jpaul

Vietnam veteran with Prostate Cancer. Prostate removed in 2002 and rated for residuals in 2003. Fast forward to 2014 and the diagnosis from the VA Urologist says that the cancer has returned. Had a C&P exam over the phone in February 2016 and the Dr. said that the Cancer is active and being treated with watchful waiting. I receive a proposal to reduce three weeks ago since the rater said that the cancer is gone and they would now rate me on residuals. I filed a NOD and they replied that this is only a proposal and a NOD can only be filed when a decision is made. Is there anything I should be doing except to wait for a decision and if needed then file a NOD? DAV rep said that I should get another opinion outside the VA. 2 VA doctors have both stated that the cancer is active. I cant see why another opinion is needed. Thanks for your help

Thank you all for you replies, they clear up a lot of confusion on my part. The scars on my knee that is being replaced are from shell fragment wounds from an RPG while in Vietnam. Still have pieces of shrapnel in my left arm that are rated at 20%. I receive compensation from other disabilities (Agent Orange cancer residuals, PTSD, left arm, hearing, and tinnitus) that all add up to 70%. I have been rated TDIU permanent and total since 2003. The temporary 100% for the knee with the other that add to70% will let SMC-S kick in for 1 year. I thought that the gentleman I spoke with in person at the Regional Office was wrong. He said that I was ineligible for SMC-S. Thanks to Hadit I know that he was wrong.

Thanks for the reply. While I was recovering from Prostate Cancer I was temporarily rated at 100%. I didn't quite believe the person at the VARO telling me that the disability rated at 100% had to be permanent.

Have been rated at 0% for scars shell fragment wound since 1971 among other injuries to my left side. Since then other serviced connected issues have brought my rating to 100% IU PT. Going to have a TKR done on my left knee next week at the LR VAMC. During the pre operation screening yesterday the APN asked if the knee is service connected and I told her yes. She said that she would fill out the paperwork and forward it to the Regional office for a temporary rating. She looked at her screen and no knee rating showed up. She recommended that I go the regional office and have this corrected. Regional Office says that the rating for the knee is in their computer and that's all that mattered. He looked at his screen again and said that since I was being paid at the 100% rate there would not be any increase in the dollar amount received. Asked about SMC S in having one rating at 100% and others at 60%. He stated that the one at 100% rating had to be a permanent rating and that temporary ratings do not apply. At that point my PTSD was coming to the surface and I knew that I had to leave right now without being escorted out. When I had my prostate removed I received SMC-S temporarily. Have things changed? Sure would be nice to have the claim and the paper work submitted by the VAMC. Should I file electronically next week to save the date? I know the money for SMC-S is only a few hundred more than what I now receive but I feel that if a claim is justified than submit it.

Bass Pro Shops will give a 10% discount to vets in stores only. No discount for on line orders.

Thanks for the reply JV but I've found that dealing with the VA is never easy.

As mentioned in the original post he has had no treatment at all for his PCA. His doctor has adopted watchful waiting as the appropriate treatment for right now. He stil has prostrate cancer. Since there has been no treatment how can there be any residuals? Both the C&P dr.and the rater have blown this one. All they had to do was read his med records

A friend and neighbor of mine received a letter saying that his compensation of 100% for prostate cancer was going to be reduced to 0%. He told me that he recently had an exam by a very rude Dr. who asked him all kinds of questions about frequency of urination, leakage, number of pads worn etc. He answered no to all questions. Now for the best part. His urology Dr. has told him that for now the best treatment is watchful waiting. He stil has a cancerous prostate. They were doing an exam for residuals while he stil has active prostate cancer. Go figure