ruby

Just got back it took a whole 15 minutes, at the end he told me he was writing this up to make sure I got SSD. He said he could write it up as situational depression which I wouldn't get SSD or he could write it up for major depression. To do me justice he was writing it up as major depression which should give me SSD. He hoped I did well with pain management. One more appt on April 9th with the occupational spec doc. then I should know around the 16th or so.

Got another call today from case worker, I am now scheduled for a comp exam with occupational spec. in April, it really looks they are trying to deny me.

Thanks VAF I will do that, especially since I am having problems with remembering things as detailed as I use to.

Thanks Pete, I know some may think I am crazy for not going for it all, but I can't I know my limitations and I can't take anything else on.

John, Thanks for the reply I really cant go down that road at this time. Once something good happens and something is lifted off my shoulders I will take on something new, but I can't do it now. No, I am only 60%. My claims have been screwed up from day one.

My appt is tuesday so I'll find out then. Just wondering since psy was not a listed problem. ReA is listed under immune and according to thier critieria I meet the requirements.

I have an appt with the psy for drugs for my depression. I can't take on any other stressor now so I am not going to seek any additional treatment at this point and I am not applying for MST at this point. The fact I showed up I think took her by surprise as she didn't expect me too. I really do need help and I know it, I have never opened up to anyone and I told her that, here's my problems, help me. I was afraid that things would end up confrontational, I know I have MST and have the symptoms just didn't know it was MST. She agreed with everything else any additional stressor could tip the scales. I have one more exam for ssd on tuesday and that's it for awhile. I have pain management and PT. I really want those, I need the PT to try and figure out what I can do to gain some strength back. I am hoping the pain managment will help increase my mobility along with the PT. If I can get some quality of life back that alone will decrease my depression. Thanks for your support.

Had my 2 hr inital exam today. It went well I think, but I have no idea what she really wrote. We talked, she stated that in her opinion I had MST but have other major depression issues associated with pain due to my arthritis and didn't feel that I was stable enough to benefit from the MST program until my depression/pain was controlled. Apparently no one told me if needed to do a drug screen for pain control clinic and they cancelled my appointment, which put me in a tail spin, she called and got the appt and put labs in for me. Made an appoint with an MD for drug therapy to treat my depression. I have lots of things going on in my life and I am stress to the max, I told her I couldn't open old wounds, I emotionally could not take any additional stress. I told her I am hanging on by a thread, if the pain doesn't decrease and I remain the way I am I do not feel this is quality of life. I am trying to do everything I can before making that decision, thats why after 30 yrs of pain I am now willing to take narcs for the pain, I want PT and I will use a walker. I have refused narcs for many reasons, the biggest one is loss of control, which she said its probably related to your MST. It went much better than I thought it would and it gave me some peace of mind.

I understand where both of you are coming from. There are different ways to approach this issue and I am going to have to decide which is best---- I am sc for cyst rated as a scar for 0%---The cyst was infected with staph which is a normal bacteria for HD. Basically that infection alone could have been the nexus (even if it wasn't HD). I have had cyst throughout the years and there is documented bridging(indicates chronic, long term) 4 doctors have seen these cyst and all agree its HD. Only one is willing to state the original cyst is the begininning of the HD. The derma doc, stated he was never ask to do this before --to connect the first cyst to the HD and he said they have comp docs that do that. I told him I wanted a medical opinion, he would have agreed to sign the paper and started too, then decided he needed to ask the clinic director. I am sure he won't do it now. I will probably have to get a IMO other then my rhem doc who made the connection. But it was the derma doc that said why does it matter you have a documented staph infection and that alone could have caused the ReA. I have 2 other infections during service that can cause ReA. While I think its a no brainer to connect I can see how it will take IMO's to connect the other 2 infection. My best chance is the infected cyst (HD). I filed a new claim for--I am currently sc for cyst that my doctor states is HD I am reqesting SC for HD and REA secondary to the HD. The VCAA notice came back with we are working on your application for service connected compensation for HD, ReA and increased service connected for cyst r thigh. I need the HD as I am only SC for cyst r thigh, the HD is is bilateral groins and axilla. I understand if denied its years of fighting, luvHIM is right I want the ReA the sooner the better. I need to think about this.

