GBArmy

I'm with Shrek 100%. I'm believing that a whole lot of mental harm is going to result by this less than half-ass plan to return. They have had months to get it right. They have the lessons learned from Vietnam (if they paid attention.) Yes, it will hurt enlistments if the young people realize how we took care of the friendlies who worked side by side with us. Many will die. Period. I often think of my mama-san in Vietnam. Couldn't be any more pro-American. She worked for us very hard. Her husband was a Captain in the South Vietnam Army. She was pregnant when I left. I can't believe they would let her exist after we left. Same thing in Afghanistan. I'm on my Congressman's Veterans Advisory Committee. A few years back I cornered him at a meeting pushing his support for some Agent Orange legislation. Finally I said to him, I think there should be a Constitutional Amendment that no Congressman could vote for any military action or funding appropriation unless they had served in the military. He looked at me sheepishly and said, you may be right, but it will never happen. Make no mistake, history repeats itself because we don't learn. We will try Nation-building again before the end of this decade. Sad.

Pqwmbi You are lucky; the official stance by the VA is you have to wait for 10 business days to request paperwork if you had not yet received it in the mail. It's nice that your RO is progressive like that but it isn't what usually happens.

Broncovet of course is spot on. The VA can, and we also can do more to help these veterans. The current disaster going on in Afghanistan is a straight forward case in point. We bailed out in Vietnam; completely cut off aid and it took the Communists 2 years to over run the south. Almost 50 years later, it's looking like its going to take the Taliban less than 2 months to do the same. (Progress? Or, increased levels of ineptitude?) My point is that there are two groups of veterans that will be affected by this bailout. The obvious is those who served during the last 20 years and experienced the horrors of war. Secondly, Vietnam Veterans; This can be a major trigger for those of us that served in country. The VA should be really proactive in making MH more available for this anticipated increase in need. They won't adequately respond IMHO.

Buck That is encouraging news on your wife, and we hope she can get that corrective surgery soon. You are a good man bringing in your mother-in-law with all her disabilities on top of what you are already handling. I don't know if you can pick her up as an additional dependant, but that should be easy enough to get an answer. How about contacting the patient advocate's office at your RO. They also may have some advice on SSI/social services to contact. Because of your disabilities, I would expect there might be additional in-house assistance available, like a part time home care assistant or ??? Continue with your updates; we are all interested.

Keb If the VSO says it is at the BVA, then ask him what your docket case number is. I expect you can call 800-827-1000 and they can tell you also. Then go to the BVA site and see where the claim stands on the docket. If it is in the direct docket lane, no additional evidence or need to have an in-person hearing, then it will take on average the least time for your decision. Really hard to predict duration, but figure a year. Other lanes are much longer in most cases. If you are older, 75+, or have other hardships, you can get an advancement on the docket. See the BVA site for the criteria for advancement.

What is your question?

Hamslice Encouraging news from the VA. Guess we have to see how "presumptive" the VA actually treats it in the claims process. Gulf War Symdrome is also presumptive; VA approves 20% of the claims that veterans submit for it.

Hamslice That is great for your friend and it's also great you kept on him. Nice all the way around.

MSH2930 Welcome to Hadit. I don't know what your claim is, but the social worker is correct in that he won't know before you get a letter from the VA. July 21 is more that the required 10 days before you can call , so call "Peggy" at 800-827-1000 and see what you can get out of them for status. Ask for a copy of whatever they sent to you. If this is your first claim, ask for a notification letter and what is your "Claim Number." If you get one, you know that it is at least in the system. I would suggest you search out a Veterans Service Officer, VSO, who has the ability to look into the VA claims system by using what is called the VSM. Ask questions to see if the VSO you are considering is competent and will work with you. It doesn't cost you anything but provides some guidance on the process.

Overthere I agree with Ruby; get your evidence together. Get a diagnosis of your TBI conditions. If you use the VA, that's ok, start there. And Buddy Letters may prove invaluable if there isn't any entry in your records of the incident.Did you get checked out for your "buzzing" conditions and is there any entry in your records. Request your medical records and C-file. Also, do you have tinnitus? Also, consider your mental health conditions. Anxiety, etc. and other symptoms preventing you from leaving the house. Depression? You may have several secondary conditions that can also be connected. No Agent Orange issues? Be sure you don't; check out the VA listing on those presumptives ther, like heart disease diabeties, etc.. Do your research and submit an intent to file to protect your claim date ASAP.

