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Bonzai

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Everything posted by Bonzai

  1. I believe that the T-score you are referring to is a validity measurement used in PTSD testing. See http://www.avapl.org/pub/PTSD%20Manual%20final%206.pdf and search on VRIN to see the section covering this. Hopes this helps...
  2. Call the CHAMPVA office @ 800-733-8387 and use the automated system to order a CHAMPVA booklet/manual. The CHAMPVA website is also very informative: http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva/champva.asp
  3. PR, My mother-in-law (83) just had her second knee replacement done in January, her first one was a year and a half ago. She has Diabetes Type II, and the doctors made sure she wouldn't have complications from it. After her first replacement healed, she was just chomping at the bit to get the second one done. It has been three months, and she is doing well. Doesn't need a walker to get around anymore, and is using a cane. So now she is chomping at the bit to get back to living again, as it got to the point where she couldn't even go out shopping. Now she wants to go to a casino!
  4. You can mail the documents in. http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/315/~/change-a-name-on-a-social-security-card
  5. Bonzai

    Ilp

    I received a call from Voc-Rehab yesterday, less than a week after I had sent in my VA Form 28-1900. I was informed that I forgot to sign and date it - Oooooops! While I had the Voc-Rehab guy on the phone I explain a little about my situation, and that I was interested in ILP services. He told me to add it as a remark in section 15.B So I printed out my saved copy, signed it, and was able to get it in the mail yesterday.
  6. SSDI and VA benefits do NOT offset each other. SSDI will give you back pay starting five months after your onset date.
  7. Bonzai

    Ilp

    So I figure nothing ventured is nothing gained - I am going for it. I have tried since the beginning of the week to contact someone at Voc Rehab in Memphis, to find out where to send the filled out VA Form 28-1900. I finally got through to someone today, and found out that it has to be sent to the Nashville RO. There was no place on the form to indicate Independent Living Program, and the lady I spoke to said that I have to wait to hear from Nashville. So from reading what others have gone through, I will talk to one of my providers as soon as I can about this and try to get their recommendation - I hope it is not difficult to get. There is a neat listing of what some other veterans were able to get on the VBN website.
  8. The VA only rates the highest (or worse) mental condition to prevent pyramiding. In my case I am rated for Bi-Polar, but was also diagnosed with PTSD. This last time I saw my Social Worker, she asked me if I was also diagnosed with PTSD and I told her I was, but it was a long time ago in a different RO. She told me that she wondered, because she couldn't find it in my notes. I guess I will have to look through my c-file to find it, because they have asked me to attend PTSD treatment in the past. Makes one wonder if they are deleting PTSD diagnoses, with the new PTSD regulations...
  9. Quite by chance, I found that Promathezine (Phenegran) helps to knock me out. But then again, sometimes nothing works, and I'm lurking the board at 2 or 3 in the morning.
  10. So I was on Abilify 10 MG tablet that I had to split and take 5 MG daily, and I didn't think anything of it. But now my pdoc has lowered my dose to 2.5 MG daily, so the pharmacy sends me 5 MG tablets to split. And the tablets are still small, oval-shaped and not scored! So why wasn't I getting the 5 MG tablet when it was prescribed? I dunno, maybe they are doing some kind of study on how long pill splitters last before a patient asks for a new one. I am on my third.
  11. I read somewhere that now there is a military liaison for the VA to go to in cases involving classified information/missions. This liaison will verify that the veteran was involved in classified work. If I told you more, I would have to cut off your head and put it in a safe. That's the way we roll.......
  12. Below is the link for the Joint Commission's home page - hope it helps: http://www.jointcommission.org/
  13. Bonzai

    Dic And Ss

    No problem PR, I got my info from a Word document that was probably from last year. I totally forgot about the additional amount if the spouse was married to the vet for eight years prior to death. I checked into this last year, just in case for my wife.
  14. As far as regarding not taking your meds, it really depends upon what your medications are prescribed for. I, for one, cannot stop taking my medications for bipolar - or I'm off again. Up and down, and all around - throw a healthy dose of PTSD with it; and I end up locking myself in a room ready to kill anything that tries to get it. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt - isn't worth it to me, so I take my medications to prevent it.
  15. Bonzai

    Dic And Ss

    teejay, DIC benefits are separate from Social Security and are not affected by the amount you receive from SSA. The current basic monthly rate of DIC is $1,154 for an eligible surviving spouse. As to your Social Security question, are you are receiving SSDI based off your husband's work record because you're currently 50 or older and considered disabled by Social Security's definition of disability already? If so, then nothing will change when you reach 60 years of age. If not, then you can receive full benefits at full retirement age for survivors or reduced benefits as early as age 60; the rules are complicated. I hope this helps....
  16. I too have both and the VA knows it. In my case, the VA rated the Bipolar as being the most severe, and the PTSD is not rated to prevent the pyramiding of mental conditions. If you know what I mean when I say that it really sucks when you feel like you're on top of the world and too paranoid to go outside, then you got it!
  17. It took me three years to get my wife added as a dependent (2005-2008), because the VA wanted a divorce decree from a prior marriage that occurred in 1991. I had sent in the correct form and marriage certificate. I told them numerous times that I didn't know where to get it, and their 'duty to assist' obtaining records from a government agency is a joke. It wasn't until I hired a NOVA lawyer for a NOD, that I was directed by him to the correct governmental department. This hassle saved the VA three years of dependent pay for a wife and step-daughter - which would have really helped, but they don't care.
  18. Hedgey, What really matters is if you can prove that you were totally and completely disabled per Social Security standards before the Date of Late Insured (DLI). Social Security will only back pay one year prior to application date. However, you do have the option of getting your case reopened with new evidence, if it pertains to the time period the previous denial occurred. You should consult with a Social Security attorney about this.
  19. I have requested an RFC from my social worker using VA Directive 2008-071, as social workers can be thrid party sources according to SSA. She is willing to fill it out, but need an OK from her director, who is not responding her emails regarding this matter. She is going to try to get an answer one more time, and then Patient Advocate time (her advice, not mine...LOL)
  20. I think this is the webcast they are talking about, see link at bottom of the page: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/rating-the-rating-schedule-the-state-of-va-disability-ratings-in-the-21st-century
  21. By your post, I take it you have been denied by an ALJ. All is not lost. I was denied by an ALJ, who made many mistakes in my case, so my lawyer and I appealed his decision to the Appeals Council. I recently received a remand back to the ALJ with instruction from the Appeals Council the ALJ has to follow. However, it took 17 months to get the remand...
  22. I'm a little confused on where at in the Social Security appeals process your claim was denied. If you were denied at the ALJ level, then there is still the Appeals Council to request a review of your hearing from. You have a choice to either file for a review or file a new application - you can no longer do both as of July 28, 2011. If your request for review was denied by the Appeals Council, then you can file suit in U.S. District Court AND file a new application with Social Security. It is rather difficult to find lawyers who represent claimants at the Federal Court level, but they are out there. There is a $350 filing fee for suing in Federal Court. In filing a new application, you need to make sure that your application doesn't fall under res judica. Meaning that the elements of the claim have already been decided once, so you need a new onset date, new and material evidence, etc... If Binder and Binder will agree to release you, you can try and find a different LOCAL lawyer to represent you. The Natonal Organization of Socials Security Claimants Represetatives (NOSSCR) will refer you to one of theirs, but I used a National Organization of Veterans Advocates (NOVA) lawyer to represent me. He also is my lawyer for VA matters, so he knows my case well. Hope this helps...
  23. What was your remanded decision for? We need more information.
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