “Stalls to the Death” of the Veteran using the Veterans Affairs Hamster Wheel. With their definition that is used the Veterans claim is terminated upon death and the spouse then has to start all over again from day one. The VA clocks are reset just like the Presidents in the White House like it. Knight Ridder news reported after suing Veteran Affairs for the data and I quote: March 06, 2005: ”Knight Ridder news may be onto one of the biggest stories of the year: 13,000 veterans needlessly died awaiting appeals on VA benefit payments, with a net savings of untold millions for VA.” Now this commission is not going to not hold accountable Veterans Affairs for the period in which they are stalling these Veterans. I can assure the commissioners that it has not gotten better but worse. As many of you know, even when Veterans Affairs puts out data, it is then normally found to be erroneous and then some wonderful Veterans Affairs explanation comes out about how they are going to “improve their reporting procedures.” Therefore, the 13,000 listed are at least as likely as not probably much higher. If you recommend this as you have: Disability Commission wants to change the rules that the award for Veterans would only be from the date of VA approval - not submittal. If that happens, where in the world is there any incentive for Veterans affairs, to do anything other than draw a Government paycheck? So where does that leave the disabled Veteran? Financially subsidizing his government created disability with his life savings while waiting government help via Veterans Affairs that never comes is the where. Meanwhile, the VA leadership gets extra bonus pay for creating an atmosphere of “failure” and a complete “failure to perform” as expected by White House Philosophy. Where does this leave the government created disabled or dying Veteran? Congressman Shays Quote: “At what level do you think Government should consider compensation? Should we have a no shadow of a doubt? The reason why I am asking the question is I have concluded, based on our work that we have done on Gulf War Illnesses, based on our review of Agent Orange, that I have to be honest with our veterans. By the time we will know the scientific data, you are dead. You will either have died early or you will have died in your old age in pain, but you will not get help from the Federal Government. That is just about what is happening and has happened to 100’s of thousands of Veterans and Widows and now you are going to recommend the White House puppets at Veterans Affairs and our White House have no ramifications at all for the repeated stalling they create. Veterans Affairs takes six to eighteen months to approve a Stage IV lung cancer associated disorder and now you are going to take the only incentive we have for Veterans Affairs to do anything for those that actually survive. Survive because they subsidized their government created cancer and/or government created disability. Obviously for those that do not make it you can do the math in your head of the millions of dollars saved by a less than forthright Federal Agency set up to create this failure to support our Veterans. Commissioners, it takes three data points to verify an award of government caused presumptive disorders for Compensations and declare as “Service Connected.” · Did the Veteran serve in Vietnam? · Is there a valid diagnosis? · Is that diagnosis on the list of Presumptive Disorders? Veterans Affairs cannot get this done in less than six months and most of the time it is much longer for our dying Veterans or in the fight for their very lives. Do not; I repeat do not allow Veterans Affairs to tell you the complex process in medical decisions that have to be made as to level of disability that causes the delays. That does not apply in diagnosed cancers and some other medical issues. Cancers are 100% until death or free of cancer. Some of the other issues are by treatment regiments not some measurable physical disability using VA math. Can anyone in our Government or Veterans Affairs or this Commission justify this illogical process other than stalling? When it should be hit the “Enter the Key as APPROVED” and get this approval in digital data over to financial dispersement. I urge you to reconsider and will be glad to debate these issues with any of you or any of the Veterans Affairs folks, and will be arguing against this in the Halls of Congress. You are taking away the only leverage the survivors have against a runaway federal agency. Most of you remember my red artillery hat and me; and will remember I bring data to the fight not the subjectivity Veterans Affairs puts out. Former Army Captain Bresnahan, in attendance, has my permission to submit this on my behalf and on behalf of all Veterans. If she can find anyone at all to read this statement in open discussion and get the statements for the record into the transcripts they also have my permission to do so. If there is a problem please call me at: 404-641-6477 Charles Kelley Veteran DMZ 67-68 Author and Veterans Advocate Please make sure that all Commissioners get a copy of this formal submittal.

Try these Bryan, http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/vba-21-4138.pdf http://www.va.gov/vaforms/

Hello Cowgirl, keep in mind that we are at war & there is a backlog of around 600, 000 claims. It's been running around a year to three years turnaround time at the Appeals Center. I would say if you hear nothing from the VA Regional Office in four months, request a local hearing at the RO. You "may" request a local hearing during the VARO claims process at anytime, to submit & discuss in person, any evidence to clear up any issues like Dependents, elegibility, view your claims file, etc. You will need to pay your own way, but may get some things resolved faster. Allan

evilcav, I had to wait four yrs for the traveling BVA hearing, than it took about a year for the decision. I've spent the last decade on remands from the BVA since than.

