Jason Kahl

A MUST READ! H.R.843 -- Injured Veterans Benefits Eligibility Act of 2003 (Introduced in House - IH) HR 843 IH 108th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 843 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide full service-connected disability benefits for persons disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and for survivors of persons dying from such treatment. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 13, 2003 Mr. REYES (for himself, Mr. EVANS, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. FILNER, and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide full service-connected disability benefits for persons disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and for survivors of persons dying from such treatment. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Injured Veterans Benefits Eligibility Act of 2003'. SEC. 2. FULL SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR PERSON DISABLED BY TREATMENT OR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION. (a) IN GENERAL- Section 1151 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: `© A qualifying additional disability or a qualifying death under this section shall be considered to be a service-connected disability, or a death due to a service-connected disability, for purposes of all laws administered by the Secretary.'. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE- Subsection © of section 1151 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to service-connection for purposes of eligibility for benefits and services provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

I have had Afib problems since the service, out of the blue Dec 19th heart attack, I never believed in Gulfwar syndrome but I am starting to.

I found this, at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+38USC1117 notice cardio is one of the presumptive am I reading this wrong?on active duty in the Armed Forces in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. (g) For purposes of this section, signs or symptoms that may be a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness or a chronic multisymptom illness include the following: (1) Fatigue. (2) Unexplained rashes or other dermatological signs or symptoms. (3) Headache. (4) Muscle pain. (5) Joint pain. (6) Neurological signs and symptoms. (7) Neuropsychological signs or symptoms. (8) Signs or symptoms involving the upper or lower respiratory system. (9) Sleep disturbances. (10) Gastrointestinal signs or symptoms. (11) Cardiovascular signs or symptoms. (12) Abnormal weight loss. (13) Menstrual disorders.

I am 41 and just had a heart attack 2 days before the VA could get a angio gram done. Anyway I am TOO DAMN YOUNG for a heart attack. The doctors said it was a "Widow Maker, I just so happen to live very close to a heart specialty hospital. Is Ischemic Heart Disease presumptive for Gulf war Veterans? Current Rating: 100% Complete and Total with SMC under 1151 50% (Private) 10% Scars 10% Hearing Most people would stop here and call it good..my problem is my family does not get chap 35 DEA benefits. If I can get my afib and heart problems service connected I can claim IUE on my regular %'s then my family could be covered.

Just got my award letter 100% +SMC +Car mod Grant +House mod Grant. Completely and Totally disabled... What now where do I get the ID cards and Sign up for CHAMPVA? GOT IT ALLL! Everything approved!

When I filed a 1151 claim last year I had one surgery and could walk with crutches. The granted the 1151 and said "Your current disablity is due the Negligence and Carelessness of the VAMC" so I am service connected for a Cervical Trauma with a spastic gait. I filed April 2009 I got the award April 2010. Since the the first surgery I was told in June 2009 that I needed another surgery I had to wait until March 2010 for, in July I was told that the March surgery collapsed so I had another surgery. That makes 3 spinal cord surgeries on the same spot since April 2009, since then I have gone from ambulating with crutches to using a wheel chair outside the house. If I lay down nearly all day I can get around the house somewhat. If I spend too much time sitting up or going out in my wheel chair or even riding in a car when I get home I have to crawl up the steps to my house, when I do get in I have to go lay down asap or sometimes I will get "stuck" either my legs won't respond at all or will go out from under me. Regardless what I do has a direct effect on how much my legs work. I have noticed that the muscles in my legs are shrinking even my calf muscles no longer fully contract at all. I have lost a lot of muscle in my butt and hips, sitting for more than 10 min becomes uncomfortable I can get by with eating percocet every couple hours. In fact nearly all my muscles below the waist have been going fast.. Right now I spend nearly all day in bed, what I can do on my feet has really been going down hill, The doctors said due to the progression I am going to be fully wheelchair bound sometime soon. After seeing me walk my doctors have said its become too dangerous I am actually doing more damage because the extreme way I need to twist to swing my legs forward, its stretching the tendons and muscles in my hips, once this goes I will start popping my hip out of joint. My house is not setup for a wheel chair and I hate that thing with all my soul. I think because it was a 1151 case the VA is moving very slow to approve my Car and House grants even though my doctors at the VA have already approved both. My wife had had to quit her job to stay home and take care of me and our three kids, I can't move fast enough or even pick them up if theres a problem. Right now I have a Grand total of 20% for the cervical trauma, I filed a appeal for increase. Besides the the three surgeries on my spine I have a secondary spinal cord injury advanced muscle atrophy below the waist and partial paralysis. September 7th is my next C&P to see a neurologist. OCt 7th I am being admited into the spinal cord injury clinic, I hope to have someone start following this, over I have not seen anyone but surgeons over the last year, no one has been following me for this as primary care doc...I have been on my own for this whole time... I have other service connected injuries that's a total of 50% with a total of 70%. What can I expect as far as compensation?

