cowgirl

Oh Yes Thank you God!! Another milestone in my and our successes happened when chapter 35 benefit certificates arrived for my loved ones. Thank you, thank you, thank you my family and freinds, I am speechless and amazed at the possibilities =) =) =) !!!! Very Humbly indebted to you each, Your Hadit'Cowgirl & family

Whoopity Doo !! glad for you to get whats due. Of course you'll read, pause and read again to consider all the details. Best to ya Cowgirl'up!!

curious = do you have sciatic nerve condition also? Honestly I'm envious but happy you recieved a call from the VARO and they discussed your NOD condition with you. What did your comp exam show?? Just thinkin aloud, because I have SC lumbar(sciatic) issues and varicose veins - rated under different diagnosis codes. Best to ya, Cowgirl'up.2.3.4.....

After half year on iu 100% I am thankful and appreciative with the help of this wonderful Hadit family. If I had attorney, I'd pay em. Now if I won that much that was due in return I'd expect a huge dinner, limo, flowers, chocolate and champagne on their dime :D!! (know attorney can write that off ....=)! p.s. Blackbird, blush, me too!!

Quick comment regards part time job, it does demonstrate that he was 'working'. When VA decided my iu - the 'award' date-was based upon last day worked, shows 'workability for my lack of a better term. and my work was non-gainful and oncall, sometimes not working for a week or two, then maybe then a day or three. The way I understand it - work. My temporary employer just provided the basics, days worked, release and resignation date. I also applied for and got ssdi. The SSA approved me primarily with a SC condition. I believe getting ssdi helped my iu application. The process went slow,fast, slow, etc... Wishing you all the best, Cg'up!

Sandra, I suggest a seperate (new) post for the specific question and possible comments. best to ya, Cowgirl

Aw Congratulations to you and your wife ~ !! Reading your sincerely written post just made my heart cry. I sure hope you have the correct dates on your decision. Also if you are eligible for SSDI, thats a boon too. Life is good, thanks to the Heros here at Hadit and some unsung heros at the VA. If not for the VA, guess we wouldn't be here on the net or at Hadit looking to garner disability or family benefits - namely 'whats due' each. Stay blessed, be prepared for changes and enjoy the 'instant' weight lift - thanks for sharing you joy, Cowgirl and family

I agree, there seems to be something amiss here. Applying legal rules is the only way to correct this denial. So, from what I read, a timeline needs clearly developed and the facts to support it. simplify. justify with medical opinions and work history. Can this guy get SSDI? That would be very helpful connecting the dots to a service connected injury preventing gainful employment - especially if the service connected condition is primary reason the veteran is disabled. Has this veteran tried vocational rehabilitation? The counselor will declare what or if the VA can offer help. If this person is 70years old and unemployed due to his knee - is he sad or depessed? VA care is available? What is the current status of his claim? When was the last time he requested status via IRIS? And if you want to post the VA locale, someone here may have had the same go-round and fix. Best to ya Cowgirl'up,1,2,3....

Thank you, 10-4, gotcha and good reminder! Cg

Congratulations - Wow-wee, Amen and Hallelejuah (I can say that its past Easter!:D) doing the HOKEY-POKEY dance for ya. I am very happy that you recieved whats due you and your family. Be sure to check all the decision information and dates, now and in a month or two - its important not to miss anything that needs fixed asap. Thanks to God and Hadit, I made it too. It really feels great to play it forward and pass along any experience no matter how minor we think it. All the best to ya and yours, Cowgirl and family!

Really good post - but somehow got into DIC section? I think this would fit in the General Section also.

Noticed you said 'maybe' about the percentages, do you have a claim for increase in? As far as the SSA office, what did they give you that confirms they will back date your disability? I take it you already have a SSA claim in? Wishing you all the best, Cowgirl'up,2,3,4....

Hey there Carlie-sis - ya done good! Ya know its your firey inspiration and self experience that helped your freind get VA benefits while he's still young. You're just great ~ ! Cowgirl

My first thought - when did you submit your claim? Sounds like its really in progress now, but its hard to say exactly - I'd guess in the next few months. Once I had additional VA information to be added to the c&p exam, called the c&p office to find out if I could submit it while the report was being prepared. That worked, but anythings a coin toss. Also, if you move fast, seeing your VA doc gave you that specific of a diagnosis, its possible that you could add that in for additional evidence. Go to Release of Information (ROI) and request a copy of todays notes. For mental health it may be a day before the doc can find time to authorize release to you. If you submit this or any other medical support statements, be sure to state in writing what you are submitting. Like, a diagnosis for MDD,PTSD and Pain Disorder ...by Dr. xxxxx in support of your claim for PTSD and clearly state the date you are submitting. Try to get a date stamp when you hand it over. In a few days you can also ask ROI office for copy of your exam and then let us know how it goes. If your VA medical records already contained your diagnosis and IF they were used for the exam, that'd be good. All the best, Cg

