RickyDee

Thank goodness I am finally in the 100 club. I got so many illnesses I can't name them all, but the one that got me over the top was Fibro. I second connected that to my knee, back, hip, shoulders, joints in my fingers. I also have sleep problem and the Rhomatored doc said this might be the reason I don't sleep weel. Well that's another step, but right now I'm goiing to enjoy this major acheivement. Thanks to all of you for advice, motovation, and encuragement to sticking with it. I know I have a long road to go to maintain my place in the 100 but at least the big part is over. One Team, One feight

Berta, I appreciate the info. I'll reach out and wait for a reply. Buck52, you might be right. the bigger boys have more leverage to fight my battle. Thanks for the input.

I really hope it work out for you. I did the same back three years ago but got denied. Maybe it changed. Good luck. I sure would love to know the outcome.

Never heard of that before. I was thinking about writing something to express my thoughts but didn't know who to write it to other than the director of VA. Any suggestions?

No past claim but multiple inclusions that I have had headaches for years. But I never claim just headaches

Mike, I too enquired about retro payment and within one week I got paid. I also got a call from the VA department who handles retro pay to confirm I got it. That surprised me. So they are getting better I think with assisting. On the other hand I didn't get retro back dated because this was my first claim for headache although in my service record I complained about headaches since 1984. The headaches have manifested into migraines so my current rating was for migraines and not headaches. I was informed by the VA adviser to find diagnoses in my records where they treated me for headaches and submit for retro pay as a new claim. I am consisting doing that.

I had a DBQ C&P for Bilateral foot pain diagnoses associated with a claim condition Plantar Fasciitis. The C&P was completed by a Gen Med doctor. In the exam I asked did he think I should get surgery on my foot to relieve the plantar fasciitis. He said he's not a foot doctor so he couldn't comment. I asked way are you doing the C&P if you not a foot doc. No response. It seems to me it should be s specialist in the field of feet if you are going to get a good C&P. Anyway he diagnosed me as having pain in the arch area as well as heel and mild metatarsal. My question; is there a % in the mix.

''Your Fired'' I can relate with that Buck!

Ok so answer me this. I went to a C&P and got rated for an illness that I never submitted a claim for. I was giving the rating of 30% for migraines. My medical records (MR) show that I complained about headaches since 1984. The headaches worsen to migraines in 1990. When I retired I didn't mention this to the doctor because like others I just wanted to get out. The C&P doc added this to my claim and I was awarded 30%. Will it be retro'ed back to 1990.

Black3018, I have OSA and it's not SC. I am still fighting and have been since 2004. I retired 2001. I have all the diagnoses of OSA but never got diagnosed while on AD, although my wife told me to and my Army buddies did too, but I blew it off and thought nothing of it; I am regretting that to this day. Yes, I'm getting treatment from VA and they provide me all the medical support I need, but WON'T SC. I did the friend and wife letters too, but still denied. I am also diagnosed with PTSD with mood disorder, sleep disturbance, depression, etc...etc. Still not SC for SA. I hate to put salt in your wound but Buck is 100. If you don't have anything in your records while you were in service for SA you are going up a hill with a 500lb ruck. Not saying you are defeated, but saying it's going to be a little more challenging than you think. We love a challenge... huh? I highly recommend before putting an OSA claim in you find something in your medical files that can be SC to OSA...example TBI (highly possible). You might try Fibromyalgia. Fibro is connected to sleep disturbance. But even that's not saying much. Short story: I had a friend who put a claim in for SA and got denied over and over again but kept on fighting for over 15 years. He got his claim approved after researching his medical records very...very...Very...closely and found one statement where a doctor recommend he get a sleep test. That was enough and all he needed. You know the rest of the story. It's not about your illness, although that is important to get treatment...it's about being SC....saying that to mean this; Get your records in order by date, after that, request a C&P, take all researched records to C&P highlighting the areas pertaining to the claim so there will be no misunderstandings of proof; remember C&P doc's are not looking for conversation only proof on paper. Key thought "You don't have to say anything as long as it's documented...trust me. True story: I did a C&P and the doctor found something in my medical records I never thought of claiming but complained about since 1984...headache's. These headache's manifested into migraines from that time to present. Just think, I've been complaining about headache's since 1984 but between 84 and present they grew into migraines and I thought it was because of OSA. I do have OSA but now I have found out that my headache's now migraines, resulted from my OSA. I don't know which way to go with this but I am sure within one year I'll figure it OUT! Sorry for being long winded

Thanks

I put a claim in and after a year I got a status of SUBSTANTIVE. What does this mean for me or where is it in the decision process. Any help is good help

Buck52, Tricare for me and the wife is around $256.00 every six months. It covers everything from operations to specialist visits. I use VA as my provider but when I need a second opinion or have an emergency I go through Tricare. Sorry for your illness.

I don't have a solution but I think if you present your issues to the VA Business Office or try to get Health Choice to pay they might approve the request; on the other hand fi you for private insurance I have Tricare and after I reach 65 or 72 I will witch to Tricare Prime and use Medicare to cover the difference.

I guess it had to start somewhere and PR was more obvious. I hope it doesn't stop there.

