OnRiver

Making things up? hardly...try reading the AP and other news organsations that are out there right now investigating everything to do with all manner of monies allocated for veterans. Try reading the posts without giving your ''dont worry they wont take away benefits because both political parites have now come forward requesting not only reviews of the 3 new issues but also how the VA in the past has decided illnesses are funded. Webb is a democrate and Simpson is a retires republican both of the Senate. Webb was wounded and is highly decorated.Finally No one said that PTSD was a presumptive disease but it can be restudied etc. If you think that this veterns senate meeting is only about the Nemer rules you are sadly mistaken.

oh now I get it I thought it was about my service but its how you rate reviews....didnt know we still had a Navy...imagine that..learn something everyday

hope you are right but it sure doesnt look good...

ap Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka (uh-KAH’-kuh) is chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He said today that the committee will consider changes to the policy involving so-called presumptive conditions at a hearing in late September.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20100831/NEWS01/100831048/1002/rss guys this is just the beginning as the U.S. is broke....better take this seriously....a review of PTSD could eventually follow as well as service related illnesses. They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up.

sorry to be so difficult but when my name Onriver comes up in these post beside my name it says I am E-3 seaman 3rd class petty officer who has been here since 06.....all this is totally wrong...any suggestions?

Webb is not the one we should fear but the one who has called for the review at his committee the Senator from Hawaii. Remember this pertains to Vietnam era vets initially and we have a history of being screwed. If they do this then they can review everything after that including PTSD and some service related disabilities ie just because it showed up in the service doesn't mean it was caused by it. Granted they will be all over this because of the number and power of veterans organization but it is nothing to lightly. I dont want to loose my benefits and am willing to do what ever it takes to keep them...I am sure we agree on that.

ok what ever that means but I am a Army Officer and I have been here longer than 06....

Articles from AP and Politico have recently come out questioning VA's giving benefits to Vietnam Veterans for agent orange concerning diabetes and more recently heart problems. The major issue is a study done on Agent Orange and the pilots who flew the agent. According to the study they were less likely to get diabetes than the average person. They have just called for hearings and the press and a number of politicians are pushing for repel. It is time to begin organizing and to even plan a march on DC and congress. The following are articles...http://www.wtvr.com/sns-ap-us-vietnam-agent-orange-claims,0,3372534.story...somebody changed my rank and other info...I certainly wasnt in the Navy.

Thank you so much...I give you a PHD in VA process procedures. I submited a real good disagreement letter and it was received back in August. they sent me a letter asking which process I prefer and I said the normal procedure. My service officer said my disagreement letter was well written and had substantial and to the point enclosures. I was told different stories on how long it would take for a review. The 800 that connects with St. Petersburg said about 180 days, others said earlier others later. Berta put up a listing of the times but I couldn't make it out. Does anyone know the waiting period of an intial disagreement. Thanks I recommend this site to everyone I talk to when I am waiting to see the Dr.'s etc.

yes they did send me a letter asking me what process I wanted to go through either the regular way or through a individual service officer. I contacted the 800 number and they said they received it so its in the system since August.

yes I did place a notice of disagreement....in Aug. so I', waiting for them to descide which they said would be in 200 days or motr....any other thoughts?

Thanks I understand now. The way I am going might be longer but if one is correct it allows a airing of the matter. I put in the disagreement and they haven't got back to me with any other information except who I wanted it to go to. I did receive in my initial approval/denial letter reasons for the denial but have not received further information since I told them who I wanted to review it....the reviewing officer or regular process. I opted for the regular as it appeared to me to be rather simole as it invilved a mistatement on their part.

what is the real difference between a Notice of Disagrement and Appeal? is one better than the other ? sorry but I am just learing all this jargon.

COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT bva dro tdiu

Thanks .....even on the initial appeal? I was told that they would have it done in 6 months and a service officers said I neede to get a reviewing officer...so many opinions out there but since you have been both routes I will follow your advice....my service officer said I can request a reviewing officer which I assume will squash the first appeal I did in August. THANKS FOR THE HELP

Yes St. Pete sorry but I am rather confused. I submitted my appeal in Aug. this was after my initial claims was done. They said I had a year to submit an appeal. The RO you mention I assume is what I have done and I have compiled good evidence for my appeal. So what I hear you saying is that I continue with this process as I am doing. Is there a time line for a rather simple appeal ( they misread their own file and I sent them the file plus comment from the Dr. Nurse.) Sould I do anything else ? Thanks again...

