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Jayg

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Posts posted by Jayg

  1. Ok. I hear you. Don't like it, but I hear it. A couple points though.

    The writ? Ok, No arguments.

    The hearing? I was given to understand those were quicker to obtain than, say, DRO hearing (6 mo min.) I wasn't expecting to get it

    a. next week or any such nonsense

    b. "faster than anyone else."

    "How long have you been waiting for a decision on your claim?" This time?" Since March 2008. The claim was first filed in 2004 with additional elements in 2005. I had the DRO hearing 6 months ago. How long after DRO hearing do people usually get their answer?

    How do I check this "evidence list" please?

    "If a vet rep told me what the rep from TVC told you-I would be on them at this point to let me know exactly what I would be "happy" with and what the exact status of the decision and the cash was."

    I had debated that and he had hemmed and hawed at doing it. His take was it wasn't ok to say since it was 'officially written up. I'm thinking now I want to know what they're taking away (as I have no doubt they are!

    I think that brings it up to date...

    I feel John is right.

    I see absolutely no basis for a writ of mandamus and I sure don't think you would get a hearing faster than anyone else does and it would add more time to your claim.

    If a vet rep told me what the rep from TVC told you-I would be on them at this point to let me know exactly what I would be "happy" with and what the exact status of the decision and the cash was.

    And I would ask that info from someone at TVC who could actually verify this.

    (I dealt with TVC in a similiar situation but not a personal claim-I am in NY-not Texas-I ended up calling the highest person I could contact at TVC to get it straightened out. (The HBP on AO presumptive list info last year that was based on erroneous information from someone TVC and when it was published many HBP AO vets thought they could get an award.)

  2. You may be right there Berta. for right now, I have a plan. Tell me what you think...

    I have submitted a request for a personal hearing. Next week, push for that. I have no idea how long that may take to get but not all that long, relatively speaking I understand.

    Depending on that, give notice of intent to file a Writ of Mandamus.

    That doesn't work, file the writ of mandamus.

    My goal here is to get them to, as Dad used to say, (family version) "poop or get off the pot." What I want is a decision. Any decision. At this point I really don't even care if they deny everything across the board again. Because at this point I'm going straight to an attorney if they don't grant.

    I think part of the Problem might lie here:

    You don't have a decision yet do you? I was told I did, a rating, one that my TVC rep said would make me "Very Happy indeed." It just had to go through a supervisor's review because of high dollar rating. Well, that rater kicked it back up for "more development." That was a week ago. as of today, it is with another supervisor "who has not yet decided who he wants to work it..."

    Here is where contact info is for everyone at TVC-you might have to go higher then the rep who told you above info.

    http://www.tvc.state.tx.us/HTML%20Pages%20...C_Directory.pdf

  3. All a Writ does if the Plaintiff makes an appropriate motion the Judge will order the VA to do its job. Most Writs never get that far as it makes the VA get off the dime and make a decision.

    Alex Humpfrey used to write a letter requesting that the VA finish its work and ask for a decision withing 30 days. He would follow up and ask for 15. In both letters he would tell the VA he planned to file a Writ of Mandamus if the VA failed.

    Once filed the VA will ask for more time he would usually give them extra 30 days and than say no more time. The VA always came back before being compelled by the Judge.

    I think it may be time to petition someone like Bob Woodruff of ABC News to bring out the VA's dirty laundry and show America how bad they really are doing.

    Ok, a little help here please. I am not ezactly sure of my appleal's status, where it is, or what it is. You know, BVA, CVA all those things. Ok, I know it's not at a 'court.'

    Some background...

    I was denied in Jan/08. I filed an NOD and they denied again with an SSoC in March/08. So I filed again with new evidence. Then my file went to a rater, sat there for the legal limit and got passed to another rater,... I think they did this 3 times. I received a DRO hearing in March/09, and now I am waiting again.

    No decision since 3/08. Or rather there was one with a "substantial award" and I was going to be "very, very happy" with it. But it had to be reviewed by a supervisor for "substantial awards" and he/she/it sent it back for "more development." So now I'm waiting again... :D

    thanks

  4. For more on the "fast letter" and the shredder scandal go to :

    http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmar09/nf031509-3.htm

    In a nutshell you have until Nov. 17,2009 to send a letter to the VA that you have been a victim of shredding, and the VA has to accept your evidence. Dont wait past the deadline. Get it there by Nov. 17, dont mail it Nov. 17, and send it certified mail return receipt requested.