My take is although you do have a lot of No's you should get a good rating from VA. I suggest you merry up the responses the C&P doc wrote with the codes in the 38 CFR. Doing this will give you a good guess of what percentage you should expect. This is what I do for all my C&P exams just to get an idea of what percentage I should receive. I am 95% correct.

I too have tracked this information forum since it presented itself to me in 08. If we didn't have DAV to fight for our rights and the Vet's on the ground and information highway to keep us in the loop things like this will pass without a battle.

Have anyone out there read anything about this. I think this is one of the steps the Donald is trying to enforce to cut the budget, and the scary part of it is , it will work and take effect 2018. This is gong to hurt a lot of Vet's that depend on that second income to make ends meet. A retirement check from service is not enough to get you over the hump. Eliminate Concurrent Receipt of Retirement Pay and Disability Compensation for Disabled Veterans https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2013/44744 Note: This option would take effect in October 2014. Military service members who retire-either following 20 or more years of military service under the longevity-based retirement program or early because of a disability-are eligible for retirement annuities from the Department of Defense (DoD). In addition, veterans with medical conditions or injuries that were incurred or worsened during active-duty military service (excluding those resulting from willful misconduct) are eligible for disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Until 2003, military retirees who were eligible for disability compensation could not receive both their full retirement annuity and their disability compensation. Instead, they had to choose between receiving their full retirement annuity from DoD or receiving their disability benefit from VA and forgoing an equal amount of their DoD retirement annuity; that reduction in the retirement annuity is generally referred to as the VA offset. Because the retirement annuity is taxable and disability compensation is not, most retirees chose the second alternative. As a result of several laws, starting with the National Defense Authorization Act for 2003, two classes of retired military personnel who receive VA disability compensation (including those who retired before the enactment of those laws) can now receive payments that make up for part or all of the VA offset, benefiting from what is often called concurrent receipt. Specifically, retirees whose disabilities arose from combat are eligible for combat-related special compensation (CRSC), and veterans who retire with 20 or more years of military service and who receive a VA disability rating of 50 percent or more are eligible for what is termed concurrent retirement and disability pay (CRDP). CRSC is exempt from federal taxes, but CRDP is not; some veterans would qualify for both types of payments but must choose between the two. This option would eliminate concurrent receipt of retirement pay and disability compensation beginning in 2015: Military retirees currently drawing CRSC or CRDP would no longer receive those payments, nor would future retirees. As a result, the option would reduce federal spending by $108 billion between 2015 and 2023, the Congressional Budget Office estimates. In 2012, of the roughly 2 million military retirees, about half were subject to the VA offset; about 40 percent of that latter group-or 420,000 retirees-got concurrent receipt payments totaling $7 billion. Spending for concurrent receipt, which was just over $1 billion in 2005, has climbed sharply because of both an expansion of the program and an increase in the share of military retirees receiving disability compensation. In particular, the share of military retirees receiving a longevity-based retirement annuity who also receive disability compensation rose from 33 percent in 2005 to 45 percent in 2012. One argument for this option is that disabled veterans would no longer be compensated twice for their service, reflecting the reasoning underlying the creation of the VA offset. However, military retirees who receive VA disability payments would still receive higher after-tax payments than would retirees who are not disabled and who have the same retirement annuity because VA disability benefits are not taxed. An argument against this option is that the DoD retirement system and the VA disability program compensate for different characteristics of military service: rewarding longevity in the former case and remunerating for pain and suffering in the latter. In addition, a determination of disability by VA is a gateway to receiving other VA services (such as health care or vocational training), yet many veterans consider the disability-rating process onerous. If fewer retirees applied for VA disability compensation because concurrent receipt was no longer available, some veterans might bypass other VA services for which they would be entitled otherwise. Moreover, some retirees would find the loss of income financially difficult. What does this mean? Retirees receiving 50% or greater disability rating get a full retirement and disability compensation check. If your rating is less than 50% you are still receiving their disability benefit from VA and forgoing an equal amount of their DoD retirement annuity. Article from 2016 Congressional Budget Office Suggests Elimination of Concurrent Receipt for Disabled Military Retirees In a report entitled 'Eliminate Concurrent Receipt of Retirement Pay and Disability Compensation for Disabled Veterans', the Congressional Budget Office offers up Concurrent Receipt as an option to reduce the federal budget out to 2026. Granted, they are just doing their jobs, but when things like this make it on to lists, they start to take on a life of their own. Since the CBO estimates the Federal Budget could save $139 Billion over the next 10 years, someone is going to take a serious look at this. For those of you unfamiliar with Concurrent Receipt, it is a payment system which compensates military retirees for their service connected disabilities. Until 2003, military retirees were not provided the same level of compensation as nonretired disabled Veterans were receiving. Rather than getting their full retirement annuity and their disability compensation, they had to choose between receiving their full retirement annuity from DoD or receiving their disability benefit from VA and forgoing an equal amount of their DoD retirement annuity; that reduction in the retirement annuity is typically referred to as the VA Offset. Because the retirement annuity is generally taxable and disability compensation is not, most retirees chose the second alternative. The problem is that the two pays are for different purposes. Military retirement is just that; to pay for loyal service lasting 20 or more years, while disability compensation is meant to renumerate for pain, suffering and loss of physical function during military service. To combine the two, takes the physical well being of career service members for granted, by not fully compensating them for their service connected disabilities. Fortunately, the 2003 NDAA set a timetable for correcting the VA Offset and now retirees recieve full VA disability benefits in addition to their retirement pay. This CBO proposal shows that a bean counter wants to once again strip retirees of their fair VA disability compensation. Read the full proposal at www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2016/52177 and keep an eye and ear out for any attempts to adopt this strategy as law.

