SLEDGE

If they could only live in my shoes for the last 25 years. I'm aware of a few 'people' that think disabled vets are mostly leeches. ALL are non-vets in my case. I am only seen when I feel good enough to actually get dressed and hobble out the door. Those 'people' don't know how much we have to pay to supplement our FREE healthcare through the private sector. They don't realize how much it costs us, Physically and Mentally and Financially, to drive hundreds of miles for stupid examinations that we absolutely can't avoid and certainly don't need. Sure, I'd like to earn a living. Is anyone offering me a job? Sledge

I have had conversations with vets that got treated rather well throughout the dealings with the VA. They have no explanation and no advice. sledge

In a medical examination the appearance of the client is always noted so future examiners can better assess the evolution of the client's progressing medical condition, particularly the mental stuff. The problem is not how or why notes about our appearance get into the files at the RO. The problem stems from the weight that the RO jerks attach to irrelevant information. The diagnosis is the doctor's problem and decision. Conflicts in a diagnosis can't be realistically resolved by any RO employee. And it ain't their frickin job. Has anyone noticed that some of the examiners have their own issues to deal with and those issues frequently reflect upon our examinations. Impartial does not exist in real life. Impartial is a theroretical perfection that is always strived for, but never fully accomplished. My wife dressed me in a suit for my first PTSD examination and the examiner made several negative statements about my case because I looked nice. Neither of us knew the significance of my personal appearance at the time. Now, everytime I have an examination I give them exactly what I am at the time, no matter what that looks like or how anything effects me. I only wear suits to weddings and the last time I wore jeans. The regulations tell the examiners to consider our worst days. How are they going to see your worst day unless you show it to them in person? All of my days are pretty bad, I don't have to fake it. sledge

Comrades, I received a new consult on my neck problem today. The new examiner says the condition is 'significant' and physical therapy will not help. This guy is working on getting me an operation by a local surgeon. The skill and experience of the local cutter leads me to believe that the procedure will go very well and have a short recovery period. If 6 to 8 months is short. The current problems aren't anything like I have with the VA doctors. The surgeon is usually booked months in advance and paying for this stuff might be tricky. I'll know more in a few days. Basically, the operation is on. After the rehab is over and the full extent of the former neck problem is realized I'll be filing a malpractice suit against the Little Rock VA and the CHIEF, th head dude in charge, the quack, in particular. It looks like I'm going to be a claimant for life. sledge

I get the mushroom treatment everytime they want to 'defer' whatever I am needing. In the present case I already know where I stand from a medical perspective. Pinching the spinal column down to an eigth of an inch thick is just not good for ya. The 'examiner' tried to point out how squishy the nervous system construction is and minumize my concerns over breathing problems that occurr when I tilt my head from level to 5 degrees. Does anyone feel like taking his side? Could all of my pain and misery be nothing more than 'all in my head'? I'm already nuts, could this just be a part of that? Anyhow, it's obvious that Little Rock has no desire to fix anything for me. I'll get it done by the private sector as soon as I can raise the money. Since I can't work????? A small bridge is getting replaced in my home town using hundreds of thousands of Federal dollars. If I can't get one for my house, why should they get one for the street? If the paper-pushers and politicians want my so-called bennies they should join the flamin army like the rest of us did. sledge

Well comrades, The Chief of Staff at Little Rock says no operation. He looked at the MRI but, not me. The examiner, it was not the chief, said that they only operate on spinal stuff if the operation is to save your life. I'm done. Tanks, but no tanks. If I had-a known about this crap in 1970 I woulda become a Canadian and never gotten into this mess. From a gratefull nation my ass. sledge

The VCAA was designed as another excuse to send out another stupid letter that accomplishes nothing more than to cause another DELAY. Does it work? The government gets to keep your money a little longer becasuse the claims process is now a little longer. As long as the VA can do anything they want to they don't really need the help but, congress gets to do the chest-thumping routine whenever they pass something. It's kinds like, How do you keep Aliens from working in the US? You don't. Without proper enforcement, nothing congress does amounts to anything more than words on paper. Another opinion from sledge. sledge

