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Jim MAC
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Posts posted by Jim MAC
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Hampton VAMC B+ would be an A but it takes forever to get a fee based appt. Roanoke, Virgina RO B at the DRO level I will give them A- but it take way to long but at least the read. Now QTC DOCS for C+P exams (thats all roanoke sends me 2) D- never have any of my records so how can they review them?
Jim
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Thanks all
I thought that the rateing my be correct. There is no sense asking for an increase if he is getting the corect rateing. All that does is slow up the already slow system
Jim
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Quick question
Guy I work with is rated 10percent for High blood pressure. He takes medication over takes blood pressure medication pluse low dose asprin 1 per day fora rateing of 10 percentis this right?
Thanks
Jim
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How long does it usually take then to actually pay you for your back pay from the date thet they tell you you won your claim..I still havent heard from the VA and its been almost a month.
emrock
For me all little over 3 years to get my backpay
Jim
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Because you're the guy who will bear the consequences if your Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) case fails, my strong advice to you is to research this thoroughly on your own BEFORE sitting down with a DAV or other service organization representative.
Read the VASRD requirements for sleep apnea and its various ratings.
Read the BVA decisions concerning
1. Award of service connection for sleep apnea, and
2. Award of the 50% rating you seek.
Know the standards like you know any of the important stuff from your MOS.
Why? You can't evaluate the performance of your "subordinate" (the rep) unless you know what he's supposed to know.
PM me if you want to go over stuff...I am a retired USAF paralegal. I can't give you legal advice, but I can give you some insights.
NOD that TODAY retired AF also get 50% for sleep apena with CPAP machine
Jim
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8 May 08
30% SC (10% - Lt foot surg, 10% - Rt foot surg, 10% - Laceration w/scar Rt thigh, 0%- multiple conditions)
Just had C&P exam for sleep apnea at St Pete VAMC, already had two sleep studies w diagnosis AFTER retirement (20 yrs USAF), buddy letters and wife affadavits, secondary to GERD which is 0% SC already. I took the CPAP to the C&P, the provider laughed good naturedly and asked if it was "show and tell" today. I said "Yes, ma'm!" I expect 50% for the SA for a total of 50% + 5% + 4.5% + 4.05 % = 63.55% rounded down to 60%. Puts me in range for CRDP and some retro as well.
Its been 2.5 years since I filed for SA and it's been denied twice. AMVETS rep has kept it alive by asking for more evidence and IMEs and requesting reconsideration instead of formal appeal. This C&P is the first movement I have seen on the VBA's part that was not stonewall. This might work out after all.
16 May 08
Take heart! I got the call today from my AMVETS rep - VA has granted me SC for Sleep Apnea (secondary to my 0% for GERD), despite the fact that it was diagnosed more than a year after retirement. My 2 sleep studies and 3 IMO/IME letters (all from private docs) put me over the top. Interesting, though.......My rep says that I am now rated 70%......I thought SA with CPAP is rated at 50%, and when you add in my three 10% SC conditions you get the following: 50% + 5% + 4.5% + 4.05 % = 63.55% >>>> 60%.
Either he is mistaken (I hope not) or they have found another 10% somewhere.
And they gave me an effective date back to 30 Dec 05, when I first filed for SA. So the last 2.5 years have been worth it all. I owe AMVETS and my rep a huge thank you, and a lifetime membership.
While I joined hadit.com late in the game, I have still read valuable advice here. I hope all of you will persist in your efforts to get the benefits we earned, need, and deserve. Send any questions about my BVA experiences to date, and I'll be glad to share.
Air Power!
