VetsLady

Wonderful news for you NJ ! Now, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Your stood your ground and prevailed. Carlie, My desk is cleaned off, well .... at least the junk mail is tossed, bills paid and I have a neat stack of magazines set aside to look through later. Thanks for the laughs ! Way to Go NJ !!!!!

Laughter does wonders, doesn't it ? Carlie, have you seen my desk ???? I'm cleaning it up today. Good Luck NJ.....

It's another layer of Quality Assurance the decision has to go through. Claims often go up and down the ladder as checks and balances are reviewed. Frustrating to say the least. Claims always have at least 2 layers of checks and balances (at least from what I understand).

A filed scanned by the VA = the information/file has been scanned into the VA computer system. It's how many large organizations and financial institutions receive and store information in the "digital era" we live in today. The paper evidence, letters, whatever it may be is scanned into the system for storage, every piece of paper is listed. ChampVa does the same thing as do health insurance companies. Still, I like to know there is a paper trail someplace and create one by sending inquiries in to the VA via IRIS and print them for our own file. Hopefully this answered your question. Any time you want to reach out or vent, this is a good place to do so. As I mentioned in a prior post, many a ladder was thrown my way before my husband received his decision ... some of those days were the darkest days I've ever had, except for those days when my hero is having a very bad day with ailments too many to list.

Glad I could ease a bit of anxiety for you ... I've had plenty of life preservers, rope and ladders passed to me in our over 8 year battle with the VA. Humor has a way of easing tension, here's a little for you. I was talking about the VA with another Veteran today when quite accidentally, when referring to the "VA" I said "BA" in error ! We both had a good belly laugh and wow, did I feel better ! Happy Holidays to you as well.

NJ ... These claims go up and down the ladder sometimes for no other reason than to make sure the t's are crossed and the i's dotted. Try (and I know too well how hard it is) to set it aside. My husband's claim has been doing the same jumping jack dance these past few weeks. I hope you hear something soon.

Thirteen months seems like a long time, especially when waiting. Looking backward, the same amount seems like minutes. My Veteran waited 5 years before his 1st exam, imagine that. Extenuating circumstances and alot of red tape got in the way, but as a timeline 5 years to receive a C&P exam was outrageously criminal. I hope you receive your decision sooner than later and that it is favorable.

Always "plan" to have another C&P and if none is needed, it's a bonus. My husband had a extensive C&P in early January. In July, they called him back for another exam to "determine his current condition" - we still await the final decision for this part of his claim(s). In a prior claim, one that went all the way to the BVA with a win-win, he'd had extensive C&P's ..... the BVA decision came back favorably and the Regional Office (RO) needed to rate him. Even though he had more than enough evidence in his file for a 100% P&T rating, the RO requested another exam "to determine the current condition" ... it had been quite awile since his last exam. And, at this exam, the doctor checked BP, conducted a 2 minute "hello how are you" exam and it was over. That was it. Stay positive, it can be tough to do (I know from experience as many here do also) .... try not to worry about what hasn't happened and use that energy to remain focused and a step ahead.

Well done, very happy for you usmc 1979. Woo ---- Hoooo !!

This is good news to hear and, yes, there is so much help and support on this site to aid Veterans and their families it is overwhelming. I too know those tears, the salty and the sweet ones...and, believe me, a ladder has been thrown my way more than a time or two. I heard your sigh of relief as I read your post. Very happy day for you indeed. For the entire Hadit family. It does feel good to share the knowledge and pay it forward as you say.

No one really knows how long it takes, every case is different, complete evidence on submission, another C&P exam, then later (if the decision takes too long) a C&P exam (YES) for none other than to see if the Veteran is still standing (happened to my Veteran) - we asked the doctor why he was there, he said the VA wanted to know his current condition (after numerous exams 6 months prior). I am sure I'm not alone when I say "I feel for you" --- and won't go into how long it took my husband to receive his sc for his first condition (the 2nd went to DC via an appeal that he did win) - HIs first C&P exam was 5 years AFTER he filed. Go figure. Some may wonder why 5 years. Initial decision denied. Filed DRO. Let the VA obtain all of his records (who really knows how long this took?). Denied again. Field appeal. Proved in-country service in RVN. Partial win. The rest of the claim went to DC. As Carlie mentions and so many others, be sure to get a paper trail (via IRIS) --- 1-800 is not reliable as is the ebenefits site. We still await a decision on a couple of deferred issues and AO IHD, at one year and counting. I really hope you get a decision soon. The waiting is the worst. At least if you get a decision, whether it's to sc or deny, you can move forward from that point. Never give up.

Terrific news Commander.....

Now this is called, "Hoop jumpin' bass ackwards" at its best..

Berta, At your suggestion, I did contact NVLSP and they do have my husbands name on their list from the AO DM2 decision (sc). Still waiting for the heart disease rating. The attorney that called me was extremely helpful, very considerate and said to call when the decision comes in for the heart disease. I'm glad I made the call. Thank you. VetsLady

Terrific news Carlie, super dooper terrific news !!!!!!