I believe it's well known that my lawyer took my case for free at the start. He went for a writ and they kicked-out TDIU in short order. Since then we have been working on retro. He also filed for eaja money and got it. Legally, the eaja money is all that he was entitled to so far. But, why does the eaja, 'Equal Access to Justice Act', money exist? It's to pay attorney fees and expenses when they represent povert-stricken shmucks like me that got screwed by the VA. While the eaja payment was less than the pecentage he woulda got for his cut under the regular rules, believe me folks he got paid real good for what he actually had to do. Under the eaja, a good lawyer could make a good living if he really wanted to help vets. Just another sledge opinion. sledge

I wondered which delay tactic they were repeating this time. (Got another 'thin' letter) "We are allowing you more time to submitt new and material evidence." All We wanted to know was when is the BVA going to satisfy the Court remand and articulate the reasons and basis? Are they still trying to make me believe that nobody at the VA can read? I still have no claims that require more proof. All of my claims are still open. My file belongs with the the BVA and certainly not with the RO. I could only find one instance where a writ of Mandamus was actually granted. And it did not involve the VA. The next one granted could be mine and it will fall on the VA! sledge

Comrades, Thanks you for all of the exellent comments. I'm in the middle of buying a house that is much more handicapped accessable, money is real tight. I'm going to let the VA do this. My VA dude says the college and the VAMC had some kind of falling out and the students do not participate in this stuff anymore. This procedure will involve 6 different grafts so I'll let the surgeon decide where to get his grafts. I'm a smoker since Nam. I want to get this done yesterday. Considering the physical problems that this procedure could help I can't wait to be different. I'm now doing the spinal stretching but, I think it could be to little, to late. What's the recovery time and recovery process like for this kinda thing? My wife is getting nervous and I'm curious. sledge

His lawyer does not get paid until the client wins and she is wealthy. sledge

OOOOPS, Severe and Obliterated! Complete Blockage and Death at any time. Surgery ASAP. The doctor said I was not gonna believe how bad the MRI showed my neck to be. Wrong doc, I believe it. The cord is compressed down to about one sixth it's normal size and shaped like a thin crescent. I should be dead. If ya look at the middle 5 spaces without looking at the top and bottom you can't tell it's a neck. The operation will fuse 6 together and brace the whole pakage with metal. The doctor who examined me today had 'exactly' the same condition repaired last year in his own neck. After the fix healed he can still move his head, that's good I think. He said mine is worse than his was and he could not walk anymore before the operation. I'm still walking, I fall over to the left alot though, stingers down both arms when I clear my throat or cough. My heart stops when I look up. Nothing in my body actually works right anymore and the doctor says that's what a bad neck will do to you. Get this, I'm at least 20 years older than the doctor and he says I'm too young to have this condition, this bad. And he had his fixed last year?? The incision, or scar, looks a lot smaller than I thought it would too. (In the side of the front of his neck, no less). I thought this kinda thing had to be done through an opening that looks like a split lobster tail? Right now it looks like the Little Rock, Ark. VAMC will get the job. The outfit that refused to x-ray my bum knee for the VA orthopedic specialist. sledge

phubai70 I had to bug her for quite some time just to do the x-rays. After they saw the films I had an immediate appointment for the MRI. The VA just called and they want me in to see the specialist at 2:00 pm today. There ain't no magic formula, just pursue what you know is right. jstacy "Surgury is a good option is it is the only option and the success and removing the pain cannot be guarnteed. In addition, if you have a bone spurr pressing on a nerve root then the damage is likely to be permanent." The doc did say that there does not appear to be any permanent damage YET. Just refrain from moving my neck and head until further notice. Moving my neck, especially looking up, messes with my heart and lungs, blood sugar, blood O2, kidneys, eyesight and my sex life (what's that?). I'm mostly worried about falling sideways, this happens a lot, and dropping everything. The next time I really jar my neck and head I'll do A Dale Waltrip. Pain is not a real issue yet. Gotta go now, a long drive ahead before 2:00. sledge

I finally got the MRI that the specialist wanted and it's bad. The structure of my neck is really screwed up. Bulging, collapsing, slipped and slid, arthritis and curving the wrong way. The effects on my body and daily life from the pinched nerves is getting pretty severe. Do you think this is serious? Should I let the VA go in? How about a D.N.R.? Could this be connected to my lower back which I injured while in the service? Any comments? sledge

