mrs rockman (widow of vet)

September 6, 2012

Notorious Kelly,

What a great way to start your day- coffee and going for the gold. On our first date, David gave me a vial of gold. A while later a friend of ours, who panned for gold, gave me a beautiful gold nugget.

Good luck today.

Celia

Mrs. R

September 6, 2012

Berta,

It took David 40 years to seek help for his PTSD, because he know that there is indeed something not right with him, but do not want to come face to face with everything. Once he completed the 12 week CPT (I think that is what it is called) his nightmares and flashbacks were more intense.

We live 2 hours away from the Memphis VAMC. We both attended the PTSD suppport groups near our house- he for the guys and myself for the families. My counselor is terrific. I did go on Tuesday to let her and the group know. My counselor told me that right now I may be fine, but it is coming and do not hold it in.

Once he passes away, I am no longer eligible for the PTSD support group. I cannot make the two hour trip to Memphis. I know Samantha needs the counseling very bad also. She is going to see one at school. I knew she could not handle making the trip to the Chicago VAMC and needed something close to her college.

Yes, I do plan on seeing where I can seek counseling. Our VA CBOC is about 20 minutes from the house and that is where David did his original counseling. I wonder if it is possible for me to go there just for the counseling part of it? With Champva, I cannot go to the CBOC for my primary care, I have to go to Memphis. I cannot go to Memphis now, for there is a long wait list to get in. The beautiful part is that our PCP doctor was our doctor in private practice before they opened this CBOC, so we have a long history with him.

I cannot begin to be so grateful for this site. Without this site, I would have had to rely of what very little knowledge, if any, that I had to go forward with his claims.

I know you sent me something a long while back concerning the widow that was finally granted service connected for her deceased husband's pulmonary fibrosis. Hopefully, VA will honor his CHF as due to the cause of death and thus the Pulmonary Fibrosis will be a moot point at that time. Cardiac arrest is what I was told was on his death certificate and hopefully that stands true. The doctor for VA in the non-VA hospital told me that was what would be on the death certificate.

VA Memphis even called me on Tuesday from a department, but not fee the fee basis one. She was calling the hospital for them to send the bill to VA. She said that in her opinion since he was 100% sc'd for IHD and that he did die from cardiac arrest, VA should pay the bill. She said that she was not the one to make this decision, but she had put notes in his file and send it on. She said the good thing is that he did not have any other insurance. Luckily, he had not gotten medicare yet, for I knew if he had, that is another whole story.

I will keep you posted. It was so very hard to sit down and post it, but I knew that I had to see it in writing and honor him. When I posted it, my heart went back to you, knowing what you have been through.

Thank you Berta for listening! I know I just kept rambling on and on, but once I started typing, I could not stop. This place will be a great help for me and I am so sorry for making it so so long!

God Bless!

Celia

September 5, 2012

Carlie,

Thank you so much and these messages do help- veterans who care for veterans.

What I understand is I will not be eligible to the grief counseling from the Vet Center. I still have to check on it. I was hoping Samantha would be eligible for it also, for she is not coping very well.

I will continue to post. Right now I am in the process of getting the life insurance info together.

Have a blesses day.

Celia (aka Mrs. Rockman)

September 5, 2012

Notorious Kelly,

Thank you. I never looked at it that he did beat the disease in that way. What a wonderful way to phrase it.

At least I do know he can have the military honors liked he so wanted.

I have always been curious, do you or have you done a lot of mineral mining? We own a small mineral company and we have dug all over. We did some in Arizona. Our favorite is quartz. We named our company after Jeffries Quarry in North Little Rock for solution quartz. We just spelled our as Jeffrey, so to be legal.

We did Gem & Mineral Shows from Tucson, Denver to over to Marietta, GA. We had to quit going to Denver because of the altitude and Tucson was too far. In fact I met David at a Gem and Mineral Show in Memphis. Ever since then I was indeed hooked!

God Bless!

Celia

September 5, 2012

Hollis-

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and to the entire family. Try to remember all of the humorous and the good times that you had with Tommy. It is hard, I know. My Vietnam vet husband just passed away on Sunday. To get us through that day and forward, we tried to recall everything that would make us smile and laugh at the same time. It helps to keep you in a good place. The longer you can stay in that good place, the better. When more of the reality sets in, then you can go back to the good place you have created and pull from there.

I wish you all the peace and comfort. God Bless you!

Celia

Mrs. R

September 5, 2012

Tbird-

I want to thank you for Hadit and all of the great members here at this site!! Without this site, I would have had no clue as to what to do.

