GBArmy

Good luck, mrbdpo! Keep us informed.

DC 6516 says 30% if you have swelling, growths or pre-cancerous cells.What does the lab tests say? Any statement regarding cancer? Were there any comments relative to swelling ?If you have horseness and swollen vocal cords/larynx it is 10%. Does his write-up say anything about horseness or your speech being compromised? You might not get even 10% if it doesn't include all the requirements. He doesn't rate, the rater does, but if you don't have all of the conditions, you may not receive anything. You have to have a comment on your speech. I would try to speak to the RO to ask the C&P examiner to ammend the dbq to include a comment for a complete exam. Otherwise, you wait for the decision letter and supplement appeal the decision. If you do, I would get an independent eval from another doc.

Sergeant G's post is 6 years old; don't know how it got in this link.

Maybe it depends on the doctors' specialty. For example, if you were seeing a doctor for mental heath issues, say TBI or depression, the VA mandates they have a license. For physical issues, like back or knees, a PA or non-licensed doc can do it. I don't know; just a guess.

What I would do is write up exactly like you disclosed here but with even more detail and set it aside. You said he answered that the VA prescribed steroids possibly caused your condition Wait and see; it should be posted in a couple days. If it supports and he says as much, great. If he is negative, contact the RO and complain about the lack of thoroughness and request a new C&P. Confirm it in writing and save a copy. If you get another, competent exam, you should be good to go. If you are denied a second exam, the worse case is you can submit as evidence on appeal to BVA if you have to. If it gets to that level, my appeal should include an IMO or dbq that supports your condition if you don't already have one.

another helpful site for SMC explanation is at C C & K article https://cck-law.com/news/special-monthly-compensation-explained/

Thanks Vetquest, I should have said NEVER send an original anytime. You'll never see it again!

How do we file if your claim comes back approved but you feel that it should have an earlier effective date than what was granted. Do you request a specific start date, or, leave it open ended and just say you request a review of the effectve date. And this has to be done within in a year of receiving the original approval correct?

Shrek be sure to keep us informed; I think this is the first one to report it here. It would be interesting to find out how the compensation comes out. If it is similar to asbestos claims, comp comes from a seperate set-aside from a class action suit, so I don't think you will get any back pay, jusrt a lump sum. But it counts as part of your disability (VA math total.)

There are never dumb questions (someone told me that one time.) If you could send in a notarized copy that should work, but I am not sure either. You could call the info line a.k.a. Peggy and ask (1-800-827-1000). Or, you could call the VA education coordinator at the college you are talking about and ask what have been submitted and been accepted. They probably have run across the problem with other students and would know. Or, when all fails, if it isn't called out specifically on the VA instruction form, just mail a copy. Obviously, this is not the best choice.They might have a number to contact for questions on the form on the instructions page.

Shrek Did you get the BBE yet, or is everything you have on ebenefits? I believe that you are right on about the delay; not enough experience with how to handle it. If the normal claim was finished just two days ago, maybe the hard copy will have some kind of trail to follow. A name, initials, something? I wouldn't have any problem calling the WH, but I would wait just a bit longer and see what I got.

Man, this is like "all you ever wanted to know and then some" about prostate disease. I sure hope I don't need it from a personal point of view, but actually, you can't get this kind of detailed info anyplace else. It is educating a lot of guys that just didn't have a place to go to get it. Thanks to everyone who has been candid enough to share.

Tbird, with the utmost respect, you have done a tremendous help for veterans and their families with this site. Your effects have resulted in hope and actual financial gains for countless people. But please don't use the comment "... there are without a doubt more veterans in more severe need than me. " I have to argue with veterans I am helping that it is NOT a money thing with the VA: their budget is $220 Billion this year. If you are in need and have earned a benefit, apply for it. Veterans say all the time, they won't apply because it will take away from someone else more deserving. Nope. In fact, I tell them that if we don't use benefits, not only will they end up eliminating or diminishing them, it will make it harder for the veterans that follow them to get benefits they should get as well.

ouch!!! Sounds terrible.

Bronc is correct; you never know how a rater will work his/her magic, so there is no purpose in guessing what they will do. That said, you probably should expect that if there is any gray area, they will chose the the lower level. But really, what do you have to show there was an incident in the service and more to the point, how can your doctor connect it with what your medical condition is now. Do you have str showing the event and treatment? A Buddy letter could help substanctiate the event if you had someone that witnessed the event. But that still probably won't be enough to say that that event caused your current disability if you don't have record/diagnosis of your original injury. If your doc has nothing to review from your incident, he can't compare it to what you have now. No nexus. Maybe there is info in your c file. As Bronc said, order it and see.

It's only been 3 weeks if I read your stuff correctly. I'd give it a little time to settle out before I called the WH. It's the VA, man. You are going to wear yourself out. As a couple of guys say, get yourself a hobby to keep busy. JMO

It's official. President Trump signed last night!!!

It's early in the morning, and my little gray cells are not all up yet (O.K, maybe it's nothing to do with what time of day it is) but what is CKD?

One important thing you have is s-c of GERD; you have STR that it occurred while you were in and you have it now. GERD is a tough one because it is going to be hard to prove nexus. Almost anything you come up with they will deny and say it was caused by something else. Your weight, for example, which wouldn't be allowed as s-c. So, don't play doctor; get a good IMO from an expert to support the STR you have. One possible connection could be from meds prescribed by the VA for other s-c. disability One example is meds for b/p. Some can cause GERD. But whatever, it is definite you need to get a good diagnosis.

If you have surgery, even if it is a repeat, you should get the the 100% again. It is new surgery.

Good advise given by Vetquest and RyanE. I think you have some good evidence also. But, I think I would raise the pot a little. POSA with a CPAP can net you a 50&% rating; no small disability. I think I not only would go back to my doc and get a stronger worded letter connecting it back to your service time, but I would consider spending a few bucks and see if I couldn't get another IMO/dbq from another sleep doc. It is risk reward; it could cement your disability decision and would be relatively cheap compared to your lifetime compensation. JMO.

Certainly could be sound advise from Jfrei if you have hearing issues and served during that time period. I didn't research it, but sometimes the VA/government makes a class action settlement where it is handled outside of the VA system and you use lawyers to work your claim. I have sen this ear plug deal advertised on tv, and I don't know if that is the case here. Look it up and see if you can do both (outside financial payment AND a VA disability as well.) The lawyers advertising should also be able to advise, but be careful. If it is either, or, but not both, you probably have to weigh the one time payment vs. monthly payments from the VA. Certainly the lawyers would want the settlement so they get a piece of the action.

Buck, sorry to hear that. No, thankfully I don't have your problem. I do know that there are quite a few alternative medical procedures and alternatives that can be considered. I would recommend that if you could afford it, you seek an second opinion from a specialist on the outside. If they come up with something that sounds better to you, you at least have some ammo to discus with your VA surgeon. The very best to you Buck.

It's both. It's bad because it is saying how medically damaged your back/spine is. Back pain is constant and doesn't go away, especially with the degenerative arthritus. But from the point of view of your claim, it is good. Look up your conditions on military disability made easy and see where your conditions may fall in the rating for diagnostic codes; there could be several you may be rated for.

If he didn't get the new exam because he wasn't scheduled, he should be ok. Like Vetquest said, he should be calling to get one scheduled, if that is the case. If he missed a new exam, he probably will be denied, but it is possible that because it is a little complex, if he requested a new one, they could possibly give him some slack and get a new exam for him. I have never seen a veteran that missed an unexcused exam not get denied. But that might not be the case here if it was a note in his file and the VA just dropped the ball. I mean, he can't reschedule himself.