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GBArmy
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Posts posted by GBArmy
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The words "is at least likely as not" is what you need as a minimum.
On the dbq, in section 1,Diagnosis, it has ICD code -----. Does the doctor have access to what codes go in that space, are we supposed to provide it to the doctors, or, does the doctor leave that blank and the VA fill it in? I mean, do all doctors have some code book to look up?
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You had a year to appeal or lose your original effective date when you first applied. Assuming it was denied more than a year ago, sorry, but it would be a new claim. But it is fantastic that your doc offered to write the nexus letter. There are examples on this forum on what to include, but be sure it says that it is as least likely as not that the burn pit exposure caused your SA at a minimum. He could supplement the letter if it wasn't included. Be sure to let us know how it goes.
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First, answer this question. Do you expect the VA to suddenly become Santa Claus and extend benefits back to day one? No. They haven't announced how they will process old claims yet, and the President hasn't signed the bill yet. But it is a possibility that they will pay from the date you submitted an initial claim. So if you finally submitted in 2012, that is where it may start. Of course, the VA can throw a curve and say it will start the clock the date the bill is signed into law and save a lot of money while that is going back and forth for months or even years. We have waited for 50 years, whats a few more months now. But for those who haven't yet submitted, I would certainly get your paperwork in before the end of the month to at least get on the clock.
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Hypertension is not on the current list for presumptive conditions for A.O., but it is recognized by numerous medical journals as the cause. In fact, it is on the short list that the VA is supposed to disposition, possibly by the end of this month. So yes, if you can get a good nexus letter from an outside doctor, you should have a good shot at getting a disability if the numbers are there.
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Hypertension is not on the current list for presumptive conditions for A.O., but it is recognized by numerous medical journals as the cause. In fact, it is on the short list that the VA is supposed to disposition, possibly by the end of this month. So yes, if you can get a good nexus letter from an outside doctor, you should have a good shot at getting a disability if the numbers are there.
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Hypertension is not on the current list for presumptive conditions for A.O., but it is recognized by numerous medical journals as the cause. In fact, it is on the short list that the VA is supposed to disposition, possibly by the end of this month. So yes, if you can get a good nexus letter from an outside doctor, you should have a good shot at getting a disability if the numbers are there.
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Hypertension is not on the current list for presumptive conditions for A.O., but it is recognized by numerous medical journals as the cause. In fact, it is on the short list that the VA is supposed to disposition, possibly by the end of this month. So yes, if you can get a good nexus letter from an outside doctor, you should have a good shot at getting a disability if the numbers are there.
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It's automatic that if you have OSA they are going to look at you weight/height and if your BMI shows you are overweight or obese the VA is going to deny because weight is not a service connected condition. But not all OSA is attributable to weight. If that is the case, you need to get an outside medical opinion that it isn't the cause of your OSA but (?) is. For example a sinus or throat issue you can service-connect.
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Mrpdbo- I don't know if you have any other disa,bilities, but, in the case of htn, a 0% rating isn't the worse thing in the world. OK, you don't get ant monthly comp for it and money is always important, but the 0% rating means that the VA OWNS your problem, If it goes higher, or you have other problems associated with htn, those will be secondary and could be compensatable. But it also gets you covered for Stroke, TIA's (mini-strokes), heart attacks, and other disabilities, including those problems caused by the meds prescribed. One last thing, if you didn't have any other VA disabilities, if you have two 0% ratings, that could be covered into one single 10% if it affects your employment. So, it really isn't worthless.
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As we all say we are not telling you it is or isn't a good idea not to take your meds prior to seeing the doc. The system usually is they take a reading, wait a bit then take it again. The VA does this on 3 different days, so you can space them out if you want. Under your meds, your readings are 114/80, and that won't get you much; maybe a 0% rating if you can show substantial readings taken before that were at least 90%or better on the diastolic. But if I was doing it I would keep a log and take meds on the first day then skip the next. Do this for several cycles. recording the results.Then take meds on the first day and skip 2 days and then go back on. If it really spikes after just missing one dose, then thats it.I can't believe going more than 3 days would get it any higher; it is probably different for everybody. What ever the results would probable be what you get when you go for real. If the results aren't there, well then you know what you should expect. But again, big risk in trying to figure this out.
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Geeky I stand corrected. "Usually" the spouse is done, but you are right, divorce courts can make the veteran pay up out of disability comp.
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Bronco is correct on all points. Once you are divorced she gets nothing. In fact, the increase when you marry is for you not her. It is supposed to compensate you for another dependent you need to support. Same with the kids; unless they are disabled or going to school/college, the additional money for that stops as well. Same story; the money is yours to help support the kids. And its is considered "fraudulent" if you continue to collect for dependents once they are no longer are. Once they find out, they take it out of your disability check. And they can be pretty nasty about how fast they want to take it back. In fact, there is pending bill in Congress to regulate that and other overpayment mistakes the VA makes that the veteran has to pay back.