The VA Secretary has authorized an addition 20 more Veteran Law Judges to adjudicate the huge back log at the BVA https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5701

That's good news tbird. We realize you haven't been able to do a lot responding to forums lately. Staying away from the computer must have been REALLY hard for you. Walk back into the amin slowly; don't over do stuff.

tomault Welcome to Hadit. If this happened to you I would request a new re-exam saying that that the first one was improper. Mention the presentation of the words that you were supposed to repeat and say it was not proper. I'm betting that your exam either finds you don't have a hearing problem, or, the examiner is making the results less favorable to you. Do it right away as it is improper and don't wait for the results of the hearing before you do. You were set-up and the examiner should be called out. If you can't get a re-exam, post the response here.

Regarding "preparing" for the C&P exam, tell him to be honest with himself about how bad things are for him and how it affects him. This is income for him and his family that will continue for the rest of his life and he needs to do what he can to get it right. Be sure his records from any non-VA doctor are downloaded BEFORE you get to the exam. If there is some particular strong evidence, you can download it and bring a copy with you to the exam. You can say "did you seeXXX in his file anoutXXX? No; well I have a copy with us to show you if you wish." They don't have to take from you, but be sure you have it downloaded in case you have to appeal. Your sister-in-law can and should go. You talk about his worse days NOT your better days.Again, they don't have to allow but they often do. There are several who comment here regarding SMC different levels; I'm not going to comment on the progression. Keep up the good work you folks and don't give up. You can do this.

Oldtimersister First of all, welcome to Hadit. And thank you for stepping up to help your veteran brother. He has a very convoluted case but I will offer a few things to consider. You are taking about Special Monthly Compensation (t) or SMC (k), which is a newer rating just for veterans diagnosed and connected with TBI injuries. Check here https://cck-law.com/blog/special-monthly-compensation-series-smc-t/ It potentially pays a sizable additional rating, so the VA is very limited in allowing them to be approved. You also have some potential to get some back pay, and that in itself is a difficult thing to win as well. I would suggest you talk to a lawyer for that if you do nothing else. Yes, the lawyer will get 20-25% or so of the back pay award, but 80% of something difficult to win is definately better in my opinion than 100% of nothing. Even if a disability show up in a c&P, you need a doctor eval that he has ED and therefore, would qualify for SMC(k). That is a seperate award that pays $114.00 a month. Get a diagnosis and opinion from his it is related to his other disabilities (maybe meds?) You submit that as a claim also. SA, or obstructive sleep apnea is often diagnosed as secondary to PTSD. You need to have a diagnosis and a med opinion, or nexus, that it is caused by the PTSD in your brother's situation. He needs a formal sleep study done and a CPAP machine diagnosed to get that award. It is a 50% rating so again not easy. Others can jump in and offer suggestions as well.

JonathanAD Awesome! Congrats! Don't go crazy on the big back pay. Take your time on deciding what to do with it besides pay bills.

GoNavy I doubt if you will get any argument here. Call the white house hot line and put in a complaint.

Navywife55 Are you saying the examiner said service connection (s-c) is on right and not s-c on the left? Never saw that if you are reporting it correctly. I don't understand how, as the last time I looked they were located about 6" apart, so what one side of your head had s-c, I would expect the other side also experienced the same trama. Hearing is a bilateral condition; they measure hearing on both ears and average them out. That is why someone can actually have a poor hearing on one ear but the other ear is really good and the average just comes out to well to get a rating. I know several veterans with that situation. Read or post the decision on this thread and we can evaluate. Be sure to redact any personal ID info. Tinnitus at least as likely as not means you get tinnitus as a second disability and it is rated at 10%. I don't do the math on hearing results, but Broncovet is good at it. Maybe he can give his opinion on the rest results. It may be that the average just isn't bad enough, but you still should get a 0% if it is s-c (which it should be if you worked on the flight deck.) Means you get hearing aids, etc. at no charge if rated even 0% if/when needed.

The VA announced an "enhanced" policy of processing burn pit and Afghanistan veterans with respiratory illnesses related to particulate matter. Namely asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis. See https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5699 The Department of Veterans Affairs will begin processing disability claims Aug. 2 for asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis on a presumptive basis based on presumed particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas - if these conditions manifested within 10 years of a qualifying period of military service. I think this is the major step in the VA finally taking their head out of the sand and recognizing the next-coming of Agent Orange. It's a first step, but it is a step in the right direction. https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/suite

Combat eng That's very generous of you. Private message (PM) to Tbird and ask what you can do, or if you have a problem, I can contact her for you. (Use the triangle at the top of the page next to your name. I understand about old fashioned; look it up in the dictionary and my picture is there!

