JR Reihs

John, I am really at a loss for words on your case. The CAVC really stuck their head in the sand on this one, and the only way to change it, is to keep plugging along as far as you can stand to do so. What is the point of medical evidence when it is allowed to be ignored at will even at the highest levels who are there to right the wrong from the lower level. My wife never really understood my frustration with the VA as a whole.......8 months ago, she was offered and accepted a job at the Richmond Va, VA medical center, as they do heart and lung transplants, and thats her thing.......she works 7 off 7 so she travels. 2 weeks into her job, she came home and I could tell something was bothering her so I asked, her relpy was, I do not understand how the VA could let so many Vets go homeless. It seems that this facility is day housing the many Vets who have no where else to go, so they hang out at the VAMC.......Understand that Next to the Pentagon, this VAMC is the largest government Bldg. She told me that at night, the Vets wonder off the premises as they understand the rules.......She now understands mine and every other Vets, hate, hurt and frustration with the system. Sorry for the rant, your post just brought up more of what we know, and what an outsider realized in less than 14 days.

Navy04 Congradulations on the SSDI and most likely your VA 100%.........Your wife and kids will not get medicare, but if you get your 100% from the VA, they may be able to get Champ VA at no "financial" cost to you or them...shoot for the P&T if your VA award does not include it the first round.

If the lawyer did in fact send the VA a letter about possible benefits and you can prove that he did, I think this would be a inferred claim and the VA would have an obligation to see this claim through under CUE.......maybe a strech, maybe not........Finding a copy of the letter from the lawyer could turn this around.

NOPE..........only the annuitant is approved for Medicare. She can get Medicare on her own if she meets the requirement under SS rules.

nlualum82 If you drop your insurance under OPM, you lose it forever. I took BC/BS basic, because it covered what medicare did not and gave me Script coverage with minimal cost. I prefer to not use the VA except for dental, so far it has worked for me.......Since you are 100%, the VA should never ever bill your private insurance for squat, and there is no requirement to keep private insurance for VA purposes.........Just remember the OPM rule on this. Just call them on Monday and they will explain it to you.

Under OPM rules, you would qualify for DR if you can not do the job you were hired for. So your answer is Yes.

Congrats on kicking the VA bulldog in the arse. I once had a DAV rep tell me there was no way in hell that I would be granted a couple of issues in my claim.........it only took me 7 years, but they were awarded. I saw him at the VARO, he said he could not believe I fully won my claim.......I wrote on a peice of paper "Hadit.com", and told him to visit this site, as he truly had no buisness being a Vet rep until he gained the knowledge offered here for free......he stomped off, as he had embarrassed himself in a room full of people.

Who was your VSO in Huntington?

What does your dischage papers say under the discharge code? Did you go in front of a med board? Did you receive severance pay? There was a reason you were kicked out, there is a paper trail of some kind........this is the key in most cases.

Must be a state issue........I have had KY Farm Bureau for over tewnty years, this year my rate dropped from almost 1100 to 779 per year. I was skeptical, cuz the new ploicy took me from a 250 deductible to a 1000 as they no longer offer the 250. I went to my agent to make sure my coverage was still the same and it was.....a few weeks later my car insurance was renewed, I had just bought a new truck, and that policy decreased 23 bucks per month for 3 vehicles with full coverage....Go figure.

"Anyways, he met with a DAV guy located in the Medical Hospital here in OKC"..........Is this Oklahoma City?

Hello Vets, I am about to give up on the research. My wife's GM was a Marine in WWII, both her and her late husband served during this time. As sad as it is, she at the age of 92 will now spend her last days in a nursing home..."Please don't feel bad for her, the old gal had a 91 year run before her current condition, and could drink most fellers under the table at 85 LOL". The problem is , I got a call from one of the five sons that is POA, he talked to a county VA rep, who in turn convinced him she was entitled to a VA payment to help offset the care in a private assisted living home under AA. She was not SC'd, nor was her late husband, but the VA rep wanted all of his papers which confuses the hell out of me since she is also a wartime Vet. I am pretty sure she could qualify for VA long term care in a VA facility, but I can not find anything under AA that would give her any benefits in a private care home.......maybe I missed something? So I am reaching out to others so I can offer a defintative answer on entitlement.

Things must have changed in the last 7 years.........when both my kids turned 18 while still in HS, the dependent benefit also increased until graduation.

Send her another letter, tell her you have re-considered your previous decision to drop and wish to take it to the next step......she can say no, but it wont fly.

Send her a Certified letter.......list your previous conversations on the Voc Rehab, then state you want the denial in writing with a proper reason. Voc Rehab is there to help you get trained for a job that meets your Pysical and or Mental needs based on disability......If this is not Feasible, then they MUST deny based on well grounded reasoning, and distance alone is not one of them, but being phiscaly unable to drive that distance due to SC'd disability, would be in most cases. This leads to IU, you must make her put it in writing without pushing the IU, as she will most likley do it without thinking once the letter of denial is written.

IU would be your best option when Voc rehab turns you down, or you could go over her head and go for the Voc rehab.

Might be best to give the Prosthetics a call to make sure the paperwork went in.......it's the VA.

Get something from his HS, showing the anticipated Grad date, on their letterhead, and also to show that he is still attending......Redundent, but it is how it works best. Send into the RO ASAP....Certified mail with a Return receipt.

You can also win the TDIU with your current ratings....DO NOT let anyone yell you that you must be at 70% to file. Do this ASAP....The VA should have already addresed this issue with your Hep alone, then throwing in another 30% with a claim pending....Just file the paperwork and get the ball rolling.

Very sad news. Testvet fought the fight in his dealings with the VA, as was stated, he was in alot of pain, but he kept on going until he could no longer. My heart goes out to his family. Like many before him, he is gone, but not forgotten.

It's that time of the year again......the official number would have already been out, but due to the congressional finger licking, the COLA numbers are forthcoming. I am seeing from 1.3 to 1.5%......I know it ain't much, but it is a bird in hand.

This is BS.......I really do not know the rules on travel, I think I got a buck twenty five one time, but what struck the nerve was the gun removal. While I understand this might fall under a "Felony" charge I think this should not be an issue until such charge is actualy awarded under a conviction. I also think there is more to this than reported.

Wow, that was weird......just check'd my account and BAM, clothing allowance was there. Time to get some new boots for the ankle and new jeans for the legs. Last year it did not come until the end of August.....got both VA deposits the same day, must be on the ball this year.

The VA will go along with the SSDI 12 month program with IU........As far as your New ratings on the lower extremities, could it be the a bi-lateral factor put you into the 100% range? The VA makes mistakes more often than not, it could be a typo on the rating of IU.

"Could it possibly be a claim approved?" Yea it could be, or it could be some retro from another issue that you were not fully compensated for............Either way , I would not take it as a reduction.