TiredVeteran

I don't have a scanner, but will be glad to send a copy to you. It is going to impact ALL veterans, but the new ones are going to be hit the worst. WHY the TN Governor signed this bill is beyond me. You know there are MANY others cuts that could be made

I am concerned about other states following this lead. Cutting long existing programs for veterans and the low income. If I understand, it is a state by state decision what benefits each state gives. Googling, I found this was being debated months back, and one idea really made me sick. Let the veterans get in on a first come, first served basis. That did not pass. Thank God!!!!!!!! Trying to put disabled vets in competition against each other? After they fought side by side? Not being political here, but from the news stories, all Repubicans voted to reduce benefits, all the Democrats voted NO. Feeling really bad for all this is impacting.

Just got a letter from the State of TN. There are new rules on the property tax relief for 100 percent disabled veterans and for low income home owners. The way I read it, a means test for disabled vets is being implemented and yes it includes compensation from being disabled plus everyone in the household. Additionally, the relief used to go to 175k on property value, now cut to 100k, IF you qualify. New veterans applying are going to have a much harder time, and all are going to get hit with the decrease. While we were sleeping, this evidently got passed by the Republicans in our state, the Democrats opposed it. It is effective July 2015.

Hi Berta! and all! I called that attorney and he is awesome!!!!!!!!!! Going to file under the Freedom of Information Act asap to get all records, tapes. The VA can block the faces on the video and mark out names of any person whose privacy needs protecting. My hope is for a fast, full recovery. Thanks to all of you, I can cover my bases just in case. I think they should release of copy of the video so my treating doctors can see what happened. Also got another piece of evidence mailed today to VARO for Jimmy's effective date. Again, thank all of you!!!!!!!!!!!

63SIERRA, don't they always give people the run around and then run OVER you like a big truck?

Thank you everyone who has replied. If anyone knows of an attorney on the net, please let me know any recommendations. Berta, sadly, yes I am damaged. That is hard to admit. As for care at the VAMC ER, there was none. Did they offer care? I don't remember. I don't remember a block of time from when I felt something grab my cane.............until I saw the midgets. There were no midgets. I know that now. from what I have been told, I must have fell face forward? on the concrete. Someone evidently got a wheelchair for me cause I was in one. I thought maybe my leg or hip was messed up and did not put weight on it while I took Jimmy to his appointments. Taking care of him was a base instinct. Couldn't figure out why my head hurt so bad (it has not stopped), Then the following day when I tried to shampoo my hair, my head was so tender, even my fingers hurt that spot. Have sceduled the CT scan now that I know my insurance will cover it. I really hoped the VA might for once be nice and agree to cover the medical costs. They know more than I know, they have watched the tape. GP, thank you for the advice on the tape being taped over. Who oversees the safety issues at the VAs? There is always some type of construction going on. Oh, there is one other person who can load Jimmy into/out of the van and do the wheelchair. I did tried to call him but he was not in the area or he would have came and helped me.

Berta, Thank you. I will search for your advice on filling out the form. Although I don't know a total until I get all medical bills. It will be sent to VARO and DC, certified with signature confirmation. I wish I never had to be at the VAMC, ever again.

Buck, Yes, I have ChampVA. A few years ago, I was up checking on Jimmy in the middle of the night. Got a piece of his sheet under my foot and hit the bed rail when I landed on my arm. Broke my arm. Three years later, ChampVa wrote to try and get the payment back, they thought it happened in the hospital, but it was in our bedroom. J has called me GI Deb since then, since I had no way to get to the hospital and no one to stay with him, I wrapped my broke arm in a quilt and waited until the next day to get it xrayed and casted. ChampVa ended up covering that broke arm. So, this made me leary of accidents happening elsewhere.

Berta, Wow you type fast! Thank you. The form is a form 95. They said to send it to VARO. The fall happened a few days ago. I tried first to work with them and had to wait on a NO, which came on Good Friday. The letter came today. Found out yesterday that my medical insurance will cover the tests ordered by the doctor and getting those set up. I thought my insurance would not cover my medical since it happened at the VA. But. when I told them the VA's response, they agreed to cover me. thank goodness. I am scared they will erase the tape. It would be nice for me to see exactly how I landed to make sense of some of this. Thank goodness it was not the veteran coming in behind me. I don't think he would have survived a hard fall.

