Carl the Engineer

Its an algorithm. That said, I have seen them work on my stuff in eBennies on a Saturday. The good news is, when its starts gyrating, then your close, Hamslice

Update 14, Prep for Notification with a new date of 8/14. Oh, boy, Hamslice

broncovet, I screwed up as usual. They the VA are asked for a addendum about arthritis in my right ANKLE that showed when they x-rayed my right foot. Boy, this ought to get interesting. I claimed increase for right foot plantar and left foot pain and left ankle stability/pain secondary to the right foot plantar. All three of those are in myhealthyvet as "as least as likely" and now just waiting on the rating. But now they may be adding the right ankle. Anyway, just best to wait for the rating(s) and see... Thanks, and sorry for the mix-up, Hamslice

broncovet, I am already SC'd for plantar fasciitis for pain at 10%. I filed a claim for and increase because I now get injections and wear hard shoe inserts, orthodics, which I did not when I got my initial 10%, "With arthritis/plantar fasciitis, you will only get compensated for pain in your foot for one of these, probably." They, the VA after my "initial review" asked the C&P examiner to write a addendum about the arthritis in the right foot, which she did, favorably, "at least as likely" cause by the SC'd right foot. My question then with a better explanation would be........ Could I be rated 10% (pain) for plantar fasciitis and 10% arthritis (x-ray) for the same foot? Thanks, Hamslice

Hello, Anyone know if (same foot) plantar fasciitis and arthritis seperate or if it would be pyramiding? Looks like I may be service connected (secondary) for arthritis for my right foot. Which is usually 10%. I am already 10% for plantar fasciitis. Doing some research, but havent found it yet, Thanks, Hamslice

Update 13, So now in the "blue button" I see where they have asked the C&P examiner to write a adendum to her exam regards my right ankle; "Please provide the following clarification: The examiner should opine as to if the right ankle arthritis is at least as likely as not caused or permanently aggravated beyond normal progression by the right plantar fasciltis, and to explain." And her response; "a. The condition claimed is at least as likely as not (50% or greater probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service connected condition. c. Rationale: Veteran's testimony, physical exam, tests, records, and medical literature. Contributing factors include poor walking mechanics due to pain from plantar fasciitis, which can cause microtrauma to the tendon, which develops over time. The calcifications at the insertions site of the right achilles tendon noted on xray of right ankle 6/23/16 could likely be secondary to the right foot condition plantar fasciitis." I am currently 10% right foot for plantar fasciitis. Not sure how much more I can get for arthritis of same foot. Not sure if seperate rating? Will have to research that. It is also at Cleveland now, was a Little Rock before. Well, hopefully that was the only glitch that was holding up my claim(s), Hamslice

Disposing of or disappearing records could happen to both paper or digits. I keep a copy of everything I have ever gotten or am getting in either paper or digits. Whatever it came in. I found records (Army, while in service) in digits that never made it to me in paper. A lost promotion. According to the ABCMR, too late and a dollar short. But I know now it wasnt my fault, so I got that (in digits) going for me, Hamslice

I too have just recently saw that on my eBenifits. My claim (2 secondaries, 1 increase and 1 new) was all the way to preperation for notification, and then went back to gathering evidence. And then I saw Initial Review Complete. So, I'm thinking it was the first go around and then they (VA) needs to check or recheck some "evidence" Maybe, Hamslice

I monitor it so much, I can actually tell when they are working on my claim. And, I have had my claim status change three times in the same day. Cheaper than alcohol or smokes, Hamslice P.S. I was denied for OCD.

I would probably agree. I also think they work in the same buildings, etc. I use the VFW as mine. So far so good. However, I have never sent or recieved an email from my VSO. So I am not too sure what he/she does for me. I do email my CVSO (County Veterans Service Officer) and she does respond quite rapidly. I do wonder, if the VFW has a file on me, can I get a copy or see it? FWIW, Hamslice

Update 12, And now, back to preparation for decision today, With a new completion date of 9/12/2016. Now there are no new requests or dates on the calendar. So, maybe we have lift-off, Hamslice

Combined bilaterals = 48 Combined plus bilateral 10% = 52.8 Rounded = 53 Foot at 10% + bilateral rounded = 58 Rounded = 60% 60% Fun with math, Hamslice I made the assumption your clavicle is a bilateral since you have a left and a right. I think it is.

Good job, well done, Hamslice

Yep, the old lowball and hope they disappear trick..... Brought to you be the VA, Hamslice

Update 11, Back to gathering evidence today, with a completion date of 1/23/2017 Also, I see I had a C&P on Monday, but appearently they didnt need me. And they are requesting something else now from the VA facility. Drip, drip, drip..... Hamslice

Update 10, Back to preparations for decision. New end date, now 09/09/2016. Request 1, Accepted Request 2, No longer needed Request 3, Needed (from Va facility) due by 08/31/2016 Hamslice

Nurse Practicianer can and do, but I am not sure about a straight RN (Registered Nurse). A quick search on the net, I do not see where a RN can do a C&P. All I see are NP's, or registered nurse practicioners. But they may have changed it up, Hamslice

I also see "first review completed". Would be nice to know what was that outcome! Hamslice

Ok, I see now they are looking for something from a "VA facility" with a suspence of 8/28. So, looks like they need something from the VA hospital. Oh, Boy, Hamslice

Could be good, could be bad. They might need a clarification and it goes back to the decision level next week. Happened to me before. Or, they saw something that should have been assumed and have added it to the claim and I will get another C&P for it and it could be rated. That has happened to me also. Just fun to track whats going on according to eBennies, amybodies guess as to what really is happening, Hamslice

EODCMC, Well, that depends. For me, and any retirie, 50% or above gets you both your retirement and your disability. Under 50% you only get the higher of the two, not both. There are different benifits at, well obviously 10%, then 30% (health care benefits), 50% (concurrent reciept), 70% (nursing home care in wisconsin and other health care benefits), and then 100%. FWIW, Hamslice

Update 9, Back to gathering evidence, Here we go, on the roller coaster ride, New end date 01/18/2017 Hamslice

kid, in addition, your raw score is 43, another 10% would get you a raw 49, rounded up to 50%. And 50% is a biggy for VA benefits. Hamslice

kid, VA math... 30 + 10% = 37 37 + 10% = 43 43 is rounded down to 40% you get 40% and it only gets tougher the higher your rating is. Its simply a percentage of whats left. If you are 50% and get another 50%, you get half of whats left, only 25%. So, the original 50% plus 50% of 50, or 25% for a total of 75%. That is a simple explanation. It gets more complicated with bilateral ratings, etc. Fun with math, Hamslice

I personally would never correct a C&P examiner no matter how bad or incomplete I thought it was going. I too, had a C&P where the examiner should have measured a scar, but didn't. So, when they tried to rate, they couldn't and I had to go to a second C&P for measurement. When I got my decision (a win), the second examiner added a claim for acne, which was service connected. Which I never claimed, but he found in my med record. FWIW, the second examiner was better than the first, but you don't get to choose, and its a lottery, but, Telling someone how to do thier job, especially in the VA where your claim can go away for a long while, is probably not a good idea. But you can diss-agree (NOD) and thats fair game, because thats the way they play, Or reopen with new evidence, as I have done. Hamslice