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GBArmy
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Posts posted by GBArmy
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There are a couple things you can do, but probably the quickest way is to get aVSO that has VBMS to look it up and make a copy. If there are VSO's at your VAMC get an appointment (if they don't have walk-ins) and then ask them if they can do it for you. Or, sometimes if the RO is veteran friendly (??), you can ask them. You will need yo sign a release form but no big deal.
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We know you folks are anxious to receive decisions from the VA. We all are at least to some extent. But have you done any reading on Hadit. Just on this thread alone we have said that it takes time. Wait a little; a week is nothing. Ebennies is not accurate to trust. You realize some claims take YEARS, not days to be resolved. There are many reasons for "delays": these claims are in the VA process. We call it the "Hampster Wheel." Could be going for more evidence or developement (anyway), could be going for a higher level of signature because of a higher signature level, could be routed to finance , whatever. Give it a little time. Or you could call Peggy, and get a more accurate (or not) update as to status. She isn't spot on a lot either.
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Victor, this is an old thread. Did you appeal your decision for a higher rate as advised before? What is the status of it?
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Buck, of course you're right. The VA can and sometimes will try to hang it on before he went into the service hunting. But nowdays, if he is a fairly recent discharge, they do a thorough exam in boot camp, and then another when the veteran is discharged (usually). If there is a degrade of hearing, the hearing loss must be assumed to have been caused by service connection. If it doesn't show a degrade, then he has a hard time showing s-c. If it shows a hearing data in boot camp, but no records are available on discharge, the VA does the shuffle to find a way to deny, which they are pretty successful at. But a good IMO can win that because if they don't find and document you as being less than whole when you go in the service, they are supposed to find you "perfect".
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Based on what you described, I would be very surprised if you don't get a disability for tinnitus. Flight line is a major item they are trained to i.d. So, if she said on your hearing you tested out about the same as last time; were they bad enough during your first (real) audio exam? I think she just confirmed highs and lows and just rubber stamped the first exam, but the VA exam for hearing done by the techs is done more thoroughly than the C&P exam usually anyway, so it isn't a surprise the C&P went quicker. 4-6 weeks goes by quickly; it might not take that long. though for you to find out.I would call the exam place, whether it is a VA facility or a subcontractor, and ask how soon I could get a copy of the exam. Should be a week or so, not weeks.Hearing and tinnitus are only two of the disabilities on your claim. You don't have anything scheduled for those others, and they can hold up everything until all are accounted for.
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If there is a need for getting a VSO, and there are a lot of reasons why you would want to work with your VSO, as opposed to letting them do it without your input, many of us have not had very good results. They don't respond to your questions or even phone calls, are sometimes not well informed about their own procedures, don't think that they work for you, or just not very good period. I have had exceptional results however. The secret is to search out state agency VSO's, and I mean those that do not reside in the RO campus. They are NOT employees of the VA and do not get paid by the VA. Sure there are good ones and not so good ones, but because they don't work for the Veteran Service Organizations, like VFW for example, there is less built in pressure to favor they guy who works in the same building so to speak. As like most posts, there are going to be people who disagree with this opinion, but this is based on personal experience. The veteran still has to drive the bus, but if you need to use a VSO, I think state agency VSO's give you a better chance than most.
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My VSO has done the same for me on copying things showing up on VBMS. So, to continue to beat a dead horse, you have a copy of both C&P exams from your VSO. Especially important is the first one that said you were in fact disabled ( "at least as likely as not.")? Correct? I'm not a "CUE" guy, but if they actually deny and you have that proof, someone who knows what they are talking about here on Hadit can confirm that it would undoubtedly a CUE claim.
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I agree with Geeky, 100%. They can't re-evaluate just to deny disability. Hopefully, like Geeky said, you made a hard copy of the original dbq.. To look at it another way, you had a favorable, now an unfavorable. Tie would go to the veteran,equipos situation. It isn't though; we hope you have it in writing.
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Grumpbox, either my VAMC is in the forefront of doing things, or, more likely, your's is violating VA procedures. I mean, if you are getting shots, vacinations, lab work of variou kinds, wouldn't make sense to get the veteran to waive some of the liability?
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Thanks, I'll check it out. "For-warned is for-armed" or something like that. But I also say a lot, "free is not free"; usually isn't.
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Geeky
Do you have a source for the genome mapping and for profit that you referred to. I'd like to know more on that.
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I just had a steroid shot last week. I had to sign a consent form (electronically.) That has been my experience for the last few years at least. I would expect you could get a written copy, before or after you sign if you wanted.
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CavScout95
Way to soon my friend. Give it time, your C&P wasn't a week ago. Don't read anything into accuracy or timeliness of ebenies either. Give it another full week and then, if you haven't received your decision letter, call Peggy (800-827-1000. Don't be incouraged or discouraged; they are not connected. Good luck.
