Jump to content
VA Disability Community via Hadit.com

VA Disability Claims Articles

Ask Your VA Claims Question | Current Forum Posts Search | Rules | View All Forums
VA Disability Articles | Chats and Other Events | Donate | Blogs | New Users

Carl the Engineer

Former Member
  • Posts

    1,908
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    45

Everything posted by Carl the Engineer

  1. I'm pretty sure I'd still be at 30% if I had not joined this site, Just sayin, Hamslice
  2. I started my application online in June of last year. They give you 6 months to complete and submit your application, to save the date. I forwarded my application in November (cause I procrastinate) . With the online application, you do not include any medical records, etc., you just submit the application. They will give you the oppertunity to submit records, etc, after you get the ball rolling. Since I do not have one big mailidy, I listed all of my disabilities and will let them sort it out. I am 60 years old and haven't worked for 2 years, which helps, and I am going the "wore out worker" route. I listed the VA medical clinic, VA doc and the VA for my medical records, to include my 100% P&T. I did not submit any medical records on my own. Will see how that pans out. A couple weeks after I submited my application, I recieved a call from the local SS office and had a brief phone interview. She asked me about my work history and when and why I do not work anymore. I told her what I did for employment and why I can't do it anymore. She said it (my application) looked good and that she would send it forward for medical evalutation. I can and do follow it online and they have a percent done meter, which currently puts me a 43%, and an estimate of 7 months to complete. Not sure if that is 7 months from November, or 7 more. I assume its 7 months from November as that disclamer never changes. Just as with VA claims, the sooner the better. Your clock starts when you submit your intent. Remember, you don't get benefits for the first 6 months, and you don't get Medicare for up to 24 months from your start date. You will have plenty of time to get your ducks in a row later, or add ducks, Hamslice
  3. No need to out an asset! These post need to be removed, Soon, Hamslice
  4. Well, it gets dicey here once in a while, but I treat it as like teasing your brother (or sister), LOL. Anyway, everyone's VA story is different even when the circumstances are identical. So, you have to take what you can use to help your cause and share what worked for you and what didn't. And yes secondaries can be higher then the primary condition. I have two conditions rated 30 each secondary to a 0% rated service conected condition. So, a zero got me two 30's. Anything is possible with the VA, Hamslice You just can't count on it being the same as your brother's claim.
  5. Buck, He got denied before his C&P, Yikes, Hamslice
  6. Hmmmm, I would wait a couple days and give it another look. What we see online can change hour by hour, much less day by day. You could look at your disabilities list on the old Ebenefits site. If it shows up there, not service connected, then you are probably right, but still wait for the envelope. Good luck, Hamslice
  7. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/16330-24-hour-ambulatory-blood-pressure-monitoring Looks like someone has what we are looking for!, Hamslice
  8. I don't believe thay have an over night BP monitor, yet. However, I did have the 45 hour "Holter" monitor, which showed the mini-beats (irregular heartbeats), which I got secondaried at 30%. Hope this helps, Hamslice
  9. Yes, when I returned from Iraq in '04 my blood pressure was too high and I had to get in down to stay in the service. I went to a doc and they gave me HBP medicine(s). I stayed in for another 4 years. When I got out, I got rated for hypertension at 0% because it was controllable by medicine and I didn't have a "single day" three readings of over 140. I asked for an increase in '19 stating that I did have three high readings, but over 2 months, not same day. And that the 3 in one day readings was onerous, and not obtainable, not only at a civilian doc, much less, a military doc. Got 10%. Who does check you blood pressure three time in a row. Not likely. Most every one checks it, and then again if high. If the doctor checks it to verify he dose not write it in the record. Twice not three times. The VA makes some thing almost impossible to get rated. Anyway, enough ranting. LOL, Hamslice
  10. Your nexus would be arthritis, DDD or DJD, adjacent joints, etc., etc., arthritis spreads. I never had an IMO or an IME in any of my secondaries for arthritis. I just said my elbow is hurting cause I use it more because of my service connected shoulder, etc. The VA did the exam and I got rated. OK, I think it is about time we have a new "Tab" for "Secondaries" Secondaries do NOT require a in service event. In a nutshell, 2008, bilateral direct service connected for 10% each shoulder DDD, DJD, x-ray. 2010, cervical spine, SECONDARY, to shoulders ^^^^^^, rated 20% ROM. 2011, right shoulder increase to 20% ROM, right elbow, SECONDARY, to right shoulder^^^^^^^, rated 20% ROM. 2012, thoracic spine, SECONDARY, to cervical spine^^^^^^^, DDD, DJD, rated 20% ROM. 2021, thoracic spine increase to 40%, bilateral siatic(not correct, too lazy to look up right now), SECONDARY, to thoracic spine^^^^^^, rated 10% each side. -so basically a couple 10's got me a 40 and three 20's. Again, 2008, hypertension, direct service connection, rated a 0, yes ZERO. Zero's are good! 2019, hypertension increase to 10%, Irregular heartbeats, SECONDARY, to hypertension^^^^^^, rated 30%, LVH, SECONDARY, to hypertension^^^^^^^, rated at 30%. -so, again, a 0 (zero), got me two 30's and a 10. And, I have more, but you get the idea, Keep plugging, Hamslice
