SLEDGE

"the board does not feel that my disabilities are static in nature so I am being scheduled for a future examination in sep. 2011." Doesn't the 'Board' have enough to do without pretending to be practicing doctors? And they do this without physically examining the vet in question, just some records that are most likely incomplete. Yawn. sledge

One of the common tactics is to act like something is missing from the claims file. It takes time to notice the lack of records, sometimes years. Time to figure out who should be told about it, vet or rep or both. More time to actually request the information. Time lost losing (file 13) the recently submitted paperwork, which is actually a duplicate of records already in the file. Time lost before the vet, and/or rep, figures out that everything has stalled. More time asking the RO 'WHY' the claim process has stalled, this could take a long time because another new RO guy has to examine your whole file and realize what was shredded, that the file didn't need in the first place in order to be processed. However, the new RO guy will bow to the experience of the other RO guy and request the previously unnecessary shredded records again. In the meantime your RO employees have been advanced and received bonuses for doing their jobs. You lost your house, car, family, sanity and worst of all your give-a-s#*t. Thanks from a grateful nation, sledge

Yes, Kenneth Carpenter of Topeka, Kansas. He is a very busy man and usually selects his clients. Even a strong claim will not be selected if it doesn't meet his criteria. Mr. Carpenter specializes in mostly PTSD types of stuff. Dubious claims probably need not apply for his help. I was getting severely screwed and screwed-up by the RO and BVA and my service org when Mr. Carpenter took my case. It took mandamus to get the VA off of my butt and back on my case. sledge

The regs establish a legal limbo that is favorable to the VA. "May be assigned" and "In the judgment of" can and do nullify any actual 'rights' that you could interpret as having under the regs. The word 'MAY' is on the first page of the VA and in virtually everything after that. That word gives the VA permission to 'grant' your claim 'if' the agency wants to. There aren't any statements in the VA regs that tell them something 'must be' done a certain way in order to comply with Due Process. The courts have been trying to give us rights, but nothing has been written by or passed in the congress that changes the historical status quo. Be nice, follow the rules and don't piss'um off. You will your deserved benefits sooner or later. Keep playing the game. sledge

Those political pundits CLAIM that they want to: Reduce the backlog? Award claims without the usual BS that I (sledge) went through between 1985 and 2009? As my Grandfather used to say, "Somebody is blowin and goin." His opinion of bureaucrats rivaled mine. Remember this, Veterans are touted to be the reason that the VA exists. Caring for the wounded is supposed to be the main priority. That's BS. VA managers compete for 'higher up the ladder' jobs because the can pad their pockets better at the next level. That's how government works. The name of the agency that those people are employed under does not matter. The beneficiaries, of whatever agency, do not make any difference to the managers once contact with 'us' is no longer a part of the job. Outa sight, outa mind. A good individual proficiency rating, lies that they all tell about each other in order to get promoted, is never dependent upon how these whiners and fakers perceive the doling out of the benefits from the agency. Veterans are 'NEVER' satisfied so watch the budget, not the vets. At the lowest level of care-giving, basically the nurses, I have seen a slight improvement in attitudes and subsequently care-giving. Even though I've never met a bad nurse or one with a rancid attitude in the first place. However, when bandages are constantly in short supply, patient chow doesn't taste like food and the formulary is driving you nuts, even the best can get rattled. Ask a spouse, not the patients. Politicians love to point the finger at someone else and that will always cause a few sabers to rattle. Expert panels will be formed so the proper scape goats can be identified. (Who is running the VA now and what was his last job?) Considering how much our tax dollars have spent on the economy, the war, global warming scares and as always, foreign aid - health care and compensation for disabled veterans is GROSSLY underfunded and completely inadequate. You don't get a million unanswered claims if the congressional mandate for veterans care has been followed. A million has to involve many, many blood sucking government leeches on the veterans in general. I still say, if the VA managers would allow the system to function like the rules and regs prescribe, this forum community would have no reason to exist. But then, how would they get cousin Bubba and the mistress on the payroll? Good rant, I'm done now. sledge

"Maybe Ruben Rosario should be invited to look at Hadit?" I agree 100%.... Hadit should be required reading for whole bunches of other folks as well. Most of whom are on the government's payroll. sledge

Hmmmm, A short paragraph on plain paper gets any 'DEAD' veteran a posthumous thank you. Since I have never heard a dead vet complain about serving or the recognition therefrom. And the fact that a dead vet gets nothing 'in life' from this recognition, including thanks from a politician, I am not impressed. I'd rather have the 5 bucks, or so, that's allocated to produce the certificate. But heh, I'm just a baby-burning, redneck, hillbilly, Nam vet. What do I know about 'thanks'? sledge

By the time the Supreme Court rules on this, congress will have incorporated a remedy for the VA into some back-water legislation. Until the VA is forced into an action I believe this decision is just more lip service. It will serve to instill hope where none exists. Just my opinion. sledge

I'm on Medicare besides having the VA. I have to pay for all kinds of crap myself. If the VA would follow their own rules this discussion would be moot. As it is, our taxes fund all of the government programs. And I don't care what they call the program as long as it actually follows it's own regulations, which none do. When the VA bills Medicare, a bureaucrat is just taking up space and milking the system in order to slide funds from one named program to another, either on paper or electronically. It all comes from the same source, but governmental employees have long since figured out how to get their friends and relatives hired by the government. Set up another bureaucracy program so more government pencil pushers can suck bucks away from the returning wounded. It's just politics as usual. Don't sweat the nomenclature, it's a real waste of time and energy. sledge