I would have never gotten claims approved without all of your generous help. Volunteering is a beautiful thing and it indeed comes back to you in many ways.

Would you believe that his PCP with VA had filed for a grant (on 06/25/12) to have a ride in shower in our house and it was approved. We have a ramp, motorized wheelchair, & lift already.

Doc applied for Aid and Attendance, but it was just denied. Doc is the one who mentioned that we needed it and the money would help me out. He wasn't "bad enough" so VA says. I should have appealed this, but my time needed to be with my husband.

David always wanted to get a t-shirt printed up saying that" my wife got me my100 %". He would say that it really did not matter if you filed a claim, the VA would deny you so why go to the trouble. Tbird, I would not give up, for he earned every single bit of his disability and more. There are plenty of things that we were going to file for, but our time just ran out.

I know I will stay on this site and learn more and if I can help one person, that is what it is all about. Indeed, I do not know very much and surely not as much as all of you, but you never know if something will come up that we did have to deal with. This site, I believe, will be one of my healing tools!

THANK YOU THANK YOU EVERYONE HERE AT HADIT!!! May God Bless all of you and guide you in everything that you do.

Celia

September 5, 2012

Thank you thank you and may God Bless You!!

Mrs. R

September 5, 2012

God is the only one that can get us through.

David did donate his body to science, but they did harvest his corneas.

We will have later on a celebration of life with plenty of pictures, his military medals, and plenty of caring people. I know he can have military honors ( I think that is what you call it) at his memorial and have the presentation of the flag.

God bless you, Terry!

September 5, 2012

It is with great great sadness that I have to let the Hadit members know that my husband died on Sept. 2nd. He fought the battle hard! He had Congestive Heart Failure, Pulmonary Hypertension,

Pulmonary Fibrosis, and PTSD. He was diagnosed with the Pulmonary Fibrosis in January of 2010. It is a very wicked and wrenching disease. With this, his heart could not handle it.

I do believe that our loved ones will wait before crossing over if they need to see someone special in their lives. Our daughter came in from Chicago for 3 days and was there when his heart began the process of shutting down.

VA did not recognize the Pulmonary Fibrosis, but he was 100% service connected for his heart and 70% for PTSD. He applied for increase of the IHD and PTSD on 09/29/11. By March of 2012, they granted him 100% P&T. I am so very very thankful that he knew that VA cared and VA did not wait until after he passed away to grant him the 100% ( like many of the veterans)! For VA, this was super fast and kind of unprecedented!

When he applied for Social Security disability, he was granted it in 33 days! Now let us put the credit where it is due- I thank God for taking care of him!

This is the hardest thing that I can imagine. We celebrated our 26 wedding anniversary on 06/14/12. I thank God for every single day of our life together and there will always be a huge void in my heart!

I know this site will help me cope. I have not been on in a long time, for my husband was the most important thing and then nothing else seem to matter.

David always kept saying that he would beat this disease and that is how he could cope with it on a daily basis. He was fine Christian man who loved the Lord with all of his heart. Heaven just needed a little more sunshine and a man who could talk about rocks and minerals 24/7.

Our daughter had to leave yesterday to go back to Chicago, for her classes started today. She is in so much pain. He knew she had a wonderful boyfriend and was happy and I know this help ease his mind.

Samantha, our daughter wanted to focus on Vietnam Vets, then decided that she wanted to include all others. Her therapy is photography ( this is her major). She has a site where she is telling her father's story and then hopes to focus on some sort of topic along the lines of how Veteran's families cope with losses. She and I are both extremely proud of his military service!!

We are proud of you Jocko ( the name he gave himself when he stepped off the plane in Vietnam). When he was on American soil again, he then became David again. This was his coping mechanism. David Scott never went to Vietnam.

I apologize if I make this post so long, but you know, it helped writing it down.

I will post later for help with all that I need to do to apply for my benefits.

God Bless you all!

David, Samichris and I love you very much and miss you terribly.

Rest in peace darling!!

Your Loving Wife,

Celia (Mrs. Rockman)

May 26, 2012

Super News! Congratulations on your win-well deserved!! Just enjoy....!!

Mrs. R

March 10, 2012

I wanted to let ya'll hear the great news!! Rockman filed a claim on 09/29/11. It re-opened his 02/22/10 original claim.

He filed for the following:

1) increase- his 60% IHD and how it has gotten worse

2) increase- his 30% PTSD and how he is worse

3) TDIU- he had to quit his job on 08/05/11.

