tdiu Need Suggestions Please

[tdunford]

Hello y'all. This is my first post and I just became a member. I have a situation that I need help with. I just got approved for VA Health and got put into Priority Group 3. That will more than likely change as I just filed for disability compensation and will also file for unemployability. I was medically, honorably discharged in 1996. I was told that I would not be eligible for VA Health so I never pursued it. I went for years without medical insurance because I couldn't afford it. It was hard for me to keep a job due to my disability. 4 years ago I started to get worse headaches that were a symptom of my disability. The headaches got worse and worse and they became severe, daily chronic headaches. My mother finally helped pay for medical insurance so I had Kaiser for the last 4+ years. I seen countless doctors and specialists and was diagnosed with chronic headaches and bipolar. I was given Vicodin for the pain because nothing else worked so I took it for 3+ years. My wife and I lost our home and had to file bankruptcy. We had to move to a different state were we could afford to live and my medical insurance is no longer good and my mother cannot help to pay it any longer. My mom suggested that I try to get VA Health and low and behold I get accepted with a service-connected disability. I recently filed for disability compensation and will file for unemployability as I cannot work with these chronic headaches as I am in daily severe pain. I have been without pain medication for a couple months now and it's just become too much to deal with. I had my first doctors appointment yesterday and my dodge durango broke down on the highway getting there as it was a 20+ mile drive, so I missed the appointment and was not able to get pain medication or my other medications that I ran out of. My problem is that I can't get to VA Health because (1) If I were to reschedule they told me I'd have to wait until August to see the doctor, and (2) If I try to get a same day appointment by calling at 7:30am, then if I do get the appointment I couldn't get a ride because DAV needs at least a day ahead of time to be able to fit into the schedule. They gave me the number to the "VA Transportation Division" and they told me that they wouldn't pay anything and couldn't help and could only pay $0.40 something cents a mile for transportation to a doctor appointment. They did tell me that I could go to the nearest Air Force Base here in Las Vegas and go to the emergency room but I wouldn't be able to get there either. It is hard enough for me to get out of the house because the pain radiates down my body and I also have chronic fatigue syndrome (I believe) because I have nearly all of the symptoms and was in the Red Sea which is the other qualifier. My other question is should I file for unemployability for the chronic headaches and bipolar or file for disability compensation for chronic fatigue syndrome. It was never diagnosed, but I have all my medical records for the last 4 years right here with me and it chronicles all my many doctors appointments, all the different medications they had me try and all the symptoms that I've had, which are also the symptoms listed for chronic fatigue syndrome. So, I'm not sure in which order I should do all this in. And, I need pain medication before this pain pushes me over the edge as I've dealt with it patiently the best that I could. And now that I missed that doctors appointment yesterday and would have to wait until August if I were to reschedule, and I couldn't get a ride if I were to end up getting a same day appointment, Well, you can see my problem. Any suggestions on those many questions? I would greatly appreciate any help. Also, would I be entitled to anything because I was told that I wouldn't be eligible for VA Health?

One other question regarding my circumstances. I found out through researching online that I should also be eligible for SSI which could be about $1000 a month. Would I get less from VA if they do approve my unemployability? Also, I also learned that Wounded Warriors would rush my SSI application so it would be approved in 2 months instead of 6 to 9. Anyone have any experience with that? Are there any other benefits that are available that I should apply for considering my particular circumstances? Sorry for all the questions, but I know that I have to get all these applications in and I need money to pay bills. I have a wife (and 2 dogs) and it's hard enough with my disabilities (that are no joke). My wife had a husband that died of leukemia and she told me that I have gone through at least twice as much pain on a daily basis than he ever did to give you guys a better understanding of my situation.

[Pete53]

Welcome to Hadit

[Hoppy]

Your right, there are a lot of questions. I went through them and try to deal with one at a time. I ask some questions then later I answer as many of your questions as possible.

Who diagnosed you with Bipolar and when. Was this a general practitioner or a specialist such as a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist? Did you have psychometric testing at the time of any mental condition diagnosis?

What conditions are you service connected for?

Do you have copies of your service medical records and your personnel file in your possession? If not get them.

Do you have any diagnoses of mental conditions or symptoms recorded in your service medical records?

If you were discharged for a personality disorder or immaturity the VA will battle any psychiatric claim for compensation. However, in many cases the veteran can prevail and get service connected. This is especially true with bipolar because shrinks will write reports that early symptoms of bipolar onset when a person is in their 20’s.

My other question is should I file for unemployability for the chronic headaches and bipolar or file for disability compensation for chronic fatigue syndrome?

Get a service officer and file for any acquired mental condition and any symptoms of any potential physical condition you experience at this time.

Unemployability is a request for a higher rating not a claim in and of itself. It does not hurt to file a formal IU request as early as possible.

the pain radiates down my body and I also have chronic fatigue syndrome (I believe) because I have nearly all of the symptoms and was in the Red Sea which is the other qualifier.

It sounds to me like there is definitely something here other than headaches that may yet still needs to be diagnosed. I have the same symptoms of fatigue, head pain and pain that radiates throughout my body. It is caused by a high neck injury. It took three years before I was properly diagnosed. Did you injure you neck at any time in your life.

Would I get less from VA if they do approve my unemployability?

There is a difference between SSI and Social Security Disability (disabled workers benefits). If you are getting SSI the social security admin will subtract a dollar for every dollar you receive from any other source. They might even subtract your wifes income from your SSI benefit. You need to look into this to know what you are up against.

I also learned that Wounded Warriors would rush my SSI application so it would be approved in 2 months instead of 6 to 9.

If they say they can get it rushed then get them working on it. I do know several people who were awarded SSI in less than 3 months.

Also, would I be entitled to anything because I was told that I wouldn't be eligible for VA Health?

There are employees within the military and VA who give people wrong information all the time. Proving it might get someone disciplined. I have never heard of a case other than medical malpractice by a physician where the veteran had a claim to any other loses.