Testvet

Berta since Jims name is at the bottom of the new page as the webmaster it seems hardly to be a secret lol I remember when Larry quit running my column and told me he had a new guy that was going to focus more on all veterans issues rather than the secret military programs I focused on when I wrote for Larry I think it was back in early 2006 I was focused more on the bio, chem and drug and nuclear tests that had been ongoing since WW2 and Larry wanted to broaden the field and Jim took over the "guest column" I have to be the first to admit Jim was a tremendous asset for Larry to add to the Watchdog and Jim does tell it like it is. I think Jim will do an outstanding job for veterans and keep up the great work that Larry has been doing with that website, it has earned the respect of the VA and veterans and they verify any info before they post it and do a lot to stop the rumors and keep the info legitimate it is one of the best assets for veteran info I have ever seen it is on my daily reading list I think all veterans should go there at least once a week for info on current veteran affairs I trust it more than I do the House VA site

it appears that Jim Strickland is running it now good choice and I am sure he will do as well as Larry did thanks Berta

Larry is it possible for them to award TDIU without making it P&T? if they do then thier dependent may not be eligible yet for the CHAMPVA or Chapter 35 benefits or is TDIU automatically P&T I know that 100% is not always P&T and until the veteran gets the P&T award then they still have benefit issues I have never dealt with TDIU so I don't know if P&T is automatic or not but since they find a way to mess with 100% vets I imagine they have a way to play games with TDIU vets also I hope your award is P&T so the fun and games are over but I hate to see veterans get their sights set on all the benefits and then get told they have to wait for a few more years for a review don't spend it all in one place there will be rainy days in the future

good luck I thought the same thing in Jan 2005 I didn't finish at BVA until April 2009 got the award letter from the VARO in SC in June 2009 just because you have the right evidence doesn't translate into the DRO will DO the right thing, he may still deny it and make you take it to the BVA and force a Judge to grant the claim I had a good CAD claim and the RO would not make that award they forced me into going to BVA with the same evidence and the Judge stated my evidence and the VAs evidence put my claim into "relative equipose" and said it goes to the veteran. just because you have the right stuff does not mean they will do the right thing at the time you want it done so go in determined to win but don't let them get you too depressed if they deny it again and make you appeal to the BVA just don't quit the claim out of frustration I do hope you get all the benefits you have earned and deserve

me too John I have had them take it 5 minutes apart once it took them an hour to get a "normal" reading but they kept me there until they got it so they could enter it in the computer if I walk in to the hospital on my walker it jumps up to 130/100 they want it down to something like 120/88 etc they they write the number in if I get there 20 or 30 minutes early then I usually don't have to sit in the nurses office so long...... they cover their behinds on us cardiac patients

I hope you kept your copies of those medical records you can make new copies and submit them to SSA yourself while you ask your atty about this phone call about the missing records getting mad at them is NOT going to help you resolve your case with SSA is it? SSA will take medical records directly from you but if you give them copies then at least SSA will have them to better decide your case and resolve it what your lawyer is going to get mad at you for sending in the records they were supposed to send 6 months ago? They might but so what then SSA will still have them either way they are going to get the amount the law allows them to get better to get a check coming as soon as you can rather than let the lawyer drag it out but when you go around your lawyer be prepared to let them go off on you I was told by my lawyer if I wrote one more letter to the VA or an elected official while my BVA appeal was still pending I would be in the hearing alone since they were doing my case pro bono it was hard to argue with it, but I have OCD and every time I got mad at the VA or the Army about the human experiments I usually wrote an congressman or senator and the lawyer was worried about the VA tossing my case for me being a nut job the VA labeled me a "crusader" and I had been on appeal for a long time the lawyer was my best shot at winning my cardiac issues so I learned to quit writing letters good luck it might not have been your lawyers fault it might have been an aides fault but then the lawyer is responsible