  11. I believe, I can file a supplemental at that time, and if that fails, then to the Board. That's what the 0998 says, Hamslice
  12. OK, I probably should read the three different VA forms for each one of the choices, before I make my move. The "informal conference" with the HLR at least gives me a chance to ask the RO if they are seeing what I submitted regards the NSAID use for over 14 years. Thanks flow, Hamslice I feel better now.
  13. I am rated seperately for both, 20% for lumbar/thorasic, and 20% cervical. So, yes, they are probably looking at rating you seperately for the c-spine, which is great. My only concern is, that the 10% ratings is/are from x-ray evicence. The minimum rating, except zero of course. They (VA examiner) needs to do ROM (range of motion) on both. Minimum for ROM is 20% each. Hopefully they do ROM at your c-spine exam, if not, request an increase on both, Hamslice
  14. Whodat, No apologies needed. You have given me something to think about. I think my evidence to win is already in the claim, and a different set of eyes may see it differently. And, according to the cheat sheat (20-0998) they send with the decision, I can do either one first and then do the other. And, I have time. pac, Not trying to get SMC, as I don't think I have a path for that, but just want it SC'd incase that is what takes me out, Hamslice It will probably fall out to whether I can get my C-File in time. I don't need it for a HLR.
  15. Well, success with the VA is a crapshoot, and picking a lawyer is a crapshoot, So, you got a double crapshoot, Hamslice Good luck, and take some time for yourself, you been busy lately with all this.
  16. Yes, I will wait as long as I can. June 4th is the 1 year aniversary. My claims didn't resolve fully until yesterday, and I put the request in for my file. My initial C&P exam via NP, I thought was promising, but the VA deferrred and sent it out to California for a VA doctor medical opinion. So, I need to see that opinion to see what I need to counter. Thanks, Hamslice
  17. OK everyone, take it easy on me. I plodded along and got 100% P&T all by my self, many successes, some denials, all agree-able. On my last claim, I was denied secondary service connection for Barrett's and Hiatal Hernia, claimed as from medication use. I have attached my 21-526EZ, 21-4138 and the denials from my rating letter. I claimed secondary to medication use. The VA denied because of no medical link, but no mention of medications and use. My question is, with a supplemental claim, you are not supposed to re-submit evidence, but if they don't mention it, did they use it? The medication and historic use was included in my claims, along with symtoms while in service. Do I, can I, submit medical "peer review" articles as evidence? Also, in their statements, they say I do have the disabilities. So, I guess I have to make the link. NSAIDS causing Barrett's and or Hiatal Hernia. Suggestions, Hamslice Keep in mind, I still have to peek at my C-File and see what it has to say. IMG_20220125_0001.pdf IMG_20220125_0002.pdf IMG_20220125_0003.pdf
  18. OK, Just sent an email, with a signed VA Form 20-10206 attached, requesting a copy of my C-File. I checked the boxes for Claims File, Treatment Records, Financial Records and Disability Exams. This will be a test on how long it takes to get. I will update what I see when I see it, Hamslice Sent email 11:03 PM 1/24/2022 Automatic reply recieved 11:04
  19. Complete, So, I won my case with the Judge after my "in-person" hearing and then today I see I am getting a deposit for the two months they withheld $309.82. I had thought it was 3 months, but, now I see it was just two. Anyway, two wins, Hamslice Now I can request my C-File and see what I got denied for in last June's claim. One year ticking!!!!!
  20. Vync, My exams were with LHI and the QVC (?). And they are not in my MyhealthyVet notes. I just won my audit finally from my hearing in August, so as soon as I get my letters in hand I am going to request my cfile. Then appeal, unless I see something I don't know. Thanks, Hamslice
  21. Well, I know this is stupid, but it could be a s simple as you can not wave something you don't have. So, buy the insurance and then get the payments (premiums) waived via the waiver. The VA is just pricky that they would do it that way, just to mess with Veterans. Also, I called my local VSO to check on the last claim I have in the hopper and then asked about my progress on my waiver and he told me that they can't see or track anything to do with the insurance as they are thier own thing, seperate from the the usual VA system. Wait for mail, Hamslice
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use