Riplip

Well my VSO said they denied my claim stating it wasn't service connected Meneire's. I checked Ebenfits and sure enough denied. Here is an attached note from my DR. Just figured maybe others could read it and should I appeal? So I am already connected for hearing loss, and vestibular dysfunction and I' diagnosed with Meniere's. Pretty sure Meniere's is Vestibular function as well. Hoping the new changes will do something about this. Its pretty confusing to me Mass Eye and Ear notes.pdf

Ok so just to not keep everyone hanging I've got to say the system won on me again. After countless hours on the phone, complaints to the VA hotline, my congresswoman, to LHI itself in writing and verbally and to the White House, they still won. I had to settle on a C&P exam for a standard hearing exam in Southborough Massachusetts that is 90 miles and 1 hour and 32 minutes without traffic. Definitely sucks. I need to miss a half day of work to make this. It is what it is I guess. I need to keep my claim moving forward. I would still recommend people to keep battling them if they can but I need to move forward. The anxiety and stress it was causing trying to get something closer took its toll and i folded.

I don't know where to upload a comment but the supervisor is pulling the phone call from last Friday where the representative was going to call us back and not cancel anything until we approved a new appointment. They never called back and the appointment was canceled and rescheduled anyways. Hopefully it is recorded but I think they can only record it if they ask and I've never been asked. We have the name of the representative we were talking to and the exact time and date so it shouldn't be hard to find. We will see.

I have emailed the White House. Unfortunately I cannot make phone calls due to my hearing loss but my Congresswoman and the White House have emails from me. I don't think it will do anything for me but I hoping with other complaints it gets better for everyone someday. I know between Friday and Last night my wife and I have over 2 hours of phone time with LHI and still haven't reached a solution and my 1 cancellation has been processed without me canceling. Its been real fun.

Mr. Cue I knew I saw it somewhere. Its on LHI's email appointment schedule. They have now canceled my appointment without notifying me which is my one cancellation and scheduled me out to August 12 still 1 1/2 hour away. Now we are fighting the long lead time and the distance. I guess they will win again because if they have one far away and in June I'll take it because I don't want this to drag me through summer. Lame

I've gone to my local VA for everything except C&P exams. They've never given me the option for that. They are 25 minutes from my house. I would enjoy that too much lol.

I hear you all on the arguments. I can get to my appointments believe me, but I know other veterans could not get so far away for appointments. My gripe is how they take all the times (which are not a lot) that I cannot make and make sure my appointment is during the time frame I specifically told them I cannot make. My wife and I were on the phone with LHI for 58 minutes on Friday trying to get closer than 2 1/2 hours away. We ended up getting 1 1/2 hours away which is still absurd. Can't even get a standard hearing test in my home state. Anyways before we were able to get everything scheduled the call got disconnected SMH! I still have no idea where and when my appointment will be. My complaint is getting a congressional inquiry which usually leads to something happening. We will see. I could battle for a ride to an appointment but its not worth my time. If I have to travel so far in the middle of the day I need to miss a day of work. That really hits me hard. I will keep everyone in the loop. Thanks for listening.

Mt. Cue, not sure where it is written. I guess it's just known. Even the contractors like QTC and LHI say it's only one rescheduling.

I have an account. I have called and asked them to help a month ago on the same claim and they wouldn't help accommodate anything. I am not being unreasonable at all. I have been jumping through there hoops. As for me getting "noticed" that's what I want. I want them to hear I'm pissed. I want a better system for veterans in the future. I can't wait to see what they do when I ask for something closer. Last time I asked they went further away. My congresswoman is getting all my notes and so far her office has helped a ton over the years. I will be calling the hotline today.

I have their # and will be calling with my wife for sure. It doesn't make any sense to me. I also complained to my Congresswoman again. I have asked them to do an investigation on LHI. I doubt it will happen but I tried anyways.

OK here to vent again. I've had some crappy appointments setup from LHI but this one is the worst. When you fill out online in your account it asks if you are willing to travel more than 50 miles. I of course said no to this. Well I got my voicemail from them today. Out of state over 2 hours away and 109 miles. WTF. Really? I do not understand. This is for a hearing test and I can google probably 30 places within 20-30 minutes from where I live. I wish I could talk to someone higher about this stuff. Venting over. Thanks

Thanks for the replies. Sure does suck.

