ks1k

Special K

I just stumbled on this thread. I do not frequent this forum often (enough). I agree with the poster that suggested Pain Management. There are so many things that can be done to manage pain. You may have to try a number of them before finding one that will work for you. What works for one person does not necessarily work for others. I have been service connected for low back pain for 20 years or so. I tried many different prescribed and non prescribed methods. The opiates and other pain killers scare the crap our of me. I got hooked on opiates while on active duty. Never again. The thing that has worked best for me is acupuncture. I have had the same VA acupuncturist in Connecticut for many years now and dread the thought of the day when he retires. I now live in Central Florida in the winter and the VA has no acupuncturists that I know of. I have had to deal with Fee Basis to get the necessary and proven treatment. The Fee Basis people are very difficult to deal with and I have had to involve the VAMC Director and my Congress person to get acupuncture treatment approved via fee basis and see a local acupuncturist. The Fee Basis problem became a bit easier when the Pain Management department became involved last year. Try everything that you can and hopefully something will work for you.

Regulatory or Procedural Review is a term that the VARO uses to keep us confused. It is used when the claim is farmed out to another RO be worked. Wouldn't it be easier if they just called it what it is?

You are, of course, correct Chuck. I went round and round with the supervisor of the travel section in Gainesville FL over the way they figure mileage. The short of it was that I had an appointment at their Dermatology Clinic on the other side of Gainesville, in a different zip code, and he insisted that I could only be paid to the VAMC. I pointed out to him that their FAQs stated (1) zip code to zip code, (2) Rand McNally, or (3) Mapquest -- whichever was the most advantageous to the veteran. His reply was that "that is not how we do it." End of story as far as he was concerned. That seems to be the way many travel sections work. Just do what is easiest for them. Not thinking or common sense required.

I have found the best way to get an answer is to go to the RO and ask them. I just went to the Hartford (Newington) CT RO last week and they answered my question.

However, when you go to the second appointment the computer tells the travel person that you have already been paid from the first appointment and they process a one-way payment. Is it right? No way. Furthermore the procedure that they printed out for me clearly says that one of the conditions where multiple payments may be appropriate is when "appointments are scheduled at separate facilities." Another case of doing what is easiest for them and not what is best for the veteran.

Actually, that would make sense. However, that is not the way the travel folks do it. Also, the quote I gave where they say that multiple payments are appropriate when appointments are scheduled at separate facilities. I just want them to do what is right. If they choose to pay one way to one appointment and round trip to the other and their directives say otherwise then I want them to do what their directive says. The sensible thing would be what you suggest. The sensible thing is not done. Sigh.

Here we go again. The travel folks have told me that when I have two appointments on the same day at two different VAMCs I get travel pay round trip to one and one way to the other. I have the choice on which I get one-way pay and which I get round-trip pay to. I actually had this happen last year. I was unaware of the policy (cannot find reference to it anywhere) and claimed the travel to the nearest VAMC first and when I put in the claim at the second VAMC I was told about this policy. Last week when I went to an appointment the travel clerk kindly told me that I should only ask for one-way pay as I had another appointment at another VAMC later in the day. I asked her to pay me round trip as the second appointment had been canceled. So, my questions are: (1) where is this policy written? (2) is this consistent at all VAMCs (3) has anyone else experienced this? I have reviewed 38 USC 111, 38 CFR part 70 and the Travel FAQs with no answers. I asked the travel clerk at the Newington VAMC travel section about their policy and asked for a reference. She gave me the following, with no indication of where it was from: " Generally, a Veteran should only be reimbursed for his/her travel to a VA facility for one (round) trip any given day regardless of number to time of medical care appointments (it is incumbent upon the facility to ensure that appointments are arranged in a manner that avoids undue inconvenience); however there may be circumstances where multiple payments are warranted. Should a veteran have an appointment and then is later recalled by VA due to the results of an examination, lab test etc., appointments are scheduled at separate facilities, or emergency services are required then multiple payments are appropriate." The last sentence seems to be in direct conflict with what is in practice. It clearly says that multiple payments are appropriate when appointments are scheduled at separate facilities. Many times when dealing with the folks in the various VA travel sections it appears that they do what is easiest for them and not what is best for the Veteran.

