donh777

Maybe not but I am glad he did. The gist of my remarks were to never give up on your claim. jmo

My HISA grant was awarded in November 2012 in the amount of $6800.00. Ramp and Jazzy chair were approved without HISA on PCP orders and examination for need.

I was discharged in 1964. Had surgery on my wrist 2 weeks before discharge. Had to go to local small town doctor for follow up as it gapped wide open one week after the stitches removed. In 2000 I filed for arthritis of the wrist. VA doctor c & p exam asked me why I was fooling with a 0% or max 10% rating when your med records show a higher possibility of higher rating. Susprised I asked him what he meant as I had a auto accident while on leave in 1963 with over 4 weeks in hospital at Tulsa, Okla and transferred to Tinker Air Base in Okla city before being discharged and then later a week at Brook medical center in San Antino for neurological tests. At the time I thought it had to be an accident while on duty. DUMB Axx me. And then it took me until 2005 to file on the back as I had got 0% for the wrist and my opinion was it wasn't worth the effort to file. Got 10% on back and filed Nod and went to 40%.. Thanks to this site I have filed other claims and got increase in % for connected issues. POINT is I was in such a hurry to get out that I had no idea of benefits allowed. I am now 70 but I haven't given up and still fighting and waiting......

Thanks Wings......Also Merry Christmas to all.

Bye the way this was for TDIU.

Ijust had DRO review on 12/10. I wouldn't want to play poker with her. It either took 6 months or 9 months for the appointment. My RO was out of Sioux Falls but DRO was at Muskogee, Ok. She only made 1 remark about the case and it was positive but I want to see it in written form before I get my hopes up. Okla VETS representative found in records that my advancing age was a determent the first time, but with advancing age I opted for the DRO. So hopefully it will be a shorter route than direct to BVA. Just my opinion. Don Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts: for the coming of the LORD draweth nigh. James 5:8

just hang in there. No way to tell and some RO are really backlogged. Keep an eye on your bank account as it will probably arrive there first. GOOD LUCK. I completed my c & P on 11-19 12 and I filed in Muskogee, Okla.

Resend all the items they requested by USPS registered mail with return receipt(the green card). This will be the proof if they try to delay you again..

had another c&p exam by VA doctor(MD) for A/A, bowel and bladder dysfunction and ED. She agreed with my primary care doc and said I need aid & attendance of another person. Only problem is I am rated at 50% depression, 40% lumbar ddd, (doc also says lumbar ivds). 10% urinary dysfunction for daytime voiding. Her statement is NO urinary or bowel dysfunction due to lumbar back because there is no signs of Cauda Equine syndrome present. Urinary dysfunction due to increased size of prostrate. ED is at least as likely caused by medications for depression. Have review with dro scheduled in 2 weeks. She had 51 pages of reports and I have been over it 3 times and still confused by the redundency of the new exam forms.

Mine still says Preparation for decision but C&P scheduled for 11/19.

PM......Personal Message

No......nothing changed but this claim is for adaptive housing, it might make a difference.

Mine says closed 08/21,,,,,,still no letter.....

I applied for voc-rehab in 2011, got my interview in october 2011. Counciler was going to send home inspector out but they were waiting for more money for the contractor account was on hold. Never heard anything until a new councler was assigned in about march this year. She found the denial for vo-hab training due to disabilities in his desk after he was re assigned. This would have been important , I think for a request for TDIU that I had working and was denied in March 2012. She had the home study done and so far I have gotten everything but the walk in shower thru HISA. I got some twisted shoe strings so I wouldnt have to tie my shoes. Long stick to help put clothes on, reach up clamper, long shoe horn, sock helper that you pull with 2 strings, Watch to set two times to remind to take medications. Now the good things ....HP computer with buisness window 7, wide screen monitor, word, a HP office jet 4in1 printer which included fax. New foam memory mattress with lift up frame, lift chair and new garage doors (2 metal doors) with door opener. My new councler is great as she typed up the form for the PCP to sign. I had to get 2 thirty day extensions for the walk in shower modification, as I live in real small town in Okla and I just couldn't get the three bids that they wanted. I called every contractor in our phone book and no one would would show up for appointment. I had a couple of worthless bids and my councler gave me name of one she had worked with before, so with his bid I turned it all in and now WAITING for approval of HISA grant. She is susposed to pick up remainder of cost above the 6800$. I filed a NOD in March for the TDIU and sent copy of the denial of vo-hab due to disabilities. WAIT......WAIT....WAIT will we ever get used to it? Probably die before nod is answered.