    Ok. I have the picture. But, I don't know if this is something I can use. I received my copy of the C-file only recently (say, 30 days) and I do not recall (I will double check) seeing that anything was actually missing or altered within my C-file. I know they had my IMO because I hand delivered it the day of the DRO hearing and the DRO made reference to it. (he said he was accepting it over a prior C&P exam that was trash.)

    I'll go crank out another IRIS soon as I post this.

    On the phone today my TVC rep said he called the "coach" or "Supervisor" (he used both terms) and pointed out I was on a financial Hardship status and got That person to agree to get on deciding who to give it to. So I'm supposed to check back Wednesday.

    Where I am having records falsified is at the VAMC C&P dept.

  5. There is no way to push them into a decision. Have you sent an IRIS to ask what the status of your claim is now? When did you have your DRO Hearing?
    Been about 2 weeks on the IRIS, that just said it was with a rating specialist or some such. DRO hearing was last March. I know they don't 'push' but I have to try especially since they extended a few points I can try to take hold of.
  6. Thanks Berta. My ignorance needs some explaining on a couple of points.

    One problem, big time, here is that every body is assuming I have any idea what they've looked at. As I noted, the S(s)oC of early 08 is the last indication of what they looked at/decided. Since then my file has been getting passed from rater to rater then the DRO hearing and exams and wait and wait and wai..... Until here recently when I'm told they made a rating. But then I'm told it's going back for more consideration... Still, I have no idea what they've looked at or not looked at... Right now I just want them to rate it, deny it, poop or get off the pot as Dad used to say. But until they do one or the other, (as far as I know) I'm stuck, can't do anything. And I'm sick of it. They have, long since had, everything they need to decide, they're just jerking me around. :D

    Another question. What, exactly please, is a "fast letter"? Secondly, how do I use it?

    Again, as I see it, correct me if I'm wrong, the object now is to push them into a decision since they've already done once. Right?

    Yes=that is a way to go- and if they have never mentioned the IMO as evidence at all-send in copies of the proof of mailing with it proof of mailing for any other evidence you sent to them.

    My testimony to the H VAC is on line and I just checked it- I sent to the H VAC copies of 53 USPS tracking slips of evidence I had sent to VA from 2003 to that point- 2008-none was ever considered by the VA- to include 4,000 bucks of IMOs

    In 2009 the BVA acknowledged my evidence and awarded my claim.

    If you have probative evidence that should lead to an award and the RO keeps ignoring it-you have to get tough.

    The VA "October Incident" Fast letter # 08-41 is here under a search. You could attach copy of it right to your request .

    This fast letter rescinds itself per Bradley Mayes VBA on Nov 30,2009-so best to get your letter prepared and sent to them soon.

  7. Call this a 'BUMP!'

    New data since I answered Berta below.

    Compare these answers with the ones earlier below and tell me, is it time for one of these actions yet??

    1. I have submitted a request for a "personal (not DRO) hearing" Should I push that hard?

    2. Go for that writ of mandamus.

    "Here's the kicker. The DRO who saw me, listened to my arguments and had some input from me? Yeah, well forget it. As of yesterday I find out that my file is back with the "appeals development team."

    This might not necessarily be a bad thing-

    You don't have a decision yet do you? I was told I did, a rating, one that my TVC rep said would make me "Very Happy indeed." It just had to go through a supervisor's review because of high dollar rating. Well, that rater kicked it back up for "more development." That was a week ago. as of today, it is with another supervisor "who has not yet decided who he wants to work it..."

    Writ of Mandamus-I disagree and don't feel this writ would have any impact at all in this situation. Any change in this opinion??

    Writs of Mandamus are probative when Every means of administrative actions have been pursued to no avail. I feel like I'm about there. I guess go the 'personal hearing first.

    You received a VcaA letter after you filed the claim that spelled out exactly what evidence they need to have? Had an SoC & an SSoC early part of 08. I NOD'd that and this is what this round is about. They altered much of that S(S)oC the better to deny it. Ie, said I claimed as service connected things I claimed as secondary or claimed things secondary to other things than I had claimed.

    Were you able to provide what they asked for? Oh yes, I addressed all of that. Got them an IMO too.

    I don't know what point you are at-the results of a DRO hearing will either prompt a decision of award or a SOC (or SSOC) and this will give you the keys to what is lacking. Yeah, but that hearing was back in March and they've transferred the DRO that did the hearing. I do believe they are intentionally dragging their feet.

