Vync

lol.... "Our goal is to reduce the remand rate to 30% by the end of FY 06."

http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx Veterans and Active Duty military eat free ~Simply show proof of military service~ Note: I recommend you call ahead of time to make sure the location near you is participating.

Here's a link to the text of the bill: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1016

It sounds scary, but it is actually kind of innocent. I was in for five years, but had I stayed for my 20, I would have retired this year. I totally know what you mean. :D

Hey Cowgirl, That was an interesting read. The practice of collecting previous site, browser, operating system, etc... is used primarily to help the web site authors target their most common visitors, like targeted marketing. The information is also used by network/web security departments to help identify malicious threats. This happens everywhere and is considered normal.

Berta and MikeR, Thank you for the feedback. I was more or less curious about it.

Hey sawgunner, I am 0% for DDD and am trying to fight a similar fight as you to get an SC rating. I lost on two appeals, but am looking at taking a new strategy. From what everyone says, you have to have a serious nexus letter, but even with that some folks are continuously denied. The rubber stamp at work...

Years ago I worked at a call center for a major telecom company. We were rated primarily on two factors: 1 - Average answer time (how quickly we answered the call) and 2 - How quickly we could get the person off the phone. jbasser is right! Hopefully they won't think about routing calls overseas and make things even worse...

Keep us posted. I am curious if what you think they have is really there.

Hey everyone, I have a question regarding possible malpractice with respect to the VA. I had two incidents occur and am curious if I have any recourse. 1. About 10 years ago, before I was SC, I was being treated at the VA hospital and the young resident doc thought I had some heart ailment called ACS. They hooked me up to a boatload of equipment, did a bunch of bloodwork, including blood gas analysis, and brought in a cardiologist. It turned out to be a false alarm. They said "sorry, we thought you might have had something really awful" and then let me go home. Not knowing anything about how the VA system worked, I just went on about my business. I frequently have nightmares about the VA doctors scaring the crap out of me like this and then telling me to go home. Now, I am being treated by civilian physicians for atrial afibrulation (erratic heartbeat), hypertension, and inability to sleep (have to take ambien), including being hospitalized once. This all really started to surface around 2005/2006. I am not SC for this. 2. I have been on allergy treatments for quite a few years. One year ago, I received an incorrect dosage of an allergen injection. I could never progress to my maintenance (the last) vial because my body just couldn't take it. The nurse actually gave me the maximum dose from the maximum vial. I noticed that the injection burned like fire and did not subside. I didn't realize what happened until I complained a lot. They realized and then I was treated with epi and steroids. The doc was very apologetic, but the mistake was actually made by the nurse because she was careless. I visited the patient representative, but the guy really didn't seem interested and only asked what I wanted done. I let him know I never wanted this to happen to me or anyone again. New policies were put in place, but I don't always see them being followed. I really like the doc because he is the one person in the last 15 years who actually has actually made a difference in making this problem relatively bearable. The nurse who made the mistake is gone and I continue to go in monthly for my treatments. I am SC for this. With respect to these two incidents, what do you guys recommend?

Can't we use existing cases as precedent to obtain at least benefit of the doubt approval? Allan, if you have the nexus IMO's, maybe something like this recent board approval might work for you. I also quoted this below. http://www.va.gov/vetapp09/files3/0921830.txt Even with a significant delay, SC was approved.

Wings, That rocks! I wonder if the system contains the same information from my C-File... Oh, on a lighter note... I feel safer knowing that the security guards at the front desk have access to the vitals from my last visit. "He won't be to much trouble... Look! He's got a bad back." Disclosure to law enforcement personnel and security guards in order to alert them to the presence of dangerous persons in VA facilities or at VA activities conducted in non-VA facilities. VA may disclose on its own initiative any information in this system, except the names and home addresses of veterans and their dependents, which is relevant to a suspected or reasonably imminent violation of law, whether civil, criminal or regulatory in nature and whether arising by general or program statute or by regulation, rule or order issued pursuant thereto, to a Federal, State, local, tribal, or foreign agency charged with the responsibility of investigating or prosecuting such violation, or charged with enforcing or implementing the statute, regulation, rule or order.

tssnave, Thanks for the info. I am going to make sure all of "my papers are in order" (sorry, watched Firefox last night, couldn't resist) and then visit the RO.

Dav_marine, I hope they get your P&T fixed asap. There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with a bureaucracy.

I heard that people with 100% SSDI are allowed to 'piddle', i.e. make no more than a total of $5,000 income from part-time work. However, I don't know if this is the same for VA 100% SC.

When going to the RO to review your file, do they actually give you the physical file or do you review it digitally on a computer? Do they babysit you or just put you in a corner at a table? I am planning to review my records and plan to take a copy of my records in order to make sure nothing was missing. Note: Be sure to check both sides of every page!

I took Hoppy's advice and dug through board rulings and found one similar to mine, but this one was approved: http://www.va.gov/vetapp09/files3/0921830.txt In this case, the Veteran was injured once 1981 and diagnosed with lumbar strain with muscle spasm. He received the same treatment I did. In 2008, he was diagnosed with DDD. His case was won in 2009. Check this out: a VA staff physician opined the nexus. I am wondering if I should review my VA records...

Hey Hoppy and Allan, My condition was chronic while in the military. I have quite a number of documented instances, extended physical therapy, including bed rest. From 1995 through 2004, I was seeing a doc in the boxes for basically the same back problems and treated them the same way (motrin, muscle relaxers, x-ray, etc...). However, they lost my medical records or they were destroyed due to age. I didn't know then what I know now, otherwise I would have kept copies of everything. The 2006 illness was significant, so I guess I should do what I can to keep this alive until I can find a doc who is willing to write the nexus letter.

Pete might be correct. Fiscal year starts in October. Maybe that is a factor...

Grats! That's awesome! I wish we knew exactly who processed your claim. Apparently, they know what they are doing!

I honestly would like to hold onto my job as long as I can. Would really like to get this claim approved and/or get rid of the 10% reduction "(6522) 30% allergic rhinitis/sinusitis" (reduced by 10% because the VA says I had a 10% pre-service disability). I am thinking/hoping that would get me changed from 40% to 50% SC. Their fuzzy math is kinda weird.

Bob, Don't forget the $6.00 they deduct from your payment...

Would my case qualify as VA fishing? (My case history) Does "fishing" mean the VA sifts or seeks any reason to deny SC status? 1990-1995 Active Duty, lots of injuries 1995 filed initial claim, denied, appealed 2000 finished appeals, some approved, some denied 2004 back problems worsen 2006 severe back injury 2008 new claim for back problems, denied 2009 appeal, denied VA SOC admits I have problems like DDD and lumbar problems and am 0% SC for them. Other here think the VA denied SC because of my 2004 and 2006 injuries, even though DDD does not happen to someone overnight. The SOC quoted normal range of motion, but I am definitely far from that. Fishing or not fishing?

This booklet needs to be made sticky!

That's pretty cool and does help make some sense of things. For those of you, like me, who are currently in the appeals process, see the "Appeals Process" on page number 2. It starts with "Claim Filed" and goes straight to "Claim Decided", followed immediately by "You're not satisfied", then NOD...