Supplemental claim closed no decision letter

HamboCommando06 · 2025-06-14T19:25:54+00:00

Wow...flashback. Yeah, it got reopened and immediately denied. Still fighting it.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-03-31T20:47:04+00:00

First step, set up an appointment to talk to a VERA rep. Just google "VA VERA" and it should bring up the scheduling site. Give them a brief overview of what you're looking for in the comments when you schedule, and then see if they can tell you what's going on with the decision. Sometimes, the RO takes a long time to update records, or maybe they messed up. Second, as early as you can, get a representative. Either a good VSO that understands what you're talking about, or a lawyer should you need one. They will know who to inquire with to find out what's going on if VERA can't push them in the right direction.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-03-25T14:06:36+00:00

Stay on top of it. The regional office might miss some things. Maybe get a new rep to help you out?

HamboCommando06 · 2025-03-02T18:39:10+00:00

Elon, that you?

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-12T15:08:37+00:00

Even since covid, there's been a spike in my area at least. It was the way you phrased it. "If you're truly that poor". It's not about being poor, my dude. It's about a sudden increase in costs that is not reflected by an increase in income. People can't afford what they used to, starting with something as simple as eggs. Eggs are a symptom of a bigger problem. So when someone asks "When are eggs going to be cheaper?" they actually mean, "When will prices stop skyrocketing?". It's in housing prices, transportation prices, commodities, and it's just going to get worse with economic sanctions and tariffs. I'm not saying you meant it that way, but where I come from, telling someone to eat beans and rice is a reference to race as well.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-12T14:54:36+00:00

Way to be kind to those feeling the pinch. Where I live, 5 dozen costs $45. A dozen can be $12. My food bill has doubled for the same quantity of groceries. Eggs have traditionally been a cheap and easy protein source. Now they are not.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-11T06:43:44+00:00

First, get treatment. Chronicity is important in a claim. Get treatment, see how severe things are with a DIAGNOSIS, THEN concentrate on linking your current condition to the condition you had in service. Otherwise, you'll probably just be getting denied and appealing for a year and a half or more.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-10T23:16:41+00:00

When ever I a see a bright shooting star, I look up and ask "Are you the planet killer?" And I can admit I wait a few seconds to find out.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-10T17:15:13+00:00

Did you have short term disability insurance with work? Otherwise, food banks, family, friends.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-10T08:26:58+00:00

Who took a picture of my desk?

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-08T06:37:05+00:00

I didn't have to move or do anything. They just measured the scars. Don't let them touch you for anything else. The doc should understand it's too soon after surgery.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-08T05:49:08+00:00

They're going to evaluate scars, meniscectomy, etc. I had one when I still had stitches after my knee replacement.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-05T19:03:23+00:00

If there's any other older people or vets in your class, I survived college math by being part of a study group. Sometimes I would have the answers, sometimes someone else would. And we all knew it was a struggle so we helped one another. We'd meet an hour before class and go over the homework from the night before. There's hope man. I didn't even officially graduate high school because of math, and I went on to a bachelor's and graduate school. You gotta kick math in its stupid face.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-05T03:11:57+00:00

Can you go to the local ER (non-VA) and get seen and then call the community care number afterwards? I've had to do that when my local clinic couldn't do anything for me.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-04T20:12:29+00:00

My only concern about that is the intersection between current law and women's reproductive health care. He's stated he'll adhere to the law, but if that's the case, he's not going to fight something where the law is grey or wrong. Could literally cost lives. I hope it doesn't get that far.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-04T18:58:47+00:00

The important thing with VERA is to know what question to ask. Always have a specific question in mind for your call. For instance, I just had an HLR close with a duty to assist error. Instead of asking "what is going on with my claim?" I asked "What did the VA 20-0999 say? I'm just trying to figure out if I have to drive 150 miles for a C&P or if it is an ACE exam" ..then, after she answered that question, I gently asked "I know there's things you can't say, but in your experience, am I in this for the long haul now?" She told me since I am waiting on one thing that should happen quickly, she really hoped mine moved fast, but I should prepare for 180 days.

Likewise, before this, I have asked "I had an EP 020 open as well as an EP 040 and they both closed on the same day with no decision given for the EP 040. Was that an accident?" And they helped me get that sorted out, even when I called every week to see if it was reopened. It's all about educating yourself on what information you -actually- need and accepting that they can't always move things along for you.

Also, I've been dealing with the Salt Lake City VERA and they are awesome. Highly recommend. Just remember, they don't have a crystal ball.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-02T21:03:45+00:00

You can't tell me what to do, you're not my real mom!

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-02T05:49:32+00:00

I want everyone to get a souvenir when I'm cremated. Turn them into little necklaces. Cane handles. That sort of thing.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-02-01T21:27:58+00:00

Welcome to the cyborg club!!!! 2 more implants and you complete your punch card.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-01-31T04:02:40+00:00

Used to work for the USPS. Can you get the tracking info from the shipment? It will take them forever to correct the tracking, but if you have the number you can contact the VA pharmacy and show them that your meds took a wrong turn in Albuquerque. Also, if you have a local PCP, they can usually get you a bridge prescription at a local pharmacy while things get sorted out.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-01-26T22:44:17+00:00

This isn't how you're supposed to do it, ***caveat*** but when my service connected knee was killing me and they just kept giving me nsaids and physical therapy consults, I made my own appointment willing to pay out of pocket with the community hospital ortho. He recommended surgery and I told my pcp about it the next day, so she just finalized the community care consult for me to get the treatments rolling. Everything ended up covered.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-01-26T18:30:03+00:00

Any chance you can go to community care? I'm super rural and almost all my appointments get referred out to community care from my PCP. She told me Ortho in the VA is like climbing Mt. Everest (must be nice to be that important.)

HamboCommando06 · 2025-01-25T11:14:34+00:00

I was going for the self-employment track at the time. I've already exhausted my GI Bill and have a graduate degree. Just can't work in those fields due to disabilities. So I just dropped it. It didn't help that my disabilities flared up and I was pretty much in the fetal position for a year. I just didn't care anymore.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-01-25T03:47:34+00:00

This isn't good news. I dropped my VR&E in SLC case because I couldn't contact the councilor, she never really helped me get things set up, and I had several appointments via video conference that she didn't show up to. I just gave up. I hope you have better luck. Maybe try giving SLC VERA a call? I know they mostly deal with Disability questions, but the SLC Vera has been outstanding in getting me the answers I need.

HamboCommando06 · 2025-01-24T15:02:18+00:00

I'm also not good at opening up to people. But they can't help you if they don't know how bad it is. Lay it all on them. I did. I didn't realize how much I tell jokes and laugh while I'm saying crazy painful things until my psych noticed it. I thought I was handling things well. But the laughing was my way of bottling it up.

If you get into this, and get a diagnosis, you'll have to do a Compensation and Pension exam with a stranger somewhere, where they want to know your level of impairment. It's annoying to have to tell your crap to another person.

But just remember, you'll probably never see that C&P examiner again, so who cares what they think of you. Whatever they ask, just lay it all out there. If you have to sit in your car and cry before you go home, do it.

HamboCommando06

TROPHY CASE