Agent Orange presumptive prostate cancer claim files in April 2021 still waiting wondering if there is a problem

[Signcavah]

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early April 2021 by the VA. I am verified to being herbicide exposed in Vietnam by the VA. No one (VSO, Peggy ) seems to have a clue why this is moving so slowly. 

I just had another biopsy which again verified the cancer. I have a preop next week to plan  surgery to ease my urinary complications. My understanding was that this should have been a fairly quick process to complete this claim. e-benefits has been showing out for decision for several months. The woman at the Peggy number said she thought this was way to long for a decision and was going to write a letter to someone looking for an answer. I`m stumped  as to finding a way to get some sort of information. My VSO told me he could help then made a call to Peggy and put it on speaker for me. I was speechless. Thanked him and left ! 

Since everyone asks, my disabilities are hearing@ 50%,tinitis 10%.metaralgia 10%,PTSD 70% =90%.  

[Signcavah]

8 hours ago, GBArmy said:

Signcavah You may be set up for a deny. Submit an inquiry to the R.I. veterans dept in writing. (https://vets.ri.gov/contact) Always make a copy of any correspondence to/from VA. Ask for contact for the county VSO. You want someone that can see into the system using VBMS, as you want to see what the C&P exam said, including the dbq that they filled out. The examiner for C&P doesn't make rating decisions, but the RO will lean very heavily on their write up, so if the examiner does the exam incorrectly, they just might find "no evidence to support" and not return for a more complete exam. Write down down what occurred as you may have to file a HLR. If they didn't have available the VA records at the hospital, then that is a failure to support by the VA. They would then ask for a redo on a C&P again with you to do it the right way. If you get no where, get a new VSO but be sure they have VBMS. You might get a service officer from say, DAV at the Providence VA for example. (I'm not advocating any VSO because some are good and some not so much. Interview them before you sign a new POW. Obviously, the VSO you have currently isn't going to do you any good.) This is YOUR claim; don't be passive.

 

 

Thank you for the address for Providence. I will email them tonight. I cannot fault the Proidence 1VA for the c&p infp.  The files were available on ebenefits before the c&p.  I had printed them out and brought them to the exam. The woman was a total incompetent. She had trouble booting up the computer, then accessing my files. I swear she had never done this before. Before I left, she asked if I wanted a testicle exam which I declined. I am less than pleased that I had to drive 70 miles each way with a healing broken left arm and a sprained right wrist. I always try to be polite and professional when dealing with the VA but this was a bad joke!

 I had a decent vso for several years.  Recently a friend who also has prostate cancer, pushed me to meet his vso who specialising in dealing with prostate claims. He seemed really knowledgable about prostate claims and treatment. He told  me that he  would try to help me  but I would have toswitch my vso to him so he could see my claim and related info. I was hesitant but did as he asked. I have not een or hear from him at all.  I have seen another person at our town VA day on several Thursdays. 

He tells me that my only information can come from the 1 800 number. The only part of my claim he cab acess is the initial date I filed on. I have asked him for emails , phone numbers  etc.  The last thing he said was maybe I should try calling my Representative.

Feel that I really screwed up going with these clowns and burning a bridge with my old vso!!

 

 

[Richard1954]

1 hour ago, Signcavah said:

Turp surgery is what they are trying to schedule for me in a few weeks

Well at least your still urinating , I spent just over two months with a cather, trust me not being able to urnitate is the worse feelng possible,  The turp surgery is a piece of cake, too bad the VA doesn't do the Urolift prcedure there is not cutting and immediate relief from what I read.

[john999]

For you service connection for prostate cancer should be a slam/dunk since you are a Vietnam vet.  Something is not right with time frame you have for this.  If you get a C&P exam it is no struggle for SC.  I have four AO conditions.  Pretty easy for most of them.

[Signcavah]

1 hour ago, john999 said:

For you service connection for prostate cancer should be a slam/dunk since you are a Vietnam vet.  Something is not right with time frame you have for this.  If you get a C&P exam it is no struggle for SC.  I have four AO conditions.  Pretty easy for most of them.

I agree, this should have been addressed long ago.  I keep trying to get someone to tell me what the problem is. It seems to be impossible to get an e-mail address or phone number.  The Providence link a couple of posts ago will not work. I wil be calling the VA building in Providence tomorrow as well as visiting the local offices here.  So  far when I have called the Hyannis office I can only leave a request for a phone call.

Still waiting !!

I don`t want to come across as anti VA. I could not be happier with the excellent care  from the Providence VA hospital for all of my medical issues. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i

[Signcavah]

On 6/26/2022 at 4:26 PM, Signcavah said:

I agree, this should have been addressed long ago.  I keep trying to get someone to tell me what the problem is. It seems to be impossible to get an e-mail address or phone number.  The Providence link a couple of posts ago will not work. I wil be calling the VA building in Providence tomorrow as well as visiting the local offices here.  So  far when I have called the Hyannis office I can only leave a request for a phone call.

Still waiting !!

I don`t want to come across as anti VA. I could not be happier with the excellent care  from the Providence VA hospital for all of my medical issues. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i

So far I got a call from my old VSO he is asking some ffolks to look into this. A person from the Providence Fed bldg  has started looking for info.So far they both think my claim is at the bottom of a pile on someones desk !!

 

[Vync]

10 hours ago, Signcavah said:

So far I got a call from my old VSO he is asking some ffolks to look into this. A person from the Providence Fed bldg  has started looking for info.So far they both think my claim is at the bottom of a pile on someones desk !!

 

Cancer claims should -never- be at the bottom of any desk...