I apologize if you got mad but for years I have preached do NOT believe anything TOLD to you, trust only what they put in writing and then verify it when they make the deposit for years we have been hearing that the VAO told me it was a done deal only to later see it fall apart because the DRO never signed off on it spoken words mean nothing in court what is in writing? that is the only thing that means anything

now Carlie you know darn well there IS a blue flying pig in Kentucky that is whistling the Blue Danube

even the federal govt if you are getting SSD only can take 15% a month until they get it paid off but they tell you 3 months ahead of when they start doing it and they take it before it ever gets sent out either direct deposit or in a check,yes learn all the state laws that affect you also not all states have the same rules

John have you looked at the age of the Wal Mart door greeters? None of them are under 60 here where I live but then again it's probably the only job in town that does hire old people and they can't hire all of us I had my 7 year review from SSD this summer and I am safe until I turn 62 now I just want to live that long rofl since I won't let the VA docs put that heart defib implant in they said there is no reason for me to return to the cardiac clinic ok saves me 2 trips a year to the VA my PC doc still can write the meds I need if I need help in case of a heart attack I will have the ambulance to the nearest ER and worry about fighting the VA after they stabilize me about paying the bills but there are NO jobs for older people most companies don't like hiring mid 40 year olds let alone 50 somethings and we all know there are not enough security jobs that let you sit and watch monitors for 8 hours and some of us can't sit for 8 hours let alone stand for 8 hours with my bad back I am always moving up and down I hurt after 15 - 30 minutes in one place

CAD is the cardiac docs word for Ischemic heart disease my CAD is secondary to my PTSD took me 7 years and a good lawyer and 3 IMOs and 1 IME but I won at BVA keep appealing and don't stop but |I don't think the VA is granting Hypertension claims related to AO just the Ischemic heart disease they are 2 seperate issues....... Other Names for Coronary Artery Disease Atherosclerosis Coronary heart disease Hardening of the arteries Heart disease Ischemic (is-KE-mik) heart disease Narrowing of the arteries

they use what ever they can to justify the award they make despite the fact I am on SSD based on just VA medical records for cardiac issues the VA rated me at 60% in Oct 2002 they did a heart cath that showed 2 of my 3 bypassed had closed off and I could not have any further surgery due to where the new blocks were and my EF was less than 30% but in 2008 they had the VAMC do a echo which they said my EF was 40 which means the 60% award and refused to even talk about the heart cath and echo is an estimate a heart cath is supposed to be the cardiac "gold standard" but since it doesn't matter if they granted 60 or 100 I would only get the same S award so it's not worth fighting them over there is nothing to be gained since I am 100% for PTSD which they diagnosed about 9 months after I filed my heart claim in 2002 the PTSD wasn't diagnosed until 2003 the only reason I kept fighting the VA for the CAD rating is after 7 heart attacks and a stroke and the failed bypass surgery I needed to ensure my wife would be eligible for DIC there was no guarantee I would live the 10 years for her to be eligible if I had died from a non SC issue if it doesn't they look at all of the evidence and then use what they can justify and ignore what they can

I agree never miss a meeting or an exam if you do they can deny on the basis of the missed appt I don't trust verbal statements made over the phone or even in person I want it in writing and I trust them a lot more after I see the check as Reagan said trust but verify

if you have not asked for these medical conditions to be SC then they will be ignored until you file a claim for them as secondary conditions the magic fairy will not apply intent they go with what is in writing if you have not yet filed for the secondary conditions then you need to do so ASAP they can infer that you were asking for all compensable conditions to be rated but they usually don't do it

Jim Strickland is still writing his columns and we all know how he feels about VA "payees" I would not be shocked to see him write something about this http://www.jimstrickland912.com/ then click on Jims mailbag he publishes it about twice a week

who re-opened a 2 year old topic? rofl was it the person who was told it would take 2 years for their claim to be processed?

