Viet Wife

We were initially denied PCAFC in November 2022. We appealed to BVA on December 30, 2022. BVA Remanded on March 7, 2023, We received a letter stating the errors listed in the Remand were being reviewed and we shoulld expect a new decision in accordance with the manner of timeliness of our BVA Appeal. My Veteran husband is an 81-year-old Vietnam purple Heart Veteran, Agent Orange Exposed. 100% Disabled Homebound. His age is the factor which caused the BVA to view his appeal in a timely manner. However, it has been 6 months since BVA's Remand decision, and we still have no further response. BVA was time efficient but the local or the folks in Janesville which seems like some type elusive Never-Never Land have not been as timely as BVA. So, to that end, we have not been notified still at this point. We are still in limbo waiting for a finalized decision. By the way, appealing directly to BVA in lieu of going through the appeal process with CEAT was learned/credited through the advice of James Cripps on the Exposed Vet Podcast and reading his Blog, VA THE REDNECKWAY.

Thanks, James. I learned that we should appeal to the BVA and not back through the route of the PCAFC by listening to you on Exposed Vet Podcast. You give good explanations and advise. Thank you so much.

broncovet, Clarifying: When I stated that a PCAFC type Caregiver's denial is one that must be appealed by the veteran..... Meaning that a veteran's agent; or veteran's organization; or an attorney on behalf of the veteran is not the one to appeal, at this junction. It is the veteran/himself or herself who appeals directly to BVA. My Husband did appeal to BVA. We were notified that his Denial of PCAFC Caregiver's Program has been remanded. PCAFC Denials of Benefits are being handled differently than other typical type VA Denials of Benefits.

All details regarding ratings and illnesses/conditions are in my husband's medical file. All, my husband's diagnoses/resulting treatments and care have been rendered at the VA. Hardship assistance? I'm not understanding. Appealing to the BVA for denial of the Caregiver Program is only appealable by the veteran at this point.

I'm Just commenting about my husband's experience applying for me/his wife to as his Caregiver with the PCAFC Caregivers Program. Hoping to share some insight. Please know. Basically, it's a fight! Even more stressful, it's a battle with an outside group within VA/VHA: Social Workers and Nurses. You're speaking one language and they are speaking another. When you are battling just the VA, at least you're speaking the same language not always reading the same script but still the language is the same. We were denied for the Caregiver's Program. We completed our interview/assessment about November 30, 2022. We received our Denial Letter on December 19, 2022. My husband is 100% Disabled with SMC Housebound; TDIU. He's a Vietnam Marine Corps' Purple Heart; Agent Orange Exposed Veteran. He endured two cancers, colon and rectal. One, of his active cancers Prostate Cancer, is being contained by Hormone Shots; 50% PTSD; !0% Diabetes 2. Hypertension 0%; Tinnitus 10%. He's lost use of his Right Hand. Shuffles when he walks because he cannot feel his feet underneath him. He has a tendency to fall.... more so as time goes on. He wears a colonoscopy bag due to losing his sphincter, and wears diapers due to chronic incontinence. Yet, the Caregivers' program stated we don't qualify for the Caregivers' program. I assist my husband with bathing, toileting, dressing, prepares his meals, cuts his meats, especially, beef/steaks. When he falls i assist him in getting up off the floor. Whenever he has a meltdown, I calm him down to a state of rational calmness. I keep the pathway where he walks uncluttered so as to make safe for any unexpected falls. The Caregivers' Program stated it would be to my husband's advantage not to extend services to him at this time (?). Further they stated the Caregivers Program wouldn't be beneficial for improving his health (?). CEAT in conjunction with PCAFC suggested that: Perhaps we should consider one of the other Caregivers' Programs (?). We responded: "Congress already knows the state of these chronically ill veterans and that their health status is not necessarily going to improve. Congress provides a compensation opportunity for Veteran spouses of all eras; most recently, extended to Vietnam Era Veterans for their wives or husbands to receive compensation for caring for his/her veteran spouse. Spouses of veterans are helping to keep these chronically ill Veterans alive and at home in the comfort of their own homes with family loved ones around them for continued enjoyment of family life." Furthermore, six ADLs are required to qualify. We listed at least six ADLs. I listen on Exposed Vet Podcast to James Cripps and Ray Cobbs talk about their experiences with the Caregivers' Program. I never expected it to be adversarial. I had to give up my job in 2011 to no longer work outside the home so I could see after my husband. Now that this benefit is being offered to long overdue Vietnam Veterans for their Caretaker Wives/Husbands, it seems as if going to be like Hell to pay to obtain the benefit! That doesn't seem right to me. My husband made 80 years of age July 2022. The Caregiver Program's CEAT Component (An internal appeal group/board comprised of Social Workers and Nurses gathering to justify your denial and its appeal within prior to issuing your denial) also made a comment that there were no indication/notes in my husband's medical records that he needed Caregiver Assistance. The fact that my husband is 100% disabled, Housebound, TDIU, along with his varying descriptive illnesses/disabilities, doesn't that logically = to needing assistance at home from the Veteran's wife and/or some other close relative? So, if it isn't written in the medical records, it's not to be believed although it is already inherent within his ratings and tied into the very meaning of Housebound? We filed Notice of Disagreement with BVA on December 30, 2022. We requested it be advanced on the docket due to age. On February 6, 2023, we were notified it was before a Judge. Then, on March 10, 2023, when logging into HealtheVet indicated, "On March 7, 2023, the Board sent a decision on your case. Because the Judge identified an error, A reviewer at VHA will correct the error based on the Judge's instruction. You'll receive a new decision in the mail." It's a battle! Even worse in some ways than other type VA battles! Even a regular VA denial typically knows the meaning of Housebound. Yet, the Caregivers Program does not......or so it seems.