Capt.

Hello All,,,,,,this is kinda bothering me because of the problems each of you are describing. I take sleep meds because of the pain in the neuropathy ,,,,but I know that my COPD and Restricted Lung disease,,,,,Service Connected....and Pulmonary Hypertension are causing me more problems with lack of quality sleep. Put the IHD and Heart attack and I see sleep studies coming and can't do it right now because I am still trying to work some but know that this would shut me down. Yes ,,,, I know it would be service connected ,,,but that would take another 3-5 years to get it awarded and I cannot file any new claims until the decisions on what VA wants to do ,,,,are put to bed ......no pun intended....I think.... Anyway . Just be patient 1st Calv and try and get it settled....knowing that dealing with Houston is really not in your favor as you are finding out. I also believe that if you are service connected for PTSD , Neuropathy and severe pain issues,,,,, or Lung diseases/Heart diseases then Sleep apnea will and can be Service Connected. The BVA and Regional Office awards can give you some positive thoughts on the awards for it as you can research that here or at their site. Above all NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless....C.C.

Hello Evanc,,,,, I do want to bring this up but most of the failures of the VA to recognize the dependants issues are ridiculous. As myself and many others here at Hadit are finding out the 21-0538 forms are being treated as a new claim. That means anywhere from 1-3 years to get the issues settled. Check your ebenefits and see that the 21-0538s Dependants will be showing up as a new claim issue. Oh yes ,,,,you may relate to this also ,,,,,,that most of us filled the 21-538s out on the original claims issues. Mine was done not once but TWICE because they ignored the first one and now the second one has been in for almost one year. Still have not got this issue resolved and I have talked to several others and the VA took anywhere from a year to over 2 years to get this problem resolved, depending on which VARO you are using. This is not incompetence ........ it is a planed orchestrated effort from all of the VAROs and is another way to save money for the budget and their wonderful justification of their bonuses. Just imagine how many Veterans or their reps have forgotten about it or just tired and finally quit. This problem is real and is affecting all of our veterans ,,,,, so don't feel alone,,,,,you have alot of company........... unfortunately. I hope you will have some good news for us about your issue. Just another situation that you must NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello Teac,,,,, I could not agree more with you on this loophole. I am happy for your buddy but the TDIU issue is one that is so HUGE and complex with more Veterans involved than ANY other award combined. Jbasser and I have discussed this and others here at Hadit , that something is going to change in the future. I am thoroughly convinced that if a Veteran can get to 100 percent thru schedular thru m21 s or 38 CFRs rather than a TDIU award , he or she is in much easier territory not to loose the award later to a TDIU difficulty. Teac ,,,, Big Thanks for all you do buddy.... you take care . NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Thank you Boomer for posting this.... Teac and Carlie,,,,, I tried to use the HISA program when they gave me prescription to start using Hydrotherapy for my Peripheral Neuropathy. The only way I could get a Hot tub was that they have to do a remodel on the bathroom and must be done by a contractor approved list AND that it must fit in the bathroom.......HUH ...well the only tub that could possibly fit is one of those walk thru like you see on TV. And the maximum amount was around 4500 dollars or so. I finally got so frustrated with it , I spent what money I had in savings and 10k later got a good one on my back porch that I use everyday and sometimes 2-3 times a day depending on how bad I am hurting. HISA is a joke and a full time job just getting anything done in this state. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

71 ,,, I could not agree more with you....Thank you for your help. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello Kelly,,,,,,,Thats the nicest thing said to me in a while ..... I was rather handsome in those days ......kinda different now 45 yrs later. But I hope to flirt with Berta or Carlie ........ being single like both of them...... lol...... are we having some fun yet. NEVER GIVE UP GOD BLESS> C.C.

