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jessie0054

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Posts posted by jessie0054

  1. Hi, My son who is currently 70% and attending College under the Voc Reh through the VA. He received a letter this morning saying he is eligible now for the New Post 9-11 GI bill. I'm confused as he is. Will he still be receiving Voc Reh and the GI bill or will the GI bill end. What's better of the 2 ?

    Thanks Jessie

  2. Within the scope of the VA ratings system, proposed reductions are always looming their ugly heads around the corner.

    If a condition stabilizes, then they will propose to reduce the rating to the lowest allowed by law. In this case they will reduce it to 10 percent as they are saying is has stabilized.

    What you have to do is show evidence to the contrary. Does he have any secondaries that are associated with this disease?

    Remember they are not trying to sever service connection, they are trying to reduce. Does your son fall under any protection rules?

    Hang in there.

    J

    Thanks jbasser:

    I'm not sure he falls under any protection rule, where do i find these?

    jessie

  3. Need help on what to do to stop the Va from cutting my son's benefits

    He is receiving benefits for service connected Polycythemia Vera. Currently at 40% for having to have monthly blood draws and phelbotomies. The Va said that since his blood levels have been in the normal range for the past 4 months ne no longer has PV. How can they determine this as there is no cure for Polycythemia Vera. One you have it you have it for life. Do they not understand the disease?? It go's in to a remission state with repeated phelboties to get the level back to a normal levels and can stay in remissions for as long as treatment continues. Without the treatment the symptoms will come back along with the risk.

    What can we do?

    Thanks Jessie

  4. Its possible but highly unlikely. Wash. D C is normally where claims go that are being appealed to the Board of Veterans Appeals. While it is possible that your claim was approved by the "Board", if so, it will be sent to the Regional Office in your state for "implementation".

    It is possible he recieved a call from his Veterans Service Officer, such as DAV or VFW rep, that sometimes send Veterans advance notice that their claim has been approved a few days before you get the decision in the mail.

    Years ago they sent "large retros" over 250,000 (or 10 years) to VACO in Washington DC, but the Court of VEterans Claims said that was a no-no.

    I can not understand why St. Louis would send a claim to Washington DC to be "rated", other than sometimes claims from RO's are sometimes farmed out to other RO's when they are very far behind and trying to catch up.

    All in all, its possible but all you can do is to make sure his address is correct and wait for the decision, other than call the VSO again.

    Thanks that the way i had understood it too but he is insisisting that they say it went to DC for a rating!! So i guess we just sit back and wait somemore!

    Jessie

  5. Hello, I have a question and trying to get an answer for my Brother in Law. He started his claim 4 years ago next month for redulesules of TB he felt he incured in the Army in late 1968- 1970. In June last year he was finally given an C&P and the Dr said it was " At least as likely as not that he incurred TB while in the Military"

    Yesterday he called the 800 # and finally was connected to someone in St. Louis and was told that his claim was approved but being sent to Washington DC for a rating. Is this right or is he a bit confused since he has a bad hearing problem?

    Thanks for any replies.

    Jessie

  6. Thanks Pete!!

    I guess It's getting them started, They flat denied him this morning. He was a little p.o.ed after they sent him a letter of the appointment, he drove 2 1/2 hours to get and they tell him they don't have any paperwork of any such appointment and that he was only to get emergency care.

    Jessie

  7. I had paid for an IMO from a doctor who specializes in Petroleum chemical toxic chemicals etc.. and her study and report cost me $1,600. The report is too big to post,, it's huge.. I included it with my claim/appeal. Again, as I posted many times, I was a fuels specialist in the USAF, and got 50% disability for it. I was diagnosed on active duty for being sick from jet fuel. JP-4. I am trying to get it increased to 100%.

    Hello again retiredat44;

    Looking back at my son's claim when we first filed we claimed Jet Fuel Exposure/Chemical/Benzene exposure. He was first denied but won through reconsitation Benzene exposure as the cause of his Polycythemia Vera.

    Hope this helps

    Jessie

    I had also wrote to one of the Attn who has won cases filed on Benzene. He sent me a court Document he had used in one of his cases on Petroleum Chemicals. There is also a great VSO in Ohio who sent me some information. I can't remember his name right now, But he was on the forums in Military.com. I think his frist name was Dave.

    I'll see if i can locate that court document.

