georgiapapa

Buzz, His wife will not but once his combined compensation rating is 30% or higher, your friend will receive some additional compensation for any dependents including his wife. GP

Thank you Ron.

Ron, Please consider a donation to the Hadit website. TBird relies on the generosity of Hadit members to keep this website up and running. Donations are not tax deductible but the info on the Hadit website frequently helps veterans and their families receive VA benefits. GP

Ron, Your VSO is right. Publuc Law 112-154 Section 506 amends 38 USC Subsection 5110 to allow up to one year earlier effective date for awards of disability compensation based on FDC original claims received from 08/06/13 through 08/05/15. Congratulations on your award. Time to celebrate.. Good luck to you and thank you for your service. GP

Correction: Should have stated March 11, 2015 or later not March 14, 2015. My error.

Ron, When were you discharged? If you were discharged March 14, 2014 or later you would be entitled to retro back to your discharge date. File within one year of discharge and you get retro back to discharge date. If you were not discharged within past year, I am not sure why your retro is so high. GP

Great info from GuaymasJim. Please listen to him and have your VN friend listen to him. It could save his life. I had two stents implanted in September 2012 (95-99% and 80%)and was told my other arteries were no more than 40% blocked. Two months later, in November 2012, I had another stent implanted for 80% blockage. I agree with Jim. If your friend had a 90% blockage of one artery in 1997, he more than likely has other blockages at this time. He should be checked ASAP. Hopefully, he has medicare or private insurance and can go to a private cardiologist rather than a VA doctor. JMO GP

Google 38 CFR part 4.104 Schedule of Ratings - Cardiovascular System. Diagnostic Code 7005 probably best describes your friend's heart problem. As you can see, he would be rated at 10% just for taking heart medication. Even if he was rated at 0% SCN, he is better off filing now in the event his condition becomes worse. If he is married, his wife would be in a better position to file for DIC in the event of his death. GP

Even if the stent has unblocked the artery, he can still be service connected. John, Berta and PR have given great advice. File ASAP. He could drop dead of a heart attack tomorrow. JMO GP

Chuck, Last October my fasting A1C was 6.6 or just barely into the diabetic range. I reduced my A1C down to 5.46 in late March by going on a restricted diet and losing weight. I am a Vietnam AO vet but I have not filed a claim for diabetes since my A1C is now back in the normal range. My private PCP told me that I will have to stay on a restricted diet because I am still considered diabetic. QUESTION: Do diabetics who have reduced their A1C levels back to normal levels through restricted diet have a basis for a claim? Even if I received 0% rating, I would like to have my diabetes service connected. I have provided my VA PCP with copies of my private lab reports showing my A1C level in October 2014 at 6.6 and in March 2015 at 5.46. I am due to have my A1C checked again on July 1st. GP

We can also contribute by continuing to provide regular financial support to the Hadit website. Donate as often as you can afford to do so. Every little bit helps. As TBird would remind us, Hadit is not a charity and your donations are not tax deductible. However, remember every time you donate to Hadit you are helping your fellow veterans and their families and yourself and your family. JMO GP

Congratulations on your award and Thank you for your service. GP

Make sure you also bring copies along with your originals. Sometimes the examiner will want to keep the documents and you can let him or her have the copies. JMO GP

USMC_VET, Your post was a superb post. Please forgive me if I missed it but I would also suggest placing your name and C file number or SSN at the top of each page of all documents you submit to the VA. Also, when numbering my pages, if I have 100 pages, I number the pages 1 of 100, 2 of 100, etc. This method of numbering will draw attention if pages are missing. JMO GP

Well said Pete. GP

Congratulations and thank you for your service. GP

Congratulations on your award and thank you for your many years of dedicated service to our country. GP

turtle5252, You must have got out of the military about the same time I did. I was discharged in 1970. GP

You can file a FTCA claim by completing and submitting form SF 95 to the VA. Your claim must be filed within two years of the date of your injury. Unlike a 1151 claim where you would receive monthly disability compensation if you win, you would only receive a lump sum payment if you win your FTCA claim. I would suggest filing a 1151 claim. Like broncovet said, Berta is the expert on 1151 claims and she will give you good advice. GP

It may not be your VARO calling regarding your claim. It could be the "Eligibility Office" at the VAMC calling if you applied for VA healthcare. GP

Stpn2me, I was diagnosed with OSA in 2008 and I had problems tolerating the CPAP. I had the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation System implanted on June 1, 2015 and my doctor will activate it on July 2nd followed by another sleep study sometime in August. The Inspire implant is made by Medtronics, the same company that makes pacemakers. In fact, the implant looks just like a pacemaker. To find out more about the Inspire system, go to www.Inspiresleep.com I had a sleep study in December 2014 with the following results: RDI 54, AHI 52, LSAT 62%. Classified as severe OSA. In mid January of this year I had a UPPP procedure in which my Uvala and upper soft palate were removed. I also had turbinate reduction surgery at the same time to open up my nasal passages. These procedures were performed in order to qualify me as a candidate for the Inspire procedure. Prior to these procedures, my ENT doctor said my upper airways were not open enough for the Inspire system to work properly. I also had to lose some weight to increase the likelihood of the Inspire system working properly. After the above procedures, I had another sleep study with the following results: RDI 40, AHI 38, LSAT 77%. Improved but still classified as severe OSA. Hopefully, my sleep study in August will show drastic improvement in my OSA as a result of the Inspire system implant. Only time will tell. NOTE: There is a new sleep apnea system out now called Imthera that my ENT doctor made me aware of but would not use on me because I had a pacemaker. Like Inspire, it is also an implant but smaller. He advised me this system was being offered to qualfied patients free of charge as long as the patients agreed to participate in a clinical study. More info on this system is available at www.imtheramedical.com Good luck to you. GP

Well done Rootbeer. GP

jfrei, Unless the VA provided you with the vehicle, I don't understand what your question has to do with VA benefits. Please provide more information. GP

According to a VA Fact Sheet on POW Benefits: "The laws on former POW benefits recognize that military medical records do not cover periods of captivity. For many diseases, unless there is evidence of some other cause, VA disability compensation can be paid on the basis of presumption that a disease present today is associated with the veteran's captivity or internment." "For POWs detained for 30 days or more, such eligibility covers any of the following illnesses that are found at a compensable level (at least 10 percent disabling): avitaminosis; beriberi; chronic dysentery; cirrhosis of the liver; helminthiasis; irritable bowel syndrome and malnutrition, including associated optic atrophy. Also covered are: pellagra and any other nutritional deficiency ; peptic ulcer disease; and peripheral neuropathy, except where directly related to infectitious causes. Several categories of diseases are presumptively associated with captivity without any 30 day limit: psychosis; any anxiety state; dysthymia disorders; cold injury; post-traumatic arthritis; strokes and common heart diseases." "Former POWs receive special priority for VA health-care enrollment, even if their illness has not been formally associated with their service. Former POWs are exempt from making means test copayments for inpatient and outpatient medical care and medications." GP

Good info Buck.