4) Pulmonary Hypertension (claimed as hypertension in 2010). We thought that it would be secondary to his IHD.

The C& P doc asked if we had applied for A& D, so I assume this was in her notes of the exam.

He is 10% for shrapnel- lower back.

He is 0% for his fractured right forth rib. They have put in his notes that he does have degenerative disc disease.

By the time that we realized that we needed a release of information form from his chiropractor- we were afraid that it would send the entire claim back to square one. We decided to wait on it when the dust settles. He goes to his chiropractor once to twice a month.

They increased his IHD to 100%.

They increased his PTSD to 70%. NO more exams.

They gave him the extra for being housebound.

They denied his pulmonary hypertension

They said that TDIU was a moot point, since he was awarded 100%P&T.

The VA Award Letter was dated 03/02/12 and the money landed in the bank on 03/06/12!!

We have already filed for a waiver on his insurance, and applied for more.

We have filed a waiver on our property tax.

We have sent in the papers for CHAMPVA.

We have gone to the National Guard Amory to get out ID cards and all we have to do now is go to Millington, TN. and get our car decals.

We already have our two Purple Heart car tags with no fees.

WHAT A GREAT RELIEF AND A GOOD FEELING!! This has lifted such a great burden off both of our shoulders I CANNOT EXPLAIN.

Our medical insurance had just ended on 02/10/12 with his old employer.

I AM SO THANKFUL THAT VA HONORED MY HUSBAND, ROCKMAN, WHILE HE IS STILL LIVING. That was so important to me that he knows this and not given to him after he had passed.

This along with getting SSDI in 37 days- we are truly fortunate.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU HADIT MEMBERS FOR BEING THERE AND GIVING US THE SUPPORT AND THE TOOLS WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS JOURNEY. WHAT A WONDERFUL SITE AND I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH THANK YOUS AND LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL!!

We still have some things we need to research about and things Rockman needs to address with his illness, but we need to take a little breather and have a little "us time"!!

With his illness, it is hard sometimes, but this helps put a smile on his face and I hope one day that they will find a cure for pulmonary fibrosis.

God Bless all you you!

Mrs. Rockman

March 10, 2012

I turned 62 on 09/28/11. I went into the Social Security office and filed on 09/02/11.

I filed for SSDI and also for regular social security at the same time. This way I figured that I would receive the regular retirement while I would have to wait for SSDI.

I got a letter dated 10/10/11 stating that I would receive payment on or after 10/16/11 for SSDI. It was in our bank account a day or two after we got the letter and well before the 16th!!

This is what I took in with me on my 09/02/11 visit. I did not want to file it online, for I wanted them to have as many medical records as they could right then.

I carried in the following:

(1) I listed all doctors (non-VA & VA) with their addresses, phone numbers, patient ID #, and date first seen and date last seen.

(2) I listed therapist with the VA.

(3) I listed all hospitals, clinics, or emergency rooms. I included also the patient ID# and dates seen.

(4) I listed all my recent progress reports form my outside docs along with the recent VA progress notes.

(5) II listed all my medications and who prescribed them and what condition they were for.

(6) I listed all of the medical tests that were done with the location of the test and what doctor sent me.

(7) I listed how my illness limit my ability to work.

(8) I listed what my daily routine was.

(9) I listed things that I was able to do before I got sick and the things that I cannot do now.

(10) I then listed the things that I only could do now. Believe me I went into very very much detail. I left no doubt about anything.

(11) I listed how my PTSD has affected my life- what I was like before & how I am now,

I told the lady that I had more files at home that were related. I brought them in the next week and she copied an entire plastic tote (huge tote) there while we waited.

I just bombarded them with plenty of medical evidence so that they would not have any doubts about me being disabled.

I know this is a long posting, but I was hoping that this would help someone down the road!

THANK YOU HADIT MEMBERS-

THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU!!!!!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Mrs. Rockman

November 6, 2011

Greetings fellow veterans. I am a board-certified occupational medicine physician, and I have developed a new website for veterans of the conflicts in Southwest Asia (1990-present) to go for the latest information about diagnosis, treatment and disability claims for injuries and illnesses arising from their service. I spent 22 years as a Medical Officer in the Navy, with active and reserve service, and I am a former VA C&P examiner. I am now in private practice, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of work-related injuries and illnesses, and I perform disability examinations on a regular basis.

