I had a DRO hearing ( I requested) and thought I was prepared. I was politely informed that the 7yr rule applies (and strictly) to MS like any other medical Dx. (at least in Michigan). I asked about the 2007 legislation and told it was NOT valid, at least as far as Michigan goes.
The C&P my denial was based on was pure garbage. The C&P Dr. claimed I said things I never said and ignored well documented issues. They ignored ALL my Navy medical records, and ignored ALL of my VA records to date, going back decades.
I went in with 3 non-VA doctor nexus letters plus one from my VA-MS specialist, all shot down, claiming they were worthless and one had a date wrong. Even the PVA VSO worked against me at the hearing and acted as a secretary to/for the hearing officer, and REFUSED to even go over my claim with me beforehand. They even shot down the differential diagnosis process used by 2 of my non-VA doctors as the basic for requesting MS testing was called pure bunk and "speculator" in nature.
They have me scheduled for another C&P, could be good news but here in Michigan it will probably be a worthless endeavor to seal my denial of service connection using voodoo medicine.
On a brighter front, The VA says my left shoulder has a tear and they are NOT going to repair it or even send me to P/T for it. I can NOT get a carrier or lift for my scooter because I am not S/C for the MS (despite several navy records showing MS symptoms while on active duty. The VA here in Michigan is going by the fact that my MS was NOT diagnosed while on AD or within 7 years.
For the icing on the cake, just like decades ago when I complained in vain SOMETHING ELSE was wrong (I felt like a dead man walking) I am being sent to the SHRINKS again. Decades ago I was sent to their shrinks and even their own shrinks noted I was not nuts or even depressed, just adamant something else was wrong, the VA refused to even try and figure out what that something else was. (turned out to be Multiple Sclerosis).
Its funny the VA considered the Dif-Dx junk speculation yet the same VA ended up PROVING it was 100% spot on & accurate.
Since I am not S/C for the MS, I can NOT get a carrier or lift for my non-VA scooter, let alone an accessible vehicle or home mods etc. (at least not in Michigan). I guess the only thing I can get from the VA is a yearly MRI, MS clinic check ups and my Copaxone. (& the manual w/c I got last April.)
BTW the VA hearing officer politely informed me that MS information posted by the VA on the VA website on S/C, rules, benefits, guide lines etc are NOT correct and NOT adhered to or recognized by my VA DRO.
If all this sounds 180 from the way scooter has been treated, it is! Our state governor complains that Michigan ranks dead last, of ALL 50 states and territories, bottom of the barrel for VA bennies and care............ wonder WHY?????????
Gomer
The C&P my denial was based on was pure garbage. The C&P Dr. claimed I said things I never said and ignored well documented issues. They ignored ALL my Navy medical records, and ignored ALL of my VA records to date, going back decades.
I went in with 3 non-VA doctor nexus letters plus one from my VA-MS specialist, all shot down, claiming they were worthless and one had a date wrong. Even the PVA VSO worked against me at the hearing and acted as a secretary to/for the hearing officer, and REFUSED to even go over my claim with me beforehand. They even shot down the differential diagnosis process used by 2 of my non-VA doctors as the basic for requesting MS testing was called pure bunk and "speculator" in nature.
They have me scheduled for another C&P, could be good news but here in Michigan it will probably be a worthless endeavor to seal my denial of service connection using voodoo medicine.
On a brighter front, The VA says my left shoulder has a tear and they are NOT going to repair it or even send me to P/T for it. I can NOT get a carrier or lift for my scooter because I am not S/C for the MS (despite several navy records showing MS symptoms while on active duty. The VA here in Michigan is going by the fact that my MS was NOT diagnosed while on AD or within 7 years.
For the icing on the cake, just like decades ago when I complained in vain SOMETHING ELSE was wrong (I felt like a dead man walking) I am being sent to the SHRINKS again. Decades ago I was sent to their shrinks and even their own shrinks noted I was not nuts or even depressed, just adamant something else was wrong, the VA refused to even try and figure out what that something else was. (turned out to be Multiple Sclerosis).
Its funny the VA considered the Dif-Dx junk speculation yet the same VA ended up PROVING it was 100% spot on & accurate.
Since I am not S/C for the MS, I can NOT get a carrier or lift for my non-VA scooter, let alone an accessible vehicle or home mods etc. (at least not in Michigan). I guess the only thing I can get from the VA is a yearly MRI, MS clinic check ups and my Copaxone. (& the manual w/c I got last April.)
BTW the VA hearing officer politely informed me that MS information posted by the VA on the VA website on S/C, rules, benefits, guide lines etc are NOT correct and NOT adhered to or recognized by my VA DRO.
If all this sounds 180 from the way scooter has been treated, it is! Our state governor complains that Michigan ranks dead last, of ALL 50 states and territories, bottom of the barrel for VA bennies and care............ wonder WHY?????????
Gomer
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