halos2

Are you employed? Working at all?

Sounds like you got the brass ring. Congrats. Chapter 35 education benefits yeph...sounds like a bingo here!!

Way to go. Berta knows the ins/outs of the VA claims processes. She is one tough lady, and a veterans advocate!!

38 years young...to die...from contaminant exposure from the military. Unfair. To this poor soul, his family and friends. Thank goodness he had a friend like you. May he rest in peace knowing his family will receive some monetary benefits he worked for and gave his life for. May they find joy in the good times they had together and the pleasant memories they shared in this sorrowful time.

This has been going on for over 2 years in the midwest. Yes they get OT too. They have to work 5 days or 10 hr 5 days. Personnel at the VARO told me this way back then. They will not work OT without pay, nor would it be legal for those who are paid hourly. Friends and familys seem to get jobs there easier than the public too. Also wives or husbands of 20 year plus vets, get on in positions, and promotions occur pretty fast. I wish I would have gotten a job there years ago!! I did report this to 2 very well known Vets advocates over 2 years ago too!!

That really continues to suck, Sleeper....

Can we have an update on the claims granted here? Inquiring minds want to know.....We are always glad to see when vets receive awards, and want to know/read/see it to find out if the VARO's are doing the right thing with awards now...

Remember there were no raises for 2 years during this time. So the amounts would be the same.

Why would you tell them to remove the 26 conditions/diagnoses the QTC examiner diagnosed? That person is a professional and by examination/lab/xray/other exams and test determined you did have more problems, you told them you wanted these to be removed? Also why would you have the IU removed too? You wrote you asked for these to be removed, so therefore maybe they will drop you down on the award too!! You got 100% PT and then told them to take away your 26 other decisions documented by QTC, and to remove the IU, and I bet they will come back and reduce you...Are you working now? Is that why you would do this?? If you were not awarded a higher percentage before this exam, why would you think/believe they would award you this without all the additional evidence?? Am I missing something here?? Why would one ever have the VA remove evidence that helped them win an award????

Are you close to the Phoenix VARO? I am 157 miles away from mine and have driven there a few times to personally bring evidence and /or view my records...it will pull your file away from a person who may be working on it, though, mine was available as no one was working on it...determination phase(sitting in a room in Limbo). Doesn't hurt to send the new VARO a certified/registered letter stating you have no further evidence and your claim file is complete and you wish it to be proceeded with and reviewed by the rater as stands.Do you have a new VSO as you moved? I have personal contact with mine via email and phone calls. Wouldn't hurt to get one @ the VARO either. Mine is in the building across the hall from the VARO manager. But outreach VSO's have access to the one's at the VARO too. Are you enrolled with the va's ebenefits web site? Slow as it may be it does let you know where it is, and what dates/info was received.

Wings, I can only speak of my own experience: My PCP was out sick for months so no appointments were made and they (VAMC) told me to wait...for what hell to freeze over? So I went to an outpatient clinic 25 miles away (my VAMC is 134 miles away) and I got an appointment within 1 week...also my 3 psych doctors left within 6 months so I went and made an appointment at this other VAMC and saw a new one via tele-med at this closer clinic . I got travel pay. I am 110 miles away from the closest VAMC in another state, but I choose to use the one in my state, and the clinic is in another state (closest one)...Finally my main VAMC got another PCP I went and saw her once got my copy immediately in Medical records and she LIED I went back to the area and said she lied and saw me for 92 seconds and wrote a complete physical up on me and I filed a formal complaint...they gave me a new pcpin a few weeks and she lasted for the last few years, but she is leaving next month after 34 years as a NP. Bottom line I went on my own to another clinic, didn't ask anyone, just went and said I was treated for x years at this VAMC, am having problems setting up appointments and want to be seen here, and they gave me an appointment...I was 50% during these times too...2 years prior to my 100% PT. NEVER had to squabble over travel pay, only thing is @ the outpatient they mail it to me as they are a 5 person clinic. I always get paid from my home to the nearest VAMC when I go to my original VAMC appointments, yet @ the outpatient clinic my home to them. (Mo Ia Il with Il closets clinic, Mo live, Ia closest VAMC, prefer VAMC Mo) Also I drive almost 3 hrs to my appointments (VAMC) and get free lodging with morning appointments paid the night before. Then I get my travel pay after my appointments the next day. Bottom line...I took the proactive way and went to the nearest clinic and made my appointment myself. Eventually reverted back to my original VAMC when they finally got enough specialists to provide my care. I hope I didn't confuse you with this. You travel there, they have to pay you, but it will be to the closest one they pay. Example 25 miles one way, or 60 miles one way or 134 miles, but they will take the 134 and change it to 110 because it is the closest one...you get round trip minus $6.00 copay but if over 3 trips per month no copay on the rest that month too.

