EODCMC

It's always good to hear about a positive outcome. Thanks for what you do!

Perfect! Thanks Berta.

Thanks Berta, but it seems this link is defunct. In fact, I have tried many links on this site and others with the same results. I've Googled til I dropped. I was wondering if anyone had an actual "word" document copy of this letter?

Why am I unable to find this VA Training Letter?

According to the Dr. at my C&P exam, as long as you have a diagnosis (DX) of sleep apnea, however slight, it's enough. I suppose another Dr. could opine differently, but I haven't seen that happen. Because you are applying within the the 1 year threshold after retirement, your continued affliction and nexus are established. Science hasn't found a cure yet, it just gets worse. Get a CPAP and use it.

Yes to all. However, I retired after 30 years. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea while on active duty but declined the CPAP at that time. 14 years after retirement the problem was worse and I applied for compensation. . The VA C&P doctor said it was a "no brainer" and easily service connected the affliction and I receive 50% for it. If you do this immediately following retirement (within one year), you probably won't have to do a C&P exam. The CPAP actually works and provides me a better night sleep, without snoring noise. I took to it right away. Many other symptoms were diminished or went away.

Perhaps, but I think not. The signatures are probably VA money threshold requirements in addition to the audits.

Simplified, from my experience: Retired service-members get paid on the 1st of the month through DFAS. Veterans with disabilities get paid at the same time through the VA. Retired veteran service-members get both at the same time via DFAS. The VA transfers internally to DFAS. Retired veteran service members with disabilities have to wait a bit longer because an audit is conducted at both departments. This typically takes 30-60 days depending on the veteran's effective date.

My take. The doctor gave you the answer to the test; probably more than he should have. He mentioned radiculopathy. An example of radiculopathy would be that the pain from the shoulder resonates down the arm and into the hands (often accompanied by numbing and weakness). This indicates cervical and possible nerve damage. Therefore he has cause for an MRI. If you have shoulder pain, they do x-rays. If they don't find sufficient evidence to look further other than the "mere" presence of pain, insurance guidelines/bureaucracy limit the Dr. from going further. Apparently, there are many bureaucrats that are pain tolerant when it happens to others.

The Navy deck logs report new arrivals to the command.

Doing the mat, I have you at 87.85% rounded up to 90% for pay purposes. Depending on the when the 10% retro was effective, there probably was no increase. I am no expert. This is how I understand it.

Every command in the Navy must submit a monthly Operations Report via message format to Washington D.C. This information is taken from the command's daily deck log. These deck logs and monthly reports are archived at the Naval History and Heritage Command located at the Washington Navy Yard. There is a request for information process but you have to narrow down the timelines and there is a small fee. I've heard of people actually going there to research a book. I know the other services have a similar archive. https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/services-and-policies/deck-log-access.html

There should be an "Effective Date" for each rating. The way I understand it, the math is calculated from the difference of your current rating and 100%. It is not added to your current rating. Therefore, one never truly gets 100% unless it's rounded up from a number between 95 and 99 or you have 1 affliction rated at 100%. There are exceptions like IU.

Ham nailed it in my case. I received SSDI in less than 2 months...on the first try. In fact, They sent me a letter and schedule date to visit their version of a C&P exam. Before I even received this info my case manager called me and said I was approved and to disregard this exam. I would say; however, I believe they give much weight to a form letter that they send you to fill out and another one for a close family member to fill out and send. I don't even know what my daughter put on this. I just told her to be honest when answering the questions. I have no experience with IU. I hope this helps.

Ham, thanks once again for sharing your knowledge of the VA system with me and reinforcing my decision to move forward with the secondary claim. The VA seems to be a tangled web and I'm uncertain how the claim side dovetails with the health side. Hopefully not at all, but I'm skeptical. It seems like the staffs' have the veteran's pegged as mercenary or "gold diggers". Health and compensation are two different but important issues that are sometimes entwined. With that in mind, I feel I have to dot my I's and cross my T's to reduce the prejudice. Nevertheless, I truly appreciate the country that I was fortunate enough to serve.

Elders/Moderators...you can close this thread at your discretion.

No comments...no worries. I am going to file a new radiculopathy claim secondary to the shoulder disabilities.

That's the best calculator I've seen yet. Therefore, the math never gets anyone a rating of 100% unless he has a 100% disability (One). The only other way is being rounded up, or is considered unemployable?

I have the following disabilities rated by the VA: lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and vertebral fracture 20% Service Connected right shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis 20% Service Connected left shoulder strain with AC joint osteoarthritis and calcific tendinitis residuals of arthroscopic or other shoulder surgery 20% Service Connected These stem from a parachute malfunction and later exacerbated by a fall with full diving equipment (dbl 90s). I had chronic shoulder pain my whole career. I continued to have this post retirement and the pain, numbness and some weakness advanced down both arms and hands. After seeking help in 2012, I got an MRI and nerve conduction study. The results were: Cervical Spondylosis with Radiculopathy C3-C4, C5-C6, C6-C7 and there is evidence of a mild-moderate chronic right C6-C8 root lesions without ongoing denervation The doctors intimate that this would have been evident if I had an MRI on active duty. My SMR indicates the requirement but one was never ordered. WWP, my VSO, thinks I won't get this service connected because I never complained about my neck. I disagree because the shoulder pain was also disguised the diagnosis and neck pain isn't always present and the shoulders, arms, and hands problems are resulting from the nerve damage. I have been on opiates for years and the VA is ordering a new MRI and xrays. Both doctors say this is consistent with the shoulder injury and could be an inadequate diagnosis while on active duty. I don't know yet, if I can get them to opine. Nevertheless, should I submit a NOD, new claim, Cervical Spondylosis with Radiculopathy secondary to the rated disabilities, vice versa, or some combination? I really am at a loss on how to proceed. Thanks in advance for your comments.

My unprocessed travel claims have surpassed my RV warranty defects. This is a real problem.

Additionally, ensure that the reimbursement clerk has your direct deposit info. After 3 months I called multiple times for the status of 3 claims...then there was 9. I finally got someone to call me back. Apparently, Jane is the only person in San Diego that processes claims. If she can be believed, she said that even though I have been getting VA and Treasury checks DD for a year, they aren't on the same system and I had to resupply the information by mail. No answer when I asked why I had to initiate a call to learn of this. Talk about "draining the swamp".

I concur with Vync. The new site feels easier to navigate. Nice enhancement!

Thanks T.

I don't see a "Recent Activity" link?