JuanP

I tried searching you guys, I did. but the new site is, challenging. I think my settings on my browser may not be right. Anyway, hello to all of you...you've saved my life by guiding me to an income, thank you. I'm back and about to go back at em., And for now, I have a question about dental issues. The meds I was on due to SC Spinal pain, have caused dental problems. Dry mouth, teeth grinding, tmj, etc. So bottom line is, doesn't that make the VA responsible for the bill (around $8000 ish)? I've seen similar topics through search here, but none seem to stick out to me as an answer. Just that there are similar issues (under bruxism) and that the VA does NOT do dental easily.

Reddit you may have better luck using the Director's info provided above by Berta for Kerry WItty and staff. It was that staff that contacted me today. It almost seems that they are the action group.

I just got a call this AM, the case ended up being passed from the AMC to St Pete Regional for my specific case. The call was to inform me that my Rating had been approved at 60% and the back pay money had been approved so, the wonderful woman I spoke to said it was quite possible that the money would be in my account before I even got my verification letter. I'm trying not to get too happy because it ain't real until its in the bank. But so far so good with this. She went so far as to tell me that if its not here in 5 to 7 days then to give them another call. So, she believes this is real and apparently close. --fingers crossed--

Why am I not amazed that I have received 3 emails AND a personal phone call in less that 24hrs from people trying to get my paperwork moving!!! Ms Hickey replied and copied an array of people within a couple hrs yesterday and that was followed by a couple more emails that has resulted in a phone call this AM from a young man who seems to have whittled through things a bit. My stuff is not at the VARO for processing but at the AMC who is responsible for handling things after it left the BVA. No word on why the delays but my contact (Dan) predicts that with this specific inquiry, from those provided by you guys btw, I should be hearing something soon. Off the Record, he suggested that I get in touch with the American Legion (or other POS) for some clarification on whats coming down the pipe. So today I'll get my stack 'o files gathered and try to get an appointment for tomorrow. Thanks again guys!! Forward MARCH!

Yes Berta, I meant St. Pete. I always call em Tampa. How ya doing JBasser!! Thanks again for my next step. I'm going to see if I can't get an email together to send right now.

OK so then I'm not crazy!!! They are out to get me, lol is that what you're saying? !! Haha. I mean it Berta. I mean every word of it. You guys here in this communtiy are the reason I've gotten this far. Denise was just a woman on the other end of the phone. Older lady, extrememly nice and I didn't even need to prod her to look further into this. She went in there dug around and litterly said "Uh, oh. Oh no. I hope this isn't what happened" (this was I think to herself out loud because there was nothing said to elicit that response.) And then she told me of the snafu and went directly into sending an email out asking them to expedite. So I'm really afraid to push and call too much because that is exactly how easy it is for them to --------- lose my case

Without you guys here at Hadit, I would never have gotten this far. Nor do I believe I would have had the good sense to dump my lawyer and follow the experiences of real Vets (as I like to think about yall - Vets with an ax to grind!!) I have been mostly silent for the last yr and a half because, well, I gave everything I had left in order to get my last submissions in to the BVA. Litterally, I had nothing left and still dont have much stored up to think about this any further. But, SUCCESS!! I think. In Feb2015 the BVA decided SC for my main issue which is my neck. I have spinal stenosis and almost everything else flows from there. R & L arm, R & L leg, etc. So even thought the eBenifits website says 60% I feel like the rest is all dominoes downhill from there. I dont want to make waves about what they left off til my money gets flowing. The Judge awarded SC for my back and I have been waiting patiently ever since for my verification letter from regional with the %'s and compensation award amount. and waiting, and waiting, and waiting...... 3 weeks ago I called and spoke to Denise who in formed me that, get this, for no apparent reason my verification letter got stopped in the process and just poof gone. POOF! No reason, no nothing. It just did not get sent out and moved no further along. She sent out an email to whomever and requested that my stuff contiue through whatever process they have and told me I should hopefully be looking for my letter in about 10 days. This was 3 weeks ago and I've heard nothing. I've tried calling the last 2 days and can not get through to anyone. So I continue to wait and stress as the days go by. Its easier in someways when you know that its all in some distant far away destination, but here I am now with a 4 month old judges decision and no verification letter. My family has suffered enough on one income. My daughters HS formative years have come and gone with my lack of income. I want my money!!!!! So, the struggle continues, but these people ain't right. For those of you who remember me, I'm in FL and my regional is Tampa. So do you have any suggestions? And again, without Hadit I would have never been able to compile the information nor strength that I needed to get this far. A very sincere thank you.

