GBArmy

I was just talking to a friend who was in Iraq and he told me that the VA has another elephant in the room that they are dodging. Seems that mefloquine, brand name Larium, was used as a malaria preventive drug since the late 80's. It was discontinued just a few years ago but was given to troops in Africa, Asia, Pacific regions,etc. where malaria is prevalent. It causes a LOT of side effects, and they can remain for years. Psychalogical, tremors, balance, tinnitus, etc. There have been limited studies, but the VA uses the excuse of Sgt. Schultz "I Know nothing". https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/veterans-allege-devastating-side-effects-from-anti-malaria-drug-they-were-ordered-to-take/65-547252165 Kinda has a smell like Agent Orange doesn't it?

Hi Apache, good advise from Hamslice and Bronc. You have two choices; wait for the decision, or try to get another IMO from a specialist and submit as additional evidence that it was attributable from the burn pit exposure. Pros and cons to that: if you can submit before your decision is made, they have to consider. It will, of course delay your claim because of the process. The VA can also receive it and "reconsider" your new medical evidence, but refute it and still deny your disability claim. If that happens, then to appeal, you would have to come up with new/additional evidence to counter their decision. At this late in the review process, you may be better served to wait and see what they decide. If it is denied, then you can get an "expert" opinion and probably have a better chance of winning by appeal. That would probably be what I would do at this stage.

Your other question was are hands and wrists rated separately. Yes, and there are a lot of diagnostic codes. Go to http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/thehand.html and look up what your condition is.

If you have outside contractors doing your exams, it can really be a delay. Not sure why. But, you can contact them, or visit them if they are near and ask for copies. If they are recent exams/procedures, for some reason they take a long time to get in the VA system. You can also try Peggy if you have a specific procedure and when it was done. They might also be able to look up details for you.

Robert We get asked this question a lot, and Oceanbound's advise is sound. Not knowing anything about your claim, whether is is multiple disabilities, an increase in an existing disability, from BVA, etc., there is no way of predicting anything at all. But people are people, and it isn't likely you can just let it go at once a week. But don't let it control you, once a day max. If it isn't what you really think you should get, you can ask for help here and appeal the decision. Good luck.

Bigoc Do you use myhealthevet. You can look up medical info on there and you also can view/print out progress reports, C&P exams, obtain xray digital stuff and more. If you are already in the VA system, it should not take long to be authorized. All is un "Blue Button."

Hi x020574 Sorry to hear about your hearing loss. Needless to say you have experienced first hand the incompetence of the VA and their unwillingness for them to do what is best for veterans. There are devices available like you said to help in conversations. I have a friend who uses one, but it really is only a very marginal improvement in his ability to hear. How bad your hearing has gotten will be all important to whether one would work for you. He has a cochlear implant as well and it really impacts his daily life especially, socially. You probably might experience depression because of isolation, hopefully not. Depression is an additional disability you may qualify for; and even SMC's might be someday as well. I realize you would much rather have your hearing than comp for a disability, but unfortunately there isn't that choice available. Something else; I recently found out that one of our members, RBrogen, recently received a 100% disability rating, and the State of Mass pays out $2000 to a veteran who is rated ate 100%. You should check out that info from the town hall or your state Dept. of Veteran Affairs.

You young bucks are all the same. Probably soda at 7:00 a.m.

jdelta The examiner has a directive to examine X,Y, and Z. They are supposed to have your medical files and everything pertaining to you that will help to determine your disabilities. Do they always have a complete package; no. So, if you have documentation that will help your case, like a previous diagnoses, BRING IT. You don't have a lot of your file as you don't have your c-file, and there is not time to get it as you said. But bring a copy, not an original, of what you have that will prove your condition if you have it and ask them if they have read it and/or do they want a copy. Your prepared. Go out there and get your exams; ask them when can you get a copy of the exam and how. No coffee the morning of your exam. You don't need it. Hope your wife will be allowed to go with you. Good luck.