Hello 71 and Carlie.....Bingo ,,,you got it and that is what I am thinking to. Its so ridiculous.... Like I said Award letter says COPD ,,,DC 6604 and Restricted lung Disease 6845 .... SOC says Asthma 6602 and not a word on DC 6604 Failed to see PH diagnosis on heart cath from 2010 and the Cardio Echo later on. Carlie, I did look at this and think the problem might be addressed with a letter to the Service Center Manager but risking a chance they will file it as a "New Claim" and another 3-5 years........ I don't know what the right decision would be. Thanks for both of your help and the others that have written on this tactic. Unfortunately , they are doing this to alot more than me and even worse .....many of our Veterans do not even notice it and their Reps. I am committed to NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello Berta,, Yes I do understand the updates to DCs but in my case the Award letter is specific but when they did not acknowledge the lawyers simple NOD for a higher rating they sent a SOC that listed neither one of the two Lung awards DCs. So they listed Lung DCs that DO NOT inlcude any Pulmonary Hypertension. Like they listed Asthma DC 6602 which I do not have and does not list PH as 100 percent. I am not happy about my lawyer just sending in such a lame NOD with no DC codes to support her weak statement. All she needed to do was send in 2 simple pages for Diagnosis of PH by HEART CATH and another by ECHO Cardiogram. With the DC award letter. Now after conversations with her ,,,,,,,( We only talk once every 4-6 months) .,,,,, she told me she was not familiar with DCs and did not know about them. So I am pretty much cooked and can't talk to anyone. Whether its VA or my own lawyer. I am positive of the correctness of the DCs and the VAs goofy response SOC. I still am in a position though to NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello Bronco, That brings back some memories . Looks like the one I got my innoculations with at Fort Polk 71 in the line up and get your shots boys. Including the Black Plague shot which made everyone sick for 2 days. Whole company off for 24 hours. I will never forget that. Brought back some memories. NEVER GIVE UP . God Bless. C.C.

Hello All, I agree with all of the above . It will never ever get better period. Too many bonuses in the budget. Paperless claims means that it will continue to get even worse. Because the dealing with a live person will slow to nothing and the regional offices don't want to talk with anyone , so the computer issues will be to their benefit not the VETERANs. Berta, your right about getting computer oriented. If things go like they plan , there will be no bringing the veteran's claim forward . Just another way to forget the Veteran that is without computer knowledge. What happens to the homeless Veterans without a home or computer???? I would not trust Allison Hickey for one minute. Lets all remember her testimony last year with Bob Filner breathing down her neck on all the problems. Too many of our Veterans here are singing the same old tune. Where are OUR benefits? It pushes me harder to NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello All, Well I was on the phone wait from 9:00 a.m. till 12;10pm....Noone answered....just elevator music . Had to finally hang up. Called back and then recording said they were too busy to talk due to volume. If you wanted to call back after Hours to leave a call back number....HUH...... then it auto hangs up. Folks this thing is real ....I have also tried to use different prompts but no good ..... takes you to nowhere. Impossible to get anyone in Houston. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Thank you all for helping me...... there is something very very wrong with this and I am afraid that there is NOTHING a veteran can do. I have been trying to talk to someone for a long time and noone answers the phone at the 1800 Houston number. There is no way to get the C and P exam and Noway to see them. Our Veterans do not care to them. I am on hold right now for a over 40 minutes and no one. So it looks like I cannot do anything but try the courts and the next 5 years or so wait. I have IRIS reports to get my C and P exams but they are treating it like a claim. So I cannot effectively file a response to the VA making any reply to the decisions as faulty. Why don't our Congressmen know about this ? I had no idea it has gotten this bad. Trying to be patient is pretty ridiculous with them. Anyway thank you for your help and I hope to figure out something else. I have active claims filed and form 9 filed with NOD. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Carlie ,,,, I had heard that also . But I cannot get anyone to answer the phone at the RO . Iris ....well they won't even send me a reply. How do you do it if they won't answer.??/ Thanks for your help Carlie. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

You know something Jerrel ,,,,maybe you could meet me there and bring on down some Missouri Venison for me to take back. I will let everyone know what happens. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello All, I believe that I am going to follow Carlie's advice and head to Houston to discuss my Diagnostic Code problem with them in person and "on the record" . Also , I need to look at the Cfile and get a copy of my C and P exams, which are over a year old. I was hoping that someone else has been to the VARO and had a similiar experience and what I should expect. I know where it is and have been by it several times but that was years ago. Any help from our board on going there and having the chance to look at the C file and talk with a live person about my claim would be most appreciative. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello Megh and Bronco..... I think I know what Bronco is referring to and do know that 0 percent is still service connected. I also know that ...and you would agree ....that we know or have had VSOs that have messed up our claims or someone elses. Megh you are not one of those types and I wish we had several thousand more like you with your knowledge and care....because we probably would not have as many claims backlogged because of faulty initial claims and NODs. You are a breath of fresh air and I wish you would have had my claim when I first filed it. Right now I need both you and Bronco to be on my side as an Advocate, your some of my heros here. And this board needs both of you ......... because you both care and each one of you is able to express ideas , dig for laws , and help with problems. Just imagine what is going on with our Veterans who have not had the priveledge to be on Hadit and not get help from so many Veterans such as both of you ........that do care here ...who are willing to try. Helping not just Vets like me but others here and those new ones coming aboard. WOW .....have you seen all the new vets coming onto Hadit......its telling me we all have to pull up our boots because its getting way clogged up at the VAROs and BVAs dealing with claims. That means more answering and researching claims for our Veterans. I also know its STRESSING ALL of us out because it just is getting so bad. Our spirits are dampened, and tempers getting short because we are all so frustrated at trying to deal with this Leviathan called the VA and the lack of care. You both are trying to help in a big way. I know that is really what both of you are trying to do and I really need it ...more now than ever. So please understand that I am privledged to have both of you as my friends ,,,,,,trying to help.. Right now lets just think about our most important issue.....our Veterans and try to let some of this go as it is not serving anyone much good. I need you and so do alot of other Veterans and alot of new ones coming. Thank you both for NEVER GIVING UP on me. God Bless, C.C.

