halos2

Baca, I was soooo glad to read your winning post and to read your nice retro. Enjoy. Also look for the other benefits you are eligible for now.

My daughter attends American Military University and is doing quite well. She is about half way through for her MBA. Great GPA too. The classes are very hard and do require a lot of time to study, but when she is done with this, she will go for her Doctorate too. All under my Chapter 35, thank heavens. She previous had her BA prior to my 100% PT award. She also does the work program with Dept of Vets Affairs, and is paid there for this at minimum wage rate.

Mental Health rating...doubtful to work and better not to if 100% is what they are saying. If it is for other disabilities like Bob Dole or John McCain got then you can, even though these guys donated their comp money, did not keep it. Others have posted the parimeters of working/not with the disability ratings.

We will all try to help you with our opinions of what worked for us...will look forward to reading yours. Hang in there it can and will get better, someday!

My computer is going crazy and not posting and reposting sorry. I mean the DIC not pension for her... SSA told me if my spouse should die I would receive his SS amount which is a greater amount then mine. I have been receiving my own since 04 and it is SSDI when I turn 66 it converts to regular SS, however because my SSDI is greater then my husband portion, as being a wife, I will continue to receive my own. But they told me when he passes I can request his, as a survivor, and I would get his instead of mine, as the greater amount. Also U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka ...reminded the law changed in 1996...to guarantee that when a veteran receiving va benefits died,the spouse would be entitled to a payment for the month in which the veteran died...

It is a sorrowful time when one loses a relative or friend. It is helpful when one has a person to help them with the VA and SSA. The Pension will help her, as well as she will now receive his entitlement of his SS versus her most likely lessened amount. She is allowed to keep the last comp check, as I read where you posted she received it. How kind a person and thoughtful you are to honor your friend and his wife during this difficult time. Sorry for your personal loss of your good friend too. http://elderlyestate...p-veterans.html Pension allowed and trying to find comp one too... elderlawestateprobateinjermyhowe.blogspot.com/2010/07/survving-spouse-can-keep-veterans.html is what I found on a googl search. But I can't get it to open without joining...but search it as I did and it comes up. sorry for any inconveniences.

How would they know you didn't have the sperm aspiration route, instead of assuming the traditional method. Plus some years back you were able to perform and now with the administration of medication, you lost that ability.So they don't care to read about side effects when challenged with a claim resulting from this. Why don't they do their jobs the first time? I know all of us think that too when we get our denials, and have to appeal...just thinking our loud....

Testvet, Glad you are finally getting your just now! Let's hope the Cardiac clinic will work really fast too, as being selfish, I want you posting here for more years!! You are way too valuable as a person, and a vet and help others alot. Take care and enjoy more safe freedom. Take care, and good luck is being sent for the pool lift, but watch out if the water is too warm.

Sounds like a slap on the wrist here too. Watch they will reinstate her license so she can be gainfully employed to pay back the money to the bond company and also for her fines. Average people don't receive any breaks, why should she?? Maybe I need to post more once I read her sentence...

Silke, Just goes to show you to go with your heart and strength and use of vets sites, such as hadit to help you along the way. March 2011 exam date, so when was the retro date they have to go back to when you two applied for benefits? Make sure they go back to that date, and remember they pay for the next month when starting to receive benefits. ie Filled in Nov 2010 and retro starts in Dec 2010. Hopefully he is receiving the correct medications for his treatment regimen too. Check bank account if your put in for direct deposit, as you never know how fast or slow the $$ get deposited, same as if you receive a check. Enjoy the win, and make sure he keeps all appointments and follows therapy routes too.

