Just Starting To Get Ready To File A Claim Options

[john999]

Well, at least you were treated for your feet in service. I was not. I often think about cutting them off they hurt so bad. I have the high arch problem also. I know one thing is that every pound you gain in weight makes it worse. I don't know what makes it better. I can see who it would lead to back problems and all sorts of other problems because you can't walk without pain.

[papabama]

we to local va today to see if all my stuff is in order and he said thing are almost ready waiting on letter from my foot doc.. But in my own opinion 100% feet 50% knees. 20% of Johns benefits, 10% toe hurts, 10% elbow 50 other bones and 41% 1/2x1/2 spot on arms! (IMG:http://www.hadit.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[papabama]

papa, First of all let me tell you you are not nearly dumb! Maybe old, just kidding. Anyway let me fill you in a little about the VA. The VA system is so integral there is not one person who understands it completely. This complex system is old, many areas are broken, and by filing a claim, it would be easier to go through a corn field maze. Just when you think you have it figured out, there is another regulation/rater/poor decision made, and you feel helpless/hopeless and want to quit. BUT neber do you quit. As long as there is a breath in your body, you need to fight for what is right and fight to win.
You will be receiving alot of good advice from many vets/dependents who have fought the toughest battle with the VA.
The best thing is your choice to join here for the help.
You will be asked many questions of which the answers will help those here to give advice/suggestions too. Good luck in your quest for service-connected disability.

thank you, goinf fishing in the gulf and for get about this for 6 or 7 minites LOL

[halos2]

papa, First of all let me tell you you are not nearly dumb! Maybe old, just kidding. Anyway let me fill you in a little about the VA. The VA system is so integral there is not one person who understands it completely. This complex system is old, many areas are broken, and by filing a claim, it would be easier to go through a corn field maze. Just when you think you have it figured out, there is another regulation/rater/poor decision made, and you feel helpless/hopeless and want to quit. BUT neber do you quit. As long as there is a breath in your body, you need to fight for what is right and fight to win.
You will be receiving alot of good advice from many vets/dependents who have fought the toughest battle with the VA.
The best thing is your choice to join here for the help.
You will be asked many questions of which the answers will help those here to give advice/suggestions too. Good luck in your quest for service-connected disability.

[papabama]

papa,

You say a medical discharge, but your profile doesn't show any SC'd disability.

What condition was your "medical discharge" for ?

carlie

Sorry Charlie,, I have not filed yet with VA, I am waiting on my records from archives to be sent to me and A letter from my foot dr. before i go back to va to file(the man at va told me to get these before I file). I am mixed up right now on the process but I was discharged in 1971 with a code RE-3P --Physcial Disablities w//0 servance pay (Honorable) The disability was high arches..from in my boot camp we did not wear boots but instead we wore our dress shoes the whole time. which caused my foot problems. My foot dr say the pain and arthrithis in my feet and back and neck could be related to this. going this week to get a epideral in my back for four dics herinated. hope this statement helps some. Until 2 weeks ago I did not know I could even file with VA. I went S.S. 100% for my feet and dengerated arthritis, ostharhtritisis and some other problems. Please help me understand. I am an old nearly dumb Marine(LOL)

[carlie]

honorable/ medical discharge, waiting on my records but I dont think my feet ere mintioned.. Idid not have feet problems before the service. iwas treated for my feet.

papa,

You say a medical discharge, but your profile doesn't show any SC'd disability.

What condition was your "medical discharge" for ?

carlie

[papabama]

If you have no mention of foot problems in your SMR's filing a claim 40 years later for your feet, and all these secondary conditions may be hard to do. If you had filed a claim within the first year of discharge it probably would have been a slam/dunk. You will need really high class medical opinion to get the present foot problems and all the secondary conditions service connected. If you could show treatment for foot related problems by private doctors in the years since discharge it would help since you got a medical discharge for your feet. If you got a medical discharge for your feet there must be some records of foot problems in the service. I have pes cavus as well. It means to me chronic foot pain for the last 25 years. However, I never was treated for foot problems in service. I just thought everyone's feet hurt.

thanks John and everyone for your info, My foot Dr. is writing letter now saying in her opion it servie connected. This is main reson for my SS. Also 40 years documentation for all my joints for degenerative arthrities. Got addicated to my pain meds (39 years)and this year went to treatment and at treatment the phyic dr (is the main Va phyic dr) said he will set me up for depression stress stc and see the right va drs.

[john999]

If you have no mention of foot problems in your SMR's filing a claim 40 years later for your feet, and all these secondary conditions may be hard to do. If you had filed a claim within the first year of discharge it probably would have been a slam/dunk. You will need really high class medical opinion to get the present foot problems and all the secondary conditions service connected. If you could show treatment for foot related problems by private doctors in the years since discharge it would help since you got a medical discharge for your feet. If you got a medical discharge for your feet there must be some records of foot problems in the service. I have pes cavus as well. It means to me chronic foot pain for the last 25 years. However, I never was treated for foot problems in service. I just thought everyone's feet hurt.

[LarryJ]

Have you sent off Form SF180 to the National Archives Center, Military Records, St. Louis, for your complete service records, and to the VA Records Center, St. Louis, for your Service Medical Records? You're gonna have to do that, the sooner the better.
Have you been treated at a VA Medical Center, for any reason?
You are receiving Social Security Disability........is that for the same reason that you were discharged from the Corps.
You will want to see what your Service Medical Records have to say about your various disabilities, what is listed, what is not listed.....then you will have to come up with matching problems at this time, with some sort of ongoing treatment or supportive reasoning connecting the existing problems with the documented problems in service (that is what is called a "nexus"). When you get your statements from your docs, you'll have a good idea where you stand. If possible, you need to get your docs to state "it is at least as likely as not" that pappabama's current __________, is at least as likely as not caused by his service (or aggravated by his service)(or is related to his _______, which is caused by his service (or aggravated by his service. The terminology "is at least as likely as not" is really, seriously, an important statement in your doctor's report. Of course, it's even better when they say "is caused" or "definitely caused by", etc., then they should give the reasons connecting the two (the service and the current) instances of injury, aggravation, illness, etc.

[papabama]

What kind of discharge did you get? Did you entrance physical mention foot problems? Were you treated for foot problems in service?

honorable/ medical discharge, waiting on my records but I dont think my feet ere mintioned.. Idid not have feet problems before the service. iwas treated for my feet.

[john999]

What kind of discharge did you get? Did you entrance physical mention foot problems? Were you treated for foot problems in service?

[papabama]

Back in 1970 when I was in boot camp mcrd S.D. #1152 (expermental Platoon) we had to wear dress shoes instead of boots for 10 weeks. Killed my feet. I was discharged with Pes Cavus ( high Arches) . Did not know I could file for benifits till now 40 rears later. On my 22-214 it states Physcial Disabilites w/0 servance pay. I went on 100% disabilty from S.S. and am on long term from my job for my feet - pescavus with degenerative arthrithis, purs,,Also my ortho for the rest of my joints such as back, knees, neck, hands and shoulders, neurophty, Kidneys, on and on diabetic sleep animia. In your opinion how does shound. Waiting on all my dr. letters to take to va.