Carlie, Thank you. I looked at the form and it is a form 95. Going to pick up some new evidence today for Jimmy's claim and send it to VARO. Taking care of him is my main focus. Contributing in any way to the backlog at VARO for me seems wrong. Debbie

Sorry if this is the wrong forum. I am the wife of a veteran. Took my husband to the VA for his appointment, parked the van, and had a bad fall going in the door due to construction materials lying around. I can't remember much of that fall. First thing I recall was a midget trying to get me up. ok, it was not a midget, it was me being addled. The incident was on tape, the VA reviewed it and sent me what appears to be a tort claim or 1151, I get those confused. VA refused any help in paying my medical bills. WHY are they always so adverserial? Have to make sure this doesn't impact my husband more than necessary, he sure doesn't need the stress. Also, how do I get their records on what happened that day? The letter states I do not need an attorney. I do need someone to help me with this though. I thought the Regional Offices were for veterans? If they are going to force me to go through some type process, how do I get their tape protected from being erased? Sorry to ask you all for help, but really don't know who to ask? Debbie

Calling the 800 number is another slap in the face. Don't ya just hate it when you are on hold for hours, then the connection cuts off? I did get one really nice person and will forever be grateful.

Update. Yesterday, a man called from Nashville VARO. He asked that I copy and send in any evidence supporting Jimmy's condition from 2003 on. I had already done so, but he asked for it again as they have went paperless and this time it will be scanned in by another place. What they want is proof of the devastating impact of the spinal cord injuries. VARO gave the date for compensation as just after BVA ruled in Jimmy's favor. Berta, there was no tort settlement or anything. The only proof I have is what the private doctors wrote and of course, their language is not that of a C@P. The VA first had a PA do a C@P and it was so terrible, the local doctors wrote scathing letters about the lies. The VA denied the spinal cord injury existed for a LONG time, thus their medical records are not accurate. The VA then said they could not do a C@P due to *conflict of interest*. I wonder if it would help to get a copy of when the VAMC wanted to put Jimmy in a nursing home? His other doctors have either retired or passed away, so can't contact them. I will just send in the same paperwork? ANY advise appreciated!!!!!!!!! Also, I have only a few days to get this done. IF the VA's had just been truthful, this would not be an issue.

Berta, I hope you get news and soon! We have not yet heard back, other than they were looking into what happened to Jimmy. Somewhere you asked if there was an offset payment on Jimmy's back pay. No. I don't have a scanner, but when we get the signed copy (we should?), maybe I can have someone do it from their computer. We have solid, multiple evidence that Jimmy's SCI's caused catastrophic injury and clearly his level of care was higher from day one. All they have to argue with are the blatant lies from the two VA centers that he was fine. Gosh, how I wish that were true!!!!!!!! While no amount of money could make up for the damage, it sure would help in paying off the debts we have incurred trying to survive since 2003. I really wish the people would have been criminally prosecuted.

63SIERRA! Praying for an accurate MRI and it breaks my heart you had to wait and beg for the test. Please, keep us posted and PLEASE take the MRI to another place for interpretation. I agree with all you said. Also, will put you on prayer list tomorrow at Bible study.

Thank all of you for the replies. I shared each one with Jimmy. I did email both Mr. McDonald and Allyson Hickey. An unsigned denial came in the mail the day I posted. Basically, they denied payment from the date June 2003 his spinal cord was mangled at the VA by a cocaine addicted nuerosurgeon. What they owe is the extra money for the level of assistance he required from that catastrophic injury. Since the VAMC's lied, all the medical records that were truthful came from private practice doctors. BVA approved the medical malpractice claim and a cp exam was done afterwards. Although his was service connected disabled at the time of the malpractice, he did not require the extreme level of care until the malpractice. Four year later, he had agent orange cancer and removal of his vocal chords was the only option, due to radiation being to risky due to the spasms and his body being too weak for chemo. 63Sierra, I amen your comments! Pete, I would have liked yours but not like button shows up. God bless all of you.

Last week, we contact Mr. Robert McDonald and the Undersecretary. The Underdecretary promptly emailed back. On Friday. The email from her meant the world to Jimmy!!!!! And I thank her from the bottom of my heart. A decision was made on SATURDAY. With a 18 page or so denial. Haven't got it yet in the mail and really do not know if I can read it. His Vet Rep is preparing an appeal that she feels strongly will be granted. At this point in his life, it really concerns me that keeping on with this might be detrimental to him. The people who have knowingly wronged him will stand before God one day. The ones who have been there and helped will as well. To all you Veterans and their wives/families...........may your path be blessed.