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Hi TBird Glad to see you are going to get that ortho finally; no fun waiting in any kind of pain. One word of caution for you and anyone who changes VAMC. 4 years ago I had a kidney stone attack and instead of going to my regular VA on a weekend, I went to one across the state line which actually was shorter and quicker. The next week I went in for a regular procedure and they needed to do a blood sample. I asked why not use what I just did and they said there wasn't anything in the system. Why??? Because two different VAMC are not connected; many records are not available. Wow! Can you imagine how dangerous that is? I asked a doctor about it and he confirmed. He did say that there is a round-about way for one system to get info from another, but most doctors/techs don't either know about it or don't use it. You have to be able to tell them all the facts and they can eventually get your data. Lesson learned: I only go to one VA if at all possible. That is one reason why the new VA IT system is going to cost a gazillion dollars. So really check it out if you move.
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Best to take positive action than to just get p.o.'d., which sometimes is what they really want us to do. Keep us informed and good luck.
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Vync Maybe I'm all wet but I would go to the RO and see if they can't get you an intelligent answer. That is, if it is fairly close to where you live. I would think that they would be responsive; after all, they are the ones that screwed up, not you.
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Good advise from Bronco and Buck. You might do the ITF to lock in your date and go out and get some good medical opinions in the mean time. You might write a dynamite memo, but you are not a doctor, so your opinion on an increase in severity of a disability isn't going to be very convincing to a rater. He can easily refute your opinion by getting a medical opinion in house. Get a supporting medical opinion. JMO
- vetquest and ShrekTheTank
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Buck, You wouldn't need a little help in running your new estate would you? I could supervise the gardeners or something. It's negotiable!
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If it doesn't have to go back to make it compatible with the House version, then it goes to the President for signature. I can't imagine he won't sign off. This is absolutely FANTASTIC!
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I pretty much agree with all of you. There obviously can't be any penalty to the raters if denials are overturned at the BVA, or as Vetquest says they would do a better job. It is a lot harder because there is no logic in what they will deny. It sure seems though that if you do get rejected, you almost always will need an IMO/IME to win on the rebound. Just using logic isn't necessarily going to work without the expert's medical opinion. So we are forced to spend the extra bucks we shouldn't have to to get a jusr decision.Bad system!
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Buck it really is important because these meds can really mess you up when combined with other meds you take. Sometimes, they know it will cause other problems later on for continuous use over long periods of time but it may be the best choice they can make. Just about all of us can lose some weight; sure is a lot easier to say it than to get anything done about it. Come to think of it, I'm a little hungry right now!
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I wanted to start a new thread because I didn't want to mess up richard 1954's post. Does anyone know for real why the VA Benefit people bend over backwards to deny veteran's claims. I was told a while back by a VSO who should know that they certainly had a quota to disposition claims.; so many a week or a month.I also heard that the managers, but not the lower tier workers, got some kind of bonus for "cost savings." What are those"cost savings?"Do they actually get financially rewarded for denying or making lower rated decisions some how? There has to be some actual truth to this kind of thought because of some of the ways these claims get denied. They ignore facts, don't read the evidence we high light for them, apply wrong diagnostic codes, combine separate disabilities, etc.,etc. Anyone got any knowledge of where we can find any facts if it is indeed financial?
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Buck, don't forget to do what every veteran that takes meds prescribed by the VA for a s-c; don't forget to check the prescribed med for cautions. On your GERD, you say it isn't related to your military service. Do you have hypertension and is it s-c? If so, certain calcium blockers can cause GERD. If so, you s-c back to the HPN. I take amlodipine and it is listed as a potential cause of GERD even though it is often prescribed by the VA. The data is easily available on the internet. Get a IMO and bingo! Veterans should always look up their meds and see the potential side-effects.
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Even if you don't have a MOS that likely caused your hearing and/or tinnitus issue, as Sgt. Wilky said you need a IMO to show the connection. I had a pretty good personal narrative statement with my claim that said how and how often I was exposed to the noise. It is just a buddy letter written by you; if you write it well, it can work. I didn't need an IMO; won on the first shot. An IMO from your audiologist should work with a dbq.
Did you know A Veteran may be eligible for Beneficiary travel
in Eligibility - Veterans Compensation Benefit Claims
Posted
I was told recently that you only have 30 days to submit for reimbursement by the travel folks. I also was told by someone else when I applied for direct deposit for travel pay 2 months ago that the VA was doing away with sending out reimbursement checks directly to the veteran. Don't know if that is in effect yet though.