retiredat44

their idea is to not pay benefits, they could not give a flying $$$### donut about backlogs..

I have found out a DRO through the San Diego office takes longer than 1 year, probably around 16 to 20 months..

I agree, the lie and twist facts, and i am not just sayin it, I have absolute proof... how they can get away with the lies is beyond me.. they should al be fired.. and their hiring practices for the stupid morons should al be re-written.. I had to take my NOD's and clearly spell out my evidence so even a 3rd grader could read the evidence... they have al0l been consolidated into one DRO hearing request.. I will love to confront these liars in person... I have had a DRO request in since around September 2009. But now the dro has been expanded to include one more NOD I just had denied.. My IMO is also listed along with my evidence to make sure they understand that there is an IMO (a frakkin huge IMO). Sorry, if I ranted, but it is so outrageous and disgusting what the people get away with in the way they deny Veterans with blantant lies..

My NOD's (2 of them) are now consolidated into one DRO request.. All documents the evidence has been re-stated, so there are no misunderstandings. I would copy and post, but my copier/printer is in the shop.. One of my DRO's was dated November 2009. The latest NOD was September 2010. Both have been combined into one DRO. If I still get denied at DRO, I have a request to continue to BVA (video hearing). I hope to get the DRO hearing within 6 months.. according ot everything i hear and read,, and what I hear from my VSO. (I am extrmely hopeful and upbeat because my VSO took time , 1.5 hours th other day, to completely clean up my requests, re-phrase evidence and read through my IMO to make sure all bases are covered). The comments are more detailed in the DRO, so there is little room for misunderstanding, and the VA Regional Office trying to weasel out.. Last time the VA played dumb and ignored evidence.. now it all spelled out so even a child can understand the evidence..

how long was the fight? did you attend the dro hearing? who went with you? how hard was it? thanx..

I was totally misdagnosed, and treated like I was a nutty kook, and drug seaker, was treated for thew wrong disease, and everything els,e but the lawyers would not even try to help.. that is just part of the whole medical systemin the usa.. also, a fact that the misdiagnosis was from an HMO , not the VA... in the 1980's I piad $300.00 a month and had to pay co-pays for services... yet, the service was worse than the va.. the hmo, Kaiser had really nice building and furniture.. but they were totally clueless about intestinal disease.. also they screwed my back badly, they resused to mri my back., it turned out I had a broken disc I was suffering from, and they would only tell me to take asprin.. so, we are basically screwed..

I spent 1.5 hours with my VSO this morning, and all the paperwork has been straigthened out, all fixed, new paperwork submitted for DRO, everything consolidated, cleaned up, the DRO requests now have al the correct conditions listed, al the causes of injuries. all professionally, I kept on it, and now the new paperwork is being submitted today.. hard to explain, as I have several claims, and al going for DRO review.. I was freaked out, and could not sleep, now it is all put together nicely, and there should be no confusion about my claims and conditions when the VA reviews it and I have the DRO hearing,.. the VA should now be able to understand my claim and there should be no missing pieces. I look forward to a hearing.. I have my ducks all in a row.. btw, my VSO said my case was the most complicated case she has ever seen, medical complications wise.

I am always interested in hearing new for IBZ, it is truly a rotten miserable disease... and to make things worse, it's considered a bogus diagnosis, a garbage dx just to tell sufferers they actually have a health problem.. or even in their head..

I would like to find out how many people found out using a lawyer turned out better than people who used a VSO, or lawyer... good, bad stoires.. I am weighing changing from a VSO to lawyer. I am going to interview a lawyer and see if they can do better.. but, want to hear experiences from others.. I am worried that the VSO does not have enough time and resources.. thanx..

I wish I would have known they were going to be on , but by the time I saw it its was too late.. as they would have probably been able to answer one of my main questions... oh well,, my fault for not seeing it in time..

I keep getting this error: "You have posted more than the allowed number of quoted blocks of text " Of course it is probative, and the IMO covered it.. plus all of them are on the public records of all health organizations as carcinigens, and as cancer causing chemicals.. As I said, I was soaked in many chemicals daily, the denial only covered one of the chemicals, they totally ignored the rest.. and never once they they mention all of them in the denial.. plus, it appears they totaly took my health history out of context... and skipped several years.. and there is more.. Here is a copy of the form.. I chose both the DRO and BVA option

Ok, I understand,, only when the DRO process has been used up can it go to BVA.. but I really need to correct the errors the VA made in my claim.. I feel that I can go see these clowns in person to have their mistakes corrected, they totally ignored evidence, I need to tel them, and the only way to tell them is in person.. as they will not reason through any other communication. If they only let people tell them they made mistakes, then we would not have to go through these extra steps.. (they totally ignored most of my evidence..) I have no idea if they even read it.. If after I correct the record, and they still screw me at DRO level, then the clock starts on BVA. hearing..

exactly,, also, unless they do a DNA test how would they know what is genetic? they are frakkin liars!

