Vync

I agree with Pete. Those Congressmen almost never write their own letters. Stillhere, You should send one letter a day, just like the guy in Shawshank Redemption. If you keep getting back these poor responses, write two letters a day.

Adding an additional 'update ebenefits' step sounds redundant, but it also like something the VA would implement. My understanding is that ebenefits and the 1-800 number query the status from the same source (the RO), except the 1-800 number has access to a more detailed history and other information. I will probably call the ebenefits help desk during lunch and ask why their system is not current. It would not surprise me if there is a problem with the Montgomery RO.

Don't trust Ebenefits to show you the correct status. My claims show "decision", but in reality they are in "notification" and have been for almost two weeks (per the 1-800 number). I know many here say that the 1-800 number is not intended to give out claim status information, but in my case, I find them to be way more accurate than ebenefits. I am probably going to call the ebenefits help desk and ask why the status has not updated correctly.

Hi everyone, I logged onto ebenefits this morning to check the status of my claims. When I logged out, a message appeared saying I had unread messages in my inbox. I checked the inbox and what I found is below. It more closely matches what is printed in the federal register. Relaxing the Rules on PTSD Claims News received Jul 26, 2010 04:40 PM VA has an important message for you if you served in a combat zone but weren't actually engaged in combat when the traumatic incident happened. VA has made it easier to prove a compensation claim for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. For more information, please go to this site: Related Link: http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/ptsd.asp (follow the link to this:) Questions and Answers on the New Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Regulations Q. How has VA changed the rules for PTSD? A. We changed our rules on the evidence you might need if you apply for disability compensation for PTSD. For years, we’ve made decisions on PTSD applications based on several kinds of situations. The rules have changed for ONE of these situations—the one that’s perhaps been the hardest to prove. These are the cases where a veteran’s stress came from a fear of hostile military or terrorist actions—but where the veteran wasn’t actually engaged in combat. You might simply have been “near the action,” driving truck or working on a base, for instance, when something very frightening occurred. For these situations, we’ve made it much easier to “make your case.” We no longer have to come up with records proving that the stressful event occurred. However, we might have to look for records if the stressful event you describe doesn’t seem to fit with The places you served,The kind of service you were involved in, andThe circumstances of your service. Q. I wonder if PTSD is what I have. Can you tell me how to recognize PTSD? A. PTSD is an emotional illness. Doctors typically call it an “anxiety disorder.” You might think of it as a kind of chronic psychological stress. PTSD can occur after you’ve been through a traumatic event. Generally, the traumatic event is something frightening that you see or that happens to you. You may think that your life or others' lives are in danger. Besides feeling afraid, you may think you have no control over what’s happening. If the event occurs in war and other people die, you may have “survivor guilt.” After the event, you might feel scared, confused, or angry. If these feelings don't go away or they get worse, then you could have PTSD. Symptoms can include Recurring memories or dreams of the traumatic eventReduced involvement in work or outside interestsEmotional numbnessJumpinessIrritabilityAnxiety Q. Is it true that the new rules don’t apply to every kind of situation? A. Right. The rules have changed only for one category of case. For the following situations, the rules have not changed: Cases where PTSD was already diagnosed in serviceCases where the veteran was actually engaged in combatCases where a veteran was a prisoner of warCases involving personal assault (including sexual assault) that were not related to enemy actions Q. How do the new rules work? What kind of proof DO I need? A. If the “stressor” you describe is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity rather than actual combat, we need four things: [*]We have to see that the events you describe are consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of your service.[*]You must be diagnosed with PTSD, and VA must agree with this diagnosis.[*]A psychiatrist or psychologist working for VA has to agree that the events you describe were serious enough to cause PTSD.[*]Your symptoms need to be related to the events you describe. Q. Which veterans are covered by these rules—Is it just Iraq and Afghanistan veterans? A. No, this rule applies to veterans no matter when they served. Q. When does the new regulation take effect? A. It became effective July 13, 2010. It applies to all PTSD claims, including appeals, that are received on or after July 13, 2010. It also applies to claims that were [*]Pending before VA on July 13, 2010[*]Pending before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) on July 13, 2010[*]Pending before VA on or after July 13, 2010, because they were overturned by BVA (in cases where the claim was filed before July 13, 2010). But in these last three situations, we must be reviewing the pending case based “on the merits.” That means that the decision must be about the “meat” of the case and not about a mere technicality. Q. Why is VA writing this new rule now? A. First, we needed to make the process easier and quicker for veterans. Second, medical science is always evolving, and we needed to catch up to recent developments. Q. How will VA handle all the new cases it gets? A. The Veterans Health Administration is budgeting for more examining physicians to handle the increased volume. Q. I have a claim (or an appeal) for PTSD pending right now. Is there something I should be doing about the new rule? A. You don’t have to do anything. We’ve already started using the new regulation. Q. I applied for PTSD years ago and was denied. Can I reapply now under the new rule? A. Yes. And you don’t have to fill out another long form. You just need to send us a letter saying you want to reopen your PTSD claim under the revised rule. A couple of sentences will do it. Make sure you add your social security number to the letter. But keep in mind that the revised rules apply only if your stressful event had to do with hostile or terrorist action and you were not actually engaged in combat. If your denial didn’t have to do with this kind of issue, the new rules may not affect you. Q. If I do re-open my application, will any payments be retroactive to the date of my first claim? A. Sorry, no. The earliest the effective date can be is July 13, 2010. And, in order to get this effective date, you need to apply before July 13, 2011. <b><br style="page-break-before: always;" clear="all"></b> Q. I believe I have PTSD, but I’ve never applied to VA. How do I start? A. You can apply at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp. Or you can download the form at http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-526-ARE.pdf. The form tells you everything you need to know. Q. My own doctor has already diagnosed me with PTSD. Do I have to report for a VA exam? A. Yes, a VA doctor will have to examine you. But you should submit all the information your doctor is willing to provide. We can make the request for you, if you prefer. In that case, you’ll need to download a release of information (VA form 21-4142), sign it, and return it to us.

