[Mechanical Defect In My Vehicle]

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

[Questions About Va Priority Groups.]

I have a pretty good friend that didn't tell me a few things about his service:

I noticed he had a letter from NPRC verifying his awards. One of the medals he has is a Prisoner of War medal. Now, I do know this guy served in the Persian Gulf I'm not sure about the circumstances surrounding his confinement either. I had seen a few of his medals and I noticed the POW medal. Apparently he lost them at some point and needed them replaced by the Gov. What can I do to help him? He has alcohol issues and explosive anger. I don't blame him. But, I'm just wondering how I can get him the help he has earned. He does receive 400 or 500 dollars a month from the VA. But, he can't work. So, I know how to file for increases but what is the purview of Pow's and VA regs? I mean from what I've read you need a certain amount time confined for presumptives and I don't know anything about said confinement.

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

[Veterans With Upper And/or Lower Radiculopathy]

Good info Buck.

[Ptsd Review]

Look at the "Schedule of Ratings" for mental disorders under 38 CFR part 4.130 and you will understand why your doctor might have been surprised at your level of functionality with 70% rating.

GP

[Federal Retirement]

According to the OPM website:

"Interim payments can be authorized only after the disability application has been allowed and your agency has notified OPM of the date your pay stopped and OPM has a copy of your receipt for application for social security disability benefits or social security decision letter. Interim payments are intended to help you financially until OPM can compute the actual amount of your annuity. OPM can complete processing of your case only after your final retirement records and all other supporting documentation have been received from your agency."

Hope this helps.

GP

[Federal Retirement]

Buck,

I had a regular retirement (CSRS) from the federal government. I have very little knowledge about the federal disability retirement program but there is information about FERS federal disability retirement on the OPM.gov website. Sorry I couldn't help more.

GP

[Preparation For Decision]

Steph,

I hope I am wrong and you are right. Based on the comments by the Chiwf of Dental at your VAMC, it sounds like I am definitely wrong.

Good luck and take care.

GP

[Preparation For Decision]

rootbeer,

With any rating, including 0%, the VA assumes responsibility for the veteran's disability. You can have a 0% rating and receive free prescriptions for the service connected condition. If Navy4Life receives a 0% rating for her dental issues, she should be able to receive free VA dental care for those specific dental issues, but only those specific dental issues. JMO

GP

[My Protest]

Possible Slogans:

"You are more likely to die here than in a combat zone."

"Use at your own risk"

"If you are looking for good quality healthcare by highly competent medical personnel, you are in the wrong place."

[Ptsd Review]

You can complete and submit VA form 10-5345(a) and mail it or hand deliver it to the "Release of Information" office at your local VAMC and get copies of any of your medical records at your VAMC. You can find this form online.

GP

[Dr. Bash]

Great story.

The soldier's wife deserves a lot of credit for going public which resulted in the VA admitting they made a mistake and finally gave him the 100% award he deserved.

GP

[Colonoscopy Reminder!]

Buck,

Great post. I have a neighbor who never had a colonoscopy until it was too late. He now has colon cancer.

Due to a few colon polyps found on previous colonoscopies, I get a colonoscopy every two or three years. In 2012, I had an upper endoscopy and had 48 stomach polyps removed. In 2014, I had another 30 stomach polyps removed. As a result, I will continue to have the upper endoscopy every two years. All of my polyps have been benign.

I always have conscious sedation during my procedures and do not remember a thing. The only part I dislike is the prep but having the procedures is better than finding out you have late stage colon or stomach cancer that could have been prevented.

GP

[Denying Contentions Due To Age (Natural) Progression Of Disease]

rootbeer,

The only claims I have heard of where the VA tried to use "natural progression of the disease" against a veteran's claim was in claims where a veteran filed a claim for aggravation of disease or injury that existed prior to the veteran's military service. In these cases, the VA tried to say the veteran's disease or injury became worse due to "natural progression of the disease or injury" and was not due to the disease or injury being aggravated by the veteran's military service. I can not cite you a VA policy or a law covering this subject. JMO

GP

[Scheduled For Future Reduction?]

