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pipeman043

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About pipeman043

  • Birthday 01/31/1957

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    pipeman043

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  1. Now that would be outstanding news! My claim has been remanded and returned so many times I was beginning to think it's not a claim file but really just another ping-pong ball. Seriously though, my claim has been "stuck" at the AMC since July 2007. The AMC email people must know my name by heart by now, not that it makes any difference. I am hard pressed to believe that some of the bodies down there even know HOW to tell the truth let alone answer any question with an honest, truthful response <_<
  2. Just another thought, what if you were to contact that VSO's department... in example, if the VSO is Al go to WEB: http://www.missourilegion.org and ask about who is handling the existing case load and exactly when you can expect to have actual representation.... the same holds true if it's a different organization such as VFW, DAV, VVA. Might be worth a try to rattle someone's cage and see what shakes out. jmho
  3. Hello, In an effort to be fair and equitable here is the response provided by the VA after some prodding by telephone both in Washington and at the Eastern Area Directors Office. I guess the phone calls moved my service complaint from the "ignore" pile to the " Do something to shut him up" pile. B) I did eliminate names to protect the "innocent". The Va's response came yesterday afternoon, 05 Jan 07 Original Complaint sent 22 Dec 06 @ 0650. Mr. XXXXXXX, Good morning. After our conversation yesterday afternoon, I contacted the Veterans Service Center Manager, XXXXX XXXXXXX, at the Togus Regional Office (RO) who is now serving as the Acting Director since the retirement of Mr. XXX XXXXX. I asked that he prepare a response to your inquiry along with a status update of your pending appeal. While I do not think the response below will resolve your dissatisfaction with the VA appellate process and, specifically, scheduling of hearings, I am hoping this recognition of your frustration will, at a minimum, alleviate some of your dissatisfaction. We do understand your legitimate concern but are somewhat constrained by the procedures established by the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA). I will also forward this correspondence to the Compensation and Pension (C&P) Service in Washington as C&P Service is responsible for the policy and procedures that govern how ROs must operate. In situations regarding our interaction with BVA, they must work with that organization regarding policy and procedural guidance. I do not want to mislead you into thinking that this will immediately change the current hearing policy, but it is at least, a step toward in the right direction. Again, on behalf of James Whitson, Eastern Area Director and VA, I apologize for any inconveniences and poor customer service. It is our job to provide you the benefits and services you are entitled to, in recognition for your service to our country, and we should always do so with the highest level of customer service. XXXXXX Supervisory Management Analyst Eastern Area Office 734-930-5800 Please see the below response from Mr. XXXXXXXX: Mr. XXXXXXXXX I am writing in reference to a complaint you submitted pertaining to a recent Board of Veterans Affairs (BVA) hearing you attended at the Togus Regional Office. Please accept my apologies for any inconveniences caused to you. Additionally, allow me to express my understanding toward your dissatisfaction with the current policy regarding the scheduling of hearings before a BVA Law Judge. As you have clearly pointed out, there are times when an appellant will have to travel long distances in order to arrive at their BVA hearings. Once an appellant arrives, they may be asked to wait, based on the order of their arrival. Unfortunately, BVA has mandated the scheduling policy to our Regional Offices. This policy is in effect at every Regional Office in the nation. The notification sent to you on 11-13-06 was a letter, which has been approved by BVA, and stated, “…hearings are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis…” so sorry, but this above quoted statement is NOT in the letter I can assure you that the employees at the Togus Regional Office, along with myself, are dissatisfied with the current policy set by BVA. The former Director of the Togus Regional Office, XXXXXXXXX, and I, have met with your local American Legion representative on multiple occasions to discuss this very topic. Your claims files is still currently located at BVA and our electronic records indicate your case is pending transcription. Be assured that it is our goal to ensure that all veterans and their dependents receive the best services we can provide. However, we must operate within the laws and regulations that govern our actions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 1:55 PM To:XXXXXXXXX, VBADTRT Subject: Fw: Service Complaint Hello, Thank you for your attention to this matter. ----- Original Message ----- From: Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: amcquery@vba.va.gov Cc: BVAOmbudsman@mail.va.gov Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 8:36 AM Subject: Service Complaint Hello, In conjunction with my ongoing appeal, I requested a Travel Board Hearing be scheduled at my local RO. I was informed by the TOGUS RO that no travel board hearings were available or being scheduled in the foreseeable future in an effort to reduce existing backlog, reduce expenses, and increase productivity. I was then scheduled for a Video Conference Hearing that was conducted on Monday, 18 Dec 06. Due to issues that arose involving that event, I forwarded the following service complaint via IRIS and am providing this information in an effort to make you aware of the problem. At bare minimum I expect written acknowledgement of receipt and indication of planned corrective action. Thank you for you