Hoppy well stated and I hope that helps Uncle Joe here get a fair compensation exam. True VA medical treatment records are one thing and Service Treatment Records (STR) another, two seperate records. When claiming for a condition, initially I recall that my STRs were reviewed, purused, and used to make initial SC/NSC decisions. Then when I appealed, notice of disagreement (NOD) I believe my STRs were on hand, but I can't confirm they were used in the decsision. Of course, the examiner added the statement to their report. A different time, there was only the doc, computer and me. I carried a blank exam copy, particular STR pages selection for my chronic condition and internet medical printout that I thought described my dilema. Shared it all with the doc and got what was asked for - no STRs on hand. I wonder since it was mentioned, could some STRs be made available to VA doc's? Then with VA treatment records (VTR)s and STRs, its possible a decision could be made. I just don't see how unbiased it could be if a vet is treated by the same doc for the same condition requested for Service Connection (SC). Do take heed to make sure what you've claimed is what is being considered for SC or increase. Found laymen (us, the veteran) and professional (the near experts) can have condition names or terms crossover, get mis-stated or miss the boat alltogether. JRW, Postman and Testvet good insights too. This non-exam bothers me, but if the VTRs make it so - so be it to Uncle Joes benefit. Best to ya, Uncle Joe and that Blue pig for good luck!! Cg p.s.Not sure if everyone has copy of STRs in their Cfile - they'd be available 'legal VA documents' then and on hand for any decsision, eh?.

Oh my - congratulations!! My lil brain can't get what all you went through, but thank God you're still here to recieve whats due you. Being a self advocate is work, being a selfless advocate is compassionate work. Thank you for sharing your story, success and bless you on your new life journey. Cg'up,1,2,3,,,,,

Independent Living Services http://www4.va.gov/vetapp98/files3/98221 don"t give up, ask for different counselor - denial for any application usually requires a written response with appeal guidelines - least it did during my voc rehab experience. If you have a VA doc supporting you - ask for help. Sure hope you get fair treatment and settle for nothing less. Best to ya, Cg

Agree, sure doesnt sound right. I hope you are treated more fairly and the games stop. The word "IF" is one thing - but it looks like the rep specifically stated it that way with purpose. One request in my files says "In the opinion of the VA examiner is it at least as likely as not, the veteran has..." Let us know ~ !

All right - that is good news. Keep up the good work - you are a true self advocate~! Ice cream time. Best to ya'all, Cg

Hello 68mustang, looks like you have something goin here. Just how did you request the copy of the claim ? This is interesting, so I wonder what exactly triggered the comp exam also. Is it possible that you put in for increase or the VA misunderstood your request for copy only. For now, if the VA has established a claim when you didnt request one, something needs to be done. Seems like the cart is runnin ahead of the horse. Guess I'd ask for my request letter back and for the claim to be stopped. If you are not ready to go ahead with this claim - did you tell them? in writing? Other than that if you accepted the paperwork and they progressed on - even with no c&p exam, its time for you to get busy. M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart iv, Chapter 3, Section A lists guidance on exams Tell us what the denied decision stated, did you submit NOD and if so what was the response? Do you have other current medical diagnosis or IMO for support? If the VA denied a recent claim based on your 2000 exam, what strong reason would they do that with? Side note caution - I used to talk a bit to the VA 1800 - found my words could be used to trigger certain actions in my claim. Once I complained about exam, sure enough showed up in the decision. Other time, simple inquiry was forwareded and answered by local VARO per the telephone conversation. That surprised me. IRIS inquiries work better for me. Let us know more, Best to ya, Cg

Sgmdae, was this for increase or NOD? What did the decision say, sometimes noticed decisions and dates don't always match up between the award paperwork and decison statement. Post the data so we can see how to help,(minus personal info) Cg

Brother, I hope the best for you. Its possible that if you have additional descriptions from your comp exam that a good guess can happen here. I hope you are getting treatment, because then you'll have another diagnosis to back your increase request. My experience, GAF is a part of the picture, but will need supportive statements that fit the rating bill for the increase. Are you working or getting other VA assistance? Do you have a VSO? Let us know how it goes after you get your comp exam report. Sorry you have this condition and good for you for asking for help. Best to ya, Cg

Testvet is right on as well - and sets a better date. My process takes more preperation - even though when asking for the VA to increase (without specifying the condition) I think they're supposed to look at all the sc, and that can be good or not, depending on whats already SC.

Hi Jet, good basic question. A veteran can file a letter 'request for increase' for a specific service connected decision. I do recommend he request his VA C-file (compensation file) first for history on that particular claim. Mention this because its possible that other conditions were presented for rating years ago. When I did an increase not too long ago, I forgot a few things were Service Connected at 0% already and my exam included those - my whoops. Does he have a current audiogram? Is he on medicines that may affect his hearing - sinus, etc? Look at VBA 38 CFR Book C Schedule for Rating Disabilities, Impairment of Auditory Acuity, it should help explain how the VA evaluates. Best to ya, Cg

Hallooo Pigdriver - there ya go and another prayer is answered. Thank you for your service, it is bittersweet that you have this/these conditions and have had to manage them best as possible though the years. I hope you get the high quality care you so deserve. I gotta say, even if you sometimes feel like a beatup ole marine as you put it, your 'posting voice' sounds younger for this overdue 'award'. Congrats for the swift decision - Ya Done Good! Cg