saturneptune

You have one or more service-connected disabilities: Yes Include the information in this row Your combined service-connected evaluation is: 70% Include the information in this row and the one below it Your current monthly award amount is: $1502 The effective date of the last change to your current award was: December 01, 2012 Include the information in this row You are not considered to be permanently disabled due to your service-connected disabilities because your case is scheduled for review on: February 01, 2016 Include the information in this row You are not considered to be permanently disabled due to your service-connected disabilities at this time because you are scheduled for a future reduction in rating on: February 01, 2016 Include the information in this row You are service-connected for loss of or loss of use of a limb, or are you totally blind in or missing at least one eye: Yes

Under documents on E Benefits, there is a letter generator. It has changed lately, but here is part of my chart to generate a letter. You have one or more service-connected disabilities: Yes Include the information in this row Your combined service-connected evaluation is: 70% Include the information in this row and the one below it Your current monthly award amount is: $1502 The effective date of the last change to your current award was: December 01, 2012 Include the information in this row You are not considered to be permanently disabled due to your service-connected disabilities because your case is scheduled for review on: February 01, 2016 Include the information in this row You are not considered to be permanently disabled due to your service-connected disabilities at this time because you are scheduled for a future reduction in rating on: February 01, 2016 Include the information in this row You are service-connected for loss of or loss of use of a limb, or are you totally blind in or missing at least one eye: Yes This is what I do not understand and would appreciate any response. Notice the last entry. Last time I checked, I have both legs, arms and eyes. The disability is related to a six way heart bypass and associated conditions. In the next to last two entries. it says I am scheduled for a reexam and reduction in rating. First of all, how can one be scheduled for a future reduction before the exam, and the other one says the exam will be on Feb 1, 2016. I just had a reexam result in March of this year, a few months ago. On top of that, I will be 63 on that date, way above 55. Just wonder if you think this info is in error. Thanks.

There is no excuse, even by VA how low can you go standards, for having this website down going on four days now in Compensation Progress, Payment History, and Letter Generator without some kind of notice. These are the people deciding our benefits???

Thanks for the post. I was beginning to think it was just me related to my reexam.

Posted in error, thread already started

I had a reexam process started for me on May 7 for a heart bypass at 60%. The exam said I basically have the same METS. A few days ago, I started having trouble with ebenefits. I can access the site with my password, but cannot get into letter generator, claims status, or payment history. No idea why, but it could be a decision is near, who knows.

I got a notice about two months ago for a reexam for heart disease related to a six way bypass two years ago rated at 60%. The reexam results said I had about the same MET level as before, with a slightly less EF. Anyway, I have been on ebenefits for quite a while, but in the last several days have gotten error messages from the areas of Compensation Status, Payment History, and Printed Letters that will not let me in. Could this be related to a decision near on the reexam? Thanks

This is just my opinion, and others should chime in. The examiner has one purpose, to examine your condition. There should be no comments about your chances at a rating. That is the job of the rater. I would file a complaint with his or her supervisors at the medical facility and the Regional Office.

Thanks for the advice. I also came across a regulation pertaining to this in 38 CFR § 3.327(b)(2) saying anyone over 55 should not have a reevalution. Does anyone know anything about this?

I also heard sometimes the exams are sometimes forgotten to be scheduled on time or extended periods of time. Is this true, and if you do not remind them, do you have to pay back money if they reduce your rating?

In my award letter, I received 60% for coronary artery disease secondary to 10% hypertension. The letter said since I was likely to get better, I would have another exam in two years. My question is, if I do get better, does the rating revert to the 10% for hypertension (since it is obvious I will be on blood pressure medicine for life), or some in between? Thanks

Thanks for all the responses. Yes, the effective date was correct. I have read several posts about shorting the initial payment, but mine seems ok. As far as the depression, no, I have seen no one about it, as it lasts a day or two at a time. If it lasts much longer, I will see about it. Again, thanks to everyone who helped.

My deepest appreciation and gratitude to all those who helped me with my claim and depression these last six months. I got a 60% rating, up from 10% for hypertension, for secondary CAD and CABG. I had a six way bypass in January. A very special thanks to Carlie, Pete, AimHigh 86, Lbasser, and although I never talked to her, to Berta. Berta, I read many of your posts on the subject of heart disease. What means more to me than anything is the sense of support I feel here and friendship. I have not done well with the depression. I really do want to get much more involved in this board, and would appreciate one of the moderators writing me and letting me know how I can help. I owe this whole board a huge debt. By the way, you all put on a great radio show.

