halos2

PR word processor mode, cut & paste ???? Lucky I can type. Medically oriented and educated...computer use NOVICE and not versed in the usage of mannerisms regarding how to's!

Vet denied increase in previously granted claim, and vet using VA Form 21-4138 to file for NOD, DRO, Personal Hearing and DeNovo. Now should vet file VA Form 21-526b because "Some of the areas in section 7 & may pertain to some of issues vet has claimed? ie Increased Evaluation...Service Connection...NOT REOPENING AS IS IN APPEALING STATUS ALREADY...may have Disabilities Secondary, not previously applied for. This form(21-526b) looks like one someone may use if at a later date they want to put in for more issues, or one they never appealed... Seems the 21-4138 would be the only one and sufficient one. Appears if one used the 21-526b here they would be redundant and wasting their time for this type of appeal process. Right?

Berta, You never disappoint the members here. It is a "given" one knows you will respond with valid verification regarding one's questions. I will post more later...typed 4 paragraphs and they disappeared prior to me sending. I have dial up and it sucks for my internet connection. Thanks again.

No Carlie, I have yet to find a newer version. Would hope they would update this too, but have yet to see anything newer.

Vet has a choice of North Chicago Hosp, or Topeka Ks program. Was advised the Ks program is a 7 week intensive residential rehabilitation therapy unit with major focus on PTSD. Leaning toward Ks one as it is around 325 miles away where Il one is about 450. Does anyone have information about or experience with either of these? Captain James Lovell Federal Health Care Center North Chicago Il. VA Eastern Kansas Health Care/ Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center Topeka, Ks Vet is Nam vet with Chronic PTSD related to Battles and was awarded Bronze Star with "V" for his combat service there. Needing any help or info which would lessen his anxiety and apprehension regard inpatient treatment/lock down unit with limited independence and benefits received from any who have attended these types of intensive therapy programs. In dire need of treatment, and more so in others opinions of how helpful and complexity of sessions. Will pass on info to vet, and appreciative to any who may post. Thanks.

I read that article yesterday as another search site sent it to me. It doesn't stop. We keep finding out all the toxic chemicals were either used or stored on so many bases, just as the 15,335 55 gallon drums of AO that was stored in Gulfport Ms in the early 1970's...high rates of Cancer in this town, as well as higher level of birth defects too. These were stored by a Seebee base there. It keeps seeping out of the ground with each hurricane that penetrates the area, The soil is very contaminated there. Interesting to read the 350 page report the govt did on this and other stateside areas.

"A 21st Century System for Evaluating Veterans for Disability Benefits" by The National Academies Press. Publication 2007. It has 406 pages. and you can purchase it or download it or sections free PDF downloads. I find it interesting and can use some of the information with claims evidence and informational procedures. What have you to lose? Remember it is free. www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id+11885 if cannot get into it just use a search engine like google or another. It is free for personal use!! With it being listed as free I hope others may reap some benefits from the literature here. At least one could enjoy the chapters and references used. I spend a fair amount of money on my VA informational Library, and when I can find something free, I am happy. This may have been posted before, but I have not read it, so I am informing others who may have an interest here too. Happy reading. Thanks to The National Academies Press for allowing all to obtain free copies.

Well at least you found this site and will be able to appeal just in case they don't get it right the first time. Or if they may award too low. Let's all cross our fingers for you and hope you get a favorable result. Speedy one too.

Great news pigdriver. Spend it wisely. Not having much for a time, sometimes it is easy to go on a spending spree. This is your $. You worked hard for it in Nam and harder in the U.S. This is now your future.

I think as usual they will attempt to proceed with this but will fall short again. They are never fair when dealing with this, but as we know the VA is not a truly fair branch, for if they were we wouldn't have to fight/appeal/fight/appeal and some die. I wish it would happen as other branches of govt such as post office do not get penalized and get screwed on one of the retirements.

You better hurry up and check your dates on everything! You must not be late with any of the information/forms/appeals/NOD/DeNovo's...not anything!! Check them all as it seems you are on the Merry-Go-Round now. We want you to win, so get off and work hard on your own claim. Your VSO has too many vets to deal with, and someone's might not be timely, DON'T LET IT BE YOURS !

These changes have occurred during the almost last 3 years...because I wear my hadit shirts all the time, and answer people's questions. No really it is because smart people use hadit and promote it with their friends, neighbors, and maybe their enemies too. Anyway keep up the good work exploring all the avenues folks and Tbird.

