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Top 10 VA Disability Claims Articles

Jim MAC

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Posts posted by Jim MAC

    Skin Cancer

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Called the 1800 number today. Was told that I had a descion but they were waiting on someone to sign off on it. Good or bad I only filed in Feb and Had a C+P in March. I am currently rated at 0 percent. This time they sliced open my nose pretty bad. But if a descion ws made in only 4 months thats one for the record books.

    Jim

    Does anybody no what the rateing scale is for that thaks

    Agent Orange Registry Exam

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    I am scheduled for my first visit to the VAMC since being rated in a couple weeks. I`m thinking I should maybe steer clear of there until my appeal is decided. I don`t know what they ask. I mainly wanted to get some glasses, but that isn`t even scheduled yet. Thoughts?

    Cavman

    \Cavman

    I suggest going. I am enrolled in the gulf war register, It was the best move I made. Thats where I found out about the scaring on my lungs due to asbestoes (sorry about the spelling bad morning no java yet.) OF cource the VA medical center said I have scaring due to asbestoes and the RO says no. So when I go to my hearing at least i have something to fall back on.

    V/R

    Jim

    Ptsd May Raise Heart Attack Risk

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Don't know if you seen this or not but I figured I would pass it along.

    V/R

    Jim

    CHICAGO - A groundbreaking study of 1,946 male veterans of World War II and Korea suggests that vets with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are at greater risk of heart attacks as they age.

    The new study is the first to document a link between PTSD symptoms and future heart disease, and joins existing evidence that vets with PTSD also have more autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and psoriasis.

    A second study, funded by the Army, found that Soldiers returning from combat in Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder reported worse physical health, more doctor visits and more missed workdays. The Army study is based on a survey of 2,863 Soldiers one year after combat.

    "The burden of war may be even greater than people think," said the first study's lead author, Laura Kubzansky of the Harvard School of Public Health, who studies anxiety, depression and anger as risk factors for heart disease. Her work, with colleagues from Harvard and Boston University, appears in Monday's Archives of General Psychiatry.

    Their study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Army study appears in Monday's American Journal of Psychiatry.

    The possible link with heart disease didn't surprise one Iraq veteran diagnosed with PTSD.

    "It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out," said John Oliveira of New Bedford, Mass., a former Navy public affairs officer and veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. "It should also be a wake-up call that the cost to treat those of us suffering from PTSD could dramatically increase as we age."

    Medical authorities first accepted post-traumatic stress disorder as a psychiatric condition in 1980 at the urging of Vietnam veterans.

    In PTSD, the body's normal hormonal response to stress becomes trigger-happy, scientists believe. Long after traumatic events, people remain edgy, fearful and prone to nightmares and flashbacks. The continual release of adrenaline prompted by these symptoms may wear down the cardiovascular system, Kubzansky said.

    "It's not enough to simply welcome them home and do some immediate evaluation or help with reintegration," she said. "They need to be tracked and watched carefully."

    The Harvard and Boston University researchers analyzed data from the Veterans Administration Normative Aging Study, a long-term research project tracking Boston-area vets.

    They looked at health records of men who completed either a 46-item questionnaire measuring PTSD symptoms in 1986, or a different 35-item PTSD assessment in 1990. Both questionnaires are recognized tools for diagnosing PTSD and ask about symptoms such as sleep problems, nightmares, numbness, a heightened sense of being on guard and intrusive memories of traumatic events.

    Over the 10 to 15 years after completing the questionnaires, the vets with more PTSD symptoms were more likely to have heart attacks. For each level increase in symptoms on the 1990 assessment, the risk of heart attack or chest pain rose 18 percent - even after the researchers took into account known heart disease risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use and high blood pressure.

    Although the men had different levels of PTSD symptoms, very few had enough symptoms for a true diagnosis, Kubzansky said. The study needs to be repeated to see if the findings hold true for PTSD-diagnosed veterans, and for women, she said.

    The data also didn't track how frequently the men exercised, so researchers couldn't tell if the men with PTSD symptoms were getting more or less exercise than other veterans.

    Dr. Gary J. Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center, called the study "impressive." He said one symptom of PTSD is avoiding activity, which could account for some of the effect on the heart.

    Kennedy, who was not involved in the study, said treatment options for PTSD include drugs, talk therapy and behavioral changes such as getting more exercise and taking action to solve small problems in life rather than shutting down emotionally.

    "We've got a whole generation of veterans coming back (from Iraq and Afghanistan) and their health needs are just going to be tremendous," Kennedy said.

    Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.

    Tinnitus C & P

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Caveman,

    I don't know why they have you taking a hearing test for tinnitus, perhaps to find out if you have any hearing loss that might have caued the tinnitus.

    Once my doctors diagnosed me with hearing loss, and tinnitus I had them review my active duty medical records and write me a statement. The VA did not schedule me a C/P exam and awarded me with service connection base on these statements and the medical records. Both of my doctors told me there is no valid test for tinnitus. One was a civillian Army Doctor, one was a va doctor.

