Sorry I should have read back a little. What thing did they tell you it’s been to long?
Guidance for the VA Registration Process? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Hugh Heifer
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- Thread starter
- #42
I have a VSO. I am a combat veteran. 158th AVN during Desert Storm and Operation Positive Force in Kuwait. I ETSed in 1995.
The issue they have brought up initially is connecting any of my issues to my service. I have no idea how that will work or not. I thought that the stuff I have that is presumptive (ie apnea, post nasal drip, gastro issues) would qualify without specific onset info. I have no idea if there is an ILER in my file anywhere.
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If you go the the environmental health or PACT coordinator in ATL they will print it for you. If they are stubborn you have to go the the release of information officer. ATL is environmental health coordinator is Darlene Johnson 770-496-4200 x473204. The presumptive stuff is just as you said. No proof needed if you served there and have xyz then it’s presumed. Fight them! If I was you and I am not I would call the Outreach Specialist at the ATL vet center. Her name is Marjorie, she a combat vet. 770-994-6700, I would ask her for a VSO recommendation as to be quite frank you might have a dirtbag. She will know who can be trusted.
- Thread starter
- #44
I am still trying to get my C&P exam. VA sends me a message, I call, they say they have a practitioner for me to see and do I have any avoid dates. I provide them and am told I will be contacted by the practitioner. A month or two go by. VA sends me a message, I call, they say they have a practitioner for me to see....repeat....repeat....repeat......
Who is your VSO? Call that person about this. If you don’t have one give follow the instructions I provided before.
- Thread starter
- #46
Chandreas Barkley is her name.
I will say I am a bit surprised that Optimum (the contractor) is continuing to follow up. I suspected I would just fall through the cracks.
They want to get paid. I would just keep calling them directly.
- Thread starter
- #48
Here is an update:
I finally got my last exam - which was not really an exam at all, I could have done it by phone.
My file shows pending decision.
In the meantime I get two rather substantial direct deposits to my bank account for "Compensation & Pension - Retroactive."
In between those I receive a letter that says they can not do Direct Deposit because they do not have a cancelled check or deposit slip. So I go online per the instructions to provide a voided check and see yet another direct deposit. And NOWHERE TO LOAD AN IMAGE OF A VOIDED CHECK.
So why would I need to provide a deposit slip or voided check for direct deposit if I am already getting direct deposit
How very VAish of them.
I have learned a few things about stuff I could have done differently as I initiated this process from some buddies who did it. In the future, should I need to add anything as I age, I have a better understanding of what I need to do. The nexus part is the hard part but I understand there are ways to overcome that which I had not considered.
I finally got my last exam - which was not really an exam at all, I could have done it by phone.
My file shows pending decision.
In the meantime I get two rather substantial direct deposits to my bank account for "Compensation & Pension - Retroactive."
In between those I receive a letter that says they can not do Direct Deposit because they do not have a cancelled check or deposit slip. So I go online per the instructions to provide a voided check and see yet another direct deposit. And NOWHERE TO LOAD AN IMAGE OF A VOIDED CHECK.
So why would I need to provide a deposit slip or voided check for direct deposit if I am already getting direct deposit
How very VAish of them.
I have learned a few things about stuff I could have done differently as I initiated this process from some buddies who did it. In the future, should I need to add anything as I age, I have a better understanding of what I need to do. The nexus part is the hard part but I understand there are ways to overcome that which I had not considered.
- Thread starter
- #49
I called the VA about the above and was advised to ignore it. Nothing for me to do.
No sooner had I done so I got my rating: 20%. I can't say if I think that is accurate or not but will say the reason I did it was to ensure I could get into the healthcare system if and when it is needed. So at this point I am satisfied.
It took 2.5 years to get the rating from the time I first started looking into it. I did not take full advantage of using an advocate and certainly should have but I am not very good at asking people for help and or heeding good advice. I do appreciate what advice I did receive however.
No sooner had I done so I got my rating: 20%. I can't say if I think that is accurate or not but will say the reason I did it was to ensure I could get into the healthcare system if and when it is needed. So at this point I am satisfied.