Congrats
Maybe they are paying you for your GERD. I get 50 percent for sleep apena and 30 for gerd
Jim
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you will get more than your monies worth here just learn to deal with the tudes many have PTSD and feathers get ruffled then we send them hunting with Dick Cheney to take care of the problem
HEY WELCOME ABOARD
Test vet like the saying goes I rather go hunting with Dick Chaney the be driven around by Ted Keneday
Jim
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Okay, thanks. I guess, and maybe this is just pushing it to be an award, that if it had been denied my POA would have just said that. I mean, they took the time out to call and tell me a decision had been made. They could have just as easily indicated it was a denial (if it was) and let me know I would be getting the decision letter explaining everything soon, right? I don't know. I think I would have done better without the call. Oh, p.s., they did ask me to return the call today between 8-12noon. But I was not able to do that...had another appointment.
I had the same thing happen to me When you call the 800 number they do not want to give info intil you recive the letter. The way around that is to ask what is my current disabilty rateing. When the clerk on the phone told me 80 percent I Knew I won my claim for my back
Jim
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Don't y'all see this is VA classic putting Veterans against each other.
I think it is a mistake for any Veteran to resent another Veteran for getting fair treatment.
Myself as an older Veteran I don't see where the VA has done so well by Iraq Veterans either they just are saying that they have priority.
Pete and everyone
I am one of the new Vets and have priorty YHEA right, I been out of the service since 03 I am considerd an OEF vet never got further then Saudi but I am consider a global war on terrisom vet. At my DAV hearing I was told that I had a 1 one priorty. Ok how come I been waiting for another cancer operation for two months. Just like thery say an average claim takes 180 days. maybe just to screw it up. My first intial claim took 11 months. Somebody is smokeing something at the VA. can;t get in to see my primary care Doc but maybe twice per year. I got so many more things health wise I am trying to deal with i just want to scream. If I am priorty 1 at the VA medical center and priorty 1 and they claims center lord we are all in a world of hurting.
Jim
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fyi john. I have spinal stenosis with cauda equina, and severe neuropathy. I have nearly lost the complete use of my lower extremeties. I have severe bladder incontinence. I have uncontrollable pain that causes a depressive disorder that threatens to land me in jail for life, becuase I am as likely to kill someone for pissing me off today as I was when I was ordered to kill somalis. This is all from what the VA saw fit to call a "resolved back strain" in 2002. They had the evidence all along to know this was going to happen, yet they never told me anything. Instead, they called me in for a C&P when I wasn't in the middle of a flare-up and reduced my rating from 10% to 0% for my back. So, ya...I've been screwed by the VA, too. I got mad and threw a fit. Then when my disabilities took on a life of their own last year, I realized that I would never get an increase by being pissed at them. Then I decided to learn the system and work within it. I filed claims for increase in September of last year, and after the initial C&P's the VARO inferred a claim for A&A. So, I have two more C&P's to go (MH and A&A) this month, and I should have a decision in a couple of months. I did it the right way this time, and I am positive that I will get results. Will I get exactly what I want...probably not. Will I get ratings based on what my evidence shows...I guarantee it.
The only reason I am still able to work is because my wife is kind enought to help me bathe and dress myself everyday, then she drives me to work. Then, when I am at my job, I don't really have to do much of anything except watch computer screens and do lab work. I'm lucky, but my workplace is currently trying to fire me over my disablity. So basically...you can come back and say I know nothing about having a disablity when you are paraplegic.
Rental Guy
I feel your pain. I have missed about 20 days from work since January 1st and have another surgery comeing up in May. I get lots of grief at work called the FMLA kid and oh look jim worked 4 days this week. I just thank God for FMLA and a strong union. Some days I wonder weither it is worth it. Why do i still go to work? I could get I.U in a heartbeat but I know If I did I would go from a part time alcholic to a full time one. I just thank god I can still go to work. I am scared of a drug test thou. Because of my pain meds they can probally tell me I could not work there anymore. BTW I do not take any before work just double up when I come home. I thank god my disabilties can be seen with an xray or a test. I pray for those with PTSD or other mental dieases because they have such a long battle.
Jim
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Oh no-I am an unpaid volunteer veteran's advocate- I have no interest in becoming an NSO whatsoever.
I am using my excellent education -specifically the Leadership instruction I received from the United States Marine Corps-to eventually get some Congressmen and Senators off their butts down there in DC-and to begin doing something significant to stop the backlog situation at the VA instead of yapping about it.
