EODCMC

The importance of obtaining one's c-file is not missed on the VA. I have been waiting more than a year for mine. They know that it increases the difficulty of filing the various grievances without knowing what information the VA used to decide one's claim. I continue to get the excuse about the backlog. However, this is important enough to throw a little money at it. It doesn't take a college grad to make a disk. If they withhold this information intentionally, it's shameful. Rant over.

Mine went to Prep...last week and within a few days it came off "open Claims" and showed in "Disabilities", as jfrei suggested. Yesterday I received the detailed packet in the mail. I hope this helps...I'm sure it's not cookey-cutter though.

Gastone, your explanations and advise are exceptional and resonate with me best. Thank you. No offense intended to all the knowledgeable and passionate mentors/mentors that volunteer their experience...I appreciate you all.

Hi Everyone, thanks in advance for your feedback. I submitted a claim for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Sinusitis and Allergic Rhinitis (AR). I was awarded 50% for OSA and 10% for AR. I was given nothing for Sinusitis even though it was well documented in my service record and since retirement. It all hinged on the absence of antibiotic treatment. Nevertheless, I feel fortunate for the recognition of my ailments. My problem is that I did this on my own, even though I had a VSO. Nowhere in this process did I sense their help...in any way. I have a back and shoulder issue from a parachute malfunction that is again, well documented and plagues me every day. I brought a well laid out case on my behalf to my VSO and he urged me to seek a different path. He went through my medical record and identified this and other problems that were service connected and chronic. He prompted me to allow him to submit all of these on one claim and not "nickel and dime" them with my problems. I conceded to his request. On March ,1 he submitted a litany of ailments on one claim...my shoulder and back mixed in. It was accepted and languished in "Under review" for a couple of weeks before being "Closed"...without even a development letter being sent. Gone with no explanation nor consent. I have been unable to get a response from my VSO...nadas. I requested an explanation through IRIS and they responded with: "This is in response to your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dated March 20, 2017. Thank you for your service to our country At this time, we are unable to determine the status of your claim based on the information available to us. We have forwarded a request for information to your regional office. They will research this issue further and respond to you directly regarding their findings. We apologize we are unable to provide you with an immediate answer to your question, and appreciate your patience as we research this matter.Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely yours, C. Boyd National IRIS Response Center Manager" Can anyone help me shed light and/or give me some advise. Should I NOD the Sinusitis? The VSO recommended against this. Should I resubmit my claim for shoulders and back only? Should I allow the VSO to do his job? Your site is providing great service and should be recognized for it.

Your reason for not going to medical while on active duty is a common one. The problem is that most folks develop OSA in their lifetime. Even though the VA will give one the benefit of doubt, they still look for a reason to discount a claim. Logic has nothing to do with it, as far as they are concerned...and, it's not going to get better with so many veterans trying to find a way. But, I'm just another veteran. I would be in the same "boat" if my wife didn't threaten divorce if I didn't go to medical about my snoring and interrupted breathing.

Yes. Disability percentage aside, what gets me is that someone should be looking after my health. They took chest X-rays and the Findings stated "FA and lateral views of the chest were obtained. Heart size normal. COPD with bilateral lateral chest wall pleural thickening left greater than right. Impression: COPD". Unless, they were leaving this out to marginalize the disability compensation, this should have been brought to my attention. Nevertheless, I will bring this to the attention of my Primary Care Doctor.

Thanks Buck. Does the pulmonary aspects of COPD strengthen the case for prescribing 02 with my CPAP? If so, this would increase the disibilty to 100%. I googled OSA and COPD...combined is an increased and significantly deadly scenario.

I have OSA and receive 50% SC Disibility for it. I just found out that the Naval Hospital San Diego diagnosed me with COPD and chest wall pleural thickening in Jan 2016. They did not notify me of this and I found out by accident. Does the combination of COPD and OSA make the rating at 100% ? Should the VA have known and remarked on this during my C&P exam? If so, is this grounds for a NOD and/or CUE? Thanks in advance for your help.

Thanks Andy. Yea, the stipend is helpful. I hope a new administration fixes the predetermined timelines but doesn't throw out the baby with the bath water. Interesting times lie ahead.

