Re: Finally a Good News Day

[Guest guest]

Congrats!!!!!! It's nice to hear you'll be getting more from the VA :-)

Rick

www.whosyomama.com

[ ] Finally a Good News Day

After talking with the lawyer's office about not recieving any kind

of settlement because the clinic wouldn't reduce their bill, I was

very depressed. I thought why me??? I have been in so much pain

for so long and here I thought that Jay and I would be able to get

our heads above water with this money just to be told - NOPE - you

can't have it - the lawyer and the Doc are going to get richer off

your injuries...

Well, I went out to meet the mailman to sign my letter from the

lawyer's office releasing the funds and he handed me another

package...

Now what you ask was in the other package???

It was from the VA...I had filed an appeal last summer after having

the shoulder surgery and the impending neck surgery and hadn't heard

from them except that they were still working on my claim...

Well, today I got the answer.

As of Sept 1 2003 they put me at 100% disabled and then on Oct1st

they put me as housebound and unable to work...this is through Jan

1st 2004. As of the 1st of Jan I was reduced down to 80% and the

housebound was taken off but that is 10% more then I was getting.

It is a substantial increase from 70 to 80 so Jay and I will be able

to put some money aside each month for a rainy day or a new car when

the truck kicks the bucket(8 years old and 150,000miles but don't

tell it).

I will be recieving a check for my back pay since Sept. We will be

able to get the plumbing fixed and the roof and happy days are in

our house again.

Of course, I now have to appeal the decision again and ask for a

higher rating again. I have a 0% disability on my lower back at the

moment but that was when there was just a slight bit of arthritis

there. The last xrays showed it has increased 3 fold so I will

start all over again. Hopefully, I will get it raised to 90 and

then they usually bump it to 100.

All the paperwork. They hope like SSDI people that you will just

quit but I am not going to. I have been told by several people to

keep applying and answer every letter and to keep sending them more

information.

But isn't it great that the sun was shining on my house today. I

thought it was going to be a miserable achey day but the mailman

brought rotten and great mail.

God bless,

Althea

PS Prayers work!

[Guest guest]

That is wonderful news Althea. It really isn¹t right that you have to pay

medical bills out of your settlement.

At least something went well for you.

a

> After talking with the lawyer's office about not recieving any kind

> of settlement because the clinic wouldn't reduce their bill, I was

> very depressed. I thought why me??? I have been in so much pain

> for so long and here I thought that Jay and I would be able to get

> our heads above water with this money just to be told - NOPE - you

> can't have it - the lawyer and the Doc are going to get richer off

> your injuries...

>

> Well, I went out to meet the mailman to sign my letter from the

> lawyer's office releasing the funds and he handed me another

> package...

>

> Now what you ask was in the other package???

>

> It was from the VA...I had filed an appeal last summer after having

> the shoulder surgery and the impending neck surgery and hadn't heard

> from them except that they were still working on my claim...

>

> Well, today I got the answer.

>

> As of Sept 1 2003 they put me at 100% disabled and then on Oct1st

> they put me as housebound and unable to work...this is through Jan

> 1st 2004. As of the 1st of Jan I was reduced down to 80% and the

> housebound was taken off but that is 10% more then I was getting.

> It is a substantial increase from 70 to 80 so Jay and I will be able

> to put some money aside each month for a rainy day or a new car when

> the truck kicks the bucket(8 years old and 150,000miles but don't

> tell it).

>

> I will be recieving a check for my back pay since Sept. We will be

> able to get the plumbing fixed and the roof and happy days are in

> our house again.

>

> Of course, I now have to appeal the decision again and ask for a

> higher rating again. I have a 0% disability on my lower back at the

> moment but that was when there was just a slight bit of arthritis

> there. The last xrays showed it has increased 3 fold so I will

> start all over again. Hopefully, I will get it raised to 90 and

> then they usually bump it to 100.