    Do you have a vet rep with offices in or near the same RO building? Yep, TVC. That reminds me, when they sent it down, they had another TVC rep look it over but left my guy out of the loop, whatever that may mean.

    I assume you have copies of any C & P exams they did? Oh Yeah... I think you should recall my rant(s) about those. I have dumped a full rebuttal backed up by many pages from my records. photographs, all that sort of thing.

  8. It is the know nothing line. Also if they routed calls to India those folks might try to help you and the VA certainly does not want that.
    When the folks at VARO had the phone centers, they were in place to help. Many won't or didn't know how if they would. But at WACO I had the numbers for about 4 different phone folks. They would root through different levels of 'screens' which the majority of personel would not or could not. I have had some of them go check my file to make sure evidence sent in actually got into the file. And once I got first word of a rating before the letter got to me. That was service!

    Now? I generally know more than they do about what's going on with my file. (and well I should!)

  9. Howdy masters and welcome to hadit. :) It is customary to post some of your veteran data in your profile so it will show on the left there. 'Course, its not required if you'd as soon not. But we're all in this together and it can help folks focus the help you need.

    First thing. Nobody cares more about your claim than you and that means DAV too. (and I'm a life member DAV) There are some good VSO reps out there. But there's a lot of indifferent ones and some down right stinkers. More than a few of us have been 'counseled' to accept a lesser rating and go home. Don't ever do it.

    Don't get in a hurry, it'll just upset you. DON'T do anything to try and hurry up the process. It'll just slow it down. I went through that in my second year. (I've been going at this since 2004) Happily, I don't have as severe issues as you, but I still haven't worked since 2004. Had to file bankruptcy and all that. At least so far, I have managed to keep my home. VA does-not-care.

    I had expected the process to be tough but at least honest. Don't you believe it. I have a couple of C&P (compensation and pension) exams that they have blatantly lied and falsified records on. Look up some of my recent postings for the sad tale. The others here have heard it enough. Nobody was shocked by the way. Well, except me.

    Concerning the 0% tinnitus, that surprises me. I have 10% tinnitus and 0% bilat hearing loss but they say I hear at the same level as a hearing aid any way and wont issue me any. they told me that when I first was rated long ago and since then my hearing is worse and hearing aids are better but the tale's the same...

    Finally, it looks as if you are well armed for the fight. Having your evidence lined up like ducks in a row is a good thing. But too many times, we've seen a statement by a doctor with long standing experience tossed aside for some NP examiner's trumped up tale. One more thing about those IMO/E's. Check the wording and arrangement. VA will reject an excellent IMO/E just because it isn't arranged or worded correctly. There's another site you might familiarize yourself with- VAwatchdog.org. Look for Jim Strickland's tutorials on filing things for VA. The more you know about the processes of VA, the better off you are. That way you have a measuring rod to check your DAV against and catch potential harm before it happens.

    One thing I would suggest. File your different issues separately as stand alone claims. A large file of multi issues (like mine) will too often be shoved aside for smaller files that can be quickly handled and their production quotas maintained. I recently had my file go through 3 different raters, sitting on each one's station for nearly 90 days before being passed to another to wait another 90 days before being passed... I had a DRO hearing in March, they transferred my DRO, and here it is Oct and I still do not have a rating. I was told I had one and it was a good one, but before it was made official, they sent it back for "more development"... welcome to the world of VA. Just don't let them grind you down because they'll spit you out. Delay, deny, stall 'em till they die. :D

    I am currently rated at 50% with the VA. (40 % Back/10% Neck/ 0% Tinnitus/Hearing Loss/ 0% eyes)

    I have asked for an increase with the help of the DAV on June 15, 2009 for the following:

    1. Tinnitus- I have two doctors letters clearly establishing my extreme tinnitus and connection with my USAF active duty days. In addition the VA has issued me hearing aids.

    2. Fibromyalgia: I have two separate doctors who have completed an IME and both say it is more likely than not do to my accident in the USAF. My Fibromyalgia is very painful and has made my body into a cage of pain.

    3. Neck pain has increased to severe levels. The pain is constant and I cannot do many normal things. My pain and inability to move my neck has lead to being relieved from my job. My latest MRI report shows severe stenosis and several bulging disk. I have two Doctors letters clearly stating the injury was from my USAF active duty and my condition is severe.

