Carl the Engineer

Hello, Anyone know of any IMO IME doctors in or near northern Wisconsin. Just past "in the sticks". If there are they don't advertise well. Dr. Ellis's web site looks promising, but thats in Oklahoma, about a 16 hour drive!!! One way... My niece lives there, I guess I could visit. Anyway, any help would be appreciated, Hamslice

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/news/flu-vaccine-saved-lives.htm If you can't believe the gov, who can you believe? Hamslice Put me down for the flu shot, every year since I don't know how long.

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No clue, but I think it would mean eligible to get VA benefits, not eligible to get a PTSD increase. If you are already compensated for PTSD, you dont need to prove you have it again, etc. I think it was just a check (for what reason, unknown) to make sure your eligible for VA benefits. Where is your claim at in eBennies? Hamslice

Not sure on the second half, but the first part, does in impact work X yes, will help with the rating, but I don't think it means you will get IU. I have had that check on most of my exams and it helps the rating, but I am no wheres near IU. You would have to look at the criteria for IU, although its just a guide as there are other ways of getting IU. Good luck, Hamslice

It all has to do with billing and coding, As in, inpatient or outpatient, operation or procedure, etc. It is like when insurance or medicare tells the physician whether the procedure can only be outpatient. Shouldn't the doctor decide what is better for the patient? If you find the right doctor and staff they will take care of you and demand things from your insurance, but its hard to do. My wive is finally at a place with her doctor that they put her in the hospital for a couple of days so she can recover adequatly as before it was out the door and heal at home, which seldom happened. Bottom line, its all about he money, Hamslice

Well that cut and paste saved me a bunch of typing... There you go, Hamslice

Date Status Actions left ankle achilles tendonitis (claimed as left ankle pain) 0% Service-Connected 05/10/2016 hypertensive heart disease (also claimed as concentric left ventricular hypertrophy) 30% Service-Connected 05/10/2016 foreign body scar, left forehead 0% Service-Connected 12/10/2013 acne (previously denied as facial skin condition under DC 7806) 0% Service-Connected 12/10/2013 thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease 20% Service-Connected 09/19/2011 plantar warts 0% Service-Connected 09/19/2011 scars from wart removal 0% Service-Connected 09/19/2011 right shoulder tendinopathy and acromioclavicular joint degenerative arthritis (dominant) 20% Service-Connected 07/08/2010 right elbow tendinopathy 20% Service-Connected 07/08/2010 degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine (claimed as neck pain) 20% Service-Connected 07/08/2010 hypertension 0% Service-Connected 08/19/2008 left shoulder tendinopathy with degenerative joint disease (non-dominant) 10% Service-Connected 08/19/2008 tinnitus 10% Service-Connected 08/19/2008 dyshidrotic eczema 0% Service-Connected 08/19/2008 right foot plantar fasciitis 10% Service-Connected 08/19/2008 bilateral sensorineural hearing loss 0% Service-Connected 08/19/2008 obsessive compulsive disorder Not Service-Connected hemorrhoids Not Service-Connected tricuspid regurgitation (also claimed as heart disease) Not Service-Connected gastroenteritis Not Service-Connected residuals of frostbite to the left ear Not Service-Connected left foot condition (claimed as pain) Not Service-Connected right knee injury Not Service-Connected left hamstring injury Not Service-Connected

So my claim came back service connected but with a big fat 0% rating. We'll all is not bad. I was at a raw score of 80 needing a new 30% rating to get to 90%, But, now with my new 0 for my left foot, my right foot service connected at 10% is considered bilateral and goes to the top of the calculation with my shoudlers and elbow. So my new raw score is 81 with only a new 20% rating to get me to 90%. 84 vs 85.... Fun with math, Hamslice

Gastone Actually, with VA math, I am 80% rating with an actual 80 points, so another 30 will get me to 86 rounded up to 90. And, my largest rating is only 30% and I can work, so no IU at this time. Maybe in the future. Thanks, Hamslice

Got the white envelope today; Increase for right foot plantar fasciitis denied, staying the same. So, this round of claims is done. 30% for Heard Disease secondary to service connected hypertension 0% service connected for left Achilles tendinitis No increase for right foot plantar fasciitis Denied left foot problem (?) Finally, my overall rating went from 70% to 80%. My next move will be to get a "new" copy of my c-file. My first and last c-file is a few years old and there should be some updates in it. Anyway, that's it for this "life of a claim" series, Hamslice

You get paid for the month previous at the end of the month (1st of the next month). So, it should be on next months. Also, you should get a separate payment at anytime for the retro. Basically, any change in rating that happens in September, you won't see until November. You could look at it like two months, but they say one month. That is what I understand, but could be wrong, Hamslice

Assets do matter when one or both goes into an assisted living or nursing home. When my mother went into assisted living, it was/is paid for by medicare (medicare advantage plan), medicaid and county resources. My father could only have the house (as long as he lived in it), one car and $58,000.00 in assets. And only a $2000.00 bank balance. He would take out all his money from the bank after his SSI deposit every month and put in a metal box in his closet. He too, went into a facility and we had to take over the finances, etc. He has since passed away. It worked well as my parents had given their kids the home over 20 years earlier, so we still have the home. He had to sell his car and could only keep, again, $2000 in the bank. My wife is on SSDI and it is not asset based. However, some of the medicare assistance programs are. Hence we would have to get private insurance if I didn't have insurance through work to pay whats left after medicare, and for the drugs, as I make to much money for those programs. FWIW, Hamslice

