GBArmy

Great advise from Oceanbound. Anytime you get a shutdown notice from the power company, water company, etc. you should be calling and try to negotiate a stretch out plan of some sort. In this case, it is highly likely that if they are notified that a payment is coming soon, they will work with you. In fact, it is in their best interests. If they respond favorably, they will likely get some, if not all coming to them. If they shut you off, many customers will just up and move and start all over, so it is a calculated business move. Good advise for anyone in this situation

Aviationtech Absolutely! It is a Navy document. You include in your filing. The VA has a "duty to assist", which means that they have an obligation to help provide documentation. You include your evidence and they will refer to any other "approved" doc they are supposed to, but you should be good. If it is a US Navy doc and it supports your evidence, it should fly.

I think you need an IMO from a eye doc specialist that can offer technical rational that the degeneration/eye issue "more likely than not" initiated PRIOR to discharge. Something like " the degree of damage takes x amount of time "consistent with your own doc's observation dated 1 year after discharge. That would take a technical eval backed up by medical articles or journals.IMO

I don't think you should worry too much about how the VAHC was rated; you are going there for health care but benefits. Hopefully, Paul, you get a good examiner. Most of the time, how the rater writes it up is how it flows. Poor examiner=poor rating (sometimes). You'll do fine. Best of luck.

It could be soon; but then there is no way of saying how long. You can check ebenies and see, but it has been having some problems trying to stay on line recently. Couple days, maybe. No one knows. But the really reliable news will be when you get your decision letter. It will have the facts. Ebenies can, be and often is, unreliable. Things change in status all the time, and sometimes other info as well. You got to wait it out.

You can get back pay on a straight forward disability grant fairly quickly now, 1-2 weeks. But adding dependents, after the fact does take a while longer. I'd give it 2-3 weeks then call Peggy and see what they tell you. So you might get it in Octobers' monthly statement, but I would bet it will be a supplemental entry a little later in the month. Do the calculations yourself and if it doesn't look right (short changed) put in for a claim. But, in any event, congrats!

I would take any records, MRI, etc, also. I believe that part of the reason they miss stuff is that it isn't in the file to read. And, they don't do a good thorough job reading the file, partly because they don't have adequate time to do so. I'm not making an excuse for the examiners; it's their job and they should do it, but they have so many exams to get done and they sure could be behind schedule for a lot of reasons. People naturally jump to conclusions based on a piece of evidence. that will provide what they need. I think it has happened to most of us. So that is why we should know what the exam should entail, what the diagnostic code reads, and take notes if the exam is incomplete. If we know what the ratings should be symptoms-wise, if we know what is in the c-file and if we bring our own copies of important evidence, we stand a better chance to get a fair exam. IMO

Paul, "Unfortunately, I am cynical when it comes to the VA." You have nothing to worry about. I took this off the VA website " These values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence — define our culture and strengthen our dedication to those we serve. They provide a baseline for the standards of behavior expected of all VA employees. They remind us and others that “I CARE”: I care about those who have served. I care about my fellow VA employees. I care about choosing “the harder right instead of the easier wrong.” I care about performing my duties to the very best of my abilities" So, as you can see, you have NOTHING to worry about!!!

I am not sure about having a "right" or not either, but there is another angle to this. The VA is such a a huge bureaucracy I'm for most anything that make things automatic rather than having some moron at the VA making a wrong decision. Automatic deposit just takes the human element (of making mistakes on repetitive tasks) out of the hands of someone to make a repetitive decision that doesn't change. The check is the same every month, unless there is a COLA or other event like increase/decrease in rate, or change in number of dependents. But after the event change is put in, it is automatic again. Once the info is in the system, it goes to the same bank ,same acct. number, etc. every time. If it is mailed, things can happen, like typo because the printer wasn't printing right, or the mail is delivered by the P.O. to the wrong address , gets lost, etc. It has to cut down on errors and be quicker. Not to mention, more cost effective, so there is more money left over for VA bonuses.

You have never had an exam done by the VA itself! Paul, you should get ready for a treat!!! No seriously, unless you anticipate that they are going to challenge that your back has gotten better(???), there might be a slight bias for the examiner to just breeze thru the exam. Kinda rubber stamp on your existing conditions. I'm not saying they would do that, but maybe because it would be a quicker exam. Otherwise, if they say it has gotten better or worse, it will be more of an effort for them to discuss the rationale. You know you can't predict anything with them. I would say, however, it would be a good move on your part to review the rating code and your last award dbq for your disability. Make note if they don't do things that they were supposed to do for a complete exam. If the results are what you want, then don't say anything about the exam. If they try to low ball you, you use it as a challenge.

Thanx, Paul. That does make more sense. He just had the wrong SMC code (k vs. s)

If you're happy, I'm happy. But, I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer either. There has to be an explanation in the decision letter, and/or the C&P exam. I don't know how a coma can cause a scar. Ain't possible. That said, I am don't see having it secondary to anything matters much, as it is a 30% rating and you did receive it. If you're good, I'm good.

I believe Vetquest is correct and the VA does not forward Treasury checks. But I thought they did not mail any physical checks anymore, especially on new claims. I thought that you now have to provide a checking or savings account number when you submit new claims. That must not be accurate as witnessed by the problem at hand.

Jfrei, I'm not clear what you are saying. Did you get a 30% for the scar, or was it denied? Or they did award it at 30% but it was s-c on its own? If so, how? Just trying to understand.

