trailblazer

I am in the process of filing for 100% disibility and curently getting all of the evidence together. I worked for the U.S. Dept. of Labor from Sept. 1982 to March 2006 and have requested my personnel file from that agency as evidence. Question, what is the employer form and does it have a number. Form 21-8940 appears to have that info on it. I don't mean to be a bother but I want to get this right the frist time. Thanks for any help you can provide.

I am happy for you and congrats. Hadit has a good support group and you have a don't quit attitude, that equals a winner. Now stick around and support the rest of us in this VA war.

I have taken Cymbalta in the past and it worked good for me with no noticable side effects. How ever the doctor did tell me it didn't work for all people. I don't know how long you have been taking it and it could be your body needs to adjust to it. I didn't have any trouble from the beginning but all people are different. What works for one may not work for the other.

Good for you . You have earned it. Now take a few days off and ask for an increase. I found out an increase is easier to get than an initial claim approved.

My prayers and thoughts are with you and your wife. You are not alone. you are surrounded by friends who care.

Good morning joe lyn. I read that post also and looked at my DD214 and sure enough it was on there. I went to the internet and looked them up but if my memory serves me right it only covered enlistments and discharges. I never noticed any codes on orders but I am sure they were on there and for a reason we ( as they say we didn't have a need to know) Go to the net and ask for spn codes on DD214. Let us know if you find any codes for orders.

Hello armyvet49. From your post you were awarded 40% 10 years ago and nothing else since. Since medical conditions change over time the chances are they have not gotten any better but worse. Ask for the increase with help from a VSO. This is what happen to me. I got my frist claim awarded in Feb. 08 and ask for an increase in July of 08. and got it appfovd in NOV. 08. I went from 40% to 80%. That gets me into total disability range which is being put together now and will probably be in the mail to the VA within a month. Remember the VA won't give you anything, you have to ask for it and if they turn it down go the VSO and file a nottice of Disagreement. They have to tell you why they turned it down. My personal opinion is you will win this one. Good luck

Good morning dolfanbls. I am not well enough informed to answer your question. I do remember eading something about a 40% rating and a 60% percent rating but i don't remember how they the ratings worked. You may be able to get an increase in your present rating an medical conditions change over time. I would suggest you do this. Type your post again but start it under a new topic, this will get more views from hadit members and I promise you someone will give you the correct answer to your question. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Thanks Scout2/2ACR. I need all the help I can get. I am in the process of getting all of the info together. I don't have anything going thru the VA system at the present time, which is good becuase they can't seem to do but one thing at a time. Thanks for your encourging words on how to win this. I want to get it right th frist time so it will cut down on confusion. BTW after my army enlistment was was over I joined the national guard and was a scout section leader in the 278thACR. I enjoy being around ex-service members. It seems we have a bond that no one else has. We understand what each and every one of us has gone thru, and put up with. Friends last a short while. Buddies last a lifetime reguardless of what branch you served in. Thanks for the info, I hope to be able to help you out in the future. I hope you are having a good day.

Purple, I will get a copy of all my records from OPM which will include attendance records, performance records and any other records for the last 23 plus years.Also I worked for several supervisiors on a temporary basics just to help them out when they were behind in their work. I am sure I can get a statement favorable to me from them. I never caused any trouble and was willing to help any of them out when asked to do so. When I left the agency I left with a good taste in my mouth and no animosity toward anyone in the agency or in the field where I worked. Purple I have got a lot of info from you and it had been a big help. I don't want to rush into this without all of the facts to support the claim. One question, Would a statement from my eye Dr. be of any benefit since he knows more about my former job and the importance of having good vision. I was required to get numbers off of all of the equipment and the numbers were very small, bent up and dirty. I had to get company employees to get then for me at times. Thanks for your time and if you think of anything else I need to be aware of let me know. I will keep you posted on the outcome of this. Have a good day.