attention to this matter. IRIS SUBMISSION: It is the standing policy of the VARO TOGUS to send letters to all individuals that are scheduled for a video hearing on a specific day that their appointment is for 0830 and that they are to arrive one half hour before their scheduled hearing time. There is no indication on any correspondence that the actual hearings are scheduled that day on a first come-first served basis and depending on how many hearings are scheduled the potential exists that the veteran will be waiting for an extended period of time. This practice is very inconsiderate of the veteran and the VSO who is representing the veteran. Clearly it implies a total disregard for the value of the veteran's and VSO's time. In MANY cases at this specific RO the veteran must travel great distance to get to the RO and it makes the issue even worse if the individual veteran is economically or physically disadvantaged and cannot provide their own transportation. If you use the example that the Veteran who lives 3 hours away is using others for their transportation and must arrive at 0800 and there are multiple hearing to be conducted, you place the veteran in the position of having to be up and on the road sometime around 0300 and having them exhausted by the time their hearing time arrives. This places the veteran at an extreme disadvantage at the hearing and is blatantly unfair and discriminatory. The VARO TOGUS claims that it is due to the BVA directives and unchangeable even though the RO TOGUS schedules all the hearing and can make the appropriate change if they so chose. This has been a long standing issue brought to the management's attention many times and they demonstrate a capricious disregard for the people they are supposed to be helping. XXX XXXX, the Regional office Director basically told me that "this is the way it is". He further stated to me that if I didn't like it I could leave. Terrible customer service and a shining example of the pervasive attitude in that office that it's my way or the highway. I specifically asked about a timeline for a policy change and was ignored. I believe it is reasonable that I be given a written apology by the Veteran Service Manager for the poor conduct of his employee, and a new policy be established following a complete review of the scheduling process that takes into consideration the Veteran and VSO's time along with other appropriate considerations.
  4. Hello, In an effort to be fair and equitable here is the response provided by the VA after some prodding by telephone both in Washington and at the Eastern Area Directors Office. I guess the phone calls moved my service complaint from the "ignore" pile to the " Do something to shut him up" pile. B) I did eliminate names to protect the "innocent". The Va's response came yesterday afternoon, 05 Jan 07 Original Complaint sent 22 Dec 06 @ 0650. Mr. XXXXXXX, Good morning. After our conversation yesterday afternoon, I contacted the Veterans Service Center Manager, XXXXX XXXXXXX, at the Togus Regional Office (RO) who is now serving as the Acting Director since the retirement of Mr. XXX XXXXX. I asked that he prepare a response to your inquiry along with a status update of your pending appeal. While I do not think the response below will resolve your dissatisfaction with the VA appellate process and, specifically, scheduling of hearings, I am hoping this recognition of your frustration will, at a minimum, alleviate some of your dissatisfaction. We do understand your legitimate concern but are somewhat constrained by the procedures established by the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA). I will also forward this correspondence to the Compensation and Pension (C&P) Service in Washington as C&P Service is responsible for the policy and procedures that govern how ROs must operate. In situations regarding our interaction with BVA, they must work with that organization regarding policy and procedural guidance. I do not want to mislead you into thinking that this will immediately change the current hearing policy, but it is at least, a step toward in the right direction. Again, on behalf of James Whitson, Eastern Area Director and VA, I apologize for any inconveniences and poor customer service. It is our job to provide you the benefits and services you are entitled to, in recognition for your service to our country, and we should always do so with the highest level of customer service. XXXXXX Supervisory Management Analyst Eastern Area Office 734-930-5800 Please see the below response from Mr. XXXXXXXX: Mr. XXXXXXXXX I am writing in reference to a complaint you submitted pertaining to a recent Board of Veterans Affairs (BVA) hearing you attended at the Togus Regional Office. Please accept my apologies for any inconveniences caused to you. Additionally, allow me to express my understanding toward your dissatisfaction with the current policy regarding the scheduling of hearings before a BVA Law Judge. As you have clearly pointed out, there are times when an appellant will have to travel long distances in order to arrive at their BVA hearings. Once an appellant arrives, they may be asked to wait, based on the order of their arrival. Unfortunately, BVA has mandated the scheduling policy to our Regional Offices. This policy is in effect at every Regional Office in the nation. The notification sent to you on 11-13-06 was a letter, which has been approved by BVA, and stated, “…hearings are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis…” so sorry, but this above quoted statement is NOT in the letter I can assure you that the employees at the Togus Regional Office, along with myself, are dissatisfied with the current policy set by BVA. The former Director of the Togus Regional Office, XXXXXXXXX, and I, have met with your local American Legion representative on multiple occasions to discuss this very topic. Your claims files is still currently located at BVA and our electronic records indicate your case is pending transcription. Be assured that it is our goal to ensure that all veterans and their