It took 2.5 years to get the rating from the time I first started looking into it. I did not take full advantage of using an advocate and certainly should have but I am not very good at asking people for help and or heeding good advice. I do appreciate what advice I did receive however.
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- Thread starter
- #50
And now a lwtter saying they are taking 10% back. 
sschruff
Make PSILOCYBIN legal for TBI/PTSD/TRA&D
I do advanced C&P's, mostly western states coverage, on hiatus for another 3-6months at the moment. While the primaries are important, the secondary & tertiary parts of a claim are often overlooked and poorly understood. This is where a civilian exam/opinion is crucial and can/will often override/supersede VA C&P opinions. The 'taking 10% back' is nothing to be alarmed about, just a chess move done in haste. I'll PM you additional details.And now a lwtter saying they are taking 10% back.
shane
- Thread starter
- #52
Thanks. I think it was based solely on a misunderstood statement.
Big Ed
SILVER Star
And now a lwtter saying they are taking 10% back.
I came close to something like that once. Two conditions were being reevaluated, if it was only one I would have got a reduction.
- Thread starter
- #54
Tinnitus. I was a helicopter crewchief.
How much weight do my treating physicians dbq give over the Ves contract examiner? I have multiple exams scheduled in July, one being conducted by a pediatrician, but submitted dqs already for most of what this guy is looking at.
- Thread starter
- #56
Well the biggest is to show that whatever the disability is, is in fact service related. That was difficult in my case becasue I waited so long to do this. I am still trying to figure out the claims process. I think I just need a letter from a physician better explaining my onset of tinnitus. And my original claim omitted one thing that it should not have and the examining contract physician told me I needed to go back and add it.
I am going to re-contact my VSO.
- Thread starter
- #57
Ok - for those following along.
I was able to reach my VSO today and explained the two remaining issues.
1. The VA contract physician told me I should have added stress fractures and shin splints of my right leg to the claim. The VSO advised there is no ammending a claim but she would initiate a secondary claim. She questioned why the physician would have recommended amending the claim since there is no amendement process. So that is where that is. I guess I start over with that.
2. The VSO advised the only way to get my tinnitus decision appealed is to get a letter from a doctor more clearly stating onset. So I have written a statement about it so it is fully documented and explained. Now I am looking to either get my doc, or some other doc, to concur with the statement at this point. I need to get that paperwork in within the next 2 weeks or so in order to not miss the VAs deadline.
I was able to reach my VSO today and explained the two remaining issues.
1. The VA contract physician told me I should have added stress fractures and shin splints of my right leg to the claim. The VSO advised there is no ammending a claim but she would initiate a secondary claim. She questioned why the physician would have recommended amending the claim since there is no amendement process. So that is where that is. I guess I start over with that.
2. The VSO advised the only way to get my tinnitus decision appealed is to get a letter from a doctor more clearly stating onset. So I have written a statement about it so it is fully documented and explained. Now I am looking to either get my doc, or some other doc, to concur with the statement at this point. I need to get that paperwork in within the next 2 weeks or so in order to not miss the VAs deadline.
- Thread starter
- #58
No go with my GP.
- Thread starter
- #59
Update time.
1. I met a guy at a local bar who was in the process of suing the VA over his rating. He was blown up and has a TBI and can not work. Eventually over the time since we met, he won this battle and was paid a significant settlement. Anyway, he has been handling all his own stuff because the VSOs he was dealing with were (in his words) incompetent or did not care. Through this he learned a lot and provided me with some excellent guidance. He should be a VSO!
2. I submitted an appeal on the tinnitus and was once again pushed through the process for a re-evaluation. The doc I saw was an audiologist and far more inquisitive then the PA I initailly saw. We had an interesting conversation about Vets coming to see her and not knowing why or the VSOs putting complaints in their files the Vet did not make. Subsequently, at the suggestion of the physician that did my original C&P and another exam, I submitted another claim for my other leg. (I was initially under the belief that both legs were included in my initial claim but the VSO had only submitted one leg.)