    Just be sure to tell the examiner that you have the tinnitus all the time, I do not think thay grant service connection for intermint tinnitus.

    Best of Luck...

    Rick

    I di not know what tinnitus was. I did clam High frequencey hearing loss and the VARO set me up for a C+P exam. While talking with the C+P dr she asked me if I had rininging in my ears and I answerd truthfully yes. She asked how often I told her the truth 3 to 5 times a week for about 5 mins at a time. Remember I never claimned tinnitus. The Dr asked me if I know what it meant I said "yhea it means someone is talking aboout you." Well when I got my claim back turned down for hearing loss (not bad enough) but 10 percent for tinnitus

    So It does not have to be every day but at least a few times per week, well that was my experinc anyway

    V/R

    Jim

    My Thangsgiven Present From The Va

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Jim Mac

    Why not ask for a Personal Hearing in front of a DRO. This is what I did when I got my cut and paste De Novo denial. I prevailed at the hearing. BVA=2 years. You keep it at the RO and you make a pest of yourself and maybe they will grant something. When you go to the BVA you are out of the RO's hair for 2-3 years.

    John

    Can I get a hearing at the Dro even after getting a turn down from the DRO?

    Thanks,

    Jim

    1800 Number

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Called the 1800 number today (my weekly call) . The gentleman on the phone stated that according to the computer my case was decided today ( I have 2 seperate NODS plus one appeal to the BVA.) My question is how long will it take to hear from the VA after a case is decided? These two cases are going on 2 1/2 years now

    Thanks for any info

    JIm

    Skin Cancer

    in Social Security Disability Questions

    Posted

    thanks Berta as usually you are a wealth of knoweldge. When I retire to Owego i will have to have the wife cook you ome old fashioned southern food. I am only trying to get a 10 percent rating for the scar on my face. If I can get to 10 percent then my total rateing in weord VA math will go to 80

    Jim

    Skin Cancer

    in Social Security Disability Questions

    Posted

    Well As I sit here enjoying my cup of java and bottle of hydrocodine I thought I asked for some advice.

    I am 70 oercent service connected but I have a 0 percent connection for skin cancer. Well I want to my primary care Dr last thursdat he noticed that my skin cancer was coming back, Well today they did inpainetent surgery as hopefully got it all out. my question can i get a percentage now because it came back. like I said I am allready service connected for it but at o percent.

    Thanks all

    Jim B)

    PS feeling no pain some good pills for a change

    Helping A Vet

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    I have read on thid board that if anything shows up within one yesr of discharge you can claim it thru the VA.

    Is that true? And if so where is that located. Vet disharged from USAF FTER 19 YEARS 11 MONTHS LATER he is diganosied with asthma can he do anything

    V/R

    Jim

    Request For Dd215

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    I hate to ask because I use to have all this info intill my computer died. But what form do I submit to get a replacement DD215 (wife threw it out.) Secound question I am trying to get some more medals added to my DD214 what form due I use and who do I send it 2. Sorry for the dumb questions I will save everything to disk from now on

    V/R

    Jim B)

    100% Concurrent Receipt And Dfas Backpay

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    vicki - DFAS and VA are currently working on back pay for those who receive retro awards from VA and were eligible for CRDP. Each case will be different so the amount would be hard to guess. Although a lot of the retired military organizations are reporting on this issue please don't spend it before you get it. We all know how VA works and if they can find a way out of it they will. As an example - the first reporting stated that DFAS and VA had worked out a plan to pay the retro and payment should start this month and be completed by years end. Last reporting I saw was some vets would received their payments around mid october but the others would have to wait until Jan 07 and all should be paid, if due, by mid summer. So you can see the ole search for the loop hole here at play already. As for the taxes. if he does not receive retro crdp then you can claim it on taxes. As stated in the other post there was a three year limit but IRS has finally figured out that there is another government agency that is more incompentent than it is - VA.... so they are currently changing their regs to allow for a longer time period since it sometimes takes VA 10 to 15 years to approve a claim.

    Ricky

    I called DFAS today. DFAS will be the agencey paying the back pay not the VA. I am hopeing to recevie my back pay by xmass. I am still waitning for thr govermnet to screw me over thou. I am currently paying back taxes to the IRS it was 18.000 but now I owe less then 5,000. Next time I talk to the IRS I will tell them I am haveing a computer problem and it will take 4 to 6 months to fix. How long do you think It will take the goverment to seeze myback accounts if i tried that one?

    V/R

    Jim

    Va Math Question

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    60% copd

    30 flat feet

    20 lower back

    10 feet

    10 hand

    10 scar and 7th rib resection (although the VA combined these two to 10%, they should be rated separate so can you add an additional 10 %)

    This is from one of my long time email vets- a dear friend-

    Can someone tell us what this should total to in that funny VA math?