A few years back I had a new personal physician assigned to me as my other patient care provider took another position after 15 months of not being able to get appointments with her.(She was ill, and took a leave of absence, and came back to part time, which no one ever told me). Lucky I have had my own private physician also for 38+ years) Anyway I arrived for my appointment 20 minutes prior, waited 40 minutes and asked if I was to been seen or not, after another 10 minutes they put me in an exam room, took my vitals, and I waited another 20 minutes, I came out of the room and said "This is ridiculous...I have another appointment in 30 minutes...they said she is running a little behund...I waited 20 more minutes and to put it midely was PO'ed! I said I was leaving and then they said oh she will see you now. She came into the office and was there less than 1 minute SHE DID NOTHING! Said she was done. ARE YOU KIDDING!! So I went to my other appt (BH) so she got a mouthful from me today and then I went to FOIA and requested my copies of records. All are usually available that day except BH... I read them and became LIVID!! This liar Dr wrote she did a full exam on me and wrote results she received...I marched up to the Red Team and complained to the Head Nurse and she gave me a form to file stating why I wanted a new Dr and basically told me others complained about her too. Apparently she sits in her office area with the door closed and gives patients VERY FEW minutes if that much!! No one knows what she does... I was assigned a new Dr in 2 weeks and a new appointment. I knew the Pt Advocate prior, so I did tell her about what happened, and what I did and she said she would check on it too... I requested the Dr's unexam be removed from my records but basically they said we gave you a new provider and you received a new through exam so...no harm no foul! I feel sorry for others if she still is employed there! GO to the Director as someone else posted, if you don't get another physician, using the request form at his clinic, and the pt advocate route. BTW you need some one to treat your dad for his cancer. Did they give him an oncologist too? What treatment regimen is in order for his Cancer diagnosis? Don't wait for them to act, you need to be your dad's Advocate all the way! Never should your father be allowed to suffer in pain because a Dr has reservations/beliefs on whether to give pain meds or not!! Especially with pain diagnoses and cancer one's too!!

evandc, I just enjoy it when someone ie Berta, breaks it all down for us all to read and understand the complexity of what you get and how you get and why you get it but most of all because YOU DO GET IT NOW! Yippe!!

Put in your appeal NOD asap request for a Personal Hearing with a DRO and a de novo review. Get with your VSO to gather evidence you need/already have, and an seek examination by a Medical Doctor stating your diagnosis, and disability, and limitations to working ability or adaptability needed for employment...You need to have ALL of your SMR and complete C-FILE to see what the VA is determining to use besides your letters you received with their proposal to reduce.. I was deemed deceased, proved I was alive, then VARO proposed to sever and I filled an appeal requesting a Personal Hearing with a DRO and a de novo review. It took 7 months to get my hearing and about another 7 to get my transcript(make sure you sign paper requesting this) and their decision...on mine they cued themselves and raised my compensation from 30 to 50 at this time...I gathered evidence from the internet, had 2 IMO's and gobs of medical treatment evidence for years too I presented. DRO= Decision Review Officer NOD = Notice of Disagreement De novo-=Your C-File is to be reviewed by the DRO each and every page to validate evidence and to read the valid documentation in all the file VSO=Veterans Service Officer IMO= Independent Medical Opinion. IME Independent Medical Exam... Personal Hearing-You present ALL NEW evidence to validate your case/condition/diagnosis/disability.

Thanks Allan for posting this here. I got an email and fb message from Col Dan on this yesterday, and novice that I am, I do not know how to cut and paste and move things around...you know what I mean. I appreciate you forwarding this info, now lets hope it holds true for all of us.

When you requested these prior were you specific to state you want EVERYTHING in you SMR's all papers, documents, induction and discharge physicals, all medical, all dental, all clinic visits, including any/all labs, promotions, evaluations, duty station changes, again ALL papers in your C-File which would now include your requests, awards, C&P copies, evaluations by VARO, etc. It took me 6 requests, and a drive to the VARO( by which they made the appt for me to get these and said sorry/copier is broken...I almost went Balistic, talked to Manager who assured me I would receive all in the mail...1 week later I received more). Send your request via your VSO to inform him/her you still don't have everything in your copies received, and certified/registered to VARO. If it is close by(mine was 157 miles one way to St Louis downtown yeck traffic) call and tell them you want to make an appt to pick them up. BTW did you request all of these at the page ave address in St Louis, Mo? NARA is the site for the address, as they have ALL the records there and are suppose to send to VARO when you put in a claim, but I know of some vets mental health records were not sent to VARO and they had to go back to Records Division @ Page Ave to get these, themselves. So double check you requested these all from the record division that have millions of records...Good luck and keep all copies of everything too!!

