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retiredat44
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Posts posted by retiredat44
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I looked up my claim at the BVA , and it is currently in a stage at the BVA, after two remands, it now says it has been asked by the BVA for a medical opinion (it says I may disagree with the opinion they get)...… my guess is the BVA is getting an opinion to bolster their case... I looked up what this might be and found this:
https://www.veteranslawblog.org/va-medical-opinion-letter/
Getting a VA Medical Opinion Letter to Hurt Veterans – Development to Deny.
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I am not sure if they are trying to find reasons to deny my claims, or what.. I know about IMO's (I had one already for my side, and was included in my VA disability claims , ten years ago). Now it looks like they might either need it for help for them, I doubt it is help for me. Does anyone else know about this situation when the BVA seeks opinion ?
Thanx...
(the date on this BVA opinion seeking is around June 2018, in my online ebenefits claims search...). I was just curious to see if the ebenefits had any info on my claims when I found this latest status on my claims.
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I have been found to have the enlarged lymph nodes and calcium in my lungs. I had a cat scan recently for the lymph nodes. The pain can be unbearable. But I also have pancreatic disease. On active duty I had pneumonia, and while in the hospital I had growths in my lungs and liquid. But with to many problems and in bva appeals. I cannot start more claims. As it would really screw up my claims at the bva. I cannot find hardly any info on calcium in lungs. I wish I had something to add. Just to say, I will follow and let you know if I find out anything. Good luck. I hope others that have info chime in.
Steven
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Thanx..... I do worry about others and I don't want to stop someone who hasn't been through al this,,, but I kind of put people in pain in 2 classes,,, just for this comment only.... one time... if it is possible that another method may help you, then try it, but if you know you are in deep shit and no amount of psycho babble is going to help, then there is no point in listening to b.s.…. thinking about a quiet place with a running stream is not going to kill the pain that is driving a person mad.... notice how the people who are not sick are giving advice to those that are very sick..... wtf....?
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I got a letter asking if I wanted to participate in pain control study at VA. I have done these clinics, meeting studies. I was so desperate I volunteered for them over many years at hospitals and the VA. Never helped, and if they are trying to try to get you off meds and you already tried everything and live in hell because of intractable unbearable pain, you cannot function and the last thing you need is talk talk, talk and more pain. I have been through so much! so much! I knew that when they sent me this another ph.d candidate is probably doing a study. The VA may also be trying to see how many people it can take meds away and see if they really need them. Now they offer money. But, it's not worth any amount to have someone seeing if they can take your meds. obviously we our on an open database or taking narcotics. And the VA would love to see who will negotiate pain relief. Pay you some money.. and have head doctors try to find out if you really need pain relief. Been through it all. Suffere din hell and have had people that could care less about other suffering talking meds away. With spinal disease necrotizing pancreatitis, liver disease, yet the pain doctor still try to change my pain meds, it took 20 years of trials to see what works and al it takes is one really bad doctor to make sure every day is even worse. And once they take meds away, only god can bring some back to you for relief. Only thing left is suffering or death. The do not reason with sick patients at the va. I would bet my life that if these pain doctors and the rest had what I had, lost everything and spent 1/2 life sick in bed they would have shove a gun in their mouth. yet they have the ordasity to take people's meds that need them to live. That study called me and I said no way good bye, been there done that, al it's got me was more suffering for helping studies. BTW, I remember a jerk who was in the program who went t the meetings. I had just spent 6 months in the hospitals on a feeding tube and in a wheel chair living in a hospital for 1/2 of one year, then nurses at my home. I had no muscles and could not walk, or eat al that time and live on dilauded for extreme pain. This jerk was at the pain clinic study because he was sad because he could golf as much any more. Boo-hoo. How about spending your life in bed with a dying pancreas and the first half or your life being told it's in your head and you are just a drug seeker, then the surgeons find out your pancreas is to far gone and they cannot fix it so you will die from it. The you sit with assholes like this who are bummed because of a bad should which messes up their golf game, and they look at you like you are the xxxxxxx. That is what a pain clinic is like. Everyone that have a problem tying shoes of not golfing so good think their problem is a prioity over those that are dying with horrific diseases. Good luck with attending these bogus clinics. let them take your meds and have to talk to head doctors so they can weed out everyone to them is faking it for drugs. (sarcasm)
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I can't answer until the bva makes a decision.... and I would be glad to... since I was hospitalized with pancreas disease and have been sick with it forever.. anything else I say means nothing unless the bva helps me...
