My background, I am 50% sc for my lower back and many other things. I had surgery on my private insurance in Oct of 2010 because I could no longer live the way that the VA was going to make me live! Living on pills everyday when there is something wrong, the VA diagnosed me with "fibromyalgia". I had stenosis in my lumbar area, in my vertebrae of my degenerative disk area. My films from when I left the military to now, shows that it wasn't there. Once my surgeon saw the CT/Myelogram, the areas could be seen much easier than MRI's. Being an aircraft mechanic, and taking narcotics for pain relief was putting myself in jeopardy of losing my FAA airman's certificate, as well as my employer at risk too. I was working non aircraft safety sensitive jobs, but still, barely working. I had lost considerable amount of work from the beginning of 2010, up till mid April when my employer was no longer comfortable with me working due to safety reasons being on morphine and around equipment at work. I lost 75% of my wages from Jan-April of 2010, just from the lack in ability to work full shifts. Not easy living, and when I was totally off work my savings was already partially depleted. Basically I wasn't even able to be able to perform the simple tasks around the shop any longer on non aircraft related parts. My VA doctor had requested several more outsourcing tests, to try and diagnose my condition, and eventually we were being declined on all of them. All my doctor could do was give me the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and write me a note, to not return to work because of the safety sensitive job I hold, and to continue to seek treatment at a reasonable rate faster than what the VA was giving me before she would medically release me back to work. I ended up having 3 level laminectomy in Oct 2010. Leaving me off work for 6 months prior to surgery non paid. My employer was kind enough to keep me on, and just give me FMLA leave, so I could get my back fixed. It is a very small company, family owned, and they felt bad because of the way I was being treated by the VA, but unfortunately we had no short term disability insurance. So after my surgery I went back to work early, because I had to. I had exhausted my savings, maxed out credit cards to sum of $28k, had pulled out my $23K 401K to live off of because I was not receiving normal size pay checks from the beginning of the year. All said and done, I requested to return to work early, because I applied for hardship advance of my temporary 100%, and received it 2-3 months later, with it only being a half months worth!?! Surgery on Oct, returning to work Dec 18th, should have been 2.5 months worth! Not much good when I was 2 weeks away from losing my house.
Forward to Aug 2011, I bulged one of my disks at work, and workman's compensation said that my condition was only temporary elevated, and that it would not change the outcome of me needing another surgery any quicker due to my prior condition and medical reports. I was getting epidural injections, and nerve blocks, 5 in 3 months, at a accelerated rate to try and pin point my condition. They only paid for the month that I was off work. I was then discussing options with my doctor, because I was not able to work full days any more. Surviving off half pay, when I had just barely paid off my debt, needless to say I was at the end of my rope. I ended up getting a lady at the VA outsourcing to look at my case, and to approve my outsourced surgery here in Anchorage, for my sc disability. I had a discogram done, and my L3 was half dead, my L4 and L5 were leaking. Being 31, and getting a 3 level fusion in my back in Jan of 2012 wasn't really in the plans for life, but the surgeon and I had already discussed possible fusion at 1 level in the past. I am healing, but slowly still. I filed the day after surgery for my temporary 100% again. I called 5 months after filing, and they said it would be another 8-9 months in getting that approved. They paid for a $275K surgery, for a sc disability, yet they take a year to get my disability rating to me? Do they think we are made of money? I don't know about you, but I have managed to squeak by from Jan 2012 till Jun 2012 on only $8K that I had in savings. Yes I actually had a small savings after working hurt all year, and paid off all my debt, only buying necessities for the past 3 years! Life is not fun at all! I have already contacted my senators, congressman, governor, and the House of Representatives Oversite Committee, with my case. This is the 2nd time in 2.5 years where I will almost lose my house! The VA doesn't seem to care about veterans, and it is sickening. I appealed 2 times to try and be paid temporary 100% from my doctors not in April 2010 until my surgery in Oct 2010. The law is black and white, but how is one to go against their doctors orders, and work, in the career that I have, when I physically couldn't any longer and not be able to get my disability retroactive back to the date of my own VA doctor saying I am not capable to work, until I get fixed? I sure wouldn't want to employ someone working under the medication that I was taking, and I am glad that I didn't hurt myself doing non aircraft work around the hangar. I keep saying non aircraft work, because that is extremely important! I would not put my life nor others lives in jeopardy, buy making a mistake! I absolutely love my job, and am having a difficult time figuring out another career that will be just as enjoyable. Nothing seems to be done in a timely manor when it comes to s/c temporary 100% disabilities, why is this? I have only been on unemployment one month in my life, and have worked for everything that I have. I am not trying to squeeze anything out of the system, but just request what is rightfully mine. If there is a way that I could have worked, I would have. If my condition wasn't serious, why did I end up in 15 months from my first surgery, getting a 3 level fusion at 31? My surgery was successful, but I'm afraid that my surgeon has stated that with my job duties, I will have to get another level fused in 10 years, if not sooner working as I do. I am qualified already for Voc Rehab, but have not be cleared medically yet from my surgery, so I'm still trying to figure out a career path interesting, and challenging that I will enjoy, with my new physical limitations.
