retiredat44

I just wrote a letter and e-mailed it to my congressman, I did not make it long, as if they say they will help, I will send a more formal document with more details, for now I gave him the basics of my concerns about the VA disability claim and the total ommittance of the chemicals in my claim and no reason why they were not address in the decision. I appreciate you guys listenening to me freaking out.. thank you,

While at the VA Regional office today, I went to the Benefits office. Again, as I did a couple months ago. I expalined I had alreayd been there and the the website will not let me sign in. I already had an account a froma few years ago on that MyHealth vet website.. but wanted access to E-benefits website. He told me that I need to go to the Library at the VA Hospital, I told him I had already gone there a few weeks ago,, that was after signing up at the VA regional office a few weeks before that. I explained even though I went through the verigfciation process at least 2x now, and had a miserable time at the VA patient library, and the lady there was clueless and treated my like I was stupid, and she never heard of the E-Benefits website. moving on, at the VA regional office, I with through the I.D. Verifican process for the 3x time. I am not sure if I am even going to ever use it, it is just a joke. I told him even with I tried to cal the phone number on the website, no one answers.. Someone posted on this website it is working again, but I tried a few days ago, after they said it is working, it still woul not let me me sign up and sign in.. Just sayin...

Hi, I need to ask a rater that has worked VA Disability Claims a question. Please. I am unable to talk to anyone until a hearing from my filed NOD. I received a denial that makes no sense and I cannot make any sense of it unless I can speak to someone. The VA is setup so that no one will answer questions. I was not only sick from Jet Fuel, but also Leaded Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, and also Trichlorethylene. These are Known carcinogens. These are clearly included in my claim from my jobs in the military and in my submitted IMO (Independent Medical Opinion). The decision denied my claim saying that Jet Fuel was not a carcinigen, and there was no study about it in my IMO. Yet my claim covered all the chemicals, and so did the IMO. Question, Why did they totally omit any mention of al the other chemicals in my denial letter and reasons. Did they puposely omit all the other chemicals, were they negligent? Did they screw up and not see all the chemicals and did not assocoiate them, with my jobs? I am at a totaly losss and dumbfounded how such a blunder could occur. I cannot find out what the hell is going on until some hearing in the future. I need soemone with inside knowledge what these 'people' are thinking, if they are thinking, or just mean and rotten.. By the way, my IMO is impeccable and has worked for the VA before, and her work is in toxicology, and also specializes in toxic chemicals for the petroleum industy. She has a practice iin Occupation medicine. I covered my bases. Yet, I got raked and really, really need to know what went wrong. I have tried to get help with the American Legion who is helping me with my claims, and appeals, but they tell me until the hearing, they cannot help me find out anything. What the hell is going on with people?? What is up with al the back stabbing? Are people just totally incompetent? Purposely rotten? (sorry, I have just about reached my limit trying to communicate with the VA). I already posted my decison in another link:

They never used the evidence I got in an IMO, they only looked at Jet Fuel... my IMO was for all of the chemicals I worked with... again, I have the evidence from a private specialist.. the VA only looked at JP-4 . Note: I already hyave a rating of 50% from these same chmicals. I went to the American Legion, who rpresents my claim, and they helped me file an NOD. I asked them why the VA only looked at Jet Fuel, and never looked at the diseases caused by Leaded Gasoline, Diesle, and Trichloehtylene. My IMO covered al these, yet the decision only included Jet Fuel. I was told I am going ot have to wait until VA claims sends me forms to submit evidence to ask why they ommited and disrearded the other chemicals and my proof and IMO. I was told it takes about a year to get the hearing.. I wil then jump on their SH*T asking why they ommited the evidence for those issues. No one can/will0 explain why they did what they did. I was totally screwed over and am extrmely angry at the scumbags at the VA who screwed me! They totally ommited part of the claim and the evidence for the claim! This should go the hightest levels for corruption!

I called for an appointment with my VSO, and found out, he is no longer there and moved to a new job, a promotion.. and they told me they don't have room for me until hanuary.. I have to file an NOD,, they gave m the name of another person I could see sooner a hour from me,, the office I have been working with is only 10 minutes away.. I got the NOD form and filled it out,, I am going to probably just go file it myslef,, as I don't ffeel like waiting to file it.. I will then try to get an appoinemnt with the a new rep at American Legion. I really want to keep my claims with the same outfit, but, I am not waiting to keep these file rolling! My brain can't handle al this. now I have to go drive around on morphine.. whoopeee.. NOT!!

