VA compensation

[radiovet68]

I filed a claim back in 2010 or early 2011 ( not sure of date) how can i get all the paper work i submitted to the VA for that claim, there was a date on that claim i need, i was discharged on August 13th 1968, some time in my 4 year enlistment i developed breathing problems, wheezing and a little shortness of breath, really nothing that would cause me not to do my duty but a little annoying. i did see the corpsmen a few times for it but i cant remember the outcome. when i was discharged on 9/13/1968 i went to bay pines VA hospital around Jan. or Feb. of 1969 just a couple months after my discharge ( that was the date they gave me)in St. Pete FL. after examining me they told me they found no problem. i excepted there finding and started my civilian life. I did not know any thing about filing claims, i did not even know if we filed claims back then, i just felt if i go to the VA hospital i was doing what i was supposed to do with a health issue? thru the years i had to see civilian DR'S and they told me i had chronic Bronchitis, that diagnosis was around 2 years after my discharge i was 24 by then and i was being treated for the chronic bronchitis since then till now! but in 2010 i had a heart attack and it was caused by Ischemic heart disease, and Presumptuous to Agent Orange from Vietnam. I then had to send for all my military records, when i received them i read them and i saw my induction physical 100% fit for duty, my discharge physical said i had a dysfunctional left lung, well that means there was a problem when i was discharged with my lung and the beginning of life long Chronic Bronchitis. It appears the visit to Bay Pines VA hospital missed it!. i will need the paper work i submitted way back then HOW can i get? i will need it to show i was seen at bay pines way back in 1969, Bay Pines should of caught my Chronic Bronchitis, i was discharged with it. Now the Supreme Court will be hearing arguments about Vets getting there compensation awards dated back to our discharge dates, we are given 1 year from discharge to file and receive retro back to our discharge, after 1 year it is the date we file, for me the miss diagnosis of my COPD ( chronic Bronchitis) from Bay Pines VA hospital may be enough equitable tolling, Mr. Arellano's hearing by the SCOTUS will be October 4, 2022 he states he was under PTSD and mental problems and says equitable tolling should be in affect, maybe getting an ok  nothing wrong by Bay Pines will be enugh for me to claim equitable tolling, and if the supreme court changes the law to benefit us vets i will have a healthy chunk of change coming from back to 1968, but i still need to get the report that shows my visit to Bay Pines in 1969.

[Vync]

To add to @pacmanx1's advice, and everyone else's advice, the release of information office will determine how many pages of records are present. If there are too many, they might recommend producing a copy of them for you on CD. Some locations can print all of the paper copies while you wait while others will mail them. Pretty much the same for CDs, too. This policy varies from VAMC to VAMC.

Additionally, some VAMC radiology departments can also create a disc which contains and images from x-rays, cat scans, MRI's, etc... These are not generally available from the release of information office and you may have to request them directly from radiology. Yes, you will have to sign a release form just like you would for regular records.

[Whodat]

And to add to @Vyncand @pacmanx1check your "myhealthevet", for all of the visits to the VA, they do post the drs notes on there. 

[Vync]

2 hours ago, Whodat said:

And to add to @Vyncand @pacmanx1check your "myhealthevet", for all of the visits to the VA, they do post the drs notes on there. 

Good tip!

[Rattler]

My last C-File took 7 Mo. to get from the VA. So I would file an Intent to file claim as it gives you a year to get your docs. I filed for my C-File in February 2022 and got it this Mo.