NO

Thanks, it is always good to have a reminder.

I just read in the latest DAV magazine, on page 20 that: "The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to make Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) video hearings more common and move away from offering veterans the option of face-to-face field or central office hearings. Legislation to make the video BVA hearings mandatory has been introduced in Congress but has been opposed by the DAV." If the VA wants to force veterans to have video hearings, then they should have video conferences. They don't even need Legislation to do that. I think that the VA talk about belt tightening and budget constraints are just talk and window dressing.

Berta, I have watched your trials and tribulations with the VA for years now. I wish you the best. Your determination make me continue with my battles with the VA bureaucrats. Best wishes. Dave sends

y'all might want to add this VHA Directive to your extensive index: http://www1.va.gov/v...asp?pub_ID=1728 Title is "HEALTH BENEFIT APPEALS PROCESSING"

This is what you are referring to? http://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov/features/ToVeteransICARE.asp

Well, I do not take an opiates or controlled substances. Therefore I will politely refuse to sign anything like this.

Wonderful recap of Hadit TBird. Thanks for all you -- and many others -- do for Veterans.

Some years ago now I was sent for a C&P ato a different VAMC than the one where I had received treatment for low back pain. When I showed up for the C&P the examiner was the Doctor who had been treating me for low back pain for many, many years. We had actually become good friends over the years and he knew about my family and I knew about his. We had discussed children, grandchildren and all kinds of things over the years. When he saw me at the C&P at this other VAMC, some distance from the one where I was his patient, he asked "what are you doing here?" I said that I had been sent for a C&P for a low back pain claim. We had a good chat and he did the C&P exam. When I went to see him for a regular appointment at the regular VAMC he told me that he had to go to the other VAMC one day a week and do C&P exams. We both knew that he never should have been doing an exam on an old friend or long-time patient. At my next few appointments with him he asked several questions while he was completing his C&P exam paperwork. The end result was a very favorable and well documented award. I still see this Doctor after many, many years and we still mention the old C&P exam from some 20 years ago. Ya just never know with the VA

Yes you need to ask to add your dependents. It will not be quick. For the info of those who responded about 40% PTSD. PTSD is rated at 30%, 50%, 70% and 100%. The original 10% was probably for another disability.

If they fail to schedule your lab appointment far enough in advance of your liver clinic appointment, just call the liver clinic and tell them you are cancelling their appointment until the labs are completed prior to the liver appointment. That should get them on the ball.

The way I figure it is 50 miles time 41.5 cents per mile = $20.75. That minus the $6.00 deduction = $14.75. You have been short changed.

The Priority Groups is just more eyewash. Not useful for anything. JMHO

I don't understand why a rater would wish to "push off" (delay) a decision. I can understand the rater wanting and requesting more information to make a decision. I can confirm that a rating can be given without a C&P. My PTSD claim was approved in January of this year with no C&P.

RE:Where is this covered in CFR or other regs? Insurance companies don't question anything because it's the government & they don't want any problems. This just seems wrong but I don't know where to start looking." evandc, I know you asked the above and to no answer. Dunno if an answer is really required. Noting will change and it does not matter what regulation covers it IMHO Dave sends

I had a series of three shots a week apart. Each one helped more than the previous one. After the third one I was 99% pain free. It lasted about 5 or 6 days and then back to square one. The Pain Management then did a different where "some medication" was injected, down to the bone, in four different places on my back. I assume ( I know about assume) it was at 4 different vertebra. The first one took over 50% of the pain away. The second treatment left me 99% pain free. This procedure was on March 23rd. So far, so good. The Doc says that if this does not work then he will shoot the area with "radio waves."