[paul spychalski]

Thanks, I have already. Cu Chi ’67

[David S]

Kind of a strange post.

I have been Denied twice and am now Appealing with the assistance of a Law group that specializes in VA disability claims. My Appeal has been Docketed for review by a VA Judge but the decision could be 125 days to 550 days as of Sept 25, 2024 the VA; letter states.

Scott

[paul spychalski]

Did you try an American VSO??? I did.

[paul spychalski]

American Leigon VSO!

[David S]

Up date – MAJOR

Received notification from the VA that my Appeal has been Granted. I do not have a Rating yet but it should be comming in the next 10 days or so. Minimum Rating for gMG is 30% plus my 20%. They have a strange way of determining what my final Pay will be as they will not add the

30% + 20% to get 50%. My plan, if not Rated at 100% is to Appeal to get to 100%. Any way, I should get back pay to July 2019 and my monthly disability will increase as well. This has been a long road but my gMG is now considered a Service Connected Disability. I should also get back Travel Pay for my travel from home to the VA Hospital for my monthly IVIG treatments going back to 2019. Having been Deneid two times the Nexus Letter did the trick that linked my exposure to toxins in Vietnam More Likely than not caused my disease.

On my gMG journey, my weight is down to 212# and am walking 3+ miles everymorning, ending with 9,000+ steps a day. Calorie intake is less than 1800 per day.

We are planning a trip in October of this year. We will visit Paris for 5 nights, move to London for 4 nights, then a 14 night Trans Atlantic cruise from England to Florida.

My symptoms are not gone but a mostly manageable.

Hope all are well.

Scott

5

[dunc]

Glad you were successful…think my mg may be due to Agent Orange in Saigon or fog foam and smoke inhalation aboard Forrestal in 1967…lots of asbestos exposure too. Severe breathing difficulty and muscle weakness here without steriods…Considering application…any advice welcome.

[paul spychalski]

Or maybe JET FUEL!

[paul spychalski]

Let me know if that works for you. Also do yo have ocular MG??

[David S]

I now have 3 C&P Exams within 2 weeks.

[Douglas Brooks]

Just started my appeal process. Met a local vet who also has MG and is getting comped. He is going to help me and I have the name of an attorney who helped a widow who is my neighbor. Went into Danang at age 18 in ’65 at the start of the buildup, camp Tien Sha. They sprayed the perimeter with Agent Orange then drilled a well there. Drank, bathed in and had my food prepared in Agent Orange water. Lost my thyroid to Hashimoto’s shortly after Nam. Always cold. Moved to Florida after being cold all my life in Pennsylvania, even now sleep with socks on. Fifty-plus years now.

Just learned tinnitus can be comped but good luck getting it. Loaded a 3 inch anti-aircraft gun on a tin can w/o ear protection. Pointer and trainer had sound powered headsets but not the rest of us. I will amend my appeal anyway.

They all love us when their running for office.

DougB

[paul spychalski]

It’s a damn shame that the VA makes us jump thru hoops.Every soldier that served in Nam should be given 100%. Also, jet fuel causes debilatating issues.

[David S]

Update – My Appeal for Service Connection for my gMG has been Granted. I had a mor detailed posting but when I hit spell check my original posting was lost trying to Spell Check

I will receive my Rating, that determines what my monthly disability payment will be, should be available in 10 days.

My first Claim was made in 2019. Two Denials later it was Granted. The Nexus Letter supplied by a Qualified MD made the difference that said: “I was exposed to Exfolients in Vietnam More likely than not caused this condition.

[David S]

Hoping a Moderator is reading –

I know this is off topic but I am having severe problerms signing in as the web site continues wants to verify that I am human – over and over again. The only way I can get in is through another web posting.

[paul spychalski]

It does that for everybody, just keep hitting the verify button.

[D]

I haven’t been on here for quite awhile. I’ve had mg since 2018. Had some conversations with Paul. “Glad to see you’re still around”. Filed with VA and was recently denied. The doctor that did my CP examination actually told me he knew nothing about mg and this was a first for him???. I’m currently at 90 percent . I was at 100 for a few months but my hearing was dropped from 30 to 20 ??? Apparently I’m 1 point of VA math from 100. Not a problem. I just had bladder cancer surgery which is rated 100 by itself. I’m still going to the next step for the mg. Apparently what kills you makes a difference on what you’re spouse gets when your gone. Don’t understand how some of us get the rating and others don’t. It’s ridiculous that we have to pay lawyers to get the proper rating.

[paul spychalski]

Go see an American Leigon VSO!!!! They can and will help you.

[D]

I’ve been using a VSO at the vet center. I’m checking on a Legion VSO

[Ari]

This is directed at Vietnam veterans who have MG. Especially directed at Those of you who are fighting the VA for your disability.

