Jump to content

Ask Your VA   Claims Questions | Read Current Posts 
Read VA Disability Claims Articles
 Search | View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Rules 

  • homepage-banner-2024.png

  • donate-be-a-hero.png

  • 0

Next Line Of Attack

Rate this question


SouthernBelle

Question

  • HadIt.com Elder

Okay, so here's what I've been thinking on lately: I want to try to service connect my husband's ED, which is caused by his PTSD medications. ALSO, he had (while in service) some pretty severe kidney issues. I want to get them service connected. **I am not going to start this claims process until the other is completed, I am just trying to plan my attack and have everything prepared to go out as soon as we get the decision.** Here's the problem service connecting the kidneys: His SMR's are missing. I've called everyone under the sun and nobody can find them. They are NOT in the C-File. Records Management NEVER got the records, they said the records were sent directly to the VARO in Atlanta from his last duty station. In searching for his records, I have contacted National Archives, National Personnel, Records Management, the VARO in Atlanta and the actual hospitals where he was treated. Nobody can locate the records. With my husband's memory problems, he couldn't tell me who he knew back then to try to find to get buddy statements written up. He can't remember the doctors names, either. I'm going to have a really hard time proving that his current kidney issues are service connected without the records, but I'm going to KEEP trying to find the records. I just sent an IRIS complaint about the missing records.

As far as the ED, he's taking medication to treat the ED which is caused by his MH meds. They don't help.

I guess what I'm getting at is how do I go about getting stuff service connected? Do I just send the VARO a letter and ask them to SC the stuff?

Thank you SO MUCH in advance for any help with this.

Edited by SouthernBelle

We should be angry, but kind; demanding, but polite; and firm but soft-spoken.

SouthernBelle

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Answers 30
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters For This Question

Top Posters For This Question

Recommended Posts

  • HadIt.com Elder

Bowright:

Thanks for helping your Veteran.

If your husband is not able to ork he should be paid at 100% TDIU.

Veterans deserve real choice for their health care.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HadIt.com Elder

Belle:

Your husband is a lucky man.

Although hating the VA can be a good motivator it will eat you up. I had a Doc who probably saved me from myself that would tell me that what the VA does is not personal they do it to everybody.

Veterans deserve real choice for their health care.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HadIt.com Elder

Thanks, J! I only hate the VA when I have to fight them. When they do their job I won't have to hate them any more! I plan to help other Veterans when we finish our own fight. I know it isn't personal, but it still ticks me off! I talked to a few hospitals today, two out of three are going to charge me. .93 cents a page. Ridiculous. But I don't care, it will help us greatly, so I will pay it. Thank you again for your help, I think we will have a VERY good claim with all the records I am finding.

Belle: Your husband is a lucky man. Although hating the VA can be a good motivator it will eat you up. I had a Doc who probably saved me from myself that would tell me that what the VA does is not personal they do it to everybody.

We should be angry, but kind; demanding, but polite; and firm but soft-spoken.

SouthernBelle

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HadIt.com Elder

Okay! I'm armed with a wealth of information.

NOW, do I just send the VA a letter asking them to service connect his kidney issues and ED based on this reg, that medical evidence, etc? Is there a certain form I need to request service connection? I've never had to get something service connected before. This would be a very new process for me.

We should be angry, but kind; demanding, but polite; and firm but soft-spoken.

SouthernBelle

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Tell a friend

    Love HadIt.com’s VA Disability Community Vets helping Vets since 1997? Tell a friend!
  • Recent Achievements

    • RICHKAY earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • pacmanx1 earned a badge
      Great Content
    • czqiang1079 earned a badge
      First Post
    • Vicdamon12 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Panther8151 earned a badge
      One Year In
  • Our picks

    • Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection
      Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL

      This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:

      Current Diagnosis.   (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)

      In-Service Event or Aggravation.
      Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
      • 0 replies
    • Do the sct codes help or hurt my disability rating 
    • VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their  ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.  

      They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.  

      This is not true, 

      Proof:  

          About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because  when they cant work, they can not keep their home.  I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason:  "Its been too long since military service".  This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA.  And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time,  mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends. 

          Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly.  The VA is broken. 

          A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals.  I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision.  All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did. 

          I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt".   Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day?  Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.   
    • Welcome to hadit!  

          There are certain rules about community care reimbursement, and I have no idea if you met them or not.  Try reading this:

      https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-emergency-care-at-non-va-facilities/

         However, (and I have no idea of knowing whether or not you would likely succeed) Im unsure of why you seem to be so adamant against getting an increase in disability compensation.  

         When I buy stuff, say at Kroger, or pay bills, I have never had anyone say, "Wait!  Is this money from disability compensation, or did you earn it working at a regular job?"  Not once.  Thus, if you did get an increase, likely you would have no trouble paying this with the increase compensation.  

          However, there are many false rumors out there that suggest if you apply for an increase, the VA will reduce your benefits instead.  

      That rumor is false but I do hear people tell Veterans that a lot.  There are strict rules VA has to reduce you and, NOT ONE of those rules have anything to do with applying for an increase.  

      Yes, the VA can reduce your benefits, but generally only when your condition has "actually improved" under ordinary conditions of life.  

          Unless you contacted the VA within 72 hours of your medical treatment, you may not be eligible for reimbursement, or at least that is how I read the link, I posted above. Here are SOME of the rules the VA must comply with in order to reduce your compensation benefits:

      https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.344

       
    • Good question.   

          Maybe I can clear it up.  

          The spouse is eligible for DIC if you die of a SC condition OR any condition if you are P and T for 10 years or more.  (my paraphrase).  

      More here:

      Source:

      https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/

      NOTE:   TO PROVE CAUSE OF DEATH WILL LIKELY REQUIRE AN AUTOPSY.  This means if you die of a SC condtion, your spouse would need to do an autopsy to prove cause of death to be from a SC condtiond.    If you were P and T for 10 full years, then the cause of death may not matter so much. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use