Ok, your answer has already helped me.. I posted my denail letter in the forum yesterday.. sorry, not sure if it is the right place.. in the VA Claims Research forum. I wil have to find the claim, but all my jobs were listed, and chemicals were listed..I wil post when I can on exact wording.. I am filling out the NOD form.. I want to go see my VSO, but apparently he is no longer working there and has a new position. That have no appointments avaialbale, and I have to contact another office which is 1 hour from me, the office I worked with was only 10 minutes frrom me.. thanx..

My claim is from illness from Petroleum chmecials, Jet Fuel, Gasoline, Diesel, and I also worked with trichloroethylene. In my denial letter, they only stated Jet Fuel in the denial letter and reasons) and left out all the other chemicals. Can I file a CUE because they ommited important parts of my claim for illness? Note, these chemicals were also clearly stated by a doctor that did my IMO. thanx..

Last time I talked to my VSO he said even if we have to go the media to expose what what the damage and illness the chemicals did to me.. Well.. I have proof and am ready to blow this up into a huge stink, if the VA wants to play dirty I am ready. I was a fuels specialist and working with huge quatities of Jet Fuel (JP-4, diesel, and leaded gasoline. I was often soaked in fuel. I had several times, been hopitalized with illness in the USAF. Intestinal pain and fevers. I had teeth removed. I was hospitalized for pneumonia, I was examined and treated for tremors, and also hypertension. I was then treated for chemical sickness from petroleum products and after many, many tests I was given a waiver to not work with petroleum chemicals. I have proof, when I get very sick screaming in pain, with severe headaches that were intolerable for days. I was screaming and crying in agony for days, and days. I had swollen limbs. My blood pressure was also in hypertension. I blood running down my arms which had the skin breaking open with the blood and liquid oozing. I always had tremors and shaking. Then the doctors at the military base give the command orders to remove me from my job and contact with the petroleam chemicals.. they then present me with a list of jobs.. i ran down the list with the base personal office.. I tried to choose several jobs and was told they were only avaialbe to minorities and that I did not qulaify because I am a white male. They then offered/gave me a job int he communications squaron for a wheather station running a teletype machine... I even got an award for doing a perfect job.. A short few weeks later I got orders that I hadf been assigned a new job int he communications sqaudron, they never gave me a reason why they were changing my job. I reported to the new job in Repro-Graphics. After a few weeks they had me cleaning the offset printing presses with Trichlorethylene. My arms ahd hands swelled up almost immediately witin a couple days they had swollen again.. and the pain started all over again... I could only do crap jobs because I was sick and reported to the base doctors that I was sick again. So, I did vounteer work and menial jobs moving boxes and odd jobs. My five years (USAF) had come to an end and so I left because I had no job.. I was an E-4. I had a good record and many ribbons. Now come my claim for an increase in my rating and they do not even look at all my records and evidence and just deny me. I have spent the good part of twenty years sick in bed. I have to many problems to list. I have blood pressue health problems, intestinal disease, pancreas disease, thrombosis, degeneratave disk disease, Tremors shaking, problems with weight. I l ost al my muscles a couple years ago while in the hostpital fighting for my life for six months with necratizing pancreatitis. I was in a wheel chair for one year. 20 years ago I lost the ability to hold a job because I was to sick. I had health insurance (Kaiser) but after one operation on my back, I was still sick from intestinal disease. The doctor could not find my problem with a few years of tests. They removed my gal bladder (1993), but I continued to get sick. I forced myself to try to work even though I had lost my home because I could not continue working, being so sick. By 1995 I collapsed and fought with social security for SSDI and went through appeals after being denied. In this claim they overlooekd the the leaded gasoline, diesel, and the Trichlorethylene. They said there was no proof that jet fuel makes people sick. Or has long term health effects. They said there were no human tests. Why didn't they evne look at al the other chemcicals that I had constant skin and vapor contact with. I am not going to get this going, and raise a stink... Maybe some news organizations wlil pick this up.. I just don't hope I die first.. as my disease, necratizing pancreatitis and the cysts lining my pancreas and surround liver issues, usually cause multi -organ failure..

