halos2

Where are you? I have not heard from you? I have called your private number and left messages, and have looked for you here without ant success either. You have not posted here for over a month and a half...This is not like you. If you or someone could pm me I would appreciate it GREATLY! One of your vets wants to put in for NOD, and we have not heard back from you. Hope you are just on a long vacation, maybe a trip you wanted to take. I would like someone to post so I can tell the vet what to do, and also to make sure things are fine with you. If I have alerted anyone needlessly I am sorry. Just a concerned friend fellow vet here.

I would put in for it as secondary...they may say it is a disease noted to have other conditions that may or may not be present in all with this diagnosis. But if I were you I would and google it and get some of the medical studies and medical journals to help win this. I brought 22 studies on Diabetes, and Fibromyalgia as secondary conditions of PTSD and won on both. The examiner used some of these as a basis to prove the existence, and the rater used these studies and the examiner's(C&P) to award this. You have to do as much work in finding all the well documented searches/Medical Journal proofs to assist you with this claim. If other conditions happen to worsen and you have diagnosis's for them too, try and secondary them too. You have nothing to lose and only to gain. Good luck with your tests and the claim.

Hey Grid, please change your avatar to reflect your great win!

Congrats. If working TDIU probably won't happen this way.

Lugnut, I think when you post a little more info you will get more reply's. Typical switcharoo by the VARO.

This is so untrue to write ..."all others are pushed aside..." ..."Congress should have allowed this business with Agent Orange to go through a long time ago, but why does everyone else have to be shoved aside?" ARE YOU SERIOUS???? Your husband put in his claim in June 2010 and his C-File(I assume this is what you are referring to) went to the rater in October 2010 and you think you are pushed aside because you have no answer yet?? How about waiting 7 years or 4 1/2 years, or 4 yrs? Yes this is the time frame for 1 Vietnam Era Vet, 1 Combat Vietnam Bronze star with "V" plus numerous commondations and abundance of ribbons and E-5 in 3 yrs Vet, and 1 Persian Gulf Vet with 17 awards + E-5 in 3 yrs, and they all waited their turns, like it or not, it happens...YEARS here not MONTHS...AND YOU DON'T THINK THEY WERE SHOVED ASIDE, DO YOU?? YOU BET THEY WERE TAKING SOMEONE'S TIME!! Now lets look at the scenario you posted: 4 months from claim to C&P and only at 10 months total time now and I QUESTION WHO IS SHOVED ASIDE HERE!!

Hardship cases are suppose to progress faster ie terminal diseases but it doesn't always happen that way. Raters are suppose to have a quota, but things happen and some cases are more complex to evaluate so this is why one never knows when they will receive info on their claim. Looking over my older records I noticed some signed by a rater and the one was signed off by a senior rater. Maybe the older or more difficult ones may be shuffled around to different raters, who knows? With the recent awards for AO all those previously denied and appealed need to move up to the front as these vets have waited(many of them, not all filed earlier) and are getting older, and they too will be moved aside for a terminal claim, or an extenuating claim, as should be for all this way/age/disability...

Let me get this as written: you put a claim in over a year ago and recently had a v&p exam for the conditions you put in for right? Them 20 march 2011 you put in for a hardship? You might try to remember how long it took for you to get any response within the first year, well don't be surprised if it takes a large amount of time here too. Remember there are about a million claims behind all the time, however with you having the C&P done and with it being with a RATER (no rating board) you may receive some info sooner. No one has a crystal ball to be able to give you a definitive time line, wish we did. There are many variables involved here; you service connect injuries/disabilities/diagnoses, follow up and treatments throughout the months/years, further damage to an existing disability and if sc already...Lets hope they will find in your favor, and remember you can always appeal if the award is not sufficient, your symptoms are greater suffered, etc plus if the dr made a dx of the condition. First get awardance then move further. Good luck with your claim. BTW if you do not or unable to work have you applied for ssa benefits too?