It is not unusual for veterans to use both the VA healthcare system and private healthcare providers. I have had three different VA PCPs and they never hesitated to scan my private healthcare records into the VA system. In fact, when I tell them about having a private medical procedure, they usually ask if I have copies of the records with me for them to scan. If I didn't have copies of private medical records with me, they asked me to sign a medical release form so they could contact the private medical provider and ask them to fax the records over to my VA PCP. I prefer to get copies of the private medical records myself so I can review them before I give them to my VA PCP to be scanned.

GP

[Claim Process Status]

Congratulations Slick.

[Veterans With Upper And/or Lower Radiculopathy]

Buck,

Sertraline is the generic for Zoloft which is an antidepressant. I was prescribed Sertraline along with Gabapentin but it did not help me. I think your doctor just didn't want to prescribe Lyrica for you because of the price. He should at least have been honest about it.

GP

[Hello, New Here.]

Welcome aboard.

[Veterans With Upper And/or Lower Radiculopathy]

Also meant to mention that it took about 3 or 4 weeks before my Lyrica really started to work for me.

[Veterans With Upper And/or Lower Radiculopathy]

I was previously on a Gabapentin and switched to Lyrica. I currently take 400 mg of Lyrica per day (150 mg in am, 150 mg in pm and 100 mg at bedtime). It doesn't stop all of my burning and pins and needles pain but it has made it where I can tolerate the pain. It works much better than Gabapentin for me. I have also heard others say that Lyrica makes you gain weight. I have not gained any weight from taking Lyrica and I have been on it for about four months. The VA does not provide my Lyrica. My private insurance pays for part of it and I pay the rest out of pocket. Unlike Gabapentin, Lyrica has no generic substitute at the present time.

I hope you get the care you need and deserve. If it is available and affordable to you, I would go to private healthcare providers.

GP

[Secretary Of Va's Email?]

John,

I may be wrong but I believe the email address for Secretary McDonald contains his middle initial.

The info I have shows the following email address for Bob McDonald:

Robert.A.McDonald@va.gov

Put a period before and after the middle initial.

GP

[Scheduled For Future Reduction?]

Andy,

As long as your medical records show you continue to have regular appointments for your service connected conditions and no significant sustained improvement is shown, you should not have a problem with any reductions in your ratings in the future. I would suggest not going for long periods of time in between your appointments for your service connected conditions.

As you are probably already aware, every time you file a claim for new medical conditions; this opens up all of your current service connected medical conditions for re-evaluation even if you are not scheduled for a re-evaluation at the time. Just be prepared when you go for any new C & P exams.

If you use private health care providers for your service connected conditions, obtain copies of the medical reports and have your VA PCP scan them into your VA medical records. I use private healthcare providers for all of my medical treatment, including my service connected conditions, and I provde my VA PCP with copies of my medical reports when I go for my annual VA physical exam and my PCP scans the records into my VA medical records.

Good luck and take care of yourself.

Semper Fi.

GP

[How Long Till Written Notification Once Rating Appears On Ebenefits?]

Zeke,

I should have done a better job of reading your post. My brain tuned out after I read that your claim closed otherwise I would have seen your reference to the Fiduciary Adjustment. I have no idea when you might receive your retro and I am sorry that I could not have been any help to you.

Again, good luck and take care.

GP

[70% Rating!]

Congratulations on your well deserved award. Sounds like you had good evidence and a well organized claim.

Since you have a combined rating at 50% or above, you are now in priority group one of the VA healthcare system. This means you can receive free VA care for any medical condition (service connected or non-service connected). You do not have to pay any copays for VA appointments or VA prescriptions. You can also receive reimbursement for any VA copays you paid back to the effective date of your claim resulting in a rating of 50% or higher.

Good luck to you and thank you for your service.

Semper Fi.

GP

[How Long Till Written Notification Once Rating Appears On Ebenefits?]

Zeke,

I would wait another week or so before you call. You should be checking your direct deposit account for your retro. I actually received my retro before I received the BBE from the VA.

Thank you for your service and take care of yourself.

GP

[Claim Process Status]

Slick,

Go to "downloadable VA letters" on your Ebenefits account and click on "Benefits Summary Letter." Any changes in your rating status will usually show up on your "Benefits Summary Letter" before your receive the BBE from the VA.

Good luck to you.

Semper Fi.

GP