Okay, whoa. Thank you guys, I appreciate the help. Y'all have always been good to me on here. Now, I cant even begin to keep up with any of that, nor the pace of it. (The meds) Very short run down, not sure all the dates. Haven't really heard from them but once in the last year. And that was to confirm receipt of an email. BVA submitted my report from Dr. Bash to BVA. with that I listed other secondary conditions. So, the BVA then remanded PART of my case, these new claims to the Regional (Tampa). Worth noting I have heard absolutely nothing from Tampa Regional since. The other part, the SC of back, and neck was to my understanding going on to the BVA. The ebenifits website lists it being with the VLJ. At the time that I "resubmitted" my case along with Dr. Bash report I sent in a Form 9 but did not opt for an in person Hearing, due to funds. Bottom line, I had the non in person choice selected. Since then, my SSDI has been awarded and I can now afford to go in person. So. I want to make this change, because I think it may be in my favor to be there in person. but I need to see how that affects my case. In addition, Im having trouble securing a lawyer that I can trust. Cause my mind can't process this stuff any more. Really guys, I can't follow along with too much stuff. Thanks for the help. Juan

"As for a presumptive disease associated with AO, you would have had to have manifested spina bifida at birth and certainly before age 18. In order to claim that, your birth mother would have to have served in Vietnam. As you were accepted into the service and granted the Presumption of Soundness, I'm not sure how you could claim that unless they missed it at your entrance exam." This portion wasn't about me, as noted. My Mother in Law. It was an off the cuff question.

Thank you Philip.

Thank you GeorgiaPapa. My Mother in Law has MS. Father was ret USN

Hello all. Part of my case is at the BVA, (for Service Connection) and has been for about a year. At the time, I did not select the option to attend in person and now I need to know how to change that. Or should I choose the Video Hearing. (Bottom line is I don't feel like I'll get a fair shake if I'm not part of it) Also, I have been granted SSDI, what is the correct way to go about informing the VA about this? Will it make an impact? Your help will be appreciated. also, as an aside--are there any conditions that cover someone who is the child of a vet? Meaning are there any conditions that can be passed down to child because of Service related.

---thank you all for your help. I've passed yr 4 with this and feel like I'm comming close to the end (part of my case is at the bva, part on remand, and part has been rated 10%) I feel like its been a marathon and I have nothing left in me. I can't think straight any more. So, thank you all

there has been no mention of the bi polar as of yet with the VA claim. Although they do provide my prescription so they know about it.

The VA stuff has already been submitted. I go to SSDI hearing next week. She is preparing my letter now. She is sure that these are all related, but with as touchy as both the institutions are she wants to make sure they are written up correctly.

Hi John, thank you. (its getting harder and harder to think, so bear with me) Its written up like this to the VA: -Acquired psychiatric dis-order including but not limited to PTSD/depression/anxiety. Stressful events occurred on active duty that I feel provides a nexus. VA form 21-0781 attached. -Anxiety/depression caused by my service connected back condition as well as my claims that are currently pending.

Bi-Polar is part of my SSDI case (w/ spinal stenosis). My therapist is writing a letter concerning my mental health conditions (there are a few). My question is this: When she writes the letter, are there particular things she needs to be aware of so that it does not negatively affect the PTSD claim with the VA ?

CUE means Clear and Unmistakable Error. There are many topics relating to CUE on hear.

My case was just docketed 9/19/2013 Called the 1-800 number last week, to find out if I could get an extension of the deadline to submit new evidence (which is late November 2013), she told me that my case is a 2013 docket number and not to worry about the deadline because they haven't even finished the 2010 docket numbers.

This has been my fear. And I have been truly paralyzed for over a yr. to the point that I have been scared to ask the question, even on here. And this is the reason. And my fear has been answered in 6 minutes.

Thank you in advance. I have an existing claim (back problems) that has been open and progressing through the system for about 3 yrs. I am scheduled to the BVA level next. I am nerve wracked. I have found evidence in my military medical records of a PTSD diagnosis along with a Stress Anxiety disorder. If I file a claim for psychological issue's, will this delay anything on the current claim. I am scared to death of anything messing up the current claim as I'm sure you all can understand after four yrs. with no income.