I filed a 1151 claim on them last year, they left a disc pushing into my spine causing cord damage at c5-c6, I WON this claim the exam doctor wrote "Your current disability is due to the Negligence and Carelessness on behalf of the VAMC"They gave me 20% last year for just the "Cervical Trauma" I am appealing that because the condition has been going down hill and they are not giving me anything on the spinal cord injury that is Secondary to the Cervical Trauma.

I have a spinal cord injury left me partially paralyzed below the waist. I can walk some but one of two things happen it becomes VERY painful, the alter gait is messing up my joints that will result in even more damage if I continue.(I have to take extra extra meds to do this) its not fun for me at all but I have 3 small children that need me to be there for family events. After a short time of walking my right leg quits working, I drag it behind me as it were dead. What I can do: I can bath myself most of the time, some days I need help lifting my feet into the tub. I can do the SSS myself Dress myself..some days I do need some help putting on shoes and sock What I can't do: Cook Clean house Drive or take care of the vehicle Manage money Take care of my three kids Be left alone to care for them Maintain my house Is this enough to get SMC?

True Story.. My Primary Transportation are fore arm crutches and secondary is a wheelchair, I got the wheelchair a couple weeks ago when a nurse at the clinic followed me out. Every step I take looks like I am about to bust my ass..So she tells me Hey! do you want me to check to see if we could provide you a wheelchair? I said sure. Half hour later I am rolling out in style. She also put in a consult for a electric chair. Yesterday I went to that... Doc says...with my injury I should ALWAYS been primary transportation Wheelchair and crutches secondary.... I qualify for home modification including a wheelchair ramp I qualify for vehicle modification(hand controls for brake and gas) I COULD have gotten a custom wheelchair built just for me BUT they gave me the off shelf chair a few weeks ago so I have to wait a "undefined" period of time unitl they can "Justify" the cost.... I do NOT qualify for the electric chair because I can push the other myself for 200 yards...Never mind that pushing the chair and walking on crutches pushes into the TWO surgical sites...Never Mind that I have a Gravel Drive way....Never Mind I can not take my kids to the Park!....Never MIND I have to keep outings short because I get tired of pushing myself or it hurts... I can push the chair 200 yards on a flat smooth surface DENIED!! Someone needs to send Christopher Columbus to the VA and explain the Earth is NOT FLAT!!! When I complained about not getting the electric I was told I Needed to Accept my Limitations! Blankity Blank Blank and the HORSE YOU RODE IN ON!!! I don't expect to return to work and was told the spinal cord damage is permanent as a added BONUS I will continue to loose muscle from the waist down. I still feel everything so it even hurts to sit due to the muscle loss the bones in my hips and butt only have layer of skin over them...

I got the answer Monday, the examiner found that "My current disability was due to negligence and carelessness" The injury was Service Connected!

Try filing online yourself! The Lawyer is just going to do the SAME thing you will and charge A LOT! If you get denied then pay the lawyer! Gather ALL your doctor info for as far back as you can remember. All the Medications Present and PAST who proscribed them and why. All Hospital Visits ALL ER Visits ALL Surgeries All TEST MRI,Blood work,X-rays and Dates who ordered them and WHY ALL FUTURE test and or surgeries,who ordered them and WHY Your going to need all the Complete address telephone for everything above It sounds like a lot of work but even the lawyer will make you provide it to him/her anyway 1. You can wait a few Months for a interview or file online instantly. 2. Answer EVERY question completely even if you answered the same question a few pages back. When they ask if you want to add anything ADD IT! describe your situation in detail! 3. When you are assigned a case worker keep in touch call them first to intorduce yourself then monthly to see if you can do anything or get information(Some times they have trouble contacting your doctors you can call the doctor yourself to get them moving) Get your file number, you will need it if you want to a doctor to send or fax anything in. 4. Thank THEM! ask to speak to the supervisor and tell them how helpful your case worker has been(regardless of reality!) I don't care if Adolf Hugo Chavez Sadamn Che answers the phone! Loose your temper and your TOAST! Be HONEST! If your running a scam I hope you get CANCER in your EYES! It took me 3 days to complete the online application but it saved my bacon!

I went to the VA last year, they waited 2.5 months to remove a disc that was on my spinal cord. I can hardly walk and on tons of pain meds. Last week the at the C&P exam the doctor wrote it is more probable than not and a few other things saying the delay in treatment caused the spinal cord damage. I take care of my personal needs but can't clean house or take care of my kids...