[Win Win In Michigan]

The VA will not prescribe it. They will say it costs too much.

I have severe coronay artery disease, and the VA refuses fill perscriptions my outside Cardiologist provides because "they are too expensive". Never mind the fact that they are the best medications for my condition.

Stan

VA - The Cheapest healthcare money can buy. (legally)

It is used for pain and as well as PTSD.. got a buddy who got proscribed PTSD in CA. Cannabis Hempist Smokist has many medical uses....I hope you get off all that poisons to brother, weed is the way to go...........If the VA proscibe it, it will probably be in a pill form....

[Va Press Release]

My local AFB newspaper carried an article from the Associated Press titled "Soldier suicide rate may set record again, Army says". It says the Army had 115 suicides in 2007 and expects it to exceed that this year.

I suspect the Army will handle the problem by trying to identify possible suicide risks and removing them from active duty. This will make their statistics look good, but the problem will not go away, it will only be shifted to the VA.

I wonder how many suicides the AF, Navy and Marines have.

If the Military could just remove the Souls from these people, they wouldn't have these problems.

Stan

(you all know that the suicide issue was one of the worst problems the VA ever had -in the long run however, the problems VA had brought more suicide awareness to the front and potentially lives have been saved)

"Recent VA News Releases

VA Suicide Prevention Panel Completes Draft Report

Group Lauds VA's Comprehensive Strategy

WASHINGTON (Sept. 9, 2008) - A blue-ribbon panel has praised the

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for its "comprehensive strategy" in

suicide prevention that includes a "number of initiatives and

innovations that hold great promise for preventing suicide attempts and

completions."

Among the initiatives and innovations the group studied were VA's

Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK. The lifeline is staffed

by trained professionals 24 hours a day to deal with any immediate

crisis that may be taking place. Nearly 33,000 veterans, family members

or friends of veterans have called the lifeline in the year that it has

been operating. Of those, there have been more than 1,600 rescues to

prevent possible tragedy.

Other initiatives noted included the hiring of suicide prevention

coordinators at each of VA's 153 medical facilities, the establishment

of a Mental Health Center of Excellence in Canandaigua, N.Y., focusing

on developing and testing clinical and public health intervention

standards for suicide prevention, the creation of an additional research

center on suicide prevention in Denver, which focuses on research in the

clinical and neurobiological conditions that can lead to increased

suicide risk and a plus-up in staff making more than 400 mental health

professionals entirely dedicated to suicide prevention.

With the praise, the panel also recommended a mixture of more research,

greater cooperation among federal agencies, and more education for

health care workers and community leaders to further strengthen and

share VA's ability to help veterans and their families.

"Every human life is precious, none more than the men and women who

serve this nation in the military," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Dr. James B. Peake. "The report of this blue-ribbon panel, and other

efforts underway, will ensure VA mobilizes its full resources to care

for our most vulnerable veterans."

Called the "Blue Ribbon Work Group on Suicide Prevention," the

five-member group was composed of suicide prevention experts from VA,

the Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, the National Institute of Health, and the Substance Abuse

and Mental Health Services Administration. The group was created by

Peake and met June 11-13, 2008.

Among the panel's recommendations to further enhance VA's outstanding

programs, many of which VA has already begun to implement, are:

* Design a study that will identify suicide risk among veterans of

different conflicts, ages, genders, military branches and other factors.

VA has committed to work with other federal agencies to design such a

study within 30 days.

* Improve VA's screening for suicide among veterans with

depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). VA is in the

process of designing a new screening protocol, with pilot test

undertaken during the fiscal year quarter beginning Oct. 1, 2008.

* Ensure that evidence-based research is used to determine the

appropriateness of medications for depression, PTSD and suicidal

behavior. VA's is providing written warnings to patients about side

effects, and the Department's suicide prevention coordinators are

contacting health care providers to advise them of the latest

evidence-based research on medications.

* Devise a policy for protecting the confidential records of VA

patients who may also be treated by the military's health care system.

VA is already developing a plan to clarify the privacy rights of

patients who come to VA while serving in the military.

* Increase research about suicide prevention. VA has announced

several funding opportunities this year for research on suicide

prevention and is developing priorities for suicide prevention research.

* Develop educational materials about suicide prevention for

families and community groups. VA is examining the effectiveness of

support groups and educational material for the families of suicidal

veterans, and producing a brochure for the families of veterans with

traumatic brain injury about suicide, which will be available within 30

days.

* Increase training for VA chaplains about the warning signs of

suicide. VA offices responsible for chaplains and mental health

professionals are studying ways to implement this recommendation, with a

report due by Nov. 1.

* Develop a gun-safety program for veterans with children in the

home, both as a child-safety measure and a suicide prevention effort. A

VA directive establishing the program is being developed, with full

implementation expected during the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2008.

