trailblazer

I don't think you have anything to worry about. You will get the award and remember they will pay you back pay on this award from the date they recieved the claim, probably a good chunk of money which will come in handy to increase your bank account or pay some bills or take a vacation. Congratulations, You have done well on your claim. My best wishes to you.

Good post Carlie and is a factual statment. Leave the congress person out of it, it just slows the claim down. I suggest you do this. If you get supporting evidence of your claim send it to the va in a letter and ask them to add this to claim No#xxxxx filed on date xxxxxx. They will do this for you. Just be sure to send it and get a return receipt. Your claim will move faster. I know this from experience.

The same thing happen to me when I filed my frist claim at the va. They told me I needed to join a veterans org. I chose the VFW. Neve heard a thing from them until I was sc 4 years later. The post office has a trash can next to the door that exits the buliding, Guess were it goes. You can get more help with your claim on hadit than you will from a vets org, that has a memembership fee.

Cherie33, I would get an IMO because I don't trust the va doc's to tell me the truth about my medical condition unless they can treat it with drugs. I also don't believe the the va has the best doc's, that is why I kept my personal doctor. Just my opinion.

Harvey, I spen 35 years in the coal mines. 10 years as a miner and 25 as a underground inspector. I retired in 2006 and like you I've been fighting the va system since 2004..I got my sc disability in 2008. The va is a hard system to work with and it takes time and hard work, but we are making progress. Don't ever up, we can and will win if we stay with it. Btw, I still missing working in the mines. I hope you have a good day.

If you had boots on the ground in vietnam, make an appt. with the va and request a agent orange exam. This will get you on the register.

Welcome to hadit Harvey and thanks for your service. BTW what part of the world were you in as a coal miner. We just might have something in common.

clw4514, I believe you are well on your way to a sucess story. Don't give up, the people on hadit will lead you in the right direction to get what the government promised . We promised to serve our country and we did proudly, now let the government keep their promise.

Go for the exam, anytime the va scheduals an exam you need to follow up on it. This becomes part of you part of your medical records and will become a part in your claim if you file one. The va will get your records and probably faster than you will. While at the va go ahead and file your claim, this is a start but we all had to make the frist move. The va don't give you what you you are due unless you ask for it. Don't ever give up. Remember, when one door closes anothe one opens and you have more knowledge. Ues it to you advantage. The people on hadit are a great source of info and will walk you thru the va system. BTW thanks for your service, and welcome home. I hope you have a good day. Go for the exam, anytime the va scheduals an exam you need to follow up on it. This becomes part of you part of your medical records and will become a part in your claim if you file one. The va will get your records and probably faster than you will. While at the va go ahead and file your claim, this is a start but we all had to make the frist move. The va don't give you what you you are due unless you ask for it. Don't ever give up. Remember, when one door closes anothe one opens and you have more knowledge. Ues it to you advantage. The people on hadit are a great source of info and will walk you thru the va system. BTW thanks for your service, and welcome home. I hope you have a good day.

I went thru the same thing. When the va would not accept my DD214 as proof of service in vietnam. I contacted my repersentiative and demanded to know if I wasen't in vietnam at the time in question where was I. This action delayed my claim but it worked. You may want to consider doing the same. The records are avablable but they are hard to get. Good luck.

Never discard a piece of paper the va or the military gives you. It could be a very important piece of evidence in the future. I wish I had followed my own advice. It would have saved a lot of time and trouble.

Thanks folks, I didn't know this but I will try it out. Its nice to hear some chains supports veterans. It does save money.

Good for you. Patience and evidence does work.

Yes, A glucose test will show your sugar level for the past 3 months. The range is 4 being normal and 7 getting into the damage zone. Controling sugar levels depends on the type of meds you take, the amount and what you eat and the amount of your physicial activity. Stay away from items that contain sugar, watch the carbs. Everything turns to sugar when it enters your digestive system.

I had to get a buddy statment when I filed my claim. I had to prove I was in vietnam. Lucky for me I was able to find two buddies who wrote statments. It was clearly on my records, DD214 and 201 file but va would not accept that as proof of vietnam service. Dealing with the va is like fighting fire with a garden hose in hell, it takes time and a lot of work. Hang in there vets.

It can and will most likely be used in your decision. Buddy statments are good evidence in a statment that you served together. I did this and they used it. The hard part is finding a buddy, the world is a big place.

We have the power of the vote and the power of the mail. We earned that right by our service to our country. Contact your Reps. and tell them, you change the va system or we will do our part to change you. This worked for me.

I didn't realize you were gone but I'am glad you are back. I don't blame you, I wouldn't let the va have anything to do with the cardio problem.

Very good poem shortpig. A dramatic experence in a veterans life never goes away.

This is a very good topic. Vets have to have solid rock hard evidence to prove their claim and that has to come from the vet involved.

I am not surpised this happened. I believe there are treatments for many health proplems that work but are never put on the market. Simpely because they would cost the drug manufactors. When we were able to work and contribute to the financhial system we were worth something, now that we can't we are a burden and therefore useless.

Shortpig, the answer is yes, a claim can be won with a single C&P. The secret is solid rock hard evidence.

Hang in there sarg. This could be a blessing. when the wind blows and shuts one door, God opens another. I had this happen to me and it was the best thing that ever happen. I met this girl (in truth she came to met me) and I believe we both found what we were looking for. we've been married for 38 years and things just keep getting better. I guess I should thank the girl who dump me but I have a sense of humor also. Sorry girl, you shut the door and God open another one. I know this is tough on you and you are in my prayers.

Thanks pete. I didn't know the va assigned a social worker to enrolled veterans. I will look mine up, we have a lot to talk about. Thanks pete. I didn't know the va assigned a social worker to enrolled veterans. I will look mine up, we have a lot to talk about.

Stay with this. You are well on your way to gettin what you deserve. Don't give up.