dependents receive the best services we can provide. However, we must operate within the laws and regulations that govern our actions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 1:55 PM To:XXXXXXXXX, VBADTRT Subject: Fw: Service Complaint Hello, Thank you for your attention to this matter. ----- Original Message ----- From: Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: amcquery@vba.va.gov Cc: BVAOmbudsman@mail.va.gov Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 8:36 AM Subject: Service Complaint Hello, In conjunction with my ongoing appeal, I requested a Travel Board Hearing be scheduled at my local RO. I was informed by the TOGUS RO that no travel board hearings were available or being scheduled in the foreseeable future in an effort to reduce existing backlog, reduce expenses, and increase productivity. I was then scheduled for a Video Conference Hearing that was conducted on Monday, 18 Dec 06. Due to issues that arose involving that event, I forwarded the following service complaint via IRIS and am providing this information in an effort to make you aware of the problem. At bare minimum I expect written acknowledgement of receipt and indication of planned corrective action. Thank you for you attention to this matter. IRIS SUBMISSION: It is the standing policy of the VARO TOGUS to send letters to all individuals that are scheduled for a video hearing on a specific day that their appointment is for 0830 and that they are to arrive one half hour before their scheduled hearing time. There is no indication on any correspondence that the actual hearings are scheduled that day on a first come-first served basis and depending on how many hearings are scheduled the potential exists that the veteran will be waiting for an extended period of time. This practice is very inconsiderate of the veteran and the VSO who is representing the veteran. Clearly it implies a total disregard for the value of the veteran's and VSO's time. In MANY cases at this specific RO the veteran must travel great distance to get to the RO and it makes the issue even worse if the individual veteran is economically or physically disadvantaged and cannot provide their own transportation. If you use the example that the Veteran who lives 3 hours away is using others for their transportation and must arrive at 0800 and there are multiple hearing to be conducted, you place the veteran in the position of having to be up and on the road sometime around 0300 and having them exhausted by the time their hearing time arrives. This places the veteran at an extreme disadvantage at the hearing and is blatantly unfair and discriminatory. The VARO TOGUS claims that it is due to the BVA directives and unchangeable even though the RO TOGUS schedules all the hearing and can make the appropriate change if they so chose. This has been a long standing issue brought to the management's attention many times and they demonstrate a capricious disregard for the people they are supposed to be helping. XXX XXXX, the Regional office Director basically told me that "this is the way it is". He further stated to me that if I didn't like it I could leave. Terrible customer service and a shining example of the pervasive attitude in that office that it's my way or the highway. I specifically asked about a timeline for a policy change and was ignored. I believe it is reasonable that I be given a written apology by the Veteran Service Manager for the poor conduct of his employee, and a new policy be established following a complete review of the scheduling process that takes into consideration the Veteran and VSO's time along with other appropriate considerations.
  5. Hi, You know maybe if there is an obvious error that you just discovered recently such as the characterization made on the DD-214 you could pursue a correction: Correcting Military Records Are there mistakes on your military records? A correction board may consider applications for correction of a military record, including a review of a discharge issued by courts martial. Learn more about it here. The secretary of a military department, acting through a board for correction of military records, has authority to change any military record when necessary to correct an error or remove an injustice. A correction board may consider applications for correction of a military record, including a review of a discharge issued by courts martial. The veteran, survivor or legal representative generally must file a request for correction within three years after discovery of an alleged error or injustice. The board may excuse failure to file within the prescribed time, however, if it finds it would be in the interest of justice to do so. It is an applicant's responsibility to show why the filing of the application was delayed and why it would be in the interest of justice for the board to consider it despite the delay. To justify any correction, it is necessary to show to the satisfaction of the board that the alleged entry or omission in the records was in error or unjust. Applications should include all available evidence, such as signed statements of witnesses or a brief of arguments supporting the requested correction. Application is made with DD Form 149, which can be found on our Military Forms page. Here's the url that you can copy and paste; http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt...fopage2137.html Not at all sure it will work since it's a medical issue, however, it wasn't a doc who coded your 214
  6. Actually, what I did was after sending in the IRIS inquiry, I took all that I had written and sent by email to the AMC and the VBAOmbudsman with a note telling them that this was sent to make them aware of an issue that has the potential to be explosive.... If someone were to file a brief with the CVAC saying that all decisions made that were unfavorable to the claimant due to the vet being under duress and fatigue that could begin a class action suit that would not be in the VA's best interest. Can you just imagine calling into question that volume of claims due to discrimination.
