Josh

I would like to encourage those here to check the posting. Long Time Away I Really Need This Group Now ..... Almost there There are documents you will not want to miss.

Retired. I'd love to get your suggestions

I was looking over my last posts and see I left notes that I thought my claim was in the Pre-determination stage... I was Wrong wrong wrong.. Found out it was Social Security Administration tracking me down to confirm I was actually alive and living in Colombia. Maybe somewhere they ran across Death Notice the Sate of Wisconsin Memorandum they submitted when I got out of the Nursing home after two-and-a-half years. Ah sheesh who knows ehat happened but let me share the latest with you all here. Carlie, Berta, and TBird, I have edited out the personal information... smile OK first on the list is a form that does not even have a number It's a MORF form... Medical Opinion Response Form... As you can read, the BVA is requesting my response to the two two medical opinions provided courtesy of the VA Medical Expert Staff who reviewed the 1151. Berta, I don't know if you remember, but my claim was quite extensive and provided a considerable amount of detailed and footnoted information. I also including the original MRI's that went unread and totally unnoted by the Denver, VA radiology staff. I will include one slice of that series in the upload also so those of you who have not seen it, can check it out. On that slice I, you will notice the two large laminar walled lesions which the VA MD Experts called MS. Oddly enough that is the exact used to describe an active Cerebral Abscess. Check it out. In another predictable twist, the Houston RO LOST those films and thank the lord I had taken photos before submitting or all I'd have were words... The MRI's are so much clearer than their words. I will include the their experts opinion and note it is indicated in that "experts" reply, those are suppose to be MS lesions. I don't think so and note only because I say so. OK This one gets the Exhibits and I will go on in another topic page ....See you there... Probably not tonight but tomorrow for sure. Look at these pages, Please make comments, If you find anything you want me to take note of, Please note it in a reply. thx Josh

Oh my goodness.... I have been away from my computer and this board for so long, I did not even know how to get around the Hadit Main page. And with using this new (for me anyway) Mozilla Firefox it was a Stretch. Yep it was one of you Stretch. I opened my message box for the first time in don't know how long and saw messages there. ... Wow, a whole lot of you (a bunch), wrote messages. I cannot believe it, but not even realize we had a personal messenger here at Hadit, or at least one that worked. Somewhere along the line when I was using IE, (last week, smile) I Think I wrote a couple of messages but never heard back and did not follow up. No...Wait.. wait... wait... more is returning .... No doubt, I shared messages! Carlie, Berta, Pete, Stretch (a couple times)... Wow now the truth really comes out ... Wow, that is a terrible fault I need to correct. I must tell you those of you I have shared with, I am so very sorry my friends. So much raw emotion has covered me over the last years that it only occurred to me the past Sunday we are getting slimed everywhere. I learned that there is no question I absolutely must have PTSD. I must share with you all what has happened. You will never know how odd this sounds coming from these hands, but what has happened over the past 19 years has damn well got to be God's friggin plan! That I am alive and able to write here on Hadit, incredible. How lucky and with people I think give at least a little bit of rats a. I think.. Smile ..si o no .... The time here in Colombia the last ten years, it is is show-in. . It has been a long long journey Getting to where I am today these 19 years later to be exact. I have so much to share... I feel good.... Kinda anyway... I have met so many people here it would be impossible to greet all I know. But yes my claim has made it to the BVA and I have basically 30 days or so to file a reply to the Medical Opinion Response form... They included their Experts Medical Opinions in the Memorandum sent and now it is up to me to work through my PVA to finish this level of the claim. I will edit the documents I am going to upload so no personal identifiers are left. Carlie I was sooo sick when I ask you to edit / delete the uploaded pages for security reasons, I could not even sit on my rear. Please please please accept my humble apologys..... Bows to Carlie OK, no doubt, this time I will be back....l Josh Colombia Boulder Colorado

