bhamboy205

thank you all. i feel better now about my decision on such a huge investment.

so berta--are you for or against using dr. bash? i'm to hear about your problems with the va. they are a hassle..but i'm not able to dicipher from below your opinion of for or against. hang in there and God bless!!!

hello--i'm new to the forum so bear with me here. i've been in contact with dr. bash. he seems very nice and eager to help vets. only thing--he's a bit expensive--rightly so considering his expertise and time used. i'm a 10% vet with a service connect diagnosis of optic neuritis. that seems a bit low considering i entered the army with 20/20 and left with 20/40 after high doses of steroids while on active duty (army). i had extensive weight gain from the steroids--and inherited depression, high blood pressure and gastroesophageal reflux. i'd never had blood pressure or gi problems--and was diagnosed with both 1 day after my official ets in 1995. it's assumed that it was caused by the steroids. i've not appealed based on the hbp and reflux--and have since experienced another auto-immune event in 1999 (unknown origin). dr. bash seems to think that all are likely linked to the auto immune optic neuritis from 1993. i want to use him, but can't quite cough up the $3k he's asking for. to anyone who feels they can answer--do you think it is worth first filing the appeal with the va, seeing what they come back with--and then if i don't like it go with dr. bash as a final option? thanks....