  7. Hi There, I just used IRIS for the first time and sent the following complaint, chances are that I won't get an answer. Complaint: It is the standing policy of the VARO TOGUS to send letters to all individuals that are scheduled for a video hearing on a specific day that their appointment is for 0830 and that they are to arrive one half hour before their scheduled hearing time. There is no indication on any correspondence that the actual hearings arescheduled that day on a first come-first served basis and depending on how many hearings are scheduledthe potential exists that the veteran will be waiting for an extended period of time. This practice is very inconsiderate of the veteran and the VSO who is representing the veteran. Clearly it implies a total disregard for the value of the veteran's and VSO's time. In MANY cases at this specific RO the veteran must travel great distance to get to the RO and it makes the issue even worse if the individual veteran is economically or physically disadvantaged and cannot provide their own transportation. If you use the example that the Veteran who lives 3 hours away is using others for their transportation and must arrive at 0800 and there are multiple hearing to be conducted, you place the veteran in the position of having to be up and on the road sometime around 0300 and having them exhausted by the time their hearing time arrives. this places the veteran at an extreme disadvantage at the hearing and is blatantly unfair and discriminatory. The VARO TOGUS claims that it is due to the BVA directives and unchangeable even though the RO TOGUS schedules all the hearing and can make the appropriate change if they so chose. This has been a long standing issue brought to the management's attention many times and they demonstrate a capricious disreguard for the people they are supposed to be helping. XXXXXXXXXX, the Regional office Director basically told me that "this is the way it is". He further stated to me that if I didn't like it I could leave. Terrible customer service and a shining example of the pervasive attitude in that office that it's my way or the highway. I specifically asked about a timeline for a policy change and was ignored. I believe it is reasonable that I be given a written apology by the Veteran Service Manager for the poor conduct of his employee, and a new policy be established following a complete review of the scheduling process that takes into consideration the Veteran and VSO's time along with other appropriate considerations.
  8. Hi Max, Gee, do you think it might be possible that the VA automatically assumes that if you claim PTSD that you have a substance abuse problem? Perhaps that visit to the clinic is to make sure you are still having symptoms, like there is some magic pill you can take to make it all go away. You know what Sgt. Friday says "Anything you say can and will be used against you" Jmo.
  9. Let me tell you a story..... a little bit of background first, I have been playing this game since January of 2004, my SOC is about 14 pages long, all of the claimed stressors have been verified by the VA, I filed this claim at the direction of the psychiatrist who wrote in my treatment record that I had chronic PTSD and that I was told by him to initiate the claim. He had been treating me for about 6 months prior to this and had written that his impression had been PTSD at every prior visit. Axis I = PTSD. the GAF varies from 39 up to 53 depending on my mood I guess. 3 months after I file my claim I show up for my appointment and the psychiatrist I had been seeing has been terminated and I get a new psychiatrist who says that while I have signs and symptoms of PTSD I also have a major depressive disorder NOS (not otherwise specified). Due to other medical issues such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure , hypertension, bilateral demylinating peripheral neuropathy in all extremities I filed for both Non service connected disability and for service connected. both got denied almost immediately. Filed for reconsideration by DRO on both and S/C was denied and the NSC was granted 16 months after the original filing date. Filed a NOD. My "C" file got lost in transit after it was certified to the BVA. Jump ahead to yesterday, was supposed to get the travel board hearing that I requested but was scheduled for the Video hearing. The RO does all the scheduling and notification. Letter says that hearing is for 0830 and to arrive half hour earlier. I show up at the RO and am told to go see my VSO first. I go over to his office in a different building and he tells me that everyone is scheduled for 0830 and that he has to find out when hearing is REALLY scheduled for. He can't get anyone at the RO to answer the phone so we return to the RO. Person behing the desk says that because I was not there @ 0800 that I go to the end of the line and that all hearings are on a first come, first served basis. I get really ugly and demand to speak to someone in authority. So as I am waiting here arrives a VA cop that they requested be onhand to supervise me. There are other people also waiting there so they try to get me into an office with the door closed because " I am disturbing the other clients" well their ploy backfired cause I wouldn't move off my chair. They had me talk