Selea

I filed a TDIU claim on the advice of a VA Vocational Rehab Councilor in 2008 and was denied. She also told me to file for SSDI but I didn't at that time because I was told how hard it was to get it approved. I was denied TDIU in January of 2010 though my disability was increased from 50% to 70%. So I went ahead and filed for SSDI on January 15, 2010 for the same disabilities. Based soley on my VA medical records, I was approved on March 27, 2010 for the exact same disabilities back dated to June 1, 2008. Is the SSDI decision enough evidence for an appeal of the VA's decision? I would appreciate any advice anyone could give me. Thanks, Melissa:huh:

I have requested it in writing about a dozen or so times over the last decade. The VA keeps giving me the run around. But I keep trying.

:) I filed for a blood pressure I developed while in the Air Force, in 1992 when I was discharged. That part of my claim was never answered. I wrote many letters over the years trying to find out why it was never addressed. I refiled in 2003 and was denied. The letter stated there was no evidence of a blood pressure problem in my military medical records. I have been taking meds for it since about 2 years after I was discharged from the Air Force because the VA hospital said it was dangerous the way my blood pressure bounces around. They had been keeping track of it since I was discharged. I have been unable to get a copy of my va medical records. I did however get some medical pages that were included in my military personnel file. One has written by the doctor that performed surgery on my hands that I had "History of Hypertension". Did I get denied because I filed for high blood pressure and not hypertension? I also had a stroke in '05 which can be attributed to my blood pressure problems. My blood pressure is hard to control, even with meds, because I am in pain all the time from my back injury which I do have service connection for. The more I hurt, the higher my blood pressure. Also, I lost a kidney in 2008 because my primary care dr. at the VA failed to treat me for/notify me of an infection in Feb '08. The infection spread to my left kidney, which had to be removed due to the damage the infection caused to it. My dr will only say that it was not her fault. I have a huge scar, surface numbness, residule abdominal pain, and have to be tested every 6 months for kidney function. From my research, the VA should give me service connection because of my drs neglignece. Is this true? If so, how do I proceed. I have found over the years that va drs don't listen or care about there patients. I tell them one thing and they dictate something different for the records. I was even kicked out of one drs office because I told him what I think of how he treated me (I am female and he was from the middle east) and how he handled my medical questions/problems. I don't trust the VA but have no choice but to go to them for medical issues, because since I was laid off 2 years ago, I have been unable to find work. The VA Voc counseler doesn't want me working, but I have to or I will end up homeless.