Mercury-Vapor

Yes I was brown water navy out of CamRahn. I have 10% rating for TBI moderate.

I am very confused about an appeal that I filed in February and hope someone can explain it to me. I was rated up until February at 20% for some trauma injuries I had in Vietnam. I'd filed for several mental disorders and had three separate examinations for PTSD. The first two examiners stated my mental disorders were as likely as not and Most likely in that order. Included depression, anxiety, insomnia etc, but never a diagnosis of PTSD, even though my local VA has diagnosed PTSD. The last examiner was a jerk and seemed more interested in preventing me from getting any rating at all. An additional examination for TBI was conducted and I received 10% for it service connected injury. I filed a NOD with all of my symptoms and I just looked at the appeal and the only disorder on the appeal states DEMENTIA.......WTF is that about? anyone? Thanks

I hope I can say the same thing some day before I die.....:) I happen to think the VA wants to wait us out...

Thanks Broncovet for the reply. I really am disappointed with the RAMP process. When I decided to chose the new lane, I'd been in the old appeal process for almost 4 years with no hearing scheduled. I figured ok, lets see if this works. Despite having 2 PTSD C and P exams with a nexus in one of them as 'most likely' and the other As 'likely as not', I was not given an informal hearing by the DRO. I can't understand that, but I guess I'll wait to se what the decision is. This has been a long road from 1970 to here......:)

I opted into RAMP asking for the higher level review, I also requested an informal conference. My claim closed on the 26th and I was never given the conference. Don't know the outcome, but not optimistic since I never talked to DRO. Just waiting to see...

I just have a comment about American Legion VSO in Cleveland. I belong to American Legion by the way. They have been my POA since 2014. I have over 1000 documents to and from the VA for my claims. In 4 years, I have never received a single call from Cleveland. I called them twice. Once, they said they would return my call the next day, but they did not. When I called to ask them why, they got major attitude and berated me. I called them just yesterday and got VM. I asked them to call me back and I haven't heard from them yet. If they have worked on my claim, it is unknown to me. Maybe it's because I live in BFE ? Just venting.

Hello.....just looking for experiences with RAMP. I moved my appeal from 2015 and the legacy lane to the RAMP process in June. When I sent my election back, I asked for an informal review. On the 26th, my status was closed and I did not receive an informal review from the DRO. A notification letter has been sent to me, but hasn't arrived. I don't understand why. The only thing I see on the historical CLAIM needed from me box is this line/ 'PROM vsr to fix notification and update participant profile.' Also, informal review no longer needed. Anyone got a clue ??. My claim was for PTSD. I didn't meet criteria for that but did have 'other speficied traumatic etc'...Dr said most likely from military service in vietnam. Thanks

Yea sorry Buck. I meant broncovert. I tried settings to change my rate, but I see no field to do that..like I said, no big deal. Appreciate it everyone's input and advise. This is a great board and I've enjoyed reading the posts. Makes me feel not alone.

FROM BUCK Make sure you have documentation of the Big 3 Caluza triangle in your file: 1. Current diagnosis, 2 In service event or aggravation. (Its not enough to "have" an in service event, you need to "have documentation" of that event.) 3. Nexus, or docs statement that your mental health disorder is "at least as likely as not" due to the trauma you recieved in service. So I think I have all of these. Current MH diagnosis, hospital notes from Long Bihn 24th evac, a buddy letter from someone who witnessed the event and the Dr. stated in her diagnosis my condition is MOST LIKELY CAUSED by military service. and whatever else they found in reports i have not seen. The va disability route is a complicated road that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. but I guess the rules are there for a reason. Thanks for all your comments. Can anyone tell me how to change my rank on my profile? It assigned me a recruit rank when i filled in all the fields.I can't see a way to change it...not important but I just wondered.

OK, I'll have to figure out how to scan and paste into the forum. I can't imagine I would get such a high rating based on how difficult it was to get rated for the things I had hospital medical records to prove. I did have a 1974 evaluation where I discussed some of the symptoms I have with a shrink and they are similar to those symptoms the recent examiner checked . I should have filed for all of this many years ago, but I just wasn't motivated to do that. I wish i had now..oh well. Thanks

I am a 65 yr old Navy Veteran 20% service connected for (non combat) injuries I received while stationed with the 115th Coastal Task Force in Vietnam 1971. I know what happened to me but have no memory of the event. I was unconscious after the accident and woke up choking on my own blood in a helicopter from the 24th evac unit out of Long Bihn. Concussion, broken jaw and fractured ribs. I was sent CONUS a few days later. I was in Bethesda for several months after returning from overseas and spent the balance of my enlistment working transportation and security for CNO Washington DC. I began having anxiety and depressive mood in late 1971 and that continued throughout my entire life. I've been treated with anti-depressants and tranquilizers for over 40 years. I have also been suicidal for that many years attempting twice. Panic attacks have put me in the emergency room many times over those years. After talking to a VSO, he suggested I file for PTSD as he said I had all the symptoms. I had an initial examination and the first Dr. (VES examiner) Found I had an unspecified Neurocognitive Disorder and Memory Loss but not PTSD. I'd claimed Memory Loss prior to the claim for PTSD and it is under appeal for two years. I re-opened my claim for PTSD and recently had my second PTSD exam. The VA Dr. stated I met all criteria for PTSD except C. She diagnosed me with Other Specified Trauma Related Disorder. For rating purposes, She checked boxes for Depressed Mood, Anxiety, Panic Attacks more than once a week, Chronic sleep impairment, Mild Memory loss, Flattened effect, Disturbances in motivation and mood, difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships and suicidal ideation. Can anyone tell me what that all means? Thanks everyone