texal1

I'M A VIETNAM VET WITH 90% DISABILITY RATING. I HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN FOR IU. I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CREDIT FOR SSDI REQUIREMENTS. I'M PUTTING ANOTHER CLAIM TOGETHER FOR SECONDARY ILLNESSES FROM MY DMII GETTING WORSE. ALSO, WILL APPLY FOR TDIU. MY QUESTION IS "IF I TAKE EARLY RETIREMENT SS AT 62 WHICH IS 8/1/2013, WILL I STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TDIU? THANKS FOR YOU HELP. ALSO, IF I DO GET TDIU, WILL MY EARLY SS, AFFECT MY TDIU PAYMENTS. ONLY REASON TO APPLY FOR EARLY SS IS SHORTAGE OF $ AND BAD, BAD HEALTH.

I'VE HAD BOTH KNEE REPLACEMENTS. ONE IN 2001, I WAS VERY NERVOUS AND WORRIED. DR. SAID I WOULD BE DRIVING IN TWO WEEKS. LOOKED AT NEW KNEE, AND SAID TO MYSELF "WHAT THE HELL DID I DO TO MYSELF". FOLLOWED ORDERS AND THE DR WAS RIGHT ON. BEFORE SURGERY LOOKED LIKE I WAS RIDING HORSES MY WHOLE LIFE. PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME IF I WAS OK LIMPING ALONG AND NOT EVEN NOTICING IT. WHEN THE PAIN OF WALKING AND SLEEPING GETS TOO MUCH, WELL YOU GOT TO DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO. I'M GLAD NOW THAT I DID REPLACE THEM AND CAN WALK AND ENJOY LIFE A LOT BETTER. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT IN REHAB, AND RECOVERY. JUST ENDURE AND YOU'LL MAKE IT OK. I TOO HAD THE PROSTATE SURGERY, THE ALTERNATIVE IS NOT A GOOD CHOICE. HANG IN THERE BRO, HOPE YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD RECOVERY, BETTER DAYS AHEAD.

I'M WRITING TODAY ABOUT MY BROTHER, A VN MARINE, WITH A DISABILITY RATING OF 90%. HE TAKES TWENTY-ONE(21) ACTIVE MEDS FROM THE TAMPA VA. DISABILITIES: PTSD(50%), CAD(30%), PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY UPPER & LOWER EXTREMITIES(20%/20%/20%/20%/20%)TINNINUS(10%)SMC(ED). IN 2008 HE WAS DENIED UI, VA DIVIDED EACH DISABILITY AND REASONED NOT ONE OF THESE ON THEIR OWN QUALIFIED FOR IU BUT COULD DO LIGHT WORK. BEING DEPRESSED AND IN PAIN HE LET THE APPEAL YEAR PASS BYE. ON 3/16/2011 HE HAD A STENT IMPLANT. AGAIN, THE DOCTORS ARE SAYING "YOUR GOOD, JUST EXERCISE AND EAT HEALTHY YOU'LL BE OK". WITH THE STENT AND NEW MEDS, HE IS FATIGUED, DEPRESSED MORE THAN EVER. I'M TRYING TO PERSUADE HIM TO FILE A NEW TDIU CLAIM EFFECTIVE 3/16/2011 WITH THE STENT AND ALL HIS MEDICATIONS WITH THEIR SIDE=EFFECTS , ALSO HIS 90% OTHER DISABILITIES FOR REASONS NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN GAINFULL EMPLOYMENT. HE HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 1999. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS KIND OF UNBELIEVABLE, BUT IT'S TAMPA. I PLAN TO USE 3/16/2011 BECAUSE OF THE FACT THE VA DENIED HIS CLAIM IN 2008. I FIGURE THE VA WILL USE THE SAME DENIALS FROM THAT DECISION. I'M HOPING, THE NEW CLAIM WILL BE EVALUATED LOOKING AT THE WHOLE VETERAN NOT BE PICK APART AND DENY HIM AGAIN. ANY HELP WITH THIS IS APPRECIATED. I DO ALSO BELIEVE DIY IS BEST.

I WAS RATED TEMP. 100% FOR PROSTATE CANCER. COMPLETED TREATMENT, AFTER A YEAR, I WAS ADJUSTED TO 60% FOR RESIDUALS. TOTAL COMBINED RATING OF 80%. FILED FOR TDIU AND APPROVED WITH P/T. MY QUESTION IS " AM I ELIGIBILE FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN INSURANCE BECAUSE OF THE TDIU" ? I HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR ANY LIFE INSURANCE IN THE PAST. ALL MY "NEW" CLAIMS ARE PAST THE 2 YEAR TIME LIMIT, EXCEPT FOR THIS TDIU RATING ON 22 NOV. 2010. ANY INFO WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

