halos2

Good for you!! Great news to read. Please change your avatar to reflect your 100% TDIU. Spend your money wisely. It is hard to realize you could get it all at once, but this is how they do it so many times. Hope you got it all, go back to the month awarded and check the rate tables as they changed yearly except for the last three.

57 claims were presented here, and read almost all denied. Is this correct?

Your current 40% rating is for what? When? Did you ever put in a NOD with that claim or claims? Follow info from others here on your C & P exam. Be truthful, but respectful!

My last 2 C&P's, I too did an extensive internet search and took along 22 well documented medical study's and case examples which I highlighted and also wrote out different opinion scenerios too...I became friends over 2+ years with the C & P staff and the medical director of this area. They knew I got shafted years before so they were willing to assist me with what should had been decided in my favor years before.( It probably helped that I am an RN too) Any way medical information that can be related to your diagnosis, condition, treatment, etc can be of significant value to your clain, if the diagnosis is the same or similar. Good luck with this. BTW they did use alot of my reference material and put it in the exam material, and the VARO referenced the info as decision assistance with the granting of my 100% P T award!

The VSO's at the RO are across the hall, and do have a better working relationship with the staff@ ter RO proximity? Probably. Sometimes when you want it handed in RIGHT NOIW, it is good they are there...I know faxes can be sent but in person is invaluable sometimes. Some years back when the VARO sent me a letter, actually to my family, stating there were sorry for my recent death and discontinuance of my compensation payments, and request for my last months check...they would not listen or read I WAS/AM ALIVE!! My VSO walked across the hall and handed in personally to the manager a statement that this veteran(me) IS ALIVE, and reinstate benefits...It was dine in a few days, when I got my check again. BTW the VSO did hand in my fax prior...nothing done until he handed it to the manager in person!! You have to be an investigator yourself with your claim to make sure you gather all info as stated here already. Read posts from this site and others that can help you along with your quest. NEVER GIVE UP!!

Dupee1 and John999, I have been on Fentanyl since 02. I have to buy my own as well as my hydrocodone every month. VAMC refuses to dispense or pay for these. I get these prescribed and my prescriptions from my personal physician since 72. Used to be Duragesic name brand but a few years back too many people died as the dosage overloaded in the first 24 hours. Then after 7 years generics came out. The best one to get which will stay on better than the others is from Watson. All the others fall off way too early. Watson is almost as good as the originals by Sandoz who had Duragesic. Sandoz had Fentanyl patches out again, but had some problems again so Watson is the next best. Yes one's body does build up a tolerance to any drugs, and increased dosages is probably the only way to ensure effectiveness. BTW as stated here the first day the medication is the most effective, and by the 3rd day zippo...also the withdrawals are intolerable, if you choose to discontinue usage. Legs jerking all over the place, and pain worse and itching and spasms, sleeplessness, +...so one would have to weigh some relief versus side effects and withdrawals? You choose. Hope you can find something that will give you a little relief of pain.

Did you fill out the disability Functional Reports? Your Adult one's? 12 pages Also Third Party Ones done by someone other? 8 pages The Section of Disability Determinations is the one's who send these our to you. You can fax these back, or send them in the postage paid envelopes (2) they send to you with the forms, and all the instructions. You have 14 days to return these forms. The letter states: We are the office that makes disability decisions for the Social Security Administration. We are writing to tell you that we are reviewing your disability claim. To be eligible for disability benefits, you must have medical condition (s) that: keeps you from doing any type of work, and has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months in a row or result in death......... The physician fills out other forms he/she sends in themselves...also functional reports but these are different one's here you and another fill out. I got copies of my functional reports from the physician who completed my disability exam too. Don't be afraid to ask the one who does yours too These are pages I recently helped another vet with. Mine were a lesser amount when I filed in 03. Don't remember dual functional reports for me back then?? Make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you send in. To anyone, or any agency ALL THE TIME!!

John 999 So do they do something different now then they did before? I am 100% P & T With no future exams, but I don't trust them...don't want them to f with my status...or do they suddenly decide to offer vets educational opportunities...AGAIN?? It is 10 days away now...

M21-1MR,Part lV, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section J 60. General Information on Hospitalization Ratings Under 38 CFR 4.29... 4.29-1 Ratings for service-connected disabilities requiring hospital treatment or observation. A total disability rating (100 percent) will be assigned without regard to other provisions of the rating schedule when it is established that a service-connected disability has required hospital treatment in a Department of Veterans Affairs or an approved hospital for a period in excess of 21 days or hospital observation at Department of Veterans Affairs expense for a service-connected disability for a period in excess of 21 days. (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) of this section this increased rating will be effective the first day of continuous hospitalization and will be terminated effective the last day of the month of hospital discharge (regular discharge or release to non-bed care) or effective the last day of the month of termination or treatment or observation for the service-connected disability.... So this says 2 months worth right?? For this vet...24 days in March, and 23 days in April....

Thanks Berta. I very much appreciate you forwarding relevent info. I also get Col Dan's emails and facebook info. What a gem he is, even if from Il. haha Many people do not know who he is and what he does to also help vets, like you do. Thanks again!

