Hello. I am new to this fine forum and I need some help. I was hurt in the forgotten
war in 66-67. I lived and worked with my back injury until 02. Then I had to quit.
Filed for a rating last year and was awarded 10 for tinnitus and 20 for back. I had a
C&P exam by a 100+ YO doc who spent 15 minutes with me. I am 100 SSDI since 06. I started went to my county VA which was a mistake, so when I got my award I went to the DAV for representation. The VSO has a great record and 25+ years. We
filed the NOD as follows: Entitlement to increase initial evaluation of multilevel DDD.
multilevel neural foraminal stenosis with failed back surgery syndrome. Entitlement
to service connection for intermitten lumbar radiculopathy, right side. A new claim
for service connected depression secondary to chronic pain and Emtitlement to
Total disability benefits based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) . That is what
is on the NOD. I also included with that a Letter from my Ortho and Nero surgeons
stating that in there opinion I was totally disabled. A letter from my primary MD
that he has been treating me for depression resulting from my severe back pain.
I received a letter from the VA about a month after the NOD that they were work
ing on a claim for Depression and Individual unemployability. They enclosed form
21-4292 ( request for employment info)Form 4142 reliese info and form 21-8940
Vet application for increased Comp based on unemployability. I had all those filled and sent. I got appts for C&P exams which I had 2 weeks ago for back and depression. I have been going to the VA for appts with a DR. for depression for 2
mos. I am on hydromorphone, durigesic, celebres, ultram to name a few. Thats
it. Sorry so long but wanted to tell it all. What do you think I might get. I need
IU. I am going down the tubes and that is killing me. I have a lovely wife who has
suffered with me for 46 years and she deserves better. I would appreciate any thoughts you might have. God bless all my Brothers and sisters who served. RIPcord.
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”
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.
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:
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.
Question
swabby
Hello. I am new to this fine forum and I need some help. I was hurt in the forgotten
war in 66-67. I lived and worked with my back injury until 02. Then I had to quit.
Filed for a rating last year and was awarded 10 for tinnitus and 20 for back. I had a
C&P exam by a 100+ YO doc who spent 15 minutes with me. I am 100 SSDI since 06. I started went to my county VA which was a mistake, so when I got my award I went to the DAV for representation. The VSO has a great record and 25+ years. We
filed the NOD as follows: Entitlement to increase initial evaluation of multilevel DDD.
multilevel neural foraminal stenosis with failed back surgery syndrome. Entitlement
to service connection for intermitten lumbar radiculopathy, right side. A new claim
for service connected depression secondary to chronic pain and Emtitlement to
Total disability benefits based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) . That is what
is on the NOD. I also included with that a Letter from my Ortho and Nero surgeons
stating that in there opinion I was totally disabled. A letter from my primary MD
that he has been treating me for depression resulting from my severe back pain.
I received a letter from the VA about a month after the NOD that they were work
ing on a claim for Depression and Individual unemployability. They enclosed form
21-4292 ( request for employment info)Form 4142 reliese info and form 21-8940
Vet application for increased Comp based on unemployability. I had all those filled and sent. I got appts for C&P exams which I had 2 weeks ago for back and depression. I have been going to the VA for appts with a DR. for depression for 2
mos. I am on hydromorphone, durigesic, celebres, ultram to name a few. Thats
it. Sorry so long but wanted to tell it all. What do you think I might get. I need
IU. I am going down the tubes and that is killing me. I have a lovely wife who has
suffered with me for 46 years and she deserves better. I would appreciate any thoughts you might have. God bless all my Brothers and sisters who served. RIPcord.
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