GBArmy

USMCNASA Hats off to you my friend. Why in particular? Because you went the extra mile. When the VA rep went above and beyond in helping you, you did the right thing and made sure her supervisor knew you were a happy camper. Facts be known, not every VA rep we talk to is an ace, but we should make it known when they should be recognized for a job well done. Some would say, naw, I ain't going to do that extra; I got mine so I'm good. But the veteran that has his head screwed on straight also understands that making it better for the rep who just did a great job for you will encourage more of the same behavior from him. Soooo, you are helping out other veterans by encouraging great service. Like I said, my hat's off to you.

Hypothyroidism is a presumptive disease for those who served in Vietnam. If you did, it is already connected if you have a current diagnosis. You will be evaluated based on the residual effects of the disease. Search VA diagnostic code hypothyroidism diagnostic code 7203. If you take meds for it, for example, you may be eligible for a 10% rating. You need the diagnosis from a doc or they may push it off as something else.

Agree with pacmanx1- we often have symptoms of MH, depression and/ or anxiety as a by-product of recurring s-c disability with pain. But it is human nature to be affected mentally by constant pain .Some simple examples, anxiety: afraid you won't be able to interact with family coming for a visit because you could drop the baby or can't play with the young ones, and they won't love you.. Or depression: don't want to go to church because your back won't allow you to sit there for and hour, and/or stay to greet friends at the coffee hour. MH disabilities often are over looked as secondaries to our rated conditions, but exist never the less.

I probably should add that many veterans that have a hearing disability also have tinnitus, which is described as buzzing, humming, clicking etc. It NOW is a separate disability for a minimum rating of 10%. But it is one of 3 disabilities that the VA has proposed to revise and will no longer be rated as a stand alone but be a SYMPTOM of a hearing disability. Point here is if you have tinnitus and haven't submitted a claim for it it may be smart to claim it before they change the criteria. Anyone who has tinnitus prior to the change should be grandfathered in for the disability and not have to worry. My own personal opinion, however, if you have both, and you decide to go for an increase for your hearing rating, be sure you know what you are doing. The VA could now say that the tinnitus is rolled into the new description and eliminate that as separate disability IMHO.

Hi Gary, welcome to Hadit. For a disability, you need 3 things. 1) a current diagnosis- do you have a doctor's diagnosis for high b/p? Next you need an event or occurence in the service. For example, do you have results from your entrance and exit exams showing a reduction is hearing function? The third thing you need for a successful claim is a nexus or doctor's statement that show in his opinion that they decline is due to noise exposure in the service. You may not need a nexus is your MOS is rated as moderate or severe likely hood that what you did in the service is assumed by the VA to be a connection. Look up your MOS exposure here https://usafals-afe.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Duty-MOS-Noise-Exposure-Listing.pdf

CaravanDan Resend your post; it came out scrambled.

If you haven't heard anything after 2-3 weeks after the C&P exam, call "Peggy" at 8008271000 and ask about the status. Look at your bank statement and see if a back payment is made. See VA.gov and see your "benefit" letters. They can often have a posting before you get your decision letter. If you are dissatisfied with your rating, get back to us and we can advise further. Best of luck.

Hi AF SP Welcome to Hadit. You went to the VA for treatment so they will have the records. You are already diagnosed for MH. Go and be as honest and total as you can. I don't feel you have anything to worry about. Just be sure to go; it should be several hours of eval. You'll be fine.

Vync You can't beat yourself up too much. VA benefits have many twists and turns and you'd have to do this full time for years to become well versed in everything. Fact is, that is exactly why Hadit is such a great resource for veterans. Veterans go thru, or get on the hamster wheel and then share their experiences with others so their learning curve for others can be shorter than their own.

Did you receive a letter from the VA saying you were granted on the ankle and it also said deferred on the others, or was this verbal? If so, did the letter also say if you have any additional evidence for the deferred to submit that as well? If it did, I'd be inclined to submit new evidence if I could. Did you have an exam for the tinnitus yet? If so, why would that be deferred? You want to find out why these were deferred if you can to provide your own evidence if you have it. Do you use a vso; they may be able to see what's going on.

This is medically technical and you need medical advice, at least that's what I would do. It is in the details and what the medical evidence shows.At least bounce it off a good law group. But that said, you definitely should research secondaries as well ex. Mental Health, scars, etc.

Congrats also! Try VA.gov later; letters will be a place to look. I'd also try ebenefits as well and see if there is anything. But as broncovet and everyone will tell you, wait for the envelope.

Buck52, I agree with you but I doubt the VA is going to do the right thing and make our own records accessible to us entirely. It would open up all kinds of appeals and claims for their errors and more importantly, to the VA and Congress, a whole boat load of financial hits. They just ain't going to do it IMHO. No one is going to convince me that the 3 proposal to change MH, Tinnitus and SA is in the best interest of the veteran. Tinnitus and hearing are the two most disability claims. If they make tinnitus a symptom of hearing and not a stand-alone disability, how much will that save the VBA is payouts annually? Beaucoup, brother.

