GBArmy

So, did you call???

Could be several reasons; your back pay may still have something held up due to some financial action previously ex. overpayment or underpayment. Contact askva.gov or call "Peggy" at 800-827-1000 and ask for an audit. It can take a pay period or two for the dust to settle sometimes.

Welcome to Hadit They are saying you or your survivors can't get back pay for death prior to the date of the policy. If you have questions try calling 800-669=8477

Hi Mtneer92 Welcome to Hadit. Sure sounds like it to me. Check your banking info on file to be sure that it hasn't changed for your direct deposit. You could call "Peggy" at 800-827-1000. Since you got the decision letter they may be able to provide insight as to where your process is, as in signature cycle, etc.

I just applied and received approval for it, but I haven't received the policy It sounds like everyone who has S-DVI will be notified of the opportunity to join the new program called VALI. sometime this fall. Details are not available yet but I must admit the rate I got was about half the cost of a commercial contract. And that would be IF I were able to get a policy from them. Here's their site https://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance/vali_rates.asp what I see is that if you are not 100% rated, you still can buy a policy for $40K, which you can't do with S-DVI.

Worriedshrimp I'm not clear on why you are getting the heart eval, but in any case, get a copy of the medical findings, etc. from the VA Regional Office. If you sign up to VA.gov (not hard to do), and myhealthevet. All VA exams, medical findings, etc. pertaining to your health is posted there 3 days after completed. If you go to an outside VA subcontractor, you have to request from the Regional Office. It's your medical info, you have a right to it. Compare the MET values, etc. to the CFR mentioned above and see where you fall if you submit a claim for disability. If your symptoms indicate you should get a disability, put in for it. Being a Vietnam veteran, heart disease, (VA calls it Coronary Artery Disease,or C.A.D.) is presumptive. You shouldn't require a nexus statement from your own doc. We encourage you to submit. There are certainly a lot of bad apples out there as VSO's, but there are some really good ones too. Use the time right now to find a good one if you want. Ask your other veteran buddies; maybe they can recommend. Interview them: ask specific questions. If you get disapproved, come back and we can help. Don't forget secondaries; do you also have High B/P, tinnitus, stomach problems from heart meds? You can build on this. Good luck.

Shrek Hell of a trip you're on. Stay the course. If you have trust in your lawyer, stick with him as to jump ship to someone else can get messy on legal compensation can get messy unfortunately. It's a "system" thing with the new regulations, and I doubt there is anything you can do to move it along. I also doubt that your Congressman's intervention, if you could get, would work either. But you could try, if for nothing else, to just do something. Best advice is just keep on hurry-up-and-wait mode.

Hi Worriedscrimp Welcome brother to Hadit. You may be referred to a VA doctor, or it might be farmed out to one of the big subcontractor, VES, LHI or . You will be given a letter and probably a call to coordinate the C&P exam. Set the agreed date and DON'T miss it. Put in for mileage, you're entitled to. You don't have to worry about A.O.; if you put it on the claim and your dd214 shows it, there shouldn't be hick ups. Yes, they probably will put you on a tread mill, or, if there is some circumstances where they can opt to give a chemical test instead of the tread mill. (Did it to me.) METS is the usual criteria used now for most of the ratings, but not completely. See CFR4.104 ,diagnostic code 7005. For example a rating of 30% is awarded if your heart is dilated (enlarged). Keep us informed of progress.

Buck52 I have arthritis in my spine and hands. For several years the VA prescribed Diclofenac Sodium cream which helped take the edge off the pain. I recently got a new VA doc; seems to be on the ball. When they removed it from my re-order list I asked the new doc if he could add it back on. He said no, it is not a good choice for anyone with heart issues. So the lesson here is if a new condition shows up, it is important that you double check ALL your meds and see if there is any adverse medical reactions. They now provide lidocaine; not nearly as effective.

Dustoff11 What should happen is if changes take place after you filed you should should be evaluated by using both the current and the proposed and be rated the most favorable. That is what is supposed to happen. HLR or appeal is the next action to be considered by the veteran if it is not the case.

I think Broncovet's original post is spot on. Show me. I'm all for process improvement and faster turnarounds on decisions could be a good thing. But we are talking about the VA process here. I can envision a lot of quick denials that don't have to happen also because there is no "human" element to that part of the process. So let's see the numbers, including how many veterans appeal these new decisions compared to the normal process.

Jwc2003 Welcome to Hadit. I believe that it was changed within the last year or so. It used to be 1 year at 100% after surgery, but the VA "updated" the rating criteria to reflect the usual better recovery due to improvements in surgery. Here's the criteria https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.104

Dustoff I'm curious; you couldn't open it? Didn't they give you a "key" as to how to use password, etc.? What excuse did Peggy give when you said you couldn't open it? Why couldn't they just re-do.? Not very customer-friendly huh!

