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I Won & Lost On .... A & A ?

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Magoo_Mr.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

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If anyone has Magoo's personal email addy, would you send him a copy of this thread? I sent him a copy via IM, but do not have his home email. He might have lost his place, in space. Thanks. ~Wings

USAF 1980-1986, 70% SC PTSD, 100% TDIU (P&T)

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  • HadIt.com Elder
I spoke w/magoo today and his computer went down, after he posted this. He is well and supposed to get computer back today or Monday.

pr

Good !! :-) ~Wings

USAF 1980-1986, 70% SC PTSD, 100% TDIU (P&T)

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  • 2 months later...
  • HadIt.com Elder

I know a veteran who was assessed for competency. During the examination the veteran was asked, "Do you pay your bills?" The veteran's reply was, "When I have money, I pay my bills. When I don't have money, I don't pay them." V.A. found him competent.

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Mr Magoo,

Like you, I am 100% P&T but for bipolar disorder (no combat, I just spun out with the onset of bp while in the military in the 70s). I agree w/ Berta that if you fight a VA claim you ought to be automatically asigned competent!

When I had my C&P exam the shrink asked me if I paid my own bills. I told her I paid them online and that was the grand sum total of our conversation about my competency to handle my financial affairs. When I had an IMO done by an experienced SS shrink he wrote quite a bit about my ability to handle my own finances so I agree with the other poster who said to make sure and have any IMO address this point as well.

Remember, competency is a medical opinion issue, not something the rater can decide on their own (or at least they are not supposed to). Plus, they are just trying to look out for your best interests. If you don't have any issues managing your finances this should blow over pretty easily and if you do, go ahead and decide who you'd like to have manage your affairs and let the VA know that.

The comptency issue is addressed in your initial PTSD C&P exam in section K of your initial C&P exam. If you don't already have a copy of your initial C&P exam I would suggest you get it and review it. Here's a link to the PTSD C&P initial disability worksheet (always good to see if they asked you everything they were supposed to): http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/disexm43.htm

If they are sending you for another C&P exam due to either your AA approval or you don't have a recent C&P exam, then you will be given a review PTSD C&P exam and the competency issue is addressed in section J of the review PTSD exam. Here's a link to the review PTSD C&P disability worksheet in case they send you for another C&P exam you'll know what to expect: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/disexm56.htm

Either way, here's what the text of the C&P exam states for the examiner (it's the same in both exams):

J. Capacity to Manage Financial Affairs: Mental competency, for VA benefits purposes, refers only to the ability of the veteran to manage VA benefit payments in his or her own best interest, and not to any other subject. Mental incompetency, for VA benefits purposes, means that the veteran, because of injury or disease, is not capable of managing benefit payments in his or her best interest. In order to assist raters in making a legal determination as to competency, please address the following:

What is the impact of injury or disease on the veteran's ability to manage his or her financial affairs, including consideration of such things as knowing the amount of his or her VA benefit payment, knowing the amounts and types of bills owed monthly, and handling the payment prudently? Does the veteran handle the money and pay the bills himself or herself?

Based on your examination, do you believe that the veteran is capable of managing his or her financial affairs? Please provide examples to support your conclusion.

If you believe a Social Work Service assessment is needed before you can give your opinion on the veteran's ability to manage his or her financial affairs, please explain why.

Keep us posted on how your claim goes,

TS Snave

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  • 1 month later...
  • HadIt.com Elder

.

I finally beat the VA Weisels and they tried to trick me (with my own VSO) several times before the hearing and at the hearing. The VA believes that if you have PTSD .. your are stupid. :mellow:

However, I set up an ambush (metaphorically speaking) for the weisels and finally won the A&A ... without being judged incompetent.

I actually had some solid evidence that showed that the VSO and DVA VARO was "somewhat incompetent" in the way that they handled my case. (Close to or even a CUE in my opinion) And I made sure that part with in the written record (date stamped) and recorded at the hearing also. At that point .. all they wanted to do what to get me out of there. ... :rolleyes:

And I did it al with a smile on my face and not raising my voice too. :rolleyes:

IMHO ... The DVA & VSOs are changing again ... and it is NOT in the best interest of the veterans either. ... :angry:

Thank goodness for all the wonderful advice on here and people that gave me great accurate advice and also the "telephone prodding" by Mr. Flip ... when I was ready to give up.

I had someone check your posting advice on hadit ... when my computer was down and that information was critical also.

It was a group effort and I thank all of you again.

Now ... I have to help spread my limited knowledge to other veterans and continue to learn from the many good smart and good people on here.

If some of my post do not make sense .. it is because my brain works at one speed and my typing skills are poor and at a slow speed.

Thanks again to all and now I am off to relearn this site and to try to help others ...

Magoo

PS .. Still battling SSA and that should end soon.

........ YIKES ... sorry for the big print ... it looks soooo small in preview ... but it is easier you read though .... :rolleyes:

I

Edited by Magoo_Mr.

<b>... Magoo ... </b>

<b>... At this very moment ... many in the U.S. Military are in ... "HARM'S WAY" ... please, let us NOT forget them ...</b>

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