autumn

here at va biz/records office they still keep reports in paper folders though they are supposed to start getting them digital. all non-va doctor stuff i took there they simply put in paper folders, not computer as they led me to believe. so i have to carry papers to va doctors because they don't know or won't request those files from records div here. i send papers to VARO as does PVA and i send them a copy so they have same pages they auth me to send. i quit taking papers to this local records office and send pertient stuff to RO. question: is the administrative file and voc rehab files worth it to request a copy? are administrative files located a different VA's a vet has been too? you know, like i've lived in quite a few cities thx

i should clarify, the current claim is not an appeal. we gladly accepted the service connection returned on first claim. now its to get the secondary issues with my ms applied to my disability rating. so VARO has claim folder and its up to them to make a decision on this. for now, there is no appeal/BVA involved that i know of.

IYHO, with this temp C-File you mention, would the varo work on that claim as seperate from the appeal/claim process already in progress? or would the temp C-File stall the one already in progress?

hey folks, i have a pending claim for the secondary medical issues related to my service connected MS. i have a large folder of supported medical documentaion from active duty to present for cervical trauma and its issues. i want/need to file for that to be SC'd along with increased degeneration issues with service connected lumbar trauma. question: can i submit a claim request along with this folder and have it as a second c-file so it doesn't hang up the current MS claims issues? i just don't see this varo doing the right thing and the current claim could take as long as they want to drag it out.

they are certainly experts at that and minimizing medical conditions that are compensationable (to the point the vet doesn't have a medical condtion!)

yes, me too. i spoke with my VSO yesterday. we're sending new supportive docs, registered mail. i'd never send anything to them un-registered. i always get a signature from them.

been doing this for awhile. a former analyst so research i can do when feeling up to it >>If you negelect to send in certain paperwork, it wont work got a letter from VA about paperwork, called and faxed VSO about it, never heard back about it. so tonight i'm dong the letter with supportive docs and mailing it to RO tomorrow. taking a chance it is correct.

confirms why i feel so "on my own anyways" when having a VSO. pretty much up to us anyways i see. the last lawyer i had got his 20% though i did more work than his office did on my case IMHO

thanks pete & broncovet. all c&p's so far return i can't work due to ms and the secondary issues i have with it. both c&p docs said they don't understand why RO doesn't get it. guess i'll wait and see what RO returns for their take on the latest c&p's i have a few other supportive med docs i want to submit, i''ll wirte RO and ask if them if i can do so without causing a new claim. thanks for the advice

if one disagree's with a C&P assessment, what type of note do i write to VARO?

>>You have to make a decision. Do you want to delay further, or do you first need to see what the VA does. not per se, but to get correct listing of actual secondaries, i have no issue waiting. they need to be listed, if at the least, for baseline medical condition. >>Actually, if the VA did what it should do,all the secondaries should have been addressed. (This usually doesn't happen without prompting) which is why i contacted the congressman's office. VA here didn't seem to listen to PVA and PVA just kept saying "wait" >>As to VonApp, etc. I suspect that you still should send at least a letter via certified mail, return receipt, etc. i agee, >>You certainly can request a specific C&P. If the VA does not give it, and you have evidence of the claimed condition(s), lack of a C&P can actually work in your favor. i just don't recall the memory/cog issues actually being addressed at that C&P. a specific exam was scheduled, but VA out of blue canceled it. if the PVA would get back to me i would know whether the think they should request it again or if i should. >>A VA RO can request a C&P, hoping to minimize or counter favorable evidence, or just to cover tail. A C&P is actually not required, although a veteran is "entitled" to one. i think this one was more or less to minimize than to help. just my take >>If you file additional evidence, the VA will likely treat that as a new claim for ED purposes. if they haven't reached a decision on these secondaries yet, they would treat it as a new claim? glad you got your A.O. award, that was a long time coming.

seeking help with DIY claim stuff, letters, etc. [current status] 1. service connected for MS 9.2010 2. PVA writes letters requesting MS secondary issues be examed/listed for added compensation 3. exams done 1.2011. but incorrect type exams so RO wouldn't/couldn't make ruling 4. repeated requests to PVA about this. told to stand down, wait, see if VA does the right thing. 5. after 5-6 months, contacted congressman about this. correct exams scheduled, now complete 6. the VA canceled the memory/cog/psych exam. only explanation was i didn't need it although PVA requested it 7. congressman calls in may, says VA will make a descion in 60-90 days, his office is following it 8. PVA needs these secondary issues correctly listed, then to seek retro. not via CUE but something else of which i forget what its called [DIY item questions] 1. what type of letter/form do i write to RO asking to get the mem/cog/psych exam done? if not, list the RO's reasoning why not 2. do i question why the c&p doctors didn't have my c-file? or is that a non-issue 3. is vonapp better to send letters to RO or standard mail with reciept? 4. if pva doesn't go for the retro after the secondary ms issues ratings, if it isn't a CUE, then what is that called and can i file that myself too? ok, i'll start with these things and not get it too confusing for me and others. thanks for your help and time

certainly not. after 5-6 months of VA never scheduling the correct C&P exams, though PVA requested them twice, basically the PVA said to quit bothering them about it and give the VA the benefit of the doubt. called a congressman and got the exams done. neither C&P doc had my c-files which was strange. i have no idea what they wrote as i get off balance reading those things. so i faxed it to PVA and asked them what they thought. never a call back or response. i had an attorney once and i had to intervene to find out where my c-file was cuz they didn't/wouldn't. it was collecting dust in some obscure office so RO couldn't make a decision. i had VA get it to RO asap. got service connected for MS right after that. giving up 20% for that just left me uneasy. again, i did the work. what is EAJA?