You write Nov 2010 you put in a claim for TDIU, with 70% ptsd noted...I see you are 70%, the claim unless you previously applied for an increase will go by the date of this claim, Nov 2010. Had you, when received you rating for 70% appealed it then that date could be used as along with the original date of the claim... ...let's say you put in a claim for an increase as you were 50% in nov 2009, and they raised you to 70% in Oct 2010, then you had a year to put in for an increase along with your NOD requesting TDIU, but did you never put in a NOD for an increase when you was awarded 70%, Or did your condition worsen and you put in a new claim in Nov 2010? Unless you were appealing the decision when achieved for your 70% within that year...and you just sent in a NEW claim in Nov 2010, they will use the original date of that claim. Remember VA does not care if your conditions are not service connected,but SSDI will grant on ANY disabilities they assume rate you unable to work. I hope I didn't confuse you. Are you using a VSO? Seems someone should have told you or you should have received written notification from your VARO with your 70% ptsd award...

Autumn, Today was a holiday so no one would have worked to monitor the phones. They don't work on Sunday either. Once I got someone to answer the phone early sat am, but I do believe this was a fluke. They are so far behind claims don't listen to or believe what you read. I know personally and from helping other vets they are behind...

Phil did you get copies of your C&P exam? If so read what the examiner wrote like GAF score ..., More likely than not...,how much evidence they referred to to sway more in your favor...Watch out they can low ball you. If you have a fax machine, they can fax you the results asap. I have had them fax it alot for me and some other vets I have assisted along their claims processes. Remember you can always appeal the rating if you feel it was too low, but the first thing is to get a + rating which sounds like you may have gotten. Good luck along your way.

When did you file? How many of these form letters have you received? Sounds pretty much the usual. While they are working on your claim they send out letters to let you know you are not forgotten. Yeah, right!

Guess they don't know who they are dealing with. You would think by now they would and grant you your awards. Especially since you are well versed in VA Law Regulations, they should read it and push it along to monetary folks. We know you will get it, it is a bummer you still have to fight.

It is so behind if it even gets posted at all JMHO and what I have observed. Did you look under C&P exams and Appeal areas too? Sometimes one could find it in another area or else not. The people who are SUPPOSED to imput work rather slowly to incert any if at all...

Are you in the St Louis Mo area now? There are attorneys in Hannibal Mo www.ddrm.net who handle vets claims. They are about 110 miles from St Louis. 1-800-452-9825 I and Mo. Maybe they can help you. Dempsey Dempsey and Moellring are the Attorneys names.

You have worked harder and longer than any other person I know. They need to quit farming our your claims to different regions, because NO ONE can beat you!! You know the regs better then any of them. Hope you get your EED! Great win again for such a great and helpful person to all of us.

So BOGUS!!

Best thing to do is follow the advice given here. You are most likely a younger person and that I believe is a factor they use in checking or reevaluating one's status as disabled. Bring the validating info you have and medication list...Remember SSA pays for any qualifying diagnoses, and VA only pays for service connecting disabilities/Diagnoses. With previously utalizing an attorney for your original claim perhaps he/she could give you some advice on the way to pursue this also. Maybe via a consult verses fee base. Where are you in the VA claim area? Have you got appeals in or what have you done regarding your service connected disabilities and claims? Post here any concerns you have and many people will offer help, and some will tell what worked for them, but remember each VARO is different, and each rater is different too. Good luck with your claims and stay strong mentally to win these too.

Just when I get use to it whoop there it is changed...I am like pete 53 wow covering my whole page, but I did get it to minimize by editing it down a few notches...after I sent you 3 messages trying to find current posts, I found it myself on the page to the right instead of on the bottom section. You know me medically oriented/computer savy questionable...It will probably take me a while to navigate but change is always occurring in life and with electronics.

Congrats and I too wish to find out how you proved exposure as I have a Vietnam vet brother-in-law who was also dx with this condition. His file was put in over 1 1/2 years ago and he has yet to have a C&P exam appointment. Are you on oxygen therapy? He is and has to pay for own care thus far..

Took over 7 months for a vet I know to get 1 months worth of 100%. He was in the hosp for 24 days the first month and continued thru 22 days the second month and he got 100% for only the first month...no break in time during these 2 months and they denied the second month, and he put in a NOD and is appealing this...hope you fair better and sooner.

Whoop there it is! Congrats and enjoy a little breather.