Shalia

I'm currently rated at 80%, majority being 70% for bipolar disorder. I'm listed as having a serious employment handicap, and have been enrolled in VR&E for far too long. Last week, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Now, I have nothing that ties military life to RA, but... I found this small blurb here: http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/289 Compensation may also be paid to certain veterans who were disabled from VA health care or while participating in our Vocational Rehabilitation program. What I can't find in any search on Google is... how do they determine "certain" veterans? Because I was struggling to see myself working before I got hit by RA. Now I hurt so badly I can't stand it, I'm floored with fatigue, and yeah. I've tried for IU several times, but they don't consider my SCD's making me unemployable (hence me qualifying for VR&E.) But I now don't think I'll be able to finish. I've put in an application for SSDI, but we all know how long that takes too. So, does anyone know what "certain veterans while participating in VRE" means? Where can I find that info? Cause I've been googling for about 2 hours and I'm frustrated now. Thanks. :) Shalia

Wait, so high blood pressure is compensatable, but high cholesterol is not? Huh... I'll get him to get the records for that. His blood pressure is sky high now, not sure how it was 15 years ago though. Thanks for the tip! As to the other questions, he's been on a statin since he was told his cholesterol was high. Taken like prescribed.

Exactly that... inadequate care of cholesterol at the time. They said he was a ticking time bomb. =/ Thanks!

Well, if it's not medication related (and it isn't), is there a way to prove that inadequate care of a genetic condition while in resulted in major issues later? His cholesterol when tested was over 400. They gave him the minimum dose of a statin drug, and sent him to Desert Storm. Had he been adequately taken care of at the time, the heart attacks might not have happened. Or at least not when still in his 20's. Thanks again for any clarification. He's trying to figure out if he should try and apply or not.

I have a question on behalf of my boyfriend. When he was in the Army 15 years or so ago, he was diagnosed with high cholesterol, and given a minimum dose of a statin. When he got out, he was told cholesterol was hereditary and he didn't qualify for VA compensation. Since then, however, he's had two heart attacks, and the doctors have told him that inadequate treatment of his cholesterol problem when it was found are likely responsible. I'm trying to find out if that would qualify him for VA benefits or not? Is there a way to find out? You guys are always so smart here I figured I'd ask. =) Thanks! Shalia

*blush* I hate to say this, it helps I'm really smart. I actually had a doctor say that to me once... "It's a good thing you're so smart or you'd never be surviving this illness." Other than that, I do nothing but sleep and school. And even with that, two out of three classes I'm getting C's in. (To me, that's NOT good enough.) I have one class that I miss more than I go. I have another class that I haven't gotten higher than a 78 percent on the tests because I was so messed up from the drugs. (They gave me a dopamine agonist and antagonist concurrently. Bad juju.) The only class I'm doing very well in is the class I love, and it's probably because I love it. I also have a fairly good med combo. I am dumber than I used to be due to meds, but in general, my med combo is finally right. Took years. *grin* I'm sure you played the med go round game. So, how do I do well in school? I am a perfectionist and I love it, and I work my ass off. And it's different than with work. If it takes me 8 hours to write a decent 3 page essay on the Kyoto protocol, I can do that. I have 8 hours to burn (since I'm not working) and I can junk everything until I have it right. At work, you have to just do it right the first time. And I can't do that. It takes me a ton more effort to get something good. I am seriously perfectionistic, though, and have a need to do things RIGHT and spend an obscene amount of time on them. That's something that doesn't translate to work real well, but it's useful in an academic environment. Damn, am I anywhere near the question anymore? I hope this rambling diatribe helps a little bit... B) Shalia

For the record, I have NO CLUE how this posted twice. I only hit "post" once. I swear.

Denied for TDIU based on "wasn't shown you are unable to work based on SC disabilities". I don't get how I can fight this? I already SHOWED that. I've been out of work. I showed at my last job that I missed more than 1/3 of each YEAR due to my SC disability. With paystubs to prove it. (Showing short term disability and sick leave.) They've seen my GAF score which hasn't been higher than a 40 in three years. They have my hospitalization records, which show I've been hospitalized 7 times in three years. All I could *assume* was that they were saying "you go to school, ergo, you could work" but they don't seem to be saying that. Can I assume this was the crappy C&P exam I had that reared it's ugly head? Can I demand another exam saying I have two doctors (one VA, one a private doctor of my own) that say I can't work, and only one C&P examiner that seems to think I can? I have no clue what to do here. How do I fight this ruling? For the record, this is what they have me with now. Bipolar 70% TMJ 20% Post surgery pain in right knee 10% Carpal tunnel right hand 10% Epicondylitis Right 10% In VA math this equals 80%. I now have letters from all my professors talking about my emotional lability in classes and my poor attendance based on psychological issues. But if that's not what they denied me for, I don't even know if that will help! HELP. What do I do? The thought of going back to work makes me panic. (But apparently panic disorder doesn't get to be it's own condition, that's under bipolar... *sigh*) I'm so frustrated. Our family is at the point where I'm going to have to quit school and try and work again to survive financially, but then I'll lose both voc rehab AND any chance at IU and I'll probably just go crazy again. B) I have no clue what to do, how to fight, if I have any chance at winning, and even what tactics to try to win against them. I'm so frustrated... I want to cry. Shalia

