Ask Your VA Claims Questions | Read Current Posts
Read Disability Claims Articles
Search | View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Rules
GBArmy
-
Posts
2,886 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
111
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
VA Disability and Benefits Information
VA Benefits News
Store
Posts posted by GBArmy
-
-
Both Brokensoldier AND Shrek are right. This a forum and the folks respond to questions are doing so based on their experiences and from their bumps and bruises they have gotten along the way. Both are great contributors to this place where veterans can get some really great advise. I agree with Brokensoldier flat out on one thing: I seriously doubt Dr. Bash actually said he would get you to 100%. I wouldn't use any doctor that said that because they have no control on what the VA finally decides. Maybe you are misquoting what he said, and hes really said he "thinks" you will get there? Anyway, the choice of using a doctor for professional help, an IMO or IME is strictly up to personal opinion. Use this site to get valuable information based on people that have gone thru what you have to do. Certainly some disabilities are more clear cut and you shouldn't have much difficulty using our advise and getting them approved. Maybe some other disabilities, based on your personal situation, are going to be a lot harder to win. Some veterans just want assistance in doing this. I usually ask a veteran this question: would you rather have 70% of a pot of money, or, 100% of a pot with no money in it. If you win with a lawyer, you pay him maybe 20% plus expenses ,and you then get 100% yourself going forward. If you lose, you get nothing unless you appeal. Part of this important decision is based on the probably that the veteran will just give up after denial and not attempt to appeal. They just get frustrated and give up. If that is you, get help. Understand that if you have a complicated case, you will more than likely have to appeal something on it. That is when you get the lawyers involved. An IMO you can submit on you initial submital if you want. My whole point is do what you want to do; it's your claim.
- ShrekTheTank and paulstrgn
-
2
-
Swiftsig Great response from Shrek. All of them sure appear to be in you favor. When you get your written response, BBE, they give you a final combined rating based on all the individual disability ratings. You will want to run those values in a combined-disability calculator to see how it compares to what the VA gave you. I know, it's hard to believe, but sometimes. yes, the VA makes mistakes! I like this calculator:
http://www.vvaarizona.org/combined_disability.php Then, you have to see how much you need to factor in what your effectivity date is; with all your disability dates, you possibly can have more than one. If you don't agree with the back pay because of the effectivity dates, that is a NOD also. Be patient and wait for your BBE; should be there in a week or so.
-
Hamslice-I feel for you brother. The good news is that it is pretty rare that it will turn to cancer, but of course, it depends on how (un)lucky you are. I have had GERD/Barrett's for years and take Pantoprazole prescribed by the VA. My issue is I can't figure out how to get it s-c, but it sounds like you have something in your records that you can connect. I thought maybe an A.O. connection for mine, but so far I haven't been able to find any evidence. As soon as you get the report, start working on your claim. Good luck!
-
Seems like you have to get an independent medical opinion, or exam, from your own specialist which can show how bad your back really is. You had one c&P and they knocked you down, you asked for a re-schedule because they were going to give you an exam by another nurse which they have agreed to, and now they want you to get an exam from another non-specialist. They don't have to go along with another request for change. They have built a case that you just complain on the exam, who, by the way, they can have anyone do it they wish. I don't see anything else you can do. If you get a favorable exam from your own expert, you should win on approval. Find someone ASAP, and bring it with you when you go for your C&P. If you had a reasonable relationship with you old doc, maybe he can give you a favorable with your new evidence. If not, you appeal again.
-
Congrats Mary! That is great news, long time coming. You might want to contact Alex/Asknod and see if there are some potential smc action you should follow up on. On something like this, that has been anxiously awaiting for such a long time, a little word of advise. When the back pay starts coming in don't go off getting a big expensive item you have been dreaming about. Sure, pay off bills that are past due, but sit on the rest for a while and let the dust settle. And, unfortunately, the VA makes mistakes on back pay (as well as just about anything in the benefit claims process). If they mess up and overpay you, they will start taking a chunk out of your disability check until it balances out. If you have most of it you can cover that situation if it did come up. Again, congrats!
-
I am sure if your Congressman has a GOOD veteran rep working for him/her, they should be able to advise on the process because many of their constituents experience financial hardships. Obviously, you will have to submit on some form in writing.
-
Vetquest it seems to me that the examiner has provided new and relevant evidence. The VA can see that at a minimum, the fact that she has provided statements that contradict what they had developed from her initial exam, something was "wrong." They have to carefully reconsider what she clarified. As you already stated, if you go Supplemental lane, you can still go to BVA if needed later. Why throw away a free pass; go supplemental first is what I would recommend, and if denied, you go again. Its supposed to be 125 days max, a reasonable cost for an "extra" chance.
-
I also understand that if you are in financial hardship, you can apply for an expedited payment, on at least any new s-c condition that was found and awarded while the other(s) are being worked on.
-
Geekysquid-Good S2 work; sounds good. At least I hope you are correct; ITF is one of the best things a veteran can use and it would be a real shame if they took that tool away. I know veterans that use it as soon as their current claim is approved for a new claim. Then they just go get the new evidence while locked in on the filing date. I bet you know others that do the same yourself.
-
I'm with Geekysquid; I know Alex knows his stuff, but no longer ITF is a BIG deal! It changes how people will approach their filing, not to mention their effective date. If we can see a link, I would appreciate it.
