Category Archives: AO

WHY THE AMA IS NOT WORKABLE (AND NEVER WILL BE)

Posted on September 10, 2023 by asknod

Sassy little header above, isn’t it? Well, Veterans, let’s “unpack ” this as they like to say in the hallowed halls down at the corner of Delay and Deny Ave. NW. I proffer a test case to demonstrate the unworkable … Continue reading →

Posted in AO, Complaints Department, Duty to Assist, IMOs/IMEs, Remanded claims, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, VBMS Tricks, Veterans Law | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

CAVC-GUST V McDONOUGH–FORT MAC AGENT ORANGE

Posted on February 4, 2023 by asknod

Picloram. Tordon 101. Agent White. It traveled under many different aliases and still does. Shucks, you can still buy this stuff. Here’s the link.  Tordon 101.  It’s sold as Crossbow®.  If you wanted to turn it into Agent White, all … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, AO, CAVC ruling, DM II, Tips and Tricks, VA Attorneys, Veterans Law | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PYRAMIDING PARKINSON’S–PICK YOUR POISON, SONNY

Posted on December 5, 2022 by asknod

Imagine suffering from Diabetes with severe peripheral neuropathy. Now, supersize that with advanced Parkinson’s and a full load out of the symptomatology. You’re not a doctor so you file for loss of use of your upper and lower extremities. Does … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, AO, SMC, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, VBMS, VBMS Tricks, Veterans Law, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

CAVC-STOVER v. McDONOUGH–THE LAST AO ROUNDUP?

Posted on July 29, 2022 by asknod

Assuming the new “Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021”, abbreviated as PACT, ever passes, Mr. Jack L. Stover’s appeal here and the remand back to the AOJ Puzzle Palace for readjudication (via the BVA) will become … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, AO, CAVC Knowledge, Thailand AO presumptive path, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY–WORD SALAD FOR BRAIN FOG

Posted on July 14, 2022 by asknod

Unless I miss my guess, I reckon summer, or what’s going to pass for summer hereabouts, has arrived. We’ve had two successive days where it actually got near 80°. I’m playing it safe and keeping the pool at 88° until … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, AO, BvA HCV decisions, hepatitis, Higher Level of Review (HLR), IMOs/IMEs, Nexus Information, TDIU, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HLR–THIRD RATE ROMANCE (LOW RENT RENDEZVOUS)

Posted on June 6, 2022 by asknod

Well, boy howdy. I honestly thought I’d seen everything but this one is a daisy. I’m not sure how to tell you all the particulars-or if you’d even believe me were I to. It’s so bizarre as to statistically deny … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, Aid and Attendance, AO, Higher Level of Review (HLR), SMC, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, VBMS Tricks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

PART IV VASRD–ELIMINATING PESKY DCs

Posted on February 17, 2022 by asknod

Well, pilgrims. We talked about this possibility several years ago when our Overlords of Munificence brought up the idea of giving TDIU a haircut after 65 years of age. I mean What the hell? Dude, you’re getting SSA by then… … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, All about Veterans, AO, Complaints Department, Diagnostic Codes (DCs), Legislation, Medical News, VA Agents, vA news, Veterans Law | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

CAVC– Barry v. Denis the Menace

Posted on February 7, 2022 by asknod

Long have we waited for some guidance on this subject. The quandary was, and still is, simple…and ageless. Reading §3.350(f)(3) or, arguendo, (f)(4), is it open to conjecture as to whether a half-step and/or a whole step increase in SMC … Continue reading →

Posted in AO, BVA Hearings, BVA Purplebook, CAVC Knowledge, Earlier Effective dates, Humor, Lawyering Up, TDIU, Tips and Tricks, VA Attorneys, VBMS Tricks, Vietnam War history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

R1–DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC

Posted on January 6, 2022 by asknod

Sometimes I feel as if I’ve been gifted a VA faery wand whereby I can just wave it and pumpkins turn into coaches and mice to steeds. Wait. Hold that. Wrong faerytale. Perhaps,  a truckload of silver iodide and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, All about Veterans, AO, BvA and VARO CUE DECISIONS, BvA Decisions, CUE, Humor, R1/R2, SMC, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, VA Attorneys, VBMS Tricks, Veterans Law, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Any action on the new presumptive benefits for bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism yet?

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Laura

A little. They have been added to the Agent Orange Exposure webpage (LINK). I do not see anything on this in the Federal Register yet. However, VA posted on VAvantage blog (May 27) >>>BREAKING: VA plans expansion of benefits for … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, All about Veterans, AO, BvA Decisions, Complaints Department, Congressional Influence, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, Legislation, Medical News, Uncategorized, VA BACKLOG, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments