Jim MAC

Lonerider What might be old news to some might also be welcome news to people like me. Thanks for taken the time to try and keep other Vets informned Jim

Bertha Acording to my VA math sheet I come up with 83.67 percent for what the VA has him rated for now. But If he gets the additional 10 percent for 7th rib resection it will raise till 85.3 percent which rounds up to 90 percent. V//R Jim

I guess I just liked out. I am retired AF and got a chance to go to a DAV briefing on a NAvy Base. The DAV rep took one look at my records and said I was 60 percent minuimum. If it was not for the DAV rep I never would have filed. HAd a great rep jim

Hey I would bring the bottles to the lab and let them write it down. I 2 had to take a drug test and hade no problems Jim

Berta A quick example. I am retired Af. Filed in Aug 04 Received 60 percent in aug 05 did not receive any extra money till Sept 05. VA kept every dime. Did A NOD ( thanks to you who taught me how.) Raised to 70 percent recivwed no back pay at all. Hopefull I will recive a few thousand bucks Jim

Well here is the link. This has just left me more confused http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,107503,00.html Jim

Chief I am rated 50 percent for sleep apena. I say fill the form 9 out and go to the BVA nothing to lose. Jim

Well as I sit here with pen to paper I do not know what to put. Should I ask for a local hearing or not? Has anybody ever had any luck with a hearing in Roanoke Virginia? Also is now the time to ask for a copy of my C-File even thou I have one NOD pending due to Asbestos? Any Input would be greatly appreciated. V/R Jim

Guys Hate to bring bad news be here my story. Retired military applied for comp Aug 04 notified Aug 05 I was 60 percent (since raised to 70 percent) recived no back pay for the whole year. Did not receive first check till Sept 05. Look at it this way 3 years ago we got nothing now at least we have the 10 year phase in for concurent receipt. Thats why we have to stick tigether as Vets and fight the VA commision. We (rated over 50 percent) got ours lets fight for our brother and sister rated 40 percent and lower and fight that t he VA commision does not try to take SS away from the disabled vets. Just my 2 cents Jim :(

Thanks Stretch Thats a case I will refer to in my NOD, Jim

Department Of Veterans Affairs VA Regional Office 210 Franklin RD Roanoke VA 24011 Attention xxxxxxxxx-In reply to 314/21/ Dear Sir 1,I received a rating decision dated 10 April 2006. Consider this letter to be an official “Notice of Disagreement” (NOD) regarding the following disability. I am requesting a DE NOVO review by a new Decision review officer. I wish that the new Decision review officer use Sec. 4.3 Resolution of reasonable doubt. It is the defined and consistently applied policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs to administer the law under a broad interpretation consistent, however, with the facts shown in every case. When after careful consideration of all procurable and assembled data, a reasonable doubt arises regarding the degree of disability such doubt will be resolved in favor of the claimant. 2, I was turned down for scaring on my lungs due to asbestos exposure. I am requesting Service connection due to the following facts of record. My primary specialty during active duty was Aerospace propulsion craftsman, jet engines, the dept of Veterans Affairs own memorandum dated May 13, 2002 identifies the likelihood of asbestos exposure for a service member with my specialty as “probably.” One of the reasons I was turned down was that an x-ray given while I was deployed to Saudi Arabia on 1 November 2001 showed my lungs to be essentially normal. The United States Government own website run by the US National Institute of health www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/asbestos#q3 states REMEMBER THIS IS AN OFFICAL US GOVERMENT WEBSITE “Although it is known that the risk to workers increases with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with only brief exposures. Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear.” So denying service connection for scaring on the lungs because it was not shown in 2001 is against what our own government states about the 10 to40 year period. 3, The record also shows I was involved in a major fire on a C141B Aircraft at Pope Air Force Base on 29 October 1987. I received the Air Force Commendation for saving the Aircraft and possibly the life’s of the flight crew. On the day I received massive amount of chemicals in my lungs. The Drs Report from Ft Bragg hospital even states that my facial hair was burnt off. 4,The Veterans Administration own training manual states The latent period for asbestos-related diseases varies from 10 to 45 or more years between first exposure and development of disease. Also of significance is that the exposure to asbestos may be brief (as little as a month or two) or indirect (bystander disease). See VA See Adjudication Procedure Manual, M21-1, Part VI, 7.21(a)(1). 5, Another reason I was turned down was the rating officer stated I was a long term smoker. The Board of Veterans Appeals has stated that smoking alone is not a reason for denial of asbestos exposure diseases. V/R xxxxxxxxxxxxx B)

Pete keep up the good work, You do more them you will ever know Jim B) B)

Kelly Here in Virgina it is not a state Holiday My Kids go to school on Veterans Day Say a lot about Hampton VA doesn't it Jim

Pete All I did was write the letters for him based on your and Berta advice but I feel great Going to have a few drinks and celebrate. I feel like I realy helped somebody. He is 64 years old and now can retire ( Could not afford to before.) I feel better for him then I did for myself when I won my first claim. Jim

Berta The Va wishes that they would have paid you what the owe you from the start. Just think how much you have cost them by getting Vets what they are owed. If the VA would have been fair with you you never went have gone to the internet looking for help. The more they screw over vets ( or Vets wifes) the more we ban together Jim

I signed also but there were only 13 peolpe so far. At least us here on hadit should sign it Jim

I had a visitor Today. A retired Vietnam Pilot with Prostate Cancer from Vietnam. When I first came to this site I was so upset with the VA that I decide to take some of my excess anger out on the VA by helping other people. I was talking to my boss and he told me he was rated at 20 percent for his Prostate Cancer. I came online (on the old site) and ask you all if he was being under paid. You all but especially Pete and Berta toll me it was to low. Well we submitted a increase he was raised to 60 percent we also asked for an increase on his hypertension which was rated at 10 percent. He has just received his first check for over 1,000 dollars. Since he is a military retire there is no back pay. He went to a C+P exam today for the hypertension I will keep you all informed. I knew he got an increase but I thought he was like me a military retire and had to wait 10 years for the full phase in. Well he applied for CRSC and received it. He wanted me to pass on his thanks. Told me he can now afford to retire. I feel great you all should feel great. I was told we changed his life. I am on cloud 9 myself Jim

Tachio Have you forgotten you medication again. If it was put to a vote I say at least 90 percent of the retires would say let the Disabled Vets have the bennies. Space A is a joke if you got about a week trying to get a flight you might be lucky enough to get one. I do not know what you have agaginst retires but my Mom always aid if you have nothing nice to say to or about someone you schould not say anything. So I will keep my mouth shut when it comes to you. Oh BTW way postal workers in the miltary get motored also. Jim PS Warfare has changed since your time. It started with Vietnam no safe areas at all. Even the big bases get hit

Hello All Hey Terry not ready to quit working yet still enjoy it. Whats going to cause me to quit working one day is the right arm and neck pain which is real hard to live with some days. I will get that serviced connected if its the last thing I do. When the bury me it will be upside down so the VA can Kiss my AS*. In my pockets will be my latest appeal. Have a great day you all Jim

Berta Skin cancer was a slam bam in my service records a little present from my last trip to the sandbox in 01. In my SMR it shows treatment for right schoulder pain but no xrays were done. Was given the standard motrion. Can you explain in layman terms what exostosis distal right clavicle means all I know is my shoulder hurts like he## Also skin cancer was on my nose not the bad kind the other stuff civilan doctor cut it out Jim

Greetings All As a retire with 24 years of service I may be in the miniorty but I am all for it. First of all the PX/BX makes a profit and the profit is plowed back into the MWR funds on base. So in reality by letting disabled Vets shop in the BX they are supporting the troops with more money for on base activites. Its not the retires that would raise hell about it its the local stores downtown who would. As far as the commiseries go who would it hurt to allow a disbled vet to shop there. The 5 percent surcharge pays for the operating of the commisery. Space A travel thats a no-brainer retires are priorty 6 make disabled vets a priorty 7. The only thing I would like to see is to make it like the VA when you hit 50 percent with the VA you get all your medicall coverd. I would like to see it if you are 50 percent disabled you get the bennies. Just my 2 cents worth Jim

Berta Turned down also but my DRO letter will be going in the mail this week Jim

Thanks to Hadit I am now rated at 70%. Up from 60 percent of course thats in VA math. New rateing Acid Reflux from 10 percent to 30 percent Laryngitis from 0 percent to 10 percent With my prior rateing of 50 percent for sleep apena 10 perecnt for tinuitis 10 percent Acid reflux and o percent for Laryngitis, o percent for skin cancer. If i figured the VA math out right I am now at 70 percent. I received those 2 increase thru the DRO process in under 6 months. Thats the good news bad news is received my origanal claim for asbestos expousre ( scaring of my lungs.) Turned down FIGHTS ON WITH A DRO APPEAL FIRST. DRO also turned down my claim for sinusitis and exostosis distal right clavicle (right shoulder pain.) To the BVA I go. Only bad things is no back pay due to me being a military retired. I keep you all informned anybody got any good Ideas? Jim

Mike Thank God your prayers were answered. Good luck with the fight on SC the hesrt. Hope I still see you on Hadit. Jim