fogcloud

Thanks everyone. This is exactly what I was looking for in an answer. Hadit, once again is AWESOME! Fog

I am 10% sc'd. I need an in-hospital operation that is not sc'd. I am priority 3 and I exceed the means test (because of my wife's income). Will I be charged for thiis operation? If so, how much? Fog

Is there a place to get these electonically as full text or PDF. Are these the only laws that pertain to veteran claims? Are they available on CD/DVD? Fog

Thanks to all - I found it!!! Fog

Can anyone give me a search format that will limit my search to find "Allen V Principi". I try searching but I get hundreds of hits and sometimes over a thousand hits. This is related to Berta's response to me in my previous post. Any help would be appreciated. Fog

Thanks a million Berta and Purple. Yes, I abused alcohol by self-medicating. But my kind of cirrhosis is from non-alcholoic steato hepatitis. My C&P exam was from a VA Psychiatrist who stated "it is likely as not that the PTSD was aggravated while in service". My current VA shrink says that I am at 50% "at-the-least" and that she is going to write a letter for my NOD. I wanted to present her with some backup documentation for this task. She has me excited with this new information. So, it is off to read Allen V Principi. Fog

I just found this on the internet at: http://ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_sh...plate=factsheet Notice the bullets on Page 1, especially #5 fog

If so, does anyone have any documentation or links you could provide.

Does anyone know if mdd or ptsd can cause liver disease? Fog

Rich, I don't have any expertise behind me, but your NOD looks quite similar to mine. The deference is two-fold. 1. I asked for a "de novo" review from the DRO which means that you want all evidence from the beginning to be reviewed and any new evidence to also to be taken into consideration. 2. I asked for a "face-to-face" meeting with the DRO. This will not be the same RO that made the orginal decisio, Thank goodness for "return receipt reqested". Others will add more or correct any errors I have made, but all-in-all the NOD looks good. Good luck and remember "de novo review. Fog

just wondering if this table will ever be redone to increase the various levels of compensation. When was the last time that the base percentages were updated? I am not talking about December increases. For instance, 10% disabled is $117 for veteran with spouse. What is the chance that the base rate of $117 would be updated? Any talk about this in Congress? Fog

Just

Can tinnitus be a stressor for PTSD or MDD? Fog

I am a Priority 3 vet. I only have to pay an $8 co-pay for non-sc drugs. I just received my first billing from the VA, and they charged me $8 for 17 prescriptions = $136. They also billed my private insurance company, who paid them more than $8 per prescription. Why do I still have to pay the $8 co-pay if my private insurance already paid the $8 and then some? Fog

Does the VA use GAF scores at all? I ran across this internet article that was developed in 1998 and it states that they quit using GAF as a major determinate in 2003, but at the end they do list what the disability percentages use to be. My highes was 58 (determined on my C&P exam in Feb 2008) and my lowest in the last 3 years has been 40. Any clarification would be appreciated. ptsdGAF.htm

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to put one together in order to have a meeting with the DRO first. Fog

God Bless you cowgirl!!! This may come as a surprise to many (sarcasm), but my DAV rep. said there was no such thing and I shouldn't waist the VA's time. Wow

Has anyone ever heard of tinnitus or hearing loss aggravating Major Depressive Disorder? Fog.

I have a 3 year history with the civilian liver transplant here. I have established a very good relationship with all staff. They are not on the VA approved list (not Nashville or Houston,or Portland or any others listed. Has anyone else faced this issue? I just recently recieved VA benefits (not for liver condidtion). Do I have to start over with VA doctors and be taken off the list until the VA exams me, or is there a special waiver I can get???? Fog

Page 5 now under I guess I really messed up

I was wondering if you drew any conclusions about my denials for MDD and PTSD? Remember that I said that I filed MDD as secondary to PTSD and was denied. I asked if I could still change it to primary MDD aggravated by service? I went to the VARO last week and I got my C&P exam copied. Here is the VA doctor's findings verbatim: "AXIS V: Global

Anyone know what the phrase "Psych Rx" with a symbol of "o" with a line over the "o" preceding the word "Psych"? It is down on the bottom of the last page of my Enlistment Exam attached in a previous post. I am going to the VARO tomorrow in hopes of reviewing my cfile (3 volumes, each 5 inches thick. I still don't know if I should request a DRO meeting or go straiht to BVA. Any thoughts? Once again, thanks to all. Fog+

Ok back to your claim. You said your records from 1991 and some other years were destroyed. How do you come about that knowledge? Is it just that they can not locate them or has someone actually told you your records were destroyed? If so how an why were they destroyed? I only had 3 doctors between 1974 to 1991. In my state, medrecs can be destroyed after 7 years (I think) - especially if you have not returned to the doctor's office in so many years. In all 3 cases, I called the place where I saw them last. One has died and they told me they always destroy medrecs and his have been destroyed if they met the state requirement. One quite his practice and moved to Hawaii in 1977. His old office confirmed to me that all of his previous patient records have been destroyed and that he had passed away. The last doctor is in his 80's and retired. I called his office and they said the same thing about destroying as state law allows them to. They also told me he was alive and well and still living here. I went over to his house because I thought he might have stored records at home. He remembered my dad, but barely remembered me. He verified that all of his medrecs have been destroyed. Hey Donews! I cry to. I am almost 61. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. I hope someone can help with the fact that the VA Examiner's diagnosis was accurate. Fog

You mentioned you had medical records never seen by the VA. Is this correct? That is correct. My medical records from discharge to 1991 were not available - they have been destroyed. Also, my records from 3/07 thru today have not been seen - that includes in-patient hospitalization. I was discharged in 1973 and couldn't afford a doctor until 1975, where my depression was first diagnosed officially. Those are part of the records that have been destroyed. Were you treated for any psychiatric condition in service? Is there a listing of any sedative, tranquilisher in those SMR's or any SMR's. No, but I have not reviewed my C-file yet. I talked to the doctors about it during visits for other conditions at least 3 times. During my enlistment physical I checked yes for depression. The doctor asked me what doctor diagnosed me with depression. I said no one had diagnosed me with depression, but please believe me, I have it. He said "No you don't. Circle excessive worry." I did, but I am still curious about the big hand wriiten letters at the bottom of the 2nd page of my enlistment exam that say PSYCH. At least three other times I spoke with doctors while on active duty about depression, but is was always when I was seeing them for other reasons. I asked if there were any drugs for depression; I also asked on another ocassion if I could have shock therapy. Always the same company line: "You do not have depression. Suck it up. Your brothers are fighting a war and getting killed. You need to count your blessings." That is why I am so anxious to see my C-file. I will really be disappointed if doctor's notes do not include my conversations. That why it so meaningful to me that the VA Examiner (VA Dr PhD in Psychology, board certified and works for the VA at the VA MHC locally) determined that yes I did have MDD and PTSD upon enlistment. The VA examiner also stated that he was very curious as to why there was no followup. I don't even know what the Doctrine of Benefit of the Doubt Case Law is. Oops! I should have said Doctrine of Reasonable Doubt. Sorry.