GBArmy

I agree. If it is necessary for a favorable decision, include it. These raters are notorious for not reading your claim, especially background support stuff. Include again.

I might be all wet, but there are a few VA hospitals that basically aren't run very well, and because of various reasons, are not staffed with the best medical and tech people. I suppose there are actually some that are run very well and treat veterans with respect and provide good health care. But I think most of the VA hospitals fall somewhere in between, with the quality of care directly related to the management direction from the top (director) and the individual doctors, specialists and tech that you personally come in contact with. If you get good care, treated promptly, good follow up, treated with dignity, etc., you would say it was a "good hospital." Not treated well, then not such a great place. I can say from my personal experience, that the VA health care I receive now is a whole lot better than it was 8 years ago when I first started to use them. I had a GP that I would rate as one of the best doc I have ever had; very professional, she knew her stuff and made things happen. Maybe it was the luck of the draw, but I believe that the quality of care has gotten better. I also know a lot of guys would take exception to what I say, as we all know some horror stories of what happened not all that long ago. Hopefully, for the sake of a lot of veterans, I am right.

Paul, two additional comments: 1) you said "long story short..." way too late for that brother!!! (you're not related to my wife are you?, )and 2) you said that the VA in Virginia isn't very good. Just wondering, where ARE they very good??? That's why this site is so great; veterans ask for help and BINGO, great ideas and advise is just a click away.

I can figure how this could possibly happen UNLESS you realize were talking about the VA! Paul, if your are s-c for SA, then there has to be some remedy. If you are s-c, how can they justify that your doc has told you it is necessary to use so you don't have a stroke/heart attack, and you have to wait a year. BS. What would be the diff if you were prescribed an oxygen machine and you can't get the gas because the supplier went out of business, or ??? They can't get you an outside doc to see you for it?BS. Call the head of the VAMC and tell him you are going to escallate it pretty damn quick if you don't get relief. Now it is possible that they will say you aren't due a new one yet; that is a different story. When then would you be eligible?

Bronc my situation was similar. Drafted in 1969 and released from Vietnam 2 years later. The regulation at that time was you could go to inactive reserves if you served in 'Nam, which I did. No additional requirement.So,for 4 years no meetings, no notices, nothing. (thank you Uncle Sam!), Got my discharge 4 years later.

Seems it is your commitment date, or dates for your contract, start and ending. If you need to know, contact a state N.G. recruiter and confirm.

Hi pyrotaz. Good advise from Dustoff. It makes no difference if you go for HTN first or not; it isn't going to improve or decrease your chances for either one. Now of course if money doesn't mean much to you wait until you're approved for the SA, because it could take a while. If approved and you are required to use a CPAP, it pays 50% rating. The VA doesn't like handing out 50% disabilities, so there is a tendency to delay and deny {at least at first.) If you would rather have money in your pocket rather than leave it with the VA for a while, put your claim in for both at the same time. As for your SA claim, read your diagnosis from the doc for your sleep study and for the follow up diagnosis. If it isn't strong, I would suggest you get an IMO for an expert/qualified doc. SA is a secondary condition; the VA will try real hard to disapprove that 50% claim. A IMO would make your case much stronger, and, IMO be worth the investment if you can swing it.

M21-1 When determining the date of claim and its relationship to the proper effective date for assignment, consider the date of receipt of a complete claim, as well as a related intent to file (ITF) or incomplete claim filed within a year prior to the date of receipt of the complete claim. Notes: Do not associate an ITF with a supplemental claim. If a claimant files both an ITF and an incomplete claim before the complete claim is filed, the complete claim will be considered filed as of the date of receipt of whichever was filed first, provided it is perfected within the necessary timeframe. This sorta kinda implies the date of the ITF would be considered, IMO. But, you are dealing with the VA here, so don't be surprised if you are awarded the later date anyway.

My understanding is that they look in ebennies under vital signs and use those recorded readings. If you don't have enough recorded, they will make you go and get it done at a VA facility. As Bronc said, it's stupid, but the VA rates based on your actuals WHILE taking your meds, not what the readings have been when you weren't on the meds! Now, if prescribed, you don't have to take your meds if you don't want to, and that can't be a reason why the deny your claim. If you have a home monitor, you could skip a few dosages and see if your ratings meet the standard you are shooting for. If so, you might consider doing that for your "exam." I am not a doc or medical professional, so consult your own medical expert. I'm just sayin'.

JK Very nice job; well done! You put a lot into that and hopefully veterans can use it for their own claims.

Bronc brought up a good point. How does the ITF figure into it. If you don't get the day after your separation date, you can always submit an appeal for the EED. My guess, the VA has something in the m21-1 manual that give the rater to do whatever he/she wants. You're just going to have wait and see what is in the decision letter. Get a hobby and keep occupied.

Usaf9498 Super good news; congrats! Way to go!

Vync We all wish you good health. If we can help, just holler.

Mr. Anxiety Bronc's advise is spot on. Sadly, the VA raters seem to forget how to read. Or, just don't read. As Bronc said, if all the evidence is there, submit a HLR. No new evidence. If you have doubt, post their decision (redact your personal info first) and we can see what's wrong ,if anything. You can always add new evidence, maybe additional dbq or IMO and appeal thru the Supplemental claim if the HLR doesn't work.But don't just give up; if you have s disability caused by the service, you work it until you get it approved.

blah You know you can submit both at the same time, right? In fact, it can be a useful strategy. They see you have a CUE working at the same time and could reconsider favorably for you. In some instances, providing remedy for your claim can make the advancing of the CUE case mute if the VA satisfies All your issues.