Update....Wife didn't like the sleep number, so my counciler got it returned and we got the serta memory foam, wife satisfied and it is more comfortable. Also contractor coming tomorrow to install two new metal garage doors with opener. Old one's were wood and they just got to heavy to lift with my back problems..Still waiting on approval for the walk in shower. got my bids in finally after getting extension of time limit by prothestics. Lot of contractors never showed up at appoint time and never heard from them again.

Have you applied for TDIU yet?

Here is letter I received july 13, 2012. By regulation (38 c.f.r. 1.526(i) ) the VA will provide a copy of material in your VA claims file: one time only, free of charge. If you request a second copy of anything we have sent you, there will be a charge of .25 cents per side of each page, AFTER THE FIRST 100 PAGES. A copy of this notice will be placed in your file to alert us you have already requested the enclosed information....

A moderator should close this thread as it seems to be getting personal..Just help a vet is the reason we are here. There is a proper time and place to vent, b ut this is not IT.

Got IRIS reply today....disregard notification letter dated May 29, 2012. We have received your Nod dated March 21, 2012 with the 6 items listed. Go figure just additional 3 month delay. But the way they are right now by being so far behind that will just be 1st drop in the bucket.

Hollis If that 55 GAF stands..... looks like 30 to 50% with all things considered. 30% if first time file....But file and get the ball rolling.

Thanks carlie Bladder dysfunction 10% 1/29/2011 7515 lumbar degenerative disc disease 40% oct 29,2010 5242 Major depression associated with lumbar DDD 50% 4/30/2010 C&P exam dated 1/29/2011 stated bladder dysfunction , bowel dysfunction with no pad needed and erectile dysfunction caused by lumbar ddd. They rated the bladder at 10%, no mention of bowel. ED was denied because a c&p examiner(different exam) says more likely caused by micro-vascular disease. He did say that ED was exacerbated or aggravated by medications for major depression. I also had IMO from private doctor stating ED caused by lumbar DDD and medications.

Rentalguy....Your posts on lumbar Ivds hav been an inspiration to me. I got to 40%. Ijust had the upper gi endoscopy and they found LA grade A reflux esophagitis (MILD). My symptons were similar but I had aches in arms and burning in my chest. The aches in arms have subsided after changing my chlorestoral medicine from pravastatin to generic Lipitor. I have no acid indigestion either. My echogram showed heart to be in good shape. Get the test done if no more than ease your mind.

If the RO picked up 1 inferred claim on a c & P exam, will it do any good on a nod to point out more than what he gave rating for. Like got 10% for bladder but should have been 20%. and no mention of bowel dysfunction with partial loss of sphincter control with no pad required. The examiner stated it exactly like that.

Thanks All, still have until march 2013. Looks like I had better get my head out of my a??/. I will be spending the next week or so doing a lot more research..

Here is good one. My NOD stated " I applied for a disability benefit rating and increase on April 30, 2010. I am in receipt of your decision dated 03/08/2012 notifying me of the decision. This letter is my NOD with that decision." Bladder dysfunction daytime voiding of 1.5 to 2 hours should be rated at 20%. several more items on Nod sheet. Now I get letter back stating (unable to accept your NOD because you did not tell us what specific issues you are disagreeing with.