My dh and I have just returned from a two week cruise vacation. The cruise was planned months ago before my dh started his down hill slide. But, the good news is he did super. In fact, he was almost better then when we were home. His speech was perfect on the cruise. No funny words that I have never heard before....No stuttering. I had to do all the ordering of meals for him, but that was no big deal. I never let him out of my sight, but that is part of this condition whether at home on away from home. The last two days he seemed very tired and has been resting since we got home. Of course, I am tired too so I don't think much of him being tired.
The other really good news is that while we were gone he received notice from the VA that he had been approved for 100% disability from VA based on his expposure to Agent Orange. This notice has taken a big burden off my shoulders because we will now have sufficient funds to pay for his care at an ALF, if and when needed, without affecting the income I would have available to continue living in our present home.
It seems with this conditon there are few chances to say somthing good and I just thought I would share this info with you all. Hope that others from time to time can have some good news to share also.
Judith, so happy to hear all this good news! You are so right- there are few chances to say something good on this journey! Glad you got away and enjoyed your cruise.
I have been trying to find out if DH was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, but he cannot remember where he was. I do know he was around Danang. How great it would be if he got approved.
So glad that you had a nice cruise. We went on our last cruise about three months before jean was placed and he did quite well. When the waiter noticed me cutting up his meat, he started doing it. Very thoughtful of him.
Coco...I think my dh was in Danang too. I will check with him when he gets up. He was one of those that kept every piece of paper so had great records. You should contact your nearest VA and they will get the records for you. Also, file as soon as you can even if they deny your claim. Then you could submit more information, and if you get approved they pay you back pay from the time you originally filed.
My dh has the heart conditon that has been determined to be a part of exposure to Agent Orange. The first time we filed he got 60% for the condition. The guy from the VA we worked with said to re-file and give more information and go for the 100% because he can't work. His heart doctor gave us a great report and that is how we got the increase from 70% to 100%. It took us almost one and half years to get the increase, but worth the wait.
THANKS JUDITHKB!! I have the papers to apply, and I will contact the nearest VA...
I would just be SO HAPPY to get his medical upped from "class 5" to 1. He is eligible for Medicare when he turns 65 November 2013, and I know the VA wants them to apply for that at that time. Lucky I have a little more time, about a year and a half.
There is a great nursing home for the veterans on this island, it is in a beautiful spot. However I do not want to get my hopes up about it as he is not eligible at this time. I was told that if he passed for the Agent Orange that would make him eligible, if and when, the time comes.
Oh please please Lord...help us with this. Also with the State medical I am waiting on.
I almost feel like crying JudithKB, thinking there could be some help for us too. Your post today gave me hope.
Coco - you keep saying the VA wants him to apply for Medicare as soon as he is eligible. That does not make any sense since the VA does not accept Medicare. I think you may be thinking Medicaid which would pay for the nursing home if/when he enters it.
Hi Charlotte, maybe it is different here? We have a friend on the VA and they insisted he apply for Medicare when he turned 65. Hmmm,....I will have to ask the Social Worker again, I do remember her telling us that too.
Or...maybe it is because he is not a high priority, possibly your husband has a better service connected medical? DH served 2 years in Vietnam, no injuries. He gets basic medical, no dental, and does not qualify for long term care.
Just got off the phone with a nice woman at the VA in Honolulu. We discussed Agent Orange, working on it. The good thing is, she is going to contact our local Social Worker on this island, (who is SO HARD to get a hold of), and talk to her about some respite for me..
Coco - he does not have service connected disability. He gets VA medical cause he served in combat - was on a ship off the coast of Nam. He only gets medical and vision. We have a co-pay on drugs of $8. I was told he can go into the VA Alzheimer's units and medicaid will pay if he qualifies. Should be no problem cause our only income is his SSDI.
They could want you do apply for Medicare cause if you don't when they are eligible there will be a penalty when he does. When hb was eligible, if we had not done it then (he was 63), when he turned 65 Part B would have cost another $20 or more a month. May not sound much but believe me it adds up!
We had to cancel two cruises we had booked due to DH's illness. One was for last November, the other for January. I was so disappointed, as it is the perfect vacation for us.
Coco, Do you and dh have a Veteran's Advocate? If not, go find one. They can help with everything (I am told) and save you lots and lots of time and grief. They will be able to find out where your dh served and what he is entitled to and how to get it. Good luck, Coco.
Yes, mothert...you are giving Coco good advice. We have a wonderful man who is my dh's Advocate. He helped us so much. I would never have known about going from the 60% to the 100% if he hadn't encouraged us. For years my dh has had 10% for the loss of part of his finger...then when he got the 60% for his heart problems from Agent Orange he was getting a total of 70% ($1380/mo)....now with the 100% he will be getting ($2924/mo.) Like I said earlier, this has made my day, month, or year...this will be a major financial help when and if he needs to be placed. That is one less worry for me.
Glad you got that VA rating..I am still waiting for the VA to get on with my DH getting the 100% rating too due to AO. He is rated at 80% paid at 100% because he can't work...but this is the reason I want that 100% rating as well....He won't rate an increase in pay but as you say in case of ALF it will sure save the finances here...
Right now I have taken control of getting the things for the house done and at the moment we are doing the fascia and touch up for stucco and paint..and next will be the kitchen lighting and fixtures for the foyer and hall...and the other biggie is going to be refinishing the cabinets in the bathrooms, laundry room and kitchen....I need new window treatments too.Just today the contractor who built our house finally heard for himself DH say why do we need to do this...things are ok...and clearly they won't be if left to deteriorate. Power pump here! I just feel this needs done before there is any need for a facility.
Coco..find your Dh's DD214..it may have information on there that might help sort that out. You will need his DD214 too for any military or veteran benefits later on. My DH was in Danang and Chu Lai and etc ..he flew jets through the stuff. His brother also was in Viet Nam and had disability..I just hope the VA comes through soon. Judith, how long did it take the VA to finally make the decision? I started this process well it will be 2 years in August!!! the VA is slower than the Second Coming!
Mimi....my dh first applied for the Agent Orange (heart conditon) over 2 years ago. It took less then a year to get the 60% for that...then he applied for the increase to 100% and that took about 14 months. What was a real surprise is that they paid the l00% back to the original request.
If you have the heart condition you do not have to prove it was related to Agent Orange...it is an automatic approval. What you have to prove to get to the 100% is that the condition is such that you cannot work...or score certain numbers on the tests they give you.
Since your dh was a fly boy...I don't know if they are included. I just know about boots on the ground. I kept calling the VA in San Diego requesting status reports and kept asking them what we needed to proivde for them to make a decision. The thing that put his request at the 100% was the letter his heart doctor sent. It was powerful...almost...like if he went to work he might drop dead.
Going to MILITARY.COM web site and reading as much as I could about the Agent Orange/Heart condition helped me to know how to go about this.