3. I was seen for my leg and the tinnitus appeal. Both appear to have been processed as I received an increase in payments and back pay yesterday. I have not received a decision letter.
4. While seeing the physicians three suggested I submit for my really bad appendix scar so I did that. (Taken out by a Kuwaiti Dr in a Kuwaiti hospital.) I was seen for this the other day and, as luck would have it, the physician was one that had recommend I apply for it. I suspect it will be accepted.
4. I did the appeal and appendix claims on the portal myself without the VSO while following the advice of the guy I met and some online resources to ensure what I have and what I described were accurate and fell into the acceptable descriptions given in others decision letters. (If I was not able to truthfully articulate something, it is clear I do not deserve the percentage for the ailment.)
5. So now I am awaiting the decision for the appendix and the final decision letters for the three issues (appendix, leg stress fractures and tinnitus appeal). If accepted I would be 40% with one dependant which is far more than I ever expected (and quite acceptable to me under the circumstances). The percentage was not a product of the VSO's help but the Vet I met who had been battling the process.
I have learned much about the process and it seemed overwelming at first but once I got real world guidance I was able to make my way through the online process. I have not used any of the lawyers that advertise they can get high percentages and what not but I know others who have and successfully received 100%. They are generally people who were combat wounded or spent over 20 years in. They deserve it.
Once I get my final decision letters I will post up.
1. I met a guy at a local bar who was in the process of suing the VA over his rating. He was blown up and has a TBI and can not work. Eventually over the time since we met, he won this battle and was paid a significant settlement. Anyway, he has been handling all his own stuff because the VSOs he was dealing with were (in his words) incompetent or did not care. Through this he learned a lot and provided me with some excellent guidance. He should be a VSO!
2. I submitted an appeal on the tinnitus and was once again pushed through the process for a re-evaluation. The doc I saw was an audiologist and far more inquisitive then the PA I initailly saw. We had an interesting conversation about Vets coming to see her and not knowing why or the VSOs putting complaints in their files the Vet did not make. Subsequently, at the suggestion of the physician that did my original C&P and another exam, I submitted another claim for my other leg. (I was initially under the belief that both legs were included in my initial claim but the VSO had only submitted one leg.)
3. I was seen for my leg and the tinnitus appeal. Both appear to have been processed as I received an increase in payments and back pay yesterday. I have not received a decision letter.
4. While seeing the physicians three suggested I submit for my really bad appendix scar so I did that. (Taken out by a Kuwaiti Dr in a Kuwaiti hospital.) I was seen for this the other day and, as luck would have it, the physician was one that had recommend I apply for it. I suspect it will be accepted.
4. I did the appeal and appendix claims on the portal myself without the VSO while following the advice of the guy I met and some online resources to ensure what I have and what I described were accurate and fell into the acceptable descriptions given in others decision letters. (If I was not able to truthfully articulate something, it is clear I do not deserve the percentage for the ailment.)
5. So now I am awaiting the decision for the appendix and the final decision letters for the three issues (appendix, leg stress fractures and tinnitus appeal). If accepted I would be 40% with one dependant which is far more than I ever expected (and quite acceptable to me under the circumstances). The percentage was not a product of the VSO's help but the Vet I met who had been battling the process.
I have learned much about the process and it seemed overwelming at first but once I got real world guidance I was able to make my way through the online process. I have not used any of the lawyers that advertise they can get high percentages and what not but I know others who have and successfully received 100%. They are generally people who were combat wounded or spent over 20 years in. They deserve it.
Once I get my final decision letters I will post up.
Be careful who you get advice from online, warns the guy about to give advice. You can’t sue the VA over your rating. You can file a TORT claim for medical malpractice but you can’t sue them. Keep fighting and don’t let them win. Remember, they are incompetent! Took me 14 years. I waited another 5 to see the judge on TBI after that. Took her two years to issue the decision of REMANDED. Now mind you I have 5 TBIs. Skull fractures in two place and frontal lobe scaring. After 9 years and 4 deployments I got no medical retirement. The entire system is against you. I’m still not rated for two tropical illnesses, dispute those being an automatic 0% if you survive. CFR 38 is available online for everyone.