Absolutely!

To get an ID card, does someone need to be 100% or 100% P&T?

I might print that out and post it on the bathroom walls the next time I go to the RO

I thought I would share this with everyone because it might shed some light on how frequently the 'current status' of claims is updated on the ebenefits site. Since mid-April, my claim has been in the decision phase. I eventually got ebenefits level 2 access and checked my claim status online a couple of times a week. After lunch today, I checked ebenefits and it still showed 'decision phase'. I haven't called the 1-800 number for quite a while, so I did. I got through first try without being put on hold for the usual 20 minutes. The agent said my claims are in the notification phase as of Monday 7/19. After I got off the phone, I checked ebenefits again and found there was no change. It looks like the status on ebenefits may not be realtime or someone may simply have forgotten to update it. I remembered what I read here and I did some checking to see if anything has changed. No retro deposit was in the bank. I called 1-800 (again) and my combined rating has not changed. I called my DAV rep, but they are out until Monday. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping to get good news, but I anticipate the letter to arrive by the middle of next month unless they backpedal.

Congratulations! That's great!

I see this too. Some of the nurses ask me a lot of questions, but some don't. When I look at my records, the same questions are there, but they are all answered. I went to the VA PCP yesterday for a problem and I was out of the room in less than three minutes. Comprehensive? lol

Bonus! Congratulations! That's really good news

Submit this just like any other claim. Submit it as "ED secondary to medications used to treat service connected {name of condition}." When you go back to the doc, you can also ask for some levitra, but they will only give you a few pills at a time. It might help.

I DVR'd the recording and watched it over the weekend. I fast forwarded through most of the commercials. Like you said, a significant number of them are for Warehouse 13.

Some re-evaluations are requested because 'your condition is expected to improve'. My award letter has me scheduled for a re-eval early next year and includes that text.

After a lot of technical problems, about two weeks ago the VA finally fixed the problem I was having with getting level 2 access via MHV. My claim has been in 'ratings/decision phase' for 95 days, so nothing has changed in a while...

Here's a great explanation of the difference between the two conditions: http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=16&cont=66 Hope this helps

I did the voc rehab thing about 2 years ago at the advice of one of my VA doctors. I believe it's all tied together and they make everyone see the same video and take a mini-iq test and occupational testing. If you get to see the video I saw, it had a guy who used voc rehab and opened his own barber shop. The voc rehab counselor said that was very unrealistic, which made me wonder why it was there to start with. Don't try to tackle the questionnaires all at once. Grab a page and chew on it for a while, then go onto another when you are ready. Be sure to take breaks too!

Bump! Excellent recommendation Carlie! When guests come over, I usually set a password on my systems so they don't do any damage. My daughter keeps getting virus/malware on her system from Facebook. She never uses my PC.

Like you and Rogue164, I have the same thing going on in my back. Extended periods of time can be a challenge. If you do not have any treatment records for the condition or have a large gap between treatment, it makes it even tougher. Also, if you have a nexus/IMO letter from a physician saying your current condition is 'least as likely as not', it really can help. Secondary SC might be a more likely approach if you are already SC for something related. For example, you are SC for your knees and a few years later your back is hosed. The doc can opine that the back was caused by your knee problems because of {insert medical rationale here}. Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) and Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) are about the same thing, but DDD is a more appropriate term for the spine. Rogue164, I filed for a back claim in 1995 and my 1997 C&P said I had DJD, but the doc did not find anything wrong at the time. In 2006, I blew out two discs in my back. In 2008, I reopened my claim and have been denied 3x, but had a new C&P in March. The doc diagnosed me with DDD/radiculopathy, but opined 'less than likely' because I had a large gap in treatment. I'm still fighting this one. The best chance I have is to get an IMO.

Check your connections. The mouse may be unplugged.

If you receive treatment for non-SC conditions, you will be responsible for medication co-pays. They will bill your insurance for non-SC treatment too. Being 30%, I'm not sure if they will charge an office visit co-pay or not, but others here know more than me about that. Other folks here know more about that than I do, so they will probably be able to help out.

If the meds are not as effective as they were before, you probably are developing a resistance to them. The VA bounces me back and forth between ibuprofen or naproxen for the past 15+ years. I used to get Vioxx from a private doc and that stuff worked great until they took it off the market. NSAIDS really do help relieve inflammation which causes pain. The side effect that drives me up the wall is acid reflux, but the VA gives me something to address that too. They also give me muscle relaxers to help loosen up constant spasms I experience, which actually helps take some of the pressure off, but they make me feel loopy. It seems that the combo does a fair job of addressing the basic pains, but I have to resort to stronger meds when the stronger pain kicks in throughout the day. For my back, I have been getting epidural pain blocks and they actually help make the pain manageable. Unfortunately, like Bergie said, this might not work for everyone. Definitely make sure your primary care doc is having your liver checked a couple of times a year, because of all the tylenol. I'm not a doc, but just offering some advice relating to my experiences.

Yes ma'am - I agree...

Without repeating the advice from Bergie or 71M10, here's some helpful info: Degenerative disc disease (DDD) usually does not show up on x-rays until your disc has worn down enough to show reduced spacing between vertebrae. X-rays do not show anything about the condition of your disc - that's where an MRI comes in. Steroid injections are part of pain management, but they do not work for everyone. Did you happen to file a claim for your back already or is this your first one?

This makes me wonder if my free VA dental care is really worth it...