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    DRO hearing recently

    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

    #2
    Border?

    Gomer,
    Are you close to the border where you can transfer your care to a VA in a neighboring state?
    -James

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      #3
      Originally posted by gomer View Post



      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.)


      Gomer
      Gomer,

      That one is also not true. I'm not S/C for my MS yet I got a scooter and lift/carrier for my pickup from the VA due to my frequent falls which are due to my MS. Maybe what you need to do is get them to give you a scooter for you falling in order to get the lift/carrier? The scooter I got was initiated my the social worker at my PC office when she requested that my PC put in a consult for the evaluation for a scooter due to my falling. Talking to my MS neuro and PC prior to this did not good. Oh the Social worker was also trying to gte me to have the VA modify my home (ramp, etc.) but since I have a new home in ME I want to use those resources iup their instead of here in TN.

      I can understand the frustration about your shoulder. I had torn the cartillage in my left knee and it took over a year before they could get them to do the surgery on the knee. I finally got them to do it when I brought in a MRI of my knee from an outside the VA source.

      I hope this might give you some ideas of how to navigate the VA into giving you what you need.

      I just got my latest denial from the VA which I'll post in a separate post.
      Dennis

      The soul of a song will lift your spirits.

      Comment


        #4
        Hi gang....... Hope all my fellow vets are doing better than I am. Does not look like either AFLAC or the A will come thru in time to save our home even. My wife had AFLAC thru work for over a decades and AFLAC short term disability is refusing to pay a thin dime, We did file a complaint with the state, so far no luck/word.

        Even if the VA does grant me S/C per conditions stated on their own web site, its not likely to come in time to save our butts from foreclosure. Complaints to my senators have been useless, nothing more that phone contacts all saying they will NOT help our situation. MY congressman did at least get the ball rolling for the hearing & another C&P, but no movement on my claim.....

        BTW I am about 75 miles or so from Toledo but that's as far as Detroit and its a gamble to take my car that far from home these days. My car leaks fluids, I have to check them very often, like every day I dare go anywhere.

        Anywho........ Happy Hollidays to all!

        Gomer

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          #5
          Never give up, never give in.

          Please email Allison Hickey:
          • Greeting and introduction (my name is Joe Blow, dates of service, etc)
          • brief synopsis of your struggles (I have MS, wheelchair bound, already at DRO, no help).
          • what action items can she take to help you (Can independent person review DRO findings, multiple letters from both VA/non-VA providers are being ignored)

          Try to keep it short, fact-based and without bashing the VA (even though they deserve it).

          Believe it, or not, she actually responds to most veterans emails herself. If moderators delete her email, it is public information so just search the Internet for it. She is the Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

          Department of Veterans Affairs
          Under Secretary for Benefits


          **Email address removed by Moderator in compliance with MSWorld Guidelines. This may be put in your Profile for all registered, logged-in members to see. Go to UserCP > Edit Details**

          Comment


            #6
            Thanx Marco.. but I have NOT been able to find ANY contact or email address info. One person on the web said they got results in less than a day. That would probably equate to years for me....
            Info on Allison is plentiful... but nothing that would help me make any contact.
            Had to sign in & out and in again several times just to get back on here today....
            (one reason it takes longer time for me to search is I had to give up DSL and go back to DIAL-UP due to cost.)

            Comment


              #7
              gomer - I responded to your lift-off post. Again, I am so happy for you. I am so proud of you for never giving in and never giving up. I hope you and your wife will have a slightly sweeter celebration for Christmas.

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