Vync

I really hope this works out for you in the end. My VAMC's Release of Information office swore up and down that I had no imaging (CT/MRI) results, even though I could tell them the exact date when they occurred. After fighting for two months, I discovered that the radiology department has their own library and that's when I got them. Regarding the teleconference, I wonder what the Vets who chose to remain in Europe do in similar situations? For something this serious, have you considered contacting your state Congressman or Senator?

Hoppy, The docs are supposedly given 10 business days to post their C&P results. After that, they can be obtained from the VAMC Release of Information office. I just did this last month, got mine about 6 days after my exams, and the clerk printed them on the spot. Please note that my C&P was done by VA staff physicians, not QTC contractors.

I requested my C-file in early Nov 2009 and filed some claims in late Dec 2009. I got reaponse back from one claim, but still waiting on others. I still have not received a copy of my C-file.

Hughie, Congratulations on the increase. Btw... which RO processed your claim? I'm curious because my C&P exams were about 5 weeks ago and my claim is still in the ratings dept. Berta, I don't mean to detract from this topic, but are they really supposed to do that? If they identified a potential secondary condition and even diagnosed it during a C&P exam (which was never provided to the Veteran), what recourse would the Veteran have and would they be able to get a corresponding EED based on that?

Bishop, Check your 10% TMJ award letter. Look at your range of motion. In some cases, you have sufficient evidence of injury that they will ignore it and grant you the 10%. The VA does not rate TMJ based on pain, it rates it on range of motion. There are some other dental ratings which may apply if you have more advanced problems, but let's look at generic TMJ for now: What's your current range of motion for your jaw, both vertical and horizontal? You measure the vertical (inter-incisal) range by the distance between the incisors when you open as wide as you can. Don't try to pry your mouth open. Just open it as far as you can. You measure the horizontal (lateral excursion) range by the maximum distance you can move your jaw left right. Measure from between your two front teeth, but add the distances for left and right movement together. Compare your totals (in mm) against this table. §4.150 - Schedule of Ratings - Dental and Oral Conditions 9905 Temporomandibular articulation, limited motion of: Inter-incisal range: 0 to 10 mm 40 11 to 20 mm 30 21 to 30 mm 20 31 to 40 mm 10 Range of lateral excursion: 0 to 4 mm 10 Note: Ratings for limited inter-incisal movement shall not be combined with ratings for limited lateral excursion.

I'm trying to find someone who was in my basic training unit, so I don't think they will have a web site. Berta, that's a very inspiring story. I will give it a shot. I appreciate the tips!

It sounds plausible as long as it is considered new and material evidence that the VA previously did not have when they made a ruling.

bump

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to locate former fellow service members in order to cooberate a stressor? If the VA is told who the person is, would they try to track them down and confirm it or is that something which has to be done independently?

Some Veterans have indicated receiving copies of their records on CD (possibly DVD). I checked with the local VAMC Release of Information Office in Birmingham, but they only provide printed copies of records. Has anyone had any success in requesting a different VAMC provide records on CD or DVD? Also, if your VAMC was able to provide data on CD or DVD, which VAMC was it? If my VAMC cannot do it, I am sure another VAMC could... Thanks

This is the best info I have heard all week: "I also told him, that in the REAL WORLD, people with a sore throat, do not see a Gynecologist, so why should I see someone w/o Ortho specialization?" Note: In my 1997 C&P exam, they did not use a goinometer. However, in my C&P exam last month, they did. I didn't ask them too either.

My VAMC C&P office told me the docs have 10 business days to complete the C&P exam report. Sometimes they finish it earlier than that, depending on the circumstances. This gives them time to dig through your C-file and medical and prescription records.

The C&P office at my VAMC told me that the docs have 10 business days to complete the C&P exam report. Sometimes they finish it earlier than that, depending on the circumstances. This gives them time to dig through your C-file and medical and prescription records.

