Broken Down, navigating the VA can be daunting to say the least. You wrote that you went to the CBOC where you live and signed up, and you are scheduled to see the doctor and have blood work done. When you go to your appointments labs will be first, then you will probably have time before you see the doctor. Use that time to educate yourself how the clinic works and what their capabilities are. Does the clinic have a new patient orientation? All your questions can be answered there if it does. Go to the information desk or the business office and ask if they have a veterans service officer on site to put in claim for benefits and compensation. If the clinic has one, use them. It doesn't matter whether it;s PVA, DAV, Mt. Veterans, VFW, or American Legion; they all do the same thing, they will help you file your claim. If the clinic doesn't have a veterans services officer on site the business ought to be able to direct you to one. The claim for benefit and compensation is critical, without it you haven't done much. ALS is a presumptive disease and gets fairly quick approval. Once the VA gets gets the claim they will get your medical records for evaluation. Since you are new in the system with no other med record on you it may take extra time to gather. They may schedule you for a compensation and pension (C&P) exam. Don't miss a C&P exam.
Take notes what you want to ask the doctor and what you find out from your visit. A sharp pencil is better than a dull memory. The doctor will probably become your Primary Care Physician (PCP). Your PCP is your go to person that will set up consult with OT, PT and specialist for evaluation. OT are the POC for surveying your house and can suggest the upgrades you should consider for making you house handicap friendly. OT will work with you to get your power chair. Again, Your PCP has to write the prescription, PT will evaluate, OT will get you measured for a rehab chair, budget committee will approve it, then prosthetics will order it. A personal note: I just went through this myself, it takes time. I asked the chair rep that measured me for my chair how long it would take to make the chair. His answer, two day at the factory. The rest of the time is in approval and shipping it back to the veteran. If you have a minivan that is fairly new, the VA will convert it for you, no cost to you. I am waiting for mine to come back as we speak. I have been informed that it finished and waiting for a transporter to bring it back from Indiana. Again, prosthetics only need a prescription from your PCP. I have also been informed that the new chair will probably be delivered to the mobility dealer and be mated up with the van before delivery. That could be any day. It will have taken 7 weeks for that whole process. If you want to buy a van, that goes through a grant program and that is dependent on the 100% "permanent and total" disabled evaluation from your claim.
The question you posed about continuing going to your preferred clinic will be how to pay for it is a business office question.
Also, ask where the VA Regional Directors office is located. The individual is a go to person that can make inquiries of your claim and the status. I feel blessed that the VA I go to is 3 miles from my house and houses both a regional rep and a DAV and Teas Veterans rep in house. I looked up where you are versus where the Montana VA Health Care System hospital is located. I hope the CBOC can take care of your needs without you having to go to the main hospital for C&P exams. I hope this helps, I hope I didn't step on anyones toes with my comments but this from my experiences at the VA. Get you claim in, sign up for a My HealtheVet so you can order meds, send secure messages to your doctor and check your appointments; and sign up for an eBenefits account online so you can check your claim status. Hang in there Glenn, good luck, I hope this helps.
