VA Disability Claims (General)

Can a new "Congenital" Diagnosis change a SC Rating?

feeds@yuku.com (OverEZ) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:41:39 GMT

I'm a 20 year retired Vet.

Spine problems started and got worse for the last 15 of the 20 years. I received a 20% SC rating for the many spine problems and after 8 years of being SC rated, a VA Doc diagnosed one of the Stenosis problems as "Congenital" Spinal Stenosis meaning I was born with a small canal.

Could a Congenital Diagnosis affect my SC rating by them saying that all my problems are being caused by something that existed at birth or will they just...

Can someone tell me where to find....

feeds@yuku.com (Turnip579) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:26:34 GMT

I'm looking for a list I saw somewhere of the conflicts that are recognized by the V.A. for the US Navy. Anyone see this before?

Copy of Your C-File

feeds@yuku.com (XSpook) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:12:14 GMT

For anyone who has not done this. This is just one C-File from one VARO. I asked for mine (1st time free) at the end of August.

Three months and thirteen pounds later, it's here. Next time, after one hundred pages, I pay fifteen cents a page. Make sure you don't lose your free copy. (I had forgotten I gave them a copy of my medical record after I started TDRL). If you are still on active duty MAKE SURE you get at least one copy of your medical record before you hit the...

VA Meeting

feeds@yuku.com (crmason) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:03:18 GMT

I wondered if anyone had a follow-up meeting with the VA, maybe a year or so after their rating.

We were told that it was a quick blood check, when we got there it was a meeting for my husbands determination a year ago. The meeting was conducted by a Nurse.

She asked several questions and even questioned the amount of time he took to answer the question. Not sure why we even had this meeting.

Has anyone else had a meeting with the VA post rating?

scar rating clearly wrong

feeds@yuku.com (wholesalecd) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:00:18 GMT

I got back my rating decision last week for a facial scar (post basal cell excision surgery) and here is what they said.

Service connection for right facial cheek scar, status post excision of basal cell carcinoma is granted with an evaluation of 0 percent effective July 29, 2009.

A noncompensable evaluation is assigned from July 29, 2009, the date the VA examination or date facts found. A noncompensable evaluation is granted for slight disfigurement only without any of...

Confusion in my rating. Any guidance?

feeds@yuku.com (JHawks) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:07:15 GMT

This sounds complicated and I am confused. The following is a direct quote from my August 31, 2009 rating decision:

"We have changed the status post trimalleolar fracture, left ankle, with tarsal syndrome, mild degenerative changes, to status post trimalleolar franture, left ankle, with post traumatic arthritis with distal tibular deformity, and increased your evaluation to 30% disabling, effective March 10, 2009, the...

Double rating?

feeds@yuku.com (OldPhatVet) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:30:11 GMT

I have had a 10% rating on my right elbow since 1972. In 2007 I filed for increased rating due to agent orange, diabetes, et al. you get the picture. Among others I was awarded 10% for each arm and leg for neuropothy. I refiled and was awarded IU 100% P&T. No where in this does the original elbow rating show. It disappeared. Is a persons arm only rated for one disability? NOTE: I am not complaining, just curious.
Larry

Back log at various VA's

feeds@yuku.com (mallratsmom) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:38:25 GMT

Our VSO inquired last week about a request which should have been replied to in 30 days - it was for a voucher for local medical care. She was told by the Portland, Oregon VA that they are swamped with requests and are behind in their responses in ALL areas - is this happening in other areas? I thought more staffing was in place. Oregon has some of the highest unemployment in the nation - I am sure there are those out of work well qualified to fill these posistions at least to assist in...

need some good opinions !!!

feeds@yuku.com (mr G777) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:55:50 GMT

hello all !!!
OK, back in 2001 , i put in a claim for kidney disese secondary to DM II, which i was SC , they replied back that i was denied because i had a history of hypertension prior to the DM II !!! scroll ahead to ,today , just recently after the eight years, i have end stage renal failure and currently i'm under dialysis, the doc's tell me it is from DM II , so i file again , last month i went for a C&P , today i got his C&P report from the release of info...

