hypertension My Bdd Journey

[Joe30045]

My intent on posting this is to provide my experience as I go through this process. I will attempt to post updates and if something I have done helps even one other vet, then it will have been worthwhile. Sorry for the length. Thanks for your service to all of those that have gone before, those currently serving, and those that will serve in the future, for no greater love....

Joe

My status is currently on active duty in transition with a retirement date of 1 February 2013. I filed a Benefits Delivery at Discharge claim on 14 August 2012 or 171 days prior to my retirement. My eBenefits status changed on 12 September 2012 and the followng is what was posted as my status:

Details of Your Claim

Claim Received: 02/01/2013

Claim Type: Compensation

Estimated Claim Completion Date: 10/03/2013 to 02/08/2014

Contentions:

sleep apnea with CPAP (sleep study of record) (New), hypertension (New), GERD (New), fractured

right wrist (New), coronary artery disease (surgery X 1) (New), basal cell carcinoma (New), kidney stones (New),

osteosarcoma (New), squamous cell carcinoma (New), right elbow condition (New), right shoulder condition (New),

right knee condition (New), left knee condition (New), hearing loss (combat) (New), migraines (New), insomnia (New),

bilateral tinnitus (New), testicular cancer (New), lower back condition and thoracic spine condition (New), sinusitis

(New), lung condition (New), head trauma (memory loss, concussion with loss of consciousness, combat) (New)

Change of Status: We determined that your claim required additional review. If any additional information is needed,a letter will be sent requesting that information.

Next Steps:We will review all available evidence and make a decision on your claim upon receipt of all requested information as outlined in the headings, "What Do We Still Need from You?" and "What Have We Done?".

Several factors will determine the duration of the "Development" phase, including:

type of claim filed

number of disabilities you claim

complexity of your disability(ies), and

availability of evidence needed to decide your claim.

Additional Details

Your Designated Power of Attorney

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

Regional Office of Jurisdiction:

Winston-Salem

Send Documentation To

Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office

Regional Office

Federal Building

251 North Main Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27155

What Do We Still Need From Others?

This is a list of all items that have been requested from 3rd parties.

Items From Date Requested Due Date ", Follow-Up Dates

FB QTC 09/12/2012 11/11/2012

What Have We Received?

This is a list of all items that have been received from either the Veteran or a 3rd party. Please be advised that it may

take up to 21 days to receive, process, and annotate in our system any information that you mail to one of our

Regional Offices. Don't see an item listed? Check our "Unsolicited Items" page to see if it was received by VA.

Compensation & Pension Claim Details - eBenefits

Items Date Requested Date Received

VA form 21-526c Pre-Discharge

Compensation Claim 08/14/2012

VA form 21-22 Appointment of

Veterans Service Organization as 08/14/2012

Claimant's Representative - DAV

Memo from Transition Service

Officer with attacked documentation 08/14/2012

for claim

Signed VCAA notification 08/14/2012

Copy of service treatment records 08/14/2012

VA form 21-4138 Statement in

Support of Claim with list of claimed 08/14/2012

condition

VA form 21-674 Request for

Approval of School Attendance (3) 08/14/2012

VA form 21-686c Declaration of

Status of Dependents 08/14/2012

Social Security cards (8) 08/14/2012

Marriage certificate 08/14/2012

Birth certificates (6) 08/14/2012

Divorce Decrees (2) 08/14/2012

[Joe30045]

Filed BDD Claim: 14 August 2012
C&P Exams: 4 October 2012, 5 October 2012, 17 October 2012
Filed additional contention via DBQ: 24 January 2013
Retired/Claim Received: 1 February 2013
Under Review: 2 February 2013
Preparation for Decision: 8 May 2013
Pending Decision Approval: 17 May 2013
Preparation for Decision: 21 May 2013
Pending Decision Approval: 30 May 2013
Under Review: 31 May 2013
Estimated Claim Completion Date: 19 February 2014 to 24 July 2014

Also, under the "Updates" tab it now says Decision Notification Sent and I also have an AB8, an AB4, and an Application For 10-Point Veteran Preference under the "Download VA Letters". The AB8 shows, in part, Effective Date April 1, 2013
Combined Evaluation 100 percent. There isn't a breakout of how the different contentions were decided. I don't know if that is why it is back under review or not.

[Joe30045]

According to my better half, a Big Brown Envelope arrived in the mail today. I should be home Saturday to see what all it has to say and will post it up. My entire time line is posted above, but here is a short synopsis. E-Benefits reflected a "Decision Sent" notice and posted an AB8 and supporting documents at the 119 day mark with me receiving the Big Brown Envelope at the 124 day mark. E-Benefits does not show my claim as complete, instead it shows "Under Review". Thanks for all of the advice and help I have received. I will be glad to return the favor if possible.

[Boats-2]

You sound alittle like me when I first started my claim process. Let me first say that you should establish a good repour with your mental health worker as you have more things going on in your head than you admit. They are your best support system and their word goes along way. After you have a appointment you can call the office of the freedom of information in the VA you are going to to get what the doctors have said right away. They will mail it or fax it to you., or if you have another appointment there you can pick it up yourself Just sign the release form . I have been down this path for three years. Although I got my 100% rating I want my record to show clearly all my conditions. They will tell you that they dont pay you for everything that they rate you for just the most serious and they use there Math which is screwie.. What they will do for you is to start paying you for your most serious disability right away and deferr the rest until they get all their information to look at. I would suggest that you put in for Unemployability compinsation . If you get 40 to 70% rated . If the mental health Doc says your unable to work under stressful conditions it will give you 100% and you dont need to wait until they decide on weather the give you a rating on all the other stuff. Look it up yourself . IU comes with all the same benifits as 100% rating.You should go to the Social Security and get on SS Disability. You can recieve both. If you are married your wife gets alot of benifits to. Take Care.