autumn

i think so too. it wouldn't be complicated if the VA doesn't stonewall it or something. and my past experience with the PVA and two claims has left me really angry and disappointed.

i'll ask about the CUE, thanks. screwed? no doubt, absolutely no doubt. i don't have the mental expertise to manuever through all the paperwork burden. have medical expert opinion outside the VA that contradicts most of what they've diagnosed me with over the years. oh well, you folks have given me enough to think about and make my mind up tonight. thanks

Commander Bob and TestVet, LH4V comes highly recommended and they are well versed in VA law. They would stay on top of things whereas, due to MS i'm forgetful and stuff, so i need someone that would stay on top of if. Versus, say, -sorry vet, next case...-. so tired of getting shafted. You're right about family, what kinda price can one put on that! i gotta think about these things... keep hangin on TestVet and best of luck with that

thanks all. hard for me to make up my mind as i've had a few issues with the pva dis-ing me in the past and not listening. i'm unemployed and if in fact a positive ruling happens i'll need to keep as much as possible for bills, living expenses. two non-va specialists have returned i do in fact have rrms and have had it since the spinal infection while on active duty years ago. although my gut and body told me i had it, medical tests said i had it, the va never acknowledged it - wrote me off so to speak - you folks know that drill. so the pva treating me like the did, is like salt on a mental wound. let me be fair, it was only a few officers at the pva that did this. but it was those few that handled past claims and to no avail. a few others at the pva have been my life line and super buddy over the years. i would never have made it this far if not for two people at the pva. i'm just untrusting and scared at this point. go with lh4v and give up some much needed $ if i do have a positive outcome, or retrun to the pva, toss the coin that i won't get dis'd again. that's where i'm at today. if i can use a pva office other than the one in this area, i think i would go that route thanks again for your hlep

looking for pros/cons opinions regarding going with "legal help for veterans" or the PVA. lh4v gets 20% i hear. pva gets nothing. i'm just not sure pva will fight very hard. really could use some insight into this so i can make an informed decision.

i filed a claim and it was denied jan 2009. it was for MS while on active duty. at the time i didn't realize my c-file had zilch in it. i corrected that. all medical tests are in and not surprizingly the MS specialist will not commit to a diagnosis. all mimics have been ruled out. although he does want me to start on MS disease modifying drug injections soon. so, i now realize that the VA will not commit to a diagnosis due to a disability claim thus they can and will continue to deny it. thousands of us vets i now know have & are going through this. i'm in the process of trying to raise funds so i can see a non-VA neuro here in town. the National MS Society put me in touch with them. but that will take some time question: what is the best course of action to get the VA to commit to a diagnosis? is this lawful that they can do this?

yes, Carlie that sure helps. The VARO is is in Reno for this area so I cannot just drive over a ways. I'll have to submit via mail and request a dated reciept. They have a satellite office here for a few things but i don't think submission of paperwork. I'll check. thanks

wow, all these years and I didn't realize that. I have brain lesions too so maybe I was told and forgot. One more question please, So I go to the VA Regional Office, take my paperwork and request they scan them in and get a receipt, yes? Thanks

I will do 3 because i have the paperwork. The C-file, is that different than the VA medical records a doctor sees on the computer screen in the office?

I have had new tests & exams performed over the last two years and only one made it to my C-File. I realized this when the VSO at the PVA told me nothing has changed so nothing he could do. He is looking at old data. How do I ensure the latest test results, MRIs, etc get in my C-File?

Hey Berta & 12R3G, I saw my PCP at the VA and asked him the results of my MRI on my lumbar. I had already seen it as you know from my first post on this particular thread. He sugar coated all of it and never mentioned the degeneration disease had gotten much worse and a herniated disk tapping on a nerve. I let him talk and at the end I asked about the degeneration and was there any. His reply was something along the lines of "you have been reading up on medical terms", he said he didn't want to mention that due to something about feeling he had to explain what it meant. Then he said your whole spine had gotten really worse and we need to keep an eye on it, but that surgery was not an option now in his opinion. I know I'm not the only vet who gets this kind of treatment. That is, if a vet isn't in a life threatening situation or in need of emergency surgery, they basically skim over reports and sugar coat it. Is this the way they are attempting to keep costs down? I had to write that to vent. It just frustrates me to no end. He is going to send me to a chiro and he gave me a new Rx. Just boggles my mind he didn't even bring up the worsening conditions until I brought it up. question: do i [have] to have this doctor write something up about my condition and attach that to the 21-4138? or is the new MRI report, chiro visits, history, Rx's, good enough to put on the 21-4138 for an increase in SC for this particular condition? Thanks for your help!!!

Berta, RetiredVet and jbasser, thanks for the info. i'll start the ball by doing what Berta suggested and as jbasser states get the date initiated. i can submit the MRI impression report (also have CD), pain meds, bed rest from doctor, statements from people. also have another doctor reviewing some of this and hopefully he can write a note. retiredVet, you are right, thousands of vets are getting left in the dust. boggles my mind some of the things i have seen/heard from doctors at VA. they hand out pills and such but when it come to SC stuff, they have memory loss or the losing of records, or can't see it on the computer, etc. band together? Groups have tried, legal action has be taken, Congress has reviewed, protests have happened, investigating reporting has taken place, etc., and it still goes on and on ... i have no answers but to submit paperwork for the rest of my life like an idiot ... i'm surprized there are not more whistleblowers in the VA, i really am. they have to see and hear what is going on ...

Berta, RetiredVet and jbasser, thanks for the info. i'll start the ball by doing what Berta suggested and as jbasser states get the date initiated. i can submit the MRI impression report (also have CD), pain meds, bed rest from doctor, statements from people. also have another doctor reviewing some of this and hopefully he can write a note. retiredVet, you are right, thousands of vets are getting left in the dust. boggles my mind some of the things i have seen/heard from doctors at VA. they hand out pills and such but when it come to SC stuff, they have memory loss or the losing of records, or can't see it on the computer, etc. band together? Groups have tried, legal action has be taken, Congress has reviewed, protests have happened, investigating reporting has taken place, etc., and it still goes on and on ... i have no answers but to submit paperwork for the rest of my life like an idiot ... i'm surprized there are not more whistleblowers in the VA, i really am. they have to see and hear what is going on ... Berta You can just write them a letter or use the 21-413... Jul 10 2009, 05:36 PM RetiredVet QUOTE (autumn @ Jul 9 2009, 10:54 AM) i... Jul 13 2009, 03:18 AM jbasser Berta gave you osme good advice. I want to add the... Jul 13 2009, 10:00 AM

i'm service connected 30% for a lumbar injury 24 years ago. at that time the navy said it was a herniated disk. new mri images shows much degeneration and a few other things. how do i submit a request for increase SC due to the deteriorating condition.