georgiapapa

SDVIKING, Sounds like you need an IMO from an oncologist/toxicologist or an oncologist with a strong toxicology background. It would not hurt to have more than one IMO. Perhaps your Mayo oncologists, as Berta suggested, would provide you with IMOs. If not, see if they know of an oncologist with a toxicology background they would recommend. If all else fails, Google "oncoligist/toxicologist independent medical opinion" or similar terminology and you will see several websites pop up for expert medical opinions, etc. You need to find an expert who has experience writing independent medical opinions acceptable by the VA. The expert you choose will need to review all of your relevant medical records and state they have reviewed the records in your IMO. The expert must prepare an IMO containing certain terminology and meeting the criteria for IMOs as shown on the Hadit website. The opinion of the expert must be supported by reasonable medical rationale stated clearly in the IMO. Good luck to you GP

mademike1, Unless the VA pharmacy would permit you to designate another person to pick up your prescriptions, I think all of your options have been covered in the previous posts. JMO Please follow your mental health counselor's advice and also take your meds. This will help you and others around you. Good luck and take care of yourself. GP

Jayco, PR is right about the VA taking care of all of your conditions. Since you have a combined rating over 50%, you are in group one in the VA healthcare system and are entitled to free medical treatment and free prescriptions for any medical condition (service connected or non-service connected) including your hypertension. You no longer have to pay copays for appointments or prescriptions. In fact, you can go to the business office at your VAMC and request reimbursement of all copays you paid retroactive back to the date your most recent award became effective. Congratulations and good luck to you. GP

K9MAL, Congratulations on your award. Go to your ebenefits account and click "VA Letters" and then click "Benefits Summary Letter." This letter should show if you are P & T. Good luck to you. GP

PR, You may be right. I guess I was looking at it from a career law enforcement officer's perspective. If I had been held at gunpoint and detained for six hours for something I know I didn't do, I definitely would have been stressed but I don't think my stress would have been long term and risen to the level to justify a claim for PTSD seven years later. However, after seeing the video of the shooting of Walter Scott in South Carolina, I can see how some people today might experience PTSD even after a traffic stop. I have known and continue to know a lot of cops and feel comfortable saying a majority of cops are good people and would never do what the stupid cop did in South Carolina. In one of my previous posts I stated I was in favor of body cameras on all police officers. I still believe the cameras are needed. This will protect honest cops, protect honest members of the public and create a video record of interactions between cops and the public. Sorry to get off subject but I really get pissed when I see all cops being painted with the same brush and labeled as bad guys because of the actions of a few bad cops or the misstatement of events by cop haters in an effort to get honest cops in trouble and create tension between the community and the police. JMO GP

Jaymega, As far as the rating for tinnitus, it doesn't matter if the tinnitus is only in one ear because the maximum rating for tinnitus is 10% whether in one ear or both ears. GP

magnolia_318, Unless I am reading your post wrong or misinterpreting the doctor's comments, it appears the doctor stated in both C & P exams that you were able to maintain substantial gainful employment. I don't see a different conclusion from the doctor as far as your ability to maintain substantial gainful employment. First C & P exam, the doctor stated "it is least as likely as not that veteran is able to maintain substantial gainful employment based only on his service connected myasthenia gravis." Second C & P exam, you stated "the doctor now says I am absolutely fine and I am able to maintain substantial gainful employment based on my service connected myasthenia gravis AND pericarditis." GP

Fat, Your buddy can call the Provost Marshal's office at Ft. Bragg at (910)396-5589. They would have the answer regarding the records. I hope the incident with the MPs is not your buddy's only stressor. It just doesn't seem to be much of a stressor. JMO GP

SeattleShay, As a marine veteran exposed to the contaminated water at MCB Camp Lejeune, I understand your frustration and sincerely hope you and other Ft. McClellan veterans eventually get justice and receive the compensation you deserve. GP

josef7070, Periodically go to your ebenefit's account and go to "VA Letters" and then click on "Benefits Summary Letter." Your award rating will probably be listed in the summary letter before you actually receive official notification from the VA.

