GBArmy

I talked to my VSO this A.M., who also happens to be a friend and IMHO a very good one. She was really upset. Said, on average , she catches 3 or 4 situations and gets them corrected before they become official. Just another example of the VA shooting themselves in the foot. I realize it take two days out of their process time, but how about all the time wasted if the veteran has to appeal. Let alone, how many veterans just give up and don't appeal. Takes away a benefit they are entitled to and will never receive. Stupid is what stupid does.

VA just released the numbers on BWN claims; in Jan and Feb they awarded $140MM in retro. If it is a new claim use VA Form21-526; if a previously denied, use 20-0995; and for survivors and dependants use 21p-534 EZ. More info at https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/72899/blue-water-navy-veterans-received-140m-in-retroactive-benefits-in-january-february/

Good advise from Bronc and Shrek. If you are scheduled almost 2 weeks out, you should be able to reschedule at least one time. Talk to a LHI rep and explain your difficulties and ask for a push out. However, it seems to me that your major consern is the 30+ minute drive. That isn't going to change by rescheduling. If you have ebenefits, and if you have a VA pshch doc, send him a secure message that you aren't supposed to travel more than 30 miles and the C&P is farther than that, and what should you do. Or, if you don't do that, call the VAMC and ask to be connected to his office. Get a name of who you speak with. Maybe, just maybe, they will over ride the C&P appointment. Worth a try.

Hamslice That kinda paints the picture that the VA is almost conspiring to deny rather than maximize the benefits a veteran is entitled to. Now you know the VA bends over backwards to find a way to get us what we deserve. Right? Well, we just have to keep on sharing info and helping others finds out what works. "You don't lose until you quit trying!"

Vetquest I got to believe veterans are holding back and trying to reschedule or put off going to the VAMC. We may not be overly concerned about ourselves, but are concerned that we may pick up and pass on disease to our loved ones. That's my concern with me; I don't want to carry home something to my wife who has a compromised immune system.

SPO Certainly not ALL C&P's aren't being postponed; I have a new one ate LHI next week. Possibly there are at the VAMC's though.

Nothing like changing the rules when you're losing!!! It just got a lot harder boys and girls. Sure doesn't help the VA 's ongoing struggle to improve their public image.

FlyboyLeRoy Another way you get an idea is if you go to ebenefits, and get to my documents. You can get a letter (for tax purposes, etc.) that will show if you are disabled and if so, what the combined rating is and rate, etc.. So, if your rating went up and/or your monthly grant is increased, you have a heads up if your claim was approved. If there isn't a change, then you didn't get approval, or, it isn't in the system yet. Another way is, assuming you have direct deposit of your disability check, check tomorrow and see if your amount increased. You can't do it very well on the back pay, if it is deposited also, because it is a lot harder to determine if it is a complex award. But, any new odd ball deposit from the VA would also indicated a back pay (or partial back pay) to you.

Thanks, Buck. That's what I'm thinking.If the VA assigns a code number, it is an acknowledgment of a disease or injury. But that said, it doesn't have anything to do with service-connection.

Short answer is no. They are two separate things and not related.

General question. If you find a ICD code number or a SCT code number listed in your medical records, does that mean that it is a VA diagnosis for that disability? What I am getting at is that the third leg of the Caluza triangle; provides a diagnosis for you for a disability claim?

MKAH No and Yes. It isn't too late to start a headache log now. Get as many entries that you can before your C&P. Bring the old one too. Say you didn't expect that they were going to do another C&P. Just get as many events documented as you can. I don't think there is a minimum number to present; you're just going to show that your symptoms are as bad or even worse than they were before. If it would make you feel better, see if you can push it out a few days for more entries. You will be asked if certain dates would work for you; pick a later date offered. Personally, I would down load what you provide to the examiner into VA.gov for your evidence documents. You want it as part of your evidence that the VA doesn't lose. If you submit before you go to the C&P, it is evidence the examiner should also have to consider. They often will say they don't want any written evidence from you; sometimes, they will.

