General Claims Discussion

Applying for an Increase

feeds@yuku.com (rasta) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:53:24 GMT

I am currently rated at 70% disability. It's broken down, left knee instability 20%, right knee instability 20%, degenerative joint disease left knee 10 %, degenerative joint disease right knee 10 %, lumbar disc disease 10%, degenerative joint disease left hip 10%, hypertention 10% and ascid reflux 10%. I'm a mail carrier and that doesn't help my condition any, however I cant afford to quit work. From what I understand in order to considered for IU it's best if I was...

DENIAL FOR ED

feeds@yuku.com (WDWILLDAN) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:48:15 GMT

I would really appreciate an opinion on this, yea or nay. Va states, "although there is medical evidence from the Charleston Va Medical Center showing a
diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, there is no evidence relating this diagnosis to your military service or to your service connected disabilities." I do have high blood pressure and cholesterol problems and have been seeing a Va Psychiatrist and social worker for depression for over two years, he even tripled the amount of...

Follow up question...

feeds@yuku.com (eyesea) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:20:23 GMT

...thank you all for the insights to the working dates of claims. My next question is a little bit harder and needs more explaination:

I have a SC condition that is spurning multiple other conditions (for which I am rated as well). My main condition is not in the VA schedule of ratings, it is identified as AIDS/HIV to which I do not have. When I am submitting for an increase in my overall rating, the VA is using AIDS/HIV to determine the standards which allow for a rating...

Chapter 61 for less than 20 years in service

feeds@yuku.com (wiwibagasan) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:52:38 GMT

Please help. i heard i am eligible to draw my medical retirement pay and VA compensation at the same time. Here's my situation:
-- OEF/OIF Veteran. Medical Evaluation Board granted 50% disability (DFAS) pay.
-- I'm on 5 year TDRL (Medically Retired) after only 6 years 9 months of active service (USAF)
-- Im awarded 80% overall VA rating (50% for PTSD).
Now, DFAS discontinued my 50% medical retirement pay because VA has absorbed it being the higher...

THANKS and (of course) my first question

feeds@yuku.com (midnightrider) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:20:17 GMT

many thanks to all who welcomed me on the site. i have been reading it several hours daily since signing on. SOME GREAT INFORMATION HERE. i was diagnosed with ptsd by a va psychiatrist in 2004 after being refered to her by a va md. the va RO denied my claim (which is currently in the remand section) stating that there was no evidence of my first tour of duty in vietnam and no diagnosis of ptsd even though i included a copy of the diagnosis and notes with the claim, even mentioning in the...

Hearing Loss C&P

feeds@yuku.com (ptrck601) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:21:37 GMT

Hi all,
Posted this on the C&P folder but wasn't getting much response. I have been lurking on this site for a long time and finally have a reason to post a message myself. I just got my results back concerning a audiology C&P exam. I have had hearing loss for a number of years but recently it has depreciated greatly. Therefore I requested an increase. I currently have a 10% rating. My recent exam shows the following numbers:

Right Left
1000HZ 75db 65db...

Defenders of the VA What do I do now?

feeds@yuku.com (Stillhere) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:17:54 GMT

Well just found out my VSO is gone so I sent an Iris to the VA yesterday and got an unbelievable answer back today.

I went for a C7P on April 17th of 08 for a claim that goes back to April 07 in the Iris they tell me that as of 7/21 that had not gotten a report from QTC and put in another request. They also go on to say that they have made another request to the VAMC that I am being treated and have not heard back from them. Hell the only paper work they have is what I gave them!!...

Links

feeds@yuku.com (RodboL) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:01:38 GMT

I was curious, I see allot of different links in the post and I was wondering if there was any kid of data base or link to view to see what people have been given as far as VA ratings and what their disability was? In other words if I wanted to check and see what ratings people with similar problems I'm claiming have been rated is there any where I could look or any Internal/External links?

If not I think it would be a good idea for someone with enough computer skills to put...

Question about VA claim processing

feeds@yuku.com (eyesea) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:11:52 GMT

I have a pending claim for increased compensation that was submitted Feb 08. According to the representative my claim went to the rating board Apr 08. The claim came back out & went back to the rating board Jun 08. It came back out & went back to the rating board Jul 08. Representatives can't verify the dates of when the claim left the board (don't know why), yet the VA has everything to make rating decision as of Mar 08 (even had C&P physical Mar 08).

I...

