Navy Friend Needs Some Direction

[Guest jangrin]

Hey Hadit Members, Help PLease B)

My Navy "Viet Nam" era friend needs some direction. He was in the Navy in the sixty's and discharged in 1966. He was vietnam era but never in Viet Nam. He hurt his back and the Navy gave him a "medical" discharge for a broken vertebre in his back in 1966.

This vet worked in the construction business for many years and finally in about 1990, he had a back injury, then many surgeries but got no better. In 1994 he was 100% SSDI because of the low back.

We are getting his service records sent to him. But is there a way he can find out right now if he was ever rated for the back or exactly how he was rated. He diffinately states that they Medically discharged him for his back. If his back IS SC'd, can he file for an increase in rating or does he have to file a new claim? What are the steps he should do right away.

Also I will introduce him to our VSR but our VSR only is supportive, he makes the vet do all the work anyway. So I think Hadit is the place right now. All help and ideas are great. He will be joining Hadit as soon as Tbird can process him. Thanks everyone.

Jangrin

Edited June 19, 2007 by jangrin

[Stretch]

Jangrin,

Hadit is the place for him. He needs to read the archives. There are just too many, but he will develop what it takes to win. The VSR and VSO's will get him at least 1/2 of what he needs, in time.

He needs a copy of his C-File, if he has one. This will show any prior VA decisions. He could have filed a claim in the past. He can get the C-File a lot quicker than going for the NPRC (National Personnel Records Center) records. Request a copy of his C-File ASAP.

[recruiterrick]

when i retired from the army in 1997, i simply just wanted to retire and GO- quickly. but one of the people that had to counsel me was a VSO rep. he asked me if i had any medical issues, and i told him no. he asked permission to review my medical records and had me sign a power of attorney.

the point is, some VSO reps are more aggressive than others. Get a copy of C file first then I would shop around for an aggressive VSO rep.

All transfer (seperation) points have them all as well as VA medical centers. I woud take my C file around to several or until I found one eager to help me

By the way, that guy that helped me at Ft Lewis got %100 p&t schedule!!!

[Guest jangrin]

Thanks,

I don't think he has a c-file, can he call the 800 number and find out? If he has a cfile would it be in the state where he was medically discharged? Even though he is on SSDI I don't think he has ever used the VA for treatment.

He said when they discharged him, he was never told he had any benefits or that his back was rated. But he's positive he was honorable with medical because of his back.

Jangrin

[Vike17]

Jangrin,

If your navy friend was medically discharged from the service because of a "broken vertebre in his back," this leads me to beleive he probably received a disability rating from maybe the DoD and not VA. I'm pretty sure if he filed a claim back then and recieved compensation, he would certainly know that, unless they denied his claim or rated him at 0%.

If the the DoD rated him at any percent, that does not mean it is service-connected in the eyes of VA until they make that decision. Also, if he is able to obtain his SMR's himself from St. Louis, this would also lead me to beleive he doesn't have a disability rating from VA because if he did, the VA would have his SMR's and not the NPRC. A quick call or an IRIS inquiry to the VA with giving them his SSN would tell him if he is rated by the VA or not.

As far as which RO has his C-file in the event is rated by VA is hard to tell. If he didn't tell the VA of any address change back when he was rated, chances are his C-file is located at the RO in the state where he lived in at the time of his prior rating.

Now, if he does have a disability rating from VA, the only thing he needs to do is write a short letter to his RO stating he wants to apply for an increase in evaluation for his back. Also, if he does have a prior rating, and his C-file is located at another RO, just have the veteran write in that letter to his current RO he wants to have the VA transfere his C-file to the RO that has jurisdiction where he lives now.

Vike 17

[Guest jangrin]

Jangrin,

If your navy friend was medically discharged from the service because of a "broken vertebre in his back," this leads me to beleive he probably received a disability rating from maybe the DoD and not VA. I'm pretty sure if he filed a claim back then and recieved compensation, he would certainly know that, unless they denied his claim or rated him at 0%.

If the the DoD rated him at any percent, that does not mean it is service-connected in the eyes of VA until they make that decision. Also, if he is able to obtain his SMR's himself from St. Louis, this would also lead me to beleive he doesn't have a disability rating from VA because if he did, the VA would have his SMR's and not the NPRC. A quick call or an IRIS inquiry to the VA with giving them his SSN would tell him if he is rated by the VA or not.

As far as which RO has his C-file in the event is rated by VA is hard to tell. If he didn't tell the VA of any address change back when he was rated, chances are his C-file is located at the RO in the state where he lived in at the time of his prior rating.

Now, if he does have a disability rating from VA, the only thing he needs to do is write a short letter to his RO stating he wants to apply for an increase in evaluation for his back. Also, if he does have a prior rating, and his C-file is located at another RO, just have the veteran write in that letter to his current RO he wants to have the VA transfere his C-file to the RO that has jurisdiction where he lives now.

vike 17

Hi one more question,

If the DOD rated him and discharges him from the Navy. And he does NOT have a VA rating, then is it time to start gathering all the records and get a second opinion regarding his back, and if the broken vetebre was a precursor to the eventual injury by predisposing his back to be weaken etc. and an opinion from a medical professional. (in a claim)?

[Guest jangrin]

Helped my Navy friend ask for information from IRIS yeasterday.

Hopefully he will ne able to find out if he is SC'd or if he was discharges from the NAVY and rated by the DOD back in 1966.

Hi one more question,

If the DOD rated him and discharges him from the Navy. And he does NOT have a VA rating should he open a claim first or try and get his service records and medical service records first.

Jangrin