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Lorraine

Second Class Petty Officers
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Everything posted by Lorraine

  1. Can you hear me singing? "Happy Days are here again". Soooo happy for you. Stay as healthy as you can and ENJOY! Thank you for your service and sacrifice. May you have many more Merry Christmases. Lorraine
  2. Hi Kray My husband is 70% AO for IHD, DMtype 2,PAD, ED. He put in a claim for hypertension along with his initial claim(also dx'd after the IHD like you) and although his BP readings would have qualified him for further compensation, AO is not presumptive for hypertension and since there was no other SC nexus, he was denied. I asked both his cardiologist and his internist if, in their opinion, his hypertension was related to his IHD and they both said no. Here's keeping our fingers crossed that you get a different ruling. Lorraine
  3. Congratulations on your success - it's always nice to share good news here on Hadit to help keep up the spirits of those who are still awaiting decisions. Lorraine
  4. OMG!!! How can this happen? All the aide had to do was stick his/her own hand in the water to check the temp! I'm just sick. I'm suspecting this patient was left unattended. Lorraine
  5. I'm feeling anxious and a little sick after reading the Examiner's blog and the comments from hadit posters. I'm anxious that a PA is doing C & P exams with that kind of mindset, feeling really sick for those of you out there with your horrendous health problems as a result of your service to this county knowing how absolutely insulting this blog was, and then anxious for the kernel of suspicion that surfaced in thinking that there is fraud going on. My husband is rated at 70% for AO related IHD, Diabetes type 2, PAD, ED - denied for hypertension. I'm a RN and I seriously questioned AO being presumptive for IHD and diabetes. But, I did my homework before we ever filed and I wish this PA had done the same. If he thinks the VA just easily hands out these decisions, he's sadly mistaken. He should have listened to the congressional hearings about AO/IHD and the evidence that was presented from the experts at the National Institute of Health, etc. It's not just his remarks about diabetes, heart disease, it's everything he addresses. Before he hands out what he thinks are educated and informed opinions, he needs to do his research on what evidence is/was presented to the VA that allowed them to make their decisions. His hubris in his thinking that HE knows best is more than appalling. It's all just very upsetting because the VA as of late, has appeared to have been more responsible in giving deserved awards to Vets, but with this kind of "talk" and negativity, it just escalates the already prevalent bias towards Veterans receiving compensation. It's the VA's responsibility to ferret out the fraudulent claims and none of you should feel undeserving of your compensation. You served your country and you are paying the price - it's time for this country to pay YOU a price!!! Lorraine
  6. Soooo happy for you and your family. Thank you for your service, you've had to give a lot. Take good care of that baby boy! Lorraine
  7. Vet's Lady, I'm so happy for you that you got some clear and straight forward diagnoses from your Vet's private cardiologist. The VA can't just ignore that information, so here's hoping he gets a new rating for his heart disease very quickly. Wishing the best for both of you. Lorraine
  8. BINGO!!!! You hit the nail on the head once again. I dug out the last award when they upped him to 70% and there's a statement saying "entitlement to special monthly compensation based on loss of a creative organ is granted", but it never indicated any dollar amount. There is mention of erectile dysfunction along with DM type2, bilat PN, bilat PAD - three separate listings for 10% each and with VA math, that brought him up to 70%. I've gotta tell ya that no where in my RN training or Anatomy and Physiology classes did I ever learn anything about a "creative organ"!! Somebody got rather "creative" with their terminology. Berta had mentioned looking into TDIU when he got rated at 70% so I read everything I could find about that, but didn't see where it applied to him. He quit his job when he was 60yrs old because they were doing lots of layoffs of the younger guys, it was literally making him sick because we could get along with his AF pension and these young kids were hurting with mortgages and little kids. I told him his health was worth more than a paycheck so to turn in his papers and he did.(it was a good decision - he's still here!) He did not claim it as being for his health, so no records to back that up. He started drawing Soc Sec at 62(no disability - didn't put in for it) He's 71 now, certainly couldn't work now. If he makes a trip to the commisary or Costco with me, he comes home and sleeps for a couple of hours to recuperate. Doesn't age factor into whether or not you are able to work for TDIU? I'd appreciate any further input from you guys on the TDIU and P & T. We're certainly not out to get anymore than he should be awarded, have been so grateful to finally get something from VA if only to offset all that we've put out of pocket for medical expenses over the years. Thanks so much for your replies...I surely missed the part on his award about the entitlement to special monthly compensation. I can always count on someone at Hadit to set me straight. Lorraine
