diabetes Call From Va

[Robbi314]

Just was wondering if we could get some feedback on this. To make a long story short, we have been trying to get my husband's disability raised from 40% SC to 100% by adding a claim for PTSD. We started the process for the increase in December 2004. Since my husband is not capable of fighting the VA on his own, I have worked and struggled very hard, both through research and communication with service officers and our congressman, speaking with doctors and accompanying him to his C&P exams to get this approved. Finally on December 27,2006 we got a call from the service officer at the VA regional office telling us the good news,that the decision was unofficial until it had been signed off due to the amount of the award, but that my husband had been granted 70% for PTSD and IU. She said it could take up to 90 days for everything to get processed. We were shocked and happy at the same time, and also apprehensive about even telling anyone. Meanwhile, our Congressman's office contacted us to touch base a few days later, saying that they were going to contact their liason at the VA to verify the information we had been given. Several days later we received a letter in the mail from the Congressman's office stating that(and I quote from the letter) the unofficialVA rating decision was dated December 27, 2006, the following determinations were made: service connection for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is granted as being 70 percent disabling effective December 16,2004 service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure is granted as being 20 percent disabling effective December 13, 2006; entitlement to individual unemployability is granted effective December 16, 2004 and basic eligibility to Dependants' Educational Assistance is establised from December 16, 2004.

Does anyone out there know if this means he is also P&T? We still haven't gotten the official letter. Any guess as to how long this can take? Any input or advice will be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!!

[Robbi314]

Hi Stan and Pam! Actually the VA rating system is totally confusing , and I almost think in a purposeful way. After my husband's C&P for PTSD was completed was when we found out he was diabetic, but we submitted the info anyway. I'm guessing that they already were completing his rating and just added it in. We were told to let it stay as it was unless for some reason he wasn't granted P&T and then we would use the diagnosis for diabetes to gain that. Does that make sense??

[Robbi314]

Robbi:

Thank you for sticking by your spouse and helping him win his claim. Spouses who help their Veterans are greatly appreciated on this Board. From what you have been told educational benefits have been established for dependents indicate to me that he is P&T and that not only will you get Chapter 35 benefits you will also get ChampVA Medical Insurance for you and children under 19 and up to 23 if still in school.

You have to apply for ChampVA Medical insurance and if you have other insurance they will become secondary and you will not have any costs for Medical treatment after you meet the deductible of 50 or a little more if the children are on it. What is really good about CHampVA is that it is good for life so when you reach 65 it still stays with you. It also has prescription benefit that pays 75% for prescriptions and I don't know how it works with your Insurance if you have copays.

Thank you and hang around here. I think that you will find this the best site for Veterans who deal with the VA. Thank your husband for his service you and he have paid a high price.

[Robbi314]

Thanks for the reply on the Chapter 35 and the benefit info. That's the answer I was looking for!!

[Berta]

WHOOP TI DO!!!!

You did what it takes----lots of WORK!

"I wonder why the diabetes was just given a rating in Dec 2006 and not back to the 2004 date when the claim process? started"

yeah me too- did they give him the same date that he got the DMII C & P on?

You can NOd anything in the decision that doesn't seem right-

Yep- Chap 35 means P & T-

"We were told to let it stay as it was unless for some reason he wasn't granted P&T and then we would use the diagnosis for diabetes to gain that. Does that make sense??"

Not to me- but you got it anyhow-

I suggest the you read carefully the SMC regs in USCS 38 1114

because at some point he might be eligible for SMC.

The SMC "S" award is one SC at 100% and additional combined SCs at 60 % or more-

but he could be eligible for SMC "K" if he has ED due to DMII.

I think the CHAMPVA app is online at their website-

you will get a letter from VA stating that you are possibly eligible (I dont know who isnt with P & T award) but still you have to apply to get the ID card and the other info etc.

[Philip Rogers]

If the truck you saw was in Florida it was probably Terry's, the Fla Viking. He may be eligible for SMC, for ED, secondary to DM-II but not for the 100% schedular, inferred issue.

pr

[Robbi314]

Yes the truck I saw was in Fl. actually on I-4. Thanks for the info. We'll keep y'all posted on when we get the actual letter, although they said as much as 90 days,we're 30 days in and we're hoping it gets here asap. It's been a tough time.