I occasionaly go to an outpatient clinic which is less than half an hour away and they have the form there, completed for me to sign and they send it to the closest VAMC the one they are based out of, even though they are in a different state too, and I get a check about 2 weeks after the appointment. I think I am going to use this clinic for my Primary Provider for medical as they have 2 part time physicians, where as the VAMC has a NP for my primary. Besides I am familiar with one of the Docs. Both retired from the town where the VA Outpatient clinic is. They worked at the hospital prior. Also the staff at this clinic bend over backwards to be considerate and caring to all the vet patients. Wish I could say the same for all the staff at my VAMC. Some are great and some need to work with inadament objects.

Should this topic be in the Ask the Geeks arena? Or another forum??

Jbasser is telling you like the regulation state. I know for sure this is true too. I drive 132 miles one way to go to my VAMC, and there is one 110 miles away in another state, and I get travel pay zip code to zip code to the one nearest in the other state. It is in the regs. Doesn't matter if I have been going to the one in my state, there is one closer and that's the distance they pay for. If you got more in the past, someone didn't know or read the regs.

Although the majority of the VARO's take THEIR own sweet time on whether and when to send out the documents, I think some regions may take longer than others. St Louis, in my opinion, tends to put these requests on the back burner. My personal experience took more attempts then fingers on one hand to receive my complete military records. They even made an appointment for me to drive down there 155 miles one way, to obtain these copies, yet when I arrived, they said,"Sorry our copy machine is broken!" I wanted to go ballistic, but nothing could have been worse. I left and sent them again with certified registered requests, and used my IL counselor to help too. BUT the biggest assistance was from a VARO worker, Rochel, who hand copied all the records, and called me back when she sent them. Very unusual happening here! We are talking almost 4 years to get ALL the Copies. Now I have assisted other vets from this same regional office and it took forever for them to receive their copies with repeated requests. I am referring to the last 8 years too. The soonest was 11 months for one last year. I have read on different sites where the records are being processed quicker. Page Ave address sent few, and said all were with my RO. Good luck with your plight. As stated these are IMHO and history.

I searched around and found the following: Googled for some info and found some with these sites too: Gulf war vets.com, National Gulf War Resource Center Inc,gulf war vets.com/ubb/ultimatebb.phb?, American Gulf war Veterans Association-VHA Handbook 1303.2, Gulf Registry handbook... Anyway here is some info I found specific to your questions: Reproductive Health Problems Uterus displacement Heavy bleeding/cramping Ovarian cysts Cervical cancer Sexual problems Conception problems Birth defects/congenital disorders Menopause Fallopian tube problems Infertility Menstrual irregularities Vaginal infections these are not inclusive, just one's I found thus far...found some who had partial and total hysterectomy's too... With your post of in service menstrual problems and a total hysterectomy these would seem to be presumptive in the relationship of Gulf War. Did you have your hysterectomy in service? Loss of these reproductive organs could also be a claim here if so in service.

Tbird posted it now on the opening page for all to see/read. Look to the right when you open the site's front page.

Ever try an external catheter and a leg bag? Not an indwelling catheter! External ones roll up on your penis and connect to the tubing on a leg bag. The leg bag adheres to your thigh, or calf by velcro straps. Just remember to empty it frequently, as it does not hold like over 300cc or so of urine. You can still wear undershorts with this as the tubing fits out the side of the leg opening. Briefs(depends at night) and externals when you want to be mobile without any bulkiness. Just a thought here. Your PCP can order you the external catheters, leg bags, and a larger bag, if wanted to connect to when sleeping. Indwelling catheter have potentials for infections, no matter what sterile techniques are used. Also do not wear the same external one for days either. Just a suggestion offered here. Also what treatment plan has your Dr suggested for your enlarged prostate? TURP? Trans Uretheral Resection Prostate basically known as reaming it...making it smaller...won't go into details here...used more in the past with Enlarged Prostrate gland.

Thanks Tbird. Anything that can simplify searches for much needed info is definitively appreciated. You always come through with great ideas. Happy that you presented an access to the process with just one click!

Good Luck Tbird. I know it is near the 6 month mark since you lost your dear Etta James. People who are not pet lovers do not realize how these are really our family members. My dog goes all over with me except on a recent plane ride. I didn't want him to be in with the luggage in his crate/kennel. So he stayed at my daughters for a few days. He missed me as much as I did him too!! Had to call him on the phone so he could hear my voice. Ha ha.

Thanks. Might want to check on Fibromyalgia, also as SOME symptoms are similar too.(much pain with fibro though)

While on this main page scroll down until you reach the middle column which lists TOP PAGES scroll down to the 4th column, where it shows Definitions, Terms, Abbreviations and this should help those who are not familiar with the abbreviations and definitions used here.

Look under Hadit's opening page ...scroll down and check middle column and check: TOP PAGES heading and scroll down to definitions,terms abbreviations, and there you go!!!