Community Forums

goldviper · 06-02-2013, 09:54 PM

Hello All,
I had Prostate Cancer and had it removed 2 1/2 years ago. It took the VA 20 months to approve it as being AO related.
I was also told by a VFW member I met at the Phoenix VA Hosp last month that I should reapply for more benifits. High blood pressure, Heart issues, Diabetes.
I wish all of you luck with your claims.
The Government can send Billions of $$$$ to Iraq as aid and we get screwed.
Les

jdoc · 06-03-2013, 06:38 AM

Stano, I agree with WayneM. Get to a DAV office ASAP. The person that told you that's all you can get did not know what she was talking about. I got 70% unemployable and was told by the VA Regional Office to not file any more claims because that was all they were going to give me. I filed the unemployable claim and got it the first time. You have just keep the pressure on. as the old saying goes, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease."

Jerry

Moonrover · 06-03-2013, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stano

And get this: 10% by VA math is only $129.00 a month. Another slap in the face for the Vietnam Vet!

Stano

Yes, I did notice the creative way they set up the percentage chart. Logically, if you look at the 100% figure and divide it by 10 you should see a true 10% ... but noooo ... it is much less.

I foresee a whole lot of claims being settled at the 10% level just so the VA can brag about having taken care of the backlog. Everybody knows the system is broken and clogged with bureaucratic incompetence, but a "fix" so far is only hot air and political rhetoric. It is up to us to keep the pressure on, as well as not give up with our personal applications for compensation and treatment.

For many years I was a silent veteran, not making waves about anything. Just came home from Nam, changed into civilian clothes and dug into building a life for my family. We vets all did the same after putting our hides on the line and doing what our country asked. Fast forward to what we are being subjected to now, I feel like the prevailing attitude of VA bureaucrats is that they are doing us a favor by dribbling out what they like to call "benefits". I prefer to call any check in the mail from the VA to be an installment payment on the debt the government owes us for borrowing the best years of our lives. In many cases we gave it all.

jdoc · 06-03-2013, 10:24 AM

Moonrover, well said. Thank you for your service.

Stano · 06-03-2013, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonrover

Yes, I did notice the creative way they set up the percentage chart. Logically, if you look at the 100% figure and divide it by 10 you should see a true 10% ... but noooo ... it is much less.

I foresee a whole lot of claims being settled at the 10% level just so the VA can brag about having taken care of the backlog. Everybody knows the system is broken and clogged with bureaucratic incompetence, but a "fix" so far is only hot air and political rhetoric. It is up to us to keep the pressure on, as well as not give up with our personal applications for compensation and treatment.

For many years I was a silent veteran, not making waves about anything. Just came home from Nam, changed into civilian clothes and dug into building a life for my family. We vets all did the same after putting our hides on the line and doing what our country asked. Fast forward to what we are being subjected to now, I feel like the prevailing attitude of VA bureaucrats is that they are doing us a favor by dribbling out what they like to call "benefits". I prefer to call any check in the mail from the VA to be an installment payment on the debt the government owes us for borrowing the best years of our lives. In many cases we gave it all.

Moonrover, you sure hit the nail on the head, as they say!

Thank you from Stano

gray ghost · 06-08-2013, 05:40 AM

As much as I hate to admit it, the problem, IMHO, is not the organization as a whole, but with individuals within the system. When I was first retiring I went through Fort Knox and a DAV rep there helped me tremendously. My disability claim was approved within just a few months. When I had to go back through the system after a recall to AD, I tried to work with the DAV in Atlanta. The rep there was a jerk. My wife was preparing for retirement and was told by the rep that he couldn't talk to her until she retired. I waited for some time, didn't hear anything from the DAV about my claim, and finally got a call from a worker at the VA saying that he needed a particular document that I had furnished to the DAV. The VA guy allowed me to fax the document in and my document was signed as approved as soon as it got to him.

maxwell18 · 06-09-2013, 11:00 AM

First of all never give up on your claim. You can find on the internet information about va claims under chap 35 and even find what disabilities rate what percent rating. Now this does take time to fish around but the rewards are great. It took me 10 years to go from 20% at retirement 8/94 to get to 100% P&T. While this was going on I got back pay three times. I have helped other vets and if I could help anyone else shoot a PM to me.
Bruce Maxwell CMSGT ret USAF

wingman8 · 06-17-2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gray ghost

As much as I hate to admit it, the problem, IMHO, is not the organization as a whole, but with individuals within the system. When I was first retiring I went through Fort Knox and a DAV rep there helped me tremendously. My disability claim was approved within just a few months. When I had to go back through the system after a recall to AD, I tried to work with the DAV in Atlanta. The rep there was a jerk. My wife was preparing for retirement and was told by the rep that he couldn't talk to her until she retired. I waited for some time, didn't hear anything from the DAV about my claim, and finally got a call from a worker at the VA saying that he needed a particular document that I had furnished to the DAV. The VA guy allowed me to fax the document in and my document was signed as approved as soon as it got to him.

