ptsd To Nod Or Not To Nod

[gp747]

i realise there are vets on here that are in dire circumstances and this is

serious business. i have been going overboard on the posts lately. i sincerely

want to apoligize and want the valuable knowledge of the members of hadit.

i have been rated 30% sc bi-polar panic attacks ptsd. they combined it all

and on award on front says bi-polar. i immediately filed secondary for gerd

throat stricture and copd related to agent orange. i also filed for drastic weight

loss due to gerd. already had claim in trying to reopen arthritis in back varo

was waiting for c-file from amc. also i have filed for increase in my rating. talking

to george patton , who i believe is honarable. i just believe my best bet is not

to nod and try to get increase from appeals but to try to win at varo with what i

have. i am 62 years old now and a long fight with a nod would hold up the new

claims i have and i think would be winnable. i have been doing this by myself and

when i am out of whack i make all kinds of irrational decisions.

[vaf]

I would e-mail, fax and also send a certified letter to Arnold Russo, Director of the Appeals Management Center, telling him what you've decided to do, and asking him to return the claims file to your VARO. I'd also send a carbon copy of the request letter to the VARO via fax and certified mail.

Give it about a month, then send an IRIS inquiry to your VARO to determine whether the claims file has been returned to them.

If it has not, send a second request through your district's Congressional representative's office, in other words, have them send the request under their letterhead referring to your original letter.

In the meantime, file your informal claim and proceed as you intended.

That's what I would do.

[gp747]

I would e-mail, fax and also send a certified letter to Arnold Russo, Director of the Appeals Management Center, telling him what you've decided to do, and asking him to return the claims file to your VARO. I'd also send a carbon copy of the request letter to the VARO via fax and certified mail.

Give it about a month, then send an IRIS inquiry to your VARO to determine whether the claims file has been returned to them.

If it has not, send a second request through your district's Congressional representative's office, in other words, have them send the request under their letterhead referring to your original letter.

In the meantime, file your informal claim and proceed as you intended.

That's what I would do.

thats what i am going to do you may have saved me a year backpay , iwas headed

out the door with letter to discontinue increase all together thanx

[john999]

Bi-polar, panic attacks and PTSD and you only got 30%. If you are unable to work due to these disorders I would appeal till the sun goes down for a higher rating. All it takes is for a doctor to say you are unemployable due solely to your SC conditions for a good TDIU claim. I was 30% and became IU and filed for TDIU. I used a psychiatrist who did a report and I eventually was granted my IU. Don't bring anything into the claim that is not SC. I think being able to work is the key ingrediant in getting a higher rating for a mental disorder. As long as you are able to work you won't get more than 50% as a rule.

[gp747]

well i havent worked in years and am on ssi disability i cant find the

award ,but i know bi-polar was the main thing , mental ,i believe gerd

throat stricture . but bi-polar was the main thing, and my wife is my

represenative payee. they did say my condition might improve,but it

hasnt. i havent done anything to stop an appeal , i still have 11 months.

so john you would appeal as far as you could if it was you?

[john999]

Skunk

I would appeal and ask for a DRO Hearing. If you are on SSDI for the Bi-polar, and it is SC'ed then that would be strong evidence of being IU. I would try and get a private shrink to just review your medical records and say that you are unable to work due to your bi-polar condition. I would try and keep it local because you have enough evidence to get where you need to be, and you don't need a trip to the BVA. If the VA knew about your SSDI then they should have considered you for TDIU. That is an inferred claim for IU.

[gp747]

Skunk

I would appeal and ask for a DRO Hearing. If you are on SSDI for the Bi-polar, and it is SC'ed then that would be strong evidence of being IU. I would try and get a private shrink to just review your medical records and say that you are unable to work due to your bi-polar condition. I would try and keep it local because you have enough evidence to get where you need to be, and you don't need a trip to the BVA. If the VA knew about your SSDI then they should have considered you for TDIU. That is an inferred claim for IU.

I DONT SEE HOW THEY COULD NOT KNOW I WAS ON SSI BECAUSE I WAS ON

PENSION BECAUSE OF THE SSI AWARD , MAN I HAVE BEEN TOTALLY SCREWED

THIS POA I HAVE JUST ABSOLUTELY SAT ON THEIR ASS AND DID NOTHING

I DID NOT KNOW ANY BETTER I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A TRUSTING KIND OF

GUY ,THAT SOME ONE WOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR MY INTERESTS ESPECIALLY

STATE BOARD OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OVER FOUR ORGANIZATIONS VFW AND A HOST

OF OTHERS . MAN I PROBABLY HAVE BEEN BEAT OUT OF 50 TO OVER 100 THOUSAND

DOLLARS RETRO . IT MAKES ME SICK.