Valhalla Sure does look very promising for you. But you have been around the block a few times now and it should be really clear that the "VA ain't your friend. " They do the delay, deny and die routine as often as they can. We just have to keep on trying. I also think for someone with your experience with the VA, going with your gut feeling, all things being equal, isn't a bad thing sometimes. I guess my point is this: if the VA is making a recommendation for a veteran to pull back a claim "in your best interest", a very big red flag should go up. They just don't do things in your best interest UNLESS it is in the VA's best interest! You have a lot of parts to look at, so don't get your expectations too high; wait for your decision letter. After a week or two, take a new look at it in detail; see if you should be considering a new appel; especially an EED. Get some sleep; carry on, Marine.

Maybe that is at least some of the reason why the status goes so often back and forth from waiting for decision back to gathering evidence than back again. Multiple items on the claim. It would help explain "some" of the indecision on the status page.

Paul, excellent. We are all very happy for you. You can miss details when you get good news from the VA. Just another example to re-read your stuff one exam it after the dust settles. Congrats!!

Vync, nothing to worry about.You are too mean and lean for things to start going downhill.

jdelta To answer your question on bringing buddy letters, sure bring a copy and offer them to her. But I can't emphasize enough that you look at the requirements for the disabilities and dbq's and practice your responses with your wife. You will be at lot less nervous and feel more prepared.

Congrats. Have some patience; you've waited 7 years, what a little more to let the VA use your money!

jdelta Ok brother, you have a lot of catching up to do, but we can get you there. You are going to have exams to see how bad your symptoms are that were claimed, so you need to understand what those symptoms are and how they grade them out to the various levels of compensation. Look up each one here https://militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/search.php Then you have to look up what the dbq's are that the examiner will be evaluating you on, so look each one up here https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/dbq_ListByDBQFormName.asp Answer the questions truthfully and honestly, no exageration, but answer them like what happens on your WORSE day, not necessarily today. For example, talk about your really bad day with GERD; how you throw up in your mouth and can't get that terrible taste out of your mouth; or you can't lie down for 3 hours after you eat. Your WORSE days; your not lying, but your telling them how bad it is. I would also suggest that you make it clear how much this pending C&P has stressed you out and how nervus you are. If it is a long time since your last C&P for PTSD, if the examiner puts that kind of info in your exam notes, it may trigger another exam for re-eval to your benefit.Go over some of your answers you are going to respond to based on the dbq's; practice with your wife; she can be a great help. You can take her with you and ask if she can attend the exams with you; they don't have to let her, but if you say that it will really help because you are stressed (PTSD) and get distracted and she can help you re-focus. As you probably know, this isn't going to be a short trip, but a journey down VA highway. Gonna be a long ride, but you can do this. If you aren't successful on the first claim(s), you can always appeal. And we are here to help you. You may have other things that are wrong that you may be compensated for but that is for another day. Let us know of your progress.

Hamslice I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish. You are now rated at 10% for htn. You got the rating based on two OLD readings. If you appeal for a higher rating, they will certainly give you another C&P and your readings most likely will be UNDER 100, so, you can lose that rating of 10%. I am really surprised that they gave you the 10% on appeal based on old ratings. Because htn is one of those conditions that can actually "get better", you probably run a very high risk of having to be re-checked and drop to 0% which was your original rating. Now, if you are looking for back pay for EED, you open up re-eval I believe because they have reason to look at all the facts. Even if your 90% would still be ok due to VA math, I wouldn't do it. IMO

SameOldSong This is just throwing it against the wall but try this. What if you first try contacting your state Legislative Rep for your district; meet with him/her and explain. Ask him to contact the ARCP commanding officer,or Adjutant General, and ask them to issue the dd214 in light of the evidence you have. If that doesn't click, move it up to your Congressman or Senator. The problem with red tape is they don't have the wherwithall to do something that isn't cookie cutter. If you can convince the elected officials ,they CAN convince it is in the best interest to get it done. Before you do all of that, contact the State veterans Commissioner first. Long story short, I did and got benefits started for a veteran who never served 90 days. You get one piece and that sets up another piece.That might be a short cut. Remember, never give up. Never. If your right, keep finding a way. Good luck and keep us posted.

