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Galen Rogers

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Everything posted by Galen Rogers

  1. Good Morning. I just filed my NOD about a week ago. Mailed it to the intake center and received notification and signed receipt by the intake center for it. My question is roughly how long does it take to show up on the website as received and in process?
  2. Hi Berta, Thanks for this info. I worked in jet fuel pump rooms, flight decks, flight lines and even cleaned tanks for years. I just found out that I have "axonal sensory neuropathy". I also have back and neck problems that cause problems in my arms and legs. More ammo for the fight.
  3. Howdy all, Can anyone provide a recommendation on a Dr here in Northern VA that will also do a real exam?
  4. Hello All, I've been having problems submitting questions via IRIS. I normally use Google Chrome. Everytime I would hit submit it would say pick a valid state. Finally the brain kicked in and I tried IE. Amazing, I was successful. Not sure if my google browser is configured wrong or what but if anyone else has issues, try a different browser.
  5. Now that it is after Feb 19 Vets.gov says that how you file an appeal depends on the date of your decision. For VA decisions we received on or after February 19, 2019 we are to use one of the three lanes. Add new and relevant evidence (file a Supplemental Claim) Ask for a new look from a senior reviewer (request a Higher-Level Review) Appeal to a Veterans Law Judge (request a Board Appeal) For VA decisions we received before February 19, 2019 we are to file a NOD. Here's the page: https://www.va.gov/disability/file-an-appeal/ Not sure how many folks this affects but I imagine there are a few of us.
  6. Sorry forgot to update profile after last decision. I have about 5 items that if I can get them through will add up to about 60 or 70 percent. I'll just have to wait to see what the NOD crap shoot does for me.
  7. I am at 90%. The NOD covers both knees, lower back and pain, tingling, & numbness in both arms and both legs. That still may not add up to 10% but I want it covered.
  8. Howdy all, I'm pulling all my support docs together for the NOD I plan to submit. I had requested an increase for my knee. Originally I was rated 10% for Meniscus repair. The decision came back changing that to 10% for reduced range of motion due to pain. I feel it should be rated at least 20% under DC 5258 (Cartilage, semilunar, dislocated, with frequent episodes of “locking,” pain, and effusion into the joint). My knee locks numerous times a week, hurts all the time, and swells up most of the time due to a bakers cyst that does not go away. The torn/dislocated cartilage and bakers cyst are both in my records and annotated on the most recent MRI. So would the locking, swelling and pain be symptoms that my personal statement supports or would I need the doctor to put it in his report?
  9. My claim decision came with a detailed description of what should have been paid and what was withheld. DFAS already paid me my retired back pay. Hopefully I will know for sure in a few weeks.
  10. I have a question for you all. The C&P Nurse examiner stated that my lower back issue was not caused by the fall from my truck and secondarily connected to my right knee since I waited two years to go to the doctor based on the date of the MRI she looked at. She completely missed my doctor visits and MRI (in my claim file and even personally given to her by me) 4 to 5 months after my fall and rehab of my left knee caused by that fall. She also stated she did not need to look at my doctors DBQs since she had to do her own. Would that be a CUE possibly?
  11. Thanks All. I just looked in "Vets.gov" where open claims are now listed. It shows I have one for the "AEW" retro pay. The origination date was 26 Jan 2019 and they have started reviewing it as of today. Some info is better than no info.
  12. Howdy all. I'm finalizing my NOD to submit. I should have it ready to submit early next month. I have been told that I need to submit in the Supplemental Lane because I have additional support document to rebut the C&P Nurse examiner's exam. But I also plan to submit supplemental claims for the pain, numbness, and tingling in my arms and legs due to my neck and lower back problems. They will be secondary to those two issues. But the arms and legs issues were both listed as problematic in my original claim and even identified in my NEXUS letter and the DBQs I submitted. I did not specifically claim those issues independently though. Would those also be part of the NOD since they did not acknowledge them or actual supplemental claims?
  13. They stated that IBS and GERD is all part of the same "Digestive" system. But I will move forward with the NOD once I get some additional details from a doctor.
  14. broncovet the way I read it is that after 19 Feb 2019 we don't have a choice to either opt in or not. We will only have two routes to go Supplemental Lane or Higher Level lane. I will be challenging the effective dates on two items, a denial of one item, and rating percentage on two other items. I also will be submitting a couple of supplemental claims for Neuropathy/radiculopathy in my arms and legs due to the issues in my neck and lower back. I am definitely unsure if I have to submit those supplemental claims separately or all together with my NODs.