Purple, I will get a copy of all my records from OPM which will include attendance records, performance records and any other records for the last 23 plus years.Also I worked for several supervisiors on a temporary basics just to help them out when they were behind in their work. I am sure I can get a statement favorable to me from them. I never caused any trouble and was willing to help any of them out when asked to do so. When I left the agency I left with a good taste in my mouth and no animosity toward anyone in the agency or in the field where I worked. Purple I have got a lot of info from you and it had been a big help. I don't want to rush into this without all of the facts to support the claim. One question, Would a statement from my eye Dr. be of any benefit since he knows more about my former job and the importance of having good vision. I was required to get numbers off of all of the equipment and the numbers were very small, bent up and dirty. I had to get company employees to get then for me at times. Thanks for your time and if you think of anything else I need to be aware of let me know. I will keep you posted on the outcome of this. Have a good day.

Purple, my retirement papers won't say I wasn't able to do the job and there won't be a performance report that implies that. The agency I worked for never gave anyone a bad performance rating due to the fact if they did it would look bad on the employees supervisior becuase he wasn't able to improve the employee. I know this sounds stupid but this is the way the system worked. In the 23 plus years I worked for the agency I never saw or heard of anyone getting a bad rating and some of them deserved it. My supervisor did notify me to come to the office on March 6 2006 which I did and met with him in his office. He asked how I was doing and I told him I was still under my Dr's care and didn't know when I would be released. He asked me what I was going to do and I told him, retire. He asked me if that was what I wanted to do. I said no but I can't do this job anymore. I told him that due to my health problems I didn't feel I was doing the job to my satisfaction to provided the people with the safety and health protection they derserved. So I retired. My former supervisior will put in his statement that I wasn't able to do the job. I couldn't have passed a physical which was required before they would let me come back to work. I will get my personnel records from OPM and who knows what will show up in them. Also I will have my private Dr. write me a statment as I have been seeing him for several years and he knows my medical history. I do thank you for all of your help and suggestions. You have got me thinking about this and I may put this off for awhile as my eye Dr. told me a few day ago that I would have to have the cataract removed from the blind eye eventhough it won't improve my eye sight but will let in more light. I may have a better chance then to get this approved. I hope you have agood day tomarrow.

Purple, I didn't stick with the job until I was eligible for retirement, In fact I was 6 years from regular retirement. I worked for the U.S. Dept of Labor as a underground coal mine inspector. The agency was offering early out if you met the age and had the time on the job. I had both the time and age and at the time I was missing a lot of days off work due to the complications of diabetes. This is a job which is very mentaly and physicialy demanding. The agency offers early ouy to get rid of old inspectors and hire new ones because they can get two for the price of one and they are getting younger people who can do more in less time. The government will sacrifice experience for more work anytime. I do agree with what you say so I am already running interference with statements from my former supervisor, Office of Personnel Management and my Personnal Dr. that my conditions have been going on for several years. Thanks for your post. it gave me something to think about and work on. See you never know what you will say that will help a vet. Have a good day and a better tomarrow.

I was recently bumped up to 80% sc for IDDMll and the complications associated with it. Here is the evidence I have got. I retired from civil service in march of 06 becuase I wasn't able to do the job due to the diabetes. I am not elgible for disability social security due to being a civil service employee. I am legally blind in my left eye and that causes driving problems as I can't judge distance very well so I am limited to driving about two miles a day to the post office and only then when there is very little traffic on the road. I can't drive in conjested or city traffic anymore. My wife has to take me to all of my Dr's appointments and any other necessary places I have to go. I have a statement from my private eye Dr. that says I am blind in the left eye and the VA has the same information obtained from their exam abouy two weeks ago but they didn't tell me that. I am in the process of getting a statment from my former supervisor as to the days I missed from work prior to my retirement due to the diabetes. Also I will be getting a statment from the office of personnel managment (OPM) about my work for 23 plus years. I will also get a letter from my personnel Dr. in support of this claim as we have discussed it before. What else do I need to make this work. I haven't worked a day since I retired. I would appreciate any and all comments, good or bad on this topic. I thank all of you for your help.