Hello all,,,,,, Yes Carlie ,,, I think I have to do something . My lawyer will not talk or return phone calls. I have to wait for all these new test and new meetings with ways to try and treat this stuff. I am alittle worn out with this stuff. I think I am going to have to go to the VARO. I also can get a copy of the C and P exams and look at the top sheet and Cfile. To check and see if my lawyer has sent material in. I sure hope that other Veterans are paying attention to what is really going on with our VA and can try not to let what is happening to me , happen to them. Bronco that is an excellant article and this will help so many Veterans here, not just me. Thank you for that. I want to again thank all the folks here for helping me and I am going to continue to NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello Jbasser, Meg, Berta,Bronco and Carlie....... My lawyer is pretty put out with me because I am challenging some of the stragedy that she has taken. I sent an email yesterday and hope to have a answer to some questions. First I really want to thank all of you for helping me at a very low point with my health. I know that the Form 9 is filled out and gone for several months. Yes we already did a NOD on the higher rating for SC COPD 6604 and Restricted Lung Disease 6845 and the SOC from the VA was the nightmare ....no evidence of PH,,,, then the wrong diagnostic code and leaving the other one off. I am almost to the point of firing my lawyer , full realizing that I will have to get another . I am not happy with her lack of communication and any ideas or shouldn't we do it like this , is meet with , the "I am the lawyer here". And for me to try and wait 4-5 years is just not really applicable for me. I do not know what to do because I don't want to put the VA delay stream longer but am at a standstill. I feel that the regulations may withhold me from trying the CUE because of the Form 9 in and she keeps telling me that. The Administrative Error is something I am not sure about right now. I know that this is a "coreographed" effort as jbasser said ,,,,,nobody can make this many mistakes. I will have to think more this week on what I am going to do. Once again thank you all. I have a lot to think about. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Jabasser,,,,,most of the folks really do not know just half of the battle I have had to put up with. I have talked to the lawyer on the numerous pics to send in with calendar dates catalqouing with good pictures . to line up with the Progress reports when I showed the docotors these huge infections.....maybe 10 of them . Now the Rheumtologist say the Pulmonary Hypertension is a huge problem and he is consulting with the Pulmonalogy dept to discuss some powerful treatment including gamma goblin. He also said very powerful blood test are to start on Thursday and results will be in a bout 2-3 weekds. Then we will come back for consultation with him and the Pulmonolgist. I said as long as there is no more blowing into tubes and he assured me this is for discussing medications to keep the immune system from causing these infections and what MEDICATIONS they will specifically use to fight the PULMONARY HYPERTENSION. I still do not know what the lawyer really wants to do. 30 minutes on the phone and I do not know what she is going to do. I NEED HELP >......the Rheumatologist says these infections are to many and too serious and cannot be left alone......He mentioned possibility of gamma goblin to help. I feel like a guineu pig at the point so please save the rodents butt .......please.... Anymore ideas folks as I am running out of them. I agree it will be a cue if the end comes where we can file it. Administrative error I have no idea on how to get my lawyer to start that one. Over 12 documented infections ,hands fingers , wrist, feet thighs , elbows .......3 with surgery..... The pics are a sample. You all here have lifted my spirits with your thoughtfulness and ideas as I have been feeling like falling from 20,000ft with a burning parachute. This is just a sample of the infections I am battling.......NEVER GIVE UP. God BLess, C.C. Finger Infection June 26 2012 Pic 18.JPG

