georgiapapa

Just signed it. Now at 140 signatures. Georgia Papa...

jc30655, Thanks for the good info. I will try it next time I have a problem. Georgiapapa...

Buzz, Since your METS score is over 7 and if you are on medication I think you will be rated at 10%. Please refer to the rating schedules for more detailed info. Go to the code of federal regulations and refer to 38 CFR 4. Georgiapapa...

Old Dude, My mother is currently on Medicare and Champva. She receives all of her meds through Champva "Meds by Mail" and does not pay anything out of pocket. With the exception of a $50.00 annual deductible, my mother also has no out of pocket expense for her other medical expenses. Medicare and Champva combined pays 100%. My wife enrolled in Champva in December 2012, retroactive to October 2011. My wife is only 62 so she is not yet eligible for Medicare. However, she is covered under my federal Blue Cross Blue Shield plan I receive from federal retirement. Between Champva and Blue Cross, they pay 100% of her medical expenses with the exception a small co-pay for prescriptions. Since she has Blue Cross insurance, she is not eligible for Champva "Meds by Mail." You can google "Champva Handbook" and download the handbook which can answer just about any questions regarding Champva. The handbook also provides phone numbers you can call to get answers to specific questions. Georgiapapa...

Hollis, I hope she is not the doctor I see in August. Georgiapapa...

John & Chuck, Thanks again for the good advice. Georgiapapa...

Chuck, Thank you for your input. Your info is helpful. Georgiapapa...

John, You have a good point about only using the VA for pills and documentation of your disabilities. I will become eligible for medicare later this year and the medicare and my private insurance should pay for my medical needs with the exception of co-pays for medications. Once I go on medicare, I will probably only use the VA for certain medications and possibly dental. I have dental insurance but I have still spent over $3,000.00 out of pocket at my private dentists for bridges and crowns in the last 3 or 4 years. My only concern is if I quit using the VA health care system, will this send up a red flag to the VA and cause them to schedule me for a new examination of my current service connected disabilities? I am currently 100% P & T with no future exams scheduled and I am 64 years old. I have seen where others on this web site state you should use the VA health care system because if you quit using them the VA may assume your conditions have improved and schedule you for a exam. Please let me know your thoughts on the concern I mentioned above. Georgiapapa...

Philip, As I stated in my original post, I did go ahead and purchase eyeglasses in March of this year after I realized I would not get an appointment with the VA in a timely manner. Today I received notification from my local VAMC eye clinic advising I have been scheduled for an eye exam on August 20, 2013. Even though I already purchased eyeglasses, I plan to go for the appointment because I am not going to let the VA get out of their obligation to provide the exam and the glasses. It will be seven months from the time I requested the appointment until I go for the appointment. Thanks for your response. Georgiapapa...

I received prescription eyeglasses from my local VAMC in March 2011. In October 2012, I had emergency eye surgery on my left eye due to a torn and detached retina. Since the surgery, my vision in my left eye is now extremely blurred and I can no longer use the eyeglasses provided by the VA. My eye surgery was not performed at a VAMC. I used a non-VA surgeon paid by my private insurance. In early January of this year, I provided my VA PCP with copies of my eye surgery reports and asked for an appointment with the VA eye doctor so I could get new eyeglasses. I explained to my PCP that I could no longer use the prescription eyeglasses previously provided by the VA. My PCP agreed to submit a request for a consult with the eye doctor. In March, after not hearing anything about my eye doctor appointment, I went to my VA PCP and asked about the status of my eye doctor appointment. She checked my file on the computer and stated, "It looks like I sent them (eye doctor's office) a message in January to call me regarding a consult request for you but apparently they never called me back." She stated "I will send them another request." Knowing I could not count on receiving my eyeglasses from the VA in a timely manner, I went and purchased new eyeglasses out of my pocket the next day. However, I still intend to get the additional glasses I am entitled to from the VA. The first part of May, after still not hearing anything my eye doctor appointment, I went to my local VA Outpatient Clinic to ask my PCP about the status of my eye doctor appointment. The receptionist at the front desk advised me that my PCP was not available and asked if she could help me. I told her I had made two requests for a consult with the eye doctor but still did not have an appointment. She advised me that my eye consult would be scheduled by another VA Outpatient Clinic, which I had never been to and which is 25 miles farther from my house. I was provided the telephone number for the other VA clinic which I called later the same day. When I called the other VA clinic, I was told they did not have an eye doctor at the clinic but they would contact the VAMC where I received my eyeglasses in 2011 and have them call me and set up an appointment. So far, I have not received any calls regarding my appointment. QUESTION: Is the VA required to schedule an appointment request within a certain time period? QUESTION: Can I call my local VAMC eye clinic and schedule the appointment myself or does the appointment have to be requested by my PCP? NOTE: This is not the first time I have had problems getting an appointment with a VA specialist in a reasonable period of time. Audiologist request took 7 months and pulmonary doctor took 9 months. Any input would be appreciated. Georgiapapa...

