Cruinthe

Does anyone know the regulations, if any, regarding accreditation by the VA as an agent? I checked the VA site, and the information there seems to pertain mostly to lawyers. http://www4.va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp I know that service officers may represent a veterans up to the BVA, but I think only a lawyer can take an appeal to the CAVC. So, does anyone know what the accreditation process is for DAV or VFW service officers? Is there a written test administered by the VA? I passed my National Veterans Legal Service Program certification, and they are the lawyers that the VA uses to train service-officers, so I am not overly worried. But having the actual regulation in front of me would help. Any input would be appreciated.

There are two ways to get SMC Housebound. One, as stated by a previous poster, is being clinically housebound via Agoraphobia or other disability. The second way is "by the numbers", or statutory housebound. This is done by having one condition rated 100% (be it T&P or UI) and another separate disability rated at 60%. I was granted SMC Housebound due to PTSD @ 100% (scheduler, not UI) and a separate disability of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome @ 60%. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, or drop me a note over at www.veteransoutreach.info and I will phone you to discuss the issue in depth.

The HISA grant, google it. http://helpdesk.vetsfirst.org/index.php?pg=kb.printer.friendly&id=4

I wrote up my entire ILP and submitted it to my VocRehab rep. I asked for the three items I wanted to include, and the OT simply wrapped her eval around my request. So, at the bare minimum, know what you want from your ILP beforehand. But I dont think its mandatory to submit it in writing.

During my ILP eval, the occupational therapist looked over the whole house and documented my daily activities (not much, really) and it was agreed that I needed a theraputic bed (Tempupedic, for my CFS and arthritis), a walking treadmill, and some college courses on web design. My final ILP granted all 3 items. But keep in mind, I researched ILP for months and submitted my own formal request explaining my needs and citing VA law. it is best for anyone applying for ILP to fully understand the program AND know in advance exactly, and specifically, what they want from the ILP program. If you need any help, PM me.

The best way I have read it explained is "To the VA, Total & Permanent does not really mean total and permanent". So aside from administrative reasons such as CHAMPVA for dependents, Chapter 35 DEA educational benefits, vehicle and property tax exemptions, we should pay more attention to the 5, 10, and 20 rules. I would not doubt for a second that the VA would pull anyone that was T&P in for the most flimsy of excuses, so never let your guard down.

I forget the exact quote, but I read somewhere a Native American tribe proverb states you measure a mans power by how many enemies he has. If the VA is my enemy, I am truly blessed!

Level 8 sensitive on my file, and the only result is I cant use the 800 number and I have to wait an hour to speak to anyone when I go to the VARO. If this is how the VA treats its VIP's, I would hate to see how they treat their enemies.

I saw a quote from one of our Founding Fathers a few years ago. He was asked a question as to the definition of what single situation defines the beginning of tyranny. He thought about it and replied "When those that make and enforce the rules, exempt themselves from those rules, you have passed into tyranny". So, the VA records anything they want, for whatever reason they want, yet we the veteran can record nothing. So, I wonder what we have here.

I am quite sure the VA has people assigned to this and other webpages in an effort to root out "scammers". If only the VA put as much effort into rooting out scammers within its own ranks, we might actually make some progress. It says right on the back of my buisness cards that I never charge a fee for any service rendered, so what do they hope to accomplish? On one of my recent trips to the Roanoke VARO, I had a person show up in the lobby about 15 minutes after I did. He was complaining bitterly about the guy that was handling his claim very poorly. Turns out this agent was also MY agent some off years ago, and the VA knew I was deeply dissatisfied with his performance. Could have had something to do with this agent taking $4000 from me, then dissapearing off the map. Regardless, this angry person was loudly proclaiming he was going to get a gun and shoot our mutal agent dead. I immediately knew this was a VA employee or confidential informant trying to entrap me into a murder conspiracy rap, if for no other reason than you dont walk into a federal building screaming that you are going to murder someone without the marshalls cuffing and stuffing you. It is amazing to think the VA will go to such lenghts to get at people that are actually trying to do good.

Someone over at the yuku site answered my question. The quesrtion was asked on the same day as mine and it was clarified pretty well. That is odd because in all the years I have been coming here, it has been the hadit crowd that is usually more technically proficient, but here you have it. Yes, sensitive levels are assigned to VA employees at different levels depending on their position within the organization. Politicians and others with celebrity type status are also afforded comparable restricted access to preclude random employees from snooping into their records. While extraordinarily rare, fraud cases and other situations deemed "restricted" for those you termed as "ordinary veterans" also may be given a sensitive level. There are pros and cons to having a level assigned to a claim. The obvious pro is privacy in that very few people have access to their info. Attempts to access their information, even electronically, generates a security violation which must be investigated by an Information Security Officer unless they have access to that level of sensitive data. Level 7 and higher requires the files to be maintained at a controlled location where only individuals with that access may obtain them. Cons, I guess there is only one I can think of in that again very few people have access to the material. If a claim is filed, it often takes longer to process since generally only a single individual at a Regional Office has access to be able to develop, one other that can rate the claim, and only one that can process the decision.

