I Need Advice Asap

[gbachman]

I have something called Meniere's Disease. I have been going through the long drawn out process of this claim since March of 2010. Since then my symptoms have become much worse and happen daily. This has changed drastically since the initial C & P exam over a year ago. During my initial claim, I was denied any benifits for this because I failed to prove that it happened when I was in service. All I did was leave out one set of orders, and they denied me. To make a long story, and paper trail short, I filed for a NOD and have a review coming up in a few months. I have since then submitted those papers to them.

My Rep from the DAV called today and said that the VA wants to grant me a service connected disability for this now without taking it to the review board, which is awesome news, but I am wary before giving them the final answer. I guess they got the paperwork that was needed. I am also nervous that I need to act soon on this before something else gets messed up. I also do not want to accept now, without knowing something that I should, and screw myself in the long run on getting more back for this.

Update on where I am today, since the C & P exam is that I am in the National Guard for now, but getting medically seperated here in a month or so. I have almost 14 years in, and without the 15 year mark attained, I would not get one benefit as far as early retirment or medical retirment. Even with over 10 of those 14 years being active duty, with numerous deployments. I am dependant on that income for my family, and now with this disease, it will not be there much longer because I am not fit for the military. Second is my civilian job is slipping for the same reasons: the Meniere's Disease. I do not think I will have this job much longer either.

It is not like I can just quit. I have to tough everything out because I have four moths to feed at home. So my question to yall is, what should I do? Do I accept, even though my condition is worse that it was at the beginning of this process? Or do I hold out for the review board? I am not sure how these things work too well anyway. I asked the DAV Rep what he thought they were going to give me as far a sa percent, and he said he could not answer that...??? Why can they not give me a percent now? How long will it take for them to figure that out?

Any info would help out greatly! Thank you all very much.

[Pete53]

Did they tell you exactly what the deal is.

[gbachman]

He did not say much, just that he talked to the review officer and he said that they were going to grant me service connection disability for Meniere's Disease with Vertigo and if I wanted to do it and not go through or wiat for the review board that is still a few months away.

Did they tell you exactly what the deal is.

[cooter]

If I'm reading you right, is there a reason why you couldn't take the rating offer and still work till you have your 15 years in? Excuse me if I read it wrong.

[gbachman]

They are MEB-ing me out. I get vertigo (dizzy) all of the sudden, without cause, and cant stand up straight. They said there is no job in the military that I can transfer to from infantry that will accept that.

If I'm reading you right, is there a reason why you couldn't take the rating offer and still work till you have your 15 years in? Excuse me if I read it wrong.

[carlie]

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2009/julqtr/38cfr4.87.htm

6205 Meniere's syndrome (endolymphatic hydrops):

Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait

occurring more than once weekly, with or without tinnitus…100

Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait

occurring from one to four times a month, with or without

tinnitus….60

Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with

or without tinnitus…30

Note: Evaluate Meniere's syndrome either under these criteria

or by separately evaluating vertigo (as a peripheral

vestibular disorder), hearing impairment, and tinnitus,

whichever method results in a higher overall evaluation. But

do not combine an evaluation for hearing impairment,

tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code

6205.

[cooter]

Thanks carlie, I was hoping someone would post that. Gbachman have you tried talking to your case manager at the VA?