MikeL

Greetings Vets. I am new to this forum, but let me say I appreciate the site very much, and as I continue to read on, I am finding it helpful in more ways than not. Today, after almost 11 months of back and forth, I received my Award Letter, and as I am sure you all know having lived thru it already, am more confused than anything else. Of all the issues I presented, I was only awarded for my back injuries, total 40%. What first is confusing is how my compensation will be paid. I have read that it is to be concurrent pay, meaning that I will get my retiree pay as normal, then get the 40%, in my case for now $601, in addition. But the way this reads, I am not getting that, and my RAS indicates that 1 Jul, I will be decrimented the 40%. What's the real deal here? Second issue, I have been flat out denied for bursitis in my shoulder, subsequent to shoulder dislocation; asthma which I got back in 1983 on my first tour, hypertension/high blood pressure > all throughout my records; right shoulder dislocation/sublaxion > during PT my first assignement; and ankle pain. Other items that are being deferred pending another exam are knee issues both knees one of which was a third degree ligament tear during PT; bone spurs in my heel; acid reflux ( Ihad to have surgery for it after I retired); sleep apnia/disorder. What can I expect to happen now? Any help that you can give me will be great. Background info... I retired Sep 2002. My first claim never got processed back when I retired, (guess it's lost like my medical records), so I refiled in Jul 2009. Thanks Much Mike