They don't always do bloodwork. However, they will ask you a fair number of intimate questions. With regards to returning some functionality, visit your primary care doc or a urologist. Depending on your heart condition, you might be able to get some meds. The VA docs typically will give you some levitra, about 4 or 6 pills per month, along with a pill splitter. If you go to a private urologist, some of them will give you a 'party pack' which contains samples of levitra, cialis, viagra, etc... Each work differently for different people, but common side effects are headaches and that list of stuff they ramble off on the tv commercials. You might need to find the right one which works for you. If you can't get samples, ask the VA doc to write you a paper prescription to be filled in a civilian pharmacy. If you have decent private insurance, they tend to pay for some, but not a whole month's worth. Getting the SMC-K award for ED means $96.00 per month, which can come in handy if you want to pay cash at a civilian pharmacy. I hope things turn out for the better for you.

I don't know if it applies to a C&P or not. It's worth trying. However, under certain circumstances, you can request the specific gender of the MH examiner. I made it pretty clear up front and it worked for me.

Obviously the examiner has a disconnect with the world of reality. Give them about 5-10 working days and then get your results. I hope it works out in your favor.

I hope they make him wear that suit while he is in prison. It's a guarantee that he will get the crap kicked out of him daily. Poetic justice.

It really bites when people do this. Even if a guy is paralyzed from the waist down, medical procedures can make it possible to extract the goods so his wife bear children. I think this guy has other problems, especially if he went to court and "stood straight in his cream-colored suit, yellow shirt and striped tie". Geez...

Carleigh and Pete are correct here. The MH providers can help you understand your axis table and GAF ratings.

- Acute: Symptoms > 1 month, < 3 months - Chronic: Symptoms ≥ 3 months - Delayed Onset: Onset ≥ 6 months Due to 'chronic' appearing twice, was your GAF was below 50 or possibly below 40?

Come to think of it, when I got my retro in 2000, I received a letter and then a week later the money was deposited into my account. Of course, that was 10 years ago. I would hope they would be a bit more efficient now. Best bet is to call them every couple of days. Also, check your bank account to see if you have a large deposit from the VA. Also, regarding financials, I recommend you listen to the Dave Ramsey show on a.m. radio. I did and it made a real big difference to me. His books are good too. Here's my math (which is probably wrong, but who knows): From what you indicated, it looks like they pretty much have paid you at a monthly rate of $1,381.00 from March 1 2008 to the present. Amount Amount Amount Date Reason for change $1,692.00 $559.00 $1,133.00 2008-03-01 CRDP adjustment * At less than 70% during this period? $1,692 - 1381.00 = $311.00 x3 = $933.00 $1,692.00 $63.00 $1,629.00 2008-06-01 CRDP adjustment $1,692 - 1381.00 = $311.00 x6 = $1866.00 $1,790.00 $69.00 $1,721.00 2008-12-01 Cost of living adjustment, CRDP adjustment $1,692 - 1381.00 = $311.00 x12 = $3732.00 $1,790.00 $34.00 $1,756.00 2009-01-01 CRDP adjustment $1,790 - 1381.00 = $409.00 x12 = $2863.00 $3,423.00 $0.00 $3,423.00 2009-08-01 CRDP adjustment $3,588.00 $0.00 $3,588.00 2009-10-01 CRDP adjustment, continued as a school child * At 100% during this period? $1,922.00 $62.00 $1,860.00 2009-11-01 CRDP adjustment $1,922 - 1381.00 = $541.00 x3 = $1623.00 $1,922.00 $15.00 $1,907.00 2010-02-01 CRDP adjustment $1,922 - 1381.00 = $541.00 x2 = $1082.00 $1,922.00 $0.00 $1,922.00 2010-04-01 CRDP adjustment ends $1,922 - 1381.00 = $541.00 x1 = $541.00 Here are the totals. Of course, I could be wrong, but based on what you have given that's what it look like. $ 933.00 $ 1,866.00 $ 3,732.00 $ 2,863.00 $ 1,623.00 $ 1,082.00 $ 541.00 ---------- $12,640.00 (retro SWAG - no clue if this is even close to what you will get)

Hawkfire27 has good advice. VA patients rights indicates that you have the right to choose your physician. This guy sounds like a jerk. Get yourself a real doctor. Also, I had some resident docs who I could not trust, so I requested a staff physician and they changed me over.