to three different people before they finally got the regional office director to come talk to me. All I got was the same BS rhetoric about how the BVA scheduled all the hearings and I would have to contact them.....So here we are, the VSO and myself sitting there having four people in a row come out and tell us lies that both they and I already know are false. Hell of a system, we finally get through the video hearing about three hours later. I asked the VSO how I am supposed to provide the additional documents that I brought with me to the hearing, letters from my family and such. He tells me just hold on to them for when you go to court. Don't you know that all these people are paid from the same budget to say NO. They kept the cop right there to babysit me until after the last office person spoke to me. then the cop left. I guess I wasn't a threat as long as someone wasn't lying to me. God forbid that they would actually be forced to do what they are paid to do. I thought that calling the cops on me was a little extreme, but especially so since according to them I don't have rage issues and problems with authority figures..... imagine that.... Thought this might be good for a chuckle, if I didn't think it was so funny and stupid I might still be angry
  10. Allan, ""Hello. I am a vietnam era veteran. I have applied for a service connection and it is now in the hands of the BVA in Washington. I recently discovered my Rating Decision. On it there is something called Pension Entitlement Decissions. Then it says Permanent and Total for NSC from 06/22/1995"" Has this just been recently recieved? If it's only been a few weeks it does take them awhile to get their fingers working. from the time I got a decision to my first check was about two months and then another three weeks for the retro to arrive. If you are earning money or are recieving SSDI or SSI they will reduce your amount dollar for dollar what your already existing household income is. ""And then it says Combined Evaluation For Pension: 70%"" I have written to the VA several times but I don't get a response. Any ideas on my situation or could you refer me to someone. Thanks Alan Gosink If you have had time to write them with no response then two questions... where is your POA if you have one and does he or she know what your situation is? second is have you considered contacting a congressperson to investigate?
  11. To clear up these two questions and one from the other thread... first shrink I went to @ the VA said no doubt PTSD and wrote right in the narrative that I was advised to apply for SC compensation. Kept seeing him for several months. Suddenly he was gone and I was assigned to a new staff shrink. He said he was unsure if it was just PTSD or a depressive disorder NOS with anxiety components. So they send me to see someone for a PTSD eval. That guy was downright hostile to me and acted like I was taking up his valuable time so I just shut up and left. They then schedule me for a C&P but cancel it two weeks later and then call me on the phone with a new appointment the following day but not at the VAMC but rather at a vet center 60 miles away. I arrive 15 mins prior to appointment set for 10:00 and wait. at 10:25 this gal rushes in says she will be with me in a min or two, that she needs to grab her coffee and messages. I am called in 8-10 mins later and she starts peppering me with questions. We didn't hit it off right from the get go and things went downhill fast. She said this isn't working and that the interview was over. I was back on the road by 10:50. She wrote a wicked nasty eval saying that I had a personality disorder, nothing more. So I had applied for SSDI and SSA and they sent me for testing. that guy says yes I have PTSD and that the MEDs they have perscribed are masking some of the symptoms. Meanwhile things in my life are not going so hot... Had an bad anxiety attack and was refered to vet center(different one) so I send them a letter telling them my situation. They have me come down and it's now been over 9 months every other week I go plus still see the VA shrink. Vet center sent report to the RO and to BVA about how badly I was affected by the PTSD. RO ignored the report and certified my appeal to BVA. After two months of no word, I email to ombudsman and find out that my appeal was sent to the DAV even though my POA is with the AL. So I raise a stink. that was in July. TODAY they said that my appeal just returned from the AL and that it had a october 05 docket date and that they were currently working on November 04 dockets but they had my letter requesting a travel board hearing and didn't know how long it would take for the remand but to be patient... As to the stressor letter and all the various items that needed to be developed, yes they all checked out and they have ample documentation, plus photos and court hearing transcripts. they have no wiggle room in that regard, so in the SOC it says that while all my stressors have been verified, there are conflicting diagnoses and the question of equipoise does not enter the picture. They didn't even look at the vet center reports or the SSA paperwork. So as I see it I will simply have to wait it out till the board sees the evidence, in maybe a year from now