I just called them and left a message. I had contacted them a couple weeks ago via email, but have not heard from them yet. (I made a notation in my notes)

RO just called, the file is on its way back from San Diego and Rep that called said "someone made a mistake by not addressing the IHD" ......

We received 1 decision on reopening via the 1 of 3 new presumpt(s) added last year via Nehmer. Strange though, 1 was for Luekemia which my husband NEVER had, never had a diagnosis for either....but, had anemia related to another (unrelated issue/condition) ---- 1st VSO said, "Add the anemia, put everyache and pain on the claim form" ...... needless to say, we didn't appeal the anemia issue as it wasn't connected to any disease issue. (it was almost 10 years ago). The other issue is artherioslerosis (CAD), for which he underwent a battery of C&P testing for earlier this year. He is an established AO Veteran with DM2, PN also. Hypertension was listed on the almost 10 years ago claim. Hypertension was not appealed as there were a host of other very prominent issues going on with him healthwise at that time, and establishing boots on ground was step one which the VA did finally concede to. Now, as mentioned, we did receive a decision on Leukemia (anemia list on original claim triggered the look-see for a sc from AO)......but, no decision on the heart issues. Is it just me or is it strange that he received a decision on 1 of 2 issues or, is it customary for VA to send a decision letter out on each condition (I think not?) I have already contact the VA and they have no clue why a decision wasn't sent out. Tips, thoughts or ideas are very welcome ....... and of course, who really knows the how or why VA does anything ? It only took 5 years for them to concede he spent 22 months in RVN.

---Your story is very sad and my heart aches for you. Sharing what happened to you and Rod is a gift you give to every Veteran. Thank you for sharing this.

Berta, I started a topic yesterday and you were kind enough to respond. The question was not well developed, I apologize for that. The question did pertain to my husband and yes, he did receive a "Nehmer" letter. I thought he did, and not wanting to rely on the memory, I pulled it from the file and it does state "this case (my husbands) qualifies for a special review based on a possible prior VA benefits claim for one of the three new presumptive diseases". He was denied sc for his heart and we didn't file an appeal as he had other issues that were primary and he was quite ill from them and not the heart issue. Fast forward to an EKG done earlier this year he done in the ER at the hospital and we found out he'd had a prior heart attack, a silent attack. He also has Coronary Artery disease, sc for DM2 (AO related), etc. and so on. Ironically, this letter he received asked him to prove he was in RVN.....when he was and its already been established and yes, I notified VA they should take a look at his file as service in RVN has been established. So, I'm not sure where this will end up. We can access ebenefits however, I found out through a phone call to VARO that the claims affected by Nehmer will not show up on ebenefits (I had wondered why it didn't show up, all of his other items are there)....they said it had something to do with it being part of a class action lawsuit. So.......I'm told by 1-800 a rating decision is done and was mailed out to us late last week. It should arrive this week or next. We can wait until it arrives. And, hopefully they got it right ......... Incidentally, they did send him on a slew of exams, and that was prior to this letters arrival. Interesting, eh? All heart related. All of his care has been at the local VAMC except for the hospital stay at a private facility and I notified them where they could obtain all of his updated med recs and brought a copy in to his VA doc after we arrived home for her review and was told "it will become part of his medical file here". I should go down and check. I'll wait until the decision arrives. No, I haven't seen any $ show up in our account - my notes frommy call to VA this morning indicate the 1-800 rep said that any retro awarded will be paid at the beginning Nov. I don't know about that, the retro he received when we won his 100% claim was in the bank before the decision arrived. Are they doing Nehmer differently ? We shall find out. If its denied, we'll go from there.

Berta, Thank you for your response. The Nehmer letter I refer to is one the Veteran received advising the Veteran of being a Nehmer Class Veteran. Yes, I do believe it did state that potential retro was involved but as I'm sitting at my desk at the moment, I don't have exact recall of the what the letter said. Already sc for DM2 so Nehmer Class status is pretty clear. No need to guess if its hypothetical, its a real question and pertains to a current claim ;-) The hypertension was denied but not appealed. Thank you for the reference to footnote 1, I'll review it....thanks again for your response, its very much appreciated !

Hi All, Have been looking for an answer to my question, and 1.) either can't find it or 2.) don't recognize it ...... I need an answer on a question, here goes: Veteran files a claim for DM2 and hypertension. Both are denied as no proof of in-service RVN established. Appeal is filed on the DM2 but not the hypertension. Veteran then proves boots on ground in RVN and wins the claim for DM2. Since that time, hypertension is now manifested into hypertensive heart disease and/or coronary artery disease. A Nehmer letter arrives and the claim development process begins, C&P's etc. The whole enchilada. The question is this: If the Veteran did not appeal the prior denial, and is granted benefits for IHD, does any retro benefit granted go back to the date the claim was originally filed even though it was not appealed ? Thank you.......,

Oh what a relief it is to finally see before your eyes "the letter" ! To those who are still waiting for good news, don't give up.