How do you find the contact information for Mr. Bob McDonald? Would someone please share his email address? The only thing we found was a cell phone number in the PVA magazine and it doesn't get answered. How can he improve the VA system? Start with honesty. Calls that are responded to. Claims are in waiting for years while the veteran suffers and has to deal with the stress of trying to deal with the system are unacceptable. My husbands case was proven medical malpractice as of 2003. VARO won't pay him the money owed. The reconsideration was to take 4 months, two years later nothing. Last week, his doctor told him he was possibly on the verge of a major stroke. The stress of waiting on someone to do something is horrific. For all of you veterans who are going through this, let's hope and pray this new man comes through. I would really appreciate someone sharing his email address. Does he have an office phone? All I saw on his page was the veterans crisis hot line last week. And for the first time ever, I called. On behalf on my husband. Well...................the guy referred me to another place and maybe in February he can talk to him.

Hi Chuck!!! Thank you, thank you. What we applied for was a vehicle that was all wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. Yes, that is difficult. I can't find the vehicle by toyota you are referencing. Do you by chance have a link to that? We really can not afford to got into a lot of debt. Was hoping to find a vehicle to safely transport in bad weather, which was common last winter. Again thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Chuck! Thank you! I meant all wheel drive or 4 wheel either one. What problems can that cause? We are really needing just a regular type vehicle, hopefully a small SUV. Since I lift Jimmy into a comfortable seat to prevent spasms, it just needs the ability to put the wheelchair in the van. They are saying false flooring is an issue, but that is what we have and what they approved and we paid for ourselves. Hope this makes sense. I can't speak mechanics. Debbie

Hi, We are just now using our auto grant. We need a 4 wheel drive for bad weather. Right now, we have the lift in the back of our Toyota Sienna 2005. Hit a roadblock. Seems the lift makers will only aprove a cargo type van (which I can't drive), a Nissan Quest which is not as reliable as what we have now, or some type huge ford vechcile. Sorry, can't find spell check. Has anyone bought a smal SUV type and had it equipped for a lift and wheelchair? with the grant. Jimmy can't sit in the wheelchair in the van, it causes spasms, so he is in the passenger seat now with all auto controls. He can't use a turney seat either, due to causing spasms. Thank you in advance for any input! Debbie

The smc R rating was the result of the spinal cord injury. That is what he got a few months back pay for. Yes, there was conflicting medical records as the VAMC's lied and falsified his medical records. Carlie, I am trying to figure out how to apply the post you made to Jimmy's case. Thank you :) Berta, the PVA has said over and over that VARO will not be objective with this case and they will not approve his NOD. So, there must be some truth there?

Hi Berta, Thank you for the response. The PVA said that VARO witholds payments to veterans who report and win malpractice claims. I am in the process of getting copies of the reason VARO gave. Best I recall, it said there was not enough evidence, which PVA said yes there was and I know there was because I mailed it in. Jimmy had been fee basis out to another nuerosurgeon (referrred to the the BVA ruling as DW). He ripped the VA apart and called Jimmy's treatment there a travesty. VARO has been malicious toward Jimmy the entire time. It should not be that way. Jimmy is not their enemy. He is just a veteran who had the horrible experience of being maimed by an impaired doc and then told he was fine. I read on another topic here that the NOD was not enough to keep his original claim date? That there had to be an appeal? I have a certified letter we sent to PVA and stated for them to appeal the case. I get more confused with this every day/

Rich, thank you for the response. From what I hear our Congressman is really into budget cuts for veterans. Do you think he might be helpful? I did call the White House and they have requested hard copies to be mailed. Has anyone had success contacting the White House? Finding more paperwork and getting more confused. Looks as though the statement of the case decision will come after the NOD is decided. I did find a letter sent to PVA explicitly asking for an APPEAL. Tomorrow I will call PVA and ask for copies of a few things to be sent and somehow get a friend to post the letters here. When I was calling people last week, I ended up talking to the Office of the General Counsel. They were really nice and were going to report all this to the IG. Then, he called back and explained it would be best if I do it. I really appreciate all of you taking time to advise me. You have likely picked up that I am not nearly as smart as you all are. I am trying my best. Debbie