trailblazer

I don't think so. The va talks a big talk about their health care system beinng the best but I have found a lot of faults with it. Their record system dosen't keep up with the veterans like they say it does. Next time you go to the va show them your va ID card and give them your last four digits of your social security#. That should be all the info you need to stop the BS. If this don't work go to the advocate and express your thoughts in a way he or she can understand at the elementary level.

I worked for and and retired from the dept of labor aftr 23 years and with military service combined 27 years. According to my social security statement I was not qualified for social security diability. Does this still apply since I retired due to service connected disabialities. I am at 80% diasibility with the va at the present time.

I tried the 800# butwas told it would take a trip to the RO in person to sign up which I did 1025 miles away. They had to have two ID's one of which was Veterans Affairs card and my drivers liciens #. All total about 5 minuites time. The lady was nice and insited I file a claim for depression which I did. Hell I didn't knowed it showed that much. Needlessly to say I am not well pleased with Ebenefits.

I have been taking citalopram since April 2011 .I also started out on 20mg and it was raised to 40mg. My Dr. told me 40mg was the maximum dose that could be prescribed because this med had been found to cause problems with the electrical system that controls the heart rythem.This might be something you need to talk to your Dr. about.

My experience with controling type ll diabetes is, my doctor did not give me all the inforimation on how to do it. I have been a type ll diabetic since 1986 and treated it with diet and excrise, then pills and finaley with insulin and a needle which I hated. All of these methods worked to some extent but i couldn't always get the control I wanted. If you take insulin you have to be careful, to much can put you in a diabetic coma. I have been there a few times. To little and it won,t do the job. My doctor recommeded I on the insulin pump in Jan 2011 and its the best investmen I ever made. The pump takes care of all the calculations and tells you how much insulin to take for the carbs you have eaten to get your blood sugar down to a number which is programed into the pump. The pump is so accurate I can tell you within 5 numbers what my blood sugar will be 3 hours after I eat. Keep up with the carbs and the pump will do the rest. All the information is programed into the pump by a doctor using the patient past med ical records and can be fined tuned. There are several different companys that manufactor these pumps. Lok on the internet for insulin pumps. My pump is an ANIMUS and if you wish to get more info you can call them at 1-877-937-7867 and they will answer all of you questions. They are available 24/7. I don't know if the VA will supply the pump but they will furnish all the supplies and asign a diabetes doctor and a dietician to monitor the patients progress and adjust the pump if necessary. The American diabetes association is also a good place to get information. The pump has changed my life, I feel better and I don't have to worry about low blood sugar as much anymore and my last A1C was 5,9, The pump works for me.

!!! Oppose Senate Amendment (#564) to HR 2055 that will restrict VA Agent Orange Disability Claims Oppose Restrictions on VA Agent Orange Disability Claims Take Action! Oppose Amendment to MilCon/VA Spending Bill (HR 2055) Senator Coburn (Ok.) has filed an amendment (#564) to the Military Construction/ Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill (HR 2055) that will require a "causal relationship" for presumption for service connection for diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure that will significantly restrict benefits to Vietnam veterans. Vietnam veterans are presumed to be exposed to Agent Orange if they have certain conditions or diseases after the VA determines that a positive association exists between the exposure and the occurrence of the disease. Congress chose this mechanism because it is nearly impossible for Vietnam veterans to prove that exposure to Agent Orange caused their disease. Requiring a "causal relationship" would essentially mean that VA benefits for Agent Orange exposure would be out of reach for many Vietnam veterans that were exposed to the Agent Orange herbicide. Please use the FRA Action Center to ask your Senators to vote NO on this floor amendment # 564 for HR 2055.

They wouldn't prescribe them for me either. The reason was: Glasses protect your eyes from foreign objects. Contacts don't.