  8. Does a vet at 70 % get full dental care or only emergency care under Voc Rehab? My son went to the Dentist at Charleston SC this morning under an appointment set up for him by his Voc Counselor only to get there and they tell him he can only get emergency care. Is this right?

    Thanks

    Jessie

  9. Jessie I haven't met a "good" VSO in the past decade in Columbia and I have used the American Legion, the PVA and the DAV that does not mean they don't HAVE a good VSO I am just saying I have never dealt with a good VSO out of any of those groups some of the other SOs working there may be good but I didn't work with them so I don't know I am sure there should be someone thats KNOWS what they are doing I just never met one

    now if it gets to a point that he needs a good VA lawyer I can recommend a GREAT one of them

    better to get 80% and a monthly check than to keep a 100% of nothing and no checks from another denial

    Testvet,

    Thanks

    Jessie

  10. Jessie:

    If the flat feet are noted in his records the most important thing to mention is that it has caused problems during service and afterwords.Most people who have flat feet have problems including shin splints which is usually harsh pain along the shins or sometimes in back its caused by tendons being stretched cause of walking funny.

    Some people with flat feet have no problems at all but if it is severe the feet kind of roll over and can cause back problems and other problems.

    I would keep it simple just that he would like to be evaluated for flat feet that he got while serving and has continued to bother him. Its also not likely that it will hurt all the time but a lot of the time.

    Good Luck

    Tanks again Pete53.

    Jessie

  11. Jessie even if he had mild flat feet and he can show military service "aggravated" them and made them worse then he may be able to get the flat feet SC I don't know if they will claim it is a "progression" tied to age or not but most civilian jobs don't require the marching and runing that military service requires and I am sire they did not give him a P3 profile going in so I am pretty sure he had to do all the marching and running and combat boots are not the best foor wear in the world you have nothing to lose by at least trying it

    Hello Testvet,

    Thanks for your reply he served in the Navy, as for aggravated or progression he has had lots of problems with his back that he injured in the Navy, He has always complained of his feet hurting him since i can remember. I know one Dr several years ago even long before we ever filed a claim with Va sent him in to have special shoes made.

    I have always wondered if the " Flat Feet" had anything to do with his back injury to start with.

    Thanks

    Jessie

    Oh btw, i see your in Columbia SC. I guess if i go ahead a file a claim for him he would have to do it through Columbia Sc since he lives in Sc now. His last claim we did was through Missouri since that is where he lived at the time we filed. I used AMVETS then. How any good Service Officers there??

  12. You should be eligible. Nice to see you post again

    Hey Pete good to hear from you again.

    I am still trying to help my brother inlaw with his claims. I think we are getting closer to the finish line [ i hope] At least they did finally grant him C&P's last month.

    I am also back to maybe starting another claim for my son on his Gerd and maybe his flat feet. Which i don't know really how to file on the flat feet since he did have " Mild " flat Feet" when he entered the Military.

    He did get accepted into College on his Va Benefits and just took his finals this week and did very well, Came out of all his studies with an A+ in every class. Actually he found that he loves going back to school after 20+ years since high school.

    He is at a place in his life that he wouldn't have been at if it hadn't been for Hadit and all the advice and guidence we have gotten from all the members of Hadit!!! For all of you i am blessed to have had you !!

    Jessie

  13. can you get work as an RN if you can't lift patients? Most of the RN's I know usually wrestle alligators or bears for fun as the work is harder I know a few that had to go into administration to get out of handling patients since most hospitals are now dealing with digital records they can do those jobs I have a few friends that had to go that route as they couldn't handle picking anything up after hurting their backs and since they did it at work the facility basically had to find them a job they can physically handle or retire them

    Thanks Testvet:

    I am kicking around several area's in Nursing. I am ready unsure what i want to do yet. I know i want to stay in the Nursing/Medical field. The lifting i can do, But since i did have a back injury several years ago and fusion of the 2 lower disk that are congenital. I know my limitations when it comes to lifting. I can do it if i darn well have too.

    I'm looking into my Options

    Jessie

  14. Hello, I am the wife of a 100% T&P Veteran. Can i go back to school using his benefits??

    I have been an LPN since 1985 and have only worked seasonal jobs in the last few years as i am unable to do the lifting anymore. Besides our hospitals are pretty much phasing out the LPN, So i was thinking of going back to school for RN.