Denied for TDIU based on "wasn't shown you are unable to work based on SC disabilities". I don't get how I can fight this? I already SHOWED that. I've been out of work. I showed at my last job that I missed more than 1/3 of each YEAR due to my SC disability. With paystubs to prove it. (Showing short term disability and sick leave.) They've seen my GAF score which hasn't been higher than a 40 in three years. They have my hospitalization records, which show I've been hospitalized 7 times in three years. All I could *assume* was that they were saying "you go to school, ergo, you could work" but they don't seem to be saying that. Can I assume this was the crappy C&P exam I had that reared it's ugly head? Can I demand another exam saying I have two doctors (one VA, one a private doctor of my own) that say I can't work, and only one C&P examiner that seems to think I can? I have no clue what to do here. How do I fight this ruling? For the record, this is what they have me with now. Bipolar 70% TMJ 20% Post surgery pain in right knee 10% Carpal tunnel right hand 10% Epicondylitis Right 10% In VA math this equals 80%. I now have letters from all my professors talking about my emotional lability in classes and my poor attendance based on psychological issues. But if that's not what they denied me for, I don't even know if that will help! HELP. What do I do? The thought of going back to work makes me panic. (But apparently panic disorder doesn't get to be it's own condition, that's under bipolar... *sigh*) I'm so frustrated. Our family is at the point where I'm going to have to quit school and try and work again to survive financially, but then I'll lose both voc rehab AND any chance at IU and I'll probably just go crazy again. B) I have no clue what to do, how to fight, if I have any chance at winning, and even what tactics to try to win against them. I'm so frustrated... I want to cry. Shalia

Damn. I'm already in Voc Rehab. Maybe I should kiss IU hopes goodbye. I got my teachers to write me letters listing emotional volitility and the accomidations I'm using. I got a letter from our disability resource center listing all the accomidations I'm entitled to. I got a letter from my old college about my needing to medically withdraw due to my disability about a year and a half ago. (Which coincided with an 8 week short term disability from work and two hospitalizations.) What else does anyone think I could get or would be useful? And *then* when I went to a doctor's appointment today, they asked me if I was still working at my old employer. They had them listed as a current employer. Could so simple a SNAFU cause a problem? Thanks for all the replies everyone... Shalia

Terry, I don't know why yet. I got a letter from teh DAV today telling me that they'd read my file and that it was denied. I'm going to go visit them tomorrow. It said that the letter from the VA would be following. Thanks, Rick. I'll let both of you know *why* when I find out myself. Shalia

Ah, so because I'm eligible for voc rehab, I'm not eligible for IU? Grr. I'll still appeal. But I'm doubting my ability to get it now. Damn. Thanks, Rick. Shalia

They told me mine had been sent to the rater too, and it came back denied today. Don't get your hopes too far up. I'm at 80% too. Shalia

I recently (well, in May) put in a claim for IU. I'm rated at 80%, with bipolar at 70% and assorted other stuff reaching me to 80 in VA math. My IU claim was denied today even though I'm not working or anything. Can I assume it's because I'm going to school through voc rehab? And if so, is it even appealable? Or am I just going to lose based on "if she can go to school..." I have two therapists and two psych docs that have told me to get IU and not to work right now, ESPECIALLY while going through school, but the C&P doctor I had was a real jerk and said I was just "letting my husband take care of me" and "being lazy" (yes, I reported him). I don't know if *he's* the reason I got denied and ergo I only need a new C&P for a real shot, or if I'm SOL as long as I'm in school. Anyone have any ideas? Cause I wish people at VA's and SS office would realize school is *not* work. I can get all sorts of accomidations in school that I'd never get in an office (like I could get someone to take notes for me at work... or get twice as long to do the average task like I get for a test...) How can I convince someone that school is not work, and is this worth an appeal? And if so, how the heck DO I appeal? I'm not even sure how you do it. I'd appreciate any help I got. I really really need the money. Thanks! Shalia

My GAF for the last year has fallen between a 40 & 45 on all my exams. My low was a 20. (I'm neurotic about keeping my medical records.) I don't have anything higher than that for the last year. Where does that fall on the IU scale? Shalia

What's an IME as well?