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looks like my appeals went to the BVA judge, for the last time. after two remands that took two years... I sent in a bunch of new documents in to the judge (through my P.O.A.), I did not trust the R.O. to read them, or care about them. I feel better with the BVA judge than the whole R.O. that screwed it all up since day one. The BVA judge get's it back in his hands in April 2018.
(it wasn't really new, but I know the R.O. never read my documents and these were a very long lists of details from the VA hospitalizations, in the form of summaries. They are about 50 pages. Yes, about 50 pages. And they are full of information, not just blank space. I knew it would have been a waste of time with the VARO, they never read anything they were given.) this was from a 6 month stretch as an inpatient after failed pancreas surgeries. Yes, they nexus to my active duty health issues.
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I am sorry, I should have not said anything, being just angry forever with the VA, and I meant it as a sarcastic rhetorical comment on a choice that to me is ridiculous. like they give you the choice of a hamster wheel for a lifetime of hell, or the quick easy way of getting a slam dunk approved... like we love to pick and choose the way that destroys what's left of us while we wait and die in hell.... while they just jerk us around while we die... as if we would purposely take the worst possible route to the end....
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I am not sure if this info is in this forum about how long hospitals must keep records. I found out by accident, while getting copies many years ago forma regular, outside the VA system hospital in California. I had Kaiser health care for a while after I separated from the USAF. This was many years ago. About 3 years after I quite my health plan with Kaiser, I was in the VA system. I wanted / needed copies of my records from all places with my VA records at the VA. I went to Kaiser and they told me that by law, at that Kaiser, in that state, they could destroy medical records after 7 years if the patient/enrollee quite their services. I have no clue if each state or hospital/clinic has different laws. So, I would say to anyone who has records at any place they would like to get copies from, do it before they are destroyed, find out when they are/will/were, or can be destroyed. It would really hurt to need records and find out you missed the opportunity. I have no clue if this info is in these forums for helping those putting together a claim, or adding new evidence. btw, I got mine before the deadline, from Kaiser. Also, I hand delivered some records (official copies to the VA records section.) I asked them to be added to mine.
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Questeion and Statement about VA Medical records databases. So, after have treatment in service, several VA clinics, and hospitals. Not counting outside records integrated and added form outside medical clinics and hospitals.
So, After 20 years of care at one area clinic and hospital. and filing for disability claims. I complained about them not reading al of my records, even though I always made sure they had copies of any and al medical records.
I later transferred to another hospital when I moved. I made ever effort to talk to the hospital and records to make sure the new hospital that will care for me will have al of my records and to make sure al my records went to my VA claims.
The assured me they would have access and look up my records. Several times I was assure din person , over phones, at both old and new hospitals and clinics.
So, the VA claims did not read, see, or look at al my records. the new hospital did not look at or look for al my records.
My records are in at least three separate databases. If the power that be do not look for al three databases, they just see a small part of your records make assumptions that ruin your care, so you do not get the proper care. you claim get bungled because they don't look at all the records and claim they did even with the SSOC's. The poor sick disabled patient is never told they never looked at al the records. they BVA judge, if good, find out the records are not looks in the decisions and continues making Remands in the hamster wheel.
The people working on the claim come and go as they skate through with bonuses. As your case continues going up like a huge ball of twine as you get sicker and sicker illnesses add up.. your life goes to hell, you loose family and homes.
The sick disabled vet and their family has no idea they never read all your records because it is on 3 different databases and do not connect together. The Vets should not have to even know about databases, should not have to learn and teach the claims people about databases, and find proof if the VA looked at al f them or attempted to look. Those that make decisions are not doctors they could have been painters for al we know while they make life and death medical decision from how they handle your claim.
The whole system and the people running it are despicable. The play god with sick vets lives and consider everyone a liar that files. Treat us as criminals. They continue getting fat on the hog.
What a disgusting system that need ripped apart and fixed.
IMHO]
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they can have it see photo of mine
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On 4/9/2012 at 6:56 PM, Fire Courage said:
I know this is an old post but how did you come out on your claim with the elevated liver enzymes?
I am looking at this too....
lots of searching,,, waiting for a biopsy, but not sure if it affects my claim with the bva in 2nd remand... my poa sent them a note to include it into my records while in appeals
liver, elevated levels, swollen spleen and ebv disease... along with the necrotizing pancreatitis . Plus many other problems....
may have had elevated levels before, but too many records to search without in a database, all mine is on paper.. wish they had given records on a thumb drive... but va turns out uses 3 separate databases and was no up on technology when my claim started.. this latest elevation has caused the va to see if they can biopsy mine, I hope they can just scan it.. evasive procedures can kill me.