  9. Hope this is the correct forum for this, if not, hope you moderators catch this and put it in the correct forum. My Vet has had numerous changes in his compensation dollar amount since his initial claim. We got his first check Dec.2011 and the retro. He got 60% for AO/IHD, then the VA suggested he file an additional claim for diabetes type2 and PAD (they'd found these dx's in his medical records)So, after C & P and filing the paperwork, then he got rated at 70%. Because he's 20 yr retired AF, he'd also filed for CRSC for the 60%, then had to file again for the increase to 70%,, then there was the COLA raise, so you can see why the reimbursement was frequently changing. I thought it was finally all done so went to the new 2012 table to make sure he was getting the correct amount and it appears he is receiving $99 too much for a 70% rating and having a spouse. That looks like the amount awarded for AA, but he/we don't qualify for that. So, my question is - how do we rectify this? Write to them (where??--Regional office?)and send it certified mail and keep a copy for our files? I assume we'll have to pay them back? I don't have a clue how long this has gone on because it all got so confusing with the frequent changes so I guess I'll have to leave it up to them to figure it all out!(that doesn't make me very comfortable!) I guess I should be thankful that I looked this up today and didn't end up getting dinged for it 5 yrs from now! Thought this was all done and that I could quit leaning on you folks at Hadit to walk me through all of this, but here I go again asking for some advice. Sure glad we were financially in a position to follow Carlie's advice to not just BLOW the retro and be cautious, we've been nervous that something would happen and they'd end up saying they made a mistake or something. Talk about creating your own reality!! Lorraine
  10. Vet's Lady Wishing you the best of luck with pursuing this claim - seems like you have some good medical evidence and you know your way around the VA claims process if he's already 100% SC, so go for it! I can tell you are watching out for his best interests with his health. You take care. Lorraine
  11. Had a successful visit with my Vet to Seattle VARO today to view his "C" file. We've always been treated with courtesy and respect at this office and this was no exception. We were told that they would copy 10 pages of his "C" file today, but if we wanted additional copies we'd have to request that via FOIA . We'd previously requested his military medical records, had our personal copies of all of his private medical records, etc, have saved every single page of any kind of correspondence form VA on his claims,. so already had a rather complete file of our own. I was pleased that there was no erroneous information in the file, ALL of the information we'd provided was in the file, including personal correspondence and documentation challenging erroneous info in the IHD C & P exam. It was very thorough and complete. We did request copies of info of a claim when my Vet retired in 1979 for hypertension that was denied. We had not saved any correspondence on that claim (DUH!!!)so glad to have that information in our files now too. My Vet applied in person to view his "C" file back on 9/15/2011 and after many contacts with IRIS, he rec'd a letter stating he could come and view it from Jan9 thru Jan 20th, 2012. It took a long time to get our hands on it, we'd been itching to see it ever since we found Hadit and gotten the recommendations to view it and make copies. But, we were also advised to not request it while the claims were being worked on or it would delay action on them, So, we waited until he was rated and then made the request. I think we lucked out that all of the info to make a favorable rating was complete and in his file when they rated him-we had no way of knowing what they were looking at to make the determination. He filed his IHD/AO claim with Seattle Varo in Oct 2009, was rated Nov 2011 with retro. Filed an addendum for Diabetes type 2 in April 2011 and was rated Sept 2011 with retro. These both had Nehmer work-ups in his "C" file, but he didn't qualify under Nehmer. After the horror stories we've read on Hadit on claims pending for YEARS, we have been very happy. I'm certain that because of what I'd read on Hadit about C & P exams, how to present oneself, providing documentation and more documation re his medical status, etc. that it helped expedite the claims. The information and knowledge on this site is so beneficial to filing claims. Thanks again, Hadit! Lorraine
