mrs rockman (widow of vet)

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

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

Thank you thank you and may God Bless You!! Mrs. R

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!

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)

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

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

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

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

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! © No psychological functions filled out. The 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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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