Combat eng Well congrats to you! We all appreciate and celebrate when a veteran finally wins out and gets the disability they deserve. I might suggest you could also make a donation to Hadit out of your back pay, if you can afford it, to help keep this veteran site on line. Again, congrats. Stay connected and lend your knowledge of what you experienced to others with similar issues.

Bangkokbill I could not find the same or identical MOS listing for radio op. Closest I found was MOS 25C Radio Op-Maintainer see this listing https://sdvsoa.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/5/9/115936913/duty_mos_noise_exposure_levels_2.pdf Search and see if you can find one in another branch. However, 25C has a moderate rating which will support your case. Berta again had great links for you on what the MOS codes; use that as part of your evidence. On your buddy letter you talk about specific instances which you remember it was especially hard ex. I was on the flight line and an F4 took off and my ears were ringing for 6 hours after" or, "the mos code training was for 8 straight hours 6 days in a row and everyone said that their ears were buzzing all day long from the constant pinging." If it was an event that was not related to your MOS but was an isolated event that you were exposed to, talk to that in length. This is you most important evidence you submit, so paint a picture what happened.

I should add that Berta's posting has "Turning next to service incurrence, the Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to excessive levels of noise in service, based on his consistent statements regarding in-service noise exposure related to his MOS. The Board also notes that while the Veteran’s specific MOS isn’t listed in VA’s Duty Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Noise Exposure Listing, military personnel having an MOS of Engineer have for the most part been determined to have a moderate to high probability of noise exposure." That can be a very good legal reference if it applies to you.--------------------

Bankokbill Unfortunately you are between a rock and a hard place. Do you have a VSO that can look into your file and find out what they are looking for? Or, a Veterans claims Agent could help or a lawyer but it's stuff to get them to do something for you if there isn't any $ in it for them which there isn't unless you are appealing a previously denied claim. A VSO can though at this stage. If you present the evidence and can prove the service connection and you have a current diagnosis for the tinnitus, they have toe approve. Or you go to the BVA. They just can't deny because the VA DIDN'T get your records/evidence, you provided. So, start at square one. Do you have a current diagnosis from a doc or audiologist that states you have tinnitus? Next, you need a favorable diagnosis from the same that can link the event or illness that you had in the service to your current condition, called a nexus. The statement would be something like "based on the veterans medicakl records and his current ...testing he has tinnitus. He was ex. exposed to... while in service and my eval is consistent showing the event that caused his tinnus hs at least as likely as not the direct cause of his service disability. This is my professional and medical opinion which is based on ...years of practice. Next you need buddy letters. You talk about the event in service. If your MOS is a high correlation to hearing problems, you talk about (back then, we didn't have OSHA or ear protection, etc.) If there is someone in your family that can attest to early acknowledgement of your tinnitus, you get a buddy letter for that as well. When you have ALL three elements of the claim, you submit it against the claim and wait for the decision. If disapproved, you go to the BVA. What was your MOS? Were you deployed to Vietnam? They could be factors in your favor.

Bankokbill Welcome to Hadit. The VA has a "duty to assist". The veteran doesn't have to provide copies of your military records or medical records; the VA is supposed to do the leg work. It takes longer if they do; we suggest you provide if you have the evidence yourself, that way it specifically part of your evidence for your claim. That said, they are supposed to but they often take the easy way out and say they couldn't get the records. What is in your records at the NPRC that you need to prove your claim? Is it your MOS that shows an increase of your opportunities to have exposure to loud noises? You can get that off your DD214. A statement in support of your claim, or Buddy Letter, may be a good substitute for your missing evidence. You do one on how the tinnitus affects your daily routine at work and interactions with others. Get another from someone who knew you before you experienced the disability, and how it affects you now.You can and should request a copy of whatever your missing thru a FOIA request, but know it's probably a year away because of the backlog. Lastly, as indicated by getting your MOS of your DD214, there may be alternative resources depending upon what evidence you are missing. Example: newspaper clipping from a car accident or a flight ticket. Without know what you need, I would just advise to be creative on trying to get what you need.