Now in Florida the appeals can be done either the old way (pepr review)or one can request a reviewing officer to sit down with...has anybody had in experience with this officer plus the time limit involved...they (va)have said the reviewing officer takes less time...

Thanks Berta I have a initial appeal in as of Aug. in St Petersburg Florida could you give me what on this report pertains to my appeal as such....also in Florida the appeals can be done either the old way or one can request a reviewing officer to sit down with...has anybody had in experience with this officer plus the time limit involved...they have saud the reviewing officer takes less time... thanks again

Thanks The emg was done to see if I had damage from a stroke as all the nueropathies of the face looked like it....they only did the emg on the left side so they weren't looking for perephial neuoropathies....you mentioned nexus? also WHEN A cp EXAMINER MAKES A mistake like saying the emg rules out perephial neuropathies which it doesn't and also states that>>>"Certainly examinations show perephial neuropathies but emg doesn't support the findings" then the certinly is considered certain....at least in examination....my sensory testing shows both loss of tempertaure and feeling... Thanks again

Thanks for all the comments.....they help.... I am a vietnam vetran with 30% rating...20% diabetes and 10% facial neuropathies bells palsy on one side....I can get 10% more for the left ...they just gave me the focal without asking but denied the perephial even though I have all kinds of backup stating I have neurologicl damage....... I have sensory loss all over my records from neurology, pedotry and primary, even eye Doctors state so......The actually reading is "may be a secondary condition of long standing diabetes or small etc"....they all agree I have neurological damage but have like he stated "maybe secondary to diabetes or...." Which to me means its either diabetes or this other thing....he does state long standing diabetes which according to Diabetes Association most all develpe neuropathis over time... ...one service rep. says it will fly with the added extras as the CP examiner (a cardiologist) thought wrongly that a emg ruled out diabetic neuropathy....he even states " Certainly, all examinations shows perepherial neuropathies but the emg by Dr. ..... shows otherwise." Certainly means certain as far as examinations are concerned. So if you take away the emg he would be certain....We now have written into the record that EMG miss allot of neuopathies... What exactly is a nexus statement....ALSO I am going to borrow some money to see a neurologist to review my records etc. sorry about the writing but I can't see to well today...

Dear John Thanks for your comments and input. I don't have the money to see a dr. for another opinion. I kind of read this as if their was only two reasons for the Perehial neuropathy ...a either or when he states...."The periperhial neuropathies may be secondary to long-standing diabetes or small fiber painful type." The va turned me down the first time because of the false assumption that EMG's ruled out diabetic neuropathies which it does not. That has been noted in my file. Al;so since I only claimed nueroptjies of the lower extremeties I can still claim upper ones as they have now been shown by examinations to be there.

this isn't from a CP exam but is a follow up after they admitted that the EMG test that the CP examiner used did not rule out neuropathies. So they are saying the only 2 things that could cause it are those two mentioned. One of which is the secondary to diabetes. After 20 years they exspect diabetics to develope neuoropathies. I was diagnosed in 1984 with bells palsy etc. 4 other cases later they tell me it is a focal neuoropathy... Yes visual problems as well as hearing problems can occur as a reult of focal nueropathies...7 and 8th cranial nerve...excessive tearing almost always causes probblems as does the resulting dry eye after the tearing stops. Pressur behind the eyes etc. Below are the listnigs used in CP exams but this is a Dr.s term I haven't been able to find used by any others. I feel it can be taklen either way...but because he lists 2 types it has to be 50/50 with the diabetes...longstanding diabetes...anyway thanks much for your comments and any other help will be appreciated. I am writting the appeal and might request a anothe C=P exam because the examiner used the emg to rule something out that he cshouldn't have. Any thoughts on that? was due to: 100% Most likely 75% as least as likely as not 50 percent less likely Less than 50 % not due to: bohica

Have you ever come across the term or are you making a quess? How could my focal nueropathies be considered to be secondary while perephial are not? The main reason they denied it was because the EMG was used to knock it down...now the EMG can not knock it down as I have written VA comments to that affect, So maybe...maybe will win out.

Below is what he wrote after neurology also stated that the emg did not rule out neuropathies . A/P Perephial neuropathy and history of cranial nueropathies(these are being compensated for and are listed as caused by diabetes).The periperhial neuropathies may be secondary to long-standing diabetes or small fiber painful type. I recommend that he continue neurotin as it is helping to relieve his painful symptoms. He should continue with physical activity and exercise as tolerated.

I posted to long of a message before. Basically does anyone know what "Maybe caused by" really means in VA jargon? Thanks