They (VAMC) told me whenever an emergency occurred the VAMC needed to be notified and then they gave a # to Kansas City which also had to be notified within 3 days and it would be covered...This happened when my father-in-law had a spell??Heart attack and ambulance was called, and helicopter needed to transport so he was air lifted to hosp and dx was numerous lung embolisms(blood clots) anyway I notified the VAMC and then the KC # and they paid the $6500.00 bill cause I called them both right away. They paid on the hosp bill too, till he was stablized...So I was always told to do it that way and it worked out for him, but I was timely. I hope you can prove with the steps you have taken already you followed the protocol told to you.

It may take a while like a few months to get the back pay and then you may notice it in your back account before you get any official notification all together. Congrats on receiving it...I hadn't checked you figures yet so not sure of your calculations. Enjoy when you get it, and keep checking your bank deposits.

Carlie, Gives you a great feeling when this happens. Nothing better than helping another vet. I love this one, when the one vet I helped had a check delivered to his home on a Saturday, but he didn't get home until Sunday and opened it for 47875 he was shocked and it took weeks for the VARO to have info on the claim. It(his claim never was decided upon for a few yrs) never left regional office. He got 80% for a couple of years worth, which looked like 150% regular math, as we all know. Even his VSO didn't know a decision had been made for 2 weeks too.

It took me about 7 months and one increased from 30 to 50% on a cue the DRO stated one the VARO decision was a made the mistake, the other denied and were to BVA for 2 years and remanded back to VARO and was settled for 100% PT no future exams...with some concessions...

Is there another phone number to call, as the one posted here didn't seem to work for me.

I tell people I took an early retirement. I did from the state, they never will know about federal though. PRIVATE!

You have to win it at this step. I hope they pay you back to the beginning when you applied, and not have to "Make a Deal." and settle for 1 yr retro vs over 6 yrs. Take it now 100% P&T and disappear and never file another claim ever, or we will hold you up with exams forever and denials...I hope No one ever has to make this decision, especially YOU!

Mo is really bogus about this. You pay the tax to the county then send the copy to the state seat and then they decide if and when they pay you back...bull the law states 100% PT get home taxes free, but still have to pay personal tax ie auto's, boat, motorcycle, 4 wheeler, etc. Now they say they want to look at income to decide if they will pay. They owe me for 2 yrs already........

Congrats. NOW GET YOUR WIFE ADDED AS A DEPENDENT, AS THEY ARE PAYING YOU AS A SINGLE PERSON WITH NO DEPENDENTS. Also as Berta said get HER as the handler of your funds ASAP. Money they owe you, as a dependent, and her because she is your wife, to handle your funds. Perhaps they never read you have a wife and thought with a larger deposit you needed someone to take care of this...but you have a wife, and she helped you fight and she can help you pay what's due.

So glad to read of your winnings. Remember to take it slow and spend it wisely. Don't be shocked over the retro either. 04 to now is great. Make sure he takes it easy and continues to follow Dr orders for a long life. This is a fabulous win when the VA says yes they made a mistake too.

If I could I would file for some other diagnoses but when the VA granted me 100% PT no future exams, they said if I took that I could not file again for anything or I would loose it soooo unless you were made to take "their deal" I would file as the others have posted because of DIC...

If your questionaire answers leads more towards a possible diagnosis of PTSD then put in a claim for it. If the Psych Dr gives you this Diagnosis and you have a nexus/contributing factors that signify this is you are one step ahead. So if you have the problems, and the diag, and the Dr wants repeated counseling you have your claim in to see if it warrants a granted % award. Put the claim in especially if your doc is setting you up for an exam for it. Be early rather than late.

In-law, outlaw, friend, ex-friend,etc someone knows what you are doing and where you are getting your income resources from. Also how you helped your friend with the business, and that you take pain medication too. Keep your financial business between you and husband only. Sounds like someone is jealous and turning you in for something??They think it not kosher!! Not me!! The questions asked had to be told to someone...the evidence seems to be feed to someone. Keep all info private. Tell no one anything at all, what you get, where you get it, and if you help someone else, and don't tell any medication you take too! It is called PRIVATE for a reason!Just make sure this is a VA or SSA or Correction Officer and not just another scam artist here too. Most of all if you find out from the investigators they are who they say they are and have valid evidence make sure you stay honest with your reply's. You have nothing to hide, if they are verified. I would ask them why they are investigating you...they won't tell you who called them with a complaint or concern, but might say one was made, especially when all the points turn to your situation. I was told "someone" called in(VA) and said I was deceased some years back, and it stopped my benefits for a few months till I presented I WAS AND AM ALIVE! It was an anonyomous call they said...

I like the suggestions brought about by Hoppy. Sometimes one can get lost in the complexity and to simplify it gets the heart or beef of it without weighing it all down. One can and does get lost reading claims, and the monotony can almost mesmerize one, but getting something that can be streamlined and give a more direct approach can be acted upon faster too. JMHO.

WHAT ERA ARE YOU? i SEE WHERE YOU ARE 20% SO IS THIS CLAIM AN APPEAL FOR BEING LOW BALLED? DO YOU RECEIVE SSA, OR SSDI? HAVE YOU ASKED THE CALL CENTER TO FAX YOU THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN? THEY WILL DO IT. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN UNEMPLOYED? I THINK NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT YOU HAVE APPLIED FOR WITH VALID DIAGNOSES AND PHYSICIAN DOCUMENTATION TO VERIFY IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO SPECULATE THE WHAT IF'S. PERHAPS FILLING US IN MORE WOULD HELP US TO ASSIST YOU MORE, OR BE ABLE TO LEAD YOU WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT HAVE WORKED ALONG OTHERS TRAVELS WITH THE VA MAZE. DID YOU GET COPIES OF YOUR RECORDS AND ANY C&P EXAM RESULTS? IS THERE EVIDENCE OF QUESTIONABLE COMPETENCY LISTED IN THESE? SEARCH ALL TO SEE WHY/WHEN THIS ISSUE CAME TO LIGHT. SORRY FOR THE CAPS, MY COMPUTER KEEPS REJECTING MY POSTS IF NOT IN CAPS CURRENTLY. WHAT ERA ARE YOU? i SEE WHERE YOU ARE 20% SO IS THIS CLAIM AN APPEAL FOR BEING LOW BALLED? DO YOU RECEIVE SSA, OR SSDI? HAVE YOU ASKED THE CALL CENTER TO FAX YOU THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN? THEY WILL DO IT. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN UNEMPLOYED? I THINK NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT YOU HAVE APPLIED FOR WITH VALID DIAGNOSES AND PHYSICIAN DOCUMENTATION TO VERIFY IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO SPECULATE THE WHAT IF'S. PERHAPS FILLING US IN MORE WOULD HELP US TO ASSIST YOU MORE, OR BE ABLE TO LEAD YOU WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT HAVE WORKED ALONG OTHERS TRAVELS WITH THE VA MAZE. DID YOU GET COPIES OF YOUR RECORDS AND ANY C&P EXAM RESULTS? IS THERE EVIDENCE OF QUESTIONABLE COMPETENCY LISTED IN THESE? SEARCH ALL TO SEE WHY/WHEN THIS ISSUE CAME TO LIGHT. SORRY FOR THE CAPS, MY COMPUTER KEEPS REJECTING MY POSTS IF NOT IN CAPS CURRENTLY.

Scott, Good job. Never stop appealing till you get what you want. Remember to use the NOD with DeNovo review, as they all don't do it without asking, I have found this out, plus was told by a VARO supervisor in 2005.

Kelly you are welcome. I too like a lot of the info found in these 406 pages. With the ecomony it would be nice to afford all of the literature out there, however, we all do not have the funds to do so. So whenever I find FREE, then I research it and find is beneficial so I alwayd want to share with my friends here, things that do not cost us a cent! Stay safe with all your travels too.