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Toxic, I think that based on your last several posts, I will offer one last piece of advise and then I want to spend what time I can afford to spend on helping some other needy veterans. No doubt, you are also in need, but it is obvious you are going to need some dedicated hand holding to get you where you want to be. Because of your admitted cognitive issues this is what I suggest. I just don't think you will be able to do this by yourself; you need step by step guidance. You need dedicated help and that will not be easy for you to do. Get a VSO someplace that is highly recommended and have them the POA for you. You must take it in small steps to submit the claim and you have to explain how your disability works to him. Intent to file is probably the best tool to use, so you can add to the package in small bites and then submit, yet still preserve your effective date. Or, you get a veterans' advocate to do the same with you. Personally, I am not a VSO and, as already stated, I just can't give you the time you are going to need. I wish you well.
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If you submitted a claim and won, the effective date is the date you submitted. In your case July 10 is the effective date. But for financial stuff, which is what we are really interested in, it doesn't start the money clock until the first of the next month, August 1. But you don't get a check until the following month, Sep 1, which is when your new combined rating will show up in your checking or savings account. You may get the back pay , August with that first deposit, or not. But like you said, you should be gettin comp from the 7-10-19 date. If it wasn't, you can call finance and ask them. It would be the difference between your old rate and the new. Even if it is pretty simple math, it can take 3-4 months to get it.
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ok, what I recommend is during the exam tell them that you also have tinnus; if it is bad, they have new digital hardware that can help minimize the noise. Ask him/her examiner to please make a note in your exam notes about your tinnitus (after you have discussed it with them.) Ask them to also note you would like to consider the noise cancelling type if possible. That would also go in the notes. The point is, audiology isn't going to have those notes if you don't have tinnitus. It is not a physical exam, so getting them to acknowledge it can be good for your claim. Don't be surprised if you get a hearing disability rating of just 0%; the trend is 10% if your really bad. The VA just doesn't rate them high disability purposes. But with a 0%, you get free care, including hardware for life and if it gets worse, you put in for the increase. Tinnitus, of course, is a distinct and seprate disability rated at 10%; it's 10% or zip. Good luck going forward. And don't call me SIR!
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Congrats!!! Great example of the veteran being his best own advocate. Great job. Now don't forget to pay attention to SMC's; maybe not now but maybe they will apply later. Good luck going forward.
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So, you are going for an increased rating for hearing; you are already rated for it now. Do you also have a seperate rating for tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sound in your ears}? That is rated as a separate disability. Some veterans don't realize that.
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USAF9498, regarding your comment that the hearing C&P doesn't show up as a scheduled posting; if it is with a contractor, it more than likely is a misconnect between the VA and them. The contractor might not have advised the schedule. It could be a smart thing to re-confirm a few days before about it though. Now, if the exam is to be at a VA facility, then I would find out why for sure. You do not want to mis a C&P exam if at all possible. If you have to, get "permission" and ask them to confirm the new schedule (ex. email, name of contact, etc.) Good luck on all.
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AO, congrats! Long journey but you made it. Super. Sounds like you have to take a night course on a new language: SMC's. But seriously, wait to see what the VA comes back with and check and double check to see if you get all that you deserve. There is a lot of info here on SMC's; start searching and get knowledgeable. Again, great news!
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Bronco has the correct advise; don't get too tied up on what ebennies says. They can move the status back and forth and jump around often. As Shrek advises, the good news is that it appears that they are working your claim. Best to wait to see what you get in writing in your decision letter. There are just too many unknowns to predict what the VA will do in almost every case. Well, make that EVERY case. Hang in there.
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Slangdx, I will let someone with more background talk to your question. But I would be interested in knowing how old are you? I find it very interesting that you were awarded your claim 8 years ago and not had a review since. I'm thinking your doc notes etc. are used in lieu of a formal re-eval and that is why you haven't had a formal C&P. Based on your history, I wonder if you would be a candidate for P&T? Someone will talk to that. In any case, keep up the work at your clinic. You must be doing something right. Keep it up!
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Toxic, I don't want you to take this the wrong way. You have several post made so I realize your struggling a bit. This just me, ok. My opinion, so take it with a grain of salt. But I think you have to focus more. We have answered some of these things before for you. We have made suggestions and given you options and back-up reasoning for those options. Make a decision or two, can't you?Just do it! Make a decision. If you have a (new) question, ask it as directly as you can. You don't have to document to us why you are hesitating, just ask the question. Tinnitus, for example. You have been told that it is one of the quicker claims to get a decision on. You have been told there is no actual testing that can be done, and it is just questions. You told us that you want to get into the system; you were told how to, and now that is in process, but that you also want to get a claim in and get a disability rating. So why haven't you submitted a claim for tinnitus? Folks on here are not going to address your concerns after a while because you are going around in a circle. Like I said, ask a straight forward question; get responses, make a decision, move on. And as I said, just my opinion.
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Hi William MC, you go to West Haven? We are practically neighbors; I live 80 miles away. Actually, I usually can go to Newington for a lot of stuff, and is an hour away. If you are "grandfarthered in" for dental, do you mean your disability is related to your mouth and teeth, so the VA has paid for implants and other dental work in the past? If it is service connected, I believe you would be placed in Priority Group 1. This has more info https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/dental-care/
I would expect your VA doc's office can tell you what group you are in and whether or not you would qualify as well. Let us know how you make out.
DavprmE5
in VA Disability Claims Research
Posted
Can't answer; you didn't attach the finding. If you decide to, be sure to redact your personal info so it doesn't go out on the internet.