    4. Depression, my Psychologist wrote a two page IME and has diagnosed me with severe depression due to my service connected injury. In addition two of my other Doctors have concurred and I included those Doctor reports to the VA. I am highly medicated by my Doctor

    5. Severe debilitating migraines: I included two separate Doctor reports which clearly show my neck and back injury are the reason for my migraine headaches.

    6. Loss of feeling and numbness in my arms and legs.

    7. I have applied for social security but have not heard back from them as of 21 October 2009.

    8. I am unable to work with all of my medical conditions; the medicaitons i take keep me in a constant gray area. In addition i am having issues with both short and long term memory.

    I would like to get some advice from my fellow Veterans. Any advice or thoughts are welcomed both positive and negative. I realize I am fighting an up-hill battle with the VA. Because I have so many issues will my file fall to the waist side? Any chance of my file being complete within 1 year? I have not been set up for any C&P exams as of today. Is it possible to have a rating completed without several C&P's? What weight does a C&P have over two and three highly credible Doctors? I have several IME some of them are 7 to 10 pages longs.

  10. Jayg,

    Sorry that your topic has been trampled on.

    carlie

    Topics sometimes take their own course and I suspect my original topic has long since been thoroughly addressed. No hard feelings on this one. Too, I'm not afraid to ask folks to rein it in if I am looking for more info on a post. Again, not necessary here.

    but thanks for the consideration. If someone else gets help with their case on this topic, I wish them joy of it. :rolleyes:

  11. James..

    The courts have recently ruled that is illegal. The Va cant have a set of checks and balances ONLY for Veterans with big claims. It would be ok if they audited a random 10% or so, but to audit only the big claims has been declared illegal. Remember large retros are usually the result of many, many, many years of delay. A $250k retro is usually a claim delayed MORE THAN 10 years. I think that a Veteran whose claim has been delayed 10 years, doesnt deserve any more delays sending it to Dc.

    I personally think there should not be $250k retros, because there should be no excuse for delaying a Veterans claim more than 2 years, let alone 10 years. I think if the VA cant deny the claim or approve it in 2 years, it should be automatically approved.

    If you order a credit report and protest something on your credit report, the 30 day clock starts ticking. The credit bureau has to verify it in 30 days or must remove it. Same with the VA. Veterans have a one year time limit on appeals, so why does the VA not have a time limit on claims? There is no excuse for a 10 year old claim.

    I really don'good right ow, mindt think just checking large retros helps stops fraud..it just means that employee frauds will go "under the wire". In other words if they only check em at $250 k retro, then the frauds will do $235k retros. If they only check $100 k retros, then crooks will do several $80k retros.

    If you really want, I will show you the court case where they can't do that anymore.

    Yes, please. I would like to have a copy of that. No good right now since they've already done. But maybe I can coax them to quit fooling around. I would appreciate it, thank you.
  12. yes, you rock, Carlie, and if I ever get to a DRO hearing on my claim (again), I will do as you did...have it all in black and white, with copies for their files that I got from copies of their files....and the regs to support them.

    Best of luck to him and you done good. But... what matter facts and figures. I am not nearly as proficient as you but I had my evidence ready. The DRO allowed he accepted them and had said, only off the record though, that he was granting my secondaries based on the Imo & evidence.

    But then, he got transferred.

    I got a C&P exam that falsified the records in detail and in depth to the point of saying a statement by my doctor was actually made by a "physician's assistant student" (have to call the janitor to go any lower) and that the statement was "erroneously perpetuated throughout the record."...

    That I didn't have the braces I was wearing...

    That the uneven wear on my shoes (of which there are photos in the record) did not have any uneven wear...

    That my "antalgic gait" was a "steady gait" (identified elsewhere in my records as Trendelenburg lurch)...

    That I didn't have a condition and that the record didn't say I had a condition the record says I have...

    That my condition is stable with treatment by nasids and there's no side effect adversely affecting my life, but not mention of the other handful of meds prescribed by VA that most definitely affect my life adversely...

    Then one rates you but another decides its too much (I bet is what it was) so they send it back for "more work..."

    Facts,... evidence,... their own rules and regulations,... mean - nothing - to them. How can they have any influence on such???

    Good luck to you and your friend. What he's been through, sounds like he needs it. Really, I do wish him well.

