sbrewer

Thanks Berta, The VA probably was not able to give it. He goes to Dorn in Columbia, SC. However, that being said, his dr. will not order any more test or anything. We have not heard from the VA about this situation at all. I guess if we did not get the records and read them ourselves, she would have never called the first time. Everyone out there...please get copies of your records. You have to be your own dr. when it comes to the VA. I agree the VA may not consider this a critical medical situation, but we sure did. You know, when we went to Duke, we took his records and a disk with the CAT scan. The dr. at Duke looked at the disk and he said there was a 75% chance this was lung cancer, so he ordered the PET scan and scheduled surgery to remove the upper left lobe. The PET showed it was not cancer so of course surgery was canceled and we very happily came home. But even an outside dr. just looking at the disc thought 75% chance, certainly someone at the VA thought something since it was noted in his records he needed a PET scan... thanks, sbrewer

Hi, Need help with fee basis. Husband had a chest x-ray done at Urgent Care at the VA. The Dr. that saw him at Urgent Care called and said something showed up, and scheduled a CAT scan. At that time, she also told him that he would now be handled by his primary care provider(which he's been trying to get rid of for 2 yrs., and they want switch him). He had the CAT scan, and we heard nothing from them. We went and picked up his records and the records said he had 2 nodules on his lungs and needed to have a PET scan done. Well, he called the TAPS line and left message for his primary care dr. to call him about his CAT scan. She never called, so we made an app. at Duke Hospital and they did the PET scan. After this was done, his primary care called and read his record to him word for word. He asked her what her opinion was, and she said she had "no opinion". He called fee basis and they said his primary care would have to call them. The TAPS line people keep telling him they are not going to pay this and will not give the message to his primary care. What can we do? sbrewer

Husband was awarded SS disability with onset date of Feb. 7, 2007, we finally get the Medicare card and package in the mail with the begin date of August 1. 2009 Question: Shouldn't this be March or April 1, 2009 and if so can we do anything about this now. The reason I ask is because he is suppose to have surgery (remove part of lung for lumg cancer) July 28, 2009 and Medicare kicks in August 1 Planning to call tomorrow but hoping someone comes along with advice thanks, sbrewer

Hi, I have a question about whether or not this would be secondary conditions to depression. Husband is 70%, but considered 100% IUPT for major depression. His new dr. said he was adding more to his records to include heart disease and severe neurapathy pain making the depression worse. Should he put in a claim for these two conditions, as secondary to the depression? sbrewer

My husband retired disability under FERS. SS says the back pay check is in the mail. I know that the SS Back pay would be taxed however, most of the back pay will be going back to FERS. Does anyone know if the amount going to FERS would be taxed or just the actual amount that we would pocket? Thanks, sbrewer

Thanks Everyone, The decision letter is dated Sept. 16, so that's only been a little over 2 weeks. It seemed like it had been longer. Again thanks for the information, sbrewer

After receiving the fully favorable letter, what's next and how long does it take? The fully favorable letter said that the pay came from a different dept. Does this dept notify you of your backpay amount, monthly amount, and the time you will receive it? Thanks, sbrewer

I have some questions about ss backpay. According to letter from ALJ hearing, the onset date will be from 2-09-2007, how many months of backpay would they owe him? I know there is a 5 or 6 month waiting period, but I don't know if it starts from Feb. or March(this being the first full month). Also, if anyone knows about FERS. I know they get the first yr. of SS, however if SS pay starts 5 or 6 months later, would they get the full amount of 6 months of SS then the 60%? His FERS changed April 1, 2008. thanks, sbrewer

I also asked this question on the other site and the response there was...he until that date to file. I hope that is the correct answer. sbrewer

My husband finally received his decision letter...fully favorable. One thing on it I did not understand..."The claimant's date last insured is December 31,2011." What does this mean? Will he be cut off of disability then and receive no more money from SS? thanks, sbrewer

Thanks Carlie, But ohhh just thought of something....what about taxes? DO you know how that works? sbrewer

Hi, After 18 months, my husband was finally approved today at the ALJ level. No attorney was used either. We went in, and the judge asked about 3 or 4 questions and said to the court reporter approved with effective date of when he filed last yr. Then he told us, we would hear from them within a month but hopefully just a couple of weeks... Oh, and one more thing, they supposedly got the medical records from the VA...well they were not in his file with SS. It's a good thing I took our own copies with us as well as documents from his outside cardiologist. The judge even commented on that and thanked us 3 different time for bringing that stuff with us. They made copies when we arrived so the judge had to review them before seeing us....Make sure you take your own copies with you.... thanks, sbrewer

