New Member With A Question About Va Benefit Increase

[rales]

Hello all. I have lurked here for a while but I am finally getting on the ball. I registered and I am going to attempt what feels like an impossible task.

I have searched through the forums and I apologize of I missed this exact type of post from someone else.

I am 37, ex USAF. 30% Service connected (10 each tinnitis, lower back and skin condition). I got out in may 2001 and filed shortly thereafter.

I have had lower back pain regularly since I got out. I have lower back pain and abdominal pain dr visits in my military med records. I think the abdominal pain was just addressed once.

In august 2007 I had severe lower back pain and lower abdominal pain. I went to the Dr and they said it was prostatitis. I was treated and released.

In Jan 2008 I had the same thing happen.

Feb 2008 I have an attack of pain like I have never had before. Lower back, abdominal etc....I go to the ER and find out my large intestine perforated. I had been suffering from diverticulitis. Emergency surgery saved me although I lost a foot of my large intestine.

I am convinced the pain in my lower back has (in part) been caused by the prostatitis and diverticulitis. I just didn't know I was suffering from them.

I have decided to ask for an increase from the VA because I feel the condition(s) causing the pain are more serious now. The diverticulitis/perforated intestine) almost killed me. I have been basically unemployable for the last year (lifting restrictions due to surgeries)

I am already receiving voc rehab benefits through the VA as well.

I possibly jumped the gun and filled out 21-4138 through VONAPP this morning. Dumba** me listed all my reasons but failed to specifically ask for an increase. I also found on hadit that VONAPP should not be used in my case.

Veterans On Line Application VONAPP

Do not use VONAPP if you: Are receiving compensation, pension, or vocational rehabilitation benefits, or Are applying for an increase in benefits, or Already have a pending application for benefits, or Are notifying the VA about dependency or income changes.

What should I do now? Resubmit through vonapp with my increase request? Call my regional office? Punt?

Thanks in advance for any and all help you can provide a rookie like myself.

[rentalguy1]

fill out a new 21-4138 to be mailed, and on it tell them to disregard the one you filed electronically on 24 January 2009. Then get all your stuff together as quick as you can and start over. Have a look at the instructions I posted in my blog. They may help you out a bit.

My Blog. Start out with How to File a Claim For VA Disability, Part I. There are four parts altogether. If you need more help, post up.

Welcome to Hadit!

Edited January 25, 2009 by rentalguy1

[sharon]

Have you received a medical opinion stating that your condition as least likely as not was the condition that you had in the military? Was it the onset of your condition? Any correspondence you send will initiate a claim. You can back it up with a letter. Do you have a VSO?

[rales]

Have you received a medical opinion stating that your condition as least likely as not was the condition that you had in the military? Was it the onset of your condition? Any correspondence you send will initiate a claim. You can back it up with a letter. Do you have a VSO?

I haven't asked for an opinion regarding it being connected as of yet. My physician/surgeon and I have a very good relationship. I'm going to 1, ask for a complete copy of my records from her and 2, ask her for a letter stating that in her opinion it's possible that this is the reason my back has been hurting me for so long.

I don't have a VSO as far as I know. Other than my initial claim 8 years ago I have had very little contact/experience with the VA. We have a VA hospital here in town. Should I go there and talk to someone?

[Pete53]

Welcome to Hadit. Good Luck on your claim.

[rales]

I posted this 18 months ago.....

I finally had my c and p exam at the local VAMC on Monday. The doc agreed with what I had to say and that my hunch that all of this was connected. I am filling out my statement in support of claim right now.

I am optimistic about my chances of an increase.

If I do receive an increase, will it date back to the date I filed? Or will it be retro to the date my large intestine ruptured? I filed my claim within a year of that happening.

I am also making a connection with the hernia I had operated on being connected to the constipation brought on my the diverticulitis. We'll see!

Thanks,

Rales

[Cruinthe]

The best advice I can give is to always hand carry any and all forms or evidence to the VA Regional Office that is handling your claim. This gains you a stamped and dated copy of everything you turn in. Even if the VA makes a "mistake", you are covered. I know first hand, because I just got a $32,000 back pay from the VA over this specific topic.

I filed for PTSD after I left the military in September of 2000 and the St Pete FL VARO "lost" my paperwork. Long story short, that one "accident" left me in a very unfavorable position. Soon after, I began doing some limited research and I came to the conclusion that "misplaced" paperwork at the VA was not a rare or unintentional problem, but actual VA policy. Or, put in simple terms, any paperwork mailed in that was not certified return receipt, or had the possibility to wind up in the shredder.

Hand carry is the only way to go, in my humble opinion.

Good luck with your claim!