    All SC ratings- thanks all---

    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

    Poa

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    [font=Arial] You are better off going alone then having a VSO saboatoge your claim. FIre the VSO and let the BVA straiten out the mess.

    Terry -- Not so, according t0 tje statstics that VA keeps, wjich show that vets without service reps fare worse at the VA than those with. Even if you think you know everything about VA law, it's good to have someone to bounce ideas on.

    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

    New Job

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Your employer gives a drug test? I think the opiates are going to show in your system. Why not be honest? Is it going to hurt your job prospects if this shows in your application physical?

    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

    Retirees Due Back Pay

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    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

    Sleep Apnea And Asthma Combined

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Greetings

    I may have ask this question once before but here it is again. Can asthma and sleep apnea be combined as one single rated service connected disability? I was first rated at 30 % for asthma. Later when the VA approved my sleep apnea claim, both conditions were combined and rated at 50%. After nearly one year of filing the NOD (both aliments should be rated separately), I got a denied decision again and statement of the case (SOC) from the VA. What should I do...should I complete the SOC or just leave it alone. What say you????

    Best Regards

    Chiefhouse

    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

    Bva

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Asbestos is not a presumptive condition-

    "5.13 ASBESTOS-RELATED DISEASES

    a. General. Many people with asbestos-related diseases have only recently come to medical attention because the latent period varies from 10 to 45 or more years between first exposure and development of disease. In addition, exposure to asbestos may be brief (as little as a month or two) or indirect (bystander disease).

    b. Responsibility. The rating activity is responsible for determining whether or not military records demonstrate evidence of asbestos exposure in service and ensuring that development is accomplished to determine if there is pre-service and post-service evidence of occupational or other asbestos exposure. "

    from M21-1, Part 3, paragraphs- 5.13 May 2004

    These claims have to be sent to the PIES Section to determine if the veteran's inservice occupations exposed them to asbestos.

    Then - the claim involves medical evidence that determines that nothing pre or post dated the asbestos in service exposure.

    I have a vet, non smoker, with no pre or post service occupational exposure to asbestos and who was in 2 inservice occupations in the Navy that exposed him.

    His claim is taking much time to be resolved and he is obtaining an IMO, as he has developed an additional

    terminal disease, which has been added to the asbestos claim as secondary.

    1. Did you get a VCAA letter advising you what they needed and

    2. Did they send your info to the VA PIES Co ordination to determine if your inservice duties involved asbestos exposure?

    [/quot

    Berta

    I have the specific AFSC where the VA says it is proball for Asbetos. I also have a VA xray that states scaring on my lungs. I was turned down from the get go for Asbetos that NOD is pending since Jume 9th of this year. I did a NOD a a few Items last year and received increase for acid reflux frp, 10 to 30 percent plus an increase from 0 to 10 percent for largentius. I was turned down flat for 3 other items which is why I ma going to the BVA. Turned down for chronic bronictis, sinuitus and right scholder pain

    V/R

    Jim

    Bva

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    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

    Disability Backpay Rules? Anyone Know Where They Are?

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    megndave - The current system does not allow for back pay on crdp. It becomes effective on the date received by and PROCESSED by Dod. The only way you would receive any back pay, which would come from VA, is if you went from lets say 40 percent to 100 percent. VA would then be obligated to pay you the difference which would be 60 percent because current law allows for full retirement and disability pay if you are rated at the 100 pecent level. Even in this case you would only get back pay from VA because you had already receive full retirement benefits from DoD. In your situation VA considers the additional 20 percent they gave you to have been covered by payment of your retirement. Look at it this way: Throw out crdp; VA disability is offset dollar for dollar by your retirement. If you get the money from VA then DoD withholds the dollar for dollar amount; If you get the money from DoD then VA withholds the dollar for dollar amount. The law does not allow them to pay both no matter what VA percentage you have. ie. even if you currently have a 100 percent rating from VA the law requires that it be offset dollar for dollar with your retirement pay. That is why you will see your entire retirement pay being withheld as a waiver on your retirement pay statement. Then at the bottom you will see the crdp payment which should equal your retirement pay. Bottom line is that confusion starts when we interpet the law as :I am authorized my retirement pay plus VA disability. The law requires that you still give up a dollar for dollar offset. Then the law allows DoD to pay you a CRDP payment which is to offset the offset against your retirement. I know this is confusing but bottom line is that if you were at 40 percent then VA paid you and your retirement was withheld. When you went to 60 percent with an effective date of 1 May 05 you have already received that additional 20 percent by taking your retirement pay so you award letter should show the amount being "withheld" due to receipt of retirement pay. At this point you zero out. There will be no back pay of crdp. Those who hold the power have made this rule. DoD knows this is not right and I have heard rummors that they are working on a progam which will allow them to back date awards all the way back to the effective date of the VA award since it could take VA 2-3 years to decide a claim. I do not see this happening but it is nice to dream.

    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 :(

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