Michael Short answer is if you spent an hour "boots on the ground", you are considered a Vietnam veteran, not a Vietnam-era veteran. As of Jan. this year, this even will include "Blue Water Navy" veterans, who by VA definition were in the coastal waters of Vietnam.ex. 12 nautical miles to shore. Check the listing referenced by Pete. If you have any of those specifically listed, the VA "presumes" you were exposed to toxins from Agent Orange and you don't have to prove that is where/how you got the disability. Many veterans have one or more of these AO disabilities, and they also have associated disabilities that came from those on the list. An example, vision problems can be secondary to diabetes which is a presumptive disease. That would be an additional and separate disability.You the "search" button and do your research. One benefit from being a Vietnam veteran is that you will be considered to be eligible for Priority group 6, so your eligible for VA Health Care among other things. You got questions? That's what we are here for. Welcome.

Slanpdx All this site says is Check with Social Security for details. So, i'd send a letter with the article attached and ask to see your detailed values for the years you want to check. Not sure if what your looking for is going to be broken out separately or just lumped in together with your other earnings. Expect it is going to be a while for a response.

For what it's worth, I would just go BVA. If there are a lot of back and forth actions, even if the HLR wasn't going to low-ball you, he could just get it wrong anyway. If you do and the decision is remanded and you don't like the answer, you can still go back to the BVA at the head of the class (go to the head of the docket again.) I'm not a real big fan of HLR unless the appeal is just blatantly obvious that the original decision was an error. It will take longer, as Pere has advised, but eventually you have a better shot at getting a correct decision. IMHO.

Nice problem to have bellrungboxer!! Congrats!!!

So to answer your original question, yes, if the C&P is just for the back, it could change. A 10% new rating, combined with your others could move the needle 1%.

As Shrek pointed out, the bilateral factor is 10% of the disability. 38CFR 4.26 would result in your ratings, using the VA combination table would be: 70,33, 30,20,20,10,10,10 I believe: Do the math.

1A11B I used a commercial calculator and came out wit 93+%; but that didn't include your bilateral foot problem. Try https://www.va.gov/disability/about-disability-ratings/ or, you could also try one of the big lawyer groups ex. CC&K and ask them to compute, but be sure they can include the bilateral. You are very close when including the bilateral. What was the claim for for the deferred item you have the upcoming C&P for? Is it an existing disability you are already rated for, or new one?

Just another example of the VA making it harder for a veteran to get what he or she has earned. I think what JustGettingStarted suggested is a great idea as a parallel action.If we have a blog or something and make blank copies of dbq's available, it will do a lot more good than harm. The VA isn't going to change materially a whole bunch of dbq's because it will be too hard for their medical people, Besides, if they needed changing they would already have done them. The symptoms for disabilities will not change, nor will how they evaluate them. If Hadit has an ongoing Library of dbq's available for veterans to reference, it would be a great draw to the sight. IMHO.

SPO I would certainly include a copy of the report. And be sure you save a hard copy for yourself. It so happens the VA "overlooks" evidence in our medical files, even when we call them out in a claim. If you submit, it has to be reviewed because you called it out in your documents. I'm not paranoid; it happens.

SPO To answer your previous question, yes a NP can do a dbq for you. (Didn't see your question, sorry.)

Buck52 I can understand your frustration with the VFW. If that happened to me I would have responded the same way. I didn't pay much attention to Veterans' Organizations when I got back (1971), but I am told back then they didn't even let 'Nam veterans in because it wasn't a "real war". At least, that is what someone told me. I certainly don't expect that would happen nowdays. Also, back then, as it is now, there are good VSO groups led by good people, and others not so much. Just like everything else; some good, some not so good. I was never interested enough to check them out because it was always at a bar and a lot of smoke. I don't need either and many other veterans don't either. I'm sure there are some good VSO's from the VFW, but I never had the pleasure of meeting any.

I agree with Shrek; it sure look like you have kept the string going. Now, when (not if, because we are positive) you get your award, don't wimp out and just take the disability and allow the EED to slip. Do the math: x months times the difference in your grant from old combined disability rating to the new one. If its a good piece of change, don't leave it on the table. They aren't going to try and reduce your new rating because you are making it hard for them. Its your money, Don't be afraid to get what you have coming.

63Charlie This sounds pretty serious, but I would suggest you consider a CUE. Ms. Berta probably could assist you the most on how to go about it. Hopefully, she can assist if she has some time. If your evidence is sound, we sure would like to know about it.