Ranmic

All, sorry if this question has been asked 1000 times, but I did do a quick search and didn't see a clear answer. I'm trying to help my brother get a copy of his Marine Corp medical record from his discharge in 1990 and I'm finding conflicting info. Can anyone point me in the right direction for requesting a copy of his record? Thank you in advance.

Thanks for the advice Vync! I never thought of doing that but going forward I'll make sure I do. Thanks again!

Not an issue at all Buck.

I read 3.344 once.....guess I better get up to speed on it in case they came back at me some day. Thanks again for your help and also to Berta!

Bronco, I appreciate the information very much. I just had a C&P exam last week (xrays are being performed today) to ask for an increase in my knees due to instability and I also pushed for hip issues as a secondary. Guess I just fear they will take my request for an increase or new condition and try to reduce me. Correct, my issues are not any better and I don't expect them to but I also didn't want to just ignore going to the VA (or my private doctor for that matter) to say on the record that my conditions are still there.

Like most of the people on this forum I have multiple rated disabilities. I go to the VA and see my PCP at a minimum once a year sometimes every six months depending on if I need to be seen. I see one of my other Doctors (MH) at the VA when needed but usually every six months just to talk. In fearing that the VA will one day come at me for a rating reduction is there anything I need to know or do to keep my doctor apprised that nothing has really changed with me or gotten better? Basically I complain when something bothers me and don't when it's not but I don't want to screw myself either somewhere down the road.

Thanks Broken! That makes me feel better. Yeah, no improvement at all....guess I'm just overthinking it.

No particular question about the exam as I've been through a few to date but even though I'm listed as static on my disabilities I'm still stressing that asking for an increase on one of my disability's will trigger my entire file to be reviewed. I'm just not in the mood right now to fight with them if they think a decrease is warranted. Granted my conditions haven't improved and I don't "think" it would happen but this can be a PITA and I'm second guessing asking for an increase on my knees now. Oh well, exam is next week so I guess it's too late. Wish me luck.

I'm so sorry to hear this Buck. I pray for you and wish you the best. God Bless.

Thank you both for the tips. I really appreciate it.

Good morning everyone! I'm currently SC for both of my knees (Degenerative Arthritis). I have a couple of issues and I was considering filing for an increase but am unsure it I should file for only one of them or both. I am considering filing for Flexion and knee instability due to the fact that I can only bend my knee backwards so far(painful) and also my knee(s) will give out on me periodically while walking or taking a step. I would like your opinion on if I should file for both flexion and instability and if so should they be one claim or two separate one? Again, I am currently SC for both of my knees and would be asking for an increase. Also, seeing as how I am filing for flexion and or instability do I file an entirely new claim or file for an increase on my current SC knee? Thank you!

I've been through the process a couple of times but I do find this one odd. I filed a claim on Sunday, two days later a "decision" was made according to the status on the claims and appeals page. Now today I log in and my claim isn't even listed at all. I have old ones that are showing as closed but the one from Sunday is totally gone. It hasn't been combined with any others because I didn't have any other claims pending. Never seen this before.

Just curious to if anyone has seen this before. I filed a new claim on Sun(17Oct) and when I just logged in to check it tonight the claim said last updated on "17Oct Initial Review". When I looked at the actual details of the claim it stated "a decision has been made....blah, blah, blah". Nothing gives me any indication that the claim has been reviewed at this point (only in their queue for 3 days). Do you think this update is just a glitch? I see nothing else as far as a percentage update on my VA disabilities page, nor anything suggesting that it was actually closed or denied.

I'm planning on filing a claim with the VA for Sleep Apnea. I do not currently have a CPAP machine and have not had a sleep study done at this point by my local VA Hospital. Should I have a CPAP machine and sleep study completed by my local VA Hospital before I file my claim?

Broken, I didn't know that! Thank you!

As usual, you all are a wealth of knowledge and advice. I really appreciate everyone's take on this and I will definitely move forward with eye condition and see how that goes. Also, GBArmy, to answer on two comments you made, I am (and have been) seeing a private eye Dr for the past 5 or 6 years and NOT a VA doc. My private Doc has had me on nightly eye drops for about 5/6 years now to control my eye pressure to help prevent full blown glaucoma. But, I'll be using these nightly drops for the rest of my life.

Good morning everyone. I have a couple of questions I was hoping to get some advice on. #1. If my conditions are rated at "static" and I file for a totally different condition are all of my conditions reviewable even if they are listed as static? #2. If a condition of mine is static (knees) and I file for a secondary (say hip condition) are my knees reviewable also? #3. I have been treated for Glaucoma for about 6 years now due to pressures in my eyes running high (up to 50 at one point before I got treated by my private Dr). Even though no damage was done the Dr has me on nightly drops for the rest of my life to control my pressures. Note I have not been actually tagged with the label of having Glaucoma, but they are treating me now so it doesn't go full blown Glaucoma. While in the military during one of my eye exams the Dr noted in my record that I was a "Glaucoma suspect". Now, with that small entry and no more data from the military what is everyone's advice on filing a claim for this? I tried once and the VA denied it. As always, thank you all for the guidance here. This forum is awesome!

Hi everyone! I've read over all of my disabilities (4 total) and I cant seem to find if they are classified as "permanent" or not. The paperwork that came with my approval letters didn't state one way or the other nor do I see any indication on the "eBenefits" site. Does anyone know how I can determine if my disabilities are permeant or not? I'm assuming with no clear statement either way that would lead me to think they are not permeant. Thank you!

I looked around on here and didn't see an answer (or I missed it) but hopefully someone can answer. I had a C&P at my local VA last Wednesday and was curious to if I can pull a copy of the Dr's notes from that exam from the VA site (Blue Button Report or somewhere else). I'd like to know what he wrote about the exam and try to get an idea of what he said. Thank you!

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I got a call from a VA rep today scheduling me for an exam in relation to my claim I recently filed. All my past exams have been done at a private doctor. Does the VA actually do C&P exams also?

My ears are ringing like church bells right now.....hahaha. I'm not sure how'd I would react if they stopped at this point.

Thanks Buck. I think I will fill it under secondary to hearing loss and tinnitus. That's the primary reason I started seeing the Dr anyway........because of depression and anxiety from hearing and tinnitus.

I really appreciate all the advice given by y'all. Again, thank you.

Thank you Brokensoldier! I plan on continuing to see the Dr for a while longer to talk about things like being depressed, my anxiety....etc. I plan on filing a claim at some point but want ensure I'm going about it the correct way. When I do file a claim should I file it under the grounds of secondary to tinnitus (10%) and my SC hearing loss (0%) or do I reference the traumatic issue I experienced while on AD? Mind you the traumatic experience was not noted in my med record but it can be validated because it was a suicide in the room next to me/us during the work day....that's a long sad story in itself. The depression and anxiety to be honest is probably more so because of my hearing and how embarrassing it is and making communication at work difficult. I got VA hearing aids recently but that really doesn't take away the depression of hearing loss.

Brokensoldier, GBArmy or Buck, looking trough my VA med records I see the MH Dr notes in the records are: DIAGNOSTIC IMPRESSION -Tinnitus -Unspecified Hearing Loss, unspecified Ear -Insomnia -Unspecified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder Is this considered a diagnosis? I have been prescribed meds now for anxiety and depression. I guess the reason I'm asking is because the above statement doesn't clearly say "diagnosed", only "diagnostic impression". Thanks again.