Tayo

Hello everyone,, I was not talking about fraud. This is what I am saying: I have read many post on this site. I have learned many things with the VA. Personally, I am a physician. When I say, "be the rating" and actually put ---"wink-wink" --- I mean that the majority of us really need to look at our condition. I truly believe that all of us deserve at least the next highest rating. I worked on a few of my friends disability claims. I found that their ratings missed a lot of information. Let me also add,,, these individuals were rated for PTSD. Anyhow,,, I found in their initial rating,,, they were 50%. I got them to the 70%. How??? Thoroughly looking in their medical records, talking to them,,, getting permission to speak to their psychiatrist. With that information,,, and knowing the information the VA is looking for to grant the higher information,,, the psychiatrist and psychologist knew what to concentrate on so that the information is correctly entered in the "Progress Note." With that said,,, be the rating. If you are having times when you are troubled,,, not getting up,,, not grooming yourself,,, don't change only when you are going to see the doctor. That defeats the purpose. Part of the examination is what the provider actually witness. Fraud, not at all. Falsification,,, not at all. In other words,,, do not dress up for the doctors appointment,,, do not tell the doctor that everything is okay when everything is not. However,,, do let the provider know what the VA is looking for when deciding benefits. 9 times out of 10,, the provider does not know. For instance,,, many people ask, "How to tell the doctor how to write a NEXUS letter." This is the same. So, rentalguy,,, Purple,,, I apologize. I did not make myself clear. I was very angry because these raters have no clue and if things aren't "spelled out" to them,,, the decisions they make may not be the best decision for the veteran. I am not sure how many "raters" are physicians,,, nurses,,, or any provider. I am not sure if they truly understand the wording in progress notes, laboratory findings,,, etc. Please, the last thing I want to do is promote falsification. I AM EXTREMELY AGAINST FALSIFICATION!!! Trust,,, I am trying to get the R2 rating. Short term memory loss,,, right side (dominant) weakness. I.V. infusions every 2 to 3 months,,, 30 pills a day,,, walking with a cane AND still falling down stairs, tripping over the dogs, broken arm,,, broken leg,,, no balance,,, etc. etc., etc. AND with all that said,,, not able to practice medicine. So,,, what can I do. I can sit at a computer. Cognitively,,, I may have short-term memory but,,,, I can write things down. What can I do as a physician,,, I can help veterans find things in their medical records. I can talk to their providers,,, I can word things so that raters understand what is going on with the patient. I can do this for free because, I believe that veterans deserve everything they can get. We fought hard for our country. Most of us volunteered to serve,,, not wanting to get hurt. Those of us who didn't volunteer,,, went in and didn't plan on getting hurt. So,,, if I can go through every piece of note in a medical file,,, if I can talk to a provider,,, if I can tell a patient to not "be themselves" when they go to a provider and not "dress up,,," then I will do that. So, once again,,, please know,,, when I say,, be the rating,,, I mean it. I mean it from the bottom of my heart. For instance,,, it is like dressing up every Sunday to go to church. But, throughout the week,,, you wear jeans. I am saying,, don't dress up,, wear the jeans to church. Be who you are. Be who you are... Be who you are. Please,,, I hope this makes things a little clearer. Tayo

OMG SouthernBelle, I COMPLETELY understand about sending VA copies of things and they never get it. I just experienced that,,, they told me that "ALL" my documents sent to them were "misplaced." URGGHHH!!! I am starting to think that the VA doesn't want to grant benefits,,, that maybe a reason why the most important documents are "misplaced." The documents that would prove a higher rate. I'm so glad you got to talk to someone. I actually learned from you. I had no idea we could actually call and get to speak with a DRO. Please, keep fighting and posting what you are doing. Once again,,, I am taking notes so I know what I can do in my case. Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks,,, Tayo

Hello SouthernBelle, I tried reading everything in this post. I can see why you are angry. Everyone gave some good advice. Rentalguy and Berta mentioned something extremely important. From what I read from your attachment, I also can see why the rating was 50%. It was all in the presentation. What I took from what Rentalguy and Berta,,, "now you know what the requirements are for a 70% rating,,, be that requirement." So, if it takes not washing and dressing sloppy for a few weeks,,, especially the week you go to see your psychiatrist/psychologist,,, so be it. If it takes being an emotional roller-coaster,,, that provider needs to be aware of such things. ---wink, wink--- Remember,,, if you know what rating you want,,, "be that rating." PTSD has many, many facets. If the VA rates you at one level,,, I believe it plausible to get the next. Remember, "be the 70% rating." You deserve it and much more. Tayo