I'm not sure where you get the idea that you can get SMC (k) just because you are housebound; you get it if you have ED and you can service-connect, (s-c). If you receive a disability for PTSD, many veterans are awarded it if their meds cause the ED. So you are claiming the ED is secondary to your PTSD because of your meds. The benefit is an additional $108.00, and you shouldn't be humiliated; if you are granted the benefit it is because you deserve it due to your service, just like any injury comp. I am not sure your PCP has to fill out the dbq, however. It would make the process turn-around faster, if he/she does, but I think even if you sent just an email thru secure messaging to your doc and then made a copy of that and submitted that with your request for the benefit, that would be enough for the VA to have a C&P for it. The reason I say that is because it is a SMC; the VA is supposed to be pro-active on benefits for veterans when SMC's are to be considered. Take extra steps to ensure that you make the C&P exam appointment, or they will deny. Keep us posted how you do.

Well, Geeky, you have to sweet talk her. You know she is unpredictable!

Rohodesia, a quick google search shows up "Routine Future Exams." Makes sense. The VA will schedule him out for a routine eval every few years, to be sure he continues to be rated appropriately. If things get worse, you can put in for an increase if it matches the symptoms of a worse condition rating.

Peggy is what we affectionately call the general info number at the VA: 1-800-827-1000

My opinion, there is no gun problem. As long as you follow the state and local laws, you own the guns and they are secured by you. Your dad has nothing to do with it. As to character witness, I wouldn't worry too much about it. As long as people you I.D. respond that you are if good character, you should be ok. I wouldn't bring it to there attn. that it concerns you that they might have a problem. Can your brother act as the finance guru if he is chosen instead? If so, you and he let it be known, but you are your dad's first choice.

USAF9498, you are on the right tract. Now, if I were you (and I don't want to be because I am better looking), I would write up, with names and times if possible, in a little more detail, what you did. Upload it into ebenies in support of your (name,claim #, C&P Exam, dated--,etc.) so it is in your record. Later, confirm it is in there. You will have taken affirmative steps to show that the examiner made a mistake and it should be corrected, not challenged. But you see what I said; no one at the VA wanted to correct it, Delay, deny, see the veteran die!

I've never had to do this but I have seen where they can correct a "mistake" if you get it done within a few days, maybe a week. Otherwise, if is is changed, the original posting remains. You know what happens; the rater sees the negative comment and proceeds from there. I would call again and ask to speak to the head honcho there and just keep ongoing up the ladder until you get someone that will fix the problem. It has to be in scheduling I should think, but don't let it slide; it is going to cost you on a hearing disability. "System is down" is VA-speak for delay and deny.

Your question is simple, but the answer is vague to us because it is based on your individual circumstances that only you can know.Obviously, you have to get a copy of your c-file and scour it for any medical issues. I would right down date, location and circumstances on a seperate list. It may help to refer to. I would request records from NPRC, which I assume you have done already, but if the VA has pulled your records for some reason, maybe some records have now migrated back to your files that were not there previously. This could happen, say if you submitted other requests that necessitated pulling your files ex. disability claims. I would contact every unit I was assigned to and see if you can talk to a P R Officer? who can offer specific advise on where files were sent. Sometimes units get absorbed into other units, so you have to check places you never heard of. I was able to get records for a veteran who earned a Silver Star and his records were moved like that. If the veteran was stationed in more than one place and has multiple medical entries documented there should be some of them to surface. Eventually. The fire is way too often used as a cop out so they don't have to do their job looking; but every medical entry has a chance to be a duplicate. If you still have contact with any of the guys that served with you, can you get buddy letters from them that would help substantiate what happened to you? That can be useful in MH claims. Sorry I couldn't offer anymore thoughts for you. But keep trying; otherwise you lose.Good luck.

Come on man; what's you got against licking windows?

Hi Aviationtech Welcome aboard, as those Navy guys say. You being a Marine, you might have heard it before. OK, so, there really hasn't been too many entries on problems on the BWN law; Berta has been been more involved as just about anyone, but I can give a little input. If you look up the Denver' s Ship log https://catalog.archives.gov/search?q="Denver (LPD-9)"&f.oldScope=online&f.level=fileunit&f.ancestorNaIds=594258&sort=naIdSort asc you are supposed to see chronologically where the ships were on any given day. I tried it just now and got nodda, but you can try again later. Vietnam service according to the dates I have seen supposedly ends May 7, 1975. So I don't know if the new law has an expanded date for recognized service. You do your own research if you were there after May 7th. I assume if you can "see" the shore, you are closer than 12 miles, but heck, I don't know about nautical stuff. Camp Lejeune runs from 8-1-53 to 12-31-87, so if you were there and have one of the presumptives listed, you are eligible. I don't see prostate cancer on the presumptive list for Lejeune contaminated water if that is what you had in mind. You can check it out yourself as well. The fact that you have a VSM doesn't really come into play now; it used to. I suggest you file, immediately, an intent to file form with the VA. You can do it on line thru ebenies or thru a VSO. If you chose a VSO, make sure he has VBMS capability so he will be able to monitor your progress. You can then do your research on ship location, etc. Keep in mind, just because you might not qualify for a presumptive disease, it doesn't mean all is lost. It is a lot easier to get the disability, but if you don't have it, with a good IMO from a cancer doc, you can still possibly win. Get you ITF in now, and protect your eed.

Now Ranmic, as to your two disabilities you want to file for, we need info. When where you in, how long since discharge, what was your MOS, what are your reasons for connecting your time in the service to knee and hand problems? You should redact your name, ssn and anything else regarding your personal info and send it in another post; keep using this thread so you problems don't get lost. Do you remember going on sick call and/or receiving any treatments for these medical issues? Maybe we can help.