  12. Navy Doc - Congratulations, we're all smiling here. Couldn't be happier for you and hoping to hear more success stories in 2012. Lorraine
  13. CONGRATULATIONS !!!! We're always happy to hear about successful claims here at Hadit! Lorraine
  14. Yaaaaay, Deacon!!! Happy New year to you. Wonderful news to start off 2012. Lorraine
  15. I'm so happy for you, Carlie. You've put in so much work and it has paid off. My hope is that you are feeling well and will continue to enjoy your award. You deserve this award and I'm just sorry that it took you so long to get it. You are clearly a very caring person, you share so much of yourself(love your humor!) and your knowledge with the folks here at Hadit. Thanks for being here, stay well, and be happy. Lorraine
  16. Dear Hadit Elders----"Happy days are here again", thanks to you. Because of all of the reading and information on Hadit, after my Vet rec'd his 60% award for AO/IHD, we filed another claim for AO/Diabetes type 2. From everything I'd read, I knew that since he wasn't on insulin or oral meds, just maintaining with diet restrictions that it wouldn't increase his award percentage, but thought we'd better have it on record in case it gets worse in the future. So, he went thru all of the rigamarole again with getting records, going for a new C & P, another echocardiogram(that surprised me since it was less than a year prior that he'd had one for his IHD ordered by VA). We nearly forgot about it because we knew it wasn't going to be any increase in a monetary award so weren't anxiously awaiting results like the first claim.. It took about 8 months this time around. Well, the big envelope came and I nearly dropped my partial plate in reading that they'd increased him to 70% because the C & P had determined that he has peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremeities as well as his diabetes type 2 , so that kicked up the percentage. So, let this be a lesson to all of us to not dread those C & P exams! He not only got some good medical information, but rec'd additional compensation. THANKS TO YOU WONDERFUL FOLKS on HADIT!! We would have never persevered and filed that 2nd claim if it had not been for your guidance. Lorraine
  17. Allan I'd just like to give you some encouragement with your AO/IHD claim. My advice to you would be to read something on the Hadit site every day, copy things that pertain to your situation, take notes. LIke you, my Vet filed a claim for AO/IHD and we were very ignorant as to the workings of VA when we started out on this journey. We got to Hadit after his claim was filed (darn! - it would have helped so much to have gotten to this site first!). Even tho his medical records from private cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons had information about EF, the VA still required that he have a C & P (if this is required of you, take the time to read the Hadit article on how to prepare for your exam - courtesy and sincerity go a long way!). The contracted doctor (QTC) was an internist, not a cardiologist. From the information he obtained from questioning about activity level, he rated the METS at 3-5. VA had also set up an appt. for a stress(treadmill) test, but the QTC doc felt there was too much risk, so cancelled that and they scheduled him for an echocardiogram to get a current EF. That was done at a cardiovascular specialty clinic. My Vet has no history of CHF and he doesn't have a pacemaker, so the similarities end there for what your rating could eventually be. His EF was less than 50%, so he got rated at 60%. It took about a year from first filing the claim for the 60% award to be granted. We had a really good experience with working with a Viet Nam Veterans of America VSO at the Regional Office, so I suggest if you aren't getting a good response from the AL that you go elsewhere. Some folks are great at filing and obtaining all of the informaiton they need on their own, but if you are feeling like you could use some guidance, you might try another VSO. You eventually WILL get your past due award and you will get retroactive pay back to the day that you filed. All you can do now is practice PATIENCE and know that your day will come. eBenefits were terrible for us getting info and the IRIS calls all were so "canned" that we never got anywhere. Our VSO was able to tell us easily where our claim was, any updates, etc. I wish you a speedy settlement, but mostly, I wish you good health so that you may enjoy your award! Lorraine
  18. Lorraine

