Vietnam Service Verified

[rthomass]

I have a document initiated by the Veterans Administration Medical Center to the Veterans Administation Regional Office. VA form 10-7131. In the remarks section it states (top of form block 6) " Vet claiming agent orange exposure. States he was stationed in Nakhon Phanom Thailand. States they sprayed Agent Orange around the perimeter of the basse, which is located 4 miles from the Ho Chi Mihn Trail".

The VARO replied back to the VAMC " Birls shows VADS verified." (BIRLS and VADS are data bases) "Records also show Veteran has Vietnam Service".

I also have via a Freedom of Information Act request have Birls Veteran Information data screen report showing Vietnam Service "Y" (for yes). This was from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration, Washington DC.

I have to the best of my knowledge never stepped foot in Vietnam; but I do have a Vietman Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. I am one confused Veteran.

Berta...Vike17 any help?

Edited July 30, 2007 by rthomass

[rthomass]

CHUCK75 the VARO without any statement by me or inquiry by me stated in comunications with the VAMC that "RECORD ALSO SHOW VETERAN HAS VIETNAM SERVICE" The crux here is what VA stated. Yes I receive both the VSM and the VCM but I myself never contended actual srvice in Vietnam i.e. "Boots on the ground." The VSM and VCM are irrelevant.....VA statement concedes Vietnam Service. And we all know the VA and the Government do not make mistakes....

[rthomass]

CHUCK75 the VARO without any statement by me or inquiry by me stated in comunications with the VAMC that "RECORD ALSO SHOW VETERAN HAS VIETNAM SERVICE" The crux here is what VA stated. Yes I receive both the VSM and the VCM but I myself never contended actual srvice in Vietnam i.e. "Boots on the ground." The VSM and VCM are irrelevant.....VA statement concedes Vietnam Service. And we all know the VA and the Government do not make mistakes....

Chuck75 yes the FOIA request has been receiced and ths BIRLS Veterans Identification shows Vietnam Service "checked Y for YES". Received this form from both the VARO as well the VBA.

Edited July 30, 2007 by rthomass

[rthomass]

I wish to express my sincere thank you to Berta, john999, Josephine, and chuck75. It is a priviledge to be associated with knowledgeable people.

I just wish VA would let me get off this Merry-Go-Round and give me an award. I want to live out my days in peace.....I think this is not too much to ask for after twenty plus years of service to my Country!

Edited July 31, 2007 by rthomass

[rthomass]

I don't want to beat a dead horse but the local VARO here has sent me three documents in the last few days. #1 Letter dated 30 July 2007 requesting me to update the number of dependents I have for disability pay purposes....never in 25 years since I retired have they done this. #2 Letter dated 20 July 2007 from the AMC stating they are transferring my remanded appeal to my local VARO...so they can reach a decision on my remanded appeal. #3 A letters (3 copies all the same) from the Veterans Service Center Manager dated 1 August 2007 telling me that via data print out that My remanded claim has departed the AMC ad of 20 July 2007 for the local VARO.

It sure sems like a flurry of activity in light of my being unable to detetmine by phone where my claim file is as of 4 August 2007. These people need to work as a disinformation arm in the US Government. (15 days and no receipt acknowledged by the VARO).

I have been on a merry go round trying to ascertain where the "C" file is located. I am told it is stille at the BVA, It is at the General Counsels Office, It is still at the AMC despite written letters and data printouts tha it has left the AMC as of 20 July 2007 on the way to the local VARO....must be walking it down the Blue Grass Parkway to the VARO. VARO has no clue as to where it is.........these people are amazing.

JUST KEEP ALL THE BALLS IN THE AIR,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Edited August 4, 2007 by rthomass

[Chuck75]

To me the request for updated dependent info is either a device intended to slow things down, a procedural check the box type of request, or a change in award is in the offing. At least you know somebody is doing something, if not exactly what.

I received another "we are still working" letter today. A previous one was dated June 1.

Cheer up things can be worse!

I have no Idea where things are actually at. Just one part of the claim doubles (By scheduler rules, should be slam dunk, retro is possible) the current payment. Another part adds a "special schedule" item. Finally, the claim seeks service connections for conditions "caused or aggravated" by a current SC condition. The interesting part of the claim adds something that was originally denied under old rules (implied, but not spelled out in the denial), and since medical practice changed, becomes an independently claimable item. (With military hospital treatment records to back it up.) Just to add to the pile, I recently sent a copy of the SSA determination of 100% disability that associates the disability with a currently SC condition as secondary to a primary condition aggravated or caused by the SC condition. And thanks to a screw up by a state VSO, I had to NOD part of an earlier claim that was awarded at a 10% level that should be higher.

Another part of the effort involves SSA. They came up with an effective date later than the law allows (To avoid paying retro) So I had to file documents with them stating that the medical evidence clearly justifies an earlier effective date than they used. It's one of those odd situations where medical evidence and other events suggest that you really should not be working, yet the employer carried you until a govt. contract ended. After that, it was about a year before I was able to accumulate enough medical records for the VA, and while I was at it, use the records for both claims.

Perhaps the weakest item in the list of things that SC was applied for is an interesting one, since it causes pain, does not show up on X rays, yet is clearly shown on a CAT scan or MRI. The only test that might have shown it in the far past was not done, due to a real chance of the test causing problems worse than I had to begin with. Yet, an IMO from a qualified board certified specialist indicates "more likely than not" a result of military service.

I have yet to see a request for a C&P. (Knock on wood) The stack of VA and non VA treatment and drug list is large, and some of parts of the claim are even substantiated by a VA veteran's center physician. (That got into another little bag of worms. Seems that they never heard of or were ignoring the VA form used and the directive to fill it out if asked by a veteran. I had to present the Veteran's Center Administrator with a copy of the guide containing the instructions. I did not know such existed, until I ran across the info somewhere on Hadit.

(My spelling checker decided to correct all the typos, mine and yours--sorry)

I don't want to beat a dead horse but the local VARO here has sent me three documents in the last few days. #1 Letter dated 30 July 2007 requesting me to update the number of dependents I have for disability pay purposes....never in 25 years since I retired have they done this. #2 Letter dated 20 July 2007 from the AMC stating they are transferring my remanded appeal to my local VARO...so they can reach a decision on my remanded appeal. #3 A letters (3 copies all the same) from the Veterans Service Center Manager dated 1 August 2007 telling me that via data print out that My remanded claim has departed the AMC ad of 20 July 2007 for the local VARO.

It sure seems like a flurry of activity in light of my being unable to determine by phone where my claim file is as of 4 August 2007. These people need to work as a disinformation arm in the US Government. (15 days and no receipt acknowledged by the VARO).

I have been on a merry go round trying to ascertain where the "C" file is located. I am told it is still at the BVA, It is at the General Counsels Office, It is still at the AMC despite written letters and data printouts That it has left the AMC as of 20 July 2007 on the way to the local VARO....must be walking it down the Blue Grass Parkway to the VARO. VARO has no clue as to where it is.........these people are amazing.

JUST KEEP ALL THE BALLS IN THE AIR,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Josephine]

rthomass,

See if this will light a fire under them.

Call Honorable Daniel Cooper's Officer - Undersecretary for Veteran's Benefits. Here is his telephone number.

1 - 202- 273-6763

This will be his " Private Secretary". Be sure to tell her the story that you have posted here on line. Tell her of your urgency and why.

She may ask you to send him a private fax of your circumstances and be sure to address the letter to the Honorable. This he does insist upon.

Hope that this helps,

Josephine

Edited August 5, 2007 by Josephine