navydoc2

In my experience the regular funds that you are already receiving, will still come seperate from your retro. If you already have a letter telling you what you are going to get; then it will be soon. They say 5-10 days but it usually comes lower rather than higher. Of course with everything going on who knows. Enjoy and spend wisely. /doc

|'m one of those last hold outs who still gets a paper check, and it came today. That NEVER happens when 1st is on a monday; I always have to wait through the weekend. Oh well now my wife can stop worrying lol since my check pays all the bills and hers gets us through week to week. She keeps saying she wants to be P&T too. Well mostly when she has to get up for work in the morning lol. Thank God and enjoy the weekend my friends. /doc

Congrats Diver! welcome to Hadit, and keep coming back to help others. always nice when a plan comes together especially when its well needed. thanks for your service. /doc

Thanks for the info. I will have to get one before next summer, for our cross country RV trip. Plan on visiting many of those locations. /doc

congrats stony! Don't forget about state benefits as well.

I would echo the same thing the rest are saying. If you think you can do it go for it. I was in Voc rehab for a couple of years until my health started to go downhill. I was declared infeasible for employment, and like the others said that was a major factor in deciding my TDIU claim. I was 40% like you and was bumped up to 80% based on that. Good Luck. /doc

Congrats enjoy.

That disappointing. I take blood pressure meds which are not service connected and I take depression meds zoloft, trazodone, and klonopin. I guess they are saying it could be the bp meds but I've complained about this issue to the VA before they put me on bp meds. Thanks for your reply. doc...

Hey all, I just wanted to wish all Moms a Happy Mothers day. I just received a copy of my C&P for ED. I was called a few weeks ago by my regional a hospital to set up an appt. I set the appointment up for the next day, They called back and said the Doc said I didn't need to come to the appt He would just review my record. I was at the hospital today for another issue and noticed a note on the computer about a comp and pen physical. This that copy, I need help understanding what the Doc said. All that least likely and less likely confuses me I need someone to explain it in plain english. Thanks in advance. Doc... I considered VA medical records in arriving at the conclusion. I conclude, after a review of medical records and a review of the medical literature, the veterans alleged erectile dysfunction is less likely as not permanently aggravated or a result of medications used as treatment for the depression and is at least as likely as not a result of factors unrelated to treatment for depression. What does this mean? lol

Congrats Chuck, like Carlie always says enjoy and spend wisely /doc

Congrats on your win enjoy! Don't forget most states exempt you from property taxes if you own a home. You can also get a tax free card that says you don't have to pay the taxes on most purchases. /doc

Just saw this congrats Carlie, like you always say spend your retro wisely. You rock!!!! /doc

Welcome to hadit. Let me first say thank you for your service. You are not alone as you can see. I would encourage you to continue to get the help you need at the VetCenter, but know you will find the support and experience here to help you navigate through this maze called the VA and also be able to talk with people who understand what you are going through. I won't give you much advice as others here will point you in the right direction to start. That is not my expertise, I will say no matter who is working your claim VFW, DAV, etc. It is in your best interest to keep on top of things keep going to appt's, always, always, always, get copies and keep records of your treatment, if you have not already got a copy of your medical record while on ative duty get it. You know what they say in the military if its not on paper it didn't happen. God Bless, good luck, keep coming back. The more you read the more you will know. /doc

Thanks NK I know you can, but if I recall didn't you do your own SSD claim? I will try to write what they said and then provide what is in my medical file. I hope it's not overwhelming. They wrote the denial as follows. You said that you are unable to work because of headaches, difficulty sleeping, pain in back, knees anxiety, depression, nausea, vision confusion and tachycardia. Although you have pain and discomfort in your back and knees , you can move well enough to do some types of work. Your nausea, headaches , and difficulty sleeping has not caused any disabling effects on your general health. Your heart condition has not caused severe problems with your general health. You can see well enough to work. While your anxiety and depression keep you from doing stressful and complex types of work, you can do simple and routine work. Your medical condition prevents you from doing your past work, but it does not prevent you from doing other work which is less demanding. That is what the letter says was the basis of the denial. Here are my medical conditions, and what I said on their questionnaire. The headaches and difficulty sleeping is from my sleep apnea, I have knee pain in both my kness which don't allow me to walk more than a half block. I can not stand for more than ten/fifteen minutes without back spasms and knees giving out. What job can I stand for fifteen minutes and then lay down for forty? I can't sit for longer than fifteen minutes without back spasms and my knees locking up. My anxiety and depression causes me to avoid people to the point I only leave the house for doctor's appt's, and then I have to take a klonopin to get through it. I don't make my own meals, I don't do my own laundry, my wife pays the bills, I have to have her around because I'm unstable in the shower and can't get up if I'm in the tub. Lastly I had a pacemaker put in because I was passing out, that was supposed to fix the problem; it didn't I still pass out without warning. It has happened sitting, standing, walking. God forbid it ever were to happen should I try do drive anymore. While I run tachy at times I also have periods where my heart stops its been documented while I was in the hospital before they put the pacer in with defibrillation. I don't know what they mean by less demanding work, I could be a greeter at walmart, what jobs are they talking about that I can do. Thanks for the support and advice in advance. /doc

