TBI Disability awarded; new claim for back issues?

By the way, took your advice just now and submitted multiple photos.

I knew there was a section to upload documents to support said claim, but didn't notice the last option "Photographs"

 

I’d put a short statement with them, just something explaining the background of the pictures and that you’re submitting them to support the injuries you’re claiming. I can promise this will separate you from the rest of the claims that they’ll be denying.

 

I was only able to submit the photographs, but I guess I can put together a word document with a bit of background for each picture I uploaded.

 

what if you just draw crappy?...

 

Good question, I can barely draw a stick figure..

 

PM me if you want, I can try to help.

I’m not going to read all 7 pages of this. I was a doc and I rather ask a few things not on open line.

 

Received a phone call yesterday from the Palo Alto VA hospital while at work that, for a moment, instantly pissed me off.

So I receive the call, and after confirming I'm the said veteran they're looking to speak to, they proceed to tell me about my June 26th appointment for my MRI. Because of my income, I do not qualify for VA benefits and so I will be responsible for the MRI.

At that moment I about snapped because it was made abundantly clear after multiple phone calls that I would not be responsible. This was not an MRI that I requested "just because" I told her, it was for my TBI evaluation for claims and compensation.

Honestly hope it's just mixup

I remember around a week before the MRI, I had spoken to the VA (claims/comp) about the status of my claim. They said the only thing not yet received was my TBI evaluation to which I replied "makes sense because Palo Alto has been calling me to come in for the MRI they're trying to schedule." Afterward I did my due diligence and spoke to different departments at the hospital to confirm I would not be responsible for the MRI, since I didn't ask for it. The neurologist requested it after my initial evaluation.

Online it says that the estimated date of completion is August 11th.

We'll see how everything goes.

 

You can call community care direct to see if there is a request submitted and/or approved. Then if not, go through your PCM and have them request it. When I’ve waited a couple weeks and there is still no movement, I always use the messaging service in MyHealtheVet to email the PCM. When I’m really annoyed I remind them in the email that there is a reason vet suicide rates are so high, one of those reasons being lack of care from the VA. I tell them I am not currently suicidal but the lack genuine concern from their part is a contributing factor to the statistics.

I’ve tried not to use it lightly as I have had far too many fiends and family go that route and even been there myself but it seems to be about the only thing that they respond to. It’s usually after 5-6 phone calls and at least one email with no response for over a week.

We almost have to force them to do their jobs. It would be different if any of us were making a big deal about a cold or something but the reality most of us only seek medical aid when we have to (large cost or health reasons).

Hell I use Tricare for basic shit. Well at least before this new program came out with the urgent care option.

OP- Don’t go to your MRI unless there is an approval in the system. You will get billed 5 years from now and end up fighting it all over again.

Hell jump on Testers town hall if you need to. Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee. I’ve used him before at an in person town hall just to get my back surgery approved last year.

 

Some of this doesn't apply as I am not currently enrolled to receive VA healthcare and do not have access to myhealthvet because I am not enrolled to receive VA healthcare.

This is strictly for claims and compensation; I have no existing pension/disability.

I had my MRI done June 26th (2 weeks ago).

I did make more than enough calls to talk to several departments in various areas (both VA and hospital) and was told the MRI is part of my evaluation for TBI. The above was more of a rant than anything and I just wanted to keep those following up to date.

 

Got ya. Guess I missed that’s part. Thought this was another claim and you already had another one approved.

 

Filed a claim for all my symptoms at once, even though I should've done so long ago.

 

VA called, and informed me that there is a delay even after they have solicited the Palo Alto VA hospital.

I called Palo Alto and waited half hour for Compensation and Pension; they instructed me that they strictly set appointments and to talk to Medical Records and Release, call disconnects

Called Palo Alto again and waited only 10 minutes and got ahold of someone; apparently, I was supposed to sign a release of information form when I was there...I was never informed to do so by any one department or individual when I was there. I didn't even know such a form existed. Fortunately, I can fax/email the form so I went ahead and downloaded it and now I'm waiting for the VA to pick up so I can gather the point of contact information I need the information released to. Automated system says it's only a 40 minute wait...

I am not surprised by any of this at all, but god damn.

Wonder why suicide rates are high amongst veterans? Friend of mine took his own life some years back; I don't think he ever got the care and attention he desperately needed.

 

Agreed.

Even good VA centers are backlogged to point of being half worthless.

Hang in there... don’t let them use their favorite form of denial... attrition.

 

Why the fuck would I get a bill at all?

Excuse my language guys, but seriously...

I'll pay the $50, but why am I getting a bill for an appointment they scheduled as part of my claim for benefits?



Edited it to protect my information.

 

You seriously might be better seeking a legitimate lawyer. You’ve had some strange shit that makes no sense, even coming from the VA.

 

I'm glad I'm documenting everything here in this thread, and I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that thinks this is all abnormal.

 

Seems the status has updated -

 

That means a decision has been made. There are ways to "trick" the eBenefits system to figure out what it is before you get the letter. I don't know exactly how (you can Google it), but I think it has something to do with attempting to open up a dummy claim for that condition, and see if it allows you to ask for an "increase," something like that.

Edit: You can also go look at the letter generator, find the one that shows your rating, see if that changed.