thanks for the reply. i'm going to start a new thread for me, someting along DIY so i can pickup the ball and run with it. if PVA wants to help fine if not so be it. can't wait and wait and wait.

i'm assuming he got them as secretary said she put them on his desk. i needed his opinion on the exam results and had a few questions. i guess he's in/out of office a lot. i have an accnt with vonapp too. haven't made much use of it. i do have another SC claim but told not to submit it until this MS stuff is out of the way. think i'll try vonapp then. good luck with the cisco exam(s). before i retired i used to hang out at SANS site and cissp. MS pretty much put an end to all that.

>Where in the claims process are you? had second round of C&P's about a month ago for secondary issues related to service connected MS. contacted a local congressman to get the correct C&P's because VARO didn't seem to listen to pva requests. i faxed that to pva rep along with a couple of concerns that the VA stated i didn't need the memory/cog exam that the pva had requested. so i wanted the pva rep to see the exam results and let me know if that was the case. otherwise lets get it requested and that done. i'm with pva. the rep is in another state due to the local one and i had issues.

when a vet feels a vso/pva isn't communicating, then what? vso hasn't returned calls to questions in over 2 weeks. secretary says this, says that, i told vso you called, etc. very well could be a good reason why no phone calls returned. he was traveling they said, then he was sick, then he was busy visiting hospitals, etc. but it leaves me a bit weary. whom does a vet turn to then?

just an update and food for thought as to why any veteran would want to requesst a diff VARO or at the least write a complaint to DC about any VARO (as if that would help) after 2-3 requests from PVA, & 2 congressional requests to VARO to have my MS secondary issues listed via C&P, i had one today. i had one 5 months ago but VARO just never acknowledged its results and so i had another one -- different doc, same type exam(s) except this one actually entered the data into a specific system questionair. very respectful doc and exam. as the last 2 C&P exam docs have mentioned, and this guy did also, as to no one understands why VARO keeps requesting these as the same results keep getting sent back to VARO ... i.e., i have health issues, they are MS related, and this all started active duty. two more exams coming up, eye & psych. again, after repeated requests to do so. i guess like many on this list, its terribly difficult to have any sense of trust with this. not only have they gone out of their way not to diagnose me all these years, they go out of their way not to get secondary issues liested. ant that's where i'm at today in the crazy world of VA disability/health vertical climb

i'm surprized hadit doesn't have a list of user/verteran experiences rating ro va's. surely there are a few good ones out there?

the one in northern cali and nv i'd say has their issues absolutely they sound like thieves, which in a sense they are when they deny rightfully and legally what is due the veteran hey carlie & john, et el, is there a list of best/worst VA/RO's ?

is there a list of best/worst VA/RO's ? CO has a large population of ms folks too and a few top ms research places (civilian of course).

mild weather and chilled folks, hmmm, not bad for ms people. do you like grants pass & that area? in your opinion, you prefer oregon or washington in regards to va and general living?

i can empathize buddy, i truly can. i was happy to get out of california for the same reasons you mention. though this varo here is, well, i think worse than most, imho. i too liked the san diego hospital i visited a few times though it was sooo crowded and busy and the traffic reminded me of many reasons why i left california. years ago long beach had 4 to a room also. not something i would want to repeat. i do wish your appeals to win soon, so you can grab some peace and beauty where ever you go

business as usual i take it. when they start ignoring the likes of pva and such, almost zero avenues of help for the veteran pinned down by the va -- imho well guys, thats where i'm at today, fwiw, so much for that 120days thing mr shinseki put in place.

i recently contacted a few congressmen due to the varo never scheduling the appts for secondary issues, though they were requested once last year and again the first of this year. right after that the varo sends me a request to provide evidence i had limitations regarding any of those secondary issues while on active duty. and they wrote back to the congress people they were going to schedule the secondary issues exams, though they never mentioned this was already asked of them twice by pva. nor did they cc that note to pva, who are my claims reps. not sure i understand requesting me to provide evidence for secondary issues while on active duty. i would have thought they could see that since they granted SC due to supportive evidence of ms. plus they were given imo which i guess they agreed with. and they were evaluate "current" secondary issues as requested by pva twice already, though never done. i'm afraid i feel they never would have moved on the pva requests if i had not written DC. it's going on 6 months since pva requested the appts and close to a year since c&p confirmation of sc'd ms. is all this just the same ol standard procedure?