SPO

The email came directly to my personal email, not ebenefits. I did verify that the email address and fax number belonged to the VA at that office. The 1-800 people told me that its possible the pension center is assisting because a CUE is more along the lines of an appeal and they have been assisting on appeals, and they probably sent the medical release form because the uploaded documents weren't available to view in ebenefits yet. The email came the same day the claim was submitted..

So now I think the VA may be screwing up my claim. I received an email with a medical release form from the philadelphia regional office, with a return address to the Philadelphia pension center. I am not retired, any idea what is going on here, I am in the baltimore RO area. Not sure who to return this form to.

I like the sound of a few weeks, not getting my hopes up though. I did talk to the call center rep and they have requested my Service medical records. Any idea why they would need them? hoping just for verification.

has anybody else had any luck with something similar. Hoping since it has moved quick off the bat that it will continue to move. I believe the error is pretty clear, but I'm worried they will drag it out anyway.

I am in the process of a claim and one of my conditions could be 30% or 60%. I'm trying to figure out what the va considers "constant or near constant during the last 12 months, in the use of a medication. In my case I had been on the meds for 13 continuous weeks at the time I filed my claim. That just happened to be when the docs finally resorted to a more aggressive treatment. Thanks in advance vets.

Thanks for all the help. I checked on ebenefits and it's already in gathering evidence(submitted 10/21/16). The 256ez medical records, and cue letter have been submitted. Should I hit the "ask va to decide you claim button"?

Here is a picture of the letter

He didn't use the "under the auspices of" statement. The only thing close to regulatory I can see is that he says under DC 7817 it should have been at least a 30% rating. Is that enough or does it need more?

I have a copy of the letter they sent. They submitted a 526ez, their letter, and my medical records. Should I write my own and submit that to?

Since they submitted online would it be ok for me submit some info on my own such as, a description of humira and a quote of the regulation you suggested?

I think the claim was just submitted online. They didn't quote any regulations in the cue. But they did quote the decision letter where it mentions humira. No print out for what humira is but they did write a brief explanation of what it is themselves. It is past the appeal period. It's been about 8 years. I tried to upload a picture of the cue letter but it keeps getting an error.

Also I just got a copy of what the DAV submitted. They said that it should be a minimum of 30%. Will the va consider the 60% level still? I was on the meds for 13 weeks at the time of my claim. constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppresse drugs required during the past 12-month period60%

They made the statement was "you were treated with topical creams and humira ." humira is an immunosuppressive drug. We couldn't find the medical records, a release or evidence of the va trying to get them.

So after some prompting from some friends I got an appointment with the DAV to look at what I thought would just be a new claim to ask for in increase on my psoriasis claim (10%). After the DAV reviewed my records, including my C-file it looked like the VA had ignored some evidence that would have given me 30-60% rating for psoriasis, which is based on the use of immunosuppresive medication. We couldn't find a copy of my civilian dermatologist medical records in the file, but we did find where I provided them with the information to locate the records and a note asking them to retrieve them. No where in my C&P exam did it state the I told them I was on that medication, but in my decision letter the cited the use of immunosuppresive medication to treat the condition (information only available through my private doctors records.) Also I believe that the VA did not fulfill its duty to assist in accordance with federal regulation under title 38 CFR 3.159, which states they must provide notice as to the identity of the records they cannot obtain, as well as what efforts they have made to obtain them. No letter of that type exists in my file. The only letter is a generic letter asking if there is anymore evidence I would like to provide (no specifics included). Using these medications for 6 weeks or more in the last 12 months (at the time the application was filed) can lead to a 30% or 60% rating. My decision noted other items to justify the 10% but did not mention the immunosuppresives in the paragraph that tell you why you got that rating. The DAV reps submitted a CUE for me, so if we are right I should be back dated to December, 2009. It could possibly take me from a 30% overall rating to 50-70% overall depending on which criteria they think i meet. Any else seem like this should be one for the veteran win column?

I have had psoriasis for about 10 years, and in my initial VA determination it was determined to be service connected and I got 10% (they only called it a generic skin condition then, it wasn't diagnosed as psoriasis officially until after I had left active duty.) However, since then I have been on a consistent supply of topical steriods. I have also been on Humira, otezla intermittently, and will be going on Stelara soon. The reason I stopped treatment with the systemics was because of insurance being not paying for it and that stuff is crazy expensive. I have it mostly on my back, chest, scalp and some on my face. My question is, will that VA take that I couldn't afford it into consideration, but i should have been taking it? Also does topical corticosteroids qualify as: Less than 5 percent of the entire body or exposed areas affected, and; no more than topical therapy required during the past 12-month period or More than 40 percent of the entire body or more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected, or; constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs required during the past 12-month period