Kuwaitin08 Does it say which exams will cover on each day; or did you call to find out? There are a lot of things they will be checking symptoms on for that many disabilities. Again, I would suggest to look over the dbq that applies to each disability and also see what the different symptoms lead to higher ratings so you will be a little more at ease. If it is an outside contractor rather than the VA, ask them also when/how you can get a copy of the results.Good luck.

demodemon7 This is a help blog; we all try to be open minded when we respond to questions submitted. Sometimes the grammar or spelling (like mine) leave something to be desired. We try our best to get to the meaning of the post, and then provide an answer. In your case, I responded the only way I thought was appropriate. I have since re-read your quotation. I can't find a reason to change my advise. My point is that there is a negative note in your file; it is written by your doc; it says there is reason to suspect that if you received 100% ($3K/month) you would use it for drugs and/or booze. That is exactly why you have a problem; it is not because you said it or the doc said it. The problem exists because it is negative evidence in your file. To get a favorable solution, you need to show you are not a threat to yourself Now.

Vync is spot on. Veterans that have a s-c should do a very simple check. If they are prescribed a medication, they should look at the warnings on their spec sheet that comes with the med, and also look up in the internet, any problems or warnings when taking that med. If you have any of those symptoms you should try for a secondary because the VA prescribed it. You would might be better served to get an IMO on it from a doc because it is a secondary condition. NSAIDS taken for heart problems causing GERD is a good example. IMO

Fat, Typically, it should show up in just a couple days. However, if you have been reading along on Hadit, don't put a lot of stock in what it tells you. It is very inconsistent. moves up and down the various steps, and the info is often just plain unreliable.

You've got a problem, Demodemon7. If you ever said that to an examiner, your going to be processed for a fiduciary. If you never did, you will unless you can convince the VA that you didn't. Not easy. If you did, and now you are better and truly can get on by yourself, you need written documentation in your file that will support that from your medical team. They will have to go to bat for you, and it isn't likely for them to stick their necks out for you unless your track record show that you are responsible now. So, what is your situation?

FlyBoyLeRoy As you know, Meniere's is rated under dc 6205. 30% is a pretty good rating for this disability. To get to the next step, 60%, you have to have hearing impairment along with episodes of dizziness and staggering at least 1 to 4 times a month. That is difficult to prove. I think you have to have a "log" that documents these events and probably a doc opinion of the severity/symptoms. Going from 30-60 is not going to be an easy thing with the VA to approve because it is so subjective. IMO

wablackwell There are several posts here on this subject. One thing you need to know is that the VA makes its own rules and we are supposed to follow them. They are also; sometimes they do, sometimes, not so much. "Permanent" is a misnomer; it isn't actually under the same definition you would use. It's sort of "permanent." That said, if your decision letter says P&T, it probably will say "no additional exams are scheduled' or similar words. That reaffirms that the VA isn't expecting to have you come in again and get another C&P. (It also should say your dependents are entitled to education benefits also.) After 5 years you get into another favorable position even if you are not P&T. At that point they can't reduce your rating based on only one exam, and there are ample opportunities to appeal that proposed reduction in rating. Go to 38CFR 3.951 for the regulation. All that said wabackwell, if your decision letter has those word "no future..." and you get to 5 years, the probability of getting called again is pretty low. You shouldn't be now, but like I said, the VA does its own thing. Lastly, if by the smallest chance they do schedule you, ask to speak to the supervisor and see if they will reconsider. If they agree, ask for a name and a confirmation . If you are 55 or older, they are not supposed to call you in either. For more info, go to 38CFR 3.327 Reexaminations. But in every case, if they don't change their minds and insist you do another, GO. Otherwise you WILL get a reduction!