the VA knows who you are use your first name only if you want the VA knows by your claimed issues and your IP address who you are there really is not any anonymity on the web my wnn claim was so obvious to anyone who read what my claimed issues were back in 2002 and the human experiments at Edgewood Arsenal anyone at the VA knew my claim and my screen name and could add 2+2 and make 4 out of it the local regional office will not even deal with veterans about the exposures listed at the EPA sites and the ATSDR thru the CDC they deny that you were ever exposed to that particular toxic substance and then claim we can't prove it was in the water the day we drank it etc, a BVA Judge might award an exposure claim based on the EPA and CDC reports but the VAROs are not going to do it. They spent 9 years ignoring the fact I was even used as a human test subject, I was made to look like a liar I was telling tall tells I even have a letter from an Army Colonel to a Congressman explaining that a lot of "older veterans" think they were used in "secret experiments" and that just is not true. For one thing I never claimed to be used in "secret tests" I have a FOIA file from Edgewood Arsenal where I was on TDY from June 25, 1974 thru August 22 1974 for use in research my file numbers is 6778A the A means I was available for any and all experiments drugs or equipment there were 4 classifications A, B, C and D they used chemical weapons, legal drugs illegal drugs and equipment experiments this is where they did MKULTRA the CIA program for mind control was partly done at Edgewood Arsenal. 75% of these veterans are already dead or disabled by FY 2000 when the last medical study was done. Pretty high percentages for men aged 45-65 at that time. They have a lawsuit trying to force the govt to accept the exposures and make the DOD and the VA take care of the survivors medically at least for the rest of their lives regardless of means tests as they are the SHAD/112 veterans as Category 6 in the VA system. The suit was filed in Jan 09 and they don't expect the case to go to trial until spring 2012 I hope I live long enough to see the outcome http://edgewoodtestvets.org/ the court filed documents make interesting reading if you have a lot of time to read there are hundreds of pages now and climbing you will not get justice at the regional office and I would not hold my breath at the BVA level either on exposure cases

active duty Army units are using religion more now than at any time in the past I went into the PX at Fort Jackson a couple of years ago and the main aisle where they use to have the expensive stuff like the huge TVs, stereos, computers etc had been converted to a book center a faith based book center not the Mack Bolans or WEB Griffens type books that soldiers read and not bibles but the whole gamut of books from religious writers and from what my son told me about basic church services are more than encouraged now lord knows many of us found religion in foxholes but I didn't have a squad leader a platoon sergeant or a company 1SG or Company Commander ordering me to attend services either or make my promotions based on my ability to lead my troops in prayer if this is now moving into veterans affairs offices in order to get representation then it is time for someone to really say enough is enough the rep who did it should be retrained on what "their" job is processing compensation claims not pushing religious beliefs everyone has their right to worship or not to worship it's part of the 1st amendment yes there is a place for religion in life even in govt at appropriate times prayer breakfasts I have my own religious beliefs but I never even pushed them on my children let alone my troops promotions and benefits should not be based on what someone notes in your file or how they then decide to work your claim like politics I think religion has no place in official govt offices and boards like these budda, Jesus, Mohhamed, Aqua Budda etc it has no place and no bearing on people in government buildings doing their jobs

if they awarded the pension until you are able to get the PTSD award rated higher the other issues become moot the pension is the higher check but you said something about SSD so that will get offset dollar for dollar so you may still be back to the 30% for PTSD and the SSD check keep your mental health appts and work towards getting your award increased stopping treatment won't help you if you are going to try to get your SC rated higher

the only veterans group I really like is the PVA but membership is due to severe disability and no fees except the body parts that don't work anymore I have over the years had my POA with the AL, DAV and PVA and with a lawyer after help with my friends here at Hadit I finally got my PTSD at 100% P&T the first thing the DAV rep did was hand me a membership form and suggest I should become a life member, I laughed at him and threw it back on his desk the DAV refused to file an appeal for my CAD and hypertension and I should give them 250.00 why? they are a joke and the AL wasn't much better I was a member of AL annually for a few years but I quit that too, I thought about VVA but I don't get out of the house so why? I have thought about the 2nd Div and the 31st Inf Association and the 3rd ID and the 7th Calvary association due to my service or my dads service his headstone reads his name and Private D Troop 7th Calvary 1914-1916 He went on the Mexican Punitative March (Pershing chased Pancho Villa around for almost a year on horses) before he went to France in WW1 my dad and my Uncle Gid were stationed at Camp Douglas on the border the state has now built a prison on the old base. I can see joining old unit groups but the vet groups as a whole seem to be a waste of money I use to be a shop steward at the Post Office so I understand the national good is better than just the local rep but after watching the cheer leaders most of them became for the war mongering I have to say enough vet groups should not be encouraging more war instead they should be advocating less war and the wise use of our military not wild adventures and misadventures when they quit doing that I might rethink joining the groups

the spouse and kids won't even be dealt with until after the veterans claim has been approved at a 30% level or higher even if it is submitted at the beginning they will ask for it again somehow they never seem to be able to find it when it's really needed I have got to the point I never trust anything said over the phone rarely believe what I get in writing and really trust them after the money is in the bank

it was a waste of 25 bucks is all I can say and that is the nicest thing I have to say about it

if you just got the award it may be year year or 2 before they even talk about P&T by all means file your SSD claim using the VA letter as a basis they will get your VA medical records my SSD claim took 4 months that was back in 2002 now my VA claim took forever rofl congrats

if you are 100% TDIU or schedular it does not matter you have been deemed to be unemployable there are exceptions of course a protected family business where you have no real responsibility and there is someone there to protect you etc, income property where you hire all the repairs done by contractors etc investment income from stocks etc but the rules are pretty strict and any scribbling outside of the lines will have the IRS and VA all over you 100% vets that work are guys that lost legs, arms back injuries etc physical injuries not mental health injuries vets that are 100% for mental health reasons regardless of what the diagnosis is for Bi-polar PTSD, MDD etc means no more work for any type of employer you are physically retired if you wish to return to work look to be reduced to either 70% or 50% whichever rating they award after they give you that new C&P exam and if they decide you have been over paid in the meantime while you were collecting the 100% rate and the time before they discovered you were employed then they will have a very large U owe us XXXXXXXXXXXX dollars and we are with holding all future payments until we have recovered it I do not understand vets that spend years fighting the VA to get 100% P&T or TDIU for PTSD and then immediately start asking about going back to work wanting a job to make 20-80,000 a year either you are disabled or you are not you can NOT have it both ways if the VA has found you to be totally disabled by all means file for SSD between the 2 checks most veterans can live quite well in states where property is tax free and car tags are free for totally disabled veterans yes many of us made a lot more money working for good employers that paid over time or had highly skilled jobs the fact is we aren't able to any more and the vets getting 100% P&T and SMC and a K award etc are getting about 3500 a month add another 1000 a month or more for SSD and you are now looking at 4500 a month tax free a lot more money than most people get working you are not spending 50 bucks a week for lunch at work, you ain't buying gas to get back and forth to work at most you have to keep a few doctor appts a year to get your meds renewed with P&T your spouse and kids are covered by CHAMPVA for medical coverage and your spouse can work and make all she wants but that may bring your SSD into a taxable area enjoy your retirement and go fishing, if you need a reason to get out of bed every day volunteer for meals on wheels go be a school xing guard etc where they take volunteers but leave the IRS and 1099 forms out of your life all you are asking for is trouble but by all means if you have recovered enough from your PTSD symptoms and want to return to work let the VA know ahead of time and get the VA award reduced to the proper level when you start your new job so you don't get yourself in trouble with htem, who knows you may relapse and need to get that 100% rating back again one day

it is my understanding to qualify for the CAB you have to actually engage in an action against the enemy not just be in the hazardous duty area things like taking down doors searching the villages, IEDs etc but with the new rules dated 13 July 2010 almost anyone in a hazardous duty area that felt fear of losing their life etc should have an easier time getting a PTSD claim thru the system I am not holding my breath on this as I expect the VARO's are still not going to be passing out comp checks like candy on Halloween they will find a way to make it difficult to get a PTSD claim adjudicated I hope I am proven wrong but I don't think the new rules are going to change anything