Knock Me Over With A Feather

[johnjjr]

I posted on wed. I was unsure about filing a NOD on my Jan '09 decision. Well, I did. Hand delivered the papers to the RO wed. afternoon,got a signature and came home. 150 miles round trip but worth it. Out of curiosity, I called the 800 # this morning at 11:15 AM to see if it was in the system yet.I was told that this morning a DRO had requested a hearing on my NOD. I couldn't believe it, so I called again and was told the exact same thing. I was told on the second call that it will be after the first of the year before a hearing can be scheduled. Talk about the speed of light. I didn't know the VA could move so fast.

Do you think there is a legit reason for this or am I just being shuffled to meet someone's quota?

[johnjjr]

To further explain, I have a NOD for CAD denial dated apr '08 requesting a DRO hearing. They told me this morning no date has been set for that hearing.I still don't believe the speed with which they handled this latest NOD, but I shall not complain.

I spoke with my SRO and he too is at a loss. He did however offer one senario.

Is it within the realm of possibility that they are combining the two NODs and holding one hearing?

Can they do that? Please help me .

[Berta]

Your rep might well be correct-

what was the Jan 2009 NOD for?

[johnjjr]

New to this. Tried to copy post from another subject but couldn't so I'll try to explain again. Diagnosed DMII in Dec '06. Filed in Mar '07 for DMII, PN lower extremities, CAD (diagnosed in '01), hearing loss, loss of eyesight as secondary to DMII, and ED. Jul '07 awarded 20% DMII, 10% PN each lower extremity as secondary to DMII, denied CAD as diagnosed prior to DMII, denied ED as part and partial to DMII, denied hearing as being multifactoral, and denied eyesight as not caused by DMII. Jan '08 I had nerve conduction studies done on my hands at VA and filed for increased benefits PN upper extremities. At C&P exam, the Dr. found that I met the criteria for a diagnosis of DMII in Mar '01. Since CAD was not diagnosed until Apr '01 I immediately filed a NOD on the original CAD denial. In Jul '08 I finally got nerve conduction studies done. Was suspicious of thier mild DX because of statement made by tech doing test. So I started trying to get appt. to see pvt neurologist. Jan '09 I was awarded 10% each upper extremity PN secondary to DMII which pushed me up to 50%. I got in to a pvt dr and after extensive testing his dx is severe polyneuropathies of both upper and lower extremities w/possibility of neuropathy in lower back.

Now I think I'm up to speed. Jan '09 was increased benefitsfor PN. the first NOD was for CAD and the lightning speed NOD is for disagreement of degree of diagnosis of PN.

[johnjjr]

Got notification from RO 15 Nov that they were combining the hearings for both of my NOD's but were waiting on a C&P exam for the PN. Did the C&P exam today. Any thoughts as to how long it usually takes after the exam before I get a hearing?

[Berta]

You might find that they could make a favorable decision without the hearing-

that is a possibility here- if they have the evidence I am mentioned below-and they actually read it-

"denied CAD as diagnosed prior to DMII, "

Do you have medical statement that the CAD is as likely as not due to the DMII?

(which it most surely is in MOST cases)

(denied ED as part and partial to DMII) other more than likely-in my opinion- but I am not doctor-

so any of your meds have ED as side effect of the meds?

"denied eyesight as not caused by DMII."

Do you have atherosclerotic heart disease-

meaning did you ever get ECHO that gave low ejection fraction?

any high cholestrol problems?

any hyperlipedemia?

Is your vision problem due to cataracts?

Can you possibly scan and attach the decision? (cover the personal stuff)

[john999]

Berta

I have DMII and a cataract. The VA doctor said there was no relationship. Should I bother to claim this since I am going to go outside the VA to get it fixed? I thought if you had DMII and cataracts it was almost presumptive.