I am not sure this is the right place for this post but i need some help.I retired from civil service on March 6 2006 due to the fact I couldn't do the job I was expected to do. I haven't worked a day since retirement. I am 80% sc for IDDMll. I han an eye examinationon Dec. 2, 2006 by a regular eye Dr. and a another eye exam on Dec. 18, 2006 ba a optomolgist. The optomolgist said there wasn,t anything that could be done for my left eye as there was to much damage from a vein oculsion which occured in Feb, 2006. I had aother eye exam on Jan. 6, 2009 by my private eye Dr. and he declared me legally blind in the left eye. This problem has severely limited my driving in heavy traffic as my vision dosen't work like it use to. My driving is limited to about 2 miles a day, to and from the mail box and at certain times of the day when traffic is low. Night driving is out completely. I am considering applying for TDIU due to all my medical problems and the fact that I have become dependent on my wife to drive me to Dr. appointments and other necessary places. This is what I can get in support of claim. A statment from the office Office of Personnel (OPM) as to the number of days i missed from work. A statement from my former supervisor as to the days missed from work and the effect it had on the other employees in the work group. A statement from my eye Dr. as to the condition of my limited vision and the ability to be independent while driving in heavy rush hour traffic which I don't do. My question is: do I have chance of winning and or do I need some information to support this claim. They will also have the exams, fron the VA. I am sorry this is long but if it has no chance of winning I don't want to take time from another veteran who maybe worse off than I am. Thanks for your help. I am not sure this is the right place for this post but i need some help.I retired from civil service on March 6 2006 due to the fact I couldn't do the job I was expected to do. I haven't worked a day since retirement. I am 80% sc for IDDMll. I han an eye examinationon Dec. 2, 2006 by a regular eye Dr. and a another eye exam on Dec. 18, 2006 ba a optomolgist. The optomolgist said there wasn,t anything that could be done for my left eye as there was to much damage from a vein oculsion which occured in Feb, 2006. I had aother eye exam on Jan. 6, 2009 by my private eye Dr. and he declared me legally blind in the left eye. This problem has severely limited my driving in heavy traffic as my vision dosen't work like it use to. My driving is limited to about 2 miles a day, to and from the mail box and at certain times of the day when traffic is low. Night driving is out completely. I am considering applying for TDIU due to all my medical problems and the fact that I have become dependent on my wife to drive me to Dr. appointments and other necessary places. This is what I can get in support of claim. A statment from the office Office of Personnel (OPM) as to the number of days i missed from work. A statement from my former supervisor as to the days missed from work and the effect it had on the other employees in the work group. A statement from my eye Dr. as to the condition of my limited vision and the ability to be independent while driving in heavy rush hour traffic which I don't do. My question is: do I have chance of winning and or do I need some information to support this claim. They will also have the exams, fron the VA. I am sorry this is long but if it has no chance of winning I don't want to take time from another veteran who maybe worse off than I am. Thanks for your help.

Vietnam Tanker.This is my experience with diabetic meds. I take ACARBOSE 50Mg tablets 3 times a day before meals and a slow acting insulin called LANTUS at night just before bedtime. Lantus works for 24 hours and I take at the same time everyday The number of units I take depends on where my sugar is. If its high I take more units, if its low I take less and if its normal I don't take any.Sugar levels tend to go up at nite a little but if you keep a record of your sugar readings at nite and adjust your units according to the readings you can keep your sugar pretty well under control. This works for me. BTW under no circumstances would I take insulin with a sugar reading of 61. A sugar level of 70 or below can get you into big trouble as you can pass out, become confused and disoriented and argumentive with the person trying to help you. If my sugar level is low at bed time I eat some peanut butter and crackers. I hope this helps you out becuase I known for me its the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. Good luck.

I haven't got one yet but it will be here tomarrow or maybe friday or saturday or maybe never. It dosen't matter to me as long s I get it.

vietvet. Diabetes affects every system in your body at one time or the other in your life time. They all cause complications such as neurophy of lower and upper extremities, vision problems, tooth problems. If you were diagnosed with diabetes prior to being put on pills you should allready be on a restricted diet. Eventually you will be put on insulin and that will get you a 40% increase. This site has a lot topics on diabetes and I suggest you read all of them and if possible make copies of the ones that apply to you and place them in your files. Ask questions about thangs you don,t understand. The people on hadit have the info to lead you thru this, trust them, I did and it from 40% to 80% in about 5 months. BTW you can ask for an increase at anytime you wish. Its a 50-50 thang, you may or may not get it, but you don,t apply its for sure you won't get anything. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CLAIM, ALL THE HELP YOU NEED IS RIGHT HERE. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS.