-
Becky on your bp issue: I think you might be alright, but understand, we are dealing with the VA here; it's their ball and sometimes they follow the rules and sometimes not so much. The VA provides the bp meds, so they are "agreeing "with your civilian doc that you have high bp. The rules basically are you take 2 or more bp readings at the VA facility a day and it is done on 3 different days. If the first number, the systolic, is "predominately" 160 mm or greater, OR the diastolic, the 2nd number is "predominately" 90mm or greater while under medications, you are rateable. See the diagnostic code for ranges/values. But, as we said before, usually your readings are going to be pretty good because you are on meds that are supposed to control it. There is an out for you though. According to M21-1, part III, subpart IV this evaluation doesn't have to apply IF hypertension is secondary to a s-c condition. I believe that's you. I think if you can get your medical records from the doctor that initially prescribed your bp meds and submit it as evidence, I think you are good. Full disclosure, I am not a doctor, and I don't play one on TV.
-
Becky If you have been taking high blood pressure meds prescribed by the VA, then they had to have made a diagnosis and should be in your file. Look up diagnostic code 7101 for it and it tells you the amount of the disability based on the severity of your condition. The key is if you now take meds and it is now under control, unless you have adequate b p readings in your file, they could have you do a C&P and your readings will show much lower (because you are taking the meds, duh!) So see what you have for vitals in your str's. By the way, even if you get a 0%, that will give you coverage if you have other problems later, such as a stroke.
-
You will, do fine. Relax as much as you can, be honest, be polite, but most important, believe in yourself. A lot of people are pulling for you!
-
See, I told you to be nice. It always is better than not (at least during a VA exam!)
-
Mark:
Berta is correct; if your ship is listed, your diabetes will be presumptive. If not on the list, I don't know why they are giving it to you unless you can show you went ashore. See what they respond with for a reason why the granted it.What you should do is review everything else you have wrong with you and see if they may be symptoms of OTHER secondary presumptives from AO. For example pain in your legs or feet could be neurophathy, eye/vision problems from High Blood Pressure. Look up the AO presumptives in VA.gov; there are a dozen or so and in addition, hopefully more that Congress is reviewing. If you have anything on the list, claim it also.
-
The standard answer is they certainly can and probably will. Your last exam was 3 years ago. I would be surprised if you don't. With a favorable dbq it is most likely you won't be decreased and it could go the other way. Be positive and above all, be sure to go to the scheduled exam. Don't put any faith in the status on ebenifits; it moves all over the place.
-
Good luck tomorrow. Ask the vendor if they have read your report from Mass Eye and Ear; bring a copy with you just in case. Be polite; you have an ace because of the other report so it should result well for you. Let us know how you make out. I had an outside contractor do mine and I did my best to be pleasant and not confrontational (always during a C&P). She gave me a good rating. Sometimes, it is just the luck of the draw. By the way, I assume you have also been evaluated before concerning tinnitus. If so and you do get a disability for it, don't bring it up yourself. It is a separate disability and you aren't there for re-eval for that. If they ask about it, just try to remind them you still have it, BUT you aren't there for that.
-
Just another example of taking the initiative and advocating for yourself. No one can do it better than yourself. Congrats!
-
Easiest thing to do is what Bronco stated; just go back and get the copies from the doctor's office that documents/supports your items that are lost. Surely that info will be on file and easily obtainable.Rebuild it from that.
-
Hi Mark, welcome aboard. I am guessing that your Blue Water service was on a ship that was considered in territorial waters of Nam. Dis you look up to see if your ship is on the list?
-
You should have an acknowledgment on your fax copy that it went. How about sending a copy registered mail, return receipt tomorrow also.
-
Filing for one disability will not disqualify you from filing for any other disability in the future. You can file as many times as you want. There is no reason why you don't file for both at the same time, if you have the symptoms for both and have a medical opinion on them. Use vague terms like "claim is for unexplained illness from my service in A, to include , but not limited limited to,Epstein-Barr Virus and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Definately get an independant medical opinion confirming your symptoms.
-
So on the scars, if you an get an independent medical opinion that confirms what you think your condition is, say minimum square inches for example, then submit it with the dbq for scars. The higher in the medical profession you go, the better it is, so it would be best to get a doctor to fill it out. But, since you are already s-c for scars, I would be willing to be just a nurse or APRN would work. If not, do it again later by a doctor. just google dbq scars for the form. As for the other knee AND OTHER's, like hips, ankles, feet, etc. if they are messed up, you want to get rated for them as well as secondary to the original knee. It isn't unusual for a s-c knee ends up messing up other joints.
-
You call the White House and tell them you have tried 2 FIOA attempts and no response. If you have the dates you did them, all the better. Guaranteed they will respond as soon as they are called out on it. FIOA's are not to be taken lightly; they have to respond. They won't like it at the White House because the VA is actually breaking the law.
Weird Issues Status on Appeal
in VA Disability Claims Research
Posted
I just had one recently also. You can call the 1-800 number (Peggy) and see if they can tell you where else you can call if they can't give you an answer, you could call the white house hot line and complain that the site doesn't give out answers and that is the whole reason why the site exits and see if you can get a quick response, you can call the Regional Office you submitted to and see what they say, and you can call your Congressman's office and speak to the Veteran rep. The answer is this is a new (delaying) tactic the VA now has and if we don't complain, they won't fix it.