drkestlight

Today I went and checked my mail ( BROWN ENVELOPE) I looked and saw the 100% service connected !! OMG was the guy on the phone on crack? When I called VA on Friday.... Why not tell me on the phone ? But tell me "closed out" OK I am numb .. but relived for the moment. My Anxiety went through the roof knowing what have had to deal with in the past. The VA rep said today at the support fair said " We have some real idiots working for us" Thank you all for your wisdom you guys really have the pulse of the VA concept and its good to know there is backup. NY STEVE

I think you nailed it right there. My family jumped on the congress and senator e-mail and letter writing band wagon as you guys said ":"Holy S--t, I ain't getting tied down with this mess." I called the OIF coordinator at the VA who oversees OIF cases and she informed me that the Regional Office will be showing up in the am for a Veterans support fair and it would be a good idea to show up with documents in hand. You are so right the anxiety attack is here for sure. I am just tired of being screwed over wish me luck ..

Thank you for your fast reply. This is amazing I never got anything from the VA on any decision. Why would I file an appeal? I have been waiting on a determination for over a year and a half? I call bi/weekly for my status and recently they said it was at the rating board.They have never said that they needed anything from me? or my claim was in appeal? They keep saying the same thing month every 6 months about needing paperwork that they have been given. Its just a computer message that they repeat? I say the same thing I sent you time time again and resend.I have submitted book binders of medical documents from active duty to include my Army medical records and medical disability board & Social security determination. I have complete LOD's done for 16 diffrent disabilities and injuries. Why would I submit a appeal when I never got a decision? I have had my P&C over four months ago at the VA, So when was there a decision made? My address is correct and on file,I gave them book binders of my records.They booked me for numerous follow up appointments I have had 29 diffrent follow up appointments to date. And many many more added by the VA? I have been combat wounded X times documented and VA has my DD214? I was already diagnosed with everything prior to leaving active duty so this is I have submitted all copies of SMR's and have USPS certified confirmation that they have it. I have been seen by 10 additional civilian doctors outside of the military and VA and have been hospitalized due to my conditions. I have no control over what the VA side of the house as sent them I know when I speak with the OIF/POC she called them directly and I am sure they know each other well. This sounds like a mess of botched paperwork and someone not correcting errors. I cannot at this moment understand something so simple for them to do and follow that is so screwed up. The person on the phone stated that I needed to write them a letter ? I am so confused this sounds back wards as can be. How and what do I say? Thank you so much for your support below are my injury claims NY Steve Traumatic Brain Injury (blast trauma)LOD Post cuncussive Syndrome (LOD) PTSD (LOD) Chronic Cluster Migraines (LOD) Hemiplegic Migraines (LOD) Balance Disorder (LOD) TIA/Right side hemi/weakness (LOD) Seizure Disorder (LOD) BI lateral hearing loss ( HEARING AIDS ) (LOD) BI Senor-neural hearing loss & Tinnitus (LOD) DJD Trauma lumbar spine / Herniated Disks L 4 L 5 (LOD) Thoracic Spondylosis blast Trauma T2 to T 6 Multi Disk herniations C-5 & C - 6 Merlalgia Parestetica (right Leg) (LOD) Sleep Disorder Bi Lateral knee injuries Chronic Bi Lateral Atelectasis ( lung Damage) (LOD) High Blood pressure ( pending )

I just got off the phone with the NYC office and I was told that my claim was closed out? A year and a half later of waiting and they cut me off?. They said waiting for my info? Are they on crack here??? I am horrified by this and in shock. I have done everything they asked and more. The VA has dirrect knowledge of my VA treatment and I have had 29 medical appointments this year alone. they have put me in TBI/ brain injury clinics ? I am on 16 medications for my daily life what kind of BS is this. I have submitted book binders of documents to them. I was evlauated and treated a year at Walter Reed ? I am on social security and Army disbaility this is just wrong. My claim is legit What is the deal here anyone have any suggestions. What do I do now ? What does Closed out mean ? NY Steve

