retiredat44

None on my VA doctors would help write me a nexus letter. I used to ask them.. (I also asked a few VA doctors to help me by writing a nexus).. I also told VA surgeons where I was injured when they asked me what my injuries were.. and where I got them.. I had to go pay an outside specialist to write an IMO and it was $1,600

I don't know what VCAA stands for, (I gottt go look) but I can say thast Depression was filed for in the Claim, Yes. .

well, I just have to wait it out... and see the decision.. I cannot upset the apple cart, bcause everything has been said and done.. (if one does anything to upset the process.. then it could all shuffle to the bottom of the deck.) They have the tons of medical records from the VA, it looks like they just didn't need me to see one last doctor for depression.. Maybe they have enough information because I have seen so many doctors and one more makes no difference.. I can say without a doubt, my case is complicated.. but in a nutshell, me being so sick and laying around sick for 20 years can't make me a happy person.. and everything is in the records.. and have been seen by all VA doctors constantly all these years.. They must have more than enough to read about me.. I am shocked that anyone could read through it all.. I suppose with computer they can type in a specific word and get hits,, but to see the whole picture they would need to read for hours, weeks, and months to read everything, and then understand.. If there were no computers and they had boxes of records, there would be several file cabinets to go through.. and that just for the last 2 years.. in 30 years there were only about 7 years when I don't have any records to show because I cannot find the doctors that have them.. the VA has all of them, as everything I got from other doctors they have.. I made sure I gave them records from al doctors I have even seen.. I went on searches for doctors from the 1980's, but could not find them,, I went driving and knocking on doors and the doctors had moved, merged, retired.. and the VA has been my only doctors for 15 years.. Before then it was Kaiser (and the VA has all my Kaiser records..) All of the service active duty records were all hand written (before computers..)

the e-benefit website is a POS, worthless crap thing does not work period. I went to the VA 2x and they were clueless.. I gave up... it's all BS! and the people at the VA are clueless as far as the VA websites..

There are many people, and whole communities with people with intestinal diseases... a long time ago there was no Internet and people were really confused, and doctors were clueless.. now you have alots of support,, get your doctor appointments, get tests, and find out what type you have, and what can be done... I have suffered for many ages with Intestinal disease... so I am speaking from experience..

I keep seeing signs at the VA Hospital that combat Vets receive a few years of free care at the VA, go to the local VA Hospital/ Regional office, go to Member Services, sign up and start seeing doctors.. =====

no copy of any c&p's... I am just awaiting the decision... if I look early, I might have a hear attack..

One of my claims is for depression. The depression is caused by illness, which was caused by illness on and after active duty, service connected. I am rated at 50% for illness from Jet Fuel, on active duty. I have claims in for more ilnesses, and also for depression. The depression is from the illnesses. I was never see for depression on active duty. I just had two C&P exams for neurological issues, and for medical. I was never sent to an exam for spression for my claim. But, I have been seen many times for depression at the VA for 15 years. I just wondered why they never sent me for a C&P exam for depression. maybe they have enough evidence for the depression with more exams? I expect the rating decisions soon.. as it's been a months now (C&P exams wre in July 2010).

I had to get an IMO for my exposure and illness from both Jet Feul and trichloroethene exposure.. I worked with both of those and was sick from those. Yet they still fight me over my illness. 15 years ago I got 50% VA disability, bit my last appeal was denied.. so I got the IMO to show the link from chemcials and diseases.. also, here is a link with info: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/o/occupational_liver_damage_trichloroethylene/symptoms.htm Review the available symptom checkers for these symptoms of Occupational liver damage -- Trichloroethylene: Nausea -- Symptom CheckerVomiting -- Symptom CheckerAbdominal pain -- Symptom CheckerLoss of appetite -- Symptom CheckerDiarrhea -- Symptom CheckerTiredness -- Symptom CheckerWeakness -- Symptom CheckerYellow eyes -- Symptom CheckerYellow skin -- Symptom CheckerEnlarged liver -- Symptom CheckerSwelling in feet -- Symptom Checker

working with gasoline, and the rest of petroleum chemicals can make a person sick.. only problem is linking them with diseases... one lust show they had symptoms while on active duty. But, some of these diseases show up many years after exposure.. those of us that need to find a link and prove it are screwed... in my case a few symptoms showed up while on active duty, but many symptoms showed up many years later.. that's the big problem, finding the nexus.. I had inflammatory problems while on active duty... but am still getting them link through a nexus and submitting claims.. I worked with fuels.. and petro chemicals