The www.veteransoutreach.info site is less about talk, and more about action. That said, how many of us actually take the time to visit the homeless shelters to pass out fliers about presumptive conditions or non-service connected pension? Or take a trip to the veterans retirement home to ensure the social workers are fully aware of the Aid & Attendance benefit? Or simply walk around the VA hospital or VA Regional Office passing out cards and explaining the Byzantine VA system to veterans that are clearly in need? My point being, the mid and upper strata of veterans (30% VA rating and above) are very well represented on the internet. We have a world of information at our fingertips, and if we apply ourselves we can learn almost anything we so desire. The down side of this situation is we disabled veterans tend to develop something of an echo-chamber effect. We have created our own little "virtual reality". At best, a bubble that no one steps out of, or at worst a mentality of "Ive got mine, screw everyone else". But what about those with no voice, no advocate, and no options? Perhaps as an infantryman, I have a soft spot in my heart for the guys in the trenches. I also found myself homeless as a direct result of the VA's incompetence and corruption, so I know what it is like to be completely without resources, understanding, and too sick and weak to do anything about it. I do not want to see other veterans suffer like that. As to why I keep fighting the VA, even though I have been 100% T&P since 2001, the reason is simple. The more I fight, the more I learn. More sweat in training, less blood in war. Anyone remember the old joke, if you cant find someone to lead the attack, that someone is probably you? Since I became T&P, I have researched, requested, and been granted SMC-S Housebound, as well as the VocRehab Independent Living Program. I also documented and reported abuse by a VA nurse that resulted, directly, in her getting a reprimand by the state nursing board. Without going into too much detail, the pieces are being moved into place for another PR disaster for the VA, but more on that later. Point being, if I can do these things, so can any of you. All you need to do is step up and away from the keyboard. As Testvet so eloquently pointed out, "with all the veterans sites already online it's hard to get new ones going and to get traffic to them". A clear case of Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians. So the Veterans Outreach Project wont be pretty, and it will get some dirt under its fingernails, but if what has been done the last few months are any indication, it will be a real blessing to many desperate veterans. And there are plenty of those. If anyone wants to join the effort, you are welcome. If not, you always have your pretty little web pages.

Yes, I am the guy with the "menstrual disorder". That whole kerfuffle with the VA helped me win a $32,000 EED victory, but as is typical with the VA, they give with one hand then slap with the other. As to Kellys comments, don't worry, I am learning as I go, but I consider myself an adequate pariah. I have put that $32,000 to good use by creating www.veteransoutreach.info and the ball is officially rolling, but more on that soon. I am documenting all the VA grab-ass in meticulous detail. Thank God for hidden cameras! A retired sheriffs deputy has reviewed my current evidence and agreed to conduct an investigation, and perhaps a documentary depending on how childish the VA wants to behave. My upcoming FTCA lawsuit should be quite interesting, to say the least.

Form is called a VA5655, financial statement. Submit it with a letter declaring bankrupcy, or warning letters from your bank over credit cards, or utility shutoff notices, or an eviction notice, or even a letter from your mom saying you owe her money and you aint paying it back to her satisfaction. I have a girl here in Roanoke that I helped submit a VA5655 through the senators office and it worked like a charm, she is expecting her 100% rating decision withina few days. Granted, she filed for bankrucpy, her husband beat her and kicked her out of the house, AND shes got 3 kids to feed, but the VA5655 helped cut a few months off her IU request. PM me if you have any questions.

This is a great concept, and looks good on paper. But having said that, why does this remind me of the (in)famous "Duty To Assist" regulations? The VA, having been given a mandate to assist, defines assistance as "we sent you a VCAA, therefore we comply with the Duty to Assist". Lets see how badly the VA can mutilate and mangle this otherwise good peice of legislation.