Where I feel they got totally wrong: I was sicked and treated for treatment to not only Jet Fuel, but also Gasoline, Deisel, and ** Trichlorethylene** (from my second USAF job in 'Reprographics -offest printing presses) the second job I was forced to do after a doctor waived me away from petro chemicals..).. which does have a known record of cancer causing.. and which caused me illness and my removal from contact with the chemicals again. even though the first time was supposedly permanent... which all of these were left out of the denial decisions.. also I am going to pursue my Dystrophy diagnosis as MS, as my symptoms continue to show that disease is more consistant.. also, I actually sought diagnosis and treatment of intestinal disease around 1990, not 1983 as they stated, 1993 was when I had an operation to remove my gall bladder which did not cure my disease.. I am going back to my VSO and go over what needs to be done next..

I am going to post 2 thingsa,, a copy of the letter with redactions of personal info, plus my thought on what they did wrong.. First the copy of the denial.. (note I also have a seperate NOD claim not yet addressed_, more on that later.. ======= c: -------DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Regional Office 　 (1-800-xxx-xxxx) 8810 Rio San Diego Drive San Diego CA 92108 　 SEP,l () 2.0\0 In Reply Refer To: xxxxxx/xx CSS xxx xx xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx Dear Mr. xxxxxxx: We made a decision on your claim for service connected compensation received on October 30,2009. This letter tells you what we decided. It includes a copy of our rating decision that gives the evidence used and reasons for our decision. We have also included information about what to do if you disagree with our decision, and who to contact if you have questions or need assistance. What We Decided .' We determined that the following conditions were not related to your military service, so service connection remains denied: Medical Description tremors gastritis) to chemical rashes secondary secondarysecondary to JP-4 jet fuel Chronic pancreatitis (previously claimed as 　 Allergies,intestinalJP-4 jet fuelDistal polyneuropathydisorder, irritable bowel syndrome,bilateral hands swell, and skinand benign essentialexposure to Your monthly compensation payment of$845.00 will continue unchanged. We have enclosed a copy of your Rating Decision for your review. It provides a detailed explanation of our .decision, the evidence considered, and the reasons for our decision. Your Rating Decision and this letter constitute our decision based on your claim received on October 30,2009. It represents all claims we understood to be specifically made, implied, or inferred in that claim. 1I11111111III11111111111111111I11III11111I1111111111111I111II111111111111111111111111 　 　 c: -------DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Regional Office 　 (1-800-xxx-xxxx) 8810 Rio San Diego Drive San Diego CA 92108 　 SEP,l () 2.0\0 In Reply Refer To: xxxxxxx/xx CSS xxx xx xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Dear Mr. xxxxxxx: We made a decision on your claim for service connected compensation received on October 30,2009. This letter tells you what we decided. It includes a copy of our rating decision that gives the evidence used and reasons for our decision. We have also included information about what to do if you disagree with our decision, and who to contact if you have questions or need assistance. What We Decided .' We determined that the following conditions were not related to your military service, so service connection remains denied: Medical Description tremors gastritis) to chemical rashes secondary secondarysecondary to JP-4 jet fuel Chronic pancreatitis (previously claimed as 　 Allergies,intestinalJP-4 jet fuelDistal polyneuropathydisorder, irritable bowel syndrome,bilateral hands swell, and skinand benign essentialexposure to Your monthly compensation payment of$845.00 will continue unchanged. We have enclosed a copy of your Rating Decision for your review. It provides a detailed explanation of our .decision, the evidence considered, and the reasons for our decision. Your Rating Decision and this letter constitute our decision based on your claim received on October 30,2009. It represents all claims we understood to be specifically made, implied, or inferred in that claim. 1I11111111III11111111111111111I11III11111I1111111111111I111II111111111111111111111111 　 　 2 CSS xxx xx xxxx xxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxx What You Should Do If You Disagree With Our Decision If you do not agree with our decision, you should write and tell us why. You have one year from the date of this letter to appeal the decision. The enclosed VA Form 4107, "Your Rights to Appeal Our Decision," explains your right to appeal. If You Have Questions or Need Assistance If you have any questions, you may contact us by telephone, e-mail, or letter. Here is what to do. If you Call us at 1-800-xxx-xxxx. Send electronic If you use a at Please Put your full name and VA file number on the letter. Telephone Telecommunicationshttps://iris.va.gov. to the address at the top of this inquiries through the Internet Write number is 1-800-829-4833. Use the Internet letter. send all correspondence Device for the Deaf (TDD), the In all cases, be sure to refer to your VA file number xxx xx xxxx. If you are looking for general information about benefits and eligibility, you should visit our website at https://www.va.gov. or search the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at https://iris.va.gov. We sent a copy of this letter to your representative, American Legion, whom you can also contact if you have questions or need assistance. Sincerely yours, P.