I failed the test where you walk on your toes and heels.. my limbs are in pain, burning. weakness. I suffer from edema swelling, and of course I tremble and shake with tremors.. and cannot hold balance without the aide of a cane.. I cannot say the diagnosis until my c&p results are released. that why I am curious what symptoms people have.. and what they feel.. I sort of understand the diabetes (which they say I do not thave..),, as you can have loss of feeing, edema,,, etc.. how they assign it to 1,2,3,4 limbs.. that's where confusing starts...

those diagnosed with Peripherial Neuropathy , I would like to hear what caused it, was it from active duty, what are your symptoms, what percentage were you assigned totoal or per limb? thanx.. I have it, but have not gotten back my C&P exams yet.. It appears these diseases are so damned comlicated,, I have no clue about this stuff.. IMHO

no, but since we have chat room on the website, and I have asked if people wanted voice,, there is also ICQ (has been around for around 15 years..) http://groups.icq.com/groups/?icid=nav_grp we could use and existing room, or make a new ICQ group.. just sayin'

As with most of us, we look back on things we chould have/should have done... which is impossible now, but , to help others, they should repport every incident, no matter how small, especially if it is medical... even dwon to cuts and brusies. I had no idiea what would unfold through my years serving and the years later.. al the health issues, and al the medical issues, whether I reported them or not. I am thankful that I reported as many as I did, or else I might be up the creek without a paddle.. and if someone did not report them, a buddy statement might be their only hope of showing proof. There are severla incidents I did not report.. because I was embarrased or thought i was tough.. I think a broken nose... was one.. I was also near a bomb attack on our base, (A terrorist blew up a car bomb across the street from the smal wooden building i was in with several other people.. we had the night shift and it was at 7:20 am, when this car bomb went off. The five story building was destroyed... I went into the buidling later to help with the effort to look at damage.. several floor were collapsed, the glass went through al the heavy winter coats on coat racks and the glass was sticking in walls and door frames.. the car partas from several cars went over the five story building... Severla people and myself were thrown across a room and on the floor. We never reported this to the doctors because we didn't feel the need to. No one was int he building at the time, because the daily work started at 8 am... and it was only 7:20 am. It was a NATO headquarters buiding that was the target... that's it in a nutshell.. but there's much more to it.. But, There are many instances where we do not report incidents to the medical and doctors.. that may affect us later.. I would never try to say I was in combat, I was not, and would never try to make anything i have been through as important as what a combat Veteran did/does. But, now, the VA would not know about my broken nose happened on active duty.. nor of my shock in the bomb attack.. Unles sof course I went through hell trying to find people for a buddy report.. but, I had enough experiences and have enough health issues that I shouldn't even need to think about the things I never reported.. Just Sayin..

Those with ALS, what symptoms did you have at time of VA Diagnosis? I have symptoms of MS, or ALS, , one VA Neurolgist said I have Myotonic Dystrophy... I would really like to kno wmore about the symptoms other people have.. how did it progress? when did you suspct it? was it a surprise or did you see it coming? thanx, (I just recently had a couple c&p exams, and am awaiting the decision..) thanx..

is it part of your windows program or a seperate program.. in windows search : start>programs>help and support> type: ' virtual memory ' and see what it says on setting it..

I get the feeling I may annoy my vdo a little bit, maybe because I try to get to much time with him, also sometimes I question what his methods are.. I really, really respect him and the organization. I do fully understand that he knows what he is doing, and works hard. My questions and pushing is because my case is very, very complicated with many, many overlapping issues. Also, since many years have gone by and feel cheated by not getting more when I needed it.. I wish I knew a lot more about the process. I wish I knew more about what I should have done.. and how to do it.. I have a feeling I may have not stated al my issues properly.. it's just I am so sick I am unable to think straight.. I alwasy stick up for VSO's as they must have a very ddifuclt job and can only listen and read what a veteran is going through.. unless I can state my case properly.. and sho him documents backing up my claim, he cannot do his job tot he fullest. Since the doctors do not always give us a clear diagnosis, we can only give the vso what we get from doctors, and everything else we feel, is only our say, our opinion. Which stinks because sometimes what we feel is not what is documented.. As far as some Veteran's office, or VSO get's upset at us for talking,, there better be a damned good reason.. if soemone actually cuases harm by telling soemone to do something wrong.. then the vso should be calm and rational and explcain why he is not happy with someone.. no one is a mind reader.. I did have some doctor yel at me once, and I let it go,, I have no idea what his problem was,, he was my primay care many years ago.. I never reported him.. I think I have had only two rude people in 15 years. the other was when an x-ray office at the VA was scheduling me an appointment, and they told me to shut-up when I was trying to figure out an appointment.. I wish I could put my disease in a needle and give it to some people.. they would really be shocked about the suffering... I really think some people have never suffered.. and they have no clue the feeling they pass on to soemone that is really, really sick.. somone's bad attitude who is there working for us, and is suppose ot help, could trigget somone to kill themself.. if they screw with someone that is on the edge,, and all it takes is for one crazed employee to trigger a bad result.. Having to navigate the VA and trying to get medical help and go through legal hoops is to much for a sick person to endure by themselves.. Myself, when I go I get all cleaned up, and glue myself together, and go there for a couple hours, and it's like acting and putting on a show.. in reality I am suffering, sick, in pain, and just have enough energy to go to an appointment, get back home and rest until I h ave ot show my face again.. Where a health sane person can go to those offices work and stay 40 hours a week ... if they see me for 15 minutes, they only see me for for the best 15 minutes I have out of the week or month.. and if someone screws it up by being nasty to me, it's devastaing.. Of course if they did have access to my medical records, the 'progress notes' show my daily life when I was living in the ward for six months.. if they don't know they might think I hobble off, go home and have fun.. not back to laying in bed sick until the next visit..