Yes, I was seen by Dr.'s while in the Navy. There were 3 seperate and distinct events with at least 2 visits to medical about each. Not including a double hernia (which I had an operation for) Got out in '93. Short version, I didn't have insurance til '99. At that time, my Dr. did note that I had been seen Chiropractors (I couldn't get the chiro records, destroyed) on and off for years. Chain of progression from 99 to a spinal fusion surgery (2 discs) (with DDD at that time) in 01 then continual back issues until diagnosed with Stenosis in 2010 (Jan.). I applied for VA Med benefits when I lost my job in 09. Started going to VA in Nov(?) 2009. Between 93-95 I lived w/ sis who filled the form attesting to my constant back problems. They service connected me for the hernia last yr at 0%. I wasn't sure if each one would definitively prove,, but when I list it all, I can't help but think that it's obvious. less than ten yrs later MRI and xrays show DDD, which from what I read takes ten yrs to develop that much......... Thanks for your time. I really do appreciate you all. The only lifeline I have comes from this place.

Hi you all. Much thanks for all the help you have given me in the past. Over the last 2 yrs my brain has turned to mush and so I can't keep up with all of the information. (Morphine, percocets, etc.) I did try to search, but can't seem to follow much or filter information. So if my question has ben answered, please point me in the direction. About 3 weeks ago I got my letter in response to my NOD. So that the BVA is next. My GP is going to look through my records in order to write an IMO for me. (After reading Carlys post, I may not go this route) This step in particular has caused me a huge burder because of several mental hangups. Most can be attributed to stress, fear, not being able to say what I need or want. So, he has agreed and I have in the last week forged once again through my SMR and other medical records. My question, I think, is this: Can a collection of events be pointed to in the IMO as the Nexus as opposed to one singular origin? These events all take place between April 91 and Early June 92 My issue is with my spine. Lower Back pain and Neck. I have cervical spinal stenosis, and DDD Thanks.

Foiled again!!! Let me tell you all right now that the VA in Florida ain't right in the head! I went to Bay Pines ROI and after about 25 min in the waiting room I "luckily" drew the same woman I had talked to earlier that morning on the phone, Cherry. Well, Cherry went to clicking away, and yes she remembered me, and then looked up at me and said "Are you registered here at Bay Pines?". Well of coarse I told her no,and then she proceeded to tell me the same thing. Told me that she couldn't give me a copy of my C & P exam because I wasn't registered at that VAMC. So I take that to mean that if I were registered at Bay Pines then she could print out my C & P exam. Which makes me even more suspicious of the rules in Orlando. Why is it OK at Bay Pines but not in Orlando? She told me she was sorry, she really seemed to mean it and acknowledged that I had went through an awful lot by driving over there but there was nothing she can do. She then suggested that I try to go over to the VARO next door and try there, and that she wished me luck. I get next door to the VARO and went upstairs to the offices and the receptionist at the front desk immediately started shaking his head (blowing me off) saying that its not going to happen and that that is not how things get done. That there are 330,000 vets in the state of FL who want their records and so they go to the back of the line and wait. So I started to blow a mini gasket. So he set me up to see a counselor ( another guy with a cubicle that tells people the same thing) This guy was a professional stone-waller, who had me by the jewels. Nothing I could do but be nice. Said that it's against policy and that his manager had to sign a release, who had gone home (currently 3:50 PM) for the weekend, then after she signed a release she had to go "upstairs and do whatever she had to do then". He said that, Tuesday when he gets back to work then he would take my signed ROI Privacy Act Statement "IF SHE IS WILLING TO DO THAT (which he wasn't promising but he had seen her do before) then, he would walk down the hallway, where there are people in there that that is all they do all day long, get my file and copy my C & P exam himself and send it to me. I took all of that to mean, and make no mistake that this was how it came across, that if I will shut up, and quit bitching, sign the form and get the heck back to Orlando then he MIGHT just follow through. His excuses were ragged, absolute aggressively professional stonewall-er. The reasons that the people from the VAMC in Orlando can't get their C & P exams are as follows: The VAMC is part of the VHA and the VARO is a division of the VBA "It's not that simple, there are privacy laws at issue here" "there are 330,000 vets in front of you that want their records as well" "that's not the way it works!" So we will see.

Great Carlie! Thanks and I called just to make sure and by golly she told me right where to go. Thank you. Fingers crossed as this is $50 in gas that I didn't need to spend, lol