For what it is worth, I was discharged in 1982 from the Navy. About 2000, I was rushed to the hospital for high BP. He put me on some medicine. I never gave it a second thought. One day, about mid 2001, I was looking through my service record for no particular reason, and noticed on my discharge physical, my BP was quite high. Someone told me to file, so I did. I was awarded 10% in March 2002. From your post, I would say you have a very good case for SC to hypertension. In January, I had a six way CABG and filed for CAD (IHD) secondary to hypertension. I found out yesterday it has gone to authorization, but have no idea what the outcome was. The final statement of the C and P exam is very important, which said, it is at least likely as not that the CAD was caused by SC hypertension. Good luck on your claim.

For sure get a copy. I just got mine and the conclusion was "It is at least likely as not that the coronary artery disease (IHD) is caused by or secondary to service connected hypertension." I am sort of hopeful. My case went to the rating board May 13th and still have not heard anything. What the doctor told you is a good sign, but verify with a copy of your exam. If there is negative stuff in it, get a civilian doctor's opinion to counteract it and send it in ASAP. Good luck.

Personally, unless it has been decided in courts or is a precedent, I do not think that is a really good decision to make. As slow as the VA is, as much as they do not like to approve claims, and as much as they lose paperwork, I would jump through hoops to do what they wanted, when they wanted, and with whom they wanted. There is plenty of time later to air complaints.

Chris, There is lots of good technical advice in those posts. All I can restate is that the biggest battle to overcome is the time element. After lots of time passes and things get lost or delayed, the human spirit weakens, and it is very tempting just to give up. It sounds like you have a great case. There is no better place than this board to give the encouragement to carry on.

Yes, you do without a doubt. My case is a little different from yours. I already have a 10% hypertension rating, and have a secondary claim at the rating board now for a six way bypass (CABG), and CAD. I was never in Vietnam. I realize the presumptive connection now to Agent Orange, but documentation showing the hypertensive aspect can only help you, and the more papers you send, the better. From your history, I am surprised, even by VA standards, that you got three denials. What exactly is your 20% rating for at the present time? I wish you the best of luck with your new claim. The final statement on my C and P exam said "It is as likely as not that the IHD/CAD was caused by the service connected hypertension."

Does anyone know if there is an average time for a claim spent in rating then authorization sections?

The EF is a real mystery to me. How could it measure 41% on a nuclear stress test, then 75% on a heart cath before surgery, yet six arteries be so clogged that stints cannot be used? Does that mean the heart was ok but the arteries are in bad shape?

Thanks for the words of encouragement. After reading the various MET and other standards, I believe without knowing what is going on with the case, is that if anything, I will get a 10% increase for being on continuous medication. You know, I never noticed that until you said something, but I had a 41% EF during the stress test and now a 75. That is good news. The only other number in the C and P report I saw was the doctor estimated a 4.8 MET level due to my cardiac rehab results on the tread mill. I certainly hope all is going well for you and your husband. Keep me up to date on his progress and on the progress of your claim.

It is not a matter of blaming the military. It is a matter of comparing your readings before your service to those during service.

I was discharged in 1982. On my discharge physical, I had a reading with the lower number over 100. I did not give it much thought to it, but around 2001, my BP got bad enough to go on medicine. I remembered the high reading at discharge, and filed for the hypertension. I sent in my civilian doctor records, and they got my military medical records. Finally in March 2002, I got a letter approving the hypertension for 10%. Yes, it is worth your while to file again. There is no time limit. Send in all your records from civilian doctors. If you do not have many, start going to a doctor regularly for BP checks, and have the doctor write a letter to the VA describing all the medicine you are on, and what your readings were before you started taking the medicine. You will also need your military records to establlish a high reading while in service. You must be patient, as it took 10 months for an answer. I am now 5 months into a secondary claim off the hypertension for coronary artery disease/IHD because of a six way CABG, and will be lucky to have an answer by year's end.

Pete, thanks for your response. I am going to get a civilian doctor to say its connected to the service connected hypertension. Does the VA Dr. saying it is at least likely as not connected to the service connected hypertension help or hurt?

bump