Thanks for the advice, everyone. What's a "schedular difference between TDIU?" or whatever it said? I don't even know where I'd look. I've been told by multiple doctors at teh VA to get IU. I just didn't think I needed it till this summer. Shalia

I didn't think about bringing someone with me, which is stupid of me because I often go to a friend's appointments with her. I'll definately bring my husband with me next time. I'm going to call the company who contracts with the VA out here (I'm not sure if they are nationwide or not...) and complain too. I don't think anyone deserves to be treated like that. I think they have a program where they take the biggest a-holes they can find, and ask them if they'd like to work for disability programs. Since the a-holes can't find patients of their own (who wants to be seen by such jerks?) they are happy to take people like me who feel like they are forced to be there and can't walk out. He even scratched stuff off the form *I* was supposed to complete, saying I can't complain about concentration or memory if I go to school. Bloody hell I can't. If my concentration and memory are worse than what they used to be, then it's a freaking problem. B) B) Thanks for the support guys. I'm going with my husband and my digital recorder to my next appointment!! (The dentist's office was a (smaller) jerk too. They asked me why I was there, I said I had a claim in for IU and they were making me redo all my doctors, and they said "you *do* know this is a dentists office, right?") No kidding. That's why it says "Dentist" on the damn door. I'm bipolar, not stupid. *sigh* Shalia - who's really sick of doctors right now.

What's an IMO? I could probably go to the school and get on letterhead all the accomidations that I'm getting at school. What else do I need? And they called me and asked me to "waive V(something)AA" and said it was how they got things to raters faster, and I don't even know what the hell they were talking about. Do you know? And yes, I'm with Voc Rehab. Thanks for your help. B) And your siding with me. I appreciate it, it means a lot. Shalia

I have an IU claim in. I'm currently rated at 70% for bipolar (and have a few other SC issues) and they sent me to a psych. to reevaluate. The guy was a JERK. He started out the visit with telling me off because I prefer to see female APRN's (abuse issues in my past, what can I say?) and then got mad at me when I referred to the woman I see as my doctor. (Force of habit, and besides, she has a Ph.D. so it's not entirely inaccurate.) I tried to tell him why I couldn't work right now, and he kept telling me things like "all I hear is you are making a willful decision to quit working" and telling me I have no valid excuse for not working. When I mentioned things like I have difficulty with concentration and memory he said I was lying because I can go to school. Well, school lets me have double time on tests, has other people take notes for me, AND lets me record all my classes onto tapes so I can listen to them again if I forgot stuff. Work doesn't let you do that stuff. And with all my accomidations I'm barely passing. But he told me "there's a time for you to be talking and a time for me to be writing, and right now I'm writing so you need to stop talking". He was so dismissive and rude I can't imagine how I'm going to get a fair write up from him when he decided before he even talked to me that I was just "willfully deciding to give up a good job I've had for years". Can I get another doctor? Or am I screwed? Do I take notes in case I need an appeal? He was the rudest doctor I've had the misfortune of seeing in my life, and I feel like I won't get a fair shake from him. I'm so frustrated. I'm almost afraid my percentage will go DOWN now, not up like I was praying for, because of this jerk. I'm *not* OK, and he made it sound like I was just being lazy. I'm so frustrated. I want to scream or throw something. What do I do? Shalia

OK, I'm confused. Everyone I've talked to VA wise says that disability income is not "income" per-se. But when I fill out forms for things like CHIP or SSI for my little boy <he's autistic> they tell me it qualifies as income. So I'm horribly confused. Does ANYONE know where to find some sort of regulation that tells whether or not VA disability counts as income for governent programs like CHIP, SSI, and food stamps? Thanks so much. I appreciate any help anyone has. Shalia

As for the witness, I always smile sweetly and explain that I have a tendency to forget things later and that I need someone who'll remember it for me. And often need a driver to get there. Doctors have always left it up to me whether or not to let them in the room.

Is there a form if you want to "add remarks" later? Like you didn't put enough stuff in the "add remarks" part and you want to add more stuff to support your claim?

Really? Will Voc Rehab pay for an advanced degree? I thought they'd only pay through a bachelors. I've dreamed of being a pharmacist, but coming up w/ the money for school is beyond me...

Oh, and the service officer told me in remarks to just write "have been instructed by my doctor to quit working" and that's it. Is there a place where I can write more? Or are they going to send me information and ask me more questions somewhere else? Or are they going to send me to yet ANOTHER doctor? I want to be able to explain somewhere what it's like to live as me and why it makes it so hard to hold a job. I'd like to explain that outside stressors <husband with muscular dystrophy and son with autism> make it only so much harder to cope. But he told me not to put that stuff, and I think it's important for them to know how many days I can't wake up in the morning before 11am because my sleep drugs knocked me out, and I was supposed to go to work at 7. I think it was important for me to tell them about all the times I'm up until 4am completely unable to sleep so I have to call in sick because every noise and every light will set me off into a screaming crying fit. I'd like to have told them about all the times I've been sent home because things have gotten too noisy and too bright. When do I get to tell that stuff? Cause "I've been instructed by my doctor to quit working" doesn't seem like enough in the remarks column.