Bonzai, That fixed it. Thank You... Pete, I would buy a new one if Mrs. sledge wasn't busy paying off the last 4 operations. The retro doesn't cover the smallest bill. However, she did spring for a seat cover for my 91 pickup. Anyone interested in a 91 pickup? sledge

I don't know how, but I did something that killed input from the keyboard. My granddaughter says it has to be a defect in the tower. I think I hit the wrong keys and that action told my computer to stop accepting input from the keyboard. I've tried another keyboard and both plugin locations on the tower, no help. Suggestions anyone? sledge

Very recently, I changed to a different pharmacy that is much more in tune with my needs and income restrictions. I've been on Medicare for 16 years. The new pharmacy dude has already got the ball rolling on the available discounts and help from the local and state agencies. I'm confident he will save me a substantial amount of coin. The previous pharmacy just wanted my money. sledge

I've had 3 very expensive spinal surgeries, 2 on my foot, both wrists and I need 1700 bucks worth of pills and other stuff each month. All of which is not covered by the VA. The award may get us out of hock but, I'm not looking at new cars or a different location to live. We seriously looked at everything and figured out that I'll have 13 dollars and 10 cents left over to blow on something stupid. We will still have a car payment and a house payment, if I have no more unknown or unforeseen expenses. The wife is not planning to stop working. I still have one more claim in for the effective date on unemployability. They missed it by 9 years according to the evidence and applicable law. Victories at this stage are bittersweet. I would like for someone in the VA to tell me that they were wrong. But I'm not holding my breath. sledge

After all of the crazy crap that the VA idiots wrote about me in the 80's, today I got service connection for Briquet's Syndrome at 30. Back to 1984 when I first filed. It pays to keep claims continuously active. Last year they admitted that fibromyalgia and Briquet's are separate conditions and have to be rated separately according to the criteria for each. I wonder if 10+10+30+30+70 comes out higher than 80? I think I'll sleep better tonight. sledge

The VA system is vapor-locked as usual. They like to give us vets a reason to talk and bitch while their business goes on as usual. Rather than fix their rather obvious problems it's more politically correct to continue screwing all veterans. If the system was working, we would not be here. sledge

I have located the article on the net and it does not agree with the political junk. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMsa0900592v1 In saying this I ask that the reader identify what is actually stated and what IS NOT. Embellishment is an art form that congress has long perfected. While the article does 'seem to' favorably mention the VHA electronic records keeping system, it is simply eluding to the fact that the system does exist within the VHA and not in very many other facilities or institutions. I submit, having electronic records available to the healthcare provider does not improve the quality of the healthcare. Improving or sustaining a level of expertise is strictly a function of the people involved, not their method of keeping records. The lack of substantial electronic record keeping in the private sector tells me that the computerized systems do not improve patient care or every facility would be using electronic means as their primary means of keeping track of everything. In actual practice, most private sector facilities do use some form of computerized records along with hard paper copies and digitized x-rays. What the government sponsored article is bitchen about is the lack of a centralized type of system where everybody has the same access to all of the records. The VHA system does not accomplish this either or I would not be pissed off enough to comment. sledge

"Sorry, I think I just puked in my mouth." "I also find it interesting that one VAMC in the same state can't access any previous VAMC medical records, labs, MRI's, ex-rays on me at another VAMC while doing a neurological workup or orthopeadic workup." "WASHINGTON (April 6, 2009) - A recent study in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine singles out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for its successful implementation of a comprehensive system of electronic health records." IMO, congress probably commissioned this bit of fiction in order to have a so-called expert opinion to fall back on when they speak politically to the voters. In these hectic financial times our elected reps are looking for any reason to keep up the funding for their pet projects. By keeping us from getting any better care they can stump for bridges that go nowhere and new buildings where nobody needs one. We are witnessing politics getting back to normal. Even when I place hand-carried VA records into the hands of VA specialist, the specialist does not believe they are mine. I walk in pain, through the pain and that does not jive with the x-rays. So I belong in a wheelchair, sue me. sledge

What about the effects of stuff shoved through or hanging from the lobes? What about puppies chewing on them? sledge

In the first place, you should get an introduction appointment with a new primary care doctor at the new VA before the move has been completed. That covers you at the losing VA and at the gaining VA against them thinking too much into a given situation. Keep yourself current on the books! You can always change an appointment at the gaining VA if the relocation move interferes with your timely compliance, especially in the case of TDIU. sledge

The VA convinced me a long time ago that their people do not have a clue. I was receiving pretty good treatment in the private sector until the VA shrink told my private insurance that I was a head case and the treatment didn't make any sense. Since then the treatment has been sanctioned by the FDA, just 18 years late. sledge

It's dated May of 2008. sledge

I have seen the interoffice note that stated, "deny this vet, he missed his C&P". Well, it never happened, this vet has only missed 2 appointments. Once because the Highway Patrol closed down all traffic and once because I was recovering in a hospital from spinal surgery that the VA refused to consider. The appointment in question was cancelled by the C&P clinic a week before the appointment was to take place. And NEVER rescheduled. sledge

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8051503533.html

Politically, we always win big and come out smelling like a rose. Actually, every change for the good comes along with big cuts somewhere else. Ho-hum. sledge

Purple, Your doctor is worthless. He is probably pissed off because he actually has to see patients. Obviously, he doesn't think of you as a patient, just a stack of cells that keeps him off of the golf course. sledge