Bonzai

I was flagged once, but it went away after I switched to a different hospital and my psychiatrist asked me why I was flagged. I explained that at the Domiciliary I was in, there was an overbearing little chit employee, who believed he could treat patients any way he wanted to. One time he demanded I do something, and since it was silly and unnecessary, I refused. He became very irate, red-faced and started screaming at me, while I calmly looked at him. But when he took his finger and poked it into my chest, I grabbed it, dropped him to his knees, and made him apologize to me in front of the witnesses that were there. I waited until another VA employee arrived before I let him up. (I think that's the part that got me flagged ) There was a review of the incident, and since he touched me first, I was not charged with assault - and of course neither was he, they were just looking to charge me, but too many witnesses. A couple of years later, after I explained this to my new psychiatrist, he had the flag removed. I do not believe in violence, but I am able to respond if the situation demands it.

It goes both ways. I received my award from the VA at the end of October 09 and in the award letter it specifically states that the SSA has determined me to be totally disabled, but I am still waiting to hear anything from SSA. My lawyer sent the SSA a copy of my award, because he said that he wanted to make sure they had it. I called up to check the status last week, and I was told that I am unscheduled for my ALJ hearing as of yet.

A gage is a glove, whether it be made of silk (Rebecca's) or of Iron (Richard III). I'm just glad the codpiece wasn't thrown ;)

Best wishes, let us know how it goes...

Congratulations!!! ;)

Congratulations! ;) I got mine a couple of months ago. As far as Dental goes: I just stopped by the Dental department, during one of my regular appointments, and scheduled a preliminary dental appointment; I have always had problems with my teeth, and was not surprised when they said that they would have to pull some of my teeth and give me partial dentures. Not looking forward to it, but really looking forward to having my dental problems finally addressed. Since you are now 100% P&T, the major diagnosis being Bipolar, means that the VA has determined that you are unable to work. So if you find gainful employment in the future, then I would expect that your rating would be decreased. 100% for mental disability is different than 100% physical disability, whereas 100% physical can work as much as they want. At least that is my understanding.

I received the Chap 35 application with my award letter for 100% P&T. It really doesn't make sense to me that they would just send out the VA pamphlet, but then again, it's the VA.

Congratulations on Social Security! Wooo Hooo! The Va, well, we know that can be an entirely different bucket of worms. Keep at em - the squeaky wheel gets the oil!

Worst: "The veteran died while waiting for a decision..." - The ultimate goal of the bad guys

Best wishes! Let us know how it goes...

I have been researching where it states how often a GAF score must be given, and have found that the VA has been trying to decrease its usage since 2003; due to it only being a snapshot of the patient on a given day. However, there are a lot of doctors in the VA system that give GAF scores because if you put enough snapshots together, you get a good overall picture. Like Broncovet, I too have changed doctors, when I felt that they were detrimental to my treatment. I had a doctor, who changed my medications, and then blamed my change in mood/personality on my home situation; which hadn't changed at all. She wouldn't listen to me that it was the medication, because in her mind the new medications didn't affect people that way. I requested a new doctor, and was put back on my old medications, and the change in my mood went away - imagine that. Louis

Hip-Hip Hurrah! Congratulations on your win over the bad, evil guys...

Wings, I saw that you posted that 100%ers get 10k life insurance, but my paperwork said only for new (within the two years) SC conditions diagnosed. I have been finally increased to 100%, but I was first awarded 10% SC in 1998, so I am outside the two year limit. Louis

Halos2, Another thing you could mention that not getting a GAF is becoming a real stressor in your life; which is nothing but the truth. Bring in the paperwork to show them that you are supposed to be getting a GAF score for your sessions, because it seems that they need to be led by the nose. It is extremely easy for them to say we don't do that, without even researching, because researching would entail more work for them. So if you want the GAF score, do the research for them, and give the results of the research to them. jmo... Louis

Make sure to sign the first document required (10-10d), because my wife didn't and they call us and said they were sending the entire package back for her signature. They even provided a fax number so we could get the sign page back to them sooner. However, that was more than three weeks ago, and nothing in the mail, so we are resending all of the required documentation - with the 10-10d signed this time.

Congratulations!

Michellee, I am happy that you have attempted the first hurdle, time will tell if you have succeeded and will not need an SSDI attorney. However; I find the fact that someone is handing out cards to a SSDI attorney extremely distasteful and wonder if it isn't illegal for that person to be doing so (it infers that the attorney is recommended by the SSA). You need to research before retaining an attorney for anything, especially SSDI. Louis

I have left a message for the author to call me, and hopefully I will hear back from her. I will let her know that Larry is willing to help, as he is much more experienced in these matters than I am. Louis This article was published in the Tulsa World: Letter to the Editor: Veteran's Plight, on November 28th, 2009.

When I got my 100% decision from the VA, it said that part of the decision was the Social Security Administration had already declared me totally disabled for my condition. This was a month and a half ago, and I have been waiting expectantly for confirmation from SS, but nothing so far. So I share in the frustration of *waiting*, and I too have fears that I may not get it, even though SS has more to go on than the VA; since they also consider non-SC conditions. The longer the wait goes on, the less confident I feel. Doubt is the killer of confidence.

Remember that everyone is an individual, and that what works for someone may not work for someone else. Personally, I have had so many abnormal reactions, or none at all, that they are extremely hesitant in switching my medications; even though the ones I am on are not working as optimally as they (to include myself) would like.

Congratulations, what a weight off your shoulders... Louis

Congratulations! Louis

You go Girl! Get em! Louis

Jayg and Vync, I wouldn't request to see the c-file because you WILL slow up the process. I know waiting is hard, because I just got through doing it, and I am waiting on even more results; although I will just become a 100% pluser. But following the advice given to me by the HadIt elders, I waited and waited on my NOD, and it never even made it to the board. I guess the reviewer saw all the evidence and knew what my lawyer and members here said, the VA didn't have a chance of denying me. I recently had a C&P done for HTN, and the examiner said that there is no problem with my claim (17 MSRs showing elevated blood pressure, and even a SMR for a blood pressure check) and the C&P had to be done according to the rules. Although I have been treated for HTN since going to the VA and long before it, no one ever told me I could apply for SC until HadIt. It would be wonderful if they could back date to the actual date of first occurrence, instead of application date. Then I would be one of those needing three signature on their check! Alas, not to be, and by not informing me that I had a SC condition, the VA has saved beaucoup de bucks, because the doctors knew. They asked me when my high blood pressure started, and I told them that it was while I was in the Army. Not one PCP ever said a word. Louis

Allan, Interesting article, but scary in the fact that there are many points I can relate to. I used to walk around with an attitude and disposition that frankly scared people away. I didn't like myself, and that was OK. But if someone got to 'know' me and didn't like me, then that would have hurt, so I never let anyone get to know me. That part only took about three years of intense therapy to fix, and I was finally told to actually start saying "Hi" to people when my p-docs thought I was ready. Very strange, when people started replying, and I had absolutely no idea of what to do when they would ask how I was doing, and they waited for an answer and seemed to care. I also dis-associated from life and it is like watching life go by through a window. I am really not a part of it. This still happens and I have to watch it, because although it feels like a 'safe' place to be mentally, it is deceptive and does more harm than good. My wife knows when it happens, because my entire demeanor changes and she says I become emotionless and cold. Powerlessness - I don't think that many members and guest here have a problem relating to that. In fact, we probably ended up at HadIt in efforts to regain some sort of power to try and change a bureaucratic juggernaut, or at least how we are treated by it. Paranoia is not listed, but can exacerbate many of the symptoms listed in the article. Just my two cents... Louis