Hey MacQueen, Regarding the timeframe, I really have no idea. So far, it looks like this: 50% as of Feb 2008 70% as of ?? ------- When did you get the 70% rating??? Because of the EED update, we know you are at 80% as of March 2008. The retirement offset makes things a bit different... I tried to do the math, but I came up with an amount of about $12,600, but that just does not seem right. Call the 1-800 number and speak with someone regarding your payments. They should be able to tell you the total retro amount and the date when it is scheduled to post to your bank account. This should take no more than 15 min...

That really bites. The GAF rating is not a complete indicator, but it does say a lot. Some MH docs have no clue on how to really put together an accurate GAF score. I have heard of people getting a 55 for expressing serious frustrations but others get a 55 when they are literally bouncing off the walls. The last time I read the VA patients' rights document, it says you have the right to choose your physician. I am not sure, but it might be worth it to try and seek another exam from a different physician. I'm sure some of the elders here could offer a better opinion.

I have direct deposit. Strangely, when I received back pay last month due to an increase from 40% to 70%, the payment was in my bank account about two days before I received my award letter. I actually thought it was my Fed tax return coming in, but it wasn't. Your scanner did a decent job OCR'ing the text, but I think I managed to clean it up here. Not sure if this is correct though. It looks like you were not always at 70% during this time, but I could be wrong... Your table: Amount Amount Amount Date Reason for change $1,692.00 $559.00 $1,133.00 2008-03-01 CRDP adjustment * At less than 70% during this period? $1,692.00 $63.00 $1,629.00 2008-06-01 CRDP adjustment $1,790.00 $69.00 $1,721.00 2008-12-01 Cost of living adjustment, CRDP adjustment $1,790.00 $34.00 $1,756.00 2009-01-01 CRDP adjustment $3,423.00 $0.00 $3,423.00 2009-08-01 CRDP adjustment $3,588.00 $0.00 $3,588.00 2009-10-01 CRDP adjustment, continued as a school child * At 100% during this period? $1,922.00 $62.00 $1,860.00 2009-11-01 CRDP adjustment $1,922.00 $15.00 $1,907.00 2010-02-01 CRDP adjustment $1,922.00 $0.00 $1,922.00 2010-04-01 CRDP adjustment ends The following has not yet occurred (no retro). They want you to be aware of the impending changes so you don't look at your monthly VA payment and freak out while wondering what happened. $1,730.00 $0.00 $1,730.00 2010-06-01 Trads and removed from award $1,643.00 $0.00 $1,643.00 2012-01-19 Turns 18 removed from award VA rate tables: Rates as of 12/1/2007 - http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/rates/comp0107.htm Rates as of 12/1/2008 - http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/rates/comp0108.htm Rates as of 12/1/2009 - http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/rates/comp01.htm You need to do this to figure out how much retro you get: 1. Each line represents a specific period of months for the given rate. 2. Dig through your bank statements for each period and determine the actual rate you were paid. 3. Subtract actual rate from the new rate (number in first column). 4. Take the difference and multiply it by the number of months where the same actual rate was paid. That will tell you how much retro you will get. Note: It looks like you were probably at a 100% temp rate from August 2009 through October 2009. If you were, you won't get any retro during those periods. I tried to look up the numbers on the tables below, but your numbers based on Vet/Spouse/Child under 18 + Child under 18 do not seem to match what is shown on the table. Because I don't know exactly what your factors are, I cannot do the math for you. I have a feeling that one of your children might be a college student. If you can give us the rates you were actually paid during each period, the math will be easier.