Not to mention numerous other issues that I have had to take an aggressive and fully confident stand on -regarding some specific veterans issues recently here in NY.
I dont even have time for a real job.
Berta
Just keep doing what you do you have mo idea how many vets you all help. When I came here to hadit I beleive everything the VA said
Jim
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The link did not come up. I remember I got in trouble for a bumber sticker I had on my car at Mcguire AFB It said inpeached the presdient and fire Bill two. Nobody said a word about the other one that said boycott jane Fonda american traitor bitch
Jim
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Thank you for your service and welcome to the best vet site on the internet
Jim
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Berta, I saw that story the other day here in Rochester and just laughed... at the Gov't of course. I gotta think that if this kid had sought out a medical discharge he would fall under a different re-enlistment code and therefore not be able to be called up. Also, doing the math, he is 7 years from his original enlistment date... so if they do call him up do you think he will just get to go home at the exact date he hits 8 years? I doubt it... good old STOP LOSS! The numbers in that one story that say there are less than 6000 troops from the IRR... yeah, well I am sure that if you get STOP LOSSED before you ever leave active duty, you never went into the IRR to be counted in that amount. I wish him getting on the news here and in B-Lo would make a difference, but I PROMISE all that is going to do is make sure some **** keeps him on active duty to break his **** for going to the press.
Quint7
I never will forget stop loss. Iwent on one last deployment to saudi was supposed to be from August to Dec 2001. Well we all know what happened on Sept 11th, So when I returned from my deployment with a march 1st retirement date that was a no go. I WAS STOP LOSSED after 23 years in the service. Then I was scheduled to retie on April 1st 2003. Well IRAQ kicked off. If my retirement date was May 1st I would have got stoped loss again
Jim
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Gary,
Until I got to BVA, I always thought they were the ones that will finally get
my claims straightened out and justice will be done. HUH ! Now that I'm
at BVA all I see is remand, remand, remand.
jmho,
carlie
Carlie
I would do anything to stay out of the BVA thats why I like a DRO hearing. Its real hard for some young kind (the 25 year old DRO) to look you in the face and turn you down if you got the proper ducts in a row
Jim
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http://www.skincancer.org/basal-cell/basal...arcinoma_2.html
They have all of the descriptions of basal cell on that link.
Thank you so much vetswife
This is the one he said I was just in a little state of shock
Sclerosing or Fibrosing. Fibrosing basal cell carcinoma is also called morphea-like carcinoma. This fibrosing type of tumor begins as a flat or slightly depressed, shiny, hard, yellow-white patch with an irregular border. Sometimes, it may be present for years without growing or being recognized. More often, though, the lesion grows quickly, reaching a diameter of several centimeters within a few months. This is a fairly uncommon type of skin cancer, and can be difficult to eradicate because of invisible root-like extensions of the tumor that reach into the underlying tissue.
So at least now I know what i have.
Jim
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Testvet
I saw this in this weeks AF times. there will be a reunion of all Edgewood Aresenl Volunteers from years 1955-1975. I don't know if this would help you are not but If you can not make it there you can get a list of other so called Volunteers from the reunion commitee. The phone number listed is 203 874-4595 and the email listed is
eepmuth@nyc.com
Did not know if you had this info or not just trying to lookout for a fellow vet fighting the injustice we call the VA
Jim
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Well as some of you might know I have had 4 operations for skin cancer. I am currently seviced connected at 0 percent. Well I went to the VA hospital yesterday and I saw a full bird Army Col. He told me he was a head and neck surgon and that I need a Mh's surgon. He explanied that he would be the one to rebuild my face when they were done. I also found out something new. There are two seperate sub strains of basial cell that spreads out and the VA lab did not indetifey this and that is why my VA surgon kept thinking he had cut it all out. Well I sent the NOD in for an increase on my service connection. In My NOD I asked for a DRO hearing. I rather due a DRO hearing right away then wait 3 years to get to the Board.