FWD: MORE VA INEPTNESS Perfect example of VA ineptness on behalf of White House Philosophy to stall or deny Veterans Compensations Gary Henton, one of my 2/94th Battalion Members who served in C Battery 66-67 was diagnosed with lung cancer and brain cancer in a VA hospital. While Brain Cancer is not presumptive (it should be), Lung Cancer is on our Infamous list of Associated Medical Issues to the Herbicides used in Nam. Gary submitted his presumptive association claim of Stage IV lung cancer on July 20, 2007 after being diagnosed in a VA hospital in May of 2007. He still waits for financial help to assist him in fighting the government caused cancers. Help that never comes. VA definition of when a claim ends with the death of the Veteran is never before out in the open as to what they try to stall and deny as in this case and many many more just like it everyday of the working week for our disabled and dying Veterans. It takes three data points to verify this award of compensations. · Did the Veteran serve in Vietnam? · Is there a valid diagnosis? · Is that diagnosis on the list of Presumptive Disorders? To congressman Filner’s office: this should be almost as easy as pushing an enter key on a computer, not months of waiting for financial help that is not only needed but earned; not some sort of government entitlement. I bet those on entitlements and not earned do not have to wait this long for financial help for doing nothing for the nation. Makes you guys want to recommend to your sons, daughters, grandsons, and granddaughters to go serve in the Military. NOT! Not with treatment like this. Now on top of all this, remember the Disability Commission wants to change the rules that the award for Veterans would only be from the date of VA approval - not submittal. If that happens, where in the world is there any incentive for VA, especially the Atlanta VA which I have first hand experience with and is also handling Gary’s Stage IV Lung Cancer case, to do anything other than draw a paycheck. We know we cannot count on congress. So where does that leave the disabled Veteran, except financially subsidizing his own government created disability with his life savings while waiting. Meanwhile, the VA leadership gets extra bonus pay for creating an atmosphere of failure and a complete failure to perform as expected by White House Philosophy. Especially if the congress allows this White House recommendation to not compensate Veterans from date of submittal but only after it is VA approved. Where does this leave the government created disabled or dying Veteran? Waiting on Government help that never comes. Yea boy, sign MY FAMILY AND ME up to serve in the MILITARY with this extra special treatment by the Dod and VA and so much support from the white houses we have had. SORRY, for the rant folks, NORMALLY I am somewhat more directional AND SANE - BUT this has got to stop! If this does not stop this will become a National Security Issue, as it should! Kelley http://www.2ndbattalion94thartillery.com/Chas/VAIneptness.htm ://http://www.2ndbattalion94thartiller...AIneptness.htm ://http://www.2ndbattalion94thartiller...AIneptness.htm

fwd: Congressman Filner Meeting Hi to all. The meeting with Congressman Filner has been changed from 10:00 hours to 13:00 hours the same day. I have posted my 1st cut at a final presentation at: http://www.2ndbattalion94thartillery.com/Chas/FilnerMeeting.htm ://http://www.2ndbattalion94thartiller...nerMeeting.htm ://http://www.2ndbattalion94thartiller...nerMeeting.htm Format is not exactly accurate on this link but you will get an idea of what I am trying to cover. Now obviously I am not going to present this verbatim but present some of it and talk to some of it. I do not want to bore the Congressman to sleep. Mike Eckstein from New Jersey will also be presenting. We did have some possible good news that another congressman may want to sit in. One of our group, had Congressman Steve Kagen go with her to her BVA hearing on esophageal cancers. It seems Congressman Kagen is a medical doctor himself and has been involved with the Fox River clean up which also involves PCB’s and forms of dioxins. His staff contacted me, thanks to our group individual, and wanted me to send then a copy of the presentation when I got it ready to see if they if they should attend. Anyway, this will give you an idea of the issues I want to hit hard and hopefully set up a dialog for future discussions. Will this accomplish anything? Who knows, but I think it is worth the efforts. Best Kelley

recurring ovarian cysts can be secondary to dioxins. All three of my daughters have them.