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I go for a consult with liver clinic, and as usual, it was to much for the doctor and she has to call in the experts. I had to ask her why she didn't go look at the proper databases that the va uses. Apparently the VA uses 3 medical history databases and shares them with al of the VA hospitals and clinics. A patient should not have to go to a very important medical appointment, only to find out they cannot find al of your records because of data base issues. The patient should not have to travel in a total sate of severe disease and pain, to find out that they have to return because the VA didn't get the information out of the records. And then they sit and ask you to tell them about everything they did and labs, tests, hospitalizations, when the records should have all that. I am not frakkin doctor, I should not have to explain al of everything to the best doctors they have. Now, I will have to go back after they call in the experts they were suppose to be on my case. My time is going to be over, could be soon or sooner.
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On 11/25/2017 at 12:38 PM, broncovet said:
You need to request an "advance on the docket". Certainly, with your health issues, you should get one. I recommend you email the white house, mention what you did in the above paragraph, and ask for your claim to be expidited for hardship reasons.
My POA sent in a letter to the BVA letting them know of a change in my health status and to make sure they get my latest VA health records which show diseases added to the list since the 2nd remand.
Thank you for good advice. I appreciate it!
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add Epstein-Barr virus, more tests show it too, as I knew my immune system is bad. and am too sick often to do much at all.... still have to go to the liver clinic later this month, need a biopsy. Spleen is enlarged too. Pancreas still have the necrotizing tissues and cysts... forever as it dies. VA, BVA has my claim on 2nd remand, time is on their side... pain, suffering, agony, and the VA hamster wheel, this is my life, and has been 1/2 of my life.
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I asked for hardship in claim forms in the past, didn't help. Right now, I am waiting for the Biopsy date. I should get the results before I can send anything more. Basically the surgeons said all my organs will fail, as it happens with my disease. I was told by a doctor that I am the only person with my disease that has lived this long. So,, as soon as they biopsy me, according to the procedure, I will be admitted, and made to stay there for several hours after they get a piece of the liver that is diseased. Then, I have to be watched overnight too after release home. Last time they put a stent in a vein it failed (that was when I was in the hospital 6 months because of failed procedures). The veins going to my liver have thrombosis, partially blocked by disease, so I have no clue how they can do this without killing me. Apparently they have several methods to get to my liver.
oh, by the way, even though I have been going to the VA for 20 years. Was an inpatient for 6 months, now the nurse says I have no directives on file. They lost my directives! I told her I am not filing out that again, how do they lose it, it is in the computer!!!!
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I really need for the biopsy to be done, then send the results... it's taking forever to get things done...I think the doctors had to wait for the cat-scam which was done a week ago.... the same cat scans which were suppose to be done 2x year and some idiot changed it to 1x year. o, the symptoms of liver disease I have had for a very long time were ignored until the blood tests results showed levels 10x higher than normal. Plus the VA specialists and surgeons recommendation that normal progression will be multi-organ failure and cancer for my diseases. I knew what was coming next, but they could not tell me how long. it is not happening as what the surgeons told me. It was not a one time meeting. I was in there for 6 months as they diagnosed my diseases and they told me personally 'Prognosis: Poor' almost always multi-organ failure, cancer, and no chance ever of a successful surgery. I need a report showing the biopsy, and don't have a date, so I am stuck until then.
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mY condition worsens while at the BVA and 2nd remand. The doctors are running tests to find out what new liver disease I have and good possibility of big problems, as several of my diseases are already fatal. Pancreas, liver, etc. But now they have to continue with more than cat-scans, but now more biopsies, etc. Do I need to send them any new diagnoses while my appeal is at BVA< or will they get the papers from my records while still at the BVA? These new diagnoses and diseases are related to my claims. The VA surgeons as the disease progresses that they will be happening, because of the diseases I have it is natural progression for the other organs getting diseased and cancer probably too, if not yet. As I was told by the doctors and surgeons, in persona many, many times, while hospitalized for 6 months, they told me what to expect with these diseases. And their prognosis is coming true, they just could not get me a good time-frame. Several tests are being done as we speak, and in the coming days and weeks. Should I have my POA fax the BVA any new diagnosises? Just to make sure they are not overlooked.