Thanks for all the advice, I will call her supervisor, as I need to know what was said to the pre determination person working my claim. No, I will not under any circumstance give this person anoter opportunity to screw me. This is not a matter of her being under stress or disabled or having to much on her plate. She said she was typing this note as we were speaking which was an out and out lie and she would send me a copy of it to read. She become indignant when I kept after her to read me what she wrote. We all have bad days, we all screw up, we all make honest mistakes, this is not one of those cases in my opinion.

I am sc for a cyst which I still have. One of my docs did state that he felt after reviewing my records more likely than not the sc cyst/cysts was/is hd which is more likely than not the cause of the ReA. Well, I am confused now on how to handle this situation. Technically I have a cyst that is rated on par with a scar.---Is the scarring worse yes, but a scar won't connect the ReA, the infected cyst does. Actually the ReA can be directly attributed to the infected cyst (documented staph)that I am sc for. The problem arises from the difference in how a scar is rated and how the HD is rated. No my dx doesn't have to change to connect the infected cyst to ReA. However, I do have HD dx by 4 docs now. I could cover all tracks (confusing them of course) and state it this way: I am also requesting that my Reactive arthritis be rated as secondary to my sc infected cyst which more closely resembles HD and I am requesting a change in the diagnostic code from XXXXX to XXXX which more closely approximates my true disability. That way they have to connect it to either or both. Opinions

Thanks Rental

Rental, I need to do several things now, I had to rescind my POA and correct this VCAA notice -- you said "Fill out a 21-4138 explaining what your doctor has told you regarding the HD and the cyst, but nothing else." I am taking this literally. i want to try and keep my original date. I want them to rate my ReA as secondary to the HD. I would write a letter like this: In response to VCAA notice etc. I am writing this letter to correct the misconception in this notice. I AM NOT REQUESTING SC FOR HD, REA OR INCREASED SERVICE CONNECTED COMP FOR CYST R THIGH as indicated in the VCAA notice. To make my claim clear on what I am asking the following is submitted for clarification. I wish to change the diagnostic code for my sc cyst from DX CODE XXXX TO DX CODE XXXX. This more closely approximates the true disability that I have always suffered from. Medical opinion supports this claim. This is in accordance with the provisions listed in 38 CFR 4.13. This IS NOT a request for an increased evaluation for my sc cyst. This is an effort to change an erroneously listed condition from which I suffer. I am also requesting that my Reactive arthritis be rated as secondary to my sc cyst that I am requesting a change in the diagnostic code from XXXXX to XXXX which more closely approximates my true disability. Previous evidence to support this claim was filed with my claim which you have in your possession as indicated in this VCAA notice. Any Opinions

Yes, I will now become my own case manager with the help of hadit. Berta is 100% right when a VSO does something that isn't kosher, it needs to be reported, that is the only way to show there are more problems then just the VA trying to screw us its the org that were developed to help us are screwing us. The reason for this is simple there is no regulatory agency to oversee what is happening. There are no consquences to pay if you don't do your job or you make a error.

I am definitely revocating my POA. I just think something should be done when a person lies for no reason. I am gullible all she had to do is say I will go talk to them and I would have waited for this supposed fix, that is never coming. However I have hadit and know something isn't right. How many others don't know about hadit or know what she did is wrong. One way to fix this type of behavior is to have them licensed and if they don't follow the rules, they can lose thier livelyhoods, just like, doctors, nurses, insurance agents, real estate agents etc. I gather there is really nothing anyone can do and this behavior is normal for vet reps or should I say acceptable behavior. I will file a complint letter to the headquarters but I am sure nothing will occur. To protect myself incase she says or does something with the person working my case at the regional office, I need to document what occurred. I am truly appauled.