  15. It seems to be a hit or miss when it comes to the C&P examiners. I went to two different Nurse Practitioners. The first one did not review all of the files in my claim (MRIs) and said her job was to do new DBQs and not review my doctor's DBQs in my claim. So I had denials from her exam. The second one that covered my deferred claims was very meticulous and even reviewed files while I was there with her to validate things were in my SMRs and still current ailments.
  16. Berta, Here it is. VA Decision 01-10-2019 Redacted.pdf
  17. So when I look at the current NOD form (VA FORM 21-0958, SEP 2018) it does not appear to be updated for the new RAMP process. It gives you two options or routes for your NOD (DRO Review Process & Traditional Appellate Review Process). I assume (yuk) that if we submit on line we are able to choose "Supplemental Lane" versus "Higher Level lane". So I presume when you submit your NOD via certified mail you have to add a cover letter to detail you wish to go "supplemental lane". Is that a fair presumption?
  18. I just recently applied for a GERD increase and IBS (new). They left the GERD at 10% and added my IBS but as service connected but did not rate it due to being same body system as the GERD is rated for. They quoted the pyramiding comment. Apparently the C&P nurse examiner did not agree with my Dr's DBQs and medical statement that my GERD had worsened and i met the 30% criteria. I am filing a NOD.
  19. Good Evening, I will be submitting a NOD in the next couple of months. I will be submitting additional evidence with the NOD form (medical documents and rebuttal from my doctor who provided my NEXUS letter). I believe the new process will be mandator later this month so should I go to the Supplemental Claim Lane or the Higher Level Review lane?
  20. hello all. Most of my recent claims were approved with the effective date set at 29 Dec 2017. They bumped me up from 40% to 90%. I am a retiree so my VA comp was an off-set from my retirement check. Now I get concurrent. DFAS shows a special payment coming in a couple days of reimbursement for my retirement pay back 10 months (minus tax). Is there any where we can look to see what the actual VA comp retro pay is? DFAS shows nothing on it.
  21. Berta thanks for the links. I did review the CFR and a couple of VBA citations on the GERD/IBS combining question. The CFR basically says they have to rate the one that is the worst since both are part of the digestive system. Part of the NOD I'm submitting will include a disagreement with the 10% rating for the GERD. My symptoms exceed what the 30% criteria is. I will upload the decision letter once I get back to the U.S. after my vacation here in the Philippines. First time back with the wife since 1984. Again thanks for the help as always!
  22. Howdy All, I just recently found out that the deferred items from my claim from Dec 2017 were finally completed. I actually fared better than I expected. They approved all of the deferred sort of. One was approved with 0%, my exercised induced asthma was combined with my sleep apnea, and my irritable bowel syndrome was combined with my reflux. My total rating went from 40% to 90% with the effective date of 29 Dec 2017 (so that will be 12 mos of retro back pay). Here is the final tally as it stands now: hemorrhoids 0% Service Connected 12/29/2017 plantar fasciitis, bilateral 30% Service Connected 12/29/2017 cervical spine degenerative disc disease 30% Service Connected 12/29/2017 allergic rhinitis 0% Service Connected 03/01/2000 sinusitis with retention cyst 30% Service Connected 12/29/2017 tinnitus 10% Service Connected 12/29/2017 thoracic outlet syndrome, left upper extremity 10% Service Connected 10/26/2001 thoracic outlet syndrome, right upper extremity 10% Service Connected 10/26/2001 gastroesophageal reflux disorder with irritable bowel syndrome 10% Service Connected 03/01/2000 obstructive sleep apnea with asthma 50% Service Connected 12/29/2017 complex tear of the right knee medial and lateral meniscus, popliteal cyst, and osteoarthritis (previously rated as surgical repair of medial meniscus tear, right knee)10% Service Connected 10/01/2001 left knee anterior cruciate ligament rupture with tearing of the medial meniscus with osteoarthritis 10% Service Connected 12/29/2017 lumbar degenerative disc disease, disc rupture Not Service Connected I am submitting a NOD on the lower back denial, the denial of my request to increase my right knee rating and the rating for my left knee, and the denial of my request to increase the rating for my reflux. I also need to research the combining the reflux and irritable bowel. I want to thank this site and all the folks who have posted on the various topics and especially all of you that have answered my various questions over the last couple years.
  23. Howdy All, I'm preparing to submit a NOD once I pull together the additional support items I need. My question is about how long are NODs taking now for the DRO review and either a concurrence or statement of the case to be accomplished?
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