VA is the nation's largest provider of mental health care. More than

17,000 mental health professionals, including dedicated suicide

prevention coordinators in each of VA's 153 medical centers, are

available to care for veterans. The Department's mental health program

this year is funded at more than $3 billion."

[Got The Unofficial Answer]

I have a new Dr. since that one.(At my request).

I wonder if I should ask the new Dr. about the link, between depression and CAD or if in doing so, I would come off as just wanting disability. Would it be different if it is the Dr.s idea?

Brewers

Do you think you could get another doctor at the VA? Your doctor is hostile and I don't think you should discuss your claim with a doctor who has that attitude. I would like to see that doc get his/her leg blown off and talk about government handouts. Do as Terry has advised.

[Got The Unofficial Answer]

Has anybody ever used the

"Expert Medical Opinions

Medical specialists for veteran and military medical conditions www.medopinions.com"

listed at the top of this page?

But WHO does write IMO's ?

When I asked my VA Dr. about the link , she said "I don't believe in giving Government handouts!".

[Got The Unofficial Answer]

But WHO does write IMO's ?

When I asked my VA Dr. about the link , she said "I don't believe in giving Government handouts!".

I am fighting the same fight my doctor wrote CAD as being secondary to PTSD and they denied it saying there is no literature yet CAD is hypertension and artherisclerosis combined into one term so you need to get your doctor to rewrite the letter stating that your hypertension and artherisclerosis is secondary to PTSD and get rid of the term CAD I am 100% P&T for PTSD but after 7 heart attacks and a stroke I want the heart disease SC to ensure my wife and son get the DIC benefits when I pass it isn't about no more money but I have a good nexus between the toxic exposures at Edgewood and heart disease and COPD besides the PTSD

I wrote the doctor once if I find his address again I will post it he does not write IMO's I asked

[Got The Unofficial Answer]

Testvet,

Thanks. That is the address I used, but got this back:

The message that you sent was undeliverable to the following:

jboscarino (User account is expired)

jboscarino@NYAM.ORG it takes him a week or two but he did answer me

[Got The Unofficial Answer]

If any body knows how I can contact Dr. Joseph A. Boscarino , please e-mail me at Brewers@ftc-i.net.

Do you know of any studies from Dr. Joseph A. Boscarino that link Coronary Artery Disease to Major Depression? Or better yet, and Dr. who can do a IMO along those lines?

Thanks,

Stan

yes the hypertension can be rated as secondary to PTSD there are many studies showing the links, just know that if you file for it, you will be reopening the IU claim and they can then do anything they want, I however believe if you do it now, they would have a hard time justifying taking it away. Here are some of the links to the studies the BVA is accepting from Dr Boscarino http://mailer.fsu.edu/~cfigley/vets/docume...SDMortStudy.pdf and http://mailer.fsu.edu/~cfigley/vets/docume...IN2900-AM09.pdf good luck and congrats

[Just Received My Brother's Smr]

Treatment for chest pain or heart can also be associated with amxiety disorder. If your brother was combat he can also use his own narative about anxiety or depressive episodes. Good Luck

Yes there are many studies linking CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) with Depression, but please show me one Dr. who will put that in writing in his patients records, and I'll give him another patient!

I feel my CAD is a result of years of deep depression. While VA Dr.'s will privately tell me that there are studies that link the two, none will put it in writting.

Brewers_2150

[Dav]

How is it that different DAV RO's have different rules?

Can't I change my POA at any time?

I need a "Consummers Report" on Service Officers from various Service Organizations!

My DAV office at the regional VA assigned us SO's at random. I never had a decent one in ten years. They were the laziest bunch and never returned a single phone call. I still recommend having an SO but shop around if you can before signing the POA. I think you have to win your own claim. The SO can facilitate the process if they are able to get off their asses.

[Dav]

If the DAV drives you crazy, can it be service connected? : )

Hi all, I am Sbrewers husband, and here is my story....

I contacted the DAV via their website to ask if they were acting on the Technetium recall. They had a SO for the State office call me. Man I was impressed, he was a real "go getter", and sounded very knowledgeable. I went to the DAV State office, and was told I could not meet with the SO I had spoken to, but would have to speak to another SO baised on my last name. I spoke to SO #2, and got the impression that he would rather have been somewhere else. He showed NO desire to assist me. He looked up my case number, and found that years ago I had assigned the American Legion as my POA. Will that got him off the hook! He sent me down the hall to the American Legion. Well they were about as excited as the DAV SO #2! They asked, "What are you doing here? You should see your local SO before coming to the State office!" Well I felt about 2 inches tall. I called the local American Legion and made an appointment to see their SO. The appointment, as my dear wife pointed out, was made for McDonalds. I felt very odd talking about my Service Connected Disability in such a public place. Oh well, the SO didn't want to spend much time on that any way. Instead he insisted on talking about his church, and insisted I attend it next Sunday. I tried to get the conversation back to my medical case, and he would direct it back to attending his church. After another attempt to discuss my case, he finally said, "I've got another appointment coming in, call me if you need anything." So, I went out to my car, and waited 5 minutes, watching him at the empty table. No one else came in. I called the DAV office again, asking to speak to SO #1. The receptionist said he was with a customer. I asked to leave a message, and she insisted on my SS #. I gave it to her, and she said "Oh, the American Legion is your POA, you will have to talk to them." I said, "I can't leave SO #1 a message? " and she said "No". WELL!!! I was able to locate SO #1's email address, and sent him all the above information and asked that he call me. I sent it with delivery receipt and read receipt turned on. He read it at 1:57 but never called me, nor returned the e-mail message.