VSO GONE!

feeds@yuku.com (Stillhere) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:43:58 GMT

I have a claim in for increase since April 07 and picked up a new VSO from the county in April 08 well called the office today and got a tape that he is no longer with this office in his voice but does not say what to do. I have sent an email to his assistant in hopes he can help. My claim has still not been decided and I was looking for some guidance from him but... What should I do now?

Received decision today!

feeds@yuku.com (camel247lady) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:57:09 GMT

Mine came in a 8"x12" white envelope.
Granted service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder of 70%
Filed my claim 27 Sept. 2007.
C&P was done 21 April 2008.
Award letter dated 23 July 2008 from the Milwaukee Regional Office.
Think this is pretty fast!
I would not have been able to even file the claim without everything I learned from everyone sharing here on this board. Keeping up with daily postings here has kept me "sane"...

Edit option

feeds@yuku.com (SamAlW) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:53:27 GMT

What happened to it? I always see mispelled words and stuff AFTER I hit "Post". OK...since I posted THIS, I see the "edit" option in the lower left. It isn't there for some of my posts.

National Personnel Records Center response !?!

feeds@yuku.com (Gunner222) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:06:55 GMT

I had submitted a request to the NPRC for my Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). I got a mish mash of some documents, everything from enlistment forms to combat patch authorization. But I also got this response from them on the cover letter:

The Department of the Army retains legal custody of the military record. Therefor, we are referring your inquiry, along with the military record, to the US Army Resources Command which has jurisdiction over this matter. We regret that...

Very strange call from the VA today

feeds@yuku.com (coopstah123) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:34:15 GMT

I'll try and keep this short and to the point,however lately i have had a hard time doing as such but here goes.

I received a call today from the Va JFK Federal bldg in boston at 5pm on my cell phone...( keep in mind the VA offices close at 4PM...hmmmm sounds kind of suspicious if you ask me)

Anyway the man who called started asking me all kinds of questions and wanted to know if i was claiming this or that on my claim and if...

?Set Ratings

feeds@yuku.com (RodboL) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:46:33 GMT

Does the Va have aset rating system? What I mean is in my case for example I have had multiple back sugeries the last one being a Spinal Fusion, in my case things have gone very badly and I now multiple, multiple problems.....but what if everything had gone ok and I was better after the sugery. Now with any Fusion you have limitation for the rest of your life even if everything goes well(at least that's what I was told)...My question is does the VA have a specific per determinded rating...

ICD codes

feeds@yuku.com (fanaticbooks) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:59:56 GMT

I was reading the topic Help!!! and ICD codes came up. Rougetet was one of the knowledgeable people who answered the question but that has caused me to ask a question. On my website (www.howtoassemblevaclaims.com) I have nothing listing ICD codes and it looks as if it could be very helpful to vets. Since that is an area I have not researched, any chance someone could tell me a good way for others to access these codes, what their uses are and maybe offer a good explanation I could use on my...

Another newbie needs help

feeds@yuku.com (Mikeymc) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:37:51 GMT

About 3 1/2 mos ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In casual conversation with an old USAF buddy he said he thought that we Vietnam vets with prostate cancer had some benefits. I subsequently registered with...

Why ICD-9-CM codes in your medical records are important

feeds@yuku.com (Rougetet) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:40:17 GMT

VA doctors are required to use ICD-9-CM coding et al. to indicate diagnosis. The scope paragraph of page 5 of the VA's Handbook for Coding Guidelines, version 6.0 dated March 13, 2006 (http://www.virec.research.va.gov/References/Links/HANDBOOK_FOR_CODING_GUIDELINES_V6-0.pdf) states:

Don't know where to post this tried the crdp area but it didn't work? i was 70% combat related recieving crsc recieved a additional rating of 60% for kidney disease service connected Making me 90% overall ? why has my ret pay been reduced as acording to all i have read concurrenr reciept has been aproved and is being paid to folks ??? Jim

Medical treatment notes

feeds@yuku.com (jerseybro) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:21:19 GMT

At this time I am waiting on a NOD filed 5/08.
Whenever I go for treatment, I always get a copy of treatment notes.

My question is: Should I send any of these treatment notes on statement of claims form to my DSO when there has been a change in my condition.
Or does the DRO automatically review these notes.
I did not want to jam them up with unnecessary paperwork.

Example: GAF score lowered to 50 (ptsd)
Example: Worsen foot...