It is very, repeat very, important that you know what your rep is doing for you and if they know what the hell they are doing. I lost almost two years of disability due to a VFW rep that was "helping" with my claim. I have had the good fortune to find a rep that really knew the system and after she started it was less than 8 months to get approved. Good Luck, don't give up

maxwell18 · 06-18-2013, 03:40 AM

I want to add to my comments, don't wait on somebody else to help you with your claim if you can use the computer and do research. You have the most interest in your claim and I found I got tried of waiting on others/organizations to help me. So I got smart and read everything I could about claims and file my own. Go to web site "hadit.com" it is no BS just veterans helping each other. You can find ANY information you would need to file your own claim. Jump into it. On ALL VA corrsponence sp put your SSAN , name top right corner of EVERY piece of paper you file and make sure you mail it where they have to sign for it. You can PM me if your want some help. I am a retired CMSGT USAF but did serve USN and USA. So I have been around a couple of blocks. Good luck. Give me some feed back. Bruce Maxwell

Moonrover · 06-18-2013, 08:45 AM

Thanks Bruce ... I think we are all clinging to the same tree limb here. Much in common. My application process is still "in process" but like you recommend, I'm on it like stink. Keeping copies, making sure anything that is touched by the VA has my name and numbers on it. So far so good. They claimed to have lost my stuff once, and I loaded them up with copies right away. However their response coming back that my paperwork was now in process could not possibly have been in reference to my recently sent copies. One day? Methinks they found the originals.

Remember the old days of "hand carrying" paperwork to expedite things? Not possible in our cases, but back in the service, that method got results. Sometimes it would take all day and a bit of diplomacy, but much faster than trusting the in/out box shuffle.

bj32 · 09-14-2013, 08:37 AM

Stay on the "beast". I filed for Agent Orange, Viet-Nam, Frozen feet,Korean war.
receiving 100% for: Prostate cancer,bladder cancer, frozen feet, frozen hands.
Took me 1 year of batteling thru the VA at Battle Creek, Mi and Detroit VA.
Filed then started calling once a week to Detroit VA found a "friend" that got tired of me calling and shoved the claim thru, paid back pay from date I filed. Service Officers not very helpful, I went direct. Have all of your documentation and keep copies.
Good Luck and Semper Fi Marine

Stano · 09-14-2013, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bj32

Stay on the "beast". I filed for Agent Orange, Viet-Nam, Frozen feet,Korean war.
receiving 100% for: Prostate cancer,bladder cancer, frozen feet, frozen hands.
Took me 1 year of batteling thru the VA at Battle Creek, Mi and Detroit VA.
Filed then started calling once a week to Detroit VA found a "friend" that got tired of me calling and shoved the claim thru, paid back pay from date I filed. Service Officers not very helpful, I went direct. Have all of your documentation and keep copies.
Good Luck and Semper Fi Marine

I filed for Agent Orange with a Service Officer here at the Kalamazoo VA office. I was awarded only 10% for ischemic heart disease. Told I was lucky to get that much, in so many words!

Stano

Moonrover · 09-14-2013, 10:12 PM

What's with the VA doing the "we can't locate your application supporting documents"? Once again I had to forward more of the same copies. It must be part of the game to stall. So much for the lip service we hear about " fast tracking" applications and their more efficient whiz-bang computer system. All it has done for me is put another stumbling block in the way.

Wayne M · 09-15-2013, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonrover

What's with the VA doing the "we can't locate your application supporting documents"? Once again I had to forward more of the same copies. It must be part of the game to stall. So much for the lip service we hear about " fast tracking" applications and their more efficient whiz-bang computer system. All it has done for me is put another stumbling block in the way.

Don't fret to much. When you finally get approved you will receive back pay to the day you applied. Depending on the percentage that can be quite a down payment on a new abode. (With wheels of course.)