Thanx
Steven
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The thing (I won't call it a problem) is that if vets get screwed in any way and find out or question whether or not the decision screwed them, and the only way the community will find out is trial by fire. Since a lot of us have been seriously burned over the years and are so jaded and angry... how can we trust anything the va does. Is it to the benefit of vets or the va? (rhetorical)..
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update: since the blood tests, that go before the coming cat scan of the pancreas and liver disease, the tests showed low white blood cells, Glucose levels and liver functions and more very bad numbers... doctor says probably hepatitis, a week later I asked that he start helping with appointments to helps me.. my doctor says he will not set up any more appointment until I see him in 2 weeks and have my cat scan in 3 weeks.. but I had more blood tests... should have results in a day or two. I have been sick with horrible symptoms of the problems for along time but they just kept telling me they would not do anything more, now that my blood tests and urine tests who really bad problems along with liver and pancreas disease... he is still making me wait until after the coming appointments.. two weeks is along time when you have fatal diseases... I would have hoped they would get the ball rolling.. I am so sick and fed up, I am like a zombie suffering in agony constantly. I can't sleep well, my muscles twist in agony and half my body is on the floor while I try and sleep because of twisting muscles..
update: more tests show liver disease, doctor finally says sending me to liver specialist. The blisters, purple spots, sores, etc, are from liver disease,, the doctors lied at the va, and c&p doctors lied and said they are normal.. they are form liver disease...
https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepatitis-c-skin-problems#1
https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepc-guide/liver-function-test-lft#1
I am so angry and sick of bad doctors at the VA !!!
they should no if you have pancreatic disease (necrotizing, that the skin problems too are all connected... they are lying scum that will do anything to screw up your claim at the VA). They should al be fired, sorry for the good ones but the whole place stinks like dead fish.
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BVA currently in 2nd remand...
the tests for current condition show lots of life threatening issues, and these were expected with pancreas disease and liver disease. Extremely low white cell count, blood in urine, liver functions elevated, doctor says maybe hepatitis, Glucose level showing diabetes , 40x over average. The surgeons (San Diego) )gave the doctors instructions who often to test and what kind of tests. Instead the VA in Portland ignored al of the recommendations in my medical files. Now I am really bad shape. I am sick of going to the primary care, instead of being sent to specialized clinics. I don't have the will, health, and energy to drive around all over Portland. I just need them to stop lying about my visits and symptoms and help me now. The 2nd Remand from the BVA judge could take forever. What a mess. I told them over the years I am slipping downhill fast, sick, very, very sick. I spent most of my time laying done, spent half my life sick and in and unable to work. I am scheduled for a primary care visit in 3 weeks then Cat-scan in 4 weeks of the pancreas and liver disease. I am very scared of going back into a hospital bed, last time I spent 6 months in a hospital bed. I won't live through it this time. The BVA remand will probably take longer then I will live. I wrote tot he VA in my claims asking for expediting my claim because I have fatal diseases. they refused to listen. They never expedited my claim. The BVA judge has been good to me. Although I have no clue what will happen when he get's it back from the regional office who bungled the whole thing going back since the 1990's. I hope my wife get the win if I die. I bought some very expensive life insurance incase I die so my family can pay off the house. I hate to be a Drama Queen but I feel when things go bad. I can barely do my daily activities. it takes al of my energy to do normal things. My BVA paperwork seem to come to me about once a year asking for info, c&p, more iMO's more appeals. etc.. it breaks my heart everytime I see a VA envelope. My wife is freaked out and refuses to read test results. I do what I can. little walk around the yard, little walks with the dog, little hobbies, but am exhausted, sick, tired, feel like hell, tired of stupid doctor appointments that get nothing done. Driving an hour to see a doctor is very hard and often I can feel the blocked arteries restricting the blood to My heart, and feel like I an going to pass out with a stroke. As I have Diseases that block the arteries and veins from the hepatic system, and the blood from my liver and pancreas to my heart. I don't trust the Portland emergency room, they lied badly last time I begged for help, and my doctor wrote notes when I told him about the bad experiences I had to bad doctors at the VA. I am not sure if the management at the VA realizes the hell we go through and the bad people running it. Do they care? why don't they fix it?
