3 months and counting on DRO decision and now I am facing more surgery!

[Navy4life]

Well good afternoon my fellow Vet's!!!

I am really deflated right now....It's going on 3 months since I had my DRO review hearing with no end in sight.  I was told that it could be weeks to months to up to a year for the decision.  What erk's me is the fact that I had my hearing why can't the DRO take the time to review and come to a ruling?  It's so frustrating!  I am going on 3 years since my initial claim and almost 2 years since I filed my NOD.  I understand there are others in the same boat or worse boat and I do sympathize with all my fellow Vet's!

Now on top of this, most of you know my story.....I broke my right foot in two places on Christmas Eve.  I had surgery on January 6th, 2016 and I filed an FDC January 12th, 2016.  I filed that my left ankle was the cause of my right foot injury.  I was granted 100% temporary convalescence for 4 months due to my left ankle giving out on me and causing my right foot injury.  Now if you all remember, I have my NOD since 2014 trying to get my right foot/ankle and left toe S/C which was denied in 2014.  My medical records back up my s/c as well as my doctor's letters (IMO) that state my injuries are directly related to my active duty.  But here I sit awaiting the NOD decision.

Well yesterday I took a bad tumble and fell down the stairs causing sever bruising and swelling to my left ankle and left leg.  I am sitting here at the West Palm VA as we speak awaiting to see my Podiatrist for the results of the X-rays BUT while I had my visit with him today, he had another doctor come in and look at my X-rays for my right foot and both of the doctor's state I need revision surgery to my right foot because the bone graft is not "uniting" the bone together.  The Podiatrist I had do my surgery in January put pins/screws/plate in the one fracture but only bone graft in the other.  Since then the bone is separating and the doctor feels the surgery is necessary and will require me to be out about 2-3 months once again!  It's my right foot so I can't drive and it's frustrating!  On top of this, my left foot/2nd metatarsal toe has two screws in it that are "coming up to the skin" and they feel that at the same time they do the right foot surgery they need to look into that!

I literally just got back on my feet and was feeling okay!  My feet/ankles SUCK!  I feel so depressed!

I just want to cry!

I will update you with my X-ray findings but I needed to VENT!!!

 

[Navy4life]

12 hours ago, Buck52 said:

I hope your leg &foot /ankel toe starts to heal and you get back on your feet.

Well I have been casted for braces as of a week and half ago.  My podiatrist is holding off on surgeries until next year.  Need to see how the union of my bone graft takes in my right foot and that has to be a least a year from the surgery and that was Jan. 2016.  My toe condition is baffling to him and the other podiatrist.  In fact my issues PERIOD have them scratching their heads.

On top of this, I now have a second opinion on my rectum.  I apparently have an anal fissure that my doctor performed surgery last month to repair and remove hemorrhoids but I am in a lot of pain.  I had no idea I could have applied for s/c for both the anal fissure and the hemorrhoids.  So I filed a claim a few weeks ago and I have my C&P in a few weeks.  I have the three links I believe....I have the SMR's showing I had hemorrhoids in-service, continuity, and current diagnoses for both.  I have had two hemorrhoidectomy surgeries in the past several months (March and July) and I have to tell you I am in so much pain all the time.  

I just hope they can fix the problems I have for feet/ankles/toes and my butt LOL

[Buck52]

Yes I hear that.

I would file for everything I could that happen to me while in military that causes me pain & to be disabled today, the only reason I am thinking bout not to file or to file for my VA dx Sleep Apnea is that I already have a high rating and way over the 100% with SMC-S, my only reason to file for S.A. would be to get it Service Connected ...secondary to my PTSD.

But in my opinion that would take a nexus from a specialist & probably long appeals.

filing a claim is not about the $ after you reach 100%P&T  its for other reasons  such as it helps sometimes to have a higher ratings other than 100%  in case the VA gets a wild hair and  throws a proposal to reduce your ratings , b/c from out of the blue they think your S.C. Disabilities have improved , other reasons would make it easier for your spouse to get DIC if you died from that particular Disability...and the biggie  your entitled to file on those disability's.

My advice to any veteran is to file for any disability you have today that was caused from your military service...you earned that right by serving your country. 

Also if you get a 100% rating P&T you should file for SSDI,   VA compensation at the 100% with dependent and SSDI makes for a modest income  unless your making 6 Figure income.

and for some 100% rating a veteran can still work and make up to so much  I forget how much  but still not a bad income.

[Navy4life]

Buck;

I won't be 100% P&T and don't need to be.  I also don't want to keep filing claim after claim.  I am hoping that my NOD decision is favorable and I don't have to keep fighting for these contentions to be s/c.  I also have my current claim in for my other issue and I think will be at least 0%.  

[Buck52]

Roger That!

[Navy4life]

***UPDATE***

I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS ON THIS FORUM, so many of you!  The show last week was great.  I got to get on the Hadit talk show and talked to great people!  I was advised by the guest speak John to email Mr. McDonald.....

So once again contacting Robert McDonald's office via email worked once again.  My DRO that heard my NOD in February called me just now.  He indicated that he received my request for an update and that he would be reviewing the case and making a decision within the week!  He went on to tell me that if it is a full grant, then I will receive a letter stating that and nothing else to do.  If there is a partial or full denial I will receive an SOC and Form 9 and that I have 60 days to appeal the decision.  Since I now live in Florida, I would have the option of a video hearing or travel board hearing in Miami.  I asked him if he had all my evidence I submitted to include my binder and he said yes.

 

NOW I am so freaking nervous!!!

[Andyman73]

Don't be too nervous, it don't get you no where any how.

I got to say, I must really be doing something wrong...I've emailed Allison Hickey, in the past, and Mr. McDonald, several times since he took over...and not once did I ever get a reply, from them or one of their drones/worker bees/underlings.  Not once.