Warrenz

Thanks all. My apologies. I am not a medical professional. I know my lay statement would be just that. I had read a couple of those ,txt BVA decisions and I think once or twice I saw where the BVA in all its benevolence found in favor a lay statement. I have sc for tinnitus as well as hearing disability. It seems like a long time ago....well 10 yrs+ since they originally decided my disabilities. As a Vietnam vet I for a long time felt my hypertension and neuropathy was service connected, but back 2010 timeframe was not able to connect the dots and they were both shot down. But, I had none of the risk factors for hypertension. They basically waved it off... I knew my peripheral neuropathy and hypertension were related to my service time. I also knew at the time my tinnitus was as well. Back when I first noticed it while still in the military I honestly didn't even know it had a name. Go figure. My hypertension was SC as a result of PACT Act. I thought I would have problems with getting sc for tinnitus and hearing loss way back when, but my MOS was 11B40 and I think that was a deciding factor? I seem to recall that in the period I was awarded sc 2012 or 2013 I guess there were some changes as far as MOS played a role. I don't know though. My meds do have an impact. I could have maybe should have looked into SMC but at my age I feel lucky to just wake up. As for one of the SMC issues, I have had since 2015 or thereabouts had least three sinus procedures to remove polyps. I had no sense of smell or taste for a long time. The last time a few years ago they did some ballon procedure at the time they removed polyps? So, I am thinking as a result of the continual nasal rinse meds it has changed. I now have some sense of smell and taste. It isn't all that accurate though. But I can smell the morning coffee. As to C&P at that time they arranged thru the embassy? Once they did the C&Ps and whatever magic they do at the VA the decisions started to come in, kind of incrementally but ratcheted up to finally 90%. It just seemed to take forever back then for it to rise to the level of them to look at my packet. Again, my cost benefit thinking was for meds while overseas. The FMP works ok I guess? I have a sc for one eye, and the FMP folks were pretty vague about glasses. No, not vague...maybe wishy washy about an answer. But here in the states they take care of that. Anyway, I was just curious. One doctor gave a quote for IMO on OSA, but not the asthma. The quote was pretty high all things considered. Or at least that is how I felt. Anyway, I appreciate thefeed back. Years ago there was a great guy that would answer questions. Ask Jim? I think he passed away. I have friends who when they retired they had a benefits at discharge and a VA office right on the installation. My oldest son will be retiring from USMC in a couple of years and he is and I think many of the younger folks are well ahead of the power curve on that.

I have hesitated writing this because to many it may come off as just another sniveler. Anyway, here goes! So, I am Vietnam War vet and went thru claims process starting 2008 or nine. At that time was living OCONUS. At that time I knew nothing about the process so I found on the popular ecommerce site a blue covered paperback to help me with filing my claims. I distinctly remember in the beginning of the book the guy cautioning that the process was like a full time job or something like that. IOWs...be prepared for a long process. And it was. Anyway, over the years since then we tend to go back and forth to our place overseas and stateside. I am rated 100% TDIU. But some things I suspect are related as secondary issues. For example OSA. I had a sleep study done about 3 years ago while overseas and the hospital said I had moderate OSA. Ok...got it. The issue or my perceived problem is that the sleep apnea and asthma are or at least in my opinion and from cases I have read could be tied as secondary to ptsd, tinnitus, sinusitis and whatever. I know doctors who do IMOs have to make a living and I personally feel they add value to the process of ensuring vets get rated properly. I checked into IMO to connect OSA to one of my issues. The doctor wanted $$$. I can not get paid more for my aches and pains, The value or only benefits to me would be the ability under the VA Foreign Medial Program to get reimbursed for any treatments I have while I am overseas. Medicare doesn't care about when I am overseas. So, my question is, recently have any vets been successful writing their own nexus based upon the many medical journals conclusions of OSA tied to tinnitus or ptsd; or whether my wheezing asthma symptoms are connected to my sinusitis...or? I am just trying to make it to the point where my wife of over 20+ years will be able to collect VA DIC when I croak. But in the interim, it would be nice to have FMP reimburse for service connected issues. They have been a big help overseas when I do have to go to see doc... Anyone out there reached the point of diminishing returns but still have other issues tied to their other service connected issues?