tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251565681889366489.post2774300720865761289..comments2023-03-03T00:22:11.460-08:00Comments on The Big News in Military Disability: Military Disability Bill: Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery ActMilitary Disability Made Easyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10320151544107767655noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251565681889366489.post-39785417789829526662014-04-12T13:26:58.258-07:002014-04-12T13:26:58.258-07:00I can't do anymore than I have. If this is the...I can't do anymore than I have. If this is the new way, I guess I'm the disability claims test dummy. My concern is that I don't lose my place in line...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436072627950279234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251565681889366489.post-60989008401957333342014-04-12T11:21:40.621-07:002014-04-12T11:21:40.621-07:00Hi Michael - I totally agree! Overall, though, I t...Hi Michael - I totally agree! Overall, though, I think you have as good a situation as possible with the VA right now. Sad to say, I know. Just keep checking in on the status of your treatment. That's really the only thing you have any control over at the moment. Otherwise that, it's really just a waiting game, unfortunately.Military Disability Made Easyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246704641900456151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251565681889366489.post-15746041173842384802014-04-12T10:44:53.985-07:002014-04-12T10:44:53.985-07:00Thank you again for the response. Let me clarify t...Thank you again for the response. Let me clarify that I am no longer under any care from the private doctor. Once the VBA sent me back for a real VAMC C&P exam in early Febraury, and then again for a treatment evaluation at the Durham NC VAMC Mental Health Clinic in late March, they told me that I don't have to see the private doctor unless I want to. And to be honest, the private doctor was a rip off...little treatment but was glad to take your money. I won't be going back to him. I gained absolutely nothing but an empty bank account. <br /><br />And yes, my VAMC is one of the hospitals that has immediate VBA interaction. All C&P exams that I have been through were sent in the same day I took them. I just think it would be good if the VBA could post their directives so that the individual claimant would be more informed..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436072627950279234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251565681889366489.post-21316972098318658162014-04-12T01:02:48.212-07:002014-04-12T01:02:48.212-07:00Thank you Dr. Johnson for the response. I appreci...Thank you Dr. Johnson for the response. I appreciate it very much. I called the VBA Benefits Hotline no long ago. The gentleman I talked to told me that I no longer have to go to a private doctor since the VAMC is setting up a treatment plan for my PTSD. I understand the necessity of being thorough, but I'm not sure what's left out there that they don't have already. I have a copy of my latest VAMC PTSD evaluation. They no longer have a points rating. The doctor gave me a recommendation of "greater than 50%". <br /><br />I am retired and no longer working. As for my knees, in another week or so that evaluation will be available to me through Information and Records Department at our VAMC. I believe it's three weeks after an exam is completed that I can get a copy. My VA doctor has already set up an appointment for me to go to physical therapy next week. That should be something positive to confirm my condition to the VBA to use in my evaluation. I wouldn't be sent to P/T if there wasn't an issue.<br /><br />I will stop by mental health next week after P/T and see what their plans are for me. I am hoping for a decision soon. I saw one time on my eBenefit claim status page that completion date was set between Nov 2014-May 2015. Hardly the 238 days goal they are claiming to approve a claim now. Thanks again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436072627950279234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251565681889366489.post-85799063536965279982014-04-11T18:00:19.749-07:002014-04-11T18:00:19.749-07:00Hi Michael -
It sounds like the VA is trying to ...Hi Michael - <br /><br />It sounds like the VA is trying to initiate some of their new policies and practices. <br /><br />They do have to have a C&P Exam (http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/va'sc&pexam.html) done for every condition you have, and since PTSD (http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/ptsd.html) is a specialized field (psychology), then you will have to have a separate exam for it than the one for the knee. <br /><br />These exams are only for disability evaluation, though, and so do not play any role in your further treatment by the VA. That is why they sent you for an exam to the VAMC. The VAMC decides how to treat your conditions, and since you are still being treated by your VA approved physician, then the VAMC may feel that you do not need anything further from them since you are already being satisfactorily treated. I don't know that this as a fact, though, so I would contact them directly for clarification. <br /><br />As for having to undergo a new round of C&P exams and them collecting additional data: The VA is in the middle of trying to clean up their big mess, and implementing new procedures. The basic idea is for them to have all the data about your case and the exact information they need to rate it. A part of this is trying to make sure that they get all the related documents from every organization (including the DoD, your outside doctors, Social Security, etc.), and in the past that has taken a great deal of time. Many of the new rules will hopefully fix this, but it is not all up and running yet. Additionally, the VA physicians aren't always properly trained with the right questions to ask, so having them conduct new C&P Exams with the right questions is meant to remedy this problem. They are trying to make sure that they have all the right information so that they can ensure that your ratings are correct. <br /><br />Similarly, while they are planning on digitalizing everything, that has not been accomplished yet. Only a few VA centers have things online right now, but they are shooting to have everything online by 2015. We'll see if that happens. Hopefully it will, because that could really speed things up.<br /><br />Right now all these changes may seem like a big hassle, but hopefully they'll iron themselves out and start fixing the problems. Unfortunately, you are stuck right in the middle of this revamping, so it just ends up being more of a hassle to you. <br /><br />So, advice. Really all I can say is just hang tight. There isn't really much you can do to speed them up at this stage. They unfortunately just have to get things all sorted out. Once they have all the information collected, they'll update your rating to reflect any new information they receive, but there really isn't anything more you can do to get this going any faster. <br /><br />As for the VAMC, I would contact them to see what their plans are for you. Again, they may feel you are being treated fine and so don't need anything else from them. <br /><br />I hope this helps. I'm sorry you're being dragged through this very frustrating transitional period. I hope the VA will finally get all their stuff sorted, but unfortunately there is no guarantee. <br />Military Disability Made Easyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246704641900456151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251565681889366489.post-28236962518410645452014-04-09T05:30:24.082-07:002014-04-09T05:30:24.082-07:00I'm a 65 year old, Vietnam Combat Veteran, 1/7...I'm a 65 year old, Vietnam Combat Veteran, 1/7 Air Cavalry, 69-70. I began my PTSD and bad knee claims in May 2013. I went to a private VA approved doctor at first for my PTSD evaluation and several subsequent visits. I was given a 39 rating. In December of 2013 I guess the rules changed. The VBA sent me a packet of requested information. Some from me, and others from the doctor I had been seeing. All information was sent in on time. Then in January, the VBA sent me to VAMC C&P for another full PTSD Evaluation. This time the doctor was asking questions that the VBA were specifically asking him to include in his evaluation. Then a couple weeks later the VBA sent me to VAMC Mental Health for a treatment evaluation. I have not heard back from the VAMC as to their plan for me. Also during that time, the VBA sent me to C&P again. This time for a knee evaluation. I had active duty medical record proof for knee treatments and evaluations received during basic training and Infantry AIT from Ft.Bragg and Ft.McClellan. Again the doctor, was asking specific questions required by the VBA. It's been several weeks since, and now I'm finding out that the VBA has sent a 3d party information request again. I don't know to whom or about what. I can only guess the VAMC again. I don't see what they could possibly not know as I've given and done for them every thing I they have asked of me. I guess my question is, Why are they dragging this out? All the doctor evaluations go right into my VBA file online now. They have it the instant it is sent. Any advise???Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436072627950279234noreply@blogger.com