There ought to be somewhere a Vet can take @%*^ like this and DEMAND GOOD SERVICE. Any ideas?

Is there a department in the Senate or Congress that over sees these activities? I'm about ready to give up and blow my brains out! HELP!

At the DAV office I'm affiliated with your were assigned by your last Initial to a service officer . The DAV has the best trained service officers ,but there are lazy ones in every situations . They are by far the most overworked. Just remember it is YOUR case to win or loose . YOU have to do the leg work ,by that i mean you have to get the right information to win YOUR claim. No service officer can do it without your input . That is why you have to educate your self right here at HADIT by reading and asking questions so you can talk intelligent to your service officer and file your own paper work with a copy to your service officer.

As far as call backs on telephone ,if they returned all the calls they receive they would be on the phone constantly. They have to read every decision made by VA that they have power of attorney over, even if it means their weekend . I have met several DAVSO and have mucho respect for their work.BTW one day a week is set aside for just new training of constant new rules that are changing everyday. My two cents

[Reasonable Risk ?]

I had a bad toe pain, VA Podiatrist tried a couple of non surgical steps, then we went with surgery.

After surgery the toe would not bend. I went back for Physical Theropy and 2 months later it still does not bend. I filled a claim for 1151. They turned it down, stating I did not show where the Dr. was careless, neglectfull, lacked proper skill, or that it was not reasonably forseen.

The Dr. talked about risks with the surgery such as, infection, reaction to anastesia, scar tisue, and loss of sensitivity due to cut nerves. I related to the last two items due to previous surgeries and agreed to go forward with the surgery. In my mind, the loss of use of this toe was not reasonably forseen.

Where can I find what risks are considered "Reasonable"?

I don't think that loss of use due to Hammertoe surgery was reasonably forseen. I searched high and low, but can not find where ANY risks are detailed as resonably forseen.

Anybody able to help?

[Re-opening File Question]

Hi Berta,

I'm begining to beleive that the VA did not have my records from 1980-1983. I checked with ROI again today, and told them that only my Dental Records were in the package I received yesterday. I told them I had been treated in the Mental Health Clinic, and asked if perhaps those records were stored seperately, or could not be released to me. ROI said, "No, this is all of your records."

I'm thinking that if they did not use my USAF or VA records in 1983, then they certainly did not in 2003.

No, I noticed the 1year time limit after it had expired. : (

Brewers_2150

[Re-opening File Question]

Hi all, I am sbrewer's husband, and here is a summary of my case:

1977-1980 USAF –

1980 Placed on TDRL (Temporary Duty Retirement List) at 50% for Service

Connected Depression. VA awards 10% for same.

1980-1983 Received payments from the Air Force and VA, and went to College

for Vocational Rehab, and continued medical care at VA.

1983 USAF Ended TDRL with a lump sum payment and honorable discharge.

VA withholds their 10% payments until USAF lump sum is Recooped.

1983 Hospitalized for depression in a civilian hospital. I did not go

to the VA because it was an emergency.

2003 I notify the VA that I had not heard from them, and asked what happened? The said they “lost”

me, and sent a check for the 10% from 1991 to 2003. (I have lived in the same city from 1980 to

present) The VA stated that they had evaluated my case and would leave it at 10%.

Last week I asked the VA hospital for a copy of my records from 1980-1984.

They could not find them. I was called by ROI (Release of Information) and they said they did

find my records, but that they had been filed under the wrong SS#. (The digits had been

transposed).

Now, if the VA RO had contacted the VA Hospital in 1980-1983 for my records, the Hospital would not have been able to provide them, because of the error on my SS# in their files. With out the info from the VA Hospital they could not make a fair assessment of my case.

My questions are:

1. Should I not be able to have the case reopened, perhaps with an increase?

2. If the USAF said I was 50%, why didn’t the VA?

Brewers_2150

My husband is 10% for depression and has been since 1980. He was also on TDRL and when that ended they kept his VA check until that was paid back. He found out today that the VA had his info under the wrong social security number. Can he re-open a his claim from 1980 and if so how does he do this? If there is an increase would they owe him back pay from 1980?

Thanks,

sbrewer