I am a Marine (there’s no such thing as an ex-Marine). I have had a years long, actually decades long battle with the VA to get my full disability recognized. When I first got out of the Marines I was already having severe combat-related PTSD. I was locked up several times in psych wards and never any clue about the cause of my mental illness. I had began my fight with the VA over 30 years ago before I finally got my 100%, service connected disability. And it was all related to my PTSD. 10 years ago I was diagnosed with MG. My MG has been severely disabling. I have been hospitalized several times for myasthenic crises. I don’t know if any of my disabilities are the result of my MG or not. I got my full 100% only 4 years ago. Had it occurred to me at the time, I would have included my MG into the battle with the VA to get my 100%. I suggest that you Vietnam veterans who have MG include that along with any other combat related injuries that you are experiencing. I’m convinced that my MG is a part and parcel of my total, combat-related disability. I suggest that you, my fellow Vietnam vet brothers and sisters, include your MG into your struggle to get what you are due from your combat experiences. And not just from the Vietnam war, but from all of the combat experiences that you have had in all of the subsequent wars. Don’t give up. Fight the Good Fight!!!!

[Robert Richardson]

I was denied service connection VA disability compensation for MG 25 yrs after Desert Shield; made the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit list though.

[Martin Kristo]

I was an infantry grunt in the field in I Core and III Core in Viet Nam

for 11 months before being wounded and sent to Japan. I was in country 1969-70. I have 70% disability for PTSD with 20% hearing along with total and permanent disability. In 2000 I went to Bay Pines V.A. hospital with my first MG crisis . Along with the MG acetylcholine test proving positive for ocular and generalized MG. recent EMG testing shows extreme polyneuropathy from hips down to feet. Walking and balance has has progressively gone to hell.

I always thought the V.A. turn their back to the MG. Maybe I should follow up! Any advise from Paul S. or others.

Thanks,

Martin-Kristo

[Martin Kristo]

CORRECTION TO ABOVE POST:

my first hospital crisis came in 2021 not 2000.

Martin Kristo

[David S]

Update –

Have completed 2 C&P exams and one more tomorrow. This one is Medical. The other 2 were optical and pshych.

Before I was Granted service connection for my gMG, I felt pretty good. Eating under 1800 calories a day and walking 3 miles every morning. Mowing the lawn and edging as required. I can work about 20 mins at a time then must rest.

Anyway, I am a mess. Couldn’t make it 1 mile this morning and am feeling shakey and my usually low level double vision is getting greater. Speech is not great – stuttering – and generally feeling not so good physically. And ofcourse, increased fatigue.

I blame it all to the increased stress that I have been experiencing since I was Granted Service Connection by the VA. The C&P Exams are to determine the extent of my condition so they can determine my Rating. Optical determined that i do have double vision and my eyes phyically good. My Psych exam went OK. She was able to link my symptoms to gMG and secondary to my wxzposure to antifolients. She also Diagnosed PTSD. (I have been avoiding that one for years…..) Tomorrow Is Health – These sessions are quite intrusive and have caused me much stress. And that is not good for gMG.

After this Exam I should get a Rating within the next 30 days, and should see a monthly increase in my bank account shortly there after. Minimum for gMG is 30%, up to 100% due to the inability to work – which is what I want. Back pay to 2019 at that rating level. This increase in disability benefits could be life changing. Very excitying and stressful. Anxiety to know what the decision will be and maybe having to file another Appeal if I do not get 100%. I will be 75 next June so my Appeal would get “Priority”. We shall see.

In the mean time I’m trying to relax, rest and eat responsibly.

Hope all are well –

Scott

[David S]

Thought this was interesting –

“VA rating system and residuals

For many neurological disorders, the VA rating process works like this:

1. <b jscontroller=”VhkxAe” data-complete=”true”>Initial diagnosis: A veteran is diagnosed with a condition, such as Parkinson’s disease.
2. <b jscontroller=”VhkxAe” data-complete=”true”>Minimum rating: The presence of ascertainable residuals entitles the veteran to a minimum rating (e.g., 30% for Parkinson’s or 10% for certain stroke residuals).
3. <b jscontroller=”VhkxAe” data-complete=”true”>Separate evaluation: Each additional ascertainable residual is evaluated separately using a specific diagnostic code. For example, a veteran with Parkinson’s would receive a 30% minimum rating, and their tremors might be rated separately.
4. <b jscontroller=”VhkxAe” data-complete=”true”>Combined rating: The separate ratings for each ascertainable residual are combined with the base rating to determine the overall disability evaluation.” (This ai generated text was by Google.)

So if I am reading this correctly –

I should get 30% minimum for gMG. Then + for, double vision, tremmors, speech problems, etc, etc.

It will be interesting to see what thy feel are significant and should be Combined”.

Through all of this mess I feel like I dropped a step. Not feeling well at all today. Light headed and fatiqued. I did get my walk in this am and mowed the fromt yard.

Hope all is well with you….

Scott