Has anyone had a case like this before? Any tips and or advice? Do I need to request a formal hearing board? I am not trying to get anything above what is owed. It is sad to me, that a veteran can have surgery on a sc disability, and it take 1 year from the time the claim is submitted before any money is paid. Not much good getting a $36K check a year after surgery, if I've lost my house, ruined my credit, and I'm penniless and homeless.
Thanks for any advice, I know I am not the only one like this, and it is extremely sickening. Thanks to everyone else here for your service as well! Have a good day.
Forward to Aug 2011, I bulged one of my disks at work, and workman's compensation said that my condition was only temporary elevated, and that it would not change the outcome of me needing another surgery any quicker due to my prior condition and medical reports. I was getting epidural injections, and nerve blocks, 5 in 3 months, at a accelerated rate to try and pin point my condition. They only paid for the month that I was off work. I was then discussing options with my doctor, because I was not able to work full days any more. Surviving off half pay, when I had just barely paid off my debt, needless to say I was at the end of my rope. I ended up getting a lady at the VA outsourcing to look at my case, and to approve my outsourced surgery here in Anchorage, for my sc disability. I had a discogram done, and my L3 was half dead, my L4 and L5 were leaking. Being 31, and getting a 3 level fusion in my back in Jan of 2012 wasn't really in the plans for life, but the surgeon and I had already discussed possible fusion at 1 level in the past. I am healing, but slowly still. I filed the day after surgery for my temporary 100% again. I called 5 months after filing, and they said it would be another 8-9 months in getting that approved. They paid for a $275K surgery, for a sc disability, yet they take a year to get my disability rating to me? Do they think we are made of money? I don't know about you, but I have managed to squeak by from Jan 2012 till Jun 2012 on only $8K that I had in savings. Yes I actually had a small savings after working hurt all year, and paid off all my debt, only buying necessities for the past 3 years! Life is not fun at all! I have already contacted my senators, congressman, governor, and the House of Representatives Oversite Committee, with my case. This is the 2nd time in 2.5 years where I will almost lose my house! The VA doesn't seem to care about veterans, and it is sickening. I appealed 2 times to try and be paid temporary 100% from my doctors not in April 2010 until my surgery in Oct 2010. The law is black and white, but how is one to go against their doctors orders, and work, in the career that I have, when I physically couldn't any longer and not be able to get my disability retroactive back to the date of my own VA doctor saying I am not capable to work, until I get fixed? I sure wouldn't want to employ someone working under the medication that I was taking, and I am glad that I didn't hurt myself doing non aircraft work around the hangar. I keep saying non aircraft work, because that is extremely important! I would not put my life nor others lives in jeopardy, buy making a mistake! I absolutely love my job, and am having a difficult time figuring out another career that will be just as enjoyable. Nothing seems to be done in a timely manor when it comes to s/c temporary 100% disabilities, why is this? I have only been on unemployment one month in my life, and have worked for everything that I have. I am not trying to squeeze anything out of the system, but just request what is rightfully mine. If there is a way that I could have worked, I would have. If my condition wasn't serious, why did I end up in 15 months from my first surgery, getting a 3 level fusion at 31? My surgery was successful, but I'm afraid that my surgeon has stated that with my job duties, I will have to get another level fused in 10 years, if not sooner working as I do. I am qualified already for Voc Rehab, but have not be cleared medically yet from my surgery, so I'm still trying to figure out a career path interesting, and challenging that I will enjoy, with my new physical limitations.
Has anyone had a case like this before? Any tips and or advice? Do I need to request a formal hearing board? I am not trying to get anything above what is owed. It is sad to me, that a veteran can have surgery on a sc disability, and it take 1 year from the time the claim is submitted before any money is paid. Not much good getting a $36K check a year after surgery, if I've lost my house, ruined my credit, and I'm penniless and homeless.
Thanks for any advice, I know I am not the only one like this, and it is extremely sickening. Thanks to everyone else here for your service as well! Have a good day.