Update, My buddy has won his 100% and back pay to 1989, the year that I first helped him file a claim. But he is messed up pretty bad from not getting the proper diagnosis from the Navy and then the VA. He had it- then not, he had it- then not etc. He is now recovering from the loss of one foot lost due to complications. His new lawyer says he will get millions from the pending lawsuit and the VA is trying to 'LET'S MAKE A DEAL' frequently. He just tells them he has a lawyer and to take their proposals to her. They have turned down some large settlements so far and they keep getting bigger. His case has so much medical stupidity in it that the NAVY is also talking to his lawyer. More updates as they become available, giggle-giggle. sledge

I found out through a discreet inquiry that I can't get a commercial lisence while taking my drugs. That was 15 years ago and I take more, rather than less, pills today. The 'powers' want to be sure you aren't too dangerous before turning you loose on the public streets. When I suffered from rampaging obstructve apnea I was a bigger hazard to the public than a drunk semi driver on bald tires, and I had no idea. I'm willing to be tested at any time because it's the right thing to do. sledge

Terry-Berta, That is virtually word-for-word what the Court put in it's remand back to the BVA in my case in 2004 or 2005, (the memory fog). It just goes to show that some things never go out of style. In my educated opinion, it's getting worse. sledge

"may be paid" The word 'may' is used throughout the VA 'rules to live by'. Just thought I would throw that in. The word 'may' is the fall-back for everything that the VA does. I means they have a choice and we do not. sledge

"Several people (family, friends, coworkers and community aquaintances) have the opinion "a late 40ish healthy looking, experienced and smart woman like yourself should be very gainlfully employed". PTSD can be quite "invisible" unless the actors share stage secrets eh? " When rampaging ignorance starts to get you down, give those folks my email address. twkelly@hotmail.com I'm not concerned about spam at this address and I check it daily. Peace, sledge

jlshand, If the letter was polite and substantive you should send it on the first of every month until they respond. Stuff has been known to get lost, if you know what I mean. sledge

Comrades, You have to carefully watch the appeal, submit new evidence and n.o.d. time limits and whether or not they followed their own rules. In one of my denials, the RO closed my claim for appeal purposes because I missed the one year to appeal time limit. What actually happened was, I beat the time limit by one or two days, back in the year 1989, then they produced another decision date to show that I had passed the one year to appeal time limit. The second decision date pushed the decision back the one or two days needed for them to show that I did not timely appeal within the one year time limit following their decision. I have the two decision letters in my file for the same decision with two different, but close together, dates so I'm not imagining this crap. This is just another issue that we have brought up that the RO has NEVER addressed. Still waiting to hear about it after 16 years. The best way to avoid time limit problems is to beat the time limits by a bunch. The RO however is not bound by the rules like we are. sledge

Angela, At 80% you should ask the VA for TDIU to start with. While they fiddle around wondering what to do, go back to voc-rehab and get that wording fixed-up. It will play a part in the consideration of the TDIU. sledge

Since I've never been offered the option of using the DRO, I believe the DRO could be the best option in your case. Any appeal or remand will take a long time anyway. Use the time to make sure you have your ducks in a row. Lay it all out with reference notes all over the place so you can make a substantially favorable presentation to the DRO. Act like it's a one shot deal and go in loaded for bear. sledge

I have a 10% rating for secondary service connected FMS. Secondary to PTSD. Any physical or mental injury or stress can be the medical causation of Fibromyalgia. Try taking some Armour Thyroid. sledge

The group, The Topeka Jerks (Westboro from Topeka) was in full force Saturday afternoon protesting the funeral of Army Spc. Jessie Davilla at Dodge City, Kansas. In Anderson, Missouri at the funeral of Christopher Marion, Social Services was on hand to arrest any parents of children used in the illegal protest and to place the affected children in protective custody. The Church group had been warned by local officials that any violation of the anti-protest law would result in arrests. (Ya'll come back) I guess Kansas has not passed a similar anti-protest law as yet. I look for that law to be passed in Kansas very soon. Bar none, everybody agrees that the Topeka Jerks are one sick bunch. Their wife and child abusive, alcholholic, drug addict, hate monger founder should be proud. R.I.P. sledge