TDIU & CUE Claims

feeds@yuku.com (char) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:13:30 GMT

Hi everyone,

My husband just received a call from his VARO. In May 2009 he applied for TDIU and in August 2005 he filed for CUE. They told him today that they want to do both TDIU & CUE at the same time and if so they would send it to the rating board. I find this puzzeling when his TDIU claim was suppose to be at rating board already. Furthermore, please answer the following:

(1) Do you think it is a good idea to let them rate both TDIU & CUE at the same time?...

who knows

feeds@yuku.com (Ruiz) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:29:33 GMT

Does anyone knows how many decisions BVA complete daily.

Question About Increasing SC Percentage

feeds@yuku.com (Balad1) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:57:54 GMT

I know the answer to this question must be posted some place but I couldn't find it.

In the past I was found service connected for 4 conditions that I received a 0% on. After 2 years a few of these conditions have worsened and I want to put in a new claim. Two of the conditions are elbow and wrist tendinitis. I have not sought medical care from the VA on them and have just been sucking it up with OTC meds even though I have been having pain and movement limitations. The...

Chronic Pain

feeds@yuku.com (skicker) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:29:03 GMT

I am SC for a variety of disabilities like athritis, cervical spondolysis, radiculopathy, lumbosacral pain, skin disease, sleep apnea and GERD. Can I claim chronic pain syndrome due to my SC disabilities or secondary to these SC disabilties? And how is chronic pain rated? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

A question for Cruiser...

feeds@yuku.com (GoCougs) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:11:59 GMT

Someplace on this site is a question about the budget for the VA. I read that the Congress just appropriates the money to pay the benefits and that the VA does not have a budget for compensation. If that is true, then why would th VA stall a claim as some say they do? If the budget is not an issue, what does th VA care?

Brown envelope

feeds@yuku.com (jbrook) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:42:04 GMT

So my fears about my bad C&P examiner were confirmed today. I received two 0% ratings for my shoulder and GERD, both of which should be rated based on additional evidence which they obviously didn't look at because my MRI on my shoulder clearly showed arthritis and they did not even mention MRI results in the letter and the NURSE that did my exam left out that I did have pain during the exam and range of motion test. No SC connection for RT knee LT knee hearing loss and Tinnitus. All...

Called the VA lately to get a letter? I dare you

feeds@yuku.com (timlab1955) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:33:32 GMT

When you call the VA Line for information, the person will assist you in all ways (just like normal). However, the VA has added something new. Then the person who has helped you will tell you that your rating will be changed or something to that effect. GIve the a call for anything and see what they tell you.

Should not have done it!

feeds@yuku.com (chancedog) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:20:41 GMT

OK folks...I did something that senior members said not to do and that was to call the 800 number. I did it today and finally they said my claim for increase is awaiting a signature and an award letter will be generated. I called back after eastern time hours and was routed to an office in Arizona and the girl had no clue about anything. Mistake #2, I called a second time. Much like Doc, I am now...

Question about benefits after surgery

feeds@yuku.com (bigken) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:56:22 GMT

Hi, I'm currently rated at 60% SC and am having a surgery at the VA hospital in Birmingham in Jan and the Dr. told me I'll be out of work for 2 weeks. I'm wondering, for that time where I'm out of work do I get temporarily moved to 100% SC?

The surgery is to repair my nose which was broken pretty substantially. The Dr. is doing this to try to improve the deviated septum and improve my breathing - basically the only thing my right nostril does is hold up my...

hearing aids

feeds@yuku.com (keninboaz) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:06:01 GMT

Started wearing hearing aids 2 months ago. I"m rally amazed the things I can now hear ( birds walking thru dry leaves I could hear a pin drop ) 2 weeks ago I noticed I can"t hear people talk to me much better than without
them, The tv is the same way for some reason it isn:t amplified like those other sounds does anyone have this same problem? thanks Ken

SMC Question

feeds@yuku.com (jdawg47) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:05:50 GMT

I have a friend who is currently SMC S with a spouse. He had a 100 percent disability for the heart and others that make up 60%, which give him the SMC S. Last month he had an ICD (defirbrillator) implanted, which give him another 100%.

He would like to know what SMC level he should asked the VA Regional Office. I was thinking perhap SMC M and he said SMC O or perhaps SMC R.1