MRRRR5

Pete, glad to hear that you are back at home and recovering; hang in there.

Betty, may God's favor continue to shine upon you and your husband faithfulness and patience. Congratulations again on receiving your "earned" entitlements after all these years; you, Berta, and the other Vets who have endured this unneccessary struggle with the VA gives me the hope and inspiration to carry on. :P

Jim, this a great info for all Vets and thanks for posting. I will keep this in mind while dealing with my dental issue with the VA.

Interesting Article that Carlie posted. I just hope and pray that no Vet who is really in need of care is denied or delayed that care because of a vindictive health care practioner. So much for confidentiality and privacy with the cashier clerk having access to this data! And the battle rages on with the VA...

Congrats to you Don and you deserve it. I pray all will be well with your health; hang in there and God bless you.

Congratulations to you and Dave for hangin' in there and getting his just, "earned" benefit.

Great news for you Kappa. You're on your way now to getting your well "earned" benefit. Keep up the "good fight of faith" as well and your blessing will surely come "on time".

Update; had DRO hearing today. Prior to hearing, Vet rep stated that he spoke with DRO and DRO said that my claim was "initially" denied because the C&P doc said I didn't have any pain in my foot at that time, otherwise, it would have been SC'ed. He also said that DRO reviewed my additional medical evidence recently submitted and said that it was valid medical information in support of my claim, however, it was not in "VA language" such as "diagnosis from 2004 is confirmed and treatment continues for this (mild, moderate, moderate severe, severe) condition" and I will most likely be scheduled for another c&p since I stated in my NOD that the c&p doc did not acurately list my response nor had my SMR to review. Vet rep also said that I should have no problem once the c&p is complete getting this SC. Anyway, in the DRO hearing, the DRO stated that he reviewed the additional medical evidence and said that I will get another c&p because, although I have good supporting medical evidence, it is "not written in the language that VA uses" and to make sure I report for this c&p exam. Just to make sure it was in the record and on the recording (since it was being taped by the VA DRO....and me ), I asked the DRO in the hearing if my additional medical evidence submitted had been taken into consideration and he said yes, but the "wording has to read a certain way" and that the "c&p examiner knows how to word it for VA purposes". Well, in my opinion one thing for sure, at least from this DRO perspective, the wording from a c&p examiner appears that it will outweigh another non VA doctor if they don't word their reports IAW VA guidelines.

The PN is not due to AO. I hope my Vet rep will get some positive results from the DRO, but I wont hold my breath. Thanks for all the responses.

QUOTE (Berta @ Aug 12 2008, 08:24 AM) Is the PN secondary to diabetes due to AO? De Novo- boy did I raise hell when I got a verbatim de novo review SOC- I then got a conference set with my rep and the DRO from the VSM -I asked her to CUE the decision-it is against VA regs to get copy and paste de novos- I feel a De Novo-when it is handled properly per the DRO regs in 38 CFR and M21-1- means one more pair of eyes -and thus one more chance to get the evidence read. "Got letter today that hearing is next month. After reviewing 2006 C&P from this that they used to initially deny SC, I notice VA doctor stated that that "there was no C-file to review". Wasn't this supposed to be available for examiner to review which they would had seen the issues from the previous EMG/NCV study and on-going problems/treatment?" Right- they should have had the records and reviewed them- this is a good point to raise at the hearing- I have seen Independent Medical Opinions at the BVA web site were found to have much more weight than VA C & P opinions when the IMO doctor had access to all of the clinical records and referred to them in their opinions.

Mcafee, I understand your fustration; the only reason I can think of for them to say "October" is that is the beginning of the new FY; but I don't think any VA budget has been pass yet and those funds should come from FY08 dollars I think. B) Hang in there though and stay on them.

Well deserved my Vet brother; you and the wife enjoy and thanks for your service.

Congrats Googy, and thank you for your service and a gracious thanks to your spouse for being their for you too! B)

Overall I believe that the service organizations do care, however, I also believe that their "unwritten #1 priority" is getting "membership" which equals $$$$. If I had known about this sight "before" I paid my $240 lifetime membership, I may have reconsidered.

Sad that it took you going to the top, but sometimes you have to do that to get the subordinate agencies to respond to you; even after you have tried to give them ample chances to respond, answer the phone, email me back, open the door, etc. B)

I would recommend you call the National office and put in a complaint.

Allan, thanks for this post and Article. I just read the entire article and am amazed at how the VA "skew" the numbers. "Average 6 months to process a claim" but don't tell you: - In that average it is combining "pension" claims with "disability" claims, knowing that "pension claims" can be decided in less than "an hour" as the article states; - Or that Vets who are pending a claims decision and "commit suicide" claim is counted in that average and closed as a "resolved claim", giving VA "credit" for processing/resolving that claim also!! - Or that under the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD), a claim that is filed 180 days (6 months) prior to separation by a Soldier and VA decides claim on the 181st day, that "claim" is listed in the "average claim processing time" as being processed in "one day". Talk about fraud and fudging the numbers to fool the public and congress!!! I am glad to see that some in congress though are not fooled by this such as Congressman Filner and are working on behalf of all Vets to get the VA fixed.

Great advice given by others here and I hope it works out for you. Welcome to Hadit and thanks for your service to the country fellow Vet!

My thoughts exactly. I followed his posts but got just as confused with the contradicting information.

Welcome to Hadit and thanks for your service to the country. Sorry to hear about your situation with this, but John is right, let your lawyer sort it out for you and deal with the VA on the privacy violation.

Well deserved fellow Vet and thanks for your faithful service!

Congratulations!

Well deserve ab2wk! You've earned it and thanks for your service to the country.

Carlie, this was a good laugh! Thanks.

Ron, congratulations to you and you well deserve it; I am so glad to see that the BVA did right by you.