It's the VA's game and their rules. They don't have to have a C&P if the evidence deems it is not necessary. That means for example that they think it isn't s-c, they don't have to go thru the time and expense because even if the exam proved you have a disability they aren't going to pay it because it's not s-c. But, if you submitted evidence that it was s-c, and it is plausable, then if I were you, I'd request a HLR anyway. I am assuming your data shows that you do in fact have SA.

blah Really good input from JK. However, old habits sometimes die hard. The VA sometimes doesn't flow down to the people who should know rulings and training info that changes their methods. We shouldn't lie, ever, but here is how I view the "review of records" by your doc. Give them copies of what you can from ebennies; the stuff that pertains. If you don't have a cfile, no sweat. They probably don't have the time and inclination to read it anyway. But, give them SOME records. Then, tell them that when they write up your opinion they say "they have reviewed the veterans files and medical records." Notice, I didn't say "ALL" the records. Big difference, and it is the truth. No problem.

lp1067 Go with the flow. You of course have to go to the C&P exam; otherwise you will be denied. If your VA doc has diagnosed that you have SA, down load it and bring a copy of it to your outside exam. Bring up the fact that you have been diagnosed and offer a copy to the examiner if he or she want to see the results. Don't force it on them; if they don't want it, it's ok. The fact is that many times records that the VA should have included for your claim do not get pushed to the contractors. Sometimes, the examiners are pleased to see someone else's data; make it easier for them. In any case, even if the data isn't favorable, you do have favorable, so a tie goes to the veteran. Be positive. Good luck.

Charles Good advise from Bronc and vetquest. We don't know your timeframe, but if you believe you were exposed at Ft. Gordon, you need to be in the same approx. time as the article points out. As vetquest said, if you don't submit, you'll never know. Don't worry about backing up other veterans' claims either. The VA can do that all by themselves, and they are very good at delays. They have a $220 BILLION budget this year; I really don't think your claim is going to cause any harm. You didn't mention what disability you are considering. I assume it is one of the presumptive diseases the VA already acknowledges as being s-c. If it is one of the 4 additional "presumptive" diseases the VA has on the short list to add, you probably have a less of a chance to win right now than waiting until they are officially added to the list, but then you have a better shot at getting an EED. You are going to need a really good independent medical opinion that leaves no doubt you contracted your disease back in service. You will almost certainly be denied on your first claim, and will have to appeal, so don't even start this claim if you are not in it for the long haul. James Crips is a frequent contributor to Hadit, so maybe he can give so maybe he can give you some specific advise. The Chinese saying goes "the longest journey starts with the first step." So start walking

It says that guests can accompany the veteran if they have an authorized ID. "While base entry for the newly eligible veterans on Jan. 1 is limited to those with a Department of Veterans' health insurance identification card or to caregivers with a VA letter, guests will be able to accompany them on base as long as they have official identification." I'd wait to mid-January to let the bugs out of the new process and call and find out what they need for the ID, like drivers' license, etc.?

Retired Congrats! Not only great news for you, well deserved, but for people to see we can win thru hard work and perseverance. You don't lose until you quit trying!

Jonnyohio Way to go brother! Take the initiative; you are your own best advocate and are in the best position to make the right decisions. You did your homework and now (or soon) will hopefully get what you should receive. Good job by you.

Allan Making a few assumptions, if she is at 90% scheduler, we know it is really difficult to get to 95% or 100%. If she could pick up two 30% disability ratings, I think she could get there (95.7%) If she is s-c for tinnitus but at o% it must be that here ear conditions have it rolled up in it and they don't want pyrimiding. Otherwise, it would be rated 10%. An additional 10% won't make any difference in her total combined rating however. If she has dizziness, and she would know, peripheral vestibular disorder does rate out at 30%. Not saying she has the condition, but IF she did, that would be a positive step towards 100%. Getting increases in hearing by itself is pretty hard to jump from 0 to 30%. If the numbers show it, of course, then get it upgraded. I would suspect it would be really hard to prove the VA mis read the data on her hearing test that bad back in 2015 to get the increase and then fight the EED. Possible, but not very likely, IMO.

Allan I don't see how she can get more back pay unless she appeals within a year of award. I don't know what her s-c disabilities add up tp prior to getting the tdiu, but I doubt that the conditions you are talking about even with increases could add up to the tdiu 100% payment, so assuming she keeps the tdiu she would still be paid at 100% rate anyway. What am I missing? That said, any increase would be at the time she put in for the increase, or the date they diagnosed it. So, no retro IMO

Hi David. You got a lot going on there. SA was diagnosed before PTSD, so you didn't have a s-c condition yet. You need an IMO to say that your SA is caused/secondary to the PTSD. You didn't list PTSD as s-c either, so you'd have to put in for that as well. I am assuming it has been diagnosed by the VA. If not, it is much harder to get s-c, but doable. Your heart conditions can be connected to your CAD and HTN, but you need to get a heart doc to nexus/connect them . I don't know how old you are or if you have any ideas of going back to work., or how long you have been rated s-c for each disability.You are rated 100% P&T, so the money isn't going to get better unless you can qualify for SMC's. There are many posts here on this forum that talk to those. You could get there but you have to win a lot of your potential big claims to get them. PTSD and SA for a couple. Your heart problems are also major posabilities. You have a lot of research to do to figure out what to do or not do. But you have to do it; nobody can make that decision for you.