When I read the title I was ready to tell you to appeal asap as I thought you really got reduced from 100% to 20%, but then read the content and see where your % of monetary benefit amount is increased by your unfortunate Ed but at least you get $96. more a month. So were you treated recently for the Cancer, and they say no residuals and they "got it all?" Is that why they changed the % with this? Investigate the reasoning they used for this change. I don't ever trust them with any claims, changes, increases, decreases, etc. Did you know they were investigating this? Had you had recent appointments, or other claims which may have initiating them reviewing your c-file? How long you been 100%?

Pete992 is telling you the way to go to get the copies from these exams. Pay attention to the areas where the examiners write " is likely or more likely, or less likely, or most likely related to..." This can give you a hint of possible acceptance of condition and possibility of award HOWEVER one NEVER knows what a rater may/may not award, as some may 0%, I really don't anticipate this happening with the diagnoses you post especially related to AO. When you get your copies, you can post them here to get some hints from others on what the examiners write. Make sure you NEVER post name/service numbers/social security numbers/any personal identifying info. Waiting is the hardest thing. AO claims are to got faster now but one CANNOT predict how long it will take. Keep in contact with your VSO as they get results first. Be patient, as hard as it is, and hope for the best. Remember you always have appeals you can follow through if you feel the award/awards are not related to the extent of the severity of the claims you submit. Many times the claims are low balled, but sometimes it goes well the first time out. Good luck.

With 70% for PTSD, yes I see where he is 100% TDIU, but with the % for PTSD I can't figure out how he has not been going to therapy all these years?? With mental health issues you are really never "cured" as there is no such thing. But the VARO tend to look at claims over the years, and I can't believe his wasn't reevaluated, unless it was over 20 years...Anyway, he needs a save therapeutic environment to tell a trusting therapist his problems, fears, traumas,thing and coping methods, etc...If he is like another one I know you may need to intervene and tell what "your observations are!" I would not bring in a child, as I am sure she unless, a mature adult, cannot understand the content of his issues, and it could compound other feelings in her. Maybe down the road she could write a letter stating what he has done, hasn't done, in her life, and if it has affected her positively or negatively, mind you with an adult child it may be possible. The focus is and should be on him, it is VERY natural to have/manifest issues involving the traumas and pain he experienced, and those he continues to experience. Good luck with the therapy, and post how it is going. I read where your marriage is 15 yrs, so I am thinking your daughter is maybe a teen? I would not subject my child to HIS therapy session, if needed she can have HER own therapist to deal with issues she may have related to his actions/reactions/behavior/attention/lack of attention...etc...

Have you heard anything about this yet T=bird??

Do you use a VSO? Have you applied for P&T yet? If so, when did you apply? Have you heard anything back already? Will probably take some months before you hear, and did you send in any more evidence?

Did you receive this award? Was the amount as you thought? When were you officially notified you won this, and received your settlement in your bank account?

When they saw my name ...they told me I couldn't appeal? What does that mean?

Lowe's in Illinois give 10% discount but not stuff on sale Menard's do not give discounts anymore Home Depot give 10% discounts on ALL purchases, regular price and sale prices too....These are Veteran's discounts I am referring to.

Get a copy of the exam, read it and see what he wrote...then you know how to fight it and what areas to fight if it is not done in a manner to increase your award. Especially if your disability has increased.

Last I believe he wrote he was having some more C&P exams...he did post over 900+ in the past but I haven't seen or read any. Anyone know what may have happened to him? Did he get any awards? Just wondering...