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Ssdi Hearing In 8 Days, Uggggggg

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lcplcookba1

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I have been waiting for 2 1/2 years, The VA Granted me TDIU in Feb. 80% SC. I'm a nervous wreck, can't sleep, can't stay awake. How much does the VA's decision help. I wasn't ever able to get an IMO because I was off work, Drs not taking new patients. I just plain scared. $1700 extra a month would help get me out of the enormous debt I have incurred. I've watched all the youtube Vids on the subject but not much on regarding Vets and their experiences. Maybe some words of comfort might help, LoL Thanks Honorable friends,

Sincerely,

Bruce

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Any one heard about the ?Wounded Warrior project as it relates to SSDI, as when you get the SSA to recognize you if you are a 100% SC Veteran?

I got denied SSDI 2x, last at the reconsideration. It seams SSDI thinks i can still answer the phone due to past work.

 

I went to the SSDI Appeal Hearing and was shocked that the Judge Did not allow my Homeless Clinical Social Worker from the VA speak during the hearing. The Judge asked are there treatment records???after My lawyer asked if the Social Worker could talk on my behalf.. we did not have this so, the Judge said She would leave a 10 day window open for any documents to be sent.. can't believe the Social worker who drove me to hearing because i can't drive all the time via medications was not allowed to talk, he was actually told to wait in the lobby by Judge.

Can't believe the Judge wanted to talk so much about my Full complete child custody.. she said.. did they just give that to you.. and no.. i can't explain how much i paid lawyers and blood sweat and tears it took to win the case.. anyway.. what Judge would just hammer out overzealous things like this.

I am TDIU 70% total disabilities and 50% are for Migraines, which TDIU is really based on.

The Judge asked when i started getting Migraines.. in 99 after my TBI and said .. " you worked during and leading up to 2013 right??? She did not allow me or lawyer to say.. it got worse and is why TDIU was awarded later in 2015.. i also had to fight since 2001 for this as well, actually i did not collectively ask for SC aggressively till 2012 anyway that's besides the SSDI comments i post here.

 So Judge is just being overzealous, not considering the TDIU, the Migraines that increased... none of the Dr. Diagnosis of Amnesia,  confusion/memory loss, headaches, dizziness/lightheadedness,muscle weakness, balance problems, witnessed apnea,tingling/numbness, excessive sleepiness, falls, sleep disturbance/snoring, walking problems.

Well i feel as the Judge is not considering this only because She did not let us Talk deeply about this, only focused on Migraines and that 9months ago i went to College, i had to stop because Voc Rehab put me on Independent Living and yes i have a letter in support of that i'm not work capable, however the SSDI Judge just let the states Voc specialist indicate that there are types of work i can do "hypothetically".. not good... very overzealous

There is supposed to be a 5 step process SSA is supposed to follow to make Judgement on if you Disabled in there eyes, however when My attorney pointed this out in the beginning stating " i think it's pretty clear" The judge got a bit moody and i think it all went downhill from there.

I have had Congressional Attention on this and asked again for congressman support because of this Judge asking things like How much about Custody.. i think that's irrelevant. i mean only relevance is some small question about if i get help from my child in some capacity.. but it really was not all about that.. just a lot of Custody when were and how.. jeeez..

Talked to my Lawyer and he said he does not know what crawled up the Judges chair other than she Was 1 hour late and we found this out only minutes to are appointment...

 

 

Sorry for the poem here.. kind of venting as well..

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Valhalla, keep in mind that you will never know why a person in an administration position decides/choose to be a jerk or an a**.  You can never guess what crawled up their chair to make them to be indifferent to your situation but you and your attorney can still file an appeal with the federal courts. Unfortunately the ALJ does not have to accept your VA TDIU decision.  What they look for is a medical opinion or medical statement that you cannot work.

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Thanks for your feedback. just to put it out there as the support other than the TDIU. My clinical Social worker wrote a realy great letter that said pretty much i am not work ready and so did my Vocational Rehabilitation Councilor who placed me on Independent living and wrote a letter stating the challenges and not work ready. The only problem is that they are not Doctors and every rater or SSA makes that clear, so i recently visited a Neuropsychologist and i beleive she provided the best letter, with compilation of all the professionals statements and letter i mentioned a couple sentences ago here. Take a look and tell me what you think? This came after the VA TDIU i think all the years i was denied by VA, if i had this letter it would have helped, hope it helps out in SSA decision, i can't imagine why it would not and the Dr. who wrote this letter is a Seasoned Dr, Director of Neuro.. that should add some weight.. my only ? is does the viewer see this as the "i can't work letter"

 

Dear Mr. V:

You requested a letter regarding your ability to work at the current time and sent me records which included notes from Mr. K, your VASH caseworker (5/6/15), Dr. J (6/12/15), a Medical Access physician, and Bee, your vocational rehabilitation counselor (undated).  These notes list challenges to competitive employment including "serious employment handicap", inability "to secure or keep a full-time job unless his many physical health problems...are successfully resolved" and "greater need for more assistance".  Dr. J lists diagnoses as "traumatic brain injury producing chronic headaches and insomnia, degenerative joint disease producing multiple chronic pains and neurogenic bladder producing bladder instability".

Your neuropsychological evaluation of 12/24/15 revealed mild weakness in naming and mental flexibility with more severe impairment in memory and visual attention, with intact oral fluency, perceptual motor speed, working memory (digit span) and mental status (MMSE 27/30).  You also self rated with mild depression, mild anxiety and severe daytime sleepiness.  Given the severe daytime sleepiness, I would recommend that you consult with with your sleep medicine doctor to make sure your OSA therapy is optimal, and an EEG could be considered given your complaint of sudden cognitive "blanks".  With respect to the intrusive and distressing flashbacks you describe, cognitive behavioral therapy could also be considered.  It is likely that your cognitive variability stems from a contribution of severe daytime somnolence, chronic pain and TBI history along with mild depression and anxiety.  With respect to the TBI however, your description of increasing cognitive deficits suggests other contribution(s), as this many years post injury, cognition would not be expected to decline.  This underscores the importance of managing sleep and pain levels in order to work toward stronger cognition.  In the meantime, your vocational professionals have advised that you are not work ready at this time and neuropsychological test findings support the need for further intervention to help you manage your complex and multiple symptoms.

Sincerely,

L, PhD

Director of Neuropsychology

 

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Just an update. I finally received a fully favorable decision. As of Aug .1, 2015.  Of course my next question is when will I see some money? My case was expedited for what thats worth. Thanks for all the support on this matter, Staying positive is hard but my fellow Veterans came thru for me.

Semper Fi

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