Carlie, Berta, Pete and other interested Individuals.. Overseas Veterans with Claims Yesterday I was called by my Neurosurgeon's office to set up an appointment for a physical. Because dearest Carlie had posted the information regarding "out-of-country" claims processing, I was able to see exactly where in the process my claim is. Clearly my claim is at the Pre-Determination Team level as indicated in that documentation... In that Document they go in to say...... Additional Processing Help A claim for disability benefits made by a veteran living abroad may also involve other U.S. agencies and departments of VA. * U. S. Department of State When the military service medical records are not complete, or so old as to require a more current medical evaluation of the condition(s) being claimed for disability benefits, and the medical evaluation is to be made overseas, VA will coordinate requests for overseas medical examinations through the local American embassy or consulate. In any case The US Embassy in Bogota called my neurosurgeon here and his office called me to set the appointment. I have been with this Dr here for years and so I have lots of confidence in his review. The VA team clearly wants to do is find out what is my present physical condition is to aid in the rating process. For those of you who are new or unaware, I have been working this claim for years and had to be brought to Colombia by a girl I did not even know nor had ever met to get medical help. I had been basically abandon in a nursing home in Wisconsin after being misdiagnosed by the Doctors in Colorado. I have been very very fortunate to have met Giovanna, who is my now wife, on the internet and she flew me to Colombia for help. Giovanna sat by my side for weeks nursing me back to health, infusing the antibiotics and then going to the beach to get me walking once again after spending more than 3 years in a wheelchair getting me back on my feet. Wobbly you bet but not in the chair. I survived multiple brain abscesses that were clearly evident on the MRI's but the docs in Denver never even read the MRI's. Can you imagine, I sent those MRI's in as evidence and they "lost" them. This has been going on since 1993 so you can imagine my happiness that the claim process seems to be finally moving forward. When we first met she started sending me ORAL antibiotics to get well enough for the trip to Colombia to get the IV treatments needed. When I arrived, she had organized group of people to pick me up at the airport and get me to her home. The next day a doc and hematologist came to her home and set me up to be admitted the next day to have a subclavicular line placed. What I had was a cerebral spinal infection. Bacterial encephalomyelitis which had all started with a root canal. The original Boulder Colorado Docs kept passing me around saying that I had MS giving me immunosuppressants If you can imagine a bacterial infection of the brain and being given immunosupressants instead of antibiotics. Totally opposite directions. Before it was over, they damn near killed me. However, imagine this, before I left the US and been brought here, I had be declared Dead by somebody on the nursing home. I have that document giving me the date of my death. This story might seem disconnected but all true. Hurtin' Vet Josh

Carlie I wanted to pass on that I appreciate your posting this information. Not sure how many of us are in this position but no matter if One or hundreds, we all are grateful. Oh yes.. In a note aside, imagine I received a phone call from my neurosurgeon's office setting up a physical at the request of the US Embassy. I am fairly certain this request started from the VA as I do not think for a minute the US Embassy sets up appointments for its citizens out of country. I feel similar to the the trapped Chilean Miners who, for several months, sat in the DEEP BLACK HOLE when the bit break through the ceiling. I had no sirens go off outside, only inside my soul when seeing the potential for light and returning to the surface. Thanks Carlie I think saving grace is moving closer/ Hurtin' Vet Josh

Hi and Thank you Berta for your reply! As you know, my 1151 claim has be wallowing in the system for years and years at this point and, more likely than not, as you have indicated it may take years to finally move through the completion phase. I just hope that the US system does not collapse in the process, or after, or ever... Watching FOX News' Glenn Beck program I am truly concerned. Hope all is going well with you Berta... Oh yes, long time ago I ask if the Hadit Elders and/or Members have ever gotten together. At the time the answer was "No, but we want to." Any changes there? Smile.... Please take care Berta and all of you there. Hurtin' Vet Josh

Hello Pete I found your answer that when a claim has been "docketed", it is a sign the claim is moving forward. Somewhere have read that claims are reviewed in the order received. If that is true, what is the average time before review once it has been docketed? Thanks Pete Hurtin' Vet Josh

Hey Ret44 Ever plan to Come back? there are begining to be allot more North Americans, both from Canada and the US who are coming to Colombia. We got very lucky and bought a persons basically unused home and rebuilt it. I'll post some photos of Cartagena also.

Thank you Halos for your tears... You have no idea how I met the girl that saved me... On the interner with the program ICQ and picked a random chat to see how it worked... The exact same moment Giovanna was here in Colombia who had just installed ICQ and she was soing the same thing. Pushing the buttone to see hoe it worked and POOF She appeared on the screen. That was back in the spring of 1999.. Whe chatted for Months and reading my notes she figured out I had a serious medical problem and had the milage from traveling to provide the ticket here. long story After I was better she ended up with cancer and an heart attack... As you can see in the photo, she survived also the medical probñems... We are married now living in a small village outside of Cartagena Colombia Tubaca Gotta run and get parts for the Refridgerator

Berta Regarding you question Have they even opined on this statement yet ? No they have not but this is going to Washington now to see what happens next. Carlie posted an item which outlines the claim's paper work processing That made me feel better for some reason. Looking for order in all this disorder I guess. I feel like a leaf in the wind at this point.