I requested my C-File five month ago and still haven't received it. They say if or when you request your file you shouldn't put in a claim because that will slow it down due to the VA still updating your file or you have something pending....is that true?

Vet's I got my decision letter 9 /11/16 on the following and have a few questions as to how to proceed with a NOD but first I wanted to ask; if I get a retirement adjustment, compensation rating adjustment starts from May 1 2016 to present and change from $1680 to $1888; how long do it take to get my retro pay? Now about the decision: I been fighting Fibromyalgia and CFS for over 5 years now. I've been denied every time. In 2016 my VA provider referred me to a VA Rheumatology doctor for my pains in my back, arm, knees, and shoulder. Before I started seeing this doctor I submitted a claim to cover all the illnesses that fall under GWI thinking because I went to the Gulf 90-91 and have some of the symptoms of GWI it would be approved or at least considered......NOT! The Fibro (denied - VA said it's not new evidence because it does not establish a fact necessary to substantiate the claim and does not rise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim) and CFS (consider reopened- however the evidence continues to show this condition was not incurred in or aggravated by military service) I got denied for both Now the question to all is... when I resubmit evidence from what the VA Rheumatology doctor (see results below) what is the most important information to send; history of the previous claims, doctor notes, etc. Interval history: 57 y/o AAF with joint pain and positive ANA. The joint pain is located mainly in his lower back and knees bilaterally. He has received steroid injections in his knees in the past but these did not help with the pain, therfore he is not receiving this treatment anymore. He says that whenever he takes aleve he can sleep better and feels more rested the next day, but he does not want to take this medication all the time. He did not have any GI symptoms with it. Overall he feels that his joints are not doing well because of the pain in his body. He says that he does not feel rested during the day and moving around has been difficult for him. He denies rashes, oral ulcers, joint swelling, prolonged am stiffness. He denies Raynaud's phenomenon. He endorses dry eyes and dry mouth but only in the mornings whenever he gets off using the CPAP machine. Impression: 57 y/o with polyarthralgias and high positive ANA (1:1280, speckle pattern). His MSK symptoms suggest OA, especially with his H/O previous trauma and injury to his joints. He could still have seronegative Sjogren's syndrome. I think that he has fibromyalgia as a result of OSA combined with chronic pain from OA. I favor that his inability to wake up feeling rested is aggravating his symptoms. Need guidance, advice, opinion, anything before leaving the starting gate

I am thinking the same way you are. My last visit with this doc and I asked her pacifically did I have FIBRO and she said yes because of my joint pain and sleepless nights.

Impression: 57 y/o with polyarthralgias and high positive ANA (1:1280, speckle pattern). His MSK symptoms suggest OA, especially with his H/O previous trauma and injury to his joints. He could still have seronegative Sjogren's syndrome. I think that he has fibromyalgia as a result of OSA combined with chronic pain from OA. I favor that his inability to wake up feeling rested is aggravating his symptoms. How can I use this information to cliam FIBRO. It has a lot of gray areas and the doc has already departed for a civilian job.

Can some one provide there opinion because I am confused about the nurse medical statement: "The condition claimed was at least as likely as not (50% or greater probability) incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury, event or illness" I think she's referring to the GWI issues of this C&P when she said ? "at least as likely as not (50% or greater probability) incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury, event or illness" This has to do with a C&P I recently had for GWI. The C&P nurse said I didn't have any proof to claim CFS, IBS, or Fibro Instead when I showed her what I did have she pulled out from my medical records the headaches I've been having since 1982 which I never claimed and nor mentioned until she pulled it out. These headaches steam back to 82 and they are noted in every Troop Med Clinic (TMC) I visited. I also have OSA which was diagnosed in 05 by a VA provider not a specialist. The VA provider referred me to a VA specialist NUERO. The NEURO confirmed the OSA but started treating me for daytime hypersomnolence and nighttime insomnia. I have a CPAP I wear it 68% of the time. I understand OSA is because of my breathing but insomnia and hyper, where the heck did that come from. I can't connect OSA, Insomnia, nor Hyper with my SC illnesses because it's no where in my medical records. So what can I do to tie them into each other? Oh yea I forgot VA just diagnosed me with ANA and asthma. Keep in mind none of these symptoms manifested until now and I was in the GW 89-90. I came in the Army (79) with Sinus Allergies but never got tested to see what I was allergic too. BIG question HOW CAN I tag OSA, HYPER, Insomnia, Asthma, ANA, and Headaches together to make since before I submit a NOD to the GWI exam.