What you said is exactly what I am doing..

I read what you wrote and am confused, I really need things in simple form, I have been sick to long to go through a maze.. sorry, I don't mean you puposely made it a maze, but I need it simplified.. I have al the evidence right now.. the evidence was ignored. I need to contront those repsonsible to find out why it was ignored.. i was sick on active duty with the issues I am claiming.. I continue to get sicker.. I have the documents.. I have the IMHO I am already rated 50% for the undelying causes.. When I orignally signed the form 9 (think,, it was..) asking for the BVA, I for some reason didn't get clairity on going to both the DRO asnd BVA, and thinking it through I had it changed to both a DRO and BVA, I don't want to throw a way a chance at one more opportunity.. what is wrong with that?? I appreciate your help, but I have to understand it to give a better reponse.. being really sick sucks because every decision is hard, hoping that the fog of illnesses doesn't causes more problems.. I feel that no one else can help me because they have no clue what it like to be in a fight while very sick.. they just have the passion needed not the patience.. at 5pm they can go home and live their life, I can't leave illness at 5pm..

as I understand it, the first step after nod denial, is then DRO, then BVA.. so I am going to use these steps.. now I am confusesd how I confused you?? if I did not use the DRO step, I would have missed that opportunity... and went straight to BVA..

They ignored my IMO and so I have to show them in DRO hearing, and also maybe the BVA hearing, that the IMO had the information they refused to read and acknowledge.. I have mor ehan enough evidence, so I feel confident, once I can actually speak to a person, instead of them hding behind a desk, I can make my case.. my Veteran Serice officer says I have a good case.. I was wondering what happened with your IMO, did they ignore it also? I have no idea how they can get away with ignoring and not even responding to evidence.. I like thear from others who showed they ignored evidence and how they tried to weasel out when confrtonted with the evidence in person? How to they weasel out in person?

I had an extremely bad experience with an SSDI lawyer and so I will think about the lawyer after the DRO hearing, if I still need help for the BVA hearing.. so, gotta wait until the DRO hearing , whenever that happens.. I really feel I can turn this around with the face to face DRO hearing, but if that does not go well with the American Legion representing me at that hearing, the lawyers listed in these forums are on my list to call.. I see there is a Vet Law office on your radio show tonight, and see the recording is not yet available.. but will put them on my list.. I wil need to see any lawyers in person.. my case is too much of a ClusterF$$$# to do it over the phone..

The DRO hearing will be my first opportunity to actually talk to someone face to face..., up until this point some faceless butthole is screwing me from behind some desk... and I want to actually confront them with my proof. I want to ask why they purposely ignored evidence., then if, for some BS lying scumbag reason they still want to fight.. then I will still be going to the BVA hearing..

I have had quite a few primary care docs.. the one I had when I had my big pancreas surgery,, when I had a 5 inch cyst in my guts, she told me she could not feel it, as I told her several times over a year soemthing big weas growing in me.. the year after that they removed a 5 inch cyst, which almost killed me witha 6 month hospital stay.. and the necrotizing pancreatitis.. most of the primary care docs never beleived me.. some outwardly showed hostility to me..

Congenital disease, how are they treated in a claim? If you claim injury, condition, agrevation of disease, injury, how are conditions that the VA say are congenital handled..? how can they prove it's congenital, how to they determine what? etc.. thanx..