I have posted some new information that may be of interest about Iraq/Afghanistan War Lung Injury and the use of hyperbaric oxygen for TBI that was recently published. It is my opinion that there are many undiagnosed illnesses as well as promising treatments that many vets don't know about, and I would like to try to get the word out about these issues.

Please take a look at the website and blog and tell me what you think.You can also follow me on Twitter @docforvets

Thanks,

John Williams, MD, MPH

I understand that your website is for 1990-present. My husband is a Vietnam vet with chronic heart disease, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, PTSD etc. He was also exposed to the open pits (latrine) with diesel fuel. Would this not be as bad? The VA will not recognize the lung disease. I was just curious. Also there was agent orange.

Mrs. R

November 5, 2011

Berta,

Thank you for posting this. Let me just tell you what happened to Rockman in this regards.

He had to leave his job of 13 years and his last day was on 08/05/11. He only had short term disability of 12 weeks. First we did make multiple copies of the MetLife Attending Physician Statement. This is how it went down:

1) We took a copy to our PCP doc. The front desk said that they did not know if he did those or not, but would give it to him. They faxed a copy to the Pulomonary Dept. at

VA Memphis.

2) We then went to the Pulmonary Department in Memphis and they said that they do not do these forms. The nurse (who by the way, is very very nice and did try)

tried to get one of the doctors in Pulmonary to fill it out. We even had the VA directive 2008-071 to show them that this directive did not expire until 2013!!

3) The nurse then called our doctor and let him know that he was the one who needed to fill out the form.

4) We then went down to see the Patient Advocate ( what a real joke!)., We showed her the directive and she said that she had a problem like this before. She even took

the Veteran up to Pulmonary and they refused to fill out the form!

5) We were told to come by our PCP and he had the form filled out for us to come and pick up. We did go and pick it up.

6) The kicker to all of this-

(a) No name or social on form

(b) initial treatment date shows Feb. 2011 NOT Feb. 2010!

social worker at his office treated David with the CPT course and could have helpd him with that. He is SC'd for PTSD by the way.

(d)Physicial capabilities- Cannot assess.

(e) The Prognosis- He did say that He advised the patient to not return to work. Then he said that he recommended that patient see a Occupational Health Physician.

There is no such tyhing at the VA and we would have had to go on the outside to say he could not work. Mind you, this was only for a 12 week check!!

(f) MetLife did give David 5 weeks and needed to have VA contact them to get the remaining 7 weeks of pay. He told them they would never get this. He finally did get

them to understand that his was a disease that would never improve- No treatments out there and the only option is a lung transplant. With his hearet failure-

not a good option. MetLife did go an and approve the 7 weeks.

WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR VA TO DO THIS, EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE THE DIRECTIVE RIGHT BEFORE THEM?!? I figure that if they fill out the form, then they

are admitting that he is t ruly 100% disabled and just maybe might have to give him 100% P&T.

I am sorry that this is so long. With David's PTSD, his heart trouble, now his pulmonary hypertension, & his PF, this really took a toll on him.

Thanks for listening.

Just a small note ( and I will post later) he was granted SSDI in 35 days!!!

I do hope that other Veterans do not have the same problems as we do. Now we know whay so many go to outside docs!!!

Mrs. Rockman

November 4, 2011

I understand this is an old thread, but I read it found it useful and was encouraged to research some more, so the I would be able to understand the SMC process and rating information. I found a free pdf/ebook at www.purpleheart.org under Special Monthly Compensation. The ebook explains in detail the various SMCs and the process to request them, It also explains each level and each service connected injury and how that specific "loss of use" is utilized for additional compensation.

I am adding this because even in 2011 veterans are having difficulty with the VA process, and I knew nothing of SMCs until I read about on this forum.

HELP! We too are very confused about the SMC awards and what is what. I looked up the purple heart site and did not find the ebook. Can you tell me what I did wrong.

Thanks-

Mts. R

November 2, 2011

CONGRATULATIONS to you Carlie!!! I have not been on for awhile and just noticed that your % had been raised! You have worked long and hard for this and I am so happy that you have won the VA claims war! It tells us to never give up and let VA win. You are an inspiration to us all here on Hadit.

May God Bless you and do enjoy your new blessings!

Mrs. Rockman

August 25, 2011

Thank you. My in-laws live on the coastal part of south Georgia near the Florida line and they are in their 90's. We are always watching when bad weather may hit their area.

May everyone be safe!!

Rockman

August 24, 2011

I don't quite understand what the "short term disability" would have to do with getting a VA doctor's statement-

Was this for the pulmonary fibrosis?

Do you have a SC rating for that already?

