Aid & Attendence

[Bound4heaven]

Greetings,

My wife does the majority of my cares helps me dress, puts on shoes, ect. I asked my VA doctor if I qualified for AA and he wrote me a letter stating that I qualified for the critera for AA. The question I have is this. I do not receive visits from any health care nurse, as I am able to go to all medical appointements at the VA. My disabilites at the present time do not require any visits from an RN. My wife and family does everything.

I am currently rated at 100% with SMC loss of use both feet. Any thoughts? Thank you and God bless.

Bound4Heaven

[sixthscents]

If a VA doctor SAYS you qualify, I'd certainly file for it. It doesnt matter WHO does the Aid and Attending, and some of the money is meant to actually offset the cost of hiring people to perform the task you no longer can... housecleaning, lawncare etc. as well as attending to your personal needs. I'd file the claim, and see what the rater decides, and then re-evaluate my position.

[windy city]

You need to get your doctor to write you a letter stating that you need A&A, and then turn it in.

[Guest rickb54]

Greetings,

My wife does the majority of my cares helps me dress, puts on shoes, ect. I asked my VA doctor if I qualified for AA and he wrote me a letter stating that I qualified for the critera for AA. The question I have is this. I do not receive visits from any health care nurse, as I am able to go to all medical appointements at the VA. My disabilites at the present time do not require any visits from an RN. My wife and family does everything.

I am currently rated at 100% with SMC loss of use both feet. Any thoughts? Thank you and God bless.

Bound4Heaven

In my case I wrote the letter for my doctor, and took it to him and requested he read it and if he agreed sign it. (Do not tell any nurses or clerks that you are doing this because they will try to stop you.) This saves him time and you don't have to wait on someone to type it up. You also don't have to make a trip back just to pickup the letter. Also my doctor had me see the clinic's social worker and get the form used for A&A examinations, he completed that and I mailed my letter and the exam form in to the regional office.

check out this link for info on how to write your letter.

http://www.vawatchdog.net/old%20newsflashe...0-06-2006-9.htm

Trust me it works, I did it myself and the doctor was more than happy to sign it. He even had the social worker to xerox the first page onto va letter head.

[john999]

Bound4heaven

You have total loss of use of both feet? You should be getting a special SMC award I think already. Am I not right about this?? I am thinking you should get more than just A&A. You should file for the A&A regardless. If you were a double amputee you would be entitled to SMC based on that alone if I remember reading that criteria.

[Rich T]

Bound,

I assume you are paid an "L" award for your LOU both feet. The regular A&A is also paid at the "L" level of SMC. If you had other s/c conditions they would be compensated by either additional "K's". If you have a complications of LOU they add on an extra intermediate level because of any part of 350.3. (p)(1) [There are 12 possibilities in the section]. Another intermediate level can be added for 350.3 (p) (5) [That is a 3rd LOU], Or anther section of 350.3 (p) that can be used is either section (3) or section (4) which have been discussed in detail under other posts. What those 2 sections say is you can receive either an addition intermediate level for section (p) (3) that is for a 50% separate rating, OR (p) (4) a full level increase for a separate 100% rating. The need for A&A for a SEPERATE s/c rating outside of your LOU would give you a second "L" award, which is then paid at the R1 rate for 2 "L's". R1 is also paid if a veteran is in factual need of A&A and they have amassed a rating of at least N1/2 + K (PL 96-128), or better, which includes "O & P" ratings. The "O" rating can be obtained for a veteran who has LOU both lower extremities plus loss of anal and bladder sphincter control, even if control of both sphincter's are corrected by any means, rehabilitation &/or by any other means (including medication). Phew, says a lot of mumbo jumbo, but what award "O" boils down to is; R1 can be paid to a veteran if they need A&A over and above the LOU, if their medications cause them to lose control of bowel and bladder, yet other medication control the bowel and bladder.

For instance if your doctor says you have diarrhea because of your pain medication and sitting in a wheelchair causes you to have bladder stress incontinence. Then you could apply for an "O" award for bowel and bladder control, even if diapers or even anal gauze pads and detrol, or other means, help you control your bowel and bladder. Trust me, we can e-mail or talk on the phone if needed.

Edited March 4, 2007 by Rich T

[windy city]

Bound,

I assume you are paid an "L" award for your LOU both feet. The regular A&A is also paid at the "L" level of SMC. If you had other s/c conditions they would be compensated by either additional "K's". If you have a complications of LOU they add on an extra intermediate level because of any part of 350.3. (p)(1) [There are 12 possibilities in the section]. Another intermediate level can be added for 350.3 (p) (5) [That is a 3rd LOU], Or anther section of 350.3 (p) that can be used is either section (3) or section (4) which have been discussed in detail under other posts. What those 2 sections say is you can receive either an addition intermediate level for section (p) (3) that is for a 50% separate rating, OR (p) (4) a full level increase for a separate 100% rating. The need for A&A for a SEPERATE s/c rating outside of your LOU would give you a second "L" award, which is then paid at the R1 rate for 2 "L's". R1 is also paid if a veteran is in factual need of A&A and they have amassed a rating of at least N1/2 + K (PL 96-128), or better, which includes "O & P" ratings. The "O" rating can be obtained for a veteran who has LOU both lower extremities plus loss of anal and bladder sphincter control, even if control of both sphincter's are corrected by any means, rehabilitation &/or by any other means (including medication). Phew, says a lot of mumbo jumbo, but what award "O" boils down to is; R1 can be paid to a veteran if they need A&A over and above the LOU, if their medications cause them to lose control of bowel and bladder, yet other medication control the bowel and bladder.

For instance if your doctor says you have diarrhea because of your pain medication and sitting in a wheelchair causes you to have bladder stress in continence. Then you could apply for an "O" award for bowel and bladder control, even if diapers or even anal gauze pads and detrol, or other means, help you control your bowel and bladder. Trust me, we can e-mail or talk on the phone if needed.

Rich T,

let me get this straight if a person recieaving A&A at the L rate for a s/c and haves lou of lower extremeties they get another L so that automatically puts you at smc "o" which is the R1 rate. Is this what am I undersatnding or am I percieaving in the wrong way.