paulstrgn

@allansc2005 at the time I was at 90% and 61. They did not reduce me needless to say, perhaps it was because of my BVA win that made me 100% P&T. When I received the letter from the VA it said nothing about the proposal for reduction going away, it simply showed those disabilities at the same level along with an increase for my feet (I had a pending claim for my feet at the time). So needless to say, I am a little gun shy with the VA, after all I would like to plan my retirement and include my VA amount into that equation. I am still a little concerned about another proposal to reduce popping up its ugly head, but I am not losing sleep over the possibility of it happening again.

For me personally I will stop with my claims nw that I am 100% P&T, unless something debilitating arises. I have already been through one proposal to reduce and do not want to go through another if I can help it.

Buck do you have to have been rated 100% for ten years or can it be for any disability? DIC is something that still confuses me. With my BVA win I would have had a 60% SC rating since 7/2015 (that is when I filed my first VA claim), does the ten years start from 7/2015 or when I reached 100% in 8/2018?

If the BVA had not already weighed in (several times) I think an argument could be made for the waiver. HLR will probably deny and I know the BVA will also uphold that decision. Unfortenetly I think we may be spinning our wheels on this, unless congress re-writes to remove the porition about gainful employment. Vync I think we may need to conside that the VA wins on this one, not that I want to admit that.

Well maybe it won't do any good to call them. I was looking through the BVA decisions as well and all of them tied being unemployed to be eligible for the waiver. So, if I retire at the end of next year and then apply for the waiver would it then be approved, it is still under the two years since I was awarded my last disability. I have till 7/2021 before I hit the two-year mark. Yeah, I figured it will help my wife a few of the costs. I know it won't go that far unfortunately.

I was looking up 38 CFR 1912 and found a Federal Register for it (it is unrelated to this topic) at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/08/23/2017-17587/eligibility-for-supplemental-service-disabled-veterans-insurance. Towards the middle there was a name and contact number listed. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Weaver, Department of Veterans Affairs Insurance Center (310/290B), 5000 Wissahickon Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144, (215) 842-2000, ext. 4263 (this is not a toll-free number). I will call this number on Monday and see what they say, I still think we should be eligible for waiver of premiums, after all it is only $10,000. Now I am not sure if anyone will be there because of the holidays but I will keep calling until I do. As you state Vync I may be right or wrong but I will keep asking until I get an answer that makes sense.

I have chronic pain from my back and legs, because of the pain it causes depression. I have been SC secondary to my back for depression. As everyone stated above there is no ratings for chronic pain unfortunately. For all my SC disabilities pain is considered as a factor for my disability. I wish your luck with your claim.

If you are like me you find that Hadit is a very helpful site for VA claims. I encourage you to donate whatever you can afford to this site. Especially if you just got a retro or an increase because of the advice you followed on this site. Every little bit helps, so please donate if you can afford to. Thanking you in advance!!!

Bronco yes I will get it next week, I just had to keep complaining to get one. That is so very true you did earn it; nothing is being given to you. Let's be honest if we did not serve in the military especially in a combat zone, we would all be so much better off. Finically and our health would be so much better. What VA benefits we get we have earned by serving our country and sacrificing our bodies, this sure the hell is not welfare. So very true!!!!! I agree...as I had told them all I am needing is a new machine and supplies, no training, no sleep study, I know how to use one. It's like the idiot who asked you if your machine is plugged in when it was not working...yes, I would know if it is not plugged in. The really crazy part is many VA employees are veterans themselves and yet they still treat us this way.

That is wonderful, congratulations on the win!!!!

GB it is like anyplace, there are good ones and bad ones. This is just the way it is with any large medical facility; no director wants bad staff but sometimes you have to work with the hand you are given. Hopefully the directors with substandard employees is working to either change the way they are or getting rid of them. With the government if the person does the bare minimum it can be very hard to get rid of them. It is a shame for vets deserve the very best treatment possible.

@allansc2005 sad but true. It is up to the individual to work their claims.

I have also heard that the one in Richmond VA is also good.