Hi, Can someone point me in the right direction? I believe there was a rule about...if a non sc condition causes a sc condition to worsen, then the non sc condition could be rated. I hope I am remembering this correctly. thanks, sbrewer

Thanks everyone for your response. Allan, We get copies of his VA records just about every other month, so I do intend to take them with us. I was really curious though as to why they never ordered an exam or anything. It seems in reading other post, people are always discussing the exam that SS sent them to. thanks, sbrewer

Hi Pete, This is Social Security not VA. He is already 100% TDIU with the VA. thanks, sbrewer

Hi Ruby, Yes, been denied 2 times. This is the ALJ hearing. They have not called him in for any kind of exam...mental, physical or anything. He is 100% through the VA and retired disability from FERS, so there is 2 federal agencies that say he can not work, as well as his cardiologist on the outside of the VA. But, apparently they have not requested his records from the VA or outside until a day before he got the hearing date. Seems odd to me, but I certainly don't know. thanks, sbrewer

My husband received a letter with his hearing date for August 12. One day before the letter arrived, he got a phone call from a lady at the adjucation and review dept., asking him when he was treated at the VA. He told her for yrs. and then had to tell her how to get his records. I hope they have them before the trial date. Anyway, he has never had any kind of exam from SS, like a mental exam or heart exam or anything. Is this normal? Do they sometimes make a decision without exams ordered from them? thanks, sbrewer

Well, today he receives a certified letter from SS. His hearing is scheduled for August 12. Now, he has had no physicals or anything from SS. The only contact was the lady wanting to know how to get his VA records. Is this normal? We have copies of his records and are going to take them with us. He also has a letter from his cardiologist saying that he is permanently disabled with his heart. He in 100%PTIU through the VA for mental. He worked at the VA and has the phych. letter from work when he retired on disability saying he is unfit for his job. Is there anything else that we need to take with us? Any help is greatly appeciated. thanks, sbrewer Thanks, Carlie for your response.

Hi, My husband got a call Friday from a lady with the adjucation and review dept. She wanted to know what date he saw a dr. at the VA..He's been going there for yrs. She wanted to know how to get his records. So, he told her to contact release of information to get his records. So, I guess he was turned down 2 times when they had no records, since they're just asking about them now. Anyway, does this mean anything...are we getting closer? thanks, sbrewer

Hi, My husband and I were talking about if something happened to him, would I get DIC. He says no and I say yes... He is 70% but paid at the 100% IU level with no future exams, so I think that's TDIU. I get CHAMPVA and we get all the other bennies that go with the 100%. Anyway, would I get paid DIC if something happened to him? thanks, sbrewer

Hi, Just wondering, if you have a prescription from non VA dr., can you get it filled at the base. Husband is 100%TDIU. thanks, sbrewer

Thanks Pete, But, do I have to be enrolled in the VA or do I just walk in to prosthetics with a paper from an outside dr. with whatever I may need written on it. thanks, sbrewer

Hi, I am in SC and the closest VA facily that takes CHAMPVA is Asheville, NC. I am currently seeing an orthopedic dr. for some knee and heel problems. My question is...if I need physical therapy or any ortho devices such as Cam Walker or Orthotics or anything of this nature, can I go to Dorn VA for this or would I have to have a primary care dr. there to use any portion of the facility? Thanks, sbrewer

My husband had been on Gabapentin, but it did not work and was replaced by Lyrica. His neuropathy doesn't bother him as much as it use too, however the one toe, we think is not neuropathy. He has seen podiactrist, neurologist, physical therapy, and 3 shots which did not work. He thought maybe he would have better luck with Tampa or John Hopkins. They had an interesting article on the web page, here's the link.... http://hopkinsneuro.org:80/peripheral_nerve/ sbrewer

Hi John, He has not gone to the pain clinic yet. He talked(via email) to Dr. Michael E. Clark. He was told that part of the program was exercise and since he has severe CAD, that limits his ability to do a lot of exercise. I think they said stranious walking or running I'm not sure, but he would need to be cleared with a cardiologist before they would except him in the program. We are in SC and I beleive we would have to pay for our own way there and such. The program also requires an 18 day stay in the hospital. He is 100% PTIU. Sbrewer