So I am just wondering why we can't see our C&P exam notes? I feel its our medical records that we have a right to see right away. I went to one back in March and they have set up another one for me this Wednesday. I asked my VSO for a copy and he said its in my c-File and i'll have to put in for it which takes over a year to get. Thats just stupid. I would like to get an idea of what was missing from my first C&P. I know I will never understand how the claims process works because every single one I've had has been different.

Same thing happened this year for me. Filed for OSA secondary. No C&P and in a couple of weeks a denial. This happened in March. I was never sent any denial paperwork or anything. Crazy. I started another claim and I'll get back to that one before the year is up. I think they are dodging any OSA claims waiting for changes or something. I hope it works out for you.

After reading this Dustoff11 I would like to say I was not alive when you went to Nam and I want to personally thank you for your service and your sacrifice. I also want to apologize for all the idiots that did not treat veterans as heroes when they returned. I'm disgusted by all the negative things I read from back then. You and all your peers did not deserve that crap and I am truly sorry that happened.

Whodat, easier said than done. Getting an appointment for a Dr. at Mass Eye and Ear is very difficult let alone getting them to fill out a DBQ. If thats what I need to do at the end I will jump through those hoops but it'll be a lot of lost time at work to make that happen so hopefully the paperwork I have now is enough.

I'm surprised you didn't have a C&P for MD. I am having my second C&P for it next week. I meet the criteria for 100% so they are going to work me hard. I don't have it SC yet but I have one of the best Drs. at Boston Hospital Mass Eye and Ear state that my inner ear damage from the military is the only ideology so I'm hoping thats enough. My hearing, tinnitus and vestibular disorder is all service connected. We will see. If you meet the criteria for a higher rating then go for it but I understand. Its taken me 2 years to decide to get the Menieres connected. Good luck and congrats on all the positive so far.

Congrats on the Menieres. I have a claim in for it now. Going for my second C&P on it. I'm 70% hearing, 10% tinnitus and 30% vestibular disorder. I'm looking for 100% meneires and completely fall in that category. I hope all your other claims fall into place.

Pacman, I feel that is where this is going for me. They just got mine and is was favorable my way and now they are going for a second. Hopefully they read it and listen because its not changing. Just prolongs another month or so. We will see.

I guess to clarify a few things. I live 20 Minutes from Concord Hospital which covers about everything needed including a Ear nose and throat specialists and Hearing division. The Manchester VA hospital is 35 minutes from me who have the same stuff as Concord Hospital. I am being sent (for a second time) to Somersworth NH to a Pain Management clinic for my Ear conditions DBQ. That clinic is an hour and a half away from me and they don't specialize in what my C&P exam is for. I'm not dogging the VA. The VA hospital has been great to me and has helped me a lot. These contractors and that part of the VA system is what I have a real problem with. They won't give me a reason why this is happening. The VA says is the way LHI works and LHI says its how the VA works. Its a joke and I'm ashamed that this is how our system works. My last exam in March costs me 3 hours of work. 3 hours of travel and they sent me a $43 check. BS

When all of this is finished I am going to focus all my attention on how LHI is screwing veterans over. These people suck.

I'm assuming because the first one was favorable and met the requirements for 100%. I figured if they wanted different results they would send me to a different doctor's office. Really frustrating.

OH yeah another good one. When my wife and I were telling them my availability we told them Any day and anytime except for Wednesday's. Guess what? A Wednesday is scheduled. I completely believe that this company does their hardest to make it the worse for us trying to get our exam. Someone needs to address it and some disciplinary action needs to be had. Sorry Rant over. Thanks

So the LHI exam in March went well and my DAV rep. saw it online but won't give me a copy. He said it looks favorable. Now they set me up with another C&P exam to the same exact place for this month on the 25th. This place is 1.5 hours away and doesn't even work on what I'm getting an exam for. This was annoying the first time 2 months ago and now I have to miss more work and do the same thing over again. SNAFU lol

Rattler767, that what I thought was out there. It leaves a couple options for the PCP to deny on the spot but making an appointment just for that seems to be the way to go. I still think they will shy away or not give an honest opinion. Just my thoughts