Betty, I am just thrilled for your victory. I hope you get the reto from the beginning. I hope the money can help you enjoy the remainder of your life that the VA took from you. You are an inspiration to others. Ruby

In my thread is my claim screwed up from the get go. The DAV rep I had submit my claim and then supposely fix the vcaa notice flat out lied to me and I feel she needs to be reported to someone for her attitude and actions. I finally was able to speak with her late today, she said a lot of things but what really upset me is her flat out lie. When I called her 2 weeks ago, she said she was typing up a response and she would hand carry it to the person working my claim and she would send me a copy of what she wrote. I have waited 2 weeks for this letter that she never did. What really pisses me off is when I asked her to tell me what she wrote she became indignant and said repeatly I'll send you a copy so you can read it. In my opinion she was hostile after I asked her for a third time to tell me what she wrote which she refused to do--I should have known then something was wrong. Today she says I never said I would send you a letter, I said the VA would send you a letter to correct the VCAA notice and beside that you never put anything in writing to me to correct anything, but I do remember talking to the person doing your claim. I lost composure at this point, and ask her what her problem is, her indignant and condensending attitude and behavior was not necessary. I informed her that I have no legal proof that she did anything to correct this error and I have done nothing waiting on her actions, that she never did but lied and said she did. I expect her to send me a letter stating what actions she has taken. She also said she would go speak with this person tomorrow to find out what is happening. I am pretty much screwed with this claim, if this rep has any repore with the case worker and says anything about our conversation my claim is toast. I'll probably be waiting for the rest of my life for this claim. How many other claims has this person possibly screwed up, and the Vet has no proof of anything, no proof of talking to the rep therefore no proof they disputed the VCAA notice. This is not right--while it may be ok to just walk up and talk to the person doing the case, she flat out lied that she was putting anything in writing and that she was sending me a copy of that letter. What do I do now, who do I call about this situation to make sure its corrected.

I called the VA 800 number to see if they had anything in thier records to indicate if the DVA rep corrected this error. They said not at this time. I called to speak with the rep and she wasn't available to take my call. I ask if the va rep did anything officially with a claim would it be in my file. They said yes, so I told her I was looking for a letter that was written a couple of weeks to correct a claim. Well its not in my file with them-DVA just my original request. Now they said it could have been done some other way. If its not written it wasn't done we all know this fact especially with the VA. I have waited 2 wks to get a copy of what she supposely did. This is a bunch of bull, I should have trusted my gut on this one and did as Rental and Berta said. When I questioned what she had written, she became defensive and said I'll send you a copy, I pressed her for what she wrote and the more I pressed the more she got irritated. I'll send you a copy and you can read it. I thought then she was protesting too much, if she wrote something then, why wouldn't she read it to me. Now I probably know why she didn't do anything.

groin pain can be caused from disk problems or arthritis.

I talked to my case worker the other day, seems the words depression, triggered an automatic comp exam. He did tell me he couldn't tell me if I was approved, however, the doc has reviewed my records and they are awaiting my mental exam next week. I have no cluse based on what he said if I am on the fence and I need this to help me stay on the fence, or I am approved and its just standard for the mental due to the words depression. I did tell me that they found my xrays and offered them to the doc but he didn't want them. He said they go by the reports, I told him the reports only state what I have they do not state the severity and only looking at my x rays could you see how severe it is. Guess I will wait, from my understanding it I should know something within the month.

Look for an attorney in your own that only does SSA, they know the ropes, while allsup maybe good, I think they probably tend to take the no brainer cases, the quick easy money ones.--its a business and quick and easy is the best to take. I know someone who mentally was in your shape, most problems caused by some form of abuse and he won, it took 2 years, but he won. His lawyer said no at first but he hounded her and she finally took it, she said I am have never lost a case before, you are going to be my first. Don't be that discouraged. Get cleaned up and go for it.

Exactly what is considered PD by the VA? I have always wondered what this meant.

Please do, they were in Tampa today and I wanted to go see them, but I had doctor appointments today during the timeframe they were here.

I guess there is hope my case is the same, but my luck doesn't normal run like that. Thanks for replying.

VAF, Was your husband approved on the physical part and still sent to a psy. I don't understand why I am just going to psy first, since its not my disability. Pete my problem is I am only going for one exam, one I didn't file for, since I have no records to show I have any problems. I did an arthritis impact form and had my rheum. sign it.