    Thanks Jessie

  15. Have you contacted the RO that you want the ID card letter? They usually do not automatically mail them out, you have to tell them all of the letters you want or need, exemption for property taxes, letters for disabled veterans license plates, fishing licenses etc in all I needed about 5 copies for the state alone and then the seperate letter for the ID cards.... congrats did you just get IU or a 100% P&T award?

    You do know you get a brown dependents card that says your rank and DAVPRM and indef for an expiration date and if you have a spouse and kids they get one with a 4 year expiration date you can use all base facilities except the hospital and no Space A flights....maybe one day they will change that then again maybe not

    Testvet: Thanks for the information here!!

    My husband is the Veteran, I just do all the work!! [ Joking]

    Her was given a 100 % with no fulture exams

    Jessie

  16. Voc rehab can and does turn down Veterans that they Judge as unemployable. The do offer Independent Living assistence if they do not award Voc Rehab.

    I think he should apply and see what happens.

    Why not ask for TDIU?

    Thanks Pete53:

    I wished he lived closer, He's over 1000 miles away, i could keep a better handle on whats going on and better able to give him advice.

    I noticed when i was there that he didn't have some of the medications he was to be taking. One was for his GERD. I ask him about it and he said that the last 3 times he tried to order it he never recieved it. He has been without this medication for 9 months and is buying over the counter meds to treat it.

    Another thing is that he hasn't gotten to see his PCP in over a year and a half and has only spoken to his Heme Dr breifly in the hallway to pin him down for a written order for the standing monthly phelbotomy for when his Red Blood count is at 42 or over.

    When he was diagnosed with the other rare cancer Signet Ring Cell Cancer of the Appendix [ outside the Va and treated outside the VA for this] He was told that he has to have a bone scan every 6 months, A CEA level done and a colonosope every 6 months since this is such a rare and agressive cancer with a 95% chance of returning. Yet he still hasn't been seen by an Oncologist since he started with the VA care in 2005.

    To get an appointment he is surposed to go through a VA clinic which is over a 100 miles from the VAMC, He has somehow fallen through the crack with his care and i need advice on how to get it fixed and get him back on schedule with his Care.

    Thanks for letting me vent here!!!

    Jessie

  17. Jessie,

    Here's a thought.

    Why don't you suggest to him that He should apply for voc rehab online, then if after testing He is found ineligable for the voc rehab, due to His SC disabilities, get a copy of the Voc rehab records and then apply for an increase and ask for TDIU T&P.

    BoonDoc

    Thanks BoonDoc!!

    Thats what i'm going to suggest to him!

    Jessie

  18. Boon doc and Pete53 have great thoughts.

    I was approved then denied years ago, let it slide for years til last year. Really hurtin, applied online VONAPP went thru process and finally was approved while working but work and back+hip pain not a good mix-my primary doc had to make a staement that I was missiing work due to constant an severe pain in back+hip consistently for years, even showed MRI from VA hospital with damage. Either have son apply online or maybe get an appointment with an inperson rep to help you from DAV, AMVETS, State Vets office or another. Voc Rehab will test him to see if he qualifies- mentally,emotionally,physicially,psychologically- like I was. If then after he is denied on paper then follow the advice from Boon n Pete and put papers in for for 100% disab tdiu ? i think? dont quote me on that one.

    You have come to the right place to ask for advice, now show your son that this is the right thing for him to do for himself. He's earned it to live a better quality of life for him and his family. To educate and provide a veteran with the capability of life improvement in educational, medical care, financial, emotional stability and to feel just like a contributing member of society in a positive way. It really is here for people like him for people like me,I know it, I'm in it.

    Thanks Aquabear!

    I think he went through all the testing several months ago, But he felt that his counsel wasn't working with him. Everytime he brought up something that he was interested in she told him " i don't see that as an option with your disabilities and background" She also told him to go home and think about it and let her know of anything else he might could do"

    A couple months later he got a letter stating they were closing his case and he could reapply again in Oct 09.

    Yep and his Service rep wasn't helpful either and infact my son thought he was very rude and refused to go back to see him again. He ask my son what he wanted to go and he told him he wanted to apply for the TDIU and the rep ask him " On what grounds"

    My son walked out.

    Maybe when he can reapply again in Oct he will have a more helpful Counsel, I don't know but i'm telling him to apply online!!

    Thanks Jessie

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