Thanks so much Pete53, I did go to the VARO. I found out my NOD has been """misplaced.""" What is hard for me to understand is -- not only is the original August 18, 2009 NOD misplaced, but also the "Statements in Support of Claim Form's" dated September 14, September 20, September 29, November 3, and November 18 were all "misplaced." This is just so strange to me. How in the world does this happen? Every single form ,,, all 6 of them,,, all of which were submitted on different dates,,, all of these forms have been "misplaced?" That just does not make since to me. :D ;) :( At any rate,,, as I said, I did go directly to the VARO. There, I handed "ALL" my information to my Service Rep. He actually is a nice guy. I did not ask why he couldn't print the information out himself ---keep in mind,,, it is imperative that I stay """nice""" . He said that he will walk the information to the correct people. He and I sat at his desk,, he did search for my information. Still, this is just unacceptable. :( Tayo

Hello, Well, I must say that this message is not a good one for me. I am really sad and disappointed,,, to the point of tears. :P On 11/21/2008 and 12/06/2008, I submitted inquiries about my claim through I.R.I.S. I did not get any response. So, I did the next best thing,,, contact my Veteran Service Rep. I emailed him yesterday to see what was going on with my NOD. -- He responded and said that he could not locate my NOD!!! this is how the email went: Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 4:17 PM To: "Veteran Service Rep." Hello Mr. "Veterans Service Rep.", This is "Tayo" again. I hope all is well. 1. I am writing again to see if you have any more information concerning the competency proposal. If you can remember, I submitted a letter from my Neurologist stating that I was competent to handle my VA Benefits. ---I attached of copy of that letter for a quick reference.--- 2. Also, do you have any information concerning the Notice of Disagreement I submitted on August 18, 2008? ---I attached a copy of the dates NOD was submitted.--- I tried submitting questions through the IRIS system. Actually, I submitted questions on 11/21/2008 and 12/6/2008; never got a response. Once more,,, thanks for all your continued help. I'm not sure how often you hear this but, "you are greatly appreciated." Veteran, Tayo ----------- Date: Friday, December 19, 2008, 8:18 AM "Tayo": I checked on you claim concerning the incompetency issue. It's still in the rating board. As far as you NOD submitted on 8/18/08 I don't see it. You can send another copy of the NOD so we can get it in. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. "Veteran Service Rep." ----------- Mr. "Veteran Service Rep.", Thanks so much for responding so quickly. 1. I have attached copies of the submitted information. 2. Should I also bring copies into the VA? 3. Since the original submission stamp is for August 18, does that date still stand? Once more,,, thanks so much for responding so quickly. Sincerely, "Tayo" ------------ Everyone,,, I am so lost for words!!! I mean,,, ,,, I do not know what to do. Someone, please help me. I really need some help. B) Tayo

Hello tk3000, Your physician will present their IMO in a "progress report." Every time you go to a doctor's appointment, when you see a doctor writing,,, they are writing "progress notes." So, whatever the physicians opinion (IMO) will be written in a "progress note." Hope this helps, :P Tayo

Wow,,, At the end of the video, I heard the police officers ask his medically condition. That should have been asked in the beginning. We can't see in the video if the man was actually fighting with police,,, we can't hear the man yelling at police,,, BUT, we do hear the police speaking and the taser sound. Also, if police cadets are trained in noticing signs of specific illness (as stated in the video), then couldn't they have noticed something was wrong? Do I think the officers should be fired??? Hmmm, I wouldn't go that far. However, I do think that their should be some type of internal investigation and re-training. The reason I say this is because situations like this is actually,,, life and death. Tayo

Hello gdsnide, Like you, Berta and some others have been a big help for me. I have seen and responded to forums here about the incompetency proposal. You are in a good situation in that your wife can be appointed your fiduciary. Personally, I had my treating specialist (neurologist) submit a letter stating that I am competent to handle my VA benefits. Granted, the last I heard was that the "competency issue" made it to the rating board on September 24, 2008. I have no-one to be my fiduciary. If the letter from my neurologist doesn't suffice, I will then shoe that letter to the field reps along with proof of my ability to handle my accounts. A present, like you, I am rated at the "L" rate. However, I have yet to be paid because of the competency issue. When I do get my retro, it will be from January 2008. As for submitting for an even higher rate,,, I think it depends of your particular situation. That, in itself, can get "very deep and specific." Tayo

Carlie,,, Thanks so much for sharing. I admit,,, trying to be patient when the VA is concerned,,, is HARD. But, patience is a virtue. Your inspiration gives me more hope that through it all,,, the VA may come through. Tayo

