joeyjoeyb

I feel so smart now!! (pats self on back) 30 I think the $2,709 was the difference of 799 and the 568 i was getting back dated 30 Nov. $231 X 11 months or so is around the $2,709 I received. I am just wondering if anything will come from DFAS. I am happy with what I have already received. Just wondering.

Ok, so let me see if I get this straight..... My retirement: 1665 VA offset now that I am at 50% and married: 799 CRDP: I think it will be around 700 so... $1665 - $799 = $866 from DFAS Then $799 + $700 = $1499 So all total about: $2365 Is this about right or am I totally off here?

Exactly. I want the details on what to expect now. I will be getting CRDP. I do not know what I am expecting. Like I said, I got a deposit of $2700 from VA today. Is that from DFAS? Will I be getting anything else from DFAS? Not sure if I am asking the right questions.

Thought I would add more INFO to make sure whoever is able to help has all the INFO. I am retired Air Force with 20 years. I had been getting my retirement minus $568 which came from the VA. I am just curious what I will be receiving now. Thanks again for the help.

Just looked at my bank account and received a payment from the VA of $2,709. Looks like I went from 40% to 50%...very happy about that!! Just not sure what all this means? I am happy about the new amount I will receive, but not sure what all of it is. Can someone break it down for a dumb retiree!! Will I receive any other retro payments from DFAS? Thanks

Yeah...I am just going to wait for the letter and see what happens. I am just so sick of not knowing what to do. This guy is really negative and to be quite frank intimidates me. I will wait for my decision and then move on. There is a local guy that is supposed to be pretty good. I will check him out. How exactly do I fire this guy?

November 6, 2008 Dear Mr. joeyjoeyb, As your designated AMVETS representative, I have just reviewed the recent VA decision on your claim. Based on my review of the evidence in your file, it appears as though they have made a correct decision. You will receive a copy of that decision shortly. Until you have received and read your copy of the VA Rating Decision, it is not necessary to contact me. If you have any questions or concerns after reading your copy of the decision, please call me and we will discuss the decision. Please do not contact the VA directly about the decision and do not take any formal action on the decision without discussing it with me. If I am to properly represent you and your best interest, it is imperative that you deal directly with me. Has anyone ever received a letter like this? I sure would like to know. I am really thinking about complaining to his boss or something. I have no idea what my rating will be, but the more I think about it, it does not matter. What is this letter supposed to accomplish?

Yes I know all about trying to connect my sleep apnea to service. I had 3 buddy letters to include my wife. A statement from myself and 3 letters from my primary care manager and the sleep study doc who read my study. Not sure what else to do about that.

That is just the thing. He did not really think I had a chance with my claim. I will not go into the long story, but kept saying "if it is not in your smr, then they will not change their mind" I was denied sleep apnea along with some other things. So, I guess the tone of the letter and knowing this persons personality...I think it is bad news.

I guess the thing that bothers me the most is that is says "no need to contact me until you receive the decisioin. I mean....why even send that letter in the first place. To tell me you agree with the decision? Kind of a waste of time if you ask me. All that does is get the veteran thinking the worst when you have no idea. How about..not send that letter at all?

It is from my AMVETS Rep and basically it says that my recent VA decision on my claim is in and he has reviewed it and agrees with the decision the VA made. Says no need to contact him until I receive a copy of the VA Rating Decision. 2 Questions 1. This cannot be good if he did not even let me know if it is good news or bad? 2. How long does it take to get the real decision? The letter is dated 6 Nov 2008 from him.