I couldn't say if their artistic or not, but I found out they're smart enough to be President.

Hello Pete, >Allan: You have every right to speak out and I think that you have been treated horribly. I was just pointing out that sometimes it works and like Alex Humpfrey used to say here that the more bites at the apple the better the chances of winning. ........................................ Not if it's a poisoned apple. Every bite is one more step towards death with nothing to gain from it in the end, but an empty hand. Yes, a few vets are getting their claims approved through DRO's and If the medical opinion didn't come from one of their whores, those DRO's can deny it for any reason they want to make up. Nothing is standard when it comes to Veterans benefits across this country. It wouldn't surprise me to hear a veteran in California was jailed for the same claim someone in Main was awarded 100% for. What's the total cost of such a corrupt and dysfunctional agency, along with it's buildings, facilities, court system, employees that can't read English, masochistic Dr's, phone operators, research facilities, etc? It may be cheaper for the government to pay every disabled vet in the country 1 mil every year, than to keep such a corrupt outfit in business as the Dept of Veterans Affairs comp & pen and it's so called health care system. My days will soon come to an end, but long after I'm gone these new vets will continue to have their claims processed by the same manner of lies. My best to you Pete. The DVA didn't give a damn about Vietnam vets then & still don't. You new brothers & sisters are just the next in line. Around 4% of us may get their claims approved and DRO's are involved in the rating process, you do the math. Watch your six folks and look out for your families!

Hello chess, >I think most Rating specialists are still using this old method of handling claims, rather than the new improved method you suggested. the old method for me was, having the Seattle VARO advize me to get a complete copy of my service records from National Records in St Lewis in order to prove my claim. So like a fool, from 1975 to 1997 I did so. I finially recieved 13 months of SMR's out of a four year service in 1997. In my claims folder, theres a copy of the Seattle VARO's request to St louis record center, to have "all Original" active duty records sent to them in 1977. What a game. For decades I thought it was the Records Center that was lyin to me because I believed the SO's & the DVA. I spent decades thinking I would actually get treated fairly by the people put in place to help. What a fool I was. When your a nut case with a demented mind, it sure would be nice to totally excape reality sometimes, but I just can't seem to do that as well as our president does. So some things continue to eat & eat at me. Like watching loved ones suffer while theives get bonuses & raises. All I can say is, shame on us as a people and as a nation for allowing the continued mistreatment of all US Veterans, old and new.....and their families.

Hello Pete, I meant nothing personal. Many are helped by honest employees at the DVA. Many recieve honest adjudication from claims specialists. Im not personally responcible for hiring contract thieves, that will say anything to cheat a veteran out of their earned benefits. I'm also not responcible of setting it up so that these crooks profit from their actions, their identity is conceiled and they are protected from prossicution. Honest DRO's & Rating specialists in my opinion, take heat due to the fact that they refuse to clean up their profession. Thirty years of having rating specialists process my claim, has left me with a different view of reality of what the Veteran actually recieves. I find it best to tell it like it is, not how isolated insidents of how it should be, may help a Vet some day. Can a Vet recieve due process & an honest review of their claim from a DRO or Ratings Specialist at the DVA? In my opinion the answer is yes, but "highly" unlikely. Watch your six folks. Allan

Hello Tank, Anyone please tell what a rating specialist do and How long to take to be rate? Rating Specialist, DRO's etc are used at the regional office(VARO)level to thoroughly examine the evidence you've submitted and distort it with enough fraudulent statements to it no longer resembles the truth. Than they deny the claim based on the fraudulent interpretation. If your lucky enough to receive an honest evaluation, it's highly likely the rating specialist won't be working for the VA very long. How long "can" it take? Long enough to watch your children grow & have children. If your new to the VA war, it might help to keep in mind that you have to do business with an agency ran and operated by lyin, cheatin, bastards that make the mafia look like choir boys. Rating specialists, DRO's etc, "may" say anything they want to deny your claim without fear of any repercussions. They do not have to sign their name to the decision or prove it was them that did the rating. They have "no" one checking their work for accuracy and are allowed to get away with it for decades. If the Board of Veterans Appeals orders a remand for violations of law regarding your primary evidence, the Appeals center & Regional offices "may" completely ignore it for years, without any penalties or repercussions. If your claim can't be thoroughly understood by a three year old, it won't get past most so called(specialists), at the DVA. I know I sugar coated it some, but thats how it goes down at the DVA.

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