I can only speak to my claim. - May 4, 2016 - Submitted claim for OSA and Alergic Rhinitis - Oct 20, 2016 - Awarded notification for 50% OSA and 10% AR with Jun, 1 2016 Effective Date - Because the cut-off for payment was after the 17th I did not receive my 1st payment on Nov 1, 2016. - Dec 1, 2016 received 1st CDRP payment of $1056.09 (Full Amount) - Dec 28, 2016 I inquired with DOD and was told audit was complete and returned to VARO for final audit - Jan 1, 2017 received 2nd CDRP payment of $1041.67 (Taxed) - Jan 9, 2017 received Retro of $5780.78 (Jun - Nov) Taxed - My regular military retirement was unchanged My SC disiability was well documented and considered a "slam dunk". I hope this timeline and information helps anyone out there in a similar situation. There is more detail on my blog Sleep Apnea CLaim. Good luck.

Retro showed up in my bank account today. May 4, 2016 - Jan 10, 2017...beginning to end. Thanks everyone, for your help.

CRDP is taxable if you are also collecting retired pay from DOD. Back pay takes awhile. VA requests DOD to do an audit. After this the VA does their audit. For easy ones this is 30-60 days. CRSC has to be requested. Do your homework well. You can collect retirement + CRDP or retirement + CRSC but you can't collect CRDP and CRSC for the same afflictions. There are scenarios where you get less money if you elect CRSC over CRDP. I was awarded CRDP along with my retirement in Oct. I'm still waiting for retro. The DOD audit went to VA on Dec 28. I heard that it depends on how busy your regional office is.

Nadas

There are actually 3 proposals: the one I already copied eliminates concurrent CRDP entirely and return concurrent receipt to the pre 2004 entitlement. The second one deals with eliminating 7 afflictions that they say are not really service connected https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2016/52190 . And, the third deals with eliminating UI until retirement age https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2016/52191 . I agree with Vync; however, one never knows what they will slip by the public. Please see the petition that I posted. It is going around the military spaces right now.

This is the CBO proposal: https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2016/52177

This is the CBO proposal: https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2016/52177

I found this petition: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/recognize-distinction-between-military-retirement-and-va-disability-compensation

OK, so: Today DFAS informed me that their audit was completed on Dec 15 and sent to VA. VA informs me that they have not received the audit from DFAS yet. Must be holiday stand-down.

Adkins, I am merely a follower on this site. I only know enough to recognize when someone is reaching out for help. That said, I am sure that if you contact a VSO in the Chicago area, they will have someone there to provide you winter clothing and some transportation and advice. If not, let me know and I will spring for a coat, stocking cap and gloves.

Gastone, thank you! Merry Christmas amigo.

Gastone, the "nadas" was meant as a status for the retro situation. I received my approval for 60% on Oct 20 and was informed I'd get a direct deposit for $1156.09 on Nov 1. The problem is I'm retired military and receive a retired check every month. I am entitled to CRDP because I'm more than 50%. But, since the award was after the 17th, I missed the cutoff for the Nov 1 payment and received my 1st payment on Dec 1. But no retro. Apparently, because I'm a military retiree, my pay records had to be audited to receive retro for some reason. I received the 1st payment so it wasn't because they had to verify CRDP. I havnt heard a thing since. I have made 2 request through IRIS and 2 phone calls. Both resulted in a canned answer and suggested patience.

Gastone: I am going to he the local VA health facility between the holidays to get answers. On the phone I was told that I am entitled to both since I am more than 50%. I have to bring my award letter since they don't show me in the system. Thanks Slick, that info is encouraging. Gastone, I'm unclear of your questions in the 2nd para. I granted 50% for OSA and 10% for Aletgic Rhinitis. It was disappointing they gave me nothing for Sinusitis. The Dr. At my C&P Exam opined that all my diagnosis in my SMRs and current one from my Tricare Dr. we're misdiagnosed. They said it was all consistent with Allergic Rhinitis. I'm considering a NOD. I could use some advice. It was an FDC that turned into a regular claim because I offered a med request form from my prior Tricare PCM that I didn't think they had. This was after my initial FDC. One never knows what information the VA is working from, so you continue to offer help when things go so slow. Thanks everyone for your interest and help.

Nadas