~ xxxxxxx Veterans Service Center Manager Email usat:https:/liris.va.gov/ Enclo~ure(s): Rating Decision VA Form 4107 cc: American Legion 215/xxxx/9-10-10 　 　 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS San Diego Regional Office 8810 Rio San Diego Drive San Diego, CA 92108 　 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 　 VA File Number xxx xx xxxx 　 Represented by: AMERICAN LEGION 　 Rating Decision September 8, 2010 　 INTRODUCTION 　 The records reflect that you are a veteran of the Peacetime. You served in the Air Force from xxxxxxxx to xxxxxxxxxx. We received a request to reopen a previous claim on October 30, 2009. Based on a review of the evidence listed below, we have made the following decisions on your claim. DECISION 1 . The previous denial of service connection for chronic pancreatitis (previously claimed as intestinal disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis) secondary to chemical exposure to lP-4 jet fuel is confirmed and continued. 2 . The previous denial of service connection for distal polyneuropathy and benign essential tremors is confirmed and continued. 3 . The previous denial of service connection for allergies, bilateral hands swell, and skin rashes secondary to lP-4 jet fuel is confirmed and continued. 　 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xx xxxx Page 2 EVIDENCE VA Form 21-4138 "Statement In Support Of Claim" received October 30, 2009 and November 5, 2009. VA "Duty to Assist" (VCAA) letter dated February 18,2010. VCAA Notice Response received February 24,2010. Rating Decision dated July 30, 1999 and evidence enclosed. Service Treatment Records, (STRs) from 1979 through 1982 (partial copies). OCCMED study from xxxxxxxxxxxx M.D. with a history of medical retreatment dated September 2, 2009. VA examination dated July 14 and 23, 2010, VA Medical Center (VAMC); San Diego. REASONS FOR DECISION 1. Service connection for chronic pancreatitis (previouslv claimed as intestinal disorder. irritable bowel syndrome. 2astritis) secondary to chemical exposure to JP4 iet fuel. Service connection was denied for chronic pancreatitis. (previously claimed as intestinal disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis) secondary to chemical exposure to JP-4 jet fuel in the Rating Decision dated July 30, 1999 because service treatment records show a couple episodes of acute viral gastroenteritis. These records do not show a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Also, private treatment records showed complaints of an intestinal disorder in 1993, 10 years after active duty service. This decision became final on August 13,2000 because you did not file a timely appeal. In order to reopen a claim,. new and material evidence must be presented: New evidence means existing evidence not previously submitted to agency decisionmakers and can be neither cumulative nor redundant of the evidence of record. Material evidence means existing evidence that, by itself or when considered with previous evidence of record, relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. Additionally, this evidence must raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. We have received new and material evidence in the form ofOCCMED study from Maria Nellie Betancourt M.D. with a history of medical retreatment dated September 2,2009. Therefore, your claim is considered reopened. The VA examination shows a diagnosis of status post necrotizing pancreatitis secondary to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with residual chronic pancreatitis. After review of your service treatment records and claims file, the examiner provided the opinion that there were no human studies, which have connected chronic pancreatitis 　 　 xxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xx xxxx Page3 . with exposure to toxic fuels such as JP-4. The animal studies cannot be extrapolated to your chronic pancreatitis condition. Your condition followed your bile peritonitis and ERCP procedure in 2008. Your 1990s Kaiser and VAMC treatment records never diagnosed chronic pancreatitis. The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome because of lack of other diagnosis began in the early 1990s or 9 years after discharge from service. There were no medical records between the time you were discharged and the 1990s. The examiner stated that it would be mere speculation to attribute your chronic pancreatitis due to exposure to aviation fuel (JP-4). Therefore, the previous denial of chronic pancreatitis (previously claimed as intestinal disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis) is confirmed and continued because the evidence continues to show this condition was not incurred in or aggravated by military service. 