If so this might be some good evidence for TDIU:

"The Pulmonologist wrote and signed a letter on VA letterhead that I could no longer work, so filing out a form should not be a total surprise"

-if the doc gave a full medical rationale and if you have a service nexus for the pulmonary condition and/or a current SC rating for it.

The short term disability papers for his job that he just left. It is to just show that he is no longer able to work. He is not SC for the lungs at the present. His outside cardiologist did say he was placing in his records that his SC IHD aggravated his lung condition and also that his heart condition will never improve. He now has Pulmonary Hypertension. The short term is in review right now. Hopefully they will take the VA's letter.

August 24, 2011

I do not know where to post this, so if it does need to be changed-fine.

My last day of work with my employer was on 08/05/11. I had short term disability with them for 12 weeks. I took the Attending Physician Statement to my local VAMC to the Pulmonary Doctor to have filled out. The nurse said that VA usually does not fill one out. She could not a doctor that was willing to fill it out!!They sent me to my local CBOC and all the doc did was say that I had Pulmonary Fibrosis, Hypertension, & IHD. He never did mention the PTSD that I am SD'd for. He would not fill out any more-so it was basically imcomplete. He said I should be evaluated by a Occupational Health Physician.

What do I do, for now I may not be able to get my 12 weeks and this will be a HUGE financial Blow!!

I am going to the Memphis VAMC in a couple of hours to my Pulmonologist for my PFT and appointment. Does anyone have any idea as to where I can get this filled out? I want to have it done in case the insurance company denies me.

Also I want to take a Residual Functioning Capacity Form to have done to take with me to Social Security. I am trying to be pro-active!!

Help-any help with be more than appreciated.

**The Pulmonologist wrote and signed a letter on VA letterhead that I could no longer work, so filing out a form should not be a total surprise.

Rockman

August 16, 2011

How is he doing now? Have you heard anything more from the VA or SSA?

We are on our way to his private cardiologist today. The nurse said to write down what we need for him to put in records to show that his pulmonary fibrosis is aggravated by his sd heart disease. He now has pulmonary hypertension, so we will have him to include this. Doc said whatever we need for him to write to VA, he will.
His last day of work was on 08/05/11. As soon as we get his notes, we will be filing for SSDI and also SSI ( he turns 62 on 09/28/11). They did approve him for service-disabled veterans insurance with us stating his lung condition that was not service connected.
We also need somehow to be assigned to our local clinic. We are a 2 hour drive to the VA. The walk into and thru va is too hard on Rockman. I know it can be done. The nurse at the cardiology clinic has her father-in-law that goes to the entire clinic for everything but foot problems( and foot problems are at VA) and it all goes thru VA. He will be out of insurance in 3 months. HELP!!
Thank you for checking in on us.
Mrs. R

July 18, 2011

We just got Rockman out of the hospital. He thought it was his heart, but it was his lung condition mostly, but this also is hard on his IHD. We were told that he had pulmonary hypertension. I saw somewhere on this site that it would be an automatic 100%. I cannot remember where and just wish for his health back. With his condition, he cannot afford to drive to the VA. He has to be able to get to a er quickly. I have no idea as to what we will now be facing when we get this last bill. We will pay what we can and I will not worry about it.

He really needs for his filing with SSDI to be with all of his service related disabilities. His heart and his PTSD are connected, but his pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension is not. Now we are a rock in a hard place.

Mrs. R

July 8, 2011

You should file for both SSA and SSDI at the same time, if possible, assuming you will be or are 62. Don't bother to file for SSDI if you are still working.
The SSA sees a concurrent application as we've gotta pay one way or another, and the fact that you are asking for early retirement as an indication that the disability is preventing you from working.
Assuming, of course, that you have the medical docs necessary to prove the disability when you file.
I did this, and received the age 62 SSA payments for almost a year before SSA finally got around to getting the SSDI paper through the mill.
In the middle of everything, I ended up (On the advice of a senior SSA clerk) asking for an earlier effective date for SSDI, and actually got it!.
A side issue was that when I brought the paperwork to request an earlier effective date (prepared per the senior clerk's instructions) a junior clerk did not want to accept it.
I told the clerk that I wanted the SSA received date stamp on my copy, and that the paperwork was only to be given to the senior clerk (by name).

~14 K retro total as a result! Part was the difference between the SSA 62 payment, and SSDI. The rest was due to the earlier effective date.

