To All S/c Veterans And Those Working On It...

[Meddac]

This is NOT intended to start a big squabble match nor to solicit defaming comments. Several of you know that I am here and who I work for. I only intend to help in the most sincere way. Some of you that I have contact with away from here can attest to that fact.

To all veterans: One of the quickest ways to get reduced is to lie about your conditions. You could get worse.

I had the chance encounter in the past 3 weeks to come across an increase claim for a veteran. After my usual work on the claim I did an administrative decision. That decision required my signature and 2 others. All three signatures came back to me today. As of 1:30 PM this afternoon when I left work, the claim, admin decision, and this veterans future are in dire straits. I proposed to sever all current benefits. Yes, the veteran is S/C for some things....or was S/C, and it was granted by an RO that I do not feel is up to the task of serving veterans. I would put them in your "Dirty Dozen", but I am not giving names. I had to hand carry the file to my rater to do the rating proposal. The rater was nearly done when I left for the day. My day was pretty much dead at that point. I don't feel good about what I had to do, but it was blatant and I caught it immediately.

My rater has had to do a CUE. It was CLEAR, it was UNMISTAKABLE, and it was an ERROR. I do not feel for this veteran at all, but I am also not proud of my task. I wish it had been someone elses digit, and not mine. It will cost the vet money, cause a large overpayment, and on Monday it will cost them their free medical care.

The story is very long, and I won't post it on here. It's on my chest, and I eventually have to vent it out....somehow. I just wanted you guys/gals to know that benefits can be reduced (which you already know), and that they can be taken away completely. We have a saying in our office that never really meant anything until today: "The wheels of the government move very, very slowly...but they move."

The veterean was S/C for about 3 years, and I feel like sh!t.

Sorry "c2"

Edited April 3, 2009 by Meddac

[Pete53]

Meddac is ok in my book and I appreciate how he is trying to help Veterans. I think that he had to do what he did cause there was something in the claim that justified his action.

Some have asked that this thread be closed but its my opinion that it does serve a purpose and the lesson that I see is that there are some who have gotten over on the VA and if they are found out they should loose or be reduced as long as it follows policy.

Personal attacks will not be tolerated. Many who have been on Hadit have offered opinions and before you post you should think carefully before you do anything. If you are very angry take a time out this thread will wind down and many who are upset will calm down.

I want to thank Meddac for his contributions to Hadit.

We used to have a Member called LL who had retired from the VA and was a rater who was brutal when he took apart a Veterans claim and was attacked frequently and he would always fire back. Buried in his post were jewels of wisdom that helped Veterans win claims.

I think that Hadit is fortunate to have some people who work for VA or are with Service Organizations who are willing to pitch in and help.

Thanks Meddac for your help.

[broncovet]

I am here to "stick up" for Veterans..both those who work for the VA, and those who do something else. In that light, I am sticking up both for Meddac and other Veterans.

It is my opinion, after years of fighting for benefits, that there is a checks and balances system, in place, that successfully "weeds out" any potential Veteran who may try to lie to get VA benefits. For example, Veterans do not receive disability benefits based on their own statement that they are disabled and deserve benefits. Such a Veterans statement does not "trigger" a benefit check, but rather triggers an extremely long and complex process which some Veterans are unable to endure and give up and fall through the cracks, and become homeless or committ suicide.

For the most part, it would appear that the C&P doctors opinion is the deciding factor on whether or not the Veteran is awarded benefits, not any statement made by the Veteran.

And, of course, doctors vary widely on their opinion. IMHO if that Veteran was awarded benefits based on medical evidence, then those benefits should not be taken away UNLESS AT LEAST TWO OTHER Doctors testify that Doc #1 medical opinion was offered fraudulently and not just a result of differences in judgement between doctors. That is, if the rating specialist does not think the Veteran is sick/disabled, how/where did he get his medical degree to make such a diagnosis? Veterans are awarded benefits ONLY with qualified medical opinions, and it should take a lot to overturn a physician diagnosis.

Of course, if there is compelling evidence that the Veteran somehow altered the medical records to obtain benefits, then he should be prosecuted. There is already a system in place to catch this.

The present system of checks and balances is far more likely to let a deserving Veteran fall through the cracks, become homeless and never obtain benefits, than it ever is at allowing a Veteran to lie his way through the system and get benefits fraudulently. Electronic applications will make it even more difficult for a Veteran to lie through the system to get benefits, and also speed up applications for millions of deserving Veterans.

Edited April 5, 2009 by broncovet

[Philip Rogers]

Thanks, Sharon, for the correction but finger still fits and I like it better. ;-) Guess you must be an "insider" too, to have that knowledge. Thanks again!

pr

Digits refer to the last two numbers in the claim file or ssan. 00-49 and 50-99. Different reps work on anywhere between three to five digits (ie 14-17, 29-33, 42-46...).

[hawkcrewchief]

This post is coming out among some heavy hitters on this website, compared to me... So I fell like the guy standing in front of the tank...

Meddac has given us all a great insight to the claims process and at the end of the day that is his job people. He is still a veteran and he is STILL trying to help us. He does not have to tell us squat but he does because its in his nature to help others, its impossible to please everyone in life, but if you do not like a certain thing about the guy then take Tbirds advice and block him. Some us are interested in his advice and comments as it is always good to know what the other team is thinking. just my honest opinion like some of you say...

Thank you Meddac for your help and support.

[Guest Vietnam Tanker]

I personally will line up and stand behind Meddac, Tbird, Pete and anyone else who does not try to belittle any member of this board. We are all vets and we all need to vent sometimes, take the venting with a grain of salt. Poor Meddac is just doing his job, and because he is human and understands the potential problems he can create/eliminate he also needs a place to vent and where better than among fellow Vets who have for the most part been there and done that.

I find all of his posts very informative and helpful, and from this Vet comes a big Thank You to Meddac for his help and knowledge in helping fellow Veterans. May God bless you and all who are here to help us out.

[Wings]

If a veteran is rated at 100% SC schedular, they can work and earn all they are able

or care to.

carlie

Carlie, You know better, than to make such a blanket statement. How many times have we all admonished a 100% SC vet with a Mental Disorder, that gainful employment will result in a reduction. ~Wings