2. Service connection for distal polyneuropathy and benign essential tremors. Service connection was denied for distal polyneuropathy and benign essential tremors secondary to chemical exposure to JP-4 jet fuel in the Rating Decision dated July 30, 1999 because service treatment records noted tremors of hands in two occasion during service, however, neurological treatment report of January 1999 showed no evidence of any neurological disorder. This decision became final on August 13,2000 because you did not file atimely appeal. In order to reopen a claim~ new and material evidencemust be presented. New evidence means existing evidence not previously submitted to agency decisionmakers and can be neither cumulative nor redundant of the evidence of record. Material evidence means existing evidence that, by itself or when considered with previous evidence of record, relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. Additionally, this evidence must raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. We have received new and material evidence in the form ofOCCMED study from Maria Nellie Betancourt M.D. with a history of medical retreatment dated September 2,2009. Therefore, your claim is considered reopened. The VA examination shows no clinical evidence of a distal polyneuropathy 'either by history or on clinical neurologic examination and benign essential tremor, familial, by history, pre-dating entrance on active military duty. After review of your service treatment records and claims file, the examiner provided the opinion that your tremor represents a benign familial tremor, and was unrelated or result of exposure to aviation fuel. There was no evidence of distal polyneuropathy; and, therefore, there would be no evidence of exposure to aviation fuel causing or resulting in such a polyneuropathy. Therefore, the previous denial of distal polyneuropathy and benign essential tremors is confirmed and continued because the evidence continues to show this condition was not incurred in or aggravated by military service. 　 　 xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xx xxxx Page 4 3. Service connection for allergies, bilateral hands swell, and skin rashes secondary to JP-4 iet fuel. Service connection was denied for allergies, hands swell, and skin rash secondary to chemical exposure to JP-4 jet fuel in the Rating Decision dated July 30, 1999 because the condition was acute and transitory. Service treatment records show complaints on dermatitis while you were working with fuel and chemicals, however, this condition did not continue after the exposure stopped and in 1998 the VA examination showed no residuals. This decision became final on August 13,2000 because you did not file a timely appeal. In order to reopen a claim, new and material evidence must be presented. New evidence means existing evidence not previously submitted to agency decisionmakers and can be neither cumulative nor redundant of the evidence of record. Material evidence means existing evidence that, by itself or when considered with previous evidence of record, relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. Additionally, this evidence must raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. We have received new and material evidence in the form ofOCCMED study from Maria Nellie Betancourt M.D. with a history of medical retreatment dated September 2, 2009. Therefore, your claim is considered reopened. The VA examination shows a history of contact dermatitis secondary to exposure to het fuels and recurrent on exposure to chemicals used in the printing process but without recurrence. After review of your service treatment records and claim file, the examiner provided the opinion that you're your allergies, hands swell, and skin rash occurred while in service and were secondary to exposure to fuel, but there was no current skin condition that is secondary to that exposure. Therefore, the previous denial of allergies, hands swell, and skin rash is confirmed and continued because the evidence continues to show this condition was not incurred in or aggravated by military service. REFERENCES: Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Pensions, Bonuses and Veterans' Relief contains the regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs which govern entitlement to all veteran benefits. For additional information regarding applicable laws and regulations, please consult your local library, or visit us at our web site, www.va.gov. -., 　 　 xxxxxxxxxxxxx ~ Department of Veterans Affairs YOUR RIGHTS TO·APPEAL OUR DECISION After careful and compassionate consid.eration, a decision has been reached on your claim. Ifwe were not able to grant some or all ofthe VA benefits you asked for, this form will explain what you can do if you disagree with our decision. If you do not agree with our decision, you may: appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (the Board) by telling us you disagree with our decision give us evidence we do not already have that may lead us to change our decision This form will tell you how to appeal to the Board and how to send us more evidence. You can do either one or both ofthese things.