You also have to consider how your disability might impact your life expectancy. Many disabling conditions significantly reduce it.
The type of work you were doing and are qualified for can have a major effect on SSA's denial or approval.
I was approved in part because I could no longer safely climb ladders to get into large aircraft to supervise repair actions and engineering modifications.
Then, just to add insult, the VA refused to acknowledge that the SSA had ruled that I was totally disabled solely by conditions that were and are service connected.
Finally had to get a lawyer to deal with the VA. When all is said and done, the VA ends up taking about 30k out of retro due me, and pays the lawyer.

A friend who ran a small painting business and also climbed ladders was disapproved by SSA.
The reasoning in the original disapproval and his appeal was that he ran the painting business and "could hire someone"????

Chuck75-

Thank you for this great personal information. We will then file both the day he leaves work for good-August 5th!!!

I am glad you did so well with Social Security, but to have to go thru all you did with the VA is just not right!!

You serve and protect, but just where is the protection afterwards??

Also, you mentioned that you had to prepare the papework to request an earlier effective date and it was per the senior clerk's instructions. Would you mind letting me know just how you worded the letter in case we need it? Almost for certain, we probably will need it at some point. Knowing how to prep yourself is half the battle. Again thanks again!

I work in a prison and just walking to the crash gate is difficult at most. I do take my oxygen into work daily. The job is also very hard on my PTSD. It really would not matter where I worked, I can no longer walk very far and not be totally out of breath.

Have a good day!

Rockman

July 7, 2011

To All-

Thank you for your imput. We are hoping that we will be able to survive on my VA disability & short term disability. I know people have gotten SSDI very quickly, but I do not know a congressman personally to make sure Social Security works on it in a timely manner. It can be done, I know it. I have a friend that says it is all in how you word the application first. He has gotten friends approved on the first try. We will fax it all to him first and then we will be ready to move forward when I am no longer working.

With the disease, it will never ever improve.

Have a Blessed Day all!!

Rockman

July 7, 2011

That's an interesting situation. At first glance without knowing all the details I would look into filing for SSDI now if you think you can get it. That way, if granted, you would draw your full Social Security amount until your full retirement age and then it would just convert over to regular Social Security at that point at the full amount. If you were to file know, at 62, you would only be drawing a portion of the maximum benefit and that wouldn't change from now on.
I know others will chime in on this issue with good advice.
As for the progress reports from the pulmonologist, I would immediately go to the records office and get copies of the notes ASAP under the FOIA. That way you have the copies in the event the VA "loses" those notes later. Good Luck!

Thank you for your quick reply!!

I am wondering, if you happen to know, is if I go on and file for SSDI on the 5th, would I get the regular SSI payments after I turn 62? After it is approved (providing it is), then would Social Security go back to the original date filing date for SSDI and re-imburse for the difference of SSDI and SSI?

I would pre-file for SSDI with the date I am leaving, but I do not want to send up a red flag saying that "on this date, I know I will be disabled", if you see what I mean.

My private cardiologist said that he would get me what I needed to file for SSDI, which is good, since my IHD is service connected. He also said that if I wanted a letter stating my IHD is a "Static Disability", he would do that also. Then this would be sent in with hopes that they would grant me 100% for my IHD.

I know that you really need to file for SSDI with your service connected issues. I also have PTSD. The kicker is that my pulmonary fibrosis is a "compassionate disease with SSDI and is "supposed" to be approved quicker. The pulmonary fibrosis is not service connected so I am kinda in a rock and a hard place.

Confused,

Rockman

July 7, 2011

I will be turning 62 the last part of September. I know i can go on and fill out all of the paperwork online for this.

My question is, I will not be working after 08/05/11, due to my service connected disabilities and one other disability ( not recognized by VA yet).

The VA is sending me a letter that I will no longer be able to work after the 5th. (for the pulmonary disease).

By the way, our outside cardiologist put it in writing that the pulmonary affected my AO IHD. We are sending this in as new evidence.

The VA pulmonologist is the one writing the unable to work anymore.

We asked the VA pulmonologist if this disease affected my heart and he said yes. We asked if he would include this in our progress notes, he said yes, & and we did see him typing this. We have not gotten our records printed on this. I do hope that VA did not take this out of our records to protect themselves, but it would not surprise me at all. If it is in there, we will send both for new evidence.

Should I go on and file for SSI and then on 08/05/11, file for SSDI? I know that they will recognize the SSI first and then I would be assured of some money at least while I "wait the waiting game!!

Any ideas on this, for I need to start filing this weekend for SSI.

Help, I could really use some of your wise imput!!

Rockman

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