I called for a status of claim and was told "You have been waiting a long time 12 + you claim is at the Ratings Board" If you do not hear anything by May call back. Does this mean I am close to getting an answer? The way the VA has handled my claim I assume that they don't rate 100% on the first decision? How long does it take for the other parts of a claim unemployability etc to be added to my claim. Does it go back to the same people who make the original decison ? I was called by a VA counselor to submit vocational rehab documents and found that odd. But I did it anyway and got a letter saying we have no claim information on you? Would it not be wise to do the work up and submit the findings with my claim? There in the same building and I am in the computer, if I am not eligible as of yet why are did they call many time for me to send in these documents? Do I have to give up my Army Disability & Pension to the VA if my claim is approved? I am confused about CRSC and CRDP pay? I am on TDRL Disability pay I meet the 20 year/ Combat/ Purple heart/ eligibility but do not have a VA rating yet. Does anyone know about this and should I send the claim in without the VA rating? Thank you NY -Steve

In my opnion social security was fair and timley for my claim. I had a more positive experience than the horried Walter Reed Medical Board. SSDI is an all or nothing process. This means you either get acceptecd or rejected. I made sure that I gave them a copies of all medical records ( 500 ) pages worth prior to my medical appointment with them. On the day I went make sure you bring someone with you for support and above all bring your medical records with you. The more medical documents you have the better you will be. Insure you have completed all required applications and that you stick to the statements that you provided to them about your disability. (Why you feel you cannot keep and maintain employment) How your disbility / medications prevent you not only from work but things in your daily life. If you are denied you have a better chance of getting SSDI using a lawyer. Most SSDI claims I have heard had to be put in mutiple times before approval. I am a firm beliver that many things are connected when it comes to the VA. If they VA can find something to reject delay or otherwise reduce your claim they will do it. I am new to the VA claim system but 14 months and I am still waiting for the VA to process my C&P. I have learned only to submit fidings that support my claim fully. Hope this helped NY-Steve

Funny that there full of it ... After 3 blast injuries 2004 to 2005 all I was told "we just don't know enough about (TBI) for two years " The situation is that they did not want to accept TBI because it costs them money. Walter Reed is not the issue we all got told it was closing. The problem is that there are no medical hold regulations so medical hold commanders & staff can do what they like in the name of the service. Until they change the UCMJ / AR's this will happen again and again. Commanders & staff feel that they will loose control of service members by issuance of regulation changes. Lord knows we can;t have that but what they fail to understand is that no profile can be created to take away full authority. Without legal administrative changes command and staff will dictate a service members recovery, MEB & discharge. The commander , PEB/MEB , Medical officers, WR JAG are all one click. All this for a lousy top 75% of basic pay. I spent a year in med hold out of 380 no one I saw got that not even close. I was even interviewed by TOP DOD about TBI/PTSD sure they did not know anything about PTSD/TBI ..... All wounded vets in the PTSD program at WR see DOD .. hummmmmmmmmm Thats why there changing the name PTSD / Combat Stress Syndrome .

I just finished my VA compensation & pension medical review. I spent a year + at Walter Reed and with various doctors. I submitted copies of my own records too the VA but some doc's still gave me a hard time. I submitted my military disability discharge and SSDI award letter I cannot see anything else they would need from me. Should I worry ? The VA wants me too take tests and be used as a case study,do I have too comply? All of a sudden TBI is the new thing for them but I was turned down for traumatic injury insurance but diagnosed and discharged with a brain injury? The doctors have told me that there is nothing they can do for me so why does the VA want too test me for individual issues associated from the TBI? P & C is over ?Are they trying too screw me over for less compensation ? In addition the VA sent me vocational rehab ? asked me too sign it. I will never work again is this a trick...... that is why I am on Social Security. All my issues are documented and confirmed prior too the VA by civilian and military should I get a lawyer I just don't trust the VA. Any info or comments are most welcome thank you NY STEVE TBI Post Concussive Disorder Seizures C 5 -C6- L4 herniated Disks Balance disorder Bi/lateral hearing loss / hearing Aids Sensorial hearing loss / Tinnitus PTSD Chronic Migraines Hemiplegic Migraines (TIA) Stroke Memory Loss Merlalagia Parestetica ® leg CFS Chronic Bi lateral Atelectasis (lungs) WTC illness