    But I can't help my own bitterness as once again, my eyes too are opened. :rolleyes:

  13. IU is a ball and chain when you are young. If there is any chance of being rehabilitated when you are a young person then I would try that. It would be OK to get IU and then go through some kind of rehab with the idea that when you finish and are able to work. The trouble is that you have to give up the government check, and that is hard to do if you come to depend on it. If I had gotten 100% when I first got out of the army I am sure I would have lost it when I went back to school. The school thing is a gamble, but the 100% is a sure thing. They put you in a bad place. I don't think the VA encourages you to help yourself. To them you are either unemployable or you are employable. It took me years to really become employable with no thanks to the VA.

    I'm in my mid-fifties and with a bad back coupled with feet problems and what my records refer to as "severe debilitating arthritis" (though the C&P said mild), and heavily. I barely made it though high school and have no higher education. My medication causes me to doze off frequently. My skills are in construction, truck driving and industrial manufacturing.

    I am not too likely to reenter the work force any time soon.

  14. Hold it, hold it, hold it... Change 47! :rolleyes:

    I just talked to my rep in Waco, and it's all up in the air again.

    My file was sent to a "supervisor" who has to review cases with "substantial awards." The report is that said supervisor "didn't like the rating assigned" and got with another person in TVC, not my rep who was bypassed altogether, and now my file's been sent back upstairs for more work, whatever that may mean. No good I'm sure. My rep doesn't even know exactly where it is, who has it. And remember, the DRO who heard my case is long gone so again, I'm being judged by people who have never seen or talked to me.

    I reminded Robert that I had in a request for a personal hearing and he suggested holding off for a couple days while he tracks down the file and tries to find out what's going on.

    So it's back to the same old screw 'em hard' again for me.

    B)

    Thanks for all the input, anyway.

  15. Hi all.

    I carry TVC, Texas Veterans Commission as my Veteran Service Organization. Jim Strickland calls them one of the better ones. I called them to check the status of my appeal which they told had received a grant with which I should be, not just "pleased, but "very pleased." So much so with what was granted, that I should want or be willing to drop certain parts of mt claim. From my perspective, the only thing that will do that for me is an increase to minimum of 70% and IU but I didn't say that to the guy. Anyway, its been the old waiting game again.

    Being onn pins & needles, tenter hooks, take your pick, I called TVC today to check on the progress. (the 800 # doesn't even know a grant has been made) The fellow looks and says hold up. They, TVC, have my file. It was sent to them but he couldn't say why. My regular contact there (who was in hearing earlier) was going to lunch by then but said he wouldcall me afterwards... OHH--Kay!

    It was much later but he actually did call back. They wanted a counselor to talk to me about accepting what they have approved while dropping the rest. If theyhave granted the IU, with at least 70% s/c, I will be fine with that.

    B~U~T~!

    I DO NOT want to lock myself out of anything I may need to pursue later. What I would like to know is what specific action, what wording, will leave me the option of reopening a condition, either named in my present claims or as something new, later on.

    Help me CMA here,

    pul-l-eeze!?? :rolleyes:

  16. Let me put some of the conditions I have and what the end rating will be. I say will be, because I am the type will do what ever it takes to get there if the evidence clearly fits the rating criteria.

    1. TBI 40% now will be 70-100% 2. Psoriasis 0% will be 60% 3. Sleep Apnea denied will be 50% 4. Cervical spine 20%5. Lumbar spine pending claim should be 20%6. Arthritis multiple 10% 7. Tinnitus pending 10% 8. Pending Irritable Bowl Syndrome/ undiagnosed illness/ GWI/ I Don't know what I have diagnosis

    So to sum it up I currently have a 40,20,10,10,0

    Should end up with: 70,60,50,20,20,10,10,10 and this is conservative estimate. The 70 might be a 100 and there might be another 40 in there for Fibromyalgia.

    I have a great deal of medical documentation both private and service medical records and I am just now getting my act together. I submitted a initial claim that was not very well put together and I got 60%. Once I get everything in to the VA the way it should have been I will get a much more favorable rating.

    TDIU has come up and I appreciate the suggestion but as I understand it you can not work with this type of rating hence the unemployability. I absolutely want to keep working.

    Actually, you can keep working. But there are limitations on earnings and other details too, I think.. From there, we'll need one of the more experienced members to tell.
  17. I agree being organized and submitting records is important. Honest, theres been times where I know the rater has read my SMRs because they returned what they considered my 'duplicates' of SMRs. With submitting information, I've learned the hard way to add a lead page that clearly indexes my attachments. Basically recording what I have submitted and where to find the particular attachment. Helps when I submit extra stuff through my VSO, thier cover letter simply has 'additional information submitted by veteran attached' but doesn't detail.