I am fairly familiar with 38 CFR, but in 10 odd years I have been dancing with the VA, I have never heard of a "level 8 block". I did discuss this matter with one of the honchos over at Veterans for Constitutional Law, and he explained, in loose detail, what the block means to him. He confided that he also has a level 8 block, and in his opinion the level 8 block marks a veteran as being, in his words, "on the VA's s**t list". Now, I can not verify anything aside from that fact that after vawatchdog, fox news, and a local TV station aired my story, the block appeared. So far, here is how the level 8 block effects me. I can not use the 1 800 827 1000 number to verify anything but my name and social security number. I can not access my wifes Chapter 35 information. I can not walk into the VARO and speak to a VA case manger. When I attempt to do the above, I am informed about the block, and that a manager must call me back, or I have to sit around at the VARO and wait for a level 7+ manager can fit me into his schedule, and each time I go to the VARO it takes longer and longer for me to be seen by a level 7 manager, if one is available at all. I assume the VA public affairs people in DC placed the block on my wife to stop Fox News from accessing my file, as I did give them permission to do so. Now, from the VA's perspective, it makes sense to limit less qualified VA staff from mucking up my file, and thus having another mistake smeared all over the Fox News lead page. But, from my perspective, this borders on retaliation and harassment. Were I able to speak to someone about my file in a timely fashion, the point would be moot. But waiting around for days in the hopes manager calls me back is tedious, and even more so as I have an open NOD with a DRO in August. It is difficult enough to process a VA claim without this sort of nonsense. If anyone know about blocks being placed, who places them, and what levels there are, or anything of interest on this subject, please let me know. Thanks!

The best advice I can give is to always hand carry any and all forms or evidence to the VA Regional Office that is handling your claim. This gains you a stamped and dated copy of everything you turn in. Even if the VA makes a "mistake", you are covered. I know first hand, because I just got a $32,000 back pay from the VA over this specific topic. I filed for PTSD after I left the military in September of 2000 and the St Pete FL VARO "lost" my paperwork. Long story short, that one "accident" left me in a very unfavorable position. Soon after, I began doing some limited research and I came to the conclusion that "misplaced" paperwork at the VA was not a rare or unintentional problem, but actual VA policy. Or, put in simple terms, any paperwork mailed in that was not certified return receipt, or had the possibility to wind up in the shredder. Hand carry is the only way to go, in my humble opinion. Good luck with your claim!

I think you are thinking about something called "Aid & Attendance". The A&A program is basically part of Special Monthly Compensation. There are lawyers that specialize in A&A claims. Since you require house visits from medical personnel, you may qualify. Just google Aid & Attendance lawyer and you should find what you need.

If I went into more detail I would be banned for being a conspiracy nut. Just google "Glenn McBride Menstrual Disorder" to see the general outline of my situation. If anyone is a glutton for punishment, email me at glennmcbride@gmail.com and check out my new webpage www.veteransoutreach.info but be warned its only been up for a few days.

Well, I am aware of the "crap list" because I have been on it since about 2001 when I started to talk openly about the VA shredding files as policy, not accident. At that point I was only being hassled by VA employees. Then last year a nurse at my VAMC found herself on the wrong end of a State Nursing Board investigation, courtesy of yours truly. After that, my neighbors began to scream obscenities at me, calling me a pervert and threatening to physically attack me, the police ignored it completely so I was forced to move last month. When my story made it to Fox News a few weeks ago, the harassment from the VA went to light speed, because now I am followed by undercover police every time I leave my house. They are not subtle in any way, and I have come to learn this tactic is called "conspicious observation" and it is designed to induce fear and paranoia in the target. I wonder what the VA police thugs will do when I actually file a lawsuit against the VA? Maybe Ill be shot in the street like they do in some banana republic in Africa. I have a feeling the VA is going to get some really bad press before the end of 2010

I am stunned that you were not berated as a "fraud" and promptly banned for merely asking the question. Here is a quote to clarify. The legal reason why the VA could not revoke his “Total Disability Rating” lies in 38 USCS Section 1163, of which I paraphrase as follows: “The disability rating of a Veteran who begins to engage in a substantial gainful occupation after January 31, 1985, may not be reduced on the basis of the Veteran having secured and followed a substantially gainful occupation unless the Veteran maintains such an occupation for 12 consecutive months.

I have had more luck with the DRO process.

I am service-connected for CFS at 60%, with a claim pending for both IBS and Fibro. I doubt I can discuss the reality of the situation without being banned or accused of trying to "scam the system", but I can phone you if you want. I have unlimited long-distance calling.

I doubt it. Since this whole kerfuffle started, the VA has ignored my request for fibromyalgia and IBS, and it attempting to lower my rating for Chronic Prostatitis that I have had since 1993. No good deed goes unpunished. I am willing to make this sacrifice, though, even if it costs me some of percentages. Time will tell.

My story is over at vawatchdog due to my VARO sending me a VCAA regarding a "menstrual disorder". I am male, and I am service-connected for prostatitis. The Fox news editor asked me if I know of anyone else with VA horror stories. Now is our time to stand up and be counted, people. Mail me glennmcbride@gmail.com for more info.