Me Too I am getting worn out

I see you were up very early in the morning when you wrote. Hope all is OK Thanks for your best wishes for good luck!!! Josh ;)

Than you Pete I appreciate it. Hope its a long burning candle.. smile Josh

Thank you all for your encouragement! Yes, it seems the hearing went well and I was told the documents are now being sent to Washington DC. I'll paste the answer received and see what you all think. Joseph - I believe the hearing went very well. They didn't like me appearing on your behalf, but had to allow me to present your case. When they leave here, they will take the C files to BVA and give them to PVA Appeals for their presentation. Once this is done, the case will go back to the VA. for them to take into consideraton the presentations on the record. What is the bottom line here what does this mean? Am I still fighting or is this a "pending approval" ... Pending What? Pending the Washington offices trying to knock it down? Where is this case now ypu think?

Welcome to Hadit Mark. You are in the company of good people here- Josh

Today is the day my 1151 claim is finally being reviewed by the regional office. Image, it has been more than 17 years since the events occured which are culminating in this review. Yes Berta, the PVA is representing me on my behalf, and I have spoken with my Rep several times and guiding him through the maze of information. I did get the MRI's to him for review and thankfully he has digital copies printed for presentation. There is NO doubt there was a horrible lack (or very much) communication inthis case. Carlie, Thank you ever so much for dropping me notes now and then keeping my "spiritual nose" above the water's surface. There has been more than once not only did my spirit get tempted to call it quits, so did my body want to call it quits. I was told to call at 2:00PM CST to learn more. I´ll drop the group a note. If somebody wants it, I can post a copy of my final SSOC answer after I delete the Personal "stuff." Josh

Carlie I am sure this will be resolved before the next century but decade not sure smile When this is resolved, I need to get back to the US an visit my parents and freinds... I've forgotten what it was to on an airplane at this point. Carlie if you, your significan other, or Berta ever want to come and visit, I hope that you know you are welcome! Big hug to you Carlie

Hi and Good Suhday morning to you Berta, To answer your questions quickly, Yes : learned the PVA will represent me at the hearing... Thank goodness for the Paralyzed Veterans Of America (PVA) IMO's I have two and the second has a physical... They could stil request that I get a physical but have learned if an update is required, it might be able to be done at the Embassy. I am hoping that with the sencond IMO that contains the physical, that is used... No particular reason other that the travel to Bogota from Cartagena would be a challenge. Thanks for your questions Berta.... Huggs to you Berta

Carlie So good that you had a moment to write Thank you for your support on this and all the good work you and others have added have done with Hadit. So much has changed over time including Hadit and its member pool. has the hadit "crew" ever gotten together at this point? Take care Carlie, Berta, and others

And it is a big but, Here I am in a foreign country where I had to run to get medical help because the Docs involved in Colorado got caught in a serious diagnostic error. Carlie and Berta I think you know some of the basic history and are aware they LOST (shredded more likely) the original VA MRI’s. Those MRI’s went undocumented in the Denver VA system as the Docs knew their good friends at the HMO Kaiser-Permanente and Boulder Medical Center of Colorado goofed BIG TIME. The actual diagnosis should have been bacterial Encephalomyelitis which is the LABORARY RAT EQUIVALENT in the original erroneous diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. This could have been treated with antibiotics but rather was treated with immuno-suppressants. Those “killer drugs” altered the results tests which would have confirmed the error but they KNEW EXACTLY what they were doing. What a use of science…. They were hiding the truth to prevent a huge liability suit I wanted to file. They tried to KILL me and have copies of records the HMO changed to prove it. I ran to the VA ER to try get help and found myself surrounded by a group of their professional buddies ready to say and do nothing. However, at this point I was requested to attend a hearing in Houston TEXAS in three weeks and they will not do a teleconference. I need to confirm this with IRIS but there is no such thing as an International Teleconference to deal with VA hearing. What is more is that because I cannot work and live simple on a pension income, simply purchasing a plane ticket in not so simple. There is more much more but wanted to keep the board up to date on the latest is this snail paced claim that crosses international borders that is soon coming to a head. I have the credit card and know this claim will be approved but need to ask…. When a claim is approved, how long is it before the remaining paperwork is complete before a person receives compensation? Any and all thoughts are appreciated... The PVA is now my service organization ... The VFW was and they did nothing to help or even try to stay in contact, Thanks Josh

Greetings all, Advise if you can. I am filling out the 21-8416, Medical Expense Report, and need to ask a question.. My wife and I have literally hundreds of receipts, live in a foreign country with a different currency that literally fluctuates on a daily basis. To fill out that form for every purchase would result in hundreds of pages. What to do to ease this load? Josh All ideas are appreciated.