    Aol

    Thanks everybody. I seem to do okay getting in on Internet Explorer, and was previously able to get in on AOL, but NADA now. I was really feeling "out of sorts" because I like to check in regularly and stay on top of any new info that comes along. I have COMCAST; but, like Berta, I kept AOL for email as I also have so much stored there. I hope nobody else who is as computer illiterate as me is losing touch with Hadit. It's a lifeline! At least now I know of other resources if I have trouble with IE too. Lorraine
  19. Lorraine

    Aol

    Dear "Geeks" I'm not brightest bulb in the package when it comes to using a computer, so have been at a loss for a couple of weeks in not being able to get to the Hadit sign in through AOL - would just give me an error message. My Vet finally came to my rescue, tells me it's an AOL problem, got me into the site through internet Explorer. Maybe this makes sense to you guys, but for several weeks I've not been able to sign in, post or anything. Don't know if this is happening to your other AOL users, but thought i"d better give you a heads up. Had some good news to share so will now try to get to Success stories again. Lorraine
  20. Lorraine

    Ihd Claims

    My Vet was sent for a C&P and scheduled for a stress test with a contracted cardiology group after he filed for IHD/AO. The MD who saw him for the C&P did not think it was wise for my Vet to have a stress test (because of his medical history of three cardiac arrests) I was allowed to attend the C&P exam, and the MD questioned me a lot about his functional status and I expressed my concern about the risk of him having a stress test. So,the VA subsequently re-scheduled him for an echo instead of the stress test. He was awarded 60% In NOV 2010 and advised by VA to file for his Diabetes type 2. He filed a claim for that and was sent back in May-June 2011 for another C&P and another echocardiogram. NO results on that yet. We put in a request for copies of the C&P and echo and his VSO was supposed to give it to us last Thurs, went to the office and he was gone for the day to a meeting. So, now we're waiting for the copies via the mail. Lorraine
  21. Thank you to both Berta and Chuck for their always informative responses. Your vast amount of knowledge is incredible. My Vet had three cardiac arrests at age 39, followed by four by-passes, then six years ago had a "re-do" and another five by-passes. I doubt they'll request any further cardiac work up than the echo--determined it was too risky to even do a stress test for the IHD exam. He's had angiograms, and nuclear stress tests previously in the private sector and they have those records. But, like I said --I'm a bit paranoid about the VA and worry about his rating being reduced. I know there is always that chance. But, from the posts I've been reading over the last six moths, it appears that the climate within the VA under Shinseki is more favorable to Vets than previously. Hope I'm right. Lorraine
  22. After my Vet had filed a claim AO/IHD, he was diagnosed with diabetes type 2. We were new to all of the stuff with dealing with the VA, so just let that claim go ahead in order not to muddy the waters and figured we'd deal with that down the road at some point. When they awarded him 60% for IHD, VA noted his diagnosis of diabetes type 2 in subsequent medical records they requested and advised him to gather the appropriate records and file for diabetes type 2. Couldn't have been more surprised to have them suggest that! Anyway, we took the info to his VSO and he filed the paperwork for us and he rather quickly got an appt. for a C & P. The doc was an external examiner(a D.O.), but not with QTC. He was very personable, did a thorough exam, followed the protocol per the exam sheet, focused a lot on peripheral artery exam. Ended the interview by thanking my Vet for his service. Several weeks later, my Vet got notified from QTC that he was scheduled for another echocardiogram - same clinic they'd sent him to a little over a year ago for his IHD claim. I was surprised by that with a claim for diabetes type 2, but from what I've read, if there is heart disease then they follow the work sheet for that. Haven't heard anything yet - has been about six weeks, IRIS says the claim is in the decision phase(uh-huh). Wondering if anybody else has had an echo as part of the C & P for diabetes type 2. Being on the paranoid side when it comes to dealing with the VA, I'm worried that the 2nd echo done by a different examiner will come up with a different percentage on the ejection fraction (he was rated at just 50% and those of you that have been thru this, know that's the pivotal number for a 60% rating). So, I'm antsy again. Lorraine
  23. Zippity - do - dah!!! That's a big award. Congrats, I'm so happy for you. Lorraine
  24. Very, very happy for you and your family, Diver. Lorraine
  25. Lorraine

    Ihd

    It's hard to stay positive and keep your spirits and hopes up when playing the VA waiting game, but here's hoping you can. I think the Nehmer cases are more complicated; thus, taking longer. It took over a year for my Vet's claim to be awarded (60% for IHD/AO) and his wasn't a Nehmer case and was very straight forward. I'm certain you will eventually prevail in your claim and REMEMBER, everyday you are waiting you will be paid retroactive to the day you put in your initial claim! Best of luck to you. Lorraine
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