GREAT NEWS TODAY. BIG BROWN ENVELOPE ARRIVED. GRANTED "ENTITLEMENT TO INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYMENT". A GREAT BIG "THANK YOU" TO ALL ON HADIT. WITH THEIR ADVICE, ENCOURAGEMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE ALL OF YOU PROVIDED. FROM THE VERY START, YOU ALL SAID DON'T GIVE UP AND KEEP ON KEEPING ON. FIGHT FOR OUR WELL EARNED BENEFITS, I HOPE THIS VICTORY WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE OTHERS NOT TO RETREAT IN THE EVER ONGOING BATTLE. BUT, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON THE DECISION. MY FORMER TEMPORARY RATING OF 100%( PROSTATE CANCER) WAS LOWERED TO 60%. STILL, I HAVE A TOTAL OF 80%. MAY QUESTION IS "RECEIVING IU WILL MY SPOUSE RECEIVE ANY BENEFITS"? "BASIC ELIGIBILITY TO DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE IS GRANTED EFFECTIVE NOV.22, 2010 AS THE EVIDENCE SHOWS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE TOTAL SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES, PERMANENT IN NATURE. DOES THIS MEAN "IU PT"? NOTHING ABOUT ANY FUTURE EXAMS. THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE.

BERTA, THE PROPOSAL WAS TO REDUCE MY 100% PROSTATE CANCER TO 60% FOR RESIDUALS, I ALSO HAVE PTSD 50%, THE TINNITIUS 10%, AND SMC FOR LOSS OF ORGAN. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HELP. HAVE A GOOD THANKSGIVING.

HELLO TO EVERYONE. I HAD MY DRO HEARING YESTERDAY, MONDAY 22 NOV. 2010, AND THE JUDGE WOULD NOT ALLOW A RE-EXAMINATION FOR MY PROSTATE. EVEN AFTER PRESENTING FACTS AND INCOMPLETE & INACCURATE TESTING, SOME JUST OUTRIGHT LIES, AND OLD TEST RESULTS WERE USED. JUDGE SAID A RE-EXAMINE WAS NOT NEEDED. THE HEARING WAS TO EVALUATE JUST THE RESIDUALS OF PROSTATE CANCER AND SMC AWARD. SOME GOOD NEWS WAS THE JUDGE AND MY VSO REP BOTH AGREED ON RECORD, FILING FOR IU TO SOLVE THIS SITUATION. I'M WILL STILL HAVE A 82% RATING EVEN AFTER THE PROPOSED REDUCTION. I HAD THE FORM FILLED AND STAMPED READY TO GO. FOLLOWED YOUR ADVICE WITH #18 & # 25, THE HEARING JUDGE WAS PRESENTED WITH THE "STAMPED" FORM AND SAID SHE WOULD HAND CARRY IT TO PROPER CHANNELS. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SPEED UP THE PROCESS. I WILL COMMUNICATE MORE AFTER I RECEIVE THE ACTUAL VA LETTER IN THE MAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE VETERANS FOR THEIR HELP AND INFO. PRAY THAT EACH AND EVERY VET & THEIR FAMILIES HAVE A SAFE, AND BEARABLE HOLIDAY.

BERTA, CALLED MY VA REP. THURSDAY OCT. 21, 2010. ALMOST A FULL YEAR HAS PAST SINCE I REQUESTED A DRO HEARING. WELL, MY REP. WENT TO THE HEARING SCHEDULE DEPT. (UP STAIRS) SAME BUILDING AT THE HOUSTON VARO TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. THEIR ANSWER WAS THEY SCREWED UP. PULLED MY FILE AND SUDDENLY RECEIVED MY DRO HEARING NOTICE TWO DAYS LATER. SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY 8 AM NOV 22, 2010. FILLING OUT THE IU FORM WITH THE SUGGESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED. MY QUESTION IS AFTER 5 YEARS, SINCE APRIL 2004, I'M APPEALING THAT THE EXAMINATION PREFORMED 6 MONTHS AFTER TREATMENT ENDED, WAS NOT FULL OR COMPLETE. THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING UNDER 38CFR3.344. WHAT THE VA EXAMINATOR (PA) PREFORMED WAS NOTHING CLOSE TO A THROUGH ANYTHING. DIDN'T TAKE ANY BLOOD WORK AND URINE, NO DRE, A COUPLE OF PUSHES, ASKED SOME QUESTIONS, AND SENT TO GET A PSA TEST. I HAVEN'T HAD A RECENT PSA SINCE JAN 2010 DURING THE TIME I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR KIDNEY PROBLEMS ( FELL LEAVING THE HOSPITAL AFTER ATTENDING PTSD GROUP THERAPY WANT TO ER, ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL OVERNIGHT) UROLOGIST SAID SHE WOULD SCHEDULE PSA EVERY 6 MONTHS. WELL NO TEST YET. MY PCP LAST MONTH SAID HE FORGOT TO ORDER A PSA, WOULD DO IT NEXT VISIT ABOUT MARCH 2011. FINALLY GAVE UP AND PAID OUT OF POCKET AND GOT MY OWN TEST DONE. PSA WAS 0.250. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOOD, IF THE CANCER DESTROYED AND I'M CURED, OR IF SPREAD. WHEN I FILE FOR IU WILL I BE CONCEDING DEFEAT IN MY APPEAL OF THE RE-EVALUATION APPEAL? THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL FOR HELP.

