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Ranmic
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Posts posted by Ranmic
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7 hours ago, Vync said:
@RanmicYou mentioned having already requested an increase. Here are some tips if you plan on doing that again. When considering whether or not to file for an increase, it might be helpful to first get copies of your medical records. For VA records, they are downloadable via blue button on my health evet. If you go to a non-VA provider on your own, keep in mind the VA will not have those records. When providing those to the VA, they will want you to do a release of information request. Once records are in hand, compare them to the rating criteria for your particular disability. If the records are from within the last 12 months -and- prove you meet the criteria for a higher rating, the VA is supposed to grant that date as the effective date. Many vets, including myself, have had increases approved without a C&P exam because the evidence in the records was clear. However, with changes over the years, the VA might send you for one anyway to confirm and/or look for any other side effect or other issues. Once you get a decision letter, go through it carefully. Compare it to the evidence of record and rating criteria. Sometimes the VA might grant a rating (increase or initial), but fail to grant you the highest rating for which you qualify.
Like @broncovetand others, I also had the VA attempt to reduce my rating in error. They sent me a letter to propose reduction and I responded promptly with overwhelming proof that I still met the rating percentage criteria. They reduced me anyway saying I never responded. I fought back with proof (return receipt of letter) that they received it. It took a bit, but they eventually conceded that they did receive it, but it was "misplaced". They corrected my rating.
Thanks for the advice Vync! I never thought of doing that but going forward I'll make sure I do. Thanks again!
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Not an issue at all Buck.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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3 hours ago, brokensoldier244th said:
Unless something is glaringly obvious as an error, or you've had major improvement, or you have multiple conditions tied to this one that you are asking for an increase for, we schedule the exam for the contention that you are seeking to increase. It's an easy claim, it doesn't require research for service connection which involves digging through all your stuff. A claim for an increase focuses mostly on your more recent treatment, whether private or VAMC. You are already SC for whatever you are claiming, there is no need for us to reinvent the wheel, and reducing someone is at least twice the work of continuing or increasing a rating. With as many claims as we have to go through we don't have time to do a lot of spelunking around for something that has already been determined to be both SC and static.
Thanks Broken! That makes me feel better. Yeah, no improvement at all....guess I'm just overthinking it.
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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.
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I'm so sorry to hear this Buck. I pray for you and wish you the best. God Bless.
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Thank you both for the tips. I really appreciate it.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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?
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2 hours ago, brokensoldier244th said:
make sure you pull those Pvt doctor records OR provide a 21-4142/4142a to VA with the contact info and your signature for release. We can't pull private records without it. We don't even know they exist unless you tell us. Id rather find out about it from you by typing "4142" into your Efile and finding those than finding it buried on p 536 of your VAMC Capri notes because you mentioned in passing that you also see a private doctor for x,y,z, or in a 21-4138 Support Statement. I can't act on that without the release and contact info, so its just easier when you submit a claim to do it up front. Putting it on the 21-526ez is NOT a consent/release for us to pull records, all it is is letting us know they exist. After that we have to send you a 21-4142/4142a anyway, so why not just knock it out in 1 shot at the beginning, and any time you start seeing a new doctor for anything that is relevant?
They are only good for a year, too, so if you are continuing to see a doctor and a claim is dragging on forever, don't be surprised if we send you another one. Its not a delay tactic- we are legally required to due to privacy and HIPAA. We don't know if you are still seeing the same doctor after a year, either, so its better to just let us know. We could pull records from Date x to Date y for your claim at the beginning, then it takes forever, then you 20-0995 it, for example. If its been over a year and you are still seeing the same doctor? We can't just go back to request updated records unless you tell us we can.
Broken, I didn't know that! Thank you!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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?
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23 hours ago, brokensoldier244th said:
Which one is easier to prove diagnostically? Tinnitus sucks (I have it) and there are nights that even my noise canceling headphones and thunderstorm sound don’t drown it. It can drive you nuts even with hearing AIDS that try to cancel it out.
The bad thing is, too, that when it rains I fall asleep.
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.
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5 hours ago, Buck52 said:
Also a Qualified C&P Examiner can make the MH Diagnosis but be careful because some won't and state that this Veteran does not have a MH Dx.
But if you do have a MH Diagnose that is not a Guarantee you will be rated for it or even service connected.
if this is not filed as a secondary claim you will need the 3 Caluza Elements
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.
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I really appreciate all the advice given by y'all. Again, thank you.
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6 minutes ago, brokensoldier244th said:
Diagnostic impression usually means a preliminary diagnosis on the way to an actual diagnosis. It's still a lot stronger than "subjective complaint" which is the part coming from you that has nothing behind it other than what you are saying. The examiner, your private physician, whatever, takes that subjective statement from you, applies diagnostics, and then forms an objective statement or diagnosis. The term diagnostic impression isn't really defined and many practitioners use it interchangeably with 'diagnosis'. MH stuff is weird, too in that you can have a diagnostic impression for a long time before having a firm 'diagnosis' because MH conditions can all resemble each other pretty well.
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.
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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 DisorderIs 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.
Military Medical Record request
in VA Disability Claims Research
Posted
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.