VA benefits

[sadiemae]

Missy, have you been to this website? Jim Strickland runs this, and maybe he could get you some answers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/

 

[Marti]

Miss...
go to www.hadit.com
they[/url] also can help


Marti

 

[AlfieCyril]

Jim Strickland runs this, and maybe he could get you some answers.

 

[ddelporto]

ZenArcher,
Just a note about the VA and the 90 consecutive active duty days. My husband has Bulbar ALS (diagnoised 3/2010) which is progressing very rapidly, we applied to the VA for benefits, he served 24 years in the Army National Guard and back in 57 was sent to a radar school for 6 months (180 active duty days) and we were denied benefits. Altho our guardsmen are serving all over the world now they differentiate between enlisted military and the National Guard... I believe that it was the exposure at radar school that has caused him all of his health issues.... Vitalago, Diabetis, Colon Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Thyroid Cancer and now Bulbar ALS..... I don't know of any guardsmen who have received any VA benefits..

 

[ZenArcher]

The VA doesn't consider training as active duty for Guard personnel. This is true for all conditions not just ALS.

 

[pudge44]

Hi I am hoping someone can answer my question; the VA has sent us forms to fill out after filing our claim through the PVA, out of the many forms we have to fill out there is one form that asks my husband to decsribe in his own words "why he thinks his disability was caused by serving in the military?" I mean really ! so now we are caught between a rock and a hard place as if this is not worded correctly we stand to wait a long time & risk not getting help at all for him, please do not answer this unless you are 100% knowledgeable about this particular process and I thank you ahead of time.

 

[Miss]

We did not fill out that section. We just put "presumptive service related illness" in that block. Check with your PVA rep about it. If he/she doesn't know, tell them to ask the National PVA service officer in your area. Don't take chances and make up an answer.

 

[sadiemae]

Also, send all your papers(copies of them) to the PVA rep to look over before you send them in.

 

[ZenArcher]

All paperwork should be sent to the PVA. You give them power of attorney in VA matters so that it takes the burden off of you and so that things are done in your best interest. Unless you know what you're doing don't touch pen to paper without talking to your PVA rep.

 

[pudge44]

Firstly ty for you all for your feedback it is very much appreciated, that is exactly what i did after posting, I called and left a message with our pva rep John hopefully he will get back to us soon, my husband looked over all the papers they sent and after reading them he said simply this is basically delay tatics & he was none to happy.

We have had notice by mail ( after PVA sent all his paperwork to the VA including doctors als diagnoses of "bulbar onset spinal als" from the VA that the claim has been given a number, and in the same lot of mail we also got the packet with all the extra forms to fill out, my question is did anyone have to also see a VA doctor even though they had a definitive by a top ALS specialist ? they have now asked my hubby to so this.

 

[pearshoot]

diagnosed 2/2010 applied to va 3/2010 denied 9/2010 immediately submitted letter of rebuttal approved 2/2011 but for only70 percent. they are always reviewing 90 to 180 days old. have applied to be up graded to 100% as there is no way to keep up with the progression and constant re-evaluation. waiting time varies be prepared for a wait. at 70% i am only trading dollars va payment is subtracted from military retirement. 100% rating less is subtracted keep leaning forward in the foxhole, head down and powder horn dry

 

[pudge44]

Pearshoot hello :0) firstly I want to say to you THANK YOU for your service, wow you waited a long time how awful for the veterans with als who have to go through lengthy processes when you know you are getting sicker and you know the outcome of ALS, I understand veterans before 2008 did not get the coverage & that other folks who are not veterans get nought but SSDI, however if a veteran has ALS and is entitled to help WHY OH WHY do they do this? such a shame.

I always think about homeless veterans, many with addictions & mental disorders who are left to fend for themselves, makes me heart sick, if I come across them I always give money hoping I am not offending, if this is a simple jesture from me then it should be much simpler for the VA, however it does not work like that.

In 2 weeks our son leaves for Afghanastan, it will be his 6th deployment, I hope he never has to deal with any of what his dad is dealing with, I worry for my son and try not to think about it a lot as we are overwhelmed as it is.

 

[Miss]

The VA scheduled an appointment with their doctor for my husband. We said no. We had a firm diagnosis from the top ALS doctor in the region, and my husband was not going to endure any more testing. They did not push the matter. We filed with the VA 14 days after my husband was diagnosed. From filing to first check was about 6 weeks. I had my ducks in a row, though. I was missing no paperwork when we filed. After calling ahead of time, I hand delivered the forms to my husband's doctors, and they filled them out and returned them the same day. I submitted a notebook that included the DD214, all completed paperwork, birth certificates, marriage licenses, etc. for my husband and me as well as our children to our PVA service officer.

 

[Yankeesgrl]

I have a question about VA providing care. My husband is on a vent, cannot walk or stand, and uses his hands very little. He needs help with everything. Right now we are getting home care through private insurance. With his health condition he requires LPN or RN care for when I am not here. Private insurance is going away in a couple of months. The only thing that the VA is offering is CNA care. Which means I cannot leave to pick up meds or go grocery shopping. I have ask the question and the only answer I get is that CNA care is all they offer. Anybody else had the same problem or any advise to help us make the VA provide the care my husband needs?

 

[ZenArcher]

Take a look here: VA Caregiver Services and In-Home Care - VA Caregiver Support: Caring for those Who Care