HELLO EVERYONE. CALLED MY REP YESTERDAY, FRIDAY OCT. 22, 2010, TO ASK ABOUT MY VARO HEARING WE HAD SUBMITTED LAST YEAR IN NOV. 2009 AND NO RESPONSE YET. HE WENT UPSTAIRS TO THE PEOPLE WHO HOLD THE HEARING AND ASK ABOUT IT. THEY SCREWED UP AND THAT'S THEIR ANSWER. MY FOLDER HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL BE CONTACTED SHORTLY ABOUT THE HEARING ACCORDING TO MY REP. PROPOSING TO LOWER MY 100% RATING TO 80% IS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY OVER A YEAR'S TIME. DIDN'T WANT TO WORRY ABOUT THIS THING GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS AND THE VA ASKING FOR ALL THE MONEY BACK. WANTED SOME RELIEF, AND FINALLY GET AN ANSWER ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. ASKED ABOUT FILING FOR IU AND REP SUGGESTED TO FILL OUT FORM AND PROBABLY SUBMIT IT DURING THE HEARING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF SUBMITTING THE IU WILL BE A SIGN OF DEFEAT, BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE ON THE PROPOSED REDUCTION, OR IT IS A SMART MOVE TO ENTER IT AT MY HEARING SO IT WILL BE GETTING STARTED? I DIDN'T THINK I COULD APPLY FOR IU AS LONG AS I WAS 100% ALREADY. I ALSO HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR SSDI OVER 2 1/2 YEARS AGO. PROSTATE RESIDUALS 60%, IF LOWERED, PTSD 50%, TITINTUS 10% WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MY CHANCES FOR APPROVAL OF IU? ALSO HAD 2 KNEE REPLACEMENTS NOT SC. THANKS.

THANKS FOR ANSWERING. NO I WAS NOT DIAGNOSED 5 YEARS AFTER SERVICE. I WAS DIAGNOSED IN APRIL 2004. VIETNAM VET.

I MIGHT BE WRONG, BUT WHAT I HAVE READ IS IU WAS MOOT UNTIL BELOW 100%. I AM WONDERING SINCE I'M TEMPERIORLY RATING OF 100% THIS INCLUDES ME.

STILL HAVEN'T A CLEAR ANSWER TO MY QUESTION IF MY RE-EXAMINATION WAS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO FULL AND COMPLETE FOR FOLLOW-UP TO PROSTATE CANCER.

I HAD A RE-EXAMINATION TO CHECK ON MY PROSTATE CANCER IN OCTOBER '09. HAD SEED IMPLANTS IN FEB'08. HAD BEEN MONITORING PSA RESULTS FROM 17.0 JUST AFTER INPLANTS TO OCT.'09 AT .375. VA SENT A LETTER PROPOSING TO LOWER MY TEMPORIAL 100% TO 60% FOR LEAKAGE PROBLEMS, BRINGING ME TO 80% TOTAL. PC-60%/ PTSD-50%/ HEARING-10%/ SMC. I SENT A NOD BECAUSE OF THE C&P EXAMINATION WAS NOT FULL AND COMPLETE. THEY USED BLOOD WORK FROM 6 MONTHS PREVIOUS TO MY EXAMINE. I ALSO WAS ON 100% FROM 2004 OVER FIVE YEARS. ALSO OVER AGE 55. LATER, IN JANUARY 2010, I WAS HOSPITALIZED IN THE VA WITH KIDNEY PROBLEMS AND THE PSA WAS TAKEN AND WAS .250. MY QUESTION IS, CAN THE C&P USE OLD (6 MONTHS) BLOOD WORK? THE PHYSICAL WAS ACTUALLY PUSHING ON MY STOMACH AREA, ASKED IF MY BACK HURT, AND FELT MY ANKLES. A WOMAN PREFORMED THE PHYSICAL, NO ATTENDANT PRESENT, NO FINGER WAVE OR CHECKING ON PRIVATE PARTS. THE ONLY ACTUAL TEST WAS THE PSA OF .375. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE MY CHANCES OF WINNING THE NOD? ALSO, OF GETTING A FULL & COMPLETE PHYSICAL, OR WAS "THAT" THE FULL & COMPLETE EXAMINE? SINCE MY PSA LEVELS ARE STILL DROPPING, IS THIS CONSIDERED MAXIMUN RECOVERY?

I'M ON TEMPORARY 100% DISABILITY FOR PROSTATE CANCER, PTSD 50%, TINNITIS 10% AND HEARING LOSS 0%. PROSTATE CANCER LONGER THAN FIVE YEARS. VA PROPOSED A REDUCTION TO 60% FOR RESIDUALS, BRINGING THE PROPOSED TOTAL TO 80%. I'M FIGHTING THE PROPOSED REDUCTION. IF I DO NOT WIN THE REDUCTION, WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO FILE FOR IU? WILL IT AUTOMATICALLY BE CONSIDERED WITH THE REDUCTION, OR WILL I HAVE TO WAIT AND FILE AFTER THE NOTIFICATION. HOPEFULLY I WILL WIN AND DON'T HAVE TO FILE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE PREPARED.