  12. To reply to Berta: The vitamin that I was told to take is "Alpha Lipoic Acid" 200-600 mg's per day has been shown to help injured nerves regenerate their insulation. The new problem is the Demylinating Neuropath that has just been diagnosed. The caths were done at two local hospitals, some were done at the VA's instruction. Nobody can say when and where the damage was done...just that it exists. I hear opinions from various doctor's all too frequently, none like to put those things to paper. NSC is not much money but it's better than nothing. I am of the opinion that the major part of my issues started from the PTSD that has been there all these years causing problems at home and work. It's only after several failed relationships and lots of different jobs that somebody other that just me started to see that I had a big problem with the world around me. anger, stress...la la la No I wasn't in-country or exposed to AO. I was in the Coast Guard and exposed to a different type of fire... some people do almost anything to avoid going to jail... My most recent s/c claim started in Jan 04 for an aquired anxiety disorder to include PTSD and cardiac issues secondary to that. It made it to the BOA but since the RO didn't provide the SSA paperwork and my award of SSI that I can't get cause the VA pays "TOO MUCH".or any of the records from the Vet center that has been treating me for 9 months my file is headed back on a remand...
  13. Hello All, To go along with what others have said, I'll add my 2 cents worth. Back in Feb of 2000 I went to the local hospital ER with shortness of breath and chest pain.... they did the blood test and the ekg..and all that routine.....Sent me home saying that I had indigestion. That was on a Friday night. The following Monday while out walking I collapsed in pain and called my wife on the cell and told her to come fetch me. I went back to the same ER (up here where I live there are limited health care facilities) and they did the same work up plus did a stress test with the thalium tracer. Lo and behold found three blockages, on 90% and two 70% all in the LAD, plus determined that I had had a heart attack sometime recently... Imagine that....This is the point that I entered the VA health care system, had no insurance, medical bills mounting up, perscription costs out of sight, ect... Just happened to luck out and got a really good NP who kept sending me for tests. That's when I learned about PTSD and how it had been plaguing me all my life. Learned that I got CHF and sub-clinical COPD So far I've had 9 caths and they have placed three stents. One of those stent caths went bad and they nicked the nerve bundles...that caused PN which is now in both legs. Just three weeks ago I was told that I now have demylinating neuropathy and it was suggested that perhaps the heart meds that the va provided worked against my metabolisum causing the new problem. The VA neurologist said that the damage has been done and it's irreversable. I can slow down it's advance by taking a vitamin but that they best they have to offer. Point of the story is you can get good or bad care regardless of where you go. The cardiology dept at the VA here is good but way understaffed. The outside cardiologist that I go to has a great rapport with the VA, in fact one of the doc's from that practice serves as a loco tenents doc at the VA. So all in all I believe that the VA has provided very good care but everybody doesn't get the same service, alot depends on your PCP and how much they push the system to deliver. The RO on the other hand has fought me every step of the way. I have already given up twice before after getting denied. This time around the post here have helped be find the motivation to fight harder. To thier credit they did grant the NSC pension, but that took some battle too. Sorry this is so long, but just wanted to balance out the perspective so to speak....Thanks for all you people do!
  14. Terry, The reason that I ended up with a NSC pension from the VA was due to the fact that I have some disabling medical issues, and by virtue of the fact that I am a vietnam era vet that served during a time of war I am eligible for the (so called) war pension because of no income. The NSC is a needs based pension that takes into account what your available household income is and considers what you have for dependents. In my case because I have school aged children and spouse they are considered in the monetary determination. There is a set amount based on your dependents and then they subtract household income and arrive at a monthly amount. Hope that answerd your question.
  15. Cavman, Been to two C&P's one for the PTSD and the other for COPD both were denied for SC. As to the other items, I have been going to the VAMC since my Heart Attack so they already had all my medical records in their own files. Plus they got copies of the medical files from my outside cardiologist that I made sure they mailed directly to the RO and to the VAMC. The VA diagonosed the GERD themselves so it was hard for the RO to deny it. I have had three stents put into my heart arteries, each one due to restenosis and the VAMC has those records as well. I have found that the best bet is to be proactive and keep them supplied with a papertrail Good Luck in your endeavor!
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