Bottom line.... Does the fact that no reflux showed up on the UGI will be the key to not getting the increase? Or do the notes of the examiner override that? I am not sure if I am asking the right question here. But just wanted to know what is more important when it comes to getting rated for this. The xray or the examiners notes? Just wanted to add that the reflux and hiatial hernia did show up on the first C&P exam I had back in Apr 2007. I had a C&P exam for an increase for GERD on the 25th of September. I am rated for GERD but at 0%. I asked for an increase and they sent me back to get checked out. I had an UGI done and some labs. I had this appointment back in July, but got rushed to the hospital as I thought I as having the big one. I had a stress test done and all was good. It turned out it was my GERD. Now I have a couple of questions. My CARDIO doc confirmed to me that my GERD was the cause of my rush to the hospital. I am pretty sure that I am at the 10% rating level as I have 2 of the 4 symptoms of GERD for the 10% rating. Just like when they first examined me. But I guess they did not listen to me. The 10% would put me at 50%. I am not counting on it..... ________________________________________________________________________________ ___ I sent for the report for my C&P exam on my GERD increase. I am not sure what to think of it. First of all, the UGI I had said it was normal. No reflux was noted flouroscopically. My reflux is probably the worst it has ever been. When I went for my first C&P exam for my initial claim, they did note reflux and a small sliding hiatal hernia. No mention of the hiatal hernia on my second exam. No the report from the examiner said a few things in it: "Veteran has a sore feeling in throat which is uncomfortable when I swallow" "Veteran has constant pyrosis by history" She mentioned about my episode that happened in July that I went to the emergency room because I thought I had a heart attack and my cardio doctor said it was most likey my GERD "Veteran has reflux of stomach acid which occurs 3 times a week." She also said in the report: Interferes with working and iterferes with daily living, "Because I have to sleep with the head of bed elevated, I have to be careful with everything I eat because I really have burning all the time." So I guess what my question is, do you think I have enough there to get an increase to 10%? Does the fact that no reflux showed up on the UGI will be the key to not getting the increase? I have several other issues going, but I guess this was the last thing the VA needed to rate ALL of my claims at once. Let me know your opinion. Thanks p.s. one other thing on the report...it says Examining provider: XXXXXXXX Approved by XXXXXXXX on Oct 7 2008 Does this mean it was approved by them or that the approved person was just the examiner boss? Just curious

Anyone on here rated for GERD?

I am not expecting to get approved...but it should would be nice to be at 50%.

Carlie, Here are my ratings: Right Ulner nerve of the elbow 20% Mild arthritis of the LS Spine 10% Degenerative disc disease 10% Osteoarthritis of the right Shoulder 10% So what is the VA math if I got another 10%????

Well I was diagnosed with the same exact thing as you MAGS1023. While I was on active duty in 2003/2004 time frame. Had the scope done and had errosions and all that with the hiatial hernia. When I had my initial C&P - again VA saw the reflux and hiatial hernia, but rated me at 0%. I am not sure why, but I guess it was the way that the notes were written during my exam. I guess I said that the prevacid I was taking helped. I guess I should not have said that. My GERD is really bad right now and hope that this C&P exam would get the increase. So the VA already knows that I have this condition, just a matter of how bad they think I have it I guess.

Well my is not secondary, but a request for an increase. I think they did not give me the 10% rating like they should have in the first place. I am just wondering if the doctors write up or the lack of acid reflux showing up on the xray carries more weight.