So my question is does anybody know where I can find out info on this sub strain? I tried web MD no luck
As always thanks all for your support
Jim
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I think that newy retired or just getting out if they file within 1 year of separation they are on a fast tract as the VA pretty much accepts their records and other things that the challlenge when someone has been out for years.
I am glad that some Vets get better care by VARO just wish it was all of us.
By the way when I applied for SMC from start to finish was under 5 months. I hardly got any retro at all. :)
Something else to think About. Anybody who had retired or been dicharged since October 01 is now on the fast track, That means that since I retired in April 03. I am lump in with OIF/OEF vets event thou during these two wars the closest i got to any action was PSAB in Saudi Arabia. If I only spent 3 years in and passes out baketballs at the gym and never even left the states I would still be put in front of a combat VET from the gulf or Vietnam. I THINK THATS SUC*S to put one group of vets in front of another
Jim
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Up to this point they did me good. So I will live and learn. He did say to go for the things I could win. I guess I schould have fought it live and learn. When I went to my DRO hearing the VET rep was great won 2 of my 3 claims at the DRO hearing. When I went to my travleing BVA hearing I asked were my vet Rep was they told me he moved to NC. OLD one was great
Jim
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Well
I figured I owed you all an explantion on how I blew my BVA hearing
I blew it by listeing to my rep. He told me without cancer the best I could get was 10 percent. He wanted me to drop the claim this was after a 268 mile one way trip. He said I would do better asking for an increase for my sinuitius rated at 0 percent my back rated at 10 percent and my tension headaches in my back secoundaery to back pain. I was so hurt and disapointed I listened to them and drop my BVA traveling board hearing scheduled for that day. I figured I owed you all an reason on what happened. I was told if I got cancer I could reopen. When I got home I realised the fix was in. The BVA wanted me to drop the claim. I caved in.
Jim
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On Feb 29th I filed for an increase for service connection for my back now rated at 10 percent for stress headaches for my back and for an increase for my service connected Sinusitis. Well its only april and I am already scheduled for a C+P exam tomorow for my o percent sc sinusitis. Since Jan of this year I have been seen at the VA medical center 3 times for a sinuitis condtion. Do you think I got a shot for a higher rateing. All 3 times put on antibaitoics, Don't know what is happening with the other 2 issues. All my health care has been at the VA medical center.
Thanks for your support
Jim B)
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Thanks
As always you are a treasure house of info
jim
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Hey Jim,
Did you go to Roanoke for the meeting? or did she come down to our area? Filed my NOD about 2 months ago and would like to have a face to face but Roanoke is quite a drive.
For the boat let me know if you ever want to go fishing have my Parker at Bell Isle marina in Foxhill, always looking for someone to go with me.
Boats
boats
went to roanoke,hope you get the same girl she went out of her way to be helpfull hey let me know when you are going to go. If you have it on a monday or tuesday i will take a ride with you. i work for an airline and get sunday, monday and tuesday off. your boat is probally about 5 miles from me.
I live off a canal that leads to the hampton river
jim
How To Aquire Veteran's Disability Benefits Without Joining The Military
in Success Stories
Posted
Me I would refues to pay the BI$$$ anything and go to jail. Look up USFSPA the supreme court said that military pension could not ne divided. So congres aka Pat Schroueder aka the b**** put a rider on a military bill changeing the law back dateing it to 1 day before the supreme court descion. Sorry about the spelling but this SH(( pisses me off. I know guys who serverd in the first gulf war and IRaq while in Iraq wife moved in with her boyfriend ND NOW HE HAS TO GIVE HER 1/2 OF HIR RETIRMENT PAY. I say the hell with her I guess one hour in the BX?PX in the same as 1 hour in a firefight the both served my a^^
Jim
PS thanks for letting me vent my ex missed out on 25 percent of my pension by 6 days. Shw=e knew the lae I did not I was just letting her have commsisery benfits we had be split up for 3 years legally judges don't care, Like the Vet before me time for some codine