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I keep seeing my diagnosis made by many, many VA doctors and surgeons altered by the VA claims and appeals process. Example, I had/have a large cyst on my pancreas and ended up with necrotizing pancreatitis. Plus six months in the VA hospital fighting for my life and then homebound and in a wheel chair for another year. Also may other medical diagnosis including Budd-Chiari disease. And much, much more. Some of the people working at the VA have changed the words to chronic pancreatitis, not even close to necrotizing. The surgeons diagnosed me 100x with it, no wiggle room for a different diagnosis. But, often I find them altering my records. I have caught the emergency room flat out lying tooo at another VA I go to, and I had along meeting with my doctors about some of the many abuses I get. I can't even start to list al of the lies and problems. My BVA case is on the second remand back to the R.O. because they never followed the BVA judges orders. I am so jaded I don't see any good coming only the same problems and more. There are no consequences for the bad people in the VA. IMHO
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On 8/31/2017 at 7:37 AM, Berta said:
Then in 2010 when IHD became an AO presumptive, I used that report against the bast--ds, to prove the 6 years of heart disease malpractice on an AO SC disability-IHD.
Don't ever give up Steve-----the remand shows how incompetent some of the VA crap we get can be.....and how deficient C & P exams can be as well...
and how some of the Prime evidence mysteriously can disappear, yet the VA did have the surgical info in January 2015, as the remand states.
Maybe you should send that remand to the Secretary to show him what many vets have to put up with. It is a blatant disgrace,.
What do you mean send to the secretary? who, where?
Thanx..
I am twisting in so much I can't function... I can try...
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to those that have words of encouragement, and suggestions, it's been at the BVA for a few years and in the 2nd remand.... since my first claim in the 1990's I have been through so much, so many doctors, so many poa's, doctors, consults, hospitalizations... there maybe something that I have not yet submitted because I either overlooked it, or have not me the right person. I have gotten excellent wonderful free and paid advice, and follow the advice when I can, except when the cost is impossible/impractical. I still have time to add evidence, while at the BVA. The latest remand can take many more months, but no one really knows. The BVA judge I saw I like, and although I have no clue which judge will eventually wrap up my case, the BVA were and are good to me so far. I have 2 professional helping me at the poa level, and excellent help here in these forums. I am very far along and this whole process has been killing me. I hate to be a dram queen but I suffer from fatal diseases, but so far have beaten the odds. I am too sick to continue and can't deal with anyone. I come across as not cooperating, but I am so sick every moment of every day I am living hell. Suffering in hell. The meds help me live but only kill some of the severe pain and suffering. I have insurance to help my wife in case the keep dragging my case on and i die of go back to a state of not being able to care for myself again, like before. I reached the end of my rope along time ago. I cannot think straight any longer. I am just waiting for the disease(s) to finish me off. I am so wiped out, I drag myself out of bed just to perform the daily bull, crap. The VA will either screw me, again, or grant me what they tried screwing me out of. The surgeons told me to watch fro jaundice and strokes as the diseases continue to finish me off. My pancreas is dying and the cyst leak causing the acid to burn me everyday. They grow and close off my food and cause great welling of my belly. The veins and arteries to my liver and heart often slow the blood and make it feel like i am wearing an anchor being pulled down with every breath and step. I told the VA I want them to speed this up but I think that they keep changing the names of my diseases to lessor versions of the disease on purpose to make it sound like I am not as sick as the doctors and surgeons wrote in my prognosis charts. As, I asked for my claims to move faster because having fatal diseases I can die at any time. The VA is suppose to take this in consideration for people that are very sick. The VA did not help at all when I listed the fatal diseases. The claims move as slow as they every did. I truly believe the BVA judge is good to me, and that I have the evidence and nexus. I just am too sick to be put through this abuse, the VA put's vets through.
Necrotizing pancreatitis, Budd-Chiaria syndrome, Splenic Vein thrombosis, neurological diseases, high anxiety, and more.
If I am around for a while, my best days will be the winter, I need cool clean air and rain. and quiet peaceful days and nights.
Thank you...
Could a mod or other put up a POLL?
in Technical Support For Forum
Posted
I was wondering if a mod or other person running these forums could post a poll and ask
(no names or personal info, just answers)
Questions regarding claims:
1-Time as active without decision (years: less than 3 more than 3, more than 8, etc...)
2-years at local R.O, at BVA, etc. (breakdown to similar above, less than years, more than years..)
3-type of claim, extremities, internal, etc. (no mental claim questions)
Just would like a poll to get a general feel for what Vets are doing and how long... for claims.
Others chime in and what questions to add in poll.
Leave POll up for a good while.... so that many Vets can see it and not miss it...
Thanx !
Steven