I received my letter of denial today from SSD, it is the one that took nine months to decide at the reconsideration level. I know that the VA and SS are different agencies and one does not mean you're a shoe in to get the other. I just thought that I had the evidence to prove I can't do any work. I am rated TDIU, 80%. 70% depression with anxiety, 10% tinnititis, 10% left knee. I also had problems where I was passing out. I wore a halter monitor and it was determined that I was in 3rd degree heart block with pauses lasting as long as 20 seconds. I received a pacemaker a few months ago, as they and I hoped it would be corrected with this procedure. It was not I am still passing out, what job can I get where I pass out without warning; standing, sitting, walking. I was just told by a VA cardiologist that they may not find the problem until I die. What kind of diagnosis is that, he also said that it could be in my head, then why would you put a pacemaker in if it was in my head? If anyone can give advice it would be appreciated. I do have a lawyer who will ask for an ALJ hearing so the waiting continues. Thanks /doc

All of you have made the same point I was talking to my wife about. If I had not joined the service I would not have these medical issues that I have now. I worked in the medical field for almost twenty years earning good money, I would have continued to pay into my 401k for over 40 years and had that and my SS to retired on; without offset. I did join the military and I do have these issues; and I can not return to work. Does that mean that I forfiet what I paid in to SS; because I'm service connected. I don't have SSD yet but I have applied and this makes me very nervous, because while the money from SSD is great. It is really the medicare that would be the jewel, since I have had a pacemaker put in because I was passing out for what seemed no reason. I went to a VA cardiologist last week because after having the pacemaker for months now I am still passing out. His recommendation? WAIT AND SEE! In other words wait until I possibly die and thats when they will be able to figure out what is wrong with me. Medicare would give me options and probably SAVE my life. She is one of the biggest farm subsidy receivers in congress why doesn't she give up her health insurance and farm welfare first before she touches Vets benefits. like Carlie always says this is IMHO. /doc

Congratulations.

MWR means morale, welfare, and recreation. It means you can use your card to get reduced lodging at base hotels, or at a Navy logde. You can get reduced tickets for events on and around the base, This can be used at any base so if you wanted to say vacation somewhere you might save a few bucks staying at a base lodge/hotel rather than a regular hotel. I hope I explained this correctly, there are other things I'm sure that it gives you acces to. You can call the base nearest you and ask for the MWR department and they can explain what is available to you. Congrats. /doc

Congrats Stillhere great Holiday news enjoy!

I think you should go through the regular appeals process. I don't think that the person you talked to is telling you the truth. It is easy to find out if it is a reg or not, don't let them discourage you from getting what you are entitled to. Good luck and keep fighting. /doc

When I travel to my regional VA hospital, I get travel pay minus $6 for what they call a deductible. When I ask what the deductible is for the cashier says I don't know I just hand out the money.

Do deductibles also change when you're 100%?

Thats the frustrating thing about it all Pete. When I try to speak with my lawyer via email or I've even gone to the office I get the runaround. They claim she is not available and she won't even reply to my emails. I think that even though it is capped at a certain amount of percentage, they can still draw it out to receive the maximum amount. I thought a reconsideration was supposed to last two maybe three months since it is basically a rubber stamp of the original denial, its going on 8 months. arrrrgh!

You will have to submit a new claim for the tinnitis which is rated at 10% whether its one or both ears. I'm sure you have documentation of noise exposure, since I believe you should have been in the hearing conservation program, you can check your SMR and look at your hearing test over the time you were active duty. Where you ever in a combat situation?

This: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/narcolepsy/DS00345