    Example, Attachment A. pages A-1 through A-5 'Service Treatment Records dated xxxx showing diagnosis on active duty for xxxxxxxxx' by Physician Smith.

    Best to ya,

    Cg'up2009!

    I do the same. Basically, I create an index. In an NOD I submitted my documents in a binder. I typed a paper that quoted the statement in the SOC, then followed a list of documents and where they could be found in the binder. Everthing in one neat little package. Don't know if it helped...

  18. You never know what they did till you see the exam on paper.
    AMEN TO THAT, BROTHER!!!

    My exam report blatantly falsified what was in my records, such that I did not have uneven wear on my shoes, which I did, and that I did not have special shoe inserts, which were authorized by VA and I was wearing the day of the exam, and that conditions that were cited in my radiographs were NOT reported in those studies AND that a supporting statement in my medical records made by my PC doctor was actually made by a "physician's assistant student and erroneously perpetuated throughout the record." B) The whole thing went like that. That's the reason you have copies of your records.

    What I do concerning getting the C&P exam reports are that giving a few weeks for them to complete it, I call the C&P department and ask if they have released the report to VARO yet. I will already have the appropriate form on file with the lady at the VAMC release of information office (with whom I'm on a first name basis). As soon as I hear the report has been released, I call the ROI office and have them send me the report.

    Concerning my medical records, if t isn't too late in the day, I will pick them up any day I have care at VAMC. If it's late, I'll mail a form (of which I keep copies) to get those records.

    Keep on top of your records!

  19. I amassed a number of studies myself. Unfortunately, many worthwhile ones are locked away in journals for whom you need expensive subscriptions. Fortunately, I had a friend in university who had a professor with a medical background. I looked up the articles and they checked them for worth and sent me the ones that may have been of use.

    One source I found that might be helpful are industrial safety, OSHA and the like, organizations. They have a lot of studies concerning the long term effects of work related injuries and that's what basically, most of us have.

    When I got an IMO, I provided all that I had accumulated to the doctor for his review. He cited a number of them (along with a few of his own) in his IMO as rational for my conditions today. I had also submitted a number of them as evidence myself. I feel one good reference is the Mayo clinic. They have a number of simple and clear pages on injuries and illnesses and spell out in short, lay detail the cause, symptoms, effects and so forth. I don't know if they help or not but you don't have to have a medical degree to read them and I would think the Mayo would have respected name recognition.

    I can't say if they have helped me or not. My C&P ended with the statement that each claimed secondary condition

    was not medically feasible." Well, I have a decision and was told I would "be very happy" with it. So something, most likely the IMO, countered the C&P from hell.

    The thing I was told concerning the studies, was that, though they demonstrated such a condition was medically feasible, it did not demonstrate that MY condition was the result of my service injuries.

    That is where the doctor comes in.

  20. Oh if it were ever so plain cut. I was a no show for an appointment that I did not know that I had. I was threatened with being kicked to the curb and basically having to start over and no more prescriptions.

    Some of the clinics now send out a yellow sheet warning the Veteran not to miss an appointment.

    Now the question for the day. How do you expect anyone to remember an appointment when it may be months on down the road.

    I have the VA Call me and not say a thing. I usually take it that I soon have an appointment and I double check calendars and scribbled notes and computer records.

    What about the Docs who are no shows that happens to me also?

    I keep a calendar on the wall by our computer area here and mark the appointment on it with a Sharpie. Kinda hard to miss.

    But, and I guess this is a local VAMC thing, I get a letter from the VAMC about a week to 10 days before the appointment and then an automated call a few days before it. So there's really no excuse to miss one due to sheer forgetfulness.

    Concerning canceling, one problem I have run into concerns some of the clinics. The worst was the foot clinic. I missed an appointment there due to a change in schedule of family coming from out of state. For some days before the appointment I tried to call but all I ever got was an answering machine. Then I was only able to leave a message once and that was never acknowledged or my call returned. Every other time I called the system was full and I couldn't even leave a message. I haven't had an appointment from there since and I'm having to have my doctor start me up again.

  21. I am very surprised that a VA doctor would call you personally.

    And even more surprised if they would make entries on the calls in your med records.

    It does happen-if a vet is critical- they often call a family member-

    but the situation you described is a new one for me.

    My doctor called me after an MRI to ask if I wanted back surgery. He recorded the call and general gist of the conversation.
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