After watching Shinseki's interview with Crowley, It is hard for me to believe this man is a military veteran. Rather than taking responsibility for the fiasco at the VA, he made excuses and again stated he had a plan to correct the backlog problem. All lies. Crowley kept asking Shinseki "what do you need?" Shinseki's response, "we have received a 40% increase in the past 4 years," indicating the VA did not need any additional resources. Shinseki also told Crowley, "we have put in place a robust plan." Other Shinseki comments included the following: "No veteran should have to wait. We have a fix for this. We are open for business." "There are going to be a few (claims) that take longer than we like." To her credit, Crowley reminded Shinseki that 70% or more than a few claims have been pending for more than 125 days. I agree with Captain Contaminate, it is time for Shinseki and Hickey to go. Georgiapapa...

Dakkonusmc, Sorry for not answering the second question in your post. Retroactive pay is the total compensation you are due back to the effective date of your claim. If you filed three months ago, you would probably be entitled to three months of retroactive disability compensation. However, If you filed your claim within a year from the date you were discharged from active duty, I believe you would probably be entitled to retroactive compensation back to the date you were discharged. Georgiapapa...

Dakkonusmc, Check your bank account. Retro pay is usually direct deposited into your account. Georgiapapa...

BVA decisions are posted at www.bva.va.gov

Indyman, I heard the same story on the radio. If my recollection is correct, there were two bills introduced in the house by Rep. John Runyan of New Jersey. Both bills rounded down the Cola computation. I may be wrong but I think the bill numbers were 569 & 570. Georgiapapa...

Thanks for all the great replies. Berta, My mother told me she can't find anything in her papers regarding her DIC payments but I am going to go through all of papers today to see if I can locate the documents we need. Again, thanks to everyone for your help. Georgiapapa...

During recent contact with my local property tax office, I discovered that my 91 year old mother would be entitled to an exemption on all of her property taxes if she could provide a letter from the VA showing she was receiving DIC benefits from the VA as a result of her first husband being killed in action in World War II. Georgia law states that the unremarried spouse of a military service member killed in action is entitled to a 100% exemption on the property taxes on their home and up to 10 acres of land. At first I was not sure if she was entitled to the property exemption because she had remarried after her first husband was killed. However, her second husband (my father) died in 1971 and she again became eligible for VA benefits (DIC, Champva) from her first husband. Even my local tax office supervisor was not sure if my mother qualified for the 100% exemption since she had remarried but she contacted the Georgia Department of Revenue who confirmed my mother was qualified if she could provide documentation from the VA verifying the current receipt of DIC benefits. To qualify for the 100% exemption for 2013, she must provide the documentation to the tax office no later than April 1st of the year she is claiming the exemption. Based on my own personal experience with the Atlanta VARO, I do not think my chances are good of obtaining a letter from the Atlanta VARO verifying her DIC benefits prior to April 1st. QUESTION: Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might be able to get the needed documentation for my mother by the April 1st deadline? I can go on Ebenefits and print up various benefit letters (AB8, AB3, etc.) QUESTION: Is there a website for veteran's survivors to go online and print up VA benefit verification letters? My mother has been entitled to the property tax exemption for years but she and I never knew it. I would like for her to receive the 100% exemption as soon as possible, hopefully this year. Georgiapapa...

Silentshwan, Let me also add that the VA hospital in Little Rock is located within walking distance of the Myeloma Institute. I am not sure but I think someone told me that doctors at the Myeloma Institute may have some involvement with Myeloma patients at the Little Rock VA hospital. Again, I am not sure about this. Dr. Barlogie is not my assigned doctor at the Myeloma Institute but I have talked to some of his patients while in the waiting rooms. All of them describe him as a compassionate and caring individual. Perhaps you could have your oncologist send him a letter explaining your circumstances and ask Dr. Barlogie if he would provide you with an IMO. In the BVA decision, his medical opinion carried enough weight with the BVA for a veteran who had been discharged for 14 years to win their claim. In your case, you are only talking about a few months so it should be less difficult to show a nexus. Just something to think about. No matter what, don't give up. Georgiapapa...