Congratulations, You deserve it and everything else you present to the VA. Tayo

Hello all, I have shared in prior post that the VA has "proposed incompetency." I do understand this proposal simply based of my medical condition. However, I am able to handle my VA benefits. What I had to do was submit information from my "specialist" stating that I was able to handle my VA benefits. The specialist also included the medication regime, how often I am seen, etc., etc., etc. The last thing I heard concerning this was that as of September 24, 2008, my claim for competency was at the rating board. My Veterans Service Rep. told me that everything should be in my favor, especially since the treating specialist for my condition believes that I can handle my VA benefits. The Veterans Service Rep said that letters of that kind should come from physicians other than "primary physicians." The VA still provides veterans with another opportunity to prove competency. That is through a field rep. Hope this information helps, Tayo

Likewise Purple,,, So glad you went to get checked out. I got really scarred and nervous for a bit. Tayo

PURPLE!!! Please do not wait around if you feel your appendix might be going. OMG!!! You say you have been hurting like hell for the past 24 hours. PLEASE GO TO SOME ER IMMEDIATELY!!! This is a serious situation,,, SERIOUS!!! Please, go get checked out. If your appendix "burst,,," well,,, let's not go there... Listen,,, pain is usually middle lower or right lower,,, ,,, any fever or vomiting,,,? Either way,,, please go get checked!!! Purple, after you read this,,, please go to the ER or somewhere to have your appendix checked. Moderator, I hope I do not get in trouble for saying this. This is urgent. Tayo

Hello Purple, This individual may be a resident. If that is the case, the attending signs of on scripts, consults, etc. Normally, the VA Hospitals are "teaching" hospitals. Tayo

danang_1969, I'm pretty sure your wife can work. Regular Aid and Attendance at the "L" rate equates to an extra $600 or so. This amount is suppose to help off-set some of the expenses needed for help. Have you asked your provider to submit a request for Home Health Aid? This program providers respite. For instance, my respite is for 3 hours/ 3 days a week. Take care, Tayo

Lori, I agree with everyone else. To me,,, the first good news is that he has been rated 100% P&T. With that, even though the condition is PTSD, he can still be "competent" to handle his VA benefits. Yes, the competent issue can be changed to his favor. Still, you have been caring for his funds since 1999. As the others say, the doctor can write a letter and You will have a big part in supporting the decision of your brothers ability to handle the benefit. With that said,,, do you actually believe your brother to be capable of handling his VA benefits? In this case, I believe it important to evaluate why he was rated incompetent (there is a process the VA goes through in making such decision). Further, try to see why his providers felt him to be incompetent at the time. As stated above, they can write a letter but before they do, they may set a time to monitor him and they would ask for your input. To his providers, your input carries a lot of weight (since you are with him, etc.) Thus bringing back the main question,,, do you actually believe your brother is capable to handle his VA benefits? Okay, I wish you well,,, Tayo

Hello everyone, Mine was approved first try. Tayo

Thanks Pete53 When I calculated the amount,,, it was a lot of money. No harm no foul though,,, majority of it will go to the help that is needed. So, I guess that is why the amount is so high. Home care is really expensive!!! The VA has granted Home Health Aide for 3 days a week (3 hours a day). That gives respite for my family. So, all in all, I am thankful for all the VA compensation help. Tayo

Hello All,,, I guess this is the right spot to ask my question. As some of you know,,, my claim went through and was approved at the "L" rate. My NOD was submitted and all my doctors and even my service rep felt that things should go through okay for the even higher rate ,,,R2,,, Anyhow,,, I am already 100% permanent. Will they take away that L rate or even the R2 if I am granted the R2? I mean,, I admit I take about 25 pills a day AND have I.V. infusions every 2 to 3 months. I was just wondering,,, is it likely they will take it away? Tayo

StrungOutOnTools, I was reading your information and it got me thinking. First, I must say,,, (unknown to Berta) when it came to my and my claim,,,Berta has helped me focus in on specific cases. ****Thanks Berta**** The cases she provided for you are very informative. What I've learned from Berta was to make the cases "become my own." Tayo

This is actually pretty scary. I for one desire to go on "holiday" from my meds. But, the moment I go into "Danger Zone." Meaning,,, things start to shut down. My meds are delivered via the mail. Even my I.V. stuff. Thankfully, I've not had problem with delivery. My problem's have been with meds sent that were the wrong dose. I actually had to make a special weekend trip to the VA pharmacist to have a "pow-wow." So,,, hang in there. It just amazes me. Some people, especially the ones who take medication, don't understand that those meds are intended for someone for a special reason. Grrrrr,,, if only I had a magic wand,,, :P ---smile--- Tayo

Yes, yes, yes,,, thanks so much. Tayo

Hello SouthernBelle, Yes, can you please post that information or let me know were I can go to get the information. Thanks so much, Tayo

SouthernBelle, Thanks so much for this post. A friend of mine is having "hard times." Laid off,,, no health insurance,,,, etc., etc., etc. He then told me that he use to be in the military. So, maybe he can get some health insurance from the military cause he has no income??? SouthernBelle,,, or anyone,,, any thoughts? Tayo

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! Tayo