Totally agree with lotzaspotz. I would be concerned about the attorney using an FOIA request to obtain the evidence, especially the video tapes, in a timely manner. By the time the FOIA request is processed by the VA, the video tape may have been taped over. I am not an attorney, but it seems like the attorney would go to the U.S. District Court that has jurisdiction over the VAMC where the fall occurred and ask a federal judge to issue a TRO or other type of court order directing the VAMC to immediately turn over the video tape to the court where it will preserved and safeguarded until further directed by the court. JMO. GP

hammer, I am not sure I understand your question. If it relates to income taxes on VA disability compensation, VA disability compensation is not taxable. Good luck. GP

This is good info for army vets. I hope the army sent out notices to all army vets who served at Ft. McClellan. I think I read a newspaper article about the water contamination at Camp Lejeune before I received any kind of notification from the Marine Corps.

RSG, I would think any VA employees who are familiar with you or your cfile would think twice about messing with you because of the fact you did not give up in your battle with the VA. If I was a VA employee, I would be thinking "I do not want this guy mad at me." The VA employees who screwed up your claim are probably worried about retaliation from you and discipline from the VA. JMO Good luck and enjoy that retro. GP

You are welcome.

RichL I don't use it and I don't plan to use because I do not want the VA to have access to all of my private healthcare records. If I feel like the VA needs some of my private records, I will get copies and provide them to the VA when I go for my annual VA physical exam. JMO I use private healthcare providers for all of my healthcare. GP

Congratulations on the increase and good luck.

It is my understanding they will not accept an initial outside diagnosis for PTSD. The initial diagnosis for PTSD must be made by a VA psychiatrist or psychologist. The VA will accept an initial outside diagnosis for all other mental disorders. The VA will accept outside medical opinions for all mental health disorders,including PTSD (provided initial PTSD diagnosis made by VA). This is my opinion but others will correct my info if it is wrong. GP

Periodically go on your Ebenefits account and click on "VA Letters" and then click "Benefits Summary Letter." When your rating changes it is usually updated on your "Benefits Summary Letter" before you receive your official notification from the VA. Take care. GP

ArNG11, Congratulations on your increase. I look forward to watching your next battle. Good luck and good health my friend. GP

Kate, In my reply to your post, I incorrectly stated PTSD rather than adjustment disorder. Sorry for the error. However, as you know, both are rated using the mental health schedule of ratings in 38 CFR part 4. I would still email Undersecretary Hickey. GP

38 CFR part 4 provides a great deal of information regarding how specific disabilities are rated by the VA. A lot of questions can be answered in part 4. Good luck and good health from one Vietnam vet to another. GP

Google 38 CFR 4.16 and you will find the info you need regarding TDIU. Good luck. GP

Kate, Email Allison Hickey. Even if you emailed her in the past, do it again. There is no reason you and your husband should have to tolerate this BS. I would even cite her your husbands specifc symptoms which are contained in the 70% box in the diagnostic code for PTSD. Advise her you will fax the records to prove it. You have an incompetent doctor or I should say doctors since the new examiner sent the C & P documents back to the original doctor that screwed it up in the first place. allison.hickey@va.gov Good luck and don't give up. GP

TiredVeteran, I agree with the above suggestion regarding hiring an attorney ASAP. I would hire an attorney who specializes in handling federal tort claims and personal injury claims against the federal government. Definitely have your attorney get the CCTV tape recording or a copy of it as soon as possible. In the federal building I worked in, our office was in charge of the CCTV surveillance at the facility. It was our policy to maintain the CCTV tapes for 30 days and after 30 days the tapes were reused (taped over). If we received a request to preserve a tape due to an incident occurring in our facility, we would do so. However, we did this as a courtesy not as a policy. Personally, I would not trust the VA to preserve anything for you as a courtesy. I would let your attorney get the CCTV tape for you. If the attorney takes your case on a contingency fee, he or she will get the tape. JMO Good luck and good health to you and your husband. GP