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 

  • tbirds-va-claims-struggle (1).png

  • 01-2024-stay-online-donate-banner.png

     

Hadit.com Helped Me Get It!

Rate this topic


ping jockey

Recommended Posts

Hi,

I've had a severe respiatory distress condition that started 5 months after arriving on my first ship in Long Beach. It was mis-diagnoised numerous times, and before active duty, I was in triathlete condition. I've heard every story under the sun from Navy Corpsmen, and VA. doc's (just doing there best). I've been part of the GW1 research. After discharge I sought treatment immediately at the VA, and was awarded 0% for four conditions. Seven years later, I was awarded 10% for Allergic Rhinitis. At this point in 2002, I was resigned to 10%. In late 2009 I found this website, and started looking into resubmitting my claim for an increase. This site, Berta, and others post were awesome!!! It provided the framework, and the "WORDS", that the VA NEEDS TO HEAR. I was able to identify the medical conditions I was suffering from and once I said those magic word it was if the VA doc's finally heard me. Coincidentally, I bumped into a retired Chief who became a NSO for DAV. He helped get my claim through for "Depression" secondary to the respiatory condition. NINE months later I'm at 60%.

The thing in NEVER stop searching for answers. The VA sent me to an Allergist this time, and she asked me to think about any odd "INCIDENTS" that occurred to me. I had totally forgot, and didn't think much off it, but when I was in Bootcamp at Great Lakes a chemical plant exploded adjacent to the base. I was double timing across the base, and upon return to the barracks they set a circle william condition. NO ONE was allowed outside for 24 hours. The Allergist FINALLY said "it sounds like you received a chemical burn to your upper respitory system, and it was exacerbated up in the PG after GW1". I ALMOST FELL out my chair with shock that someone finally said something that made sense.

I recently had a sleep study and my VA primary said it looks normal. That didn't sound right so I did a ROI (request for information), and the Allergist said although they say it's normal, the readings of the test are problematic. At this point I could care less about getting my rating increased for now. WHAT I NEED IS THE CPAP MACHINE, so I can get sleep. Everyday I wake up and it feels like someone tightened a vise grips on my neck, I don't sleep great, and my wife say's I scare her because it sounds like I stop breathing.

ANY suggestions on how to get my VA primary a new pair of glasses on this one?

A dear friend of mine has the machine and says he finally feels rested.

If anyone could point the way on how to read SLEEP APNEA result that would be great?

Thanks to ALL, and especially T-bird for having this website.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 10
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Founder

Great news! Glad we could be of help. We have a great group of folks here. You are very welcome for the site, it's what I can do, so it's what I do.

Hi,

I've had a severe respiatory distress condition that started 5 months after arriving on my first ship in Long Beach. It was mis-diagnoised numerous times, and before active duty, I was in triathlete condition. I've heard every story under the sun from Navy Corpsmen, and VA. doc's (just doing there best). I've been part of the GW1 research. After discharge I sought treatment immediately at the VA, and was awarded 0% for four conditions. Seven years later, I was awarded 10% for Allergic Rhinitis. At this point in 2002, I was resigned to 10%. In late 2009 I found this website, and started looking into resubmitting my claim for an increase. This site, Berta, and others post were awesome!!! It provided the framework, and the "WORDS", that the VA NEEDS TO HEAR. I was able to identify the medical conditions I was suffering from and once I said those magic word it was if the VA doc's finally heard me. Coincidentally, I bumped into a retired Chief who became a NSO for DAV. He helped get my claim through for "Depression" secondary to the respiatory condition. NINE months later I'm at 60%.

The thing in NEVER stop searching for answers. The VA sent me to an Allergist this time, and she asked me to think about any odd "INCIDENTS" that occurred to me. I had totally forgot, and didn't think much off it, but when I was in Bootcamp at Great Lakes a chemical plant exploded adjacent to the base. I was double timing across the base, and upon return to the barracks they set a circle william condition. NO ONE was allowed outside for 24 hours. The Allergist FINALLY said "it sounds like you received a chemical burn to your upper respitory system, and it was exacerbated up in the PG after GW1". I ALMOST FELL out my chair with shock that someone finally said something that made sense.

I recently had a sleep study and my VA primary said it looks normal. That didn't sound right so I did a ROI (request for information), and the Allergist said although they say it's normal, the readings of the test are problematic. At this point I could care less about getting my rating increased for now. WHAT I NEED IS THE CPAP MACHINE, so I can get sleep. Everyday I wake up and it feels like someone tightened a vise grips on my neck, I don't sleep great, and my wife say's I scare her because it sounds like I stop breathing.

ANY suggestions on how to get my VA primary a new pair of glasses on this one?

A dear friend of mine has the machine and says he finally feels rested.

If anyone could point the way on how to read SLEEP APNEA result that would be great?

Thanks to ALL, and especially T-bird for having this website.

Tbird
 

Founder HadIt.com Veteran To Veteran LLC - Founded Jan 20, 1997

 

HadIt.com Veteran To Veteran | Community Forum | RallyPointFaceBook | LinkedInAbout Me

 

Time Dedicated to HadIt.com Veterans and my brothers and sisters: 65,700 - 109,500 Hours Over Thirty Years

 

diary-a-mad-sailor-signature-banner.png

I am writing my memoirs and would love it if you could help a shipmate out and look at it.

I've had a few challenges, perhaps the same as you. I relate them here to demonstrate that we can learn, overcome, and find purpose in life.

The stories can be harrowing to read; they were challenging to live. Remember that each story taught me something I would need once I found my purpose, and my purpose was and is HadIt.com Veterans.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Congrats! Did the tech wake you up in the middle of the night and give you a mask to wear during the sleep study?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HadIt.com Elder

Congrats and even more important is to use your machine

Veterans deserve real choice for their health care.

Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Tell a friend

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

    • Lebro earned a badge
      First Post
    • stuart55 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • stuart55 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Lebro earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • Sparklinger earned a badge
      First Post
  • 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