Usmc Retired

[dougbo1943]

I retired in 1981. I have 10% Fracture, right great toe wit traumatic arthritis, 0% Bilateral hig frequency hearing lost and 0% left medial meniscetomy. This was given Feb 1982. I was dumb and did not appeal. I never went back to the VA untill Oct. 2000

I my right great toe got so bad I had to get it fused in 1993. Since I have been going back to the VA here in Dallas they have found gout, more hearing lost, degenerative arthritis in both knees, and my right foot inversion. I also have aqquired hammer toes on my right foot.

The hammer toes and foot inversion is due to the way I walk to protect my great toe. I also want to call my right knee secondnary to my right foot problem.

Any advise you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Gunny

[Vike17]

Gunny,

If you already have a disability rating from VA, then your Service Medical Records are at your VA regional office. You should request a copy of your C-file. You can do this by writing a letter to your regional office citing the 1974 Privacy Act in which you state you would like a "complete copy of your C-file to include "all" SMR's" The VA has 20 days to respond according to Federal law.

To file an increase in evaluations for your current disabilities, you just need to write a letter to the regional office stating so. If you want to claim any disabilities as 'secondary' to an already servcie-connected disability, make sure you state that in your letter too. In order to be succesful in a secondary claim, you'll need an IMO from a doctor stating that such and such condition "is at least as likely as not" secondary to such and such disability. Make sure the doctor gives his/her rational for their opinion by citing relavent medical litrature ect...

Do you have ringing in your ears, otherwise known as tinnitus? This is very common in peolpe with hearing loss. This would give you an additional 10% rating if you do have it.

I hope this helps!

Vike 17

[dougbo1943]

John999

I have my Service Medical Record with the exception of the discharge exam. I did not get my Dental Record. I sent off on line for my service records but they only sent a few pages of each. I don't have any C-FILE information. I have a complete copy of my VA medical records since I started going back to then in 1999.

Berta

They have not attributed the gout to anything at this time. It has hit both knees and feet. They took me off the water pills and started with the gout meds. The gout meds don't get charged a co-pay. Why I don't know. No diabetes check so for. I don't belive I have it.

I started in USMC as a machine gunner (Mos 0311) for 1ST four years then transferred to aviation as avionics. All my work was on the aircraft. I flew as gunner on the CH-46 for one year in RVN and awarded mulit-airmedals. I also have my flight record for most of that year. The hearing loss, left knee, and right foot are well documented in Service Medical Record. My problem is I never complained about the ringing in my ears as it was just a part of life.

Larry

I will see a SO soon. I just don't have a lot of confidance in one as in early 2000 I used one at the Dallas VA hospital for dental where I wanted dental treatment for the service connection of the lost of my lower front teeth when they was hit by aircraft. It came back as no record of injury. It went beyond the one year appeal date. I know now that I was at fault for not being more I know better now. If I had the dental chart that I have now it would have been different as it has a one line entry that says hit by Jet aircraft.

Thanks all for the help.

Gunny

[Berta]

Gunny- Chinook? Vietnam?

Make sure you tell them what your MOS was as a gunner-those people are dumb- a DD 214 does not say it all-make sure also that you claim tinnitus-they might focus on avionics and overlook the high level of sound you were exposed to as a gunner in a CH 46-

I dont suppose the gov issued you nice protective head -hearing gear?

Even if they did- I know what it is like to hear radio transmission in a chopper-in flight the sound is awful.I am a civ and just take rides in choppers but even with the soundgear it is LOUD.

and then the guns on top of that must have been very loud for you too-acoustical trauma-certainly can cause hearing loss-

Veteran- DO you have PTSD? Do you think maybe you have PTSD?

If you answer yes to either one please put this in your claim.

Also you might want to send in a DD 149-I will attach one- your DD 214 might not have all your servce decorations or medals. Just say under the injustice part that you want to make sure your DD 214 is correct and if not please prepare a DD 215.

Is that 10% due to fracture in the toe you mentioned?

I think both MArines and Army flew Chinooks- which branch were you in?

DUH I just edited this Semper Fi MARINE!

dd0149.pdf

Edited September 4, 2006 by Berta

[john999]

I think the tinnitus should not be hard to establish, but have you been tested for hearing loss in general? The VA does it at my VAMC. I might go to a private audiologist and get the works as well.

[LarryJ]

Gunny, I am pasting what you just sent to me:

"Larry

I will see a SO soon. I just don't have a lot of confidance in one as in early 2000 I used one at the Dallas VA hospital for dental where I wanted dental treatment for the service connection of the lost of my lower front teeth when they was hit by aircraft. It came back as no record of injury. It went beyond the one year appeal date. I know now that I was at fault for not being more I know better now. If I had the dental chart that I have now it would have been different as it has a one line entry that says hit by Jet aircraft."

You should "re-open" your dental claim. You now have records that make a connection between your dental problem and an incident in service, records that, if I am understanding you correctly, that you did not have when you made your original claim. In which case, you have what is called "new and material" evidence (or something like that) that was not available originally. This is perfect "grounds" for re-opening your old claim (and, with the new evidence, I, personally, think you have a good claim).

If you decide to try to go it alone, then we will try to help you every way we can. But, as my Brother, the Judge, is fond of saying, "The man that decides to represent himself, has a fool for a client.".

[dougbo1943]

Berta

On my last visit to my VA primary care doctor she recommened that I see a shink to help with my dreams. That was 5 mos ago. I still do not have an appointment. I will see my primary care doctor the 29 of this mo and will follow up on it.

Yes I was in the marines and flew in the Sea Knights, not the Chinooks. My MOS at the time was for avionics, not gunner. I have my flight log to back up the flying and the airmedals and combat air crew wings are on my 214. The 10 % is for my toe fracture. The hearing loss is docemented as for back as 1965. The VA docemented my hearing loss as mild to serere sensorineural loss both ears. I have VA hearing aids. Word recognition is 100%. When noise was put in background it was nil. I retired in 1981. I just never complained about my ears ringing.

LarryJ

On 9/29 when I go to my primary care doctor's appointment I will try to talk to a SO. I plan to reopen my claim for dental and get the rest started.

I am sending for my C file today.

Thanks all of you for your inputs

Gunny