But John the most he could get would be 90% and opening a can of worms and not having access to med records for years, might be risky?? They did sink his 2 billion$$ ship @ 18 yr old ship because too much bad chemical warfare had been on it...First ages cruiser in the Gulf War. He got E-5 3 years.............

Now I get a letter to report to my VARO to speak with and be evaluated for Voc Ed/ Rehab program...Is this something new they are doing to vets? BTW the counselor I am to see was the ending one(had 3 along the way) for my IL program. Should I just go as the appointment has already been set up. or call and cancel as this would be a do over. ( I already had my degrees before entering the program, before I ever filed for disability...they had me do a volunteer program at a site and paid me the stipend and got my dental done before declaring IL was a better fit) The original counselor was a fabulous man, the secondwas a woman, and I sent 23 emails and reported her as NEVER getting back in touch with me...so they promoted her to supervisor...yep...promoted for negligence, I guess. Anyway the last counselor was a no show no email no phone connection person too...Afraid to report her, as they might promote her to VARO manager.(joking) Anyway IL never completed everything, so do you think she either forgot WHO I AM, or does this start all over again??

Looked at vets award letter and regular math was 160% with a couple or more 0%'s too. So he did file for the NOD. As previously stated vet is 80% rated, and does work although sporatically, and feels the need to work due to expenses...Is he making a mistake here??

Wanting to make sure other vets are aware of the free stays...so sending this out again and many have No Vacancies already!

VSO says he thinks 1 month worth of payment. We called the infamous call center to which a supervisior there said it is right 1 month. They are saying march pmt paid in April and no payment for April cause it ended 23rd...doesn't reg 4.29 state after 21 days...well 24 days 1st mth and 23 second month.?? Yes Berta, we will follow your advice and send a letter to VARO. Thanks to those who have posted, and if anyone has other info regarding their experience with this feel free to add.

Veteran waited over 1 1/2 years to be accepted in a PTSD Tx program for approximately 7 weeks duration. Was advised he would be receiving 100% temp rating for 2 months. Letter received yesterday: The temp 100% eval is effective the first day of your hospitalization, Mar 8, 2011. It is terminated the last day of the month in-patient treatment for your service connected disability was terminated. In this case, your in-patient treatment was terminated April 23, 2011, so the temp 100% stops April 2011. Well the award letter on the first page lists: Monthly Entitlement Start date: April 1, 2011. @ 100% rate. Monthly Entitlement End Date : May 1, 2011 @ 60% ( previous rate) Now they are only trying to pay 1 month @ the 100% rate...Too bad they can't read their own Regs and also the letter stating the entitlement qualifications. 24 days in March, and 23 days in April. Plus the papers were sent in for the increase prior to admission and faxed from the hosp on the admission date...A few got their 2 months pay with in 2-3 months post discharge. Now he is going to have to start over again for the other month. Plus they still have not paid him for his travel to the facility, only home. (over 375 miles one way) Any comments, suggestions, opinions, or similar situations?? Please post if you have same type of issues too.

Pete992, Thanks for posting this info as the date draws near...we do not know if it will be extended, as we can NEVER trust the VA...

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE DATES, as some are giving the free night on 11-10-2011...the night before. ALL will list the dates and one in Mississippi already is booked. So check the state or providence, and check the dates and good luck!!

Yep 11-11-11 Veterans Day and again many B&B's all over U.S. and Canada and some others offering free on this date...email address is: www.betterwaytostay.com and follow the prompts. Remember many restaurants will be offering some free food that day to.

Please remember to watch your dates...you don't want to miss your NOD...

You had me going in circles. The way you wrote it goes around and around. Never read one so circular, or is this a synapse of what was written, ie you condense it??

John I am glad you stopped taking Vioxx, as you are too valuable a person to not have survived. I have been on fentanyl since 02 and hydrocodone all these years also.(I buy both myself and have for all these years, plus I bought my own Vioxx when it was prescribed.)

With your 0% sc award granted for your Fx jaw, loss of teeth and other oral problems did you put in a NOD? (notice of disagreement) with in the 1 year of this? Post them giving you the 0%sc? When did you initially apply for all the other claims? Are you represented by any VSO?

Kelly gave you which wed of the month you will receive your check...SSDI has a 5 month waiting period as mentioned on this site...So when you applied and if they took 10 months to grant you will receive your 5 month check. I got mine on the wed as stated with my birth day for the 6th month after I applied as I was granted during the first few weeks post exam, and waited the 5 month period.

Bug your VSO and have him/her look into it and see what they may read on the computer. BTW you are aware of the approximate million claims they are behind, aren't you? Nice to tell people it will be so many months and it evolves into years. A Persian Gulf I know waited from 07 and just got his done last year after they finally did his 2 C&P's last summer and he received his paper check in the mail 4-6 weeks post C&P exams, and his VSO and the VARO did not know what he was rated, or if he was rated yet, and did not know what the checks was for...took a couple of months to find out what amt was and retro date too. So you cannot trust what each person may say...They are saying they are acting on claims sooner, but I don't know...Depends on VARO locations amongst other variables.