I called my rep from the American Legion, and asked her about the DRO and BVA hearing, she said, yes, I can do it, and whiel I am unclear how much it could delay the BVA video hearing.. I chose to have both the DRO and BVA hearing.. after all if I win at the DRO, there wil be no reson to go to BVA, but if I lose the DRO, I wil stil have the BVA.. I signed the for for it.. and faxed it back to her.. I feel there was more than enough evidence I have that the DRO wil see and recognize as in my favor,, and I can show I have enough , plus I can show it was ignored.. meanwhile I have more doctor appointments, and will take the results to the hearings.. I am trying to get some neurological disease conclusions and clarifications.. I believe I am chosing the best path.. and my representative seems fine with my decisions.. I always ask the rep what they think... and everyone else.. but, I do have a big problem with decisions. being very sick.. I dont' feel well, and am not always sure I am making the best decision,,it is extrmemely hard to think logically when one is sick.. IMHO

i am in the process of getitng more evaluations,, I first had al these bogus statements and vcrappy half-assed diagnosis over al these years.. like Intestinal disease might just get you the bogus label as kook with IBS... which means they have no idea what you have and it maybe in your head.. So, right now I am trying to get my neurological disease nailed down to soemthing that the VA wil recognize, so I* am am going back to more doctors to get this all straighten out... I have these symptoms in my records, they are clearly stated, but the diagnosis in my records is not rock solid.. only that I h ave they symptoms.. even back on active duty they show IH ad the symptoms.. but the symptoms have gotten much, much worse.. I am very angry at the whole process.. I was almost ready to kill myself just thinking about being screwed and al the suffering I go through.. I wonder how many people just say 'F-it!" and off themselves trying to fight the VA.. Today my surgeon for my pancreas disease was asking me to get more exercise,, but I am unable to because of my neurological disease.. and my surgeon knows damned well I suffer from these diseases, but i had to remind him, I have to go back to the neurolgist for help.. myu surgeons saw me in the hoppital bed for 6 motnhs and know the hell I go through.. meanwhile the Claim denials have pushed me into deeper depression.. I was going to mental health for many months to sessions.. and might end up there more all over again.. I am really a mess from al the BS the VA puts me through.. so, those of us that are so frakkin mad,, we are not alone there are untold thousands of us being jerked off.. It is insane to haul around a dolly with boxes of records.. I have boxes of medical records.. and have to put the boxes on wheels.. and tow it around..then the people I bring them too ask me about ogranzing them.. arrrghh!! MY hands and arms shake so bad I can't put 2 pieces of paper together.. and I have to go through this alone.. sure my representative help a little with knwoing what papers to file.. and of course I have to explain my life story to everyone.. but, I feel they have no clue and they don't share my rage, theyhave their 8 to 5 job and are ehalthy and have no clue what chronic pain is.. or a life long ilness that has a perosn ont he edge of just dying to get the hell over with.. and to get a denial letter is very devastating.. it's like a dagger through the back.. I feel they should have a doctor stand by when the clueless heartless scumbags mail out the denial sends the letter out, it shpould be presented with a doctor ready to call 911 !!

Steps in the claims process questions? Is thyere a chart somewhere with the steps? I am curious.. there is the claim, then if denied, there is the NOD, if denied, there is a hearing.. but in between the NOD and hearing there is a DRO (review)? Who does the review, and does anyone ask you questions? or is it still a one way process where the process just pushes you around with no ability to interact and talk to anyone asking questions or caliry anything? How does the DRO work and when? I have a couple questions and statements that could clear a couple things up, and one would think the VA would welcome clarity and understanding and not make things worse with this unfair process.. ok, a little update: I read this: "The VA’s highest appellate body is the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, (BVA) located in Washington, D.C. If you do not request a DRO review in your Notice Of Disagreement, the VA will send you and your representative, if any, a letter that acknowledges receipt of your NOD and asks whether you desire a DRO review or would rather have your appeal forwarded to the BVA for consideration. " So Does This Mean That: They will ask me if I would like to do a DRO, and ask questions/make statements before the hearing? Wil I then be able to ask why they only look at part of the evidence, and expalin to them the part they totally ignored? thanx, I appreciate this,, I am stil totally baflled why they overlooked or purposley never addressed al the evidence. I am desperately wanting ot ask them why they ignored it.. I find it criminal for them to have done such an outrageous mistake.. and am dying ot find out how such a blunder was not corrected..

regarding the exam, review, etc.. I am a ltiutle confused int he steps of the calim here.. first you filed, you get denied, you filed nod.. then you got a c&p exam,, they denied.. this is the step I am confused: you then file for a hearing.. but where does this (DRO) Review come in, betweent he NOD and the hearing? They diodn't even read my IMO at my NOD stage.. (I have proof) because they never even alloked at alt he evidence in my IMO.. and never addressed in ny my decision.. So, what about this DRO (review)? how and where is/was that suppose to happen? My claim is no going from the NOD to a BVA Hearing,, where did the DRO come into play.. or is it built in soemwhere.. At no point have I actually been able to verbally tell my story,,