NMNavVet

It was mentioned to me that I may qualified for a VA Auto Grant, but quite skeptical of it? According to the VA website, a veteran needs to be service-connected but does not state if any percentages. In September 2016, I was declared service-connected for one disability at 0% and denied on the other 13 disabilities. I am in the midst of retrieving my C-File and plan to appeal soon. About the same time in September 2016, I was certified legally blind, that makes me meet one of the Auto Grant qualification. Can someone give some insight or advice on this. thank you.

In September 2016, I received my decision statement. DAV are a good source, but can be very difficult to present and hear from them. I can leave a message but can be days before I get a reply or have to travel to their main office and wait. for that reason, I am beginning to think about a attorney that also specializes in VA Disability cases. Any recommendation. I live in northwest New Mexico and not far from towns in southwest Colorado. thanks

To begin, I claimed glaucoma and optic atrophy on my disability claim. In January 2016, my private eye doctor of 15 years, informed that I was legally blind. He filled out the VA Disability Questionnaire and indicated that in both eyes I have severe glaucoma, severe vision field loss, cataracts, and optical atrophy. In September 2016, I my decision response from the VA and says glaucoma was denied, no evidence in service treatment records, VA, and private medical records. Yet, for optical atrophy, it was denied but indicates that my service treatment records shows that optical atrophy was evidenced and manifested in the military service but no evidenced in VA or private medical records. In September 2016, I was certified as legally blind in both eyes and told to quit driving and attend a VA Blind Rehab for some special services. I know, Special Monthly Compensation, is complicated but at what level would I qualify for? My certification is blindness for both eyes. Would you have any clue?

I appreciate your wisdom and knowledge in providing me some direction. This includes, all of those vets who have experienced this complex process and willingly provide many of us with guidance. on the above subject, I will review my records and get back with all of you. thank you. be back.

The following is from the VA Decision dated September 6, 2016: 6. Service Connection for hemorrhoids due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. We received your statement indicating that you are seeking service connection for hemorrhoids due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Based on the evidence of record, we concede exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Service Treatment Records show that hemorrhoids manifested while in service. VAMC records and the medical evidence received do not show that you have hemorrhoids. My thoughts: I am not a medical expert, but is hemorrhoids an symptoms of GERD and IBS? Truthfully, I did not know that hemorrhoids was in my service records and having listed has manifested in the service does make it a great start. Now I just need to connect to my VAMC and private medical records

I had listed GERD, IBS, and hemorrhoid has disabilities in my claim. VA decision states that GERD and IBS is clearly evidenced in my private and VA medical records but no evidence in Service Treatment Records. Now, hemorrhoids is listed as evidenced in my Service Treatment Records, but nothing in private or VA records. Because hemorrhoids is found in my service record, how can I establish an link to the private and VA evidences concerning GERD and IBS.

I continued to appreciate all the excellent advice and suggestions. it brings back hope. today, I am going to call the VA regional office and make an appointment to see my C-File. I assuming that I may see the military service treatment records that the VA is referring to that shows my health condition may had its start in the military ("manifested in the service").

I did not expect the amount of excellent advice and suggestions. yeah, a newbie in this world of VA disability. My DAV Rep. understand my question and he just advised me to review all my records that I had submitted to see if i may have overlooked the service treatment medical records. I told him, i turned in all that I received from the Military Personnel Records. In fact, I went through it again, still no written or coded entries on optical atrophy or hemorrhoids. I did ask him, if he or I or both can walk down the hallway to the VA to review my current claim. To me, he made it sound like it was not doable. IT SOUNDS TO ME, THAT I CAN REVIEW MY CLAIM AND ALL THE DOCUMENTS. I AM INTERESTED IN SEEING THE EVIDENCE FROM MY MILITARY SERVICE TREATMENT RECORDS THAT SHOWS OPTICAL ATROPHY AND HEMORRHOIDS. THE OPTICAL ATROPHY IS OF GREAT INTEREST. i WAS DIAGNOSED SEVERAL WEEKS BY THE VA AS LEGALLY BLIND. IN FACT,I HAD SUBMITTED AN VA DISABILITY QUESTIONNAIRE THAT WAS COMPLETED BY MY PRIVATE EYE DOCTOR OF 13 YEARS AND IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE, HE STATES THAT I HAVE OPTICAL ATROPHY.