Hello Carlie ,,,,,it was so easy to miss to and can you imagine if it would have gone on and some more statements of problems that would have gone off of it. I don't feel to bad with 4-5 months on it but why didn't the RO catch it off the other C and P exams or my lawyer for that matter. So now whats the best way to stop it and get it back on track. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Congratualtions.....AWESOME.......it is these success stories that help all of us to be able to keep our chins up and to NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello All, Well to say I am livid may be an understatement but hopefully my problem will be brought to the board as a warning to all Veterans on another tactic that the VA is doing to cause a more delays. Ok if anyone has an idea I would like to hear it so here goes. I was rated at 30 percent for COPD and Restricted Lung Disease. Just for the record they are Diagnostic code 6604 and 6845. So we also have PULMONARY HYPERTENSION which is a 100 percent disability if found by heart cath or by echocardiogram. Today I was looking closely at my NOD/SOC for a higher percentage because of the Pulmonary Hypertension and it says that I am not entitled because they don't see it in the records. But much worse ,,,,they put down a diagnostic code of 6602 which is Asthma and that is not a disease that will pay 100 percent for Pulmonary Hypertension under the regulations. So they are now in error of the SOC and I do not have Asthma. The award letters show COPD and Restricted Lung Disease which do show under the Diagnostic codes 6604 and 6845 as Pulmonary Hypertension ancillarary awards. Worse than that, in the SOC from Regional office to our NOD for Pulmonary Hypertension, the VA did not even list the Restricted lung disease at all. In the original NOD sent in May we NOD them for a higher rating for PULMONARY HYPERTENSION. I just sent the lawyer a note on this and am not happy that the lawyer did not find this mistake and am waiting to see what the next move is. This is outright fraud,,,,,on VAs part,,,,,,you cannot get it wrong everytime. Criminal and just plain evil. How in the world do you get this kind of thing back on track? Calling the 800 line will not do anything and I do not want to do an IRIS because it will come back as a new claim ....their favorite trick. I guess since it happened to me , this is another tactic for them to use on all Veterans so I better sound the alarm and just say that we as Veterans are our best advocate and we have to constantly make sure that not just our statements and such are correct, but really run over the VAs SOCs and decision letters with a fine tooth comb. Hopefully my mistake by the VA will help others here to WATCHOUT for this tactic of using wrong diagnostic numbers which of course changes everything in a decision. Just think if I would have not found this mistake. I have the SOC from them and is only about 4-5 months old. So there is a way to get the word out. Anybody have some ideas here. I do have a lawyer but don't know what that will open for instances. As usual .....NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello and I am sorry for your lose . There are so many Veterans that are Agent Orange positive and failing fast. Alaska is still not on the list but it was used as researched here at Hadit from what I have posted for our archives. Remember that AO was used all over the bases outside of Vietnam. Hadits archives are unmatched for material to use against VAROs and the denials for the AO exposure issues that they are famous for. Still the deaths go on. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello Joluby,,,,, I would like for you to see this website and what is trying to start for our children. http://agentorangelegacy.com/reported-illnesses/# Does Agent Orange affect our children??? There is so much medical information now available that it would be foolish to say there is none. The problem is that the Chemical Companies ,,,,Dow and Monsanto cannot let this one get loose too. It has already been proven in the scientific arena but the lose of so much to their coffures is at stake. After maybe another 20-30 years and everyone is dead that could be linked to Agent Orange then the truth will come out. You are not alone as my ex and I had 6 miscarriages because of it . My son is battling severe lung issues also and he stopped breathing in the delivery room. All that did was not allow me to have any insurance for 5 years and praying alot for him to stay well. He turns 16 soon and I am thankful for that but he is sick all the time with respiratory issues. The VA only recognizes ,, Spinalbifada at present in our children. That should alert all AO veterans to their childrens other mysterious diseases they do not want to discuss. Asknod pretty much summed it up for now. The VA and any connection with DNA and our childrens diseases are pretty much over with for a while. Even though new medical evidence says there is a link ,,,,its a long ways coming. Congress had their first hearings on the children of Agent Orange Veterans and the DNA chromosome links , I think about 1 1/2 years or so ago and pufffffff that was the last effort I have seen. I hope this website will let you see that we are not alone and give you some insight. As always a Veteran must NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Hello Joey, Welcome and I am just thinking that it may be that the law judge may have the transcripts but that does not mean Regional Office has anything . If he or she Remands it back to the RO and if you have been watching Hadit for very long , you will see this is the standard delay tactic. For any of us to speculate on what might have been said or where you exactly are in the process would be guessing. But I put my guess in the paragraph above. Its got to get to Atlanta Regional Office before a decision can be brought to you. with recommendations/orders from the BVA. I would also like to say that the backlog is so incredible, the worst since they have kept records on these things , that I would not get my hopes up about a decision coming so soon. I would try and use your service officer or lawyer to check and see the status of your claim , like where in the process is it. You can check ebenefits but as I try deal with it myself and the other folks here will also say....... about contact with the VA....... its not done till you have the letter in hand and the deposit hits the bank. Calling the 800 number and ebenefits is just kinda sorta, maybe ,type of acknowledgement. Trust about 50 percent of it if lucky. The main thing is to find where your claim is and what phase of the decision process it actually is. Remember those timelines and know that it takes a long , long time to get anywhere in the VA and therefore you must NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.