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McRay

First Class Petty Officer
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Posts posted by McRay

  1. 4 hours ago, Scottish_Knight said:

    You can submit a claim for the costs through Tricare and the VA (if it is SC) to be reimbursed.

    I wasn't aware of that. I had an IMO/IME as part of my appeal for EED and higher rating. Assuming I win, it would be reimbursed?

    Thanks!

  2. We're (US gov't) not very good at nation building. We are good at corruption, greed and wasting lives and resources. The Taliban have graduated from Toyota pickups to HumVees and are now probably one of the better equipped military forces in the world. About 3,000 lives were lost, not to mention body parts and mental trauma. We spent some 3 trillion on our Afghan adventure -- money that could have been spent here at home. The blame for this rests squarely on our military and political leaders for the lies they fed us. Twenty years of fattening up defense contractors and lining pockets. What a sh*t show..

     

  3. Sounds like you may need an independent medical opinion or exam. You would have to have a nexus to get a rating for PTSD (in service event, current diagnosis, opinion linking the two). Not much info to go on, but it might be helpful if you could get a VSO to start the ball rolling. I think filing claims can be confusing and complicated and the VA is getting more and more requirements. It helps to have a strategy. Might even call a couple of VA attorneys and see what they say. I was a lot more confident about my claim after hiring an attorney.

  4. On 8/12/2021 at 5:50 PM, Mr cue said:

    Veterans are now have comp exam with workman comp ssi doctor.

    Various C&P exams I've had done by the VA were always negative for me. I had one C&P exam done by an outside company and that was  favorable. VA care is somewhat touch and go also -- a lot seems dependent on where the facility is located. It helps if you have a Dr who will advocate for you and your treatment. I've had 3 in 30 years.

  5. I was granted SC from a claim I filed in 2015. I currently have an appeal at the BVA for an increased rating and an earlier effective date. My question is if I win my appeal and am granted an EED of 1978 and increased % that would give me either 100% schedular or 70% and TDIU how would that work? It seems that some SMR's were not considered in my original denial in 1978 and were instrumental in overturning the denial in 2016 . The appeal legal brief is requesting a total rating of 100% or 70% and TDIU as of September 2015 and EED of 1978. Would the 1978 EED be computed at my current rate or would it be the increased rate?

  6. I sent a secure message to the patient advocate this morning. Here's the response:

    Quote

    Although the Choice Act is no longer in effect, under the provisions of the MISSION Act of 2018 the VA is able to refer patients needing authorized services to community care providers who choose to contract with the federal government. While the SAVAHCS does often refer patients to community care providers, regrettably, if a provider does not wish to contract with VA, SAVAHCS is unable to refer patients to that provider.
     

    It appears the VA is cost cutting. Not one of 5 prosthodontists in the Tucson community is accepting Tri West. Seems odd.. Guess the next step is my congressman..

  7. There are many docs who specialize in Independent Medical Opinions/Examinations. I don't know if I'm allowed to post any links but I'm sure there are listings somewhere here on Hadit. Probably can google VA IMO doctors too. I had one done, it was handled by my attorney and I haven't seen it yet, but I'm sure it is pretty comprehensive. If I have to get another one, I would expect to pay from $1500 - $2000 but that's just a guestimate. Your situation may be less complex since you are already service connected and therefore less expensive. I've gotten so many different MH diagnosis from the VA that I no longer have much faith in them. If you can afford it, get an IMO. As always, do your research and consult several different docs.

  8. Thanks @broncovet good advice.

    I guess another part of my question centers around 'Choice Care'. I thought vets were allowed to go into the community for care if they were over a certain distance from the VA med facility or if there was a scheduling problem where the Vet would have to wait to long for the appointment. Maybe this doesn't apply to Dental patients? I would think my situation would certainly apply for community care -- I'm more than 50 miles away from the treatment facility and they don't have a prosthodontist on staff at the current time.

    I sent the information via Secure Message to the dental clinic this morning and by noon, the dentist had called me back to tell me how she had gone to her boss and he had informed her the VA had no 'contract' with any outside prothodontists. I asked her "so this is basically a money/fee problem" and she said yes.

    I'm considering contacting the patient advocate, but I've got a feeling this is one of those 'dead end' paths. The dental clinic has decided my only treatment option is a denture and they are going to do whatever necessary to prove themselves right.

    Why is it that VA Math always favors the VA?

  9. I'm service connected for dental care. Recently I have a problem with a bridge loosening up and it's complicated by bone loss and a span of 7 teeth. I saw my VA dentist yesterday and the Tucson dental clinic doesn't have a prosthodontist currently. One guy retiring, another being hired and going through the process. There are 5 prosthodontists in the community, but it seems the dental clinic has changed their provider contract to Tri-West? and they won't pay the going rates the community  docs are charging. Apparently the new community care guidelines don't apply to dentistry? Any of you guys had problems like this or any recommendations?

  10. 1 hour ago, broncovet said:

    2.  "Wait" until issue "A" is completed until you apply for "issue B".  This costs Veterans retro.  Your effective date cant be earlier than the date you applied.  (Exception:  If you apply for benefits within a year of discharge, you can get an effective date back to your date of discharge)

    This one is applicable for me. I have other claims I would like to file (OSA, sinusitis, rhinitis, etc.) but my atty tells me to hold off until current appeal is decided. Current appeal is for higher MH rating and EED to '78. He was able to get SMR's that weren't considered in original denial. The EED is warranted under 38 CFR 3.156 (c) so I imagine VA will do anything to not have to pay retro. I searched the BVA website and found only 1 instance of a case with 38 CFR 3.156 (c) in the past 3 years.

    I've read that it doesn't make any difference filing under the new AMA system, that the different lanes don't overlap but I guess I'll just hold off on filing the other claims. Seems a shame to pay top dollar legal fees and then not take my atty's professional advice.

  11. I can never figure out what BVA is doing.. Last time I called the rep said they were working on stuff from June of 2019 and my docket number was issued in September of 2019. At that time va.gov said they were working on appeals from November of 2017. A google search on va appeals timeline shows a 270 day average from docket to decision in 2019, but so far I'm at 22 months and counting.

    I have other claims I would like to file however atty counsels waiting until this appeal is decided. Reasoning behind waiting is VA will use any opportunity to avoid paying out for an EED. And I'm like @pacmanx1-- just want the decision and hopefully the validation of being 'right' after all these years.

  12. @john999 is right. I spent about 10 years between Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and Fort Myers on the west coast. Prices were cheaper when I first got there, it was kind of a rural area once you got 20 miles inland. I've heard in the last 5 years since I've been gone, they really have sky-rocketed. There were a lot of veterans in the American Legions there. The one in Port Charlotte was big, around 1500 members, but of course, lots were snowbirds. Summer heat and humidity is almost unbearable, though.

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