The va doc. prescribed NORTRIPTYLINE HCL 10MG CAP for my diabetic neurophy 2 CAPS at night before bedtime and LORAZEPAM for my anexity at 1 and a half pill two times a day.I know the same mediciene can be used to treat many different things. If anyone had experience with these meds, englighting me. Thanks.

I have a question. I am 80% disabled and planing to file for TDIU at at the frist of the year. I had to retrire form a good gov. job in March of 06 due to a lot of missed work days due to my disbetes problems. The job was very stressful as I was employed as a underground coal mine inspector. My supervisior sent me a letter by FedX ordering me to be in his office on a monday. I was still under a Dr.s care for my diabetic problems and not able to return to the job. When I arrived at the office we met and he asked what I wanted to do and I said retire. He ask, is that what you want to do and I said no, but I can't do this 5 days a week any more so I retired. My supervisor was a great guy to work for and is disabe veteran so he understood where I was at. My private Dr. has told me he would provide a statement in my favor supporting this. Also I can get a statement from my former supervisor stating the days I was off work due to diabetic problems. Whats my chances of winning and will statments help? Is there anything else I need to do? I have a eye exam tomarrow for retina trouble and they said was it urgent to get it done, so this may help also. Thanks all for any help. I know TDIU is hard to get as it means more money and VA don't want to pay it.

John, I don't know if the Nashville VA bills my private insurance or not. When I see my other Dr's I always get a statement from my insurance provider showing what they paid and what I owe. If this going on you can bet I will raise hell from the bottom of the ladder to the top rungf it takes it. This is not right for a sc condition. The gov. made the rules and should live up to them. After all veterans are responsible for them being where they are since they had friends in high places or a lot of money to keep them from serving their country. I know a couple who did just that during the Vietnam war. What a dam waste.

Murice, I would not get a lawer at this time. If you paid into the medicare system you are due that at a certain age, but since you are disabled and under the VA the VA will take from medicare and private health insurance to pay VA for your medical care. I know its a messed up system, but I only have one vote and I don,t think I can change it, but if we as veterans and familey stick together, maybe we can.

I retired from the USDOL under the civil service system and am not elgible for SSDI. The gov calls this double dipping, but I have enought quaters paid into the social secuity system to get a check which I will be applying for in about 6 months. You have to have at least 40 quarters paid into the social security system to get it, but you can get disability if you are not being paid by another disability system . VA dosen't do that, that goes back to the double dipping. In fact I will lose part of my social security due to the fact that I worked for the USDOL. I think what you get they will cut from SSI. I know it sucks, buts thats the system. If you have or have not filed for SSI yet, take a copy of your DD214 with you and show it to the person filing your claim. The gov. will add some extra money SSI which may give you the quarters you need. Good luck and thanks for your service.

SouthernBelle, if you need to talk social chat is a good place to go. I'am sure the people on hadit will say something that will make your day better and more understanding of how your husband feels. I know this is not easy for you to deal with and I'am sure he dosen't like the way he does things sometimes. I have been married to the same girl for 36 years and she has put up with me and I can be a very rude person at times. She has put up with me and she has and is a godsend. She has always been there for me and the kids. she has to take me to the Dr.s and she always takes time off from work to do that. She owns her own business's and takes care of her father who is 87 years old and a disabled WW2 veteran. She can handle any situation that pops up. Some days I don't want to be around anyone, I take the phone off the hook because I don't want to talk to anyone. We all need someone to talk to at times and I commend you for your post on this issue, this could be the start of a better way to deal with this and I hope it does Thanks to you for carring for your husband. We can be very difficult at times. God bless you and yours.

Pete53, I take 1000mg of fish oil two times a day, morning and nite. The last time I saw my private Dr. my good chrolstrol had gone up and the bad had come down. Its also good for other things. Just take it with a little food. I have no noticable side effects and it can be bought at the grocery store OTC.