GB next time I won't give the Readers Digest version...haha The VA sub office at Fort Belvoir was really good, but it was inside a military hospital...lol

@allansc2005 that is good to know. I just want to live someplace warm...lol

Bronco...part of the problem is I had the sleep study done on the outside through Tricare since I was not SC connected yet for SA. I did give them the sleep study and prescription that was done so the VA had everything they needed. It is just that this location seems to have major issues with helping vets get CPAP machines. That is good advice back keeping old CPAP machines when I get a new one, this way I will always have a backup if one is ever needed. I did ask about community care but they said it was not available for CPAP equipment, not sure if that is true or not. I did tell the secretary for the director that I was told it was not eligible for community care. I really feel sorry for other vets who are waiting to be seen if it is taking 11 months...which is completely absurd to have to wait so long. As always I thank everyone for their advice and comments, all are very helpful.

GB I am SC for a CPAP its just that the VA here in Hampton Virginia is not very good.

I had emailed the secretary for the director of the HVAMC about being scheduled for November 2020, she called me and said that was crazy. I told her that they told me the reason for the long wait time is because they only have two technicians to provide this service. She told me that she will bring this up with the director, she knows it is important for her husband also uses a CPAP. About 20 minutes after talking with Lisa (the secretary) the CPAP clinic called me and gave me an appointment for next Friday to get the new CPAP and equipment. As I am typing this the director's secretary just called me back to make sure someone called me and set up an appointment. She said she had spoken to Mr. Collins (the director about the staffing) and he said no it should not be taking that long. When we were talking, she said the person who originally called me was just an assistant and they did not know what was going on. I told her but the woman who just called to give me an appointment for next Friday said they are getting ready to schedule in for December 2020. Lisa said she will talk with the director and pass on the information. She agreed that there is no way it should be taking that long. Long story short after emailing the director’s office I will get a CPAP machine soon. But in reality, it should not have taken this much effort to get a CPAP machine.

They said the CPAP machine is not eligible for outside the system. I agree its crap, I am waiting to see if I hear back from the HVAMC directors office to try and resolve this issue. If I don't I will email the Chief of Staff for the VA again, everytime I have in the past I get contacted the same day to resolve my issues. My last CPAP I got through Tricare and I had a copay of $25 a month for 13 months (I believe that is what I paid in the past), I don't want to nor should I have to buy one since I am entitled to receieve one through the VA.

Yes, I have signed up for emails from the FLorida Department of Veterans Affairs. Florida does have a lot of benefits for vets.

Vync that is great news. Good luck

@allansc2005I will go fishing when I retire at the end of 2020. I am planning on moving to Florida next spring and get settled in before retirement. I am lucky to be 100% P&T so I won't be paying property tax in FLorida, wich will help a lot.

I recently broke my CPAP machine (my son and I were horse playing and we knocked off my CPAP machine and broke it). I have been trying to get a new CPAP machine from the Hampton VA Medical Center (HVAMC) in Hampton, Virginia. I have had to go through the HVAMC director’s office to get one, someone on his staff finally was able to get the sleep medicine clinic to call me a set up an appointment. The woman gave me an appointment for November 27, 2020, well now I first thought she just got her dates mixed up, well no, I will need to wait 11 months to get a CPAP machine, this is absolutely crazy. She told me it was because they only have two technicians to handle the workload. Needless to say, I just emailed the director’s office again at the HVAMC to let them know and see what can be done. Even if I can get a machine right away, what about the other veterans who are not complaining? They are just simply left out in the cold.

The money is nice, but I sure wish I could do the things I did just 10 years ago. The VA can keep their miney...I wish I could mow the lawn...now that is really bad....hahaha

My hypertension is SC and rated at 0% because the VA chose to use selected bp readings my current medical records. I filed an HLR and sent them "selected" readings as well which showed my bp was high. I have now been scheduled for a bp reading on 1/3/2020, with my meds I am under control. Without my meds Imy bp is high. I am not sure if I will go off my meds for this C&P, is it worth hurting my body or possibly having a stroke or heart attack. You need to also decide if by going off your meds will it cause you more health issues? You don't want to hurt your body for a 10% or 20% rating for hypertension. All I am saying make sure you think it through no matter what you decide. Good luck with your C&P.