Thanks for the responses. I may need to review my service records again. In the final decision comments, it breaks down which medical records shows the conditions: (1) "service treatment records show that optical atrophy manifested while in the service," then goes on, "VAMC records show that you have an eye condition. There was no evidence of a diagnosis of optical atrophy," and then it says, "the medical evidence received does not show that you have optical atrophy." (2) "service treatment records show that hemorrhoids manifested while in service," then goes on, "VAMC records and medical evidence received does not show that you have hemorrhoids" I need to check if these two conditions were diagnosed within the 12 months of leaving service. GOOD ADVICE. otherwise, I have complete access to all of my VA medical records. Thank you.

I received my VA disability claim decisions (one service-connected at 0% and the rest denied). In review, of VA's "breakdown " of making their decision on my denied disabilities, I noticed two disabilities had the following remarks: "Service treatment records show that _______ manifested while in the service." I mentioned these conditions based on my VA and private medical records, but was surprised, that it was mentioned in my service records. I "combed" through my service treatment records but cannot find such entries. One of my questions, where in my service records did they find these existing conditions? I am going to appeal, but can I as a Veteran, have access to the VA's examiners decisions or can they reveal where these conditions are located in my service records?

In short, I was stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC in 1983 and may have been exposed to the water contamination. In November 2015, I filed my Disability Claim (intent) and informed my DAV I want to submit a “Fully Developed Claim” (given a yr. to submit complete appl.). I have collected all of my medical records but experiencing a big challenge of getting a medical opinion (nexus) from any doctor. Since my discharge in 1985, I begin to experience hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep apnea, small skin discoloration, skin disease (assumed it is Chloracne) and possible testicular atrophy, a few years after my discharge in 1985. Over the yrs., HBP, GERD, IBS, severe glaucoma, fatigue, headaches, incoordination , chronic fatigue, sleepiness, lack of concentration, tension, dizziness, nausea, and unconsciousness, has been logged in mostly private medical records and a few with the VA. My medical records show entries of visits related to hypertension, development of diastolic dysfunction, lipoma surgery, gastroesophageal, sleep apnea, small vitiligo (skin discoloration), and severe acne (Chloracne) that will not go away. For the VA, they are aware of my heart disease, GERD, severe glaucoma, severe skin acne (accutant treatment in 1989) and neurological issues (fatigue, headaches, incoordination, chronic fatigue, sleepiness, lack of concentration, tension, dizziness, nausea, and unconsciousness). VA performed an echocardiogram and confirmed I had diastolic dysfunction. Also VA send me to a private Sleep Center and it was confirmed I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea and I use a CPAP now. They also refer me for Brain MRI and the results showed white lesions and maybe early stages of MS or vasculitis. Because of this, I had Cervical Spine MRI that showed no white lesions. My VA primary doctor said that based on the recent tests there is no MS. Still I experienced severe headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, etc. My private doc will not fill out the disability questionnaire because he said he is “only a family doctor and I need opinion from a specialized professional.” In a way, I understand his position. Also, I had a follow-up with a private Sleep Doctor and he gladly filled out the VA Disability Claim Questionnaire that I have a chronic sleep disorder but will not do a nexus opinion or letter to connect the sleep apnea to the water contamination. These are my questions to my long introduction. Because I have run into roadblocks, I want to seek another private sleep doctor (sleep apnea), neurologist (severe headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, etc.), cardiologist (hypertension heart disease, diastolic dysfunction and left ventricle block), dermatologist (possible Chloracne) and gastroenterologist (GERD) to review my medical records and see if they will support me with a nexus opinion. For FDC, in addition to getting all medical records, is it necessary to have the medical opinion or nexus support or does the VA confirm the disabilities with C & P Exams. I am trying to stay away from the traditional VA disability process and stay within the FDC process. Should I continue to pursue medical opinions from private sources like Independent Medical opinions. But is it worth it? But I am hesitant because private doctors seem to stay away from providing a nexus opinion. Or should I try the VA doctors to see if they can support me with a nexus opinion on my neurological, skin, heart, GERD, and sleep apnea? Or a last costly option, explore private doctors who perform disability assessment, like those who perform Social Security Disability assessment. Can someone provide some guidance, direction, advice, or whatever to help me? Thank you.