Got the white envelope today -DENIED will post more later..

that links goes to "Costa Rica Carentals.comyour car rental in Costa Rica" what the??

Since I have been laying in bed sick for 20 years, and when I do try to go places, I just end up scratching and crawling my way home to lay in bed til I can get back up.. more complications of pancreatic disease of that I suffer from.. http://www.medicinenet.com/pancreatic_cysts/page2.htm Pancreatic Cysts ------ I will try to apply for SMC and housebound to once my claims get through the systems.. I think they are stalling to see who dies before they approve people for benefits..

look at these studies for petro chemicals: http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC2763375/ Mortality of aircraft maintenance workers exposed to trichloroethylene and other hydrocarbons and chemicals: extended follow up I also found this info for Pancreas disease: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreatitis

Wow, I have seen that guy around the VA.. not sure what his voluteer job is though.. small world.. I bet a few vets there (and everywhere..) would like to kick his ass..

I am very worried I might die before mine is settled, I barely made it out of the hospital in 2008 and my health is deteriorating, they threatened to remove my pancreas if I get sick one more time, plus my liver has problems.. so, I hope I can get my claim settled before I die.. look up the prognosis for necratizing pancreatitis,, it's not very good..

The doctors and interns love to push ont he stomach! I have necratizing pancreatitis and they always want to push. - SOB! ~ it hurts like MOFO.. yet they love to poke and ask if it hurts.. WTF !?

nope, that will not do it.. the people at the VA are clueless about ebeneigts, I went to the VA offices 2x to get mine working, I filled out and signed the paperwork.. I did e erything I could, eBenefits just wil not work and the VA is totally absolutley clueless about it.. and the phone number is bogus, no one answers..

the VA never gave me mine, I had to buy them.. I think they are Jobst.. since they feel like they are way too small because they compress, it is hard to determine the correct size.. I think I took large with my feet at a 10 1/2 and dd wide.. I no longer use mine because I take medicine.. but I also suggest you rest and sleep with your feet propped up so the water drains up and does not collect in your legs and feet while you rest and sleep.. the VA gave me a free bed that is electric and the head and teet raise and lower by remote.. they also installed it free... I didn't have to ask anyone for it, when I was int he hospital they determined what I needed for home health care and gave it to me.. the mattress is not very comfortable,, and you may want to find a better one, but hey,, it's a life saver if you are seriously sick.. it's a single wide.. but back to stockings... I had to have another person help me put them on and take them off, it is a real hard time doing that.. but also you may be able to do it yourself depending on your ability.. also, my skin flaked off really bad,,so I had to clean them often because of al the dead skin.. (sorry, don't mean to get gross..) good luck

do you have pain, weakness, fevers, malaise? The big 'D' (Diarhea), if you have it or get it often...what types of foods and drink set the problems off? How do try to stop it? those are queations you need to find answers to and report them to your doctor.. Do you have family members with these issues? there are many questions.. until you answer these, there is no way to figure this out.. some people never find the reason, others usually find a reason, but it may take days months, or many, many years..

I had the chemical test, I never had the tredmill test.. sorry I idon't know about METS and scoring.. I can attest to the chemical test being a real B*tch! I never want to go through with that again.. I had a hard time with the prep where they inject the saline at 7 am.. that alone almost knocked me out.. I did everything I could to keep from passing out during the 45 minutes after they first injected that saline.. For those that never had the stress test.. it is a 4 hour long nightmare.. well actually the stress part is really only about 3 minutes.. but the prep takes a couple hours.. They gave me the test before pancreas surgery.. also, my primary care doctor didn't understand me when I told her I felt weak and was passing out at my computer.. I told her I felt weak when sitting at my computer or when I ate food I had to rest.. she thought I had a stroke.. I think it turned out the pancreas and blocked veins caused slow blood flow to my intestines when I ate food.. they told me my heart is ok.. but that test felt like it was killing me.. It is one Evil Test!

What days are ratings decisions mailed out? Any day of the month? thanx..

I was diagnosed with Dystrophy,, (myotonic dystrophy, which is like muscular dystrophy,,,) and they only used a tuning fork and tapped my knees and had me walk around... I have tremors and unctollable movements and jerking (I also get shots in my spine every couple of months, and also had back surgery many years ago for a disc removed.) I also was confined to a wheel chair for 1 year, and am very sick.. so not sure what tests they do... I originally claimed MS, but they declined that,,, I am awaitng a rating..