I went to the Va Friday, March 25 for a visit with my PCP and when I went to get my travel pay I notice there were signs posted that said: Travel pay would be paid from your home to the nearest va facility which could treat your condition. I understand that and don't have a problem with it. However I live within 30 miles of one va clinic and 65 miles of another which I can't get an appointment with. So I went to the va in murfreesboro tn. which was specified on the letter trom the va. When I got my travel pay it was 30 bucks less than the last trip. Has the rules changed? Has anyone else encountered this?

Thanks Chuck, I can handle the paper work with my personal PCP but the va may be another hill to climb.

I just recently started using an insulin pump verses the needle. Since I am service connected for DMll will the va pay for the supplies? I have insurance which will pay 90% of the cost for the supplies but that still takes quit a bit of money out of my pocket.

No, I did not ask for the C&P records. just the medical and only one C&P record is included it really is a C&P record. It dosen't say it is but it reads like one. I have an appeal with the RO and I don't think the va has seen this evidence yet but they will and it could mean a better out come this time for me. They say I can count fingers a 4 feet when 4 inches was the correct distance.

I have all of my medical records from the va and have been reviewing them. They are all a carbon copy of the previous visits with my PCP unless there is a change in the meds. Nothing I tell the nurse is included about my medical condition since my last visit. However did I find some records which appear to be from a C&P exam which could be very beneficial in an appeal with the RO. Is it unusual for C&P exams to be included with medical records or is this a standard practice? None of my other C&P exams are included with the records.

I would make a comment but I can't add anything to whats already been said. Good post people.

Welcome to hadit and thanks for your service. Dealing with the the va is not easy but the battle can be won with the help of knowledgable people and you found them here at hadit. I wish you the best of luck with the va in the future.

I can't do without hadit. I went into panic mode when account suspended came up. Glad its back.

Thanks Bergie and all the rest of you. That was the answer I was hoping for. I know it will take some time but the va has taught me to have patience, ask a lot of questions and do the research. From the research I have done, diabetes and sciatica don't get along to good together. I will keep you posted.

Does diabetes and sciatica have anything in common? Is it rateable by the va as being an aggravating factor of diabetes. It incapicates me at times and really interfers with my quality of life. Any help will be appreciated.

I had a spell with gout and after it cleared up the doctor put me on allopurinol and told me to take one pill a day and I would never be in pain with it again. I did and it worked and thats been ten years ago. The allopurinol is inexpensive. Hope this helps you out.

Berta here is the decision the va made on my tdiu application.

I was recently denied on my tdiu claim and part of it was my fault. I didn' get the form from my former supervisor before they made the decision. The va said they contacted my former supervisor but he says he never received it and I believe him. They also said there was no record in my file that indicated I had a prescription for insulin. This info is in my private Dr's examination reports of which the va has a copy of which they didn't review. They also gave me a specialized eye examination which stated that I could count fingers at four feet with my left eye . I can't count fingers at two feet. The decision also said that my eyes had improved since my last evaluation and the current evaluation was not permanent. I see my private eye Dr. every six months and there is a lot of difference in the two examinations. Right now I am looking at an appeal, a nod and a cue. Is this the way I should persue this? BTW I take 116 units of insulin a day and they don't have a record. I think I am dealing with retarded people at the va.

Pete is right. They always ask how are you doing today and they make a note of it in your file. If you say I feel fine that goes in your file also and they use it against you. When they ask me how I feel I say I have had better days. My last visit to the va was to pick up some diabetic shoes and I was walking on a cane and was asked what the cane was for. My answer was I stumble a lot and I use the cane for support. I'll be that didn't go in my records. I will never give up.

Sorry Pete to hear this, and I am thinking about you and your family.

I am helping a widow whose husband recently passed away and I need some information on Dic. her husband was was service connected and rated at 80% however he was being paid at the 100% rate. Does this qualify her for Dic benefits? All info on this will be greatly appreciated as the the widow is very special to me and is now in a financial bind as the veteran passed away Nov. 24-09 and the widow will not get the get his va check for the month of Nov. or his social security check. Thanks to all hadit members for you help to me in the past and in the future.

Good for you cg. Just goes to show if you stick with it and learn from other vets, success wil be in your future. Congratulations.