GBArmy

usmcrm65 Call VA crisis line 1-800-273-8255 Be sure to talk about your past suicidal thoughts; don't downplay that. They should be able to get you into VA treatment. Good luck and don't quit!

Foxhound6 If you have a supplemental claim submitted you could add additional info to it, and you also can submit a new seperat claim as well. The VA is supposed to look at all of the evidence and to chose the disability rating that gives you the highest compensation. So what I am saying is if your potential TBI injury would result in a higher rating and it is the correct cause of your back and neck injuries, submit the new claim. You would claim back and neck as secondary. You may lose your submittal date on your claim, I don't know.Your additional potential claims for MH issues may come to light during your c&p exams. Like you stated, the VA does roll some of these in sometimes. If not, you can file additional claims later.IMO. Others may have a different opinion.

All I can come up with is Ain't the VA wonderful" . Keep fighting brother; you'll win. You may be dead, but you'll win.

Buck, thank you for providing this resource. It is just another piece a veteran can resource on whether they have a condition possibly leading to a rated disability. This should help folks trying to learn. Nice!

Sgt. Wilky They have "Cued" themselves, which should be good for you. You haven't included much else to go on, so you need to wait to see. Was your hearing in response to a HLR claim you had submitted, or what? Try the usual suspects; Peggy and the White House number and see if they can offer anything. Again, not knowing what your claim/situation is, I wouldn't entertain any increase claim at least now.

I agree with Buck. Apply, all they can do is reject if you don't qualify. If it was in his benefit package, go for it. Vync, what was the reason for denial?

OK, the 65 is the killer. Could you get it 64 and 10 or 11 months, or does the insurance stop after you turn 65 no matter how long you've had it?

Vync, it probably is two years, but I am guessing. It is 2 when you get a NEW disability to sign up if you didn't before. You are not eligible to join on just an increase of a disability rating. That's where i'm getting the two year window. Certainly could be wrong. It's gotta be there in the boiler plate someplace; heck, its an insurance contract! All insurance contracts have nooks and crannies.

Paul, I may be off a little, (ok, a lot), but didn't you say you are due to retire very soon. I'm thinking that if that is the case, why not apply after you retire? Aside from waiving the premiums, insurance payouts are tax exempt. Nice way to pay on some coin that wouldn't have cost you anything.

Paul, if you had anything in your award pachage on disability insurance, then certainly apply. But even if you didn't, no harm, no foul. Submit anyway, what do you have to lose?

I do the same as vetquest. Have been using Vista Print for a few years and for the money they are pretty hard to beat. You can be a clutz like me and it comes out very professional looking.If you really want to get a lot of info, you can print on both sides. It sure saves a lot of time and works better if you give a veteran something in writing. More professional too; like "this guy looks like he knows what he is doing. Even has a business card."

Buck, I second it; Great Advise. I do it too, every chance I get. A mom or relative will come up and say, thank you for your service. Invariably, I will ask if they have military in their family. If the say, yup, Johnny is currently in...I say, Look i'm going to give you the best advise you will get in a month. You tell Johnny (or Jane) ANY time they go to medical, they get a copy that it is documented. I've had some come back and say, well it's all different now; times have changed. Then its, yes, times have changed, but the VA Benefits hasn't. Records mysteriously get lost, sometimes. If you get a copy, you are confident that it is in the system, not forgotten. That can't happen if Johnny has a copy. They finally get it (I think-you know, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.)

randylan2 ,You should re-post as new, so you start a new problem. Suggest you list more clearly what you have for s-c in the new posting and what the conditions are rated for. The VA is careful not to pyramid disabilities, so you need to determine if you are being compensated already for the pain.

Ronc531 I am not familar with that kind of arthritis, but this advise would apply anyway. It might be easier if you could connect it as a secondary disability to an existing already VA approved condition. Do you have a service-connected, s-c, disability? I am not a doc, so take this with a grain of salt. Say your knee was s-c. You would need a specialist to diagnose your shoulders and hands conditions as a direct result from your knee. You should request a copy of your claims file. c-file. You want to find out if there is medical records concerning your knee in it. If you have mention of your shoulders and/or hand even better. In your case, unless you have your knee or something else as s-c, it is going to be hard. Maybe your back caused your knee, which caused your ... So, list your s-c disabilities so we can see if you can proceed, and send off for your c-file now. Can't tell you how difficult it will be until we find out more. Remember not to include any personal info like name ssn etc in your posts.

Nancygail Really good advise here, at least some glimmers of hope. You may have stated it before but what are his disabilities,rates, when was he in and what was his mos? The reason I ask is maybe he might have other disabilities you can s-c that you hadn't thought of. Just a long shot, but worth considering.For example, hearing and/or tinnitus. Did he serve in Vietnam, or Gulf War? There are presumptives that veterans don't think they qualify for because of time out of service. Try thinking outside the box a little.

MKAH The dbq looks to be favorable to you for your claim. Since you are already at 60%, you will be rated higher, but if not enough to get you scheduler to 100% you can request TDIU for a 100% if they don't do it automatically. I did not see if you are able to hold onto a job, but the examiner states you have difficulties in that area. Now, if you had this VES C&P exam as part of your appeal to BVA, maybe someone else can offer their opinion. I am wondering if you can submit a supplemental claim using the new dbq/IMO as new evidence,WHILE the BVA is still open. OR, would that cancel out the BVA appeal.

I would suggest that is correct. You could luck out and they give you the EED, but you have to understand their sop. They deny if possible, they delay as much and often as possible, and thet low ball whenever there is a plausible opportunity. You see, it is possible, but really, don't count on them doing it. Many veterans are afraid to rock the boat and won't challenge it. They are just too happy to finally get a favorable decision. Plan on having to appeal the date and hope to be pleasantly surprised.

Ranmic Don't have any good news for ya; it happen to me and I couldn't remove mine either. That's not to say there isn't a way to edit it, but I couldn't do it. The bright spot in this is, however, the VA hardly ever reads everything anyway. No harm, no fowl!

Buck, by the way, the clinic is a medical facility. I am sure they would have to have your records on file; state and/or federal law. They are your records, so they have to release them to you. You may have to sign a release though; no big deal. I got some recently for an operation 12 years ago; no problem. It will help your claim to have it as part of your submittal, rather than have them hunt for it. You know how successful that can be to depend on the VA to find something in your records.

Kuwaitin08 Well, I would say you just found a $20 bill. Wright a letter to the Manager who does the scheduling or to the chief admin at your RO and tell them what she told you. If your claim comes back as disapproved (why wouldn't it, she didn't eval for the condition), you HLR right away. If that doesn't result in a new C&P but instead, a denial, they are shorting you on due process. I'll bet you get a new C&P pronto; and more likely than not, if your symptoms warrant it, it will be favorable. IMO. If that was negative also, you still have BVA to appeal to.

I think it is additional analytical hokus pocus to enable a new reason for denial.

Buck, just read this post so it goes along with the last one I just did. IMO, diagnostic code 6847 says if the CPAP machine is required for sleep, it is rated at 50%. It doesn't talk to mild, moderate, severe, whatever. Just if CPAP is required it is 50%. Now you can double check with the dbq and see it there is a mismatch somehow, but that is what the symptom says. If it is in your medical records, and the VA ordered you the CPAP, I think you are in. If you wanted to double down, you could go back to the same (or different) sleep clinic prescribed by the VA before and speak with the doc. Bring a copy of your last study, but he should also have it on file. Tell him/her you will pay for another one (Medicare???)BUT, you want him to say at least...50% etc. and reference a study. You can find a study if you fish hard enough and provide it to him; besides, this is your stay at home job while your wife recoops. If you had that as a back up to what else you already have in your medical records, you have to have a damn good shot at it.

Hi bigbetty I can hardly read your post because the print on my computer is so small. But it look like you were denied because you haven't submitted any evidence that your hearing meets the criteria for a va disability. Try to repost with bigger print if you can.

dwbell99 Let me try; this seems to be going around in a circle. I believe that you are looking to compare your s-c ankle to back/spine injuries for an additional disability. The only way you can succeed is to get an IMO for a specialist that says x causes y. They have to say in a way that means it is at least 50% or higher probability that it does because of z. z is medical evidence, studies that show/prove his position. For example : studies done at Johns Hopkins ...dated... showed that a curvature of ... resulted in alteration in the patient's gate. Over a period of... the patient's gate worsend ,and in addition, the patient 's gate was altered so badly that a hip condition developed which resulted in a replacement. Obviously, this is oversimplification, but you have to have this nexus shown by your doc in a IMO. Your medical evidence; what he found with your particular situation. You are not going to get an entry here that is going to fit your situation. And even if you could find one, you still need the expert's opinion. Your attempting to get a secondary; you need a IMO that works for your condition, not someone else. Hope this helps.

Berta, by the way, since you are so knowledgeable about AO here on Hadit, you might want to touch base with Jerry Wright also. He might have some contacts or resources you can share. He is an terrific advocate for veterans with AO issues himself.