Silentshwan, As a multiple myeloma patient, I would suggest you get an IMO from an oncologist/hematologist who specializes in multiple myeloma. Most oncologists/hematologists have some knowledge of multiple myeloma but they do not have a lot of multiple myeloma patients because it is not a very common cancer. My local oncologist/hematologist diagnosed me with multiple myeloma in 2010. He had over 25 years experience but indicated that he had only treated a few cases of multiple myeloma. After doing some research and checking with charitable organizations involved in the research of multiple myeloma, I went to the Myeloma Institute of Research & Therapy in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2010. They confirmed my diagnosis. They now collaborate with my local oncologist/hematologist to make sure I receive the proper diagnostic tests and treatment. If you check out their website, you will find out they treat more patients for multiple myeloma than any other treatment center in the world. The hadit website is a Godsend for veterans. One thing I learned from Berta (one of the most knowledgeable elders on Hadit) is to search BVA decisions for previous cases similar to your own. In just a few minutes of searching, I found the following BVA decision: Citation 0914019 dated 04/15/2009, docket #06-37 467. In this decision a veteran who had been discharged in August 1991 was not diagnosed with multiple myeloma until June 2005. There were no military medical records indicating the veteran had multiple myeloma. However, according to the BVA decision, the veteran's doctor, B.B., M.D.; provided an opinion in which he indicated the veteran's multiple myeloma had been developing while the veteran was in the military. The veteran succeeded in her claim. The doctor in this case is referred to as the Director of the Myeloma Institute of Research & Therapy. NOTE: Dr. Bart Barlogie is currently the Director of the Myeloma Institute of Research & Therapy and has been the director for over 20 years. I am certain the Dr. BB in this case is Dr. Bart Barlogie. You could probably find other decisions on the BVA search website citing opinions of Dr. BB. Again, I would make every effort to get an IMO from a doctor who specializes in the treatment of multiple myeloma such as Dr. Barlogie. Good luck to you. Georgiapapa...

Congratulations. Good luck and enjoy all the extra benefits that go with the 100% rating. Georgiapapa...

Papa, My wife is 62 and just recently signed up for Champva. I am also a federal retiree with Blue Cross PPO. My wife will have to sign up for Medicare when she turns 65 but she did not have to sign up at this time. Blue Cross will be her primary insurance and Champva is her secondary. When she turns 65 Medicare will be the primary. We are in the process of gathering up all of my wife's Blue Cross EOBs for submission to Champva for reimbursement of her copays back to the effective date of my 100% P & T award. I am not sure if this is correct but I have been told that when my wife goes on Medicare she can suspend her Blue Cross coverage and use her Medicare and Champva which will usually pay 100% of her medical expenses. I was also told that she should not cancel her Blue Cross coverage but only suspend it which would permit her to go back on Blue Cross at a future date if necessary. Again, I am not sure if this is correct or not but I am going to check with OPM. If it is true, I will pay only be paying Blue Cross premiums on myself rather than family coverage. My mother has been on Champva for years and I think it is the best health insurance you can have. All of her doctors take it. She pays no premiums and only has a $50.00 annual deductible. Between her medicare and Champva, she rarely pays anything out of pocket except for her Medicare part B premiums, Medicare deductible and Champva deductible. I totally agree with other hadit members who would like to see veterans receive Champva insurance. Good luck to you and your wife. Georgiapapa...

Semper Fi. Congratulations and good luck. Georgiapapa...

Congratulations to my fellow jarhead. I just received my 100% award in December and I still can not believe it. I agree totally with your comments regarding our fellow hadit members, especially the elders like T-Bird, Berta and Carlie. Without them many hadit members, including myself, may not have won their battles with the VA. Don't forget about all of your benefits that go with the 100% award. My wife got her Champva I.d. Card and membership package today. We went to our nearest military base and obtained our commissary access cards.I also filed documentation with my local tax office to receive tax breaks on my home and my vehicle. Check on all of the benefits available to you. You earned them. I wish you and your family the best of luck and I hope you collect your benefits for many years. Georgiapapa...

Capt., In 2011, I called "Peggy" at 1-800-827-1000 and asked her what I needed to do to review my c-file. She asked what state I was in and I responded "Georgia." She told me I could go to the Atlanta VARO and review my c-file without an appointment. I drove 180 miles round trip to the Atlanta VARO only to learn I had to make an appointment in advance to view my c-file. The receptionist at the Atlanta VARO instructed me to submit a 21-4138 requesting an appointment to review my c-file. I submitted the 21-4138 as instructed and waited several months without hearing anything. At the time I submitted the 21-4138 I also had an active claim pending. I believe submitting the 21-4138 for an appointment to review my c-file delayed my pending active claim. I base this belief on info I received from other hadit members and on the fact that my request to review my c-file was shown on Ebenefits as a new claim. As soon as I learned the request to review my c-file was being processed like a new claim I sent a letter to the Atlanta VARO advising them that I wanted to withdraw my request to review my c-file. Within a week of sending the letter, Ebenefits indicated the request to review c-file was closed and my current pending claim moved to the next phase a couple weeks later. Based on what happened to me, I would suggest you only request to review your c-file when you do not have any active claims pending. Make your request before you file the claim or after an active claim has been adjudicated. Others may disagree. Georgiapapa...

I am already service connected 100% P & T for an agent orange presumptive disease and I was in the process of filing a claim for IHD. However, I feel the risk of filing another claim is not worth it if this may cause the VA to take another look at my current 100% disability rating. Since my wife would have a legitimate claim for DIC in the event I die from IHD regardless of whether I had already been service connected for IHD prior to my death, it just doesn't make sense to me to file for IHD now. Your comments in response to my post seem to support my position on not filing for IHD. Thanks again, Georgiapapa...