>

> All the paperwork. They hope like SSDI people that you will just

> quit but I am not going to. I have been told by several people to

> keep applying and answer every letter and to keep sending them more

> information.

>

> But isn't it great that the sun was shining on my house today. I

> thought it was going to be a miserable achey day but the mailman

> brought rotten and great mail.

>

> God bless,

> Althea

>

> PS Prayers work!

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

glad to hear something finally came your way. sometimes you get so tired of

fighting everything that you do. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Althea: Congratulations!!!! I know what a pain the VA can be....I

have a question for you tho....did the VA tell you that they would

give you back pay??? They did the same to my husband he was approved

for non work ability in May but never recieved his first check until

September and there was no back pay I can't remember the excuse but

do remember them saying they never award back pay. I do know once

you recieve 100% (in my husband's case he is 60% but was determined

unemployable) the pay is the same for everyone regardless of rank.

Also social security sends out a sheet of info with the first denial

that says the do not recognize the findings of any other group, and

having talked to alot of vets this does seem to be the case as one

was told by SS that the VA has easier criteria .....what a joke!!!!!!

One cool thing tho is ....VA once you are picked up covers dental

and glasses.....another nosey question???? Did you retire? Because

if so even tho you get the VA check you also get part of your

retirement back the sum depends on your rating.....I don't

understand when you say you still have to fight with them to get to

100%...if one of you conditions was 50% of your medical problems and

you are at 80% than you should qualify for non-workability, even if

you get it to 100% it won't be anymore money......VA does'nt tell

you alot of the things you qualify for so you have to question

everything.....after many years we just found out my husband

qualifies for a free life insurance it is 10,000 but we never knew

squat about it and I don't remember reading anything about it in the

literature they send.......anyways CONGRATS......and you deserve

it....hugs Kathi in OK

--- In , " blueroses11 " <bluerose11@e...>

wrote:

> After talking with the lawyer's office about not recieving any

kind

> of settlement because the clinic wouldn't reduce their bill, I was

> very depressed. I thought why me??? I have been in so much pain

> for so long and here I thought that Jay and I would be able to get

> our heads above water with this money just to be told - NOPE - you

> can't have it - the lawyer and the Doc are going to get richer off

> your injuries...

>

> Well, I went out to meet the mailman to sign my letter from the

> lawyer's office releasing the funds and he handed me another

> package...

>

> Now what you ask was in the other package???

>

> It was from the VA...I had filed an appeal last summer after

having

> the shoulder surgery and the impending neck surgery and hadn't

heard

> from them except that they were still working on my claim...

>

> Well, today I got the answer.

>

> As of Sept 1 2003 they put me at 100% disabled and then on Oct1st

> they put me as housebound and unable to work...this is through Jan

> 1st 2004. As of the 1st of Jan I was reduced down to 80% and the

> housebound was taken off but that is 10% more then I was getting.

> It is a substantial increase from 70 to 80 so Jay and I will be

able

> to put some money aside each month for a rainy day or a new car

when

> the truck kicks the bucket(8 years old and 150,000miles but don't

> tell it).

>

> I will be recieving a check for my back pay since Sept. We will

be

> able to get the plumbing fixed and the roof and happy days are in

> our house again.

>

> Of course, I now have to appeal the decision again and ask for a

> higher rating again. I have a 0% disability on my lower back at

the

> moment but that was when there was just a slight bit of arthritis

> there. The last xrays showed it has increased 3 fold so I will

> start all over again. Hopefully, I will get it raised to 90 and

> then they usually bump it to 100.

>

> All the paperwork. They hope like SSDI people that you will just

> quit but I am not going to. I have been told by several people to

> keep applying and answer every letter and to keep sending them

more

> information.

>

> But isn't it great that the sun was shining on my house today. I

> thought it was going to be a miserable achey day but the mailman

> brought rotten and great mail.

>

> God bless,

> Althea

>

> PS Prayers work!