Couldn't agree with Jake206th more. Everyone trying to navigate the VA benefits system is going to need some assistance at least sometime. But all advice is not the same, and it is bottom line, up to the veteran to educate themselves to be able to make the best choices. Just doing the simple task of getting more than one opinion will tell you there is more to find out in order to make the right decision. The easiest way isn't always the best way.

Just remember that it may be harder for some individuals to get a 50% rating that they can get currently when the new proposed changes to OSA are approved and implemented. It will drop to 30% for many people., even if you do use a CPAP. If you have the evidence now, I would suggest you appeal now.

Hi mrmo Welcome to Hadit. Does your decision letter say you can appeal using HLR? It doesn't sound like it would. If allowed, do it.Berta might comment on whether Nehmer applies, but I doubt it since it isn't a presumptive to AO. I'm not sure you have continuation, but if you do have it, it would be serious back pay. Others may disagree, but I would talk to a few good lawyer groups and see what they think. 80% of back pay is still a pretty good situation and a lot better than 100% of where you are right now.

Just spit balling but I suspect you may have to issue a FOIA request . You may find what you want if you could get copies from the company's and battalion daily reports. If the unit in question is the 1st Marine Div. since it is an active unit, I suspect you could contact the PR office in headquarters and start there, again, depending on what info you are looking for.

Great news, Dustoff 11 We congratulate you for seeing it thru and winning a tough fight. Please continue to participate on Hadit as we all need people with your experience to pass along their knowledge.

Hi Pamela, Welcome to Hadit. Unfortunately, it more than likely won't work. That would be a scheduling nightmare for the VA if they started trying to fulfill that kind of request. They might even argue that it would be a conflict of interest to have your specific doctor eval you for a compensation evaluation. In other words, he/se would necessarily agree with their own clinical evaluations. If you use the VA for treatment, they should have a copy of it in their files already. If there is a specific report that you wanted them to take particular notice of, you could down load it into to file before the exam. If you are at 70% or expect to get that higher rating, and if your symptom prevent you from gainful employment, they should also evaluate you (later?) for TDIU. If they don't, and you believe it should be done, request it. Otherwise, if you are going to increase your rating from say, 10 to 30% or 30 to 50%, just be as honest and open about what's going on. If you need it, make notes and bring them with you. Just say tou get too nervous and if you don't have your notes you just freeze up and can't remember important stuff.You can do this. Good luck.

Jake Good posting by you. It just shows that training is lacking at most VSO organizations, and the ability (and desire) to spend time in researching correct responses to veterans issues is just about non-existent. Like you said, use them for looking into your claims file and getting VA paperwork for you. But we have to realize that free isn't really "free" advise if it isn't any good. When something complicated like your situation comes up, I'd either get a lawyer or maybe a Veteran Claims Agent. Unfortunately, it's "you get what you pay for."

Agree 100% that the changes are meant not to incorporate new medical practice, etc., but reality to reduce VA disability expenditures. It is, IMHO, the absolute undeniable truth sorry to say. The most awarded disabilities are tinnitus and hearing. They want to make it harder for veterans to get them.

I never did it but I would just send a letter to the intake center saying you want to cancel/withdraw. It shoul show up in VA.gov fairly quickly. You also might want to call "Peggy" and be sure it is in the system. (I just call it "belt and suspenders." afterall, we are dealing with a bureaucratic monster called the VA.) In other words, if it is important to you and you can verify an action the VA is taking, do it.

Hi Drago. Welcome back and glad you finally got 100% P&T. That said, I have had advise from a friend a long time ago which goes "the juice isn't worth the squeeze." Meaning: you are already at 100%; what are you going for? A SMC ? Coverage for CAD/heard; you said it is mild right? Personally, IMHO if you have little to gain but something to loose, why do it. Probably little risk to get knocked down in ratings, but what is the gain if you do try?

Rivet62 You have time to write (and re-write) your SISOC. I recommend doing it for almost EVERY claim submitted. It is critical in some instances, especially increases and supplemental claims. You are talking about how your current symptoms have gotten worse; how it affects you with interactions with others, at work, socially, family. Do it. Paint a picture for the rater to understand that will make an impression. Don't say "I fell off the truck and hurt my knee." Be descriptive "we stopped while I was in the back of the duece and a half and then he started off again. I was letting the tail gate down and the suddenly the re-start threw me out of the truck and I landed arkwardley, and my knee buckled." Talking about you MH and how it has affected you relationships with your best friend, your wife and family members. Th eVA is going to have your records, so you want to talk on a personal level how bad thing affect you now. Currently.

MN_Vikings Welcome to Hadit. This is speculation because the document hasn't been issued yet. IMHO they SHOULD be honoring dbq's that were current until the new revision. The new revision would be in effect from the date of the new dbq printed on the bottom of the form, so in theory it should still be good. However, it might result in a denial and you would have to do a HLR. When you appeal a denial, you would be rated as it relates to the CURRENT symptoms/requirements on the dbq. So, the same type of situation would probably be in play. If you kept the case open all that time, then you probably would have to go to the BVA. I wouldn't bother personally with a HLR in your second question. The BVA is going to rate based on what was in effect at the time of the continuous claim submittal. You probaly are talking legal help here.