I think I chimned in about Space 'A' in another thread.. a while back.. while i was active duty I flew a lot of Space A. The downside is being stuck at crappy palces for up to 3 days waiting for a flight,, and being bumped.. sometimes there is no lodging and you must hang around a really craphole in misreable weather.. other times, you would gewt going on a huge C-5 with only 5 people.. other times crowded a/c, other times a lear jet with 3 people.. it viried all the time.. back then it was free then, they bumped the price to about $10.00 to Europe.. which included a flight kitchen sack meal.. MY big problem, if I ever get my full benefits , if I get the 100% SC- P%T, is that it would be nice to travel, I am in extremely poor health... I need access to a local VA clinic, hospital within short nitice... The accomadations can be from nice to craphole.. but hey, the price is usually right! I wil find out soon if I get my full 100%. But, I can't imagine flying around in my condition,, taking morphine, in sever epain, and chronic fatigue.. but I can dream..

I have run both free and paid.. depends what you want.. I currently have a website/ forum, but I no longer use it much... it is the free type.. and you can't tell it from paid forums.. only thing is bandwith and service.. if you have a lot of traffic, then you must pay for that much traffic.. also for soem extra features.. also, if you setup your won software than it is cheaper, but if soemone else sets it up, then it can cost more money.. basically if you pay it can cost anwyere from $5 per month to lots $$$ per month.. I belong to a community where we have forums for a hobby and there are many forums in our community.. we also have TeamSpeak servers on our websites... not sure if that helps you,, I have no idea what you want to do with a forum.. mine had to do with flight simulators.. usually you run PHP,, and use a little html.. again, the more options the more it costs.. as long as it is a non-profit, you usally don't have many fees and use freeware programs for websites...

My big toes have no flex. they hurt bad when they are moved.. and soemtimes the muscles spasm, and thtr toes curl under each other , and it is a screaming agaony twisting when it happens.. I have searched all over the Internet to see why toes twist aroud like pretzels.. it can go on for up around 15 or 20 minutes and repeat.. I showed some people when it happens because I really don't think anyone believes it.. it hurts like a MOFO while it happens.. if it is in the middle of the night while I am lying in bed I will jump up and try to get on my feet and try to push down with my foot to straighten my feet and toes.. I wonder wny my toes will not bend with my regular muscles, and when I try, except for when the muscles twist them unvolunarily.. the doctor tried to bend them and they would not bend.. but he and the other doctors never explained why they do not bend..

Thanx a bunch for chatting about it,, I should be getting my exam results in a few weeks from my c&p's. Of course I have read everything I could find. it's all so damned complicated.. Steven

every health problem I have gets worse with time..

my vso has told me to always go see the shrinks, to get the rating for depression disability. The thing is my doctors have been sending me to them for many years, espcially when a new docotrs didn't understand my pain.. and also when I spent a long time in a death bed in the hospital.... so I went to many appointments and special sessions for depression and also for pain clinics.. apparently, you must go to the shrinks for a long time to get a claim through.. but, it's not like I was faking it, having been sick in bed and not working for 20 years.. it is extremely miserable and you do wonder why life is worth putting up with nothing but suffering.. in any case, play the game.. IMHO

the problem I see is that if you do not repsond immediately, people leave.. you have to understand no one wants to stare at their computer for hours,,,,, if one joins chat, they may be reading or getting a drink, and may look every now and then.. I have been looged on, and I see someone come in, they say hi, I fumble for my keys, and while typing hi back, they leave.. I even suggesteed usign a free voice chat program, but no one seems to want to use voice.. which I find much easier than typing.. plus there is no limit in voice,, to the amount of people that can use voice chat.. but yes, maybe saying there are chats at specific times, people will try to use it more effectively..

my levels varied between around 140 and 152 when I was an in patient.. they only gave me insulin when it went above 150.