Make the claim. Let the examiner do the ROM measurements. So what if you get 0%. Service connection starts the date and you can always get a increase later. Now, that you have been out of service for 3 years you will need medical evidence it happened while in service. Also claim your sleep apnea, and anything else in your service medical records or civilian records if it happened while in service. Claim now, do not delay, You can always perfect later, Hamslice

Update 29, Well my claim is closed today on eBennies. My percentage (80) hasn't changed, but under disabilities, my differed claim is not showing up service connected or denied. And no movement on my request for increase yet, but if no change, I don't think it will show anything. Those were the two things left for them to finish. Nothing in letters or benefits claim. So, not sure what has happened yet. Hamslice

I see now it is in Milwaukee. That is usually where my decisions come from. Around the horn, Hamslice

Flat out, its hard to go from 90 to 100 on the schedule. In simple terms, you would need a 50% disability to get there. However, you should see what your raw score is before rounding. You, may be at an actual 85, which is rounded up to 90, or you could be at a 94 which is rounded down to 90. Big difference. At 85 raw score, you would need a 60% new disability to get 100, and at 94 raw score you would need a 20% new disability to get to 100. So, list all your disabilities and the percentage each, without grouping any. The VA regroups after each addition, as there could also be bilaterals, which add to your total. Fun with math, Hamslice I am currently 80% VA with a raw score of 80. I have a claim still being resolved and I will either stay the same or get 84 or 87. So, if it goes my way, it will be 87 rounded up to 90. Then, I will need a 70 to get to 100, which wont happen. Schedule of course.

Update 28, Prep for Decision, end date 11/28 First time I have seen this under Request number 4, completed, "Secondary Action Required" Don't know what secondary action means, but, again, we will see, Hamslice

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/copy-machine/n10022 "making copies", the Richmeister the copy machine guy, FWIW, Hamslice

Yes it does. And then right before you get the envelope in the mail, your claim may actually go back to gathering evidence. You never really know whats up for sure until you get the envelope in the mail. I watch eBennies just for fun as it goes back and forth. Hope you hear some good news soon, Hamslice

Yep Buck, Sooner or later. Using this post as a example of the life of a claim, so readers (new) can get a feeling for what happens in a pretty straight forward claim covering both a new, increase and secondaries. Probably wont be this thorough in the future with my updates and tracking both eBennies and myHealthyVet. A case study, FWIW, Hamslice

Today, Back to "review of evidence" New end date 11/24/2016 Moving back and forth, Hamslice

Update 27, The DBQ posted today on MyHealthyVet. Apparently the C&P examiner did not fill out the flat foot part of the DBQ when evaluating the plantar fasciitis. DBQ Medical Opinion 1: Please have examiner xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx provide an addendum to the examination she conducted on the Veteran on 06/22/2016. The Veteran is claiming an increase in right foot plantar fasciitis. A foot exam was conducted; however, the flatfoot (pes planus) section which is used to evaluate the current severity was not completed. Please have examiner complete that section. And the response; RESPONSE: 3. Flatfoot (pes planus) ------------------------ a. Does the Veteran have pain on use of the feet? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, indicate side affected: [ ] Right [ ] Left [X] Both If yes, is the pain accentuated on use? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, indicate side affected: [ ] Right [ ] Left [X] Both b. Does the Veteran have pain on manipulation of the feet? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, indicate side affected: [ ] Right [ ] Left [X] Both If yes, is the pain accentuated on manipulation? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, indicate side affected: [ ] Right [ ] Left [X] Both c. Is there indication of swelling on use? [ ] Yes [X] No d. Does the Veteran have characteristic callouses? [ ] Yes [X] No e. Effects of use of arch supports, built-up shoes or orthotics: Effecting Relief of Symptoms ---------------------------- Device Side Relieved: [X] Orthotics [ ] Right [ ] Left [X] Both f. Does the Veteran have extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces on one or both feet? [ ] Yes [X] No g. Does the Veteran have decreased longitudinal arch height of one or both feet on weight-bearing? [ ] Yes [X] No h. Is there objective evidence of marked deformity of one or both feet (pronation, abduction etc.)? [ ] Yes [X] No i. Is there marked pronation of one or both feet? [ ] Yes [X] No j. For one or both feet, does the weight-bearing line fall over or medial to the great toe? [ ] Yes [X] No k. Is there a lower extremity deformity other than pes planus, causing alteration of the weight-bearing line? [ ] Yes [X] No l. Does the Veteran have "inward" bowing of the Achilles tendon (i.e., hindfoot valgus, with lateral deviation of the heel) of one or both feet? [ ] Yes [X] No m. Does the Veteran have marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the Achilles tendon (rigid hindfoot) on manipulation of one or both feet? [ ] Yes [X] No n. Comments: Veteran does not have flatfoot (pes planus) on either foot, and this portion of the DBQ is not indicated with the diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis Now, I wait for eBennies, Hamslice

Well done, Hamslice

I dont get that your C&P examiner won't opine "or as likely or not" etc. In allmost all of my claims, the examiner opines or the RO sends it back for a statement. ?? Anyway, you need to get on myHealthyVet and use the "Blue Button" and download your "VA Notes". They should show your C&P exams. You have a year to appeal. You may want to do some research and maybe get some outside help, whether thats a lawyer or doctor that does exams for veterans claims. Sounds like your examiner was a duffus, FWIW, Hamslice