63 Charlie Going to the CAVC without an attorney is not for everyone, for sure, but it sounds like you have a pretty good handle. You can get free representation i believe if you do not have an attorney when you appeal. Just a suggestion; sounds like you are unfortunately trying to climb the SMC ladder. Maybe, try to get a representative after discussing in detail what you have accomplished on your own and with the strict direction that they don't make any legal motions without your prior approval/concurrence. Most Hadit members learn from these posts and I'm sure you would agree that representing yourself at the CAVC is not something most should try.

Agree with John999 Note his second sentence: "Ita is as likely as not." It isn't nitpicking; you want those words on your doctor's nexus opinion.

Refer to my response. You need a nexus that your current disability is connected you your service connected injury. And, you have to answer the continuity question. Ex. I self medicated, etc. took acupuncture, yoga, PT, etc. , etc. Here are the doctor/treatment bills, .... You have some of the evidence you need, get the rest.

Welcome to Hadit, Worriedshrimp. I'm doubtful that the VA has revised the definition of spouse, but it most likely is defined in their M-21 manual. If you are rated at least 30% and your spouse is housebound you would be eligible for additional monthly income under Aid & Attendance -spouse. Rate based on your combined rate at 30% would be $51.00 a month. see https://veteran.com/va-disability-rates/

BadWolf Welcome to Hadit. Two things: first, most important; you need a nexus letter from a doc or med specialist that you have a current back condition disability, which is a diagnosis, and then , need a nexus or connection that what happened in the service is the cause of your current disability. The second thing, to address continuity, besides your doctor's nexus, is to submit buddy letters from someone that can attest that after your accident you no longer could do those "athletic" things that you could before the service connected incident. If you have been prescribed meds for you back, that would help in the continuity battle.

Whenever files are incomplete or missing, we should be sure to include personal statements and, it at all possible, get some from other veterans who are able to comment in a buddy letter what happened and how it affected you. It become very important evidence and if you need to appeal, the BVA is more likely to give it proper weight in lieu of other missing evidence. Since we often don't know that medical evidence isn't in your files even when it should be, I always recommend a buddy letter/personal letter with every claim submitted.

If you have a current diagnosis, 1 year or less is better, if whatever you are claiming happened in the service, then the 3d thing is a nexus. Do you have a doctor saying a current condition/symptoms are directly related to service connection? You should know the diagnostic code you are trying to use and where your current symptoms relate to a disability rating for them. ex. 10%, 30% etc. What is the wording on the decision letter?

Welcome Myodie to Hadit. I am assuming that it has been less than a year since you received your denial as you want to continue a claim within a year to get the earliest effective date when you win your case. What does your denial letter say? You might want to block out personal info like name etc. and post it here. Eye disabilities are difficult see https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.79 Some basics: to have a disability you need 3 things: 1) a current diagnosis. That is key, you are not a doc or medical professional. You need to have a current diagnosis from a doctor. 2) you have to have the disease, injury or event occuring while in the service. STR's, medical evidence in your files, documentation relative to your profiles would help here. And 3) you have to have a connection, or nexus, between 1 & 2. So you have to have the symptoms that are documented and connected by your eye doc that what happened then is the cause of your symptoms now. Same for your wrist; What are your symptoms now; what are you claiming? Look up the diagnostic code for wrist injury at https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.124a I don't know what your diagnosis is or even if you have a current one from a doc. Same things apply-3 elements needed. It may be you didn't have a current diagnosis that resulted in denial. Lastly, if you have a denial, you can use a lawyer and some very often will work out the financials you you may be able to pay all fees out of the back pay. Too many questions here to make a more direct recommendation, but if you fail on appeal, you may want to consider a lawyer. Most people would like rather receive 80% of back pay as opposed to getting 100% of $0.

Not knowing your specifics, it is possible that your new claim is impacting finalization of your financial claim. Check that out as well as a possibility.

McRay Haven't had the same issue as you personally, but this is March 19; not that far removed from February. My guess it is going thru a lot of hurdles/signatures. I also assume you don't have another claim also in at the same time which could be a possible hold up. The lawyer may be able to see something using VBMS; certainly ask him. Keep an eye on your on-line back statement too. The bank certainly can get a deposit made to your account before you get any written notification.

Hi Bonnie, welcome to Hadit. Are you saying you have a current OPEN claim, or a DENIED claim for hearing loss and asthma? Did you receive medical care while in the Marines? Were there complications? Did you receive a medical discharge? More info on what your decision lettre said if it was closed.

Haven't had any personal experience for the intermediate step situation, like weight gain leading to high b/p etc. That said, I wouldn't go for the HLR myself as it is too "progressive" for the raters to go down that road. Unless you feel a need to re-emphasize some of your evidence, I'm not sure that just going to the HLR is worth the delay. Expect the rubber stamp to come out. If you have the evidence already included, I'd just go to BVA. If you don't chose the personal presentation or the additional evidence lane, the direct lane for BVA would be the quickest decision possibly around a year or so. I got one in under 2 months last fall, but I had a hardship (over 75 years old.)