I had a C&P exam for an increase for GERD on the 25th of September. I am rated for GERD but at 0%. I asked for an increase and they sent me back to get checked out. I had an UGI done and some labs. I had this appointment back in July, but got rushed to the hospital as I thought I as having the big one. I had a stress test done and all was good. It turned out it was my GERD. Now I have a couple of questions. My CARDIO doc confirmed to me that my GERD was the cause of my rush to the hospital. I am pretty sure that I am at the 10% rating level as I have 2 of the 4 symptoms of GERD for the 10% rating. Just like when they first examined me. But I guess they did not listen to me. The 10% would put me at 50%. I am not counting on it..... ________________________________________________________________________________ ___ I sent for the report for my C&P exam on my GERD increase. I am not sure what to think of it. First of all, the UGI I had said it was normal. No reflux was noted flouroscopically. My reflux is probably the worst it has ever been. When I went for my first C&P exam for my initial claim, they did note reflux and a small sliding hiatal hernia. No mention of the hiatal hernia on my second exam. No the report from the examiner said a few things in it: "Veteran has a sore feeling in throat which is uncomfortable when I swallow" "Veteran has constant pyrosis by history" She mentioned about my episode that happened in July that I went to the emergency room because I thought I had a heart attack and my cardio doctor said it was most likey my GERD "Veteran has reflux of stomach acid which occurs 3 times a week." She also said in the report: Interferes with working and iterferes with daily living, "Because I have to sleep with the head of bed elevated, I have to be careful with everything I eat because I really have burning all the time." So I guess what my question is, do you think I have enough there to get an increase to 10%? Does the fact that no reflux showed up on the UGI will be the key to not getting the increase? I have several other issues going, but I guess this was the last thing the VA needed to rate ALL of my claims at once. Let me know your opinion. Thanks p.s. one other thing on the report...it says Examining provider: XXXXXXXX Approved by XXXXXXXX on Oct 7 2008 Does this mean it was approved by them or that the approved person was just the examiner boss? Just curious...

Well just got back from the gatro doc and it was a no go for the letter. She did not feel comfortable writing something up for me. I did not press the issue. So I will see my PCM next week to see if she can write a better letter with some meat in it!! LOL

Well I know I should have went through a VSO when I first started. But when I went to my C&P exam after I was diagnosed with SA, I thought my sleep study and order for a CPAP machine was all I needed to get SC'd. I did not have any buddy letters or anything from my doctors, because I thought that is all the VA needed. I think that was a big mistake on my part. If I had all that first off, I think it would have been different. As a matter of fact when I did my GWR in Dublin, the examiner was shocked that I did not get SC'd for SA since it was only 3 months after I retired. Just hate all the waiting. Would love to get an answer and then just move on the next step, if I have one.

Ricky, Thanks again for the help. I will talk with my Gastro doctor today and get an appointment with my PCM to see what they can do. I always feel weird about asking for these things, but hopefully they will be able to help. Like I said, I really thought me case was good to go with what I had.

Ricky, Thanks so much for your help. This is really a big help for me. I am so confused with all of this. My VSO did tell me when I first asked for reconsideration, that he said that VA would stick to their guns and side with the LAW on this case, but said to file for it anyway. I guess my buddy statements and the doctors notes would be considered new evidence? Maybe that is why he suggested a request for reconderation. Do you think I should get a stronger letter from my Primary Care Manager. Something in the lines that she wanted to add to the letter that she first wrote and that since seeing her that my apnea is still the same and basically use what you wrote to make it a stronger letter? She is always willing to help me when it comes to this stuff. She was very helpful when I asked for the first letter. Or should it come from another doctor all together? Not sure where to go here. I am seeing my Gastro doctor tomorrow at 2pm. I wonder if I bring this stuff to her and talk with her about it....I mean I am 0% SC for GERD and know the two do go together. Just not sure where to turn here. I really thought my case was good to go. But now it seems there are alot of leaks.....

Ricky, Well now this is not what I wanted to hear. I thought (and believe my VSO told me this) the proper chain of events was a request for reconsideration, de novo review then appeal. So that is what I did. The phrase "at least as likely" is something my PCM put in the letter for me because I read that in another post on another board and thought that is what needed to be in the letter. I am trying to play by the "rules" if you will, but am getting more and more confused. Alot of people have told me that my case seems pretty open and shut in my favor. Especially with being diagnosised 3 months after my offical retirement date. I am really not sure what to do here. I was denied SC on the 8th of August 2007, so I think I missed the window for the year. To tell you the truth, the back pay would be nice, but just getting SC'd would be fine with me.

Just wanted to get more feedback on my claim. Thanks

I will have to go that route if my request for reconsideration is denied. I am not sure if I have to do that since alot of people are saying that my case is pretty good. My setting I believe is 9 on the CPAP machine.