Lost medical record, did you make a copy of your records? I did not.

[Show-me]

I debated on doing this for many months and came to the conclusion that TSPTalk is a great way to network with people all over the country and in may different Agencies. I sent a blanket e-mail to all my USMC buddies in hopes for some help, soooo why not here. Every computer in the county sez my records are in the VA records center in St. Louis. The VA sez they can not find them. I have call USMC HQ, NPRC, USMC Reserve Center in KC and got nada. Any help would be appreciated.

All you military folks: MAKE A COPY OF YOUR RECORDS.


I hope that you and your families are well. I am trying to locate my military medical record from the VA and have almost exhausted all avenues with the exception of write you all and my elected officials. I would rather write you all first. LOL I have been diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in 1998 (MTC Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma), very deadly but very slow growing cancer that can be monitored with blood test and PET Scans. I have had 4 surgeries to remove the main tumor and nodes. Other that a scar that runs from ear to ear and below my Adam's Apple I am fine. Living a good life and enjoying every single day. My cancer is unique because everywhere I have had pain there has been a confirmed PET scan uptake. This is unusual because "cancer don't hurt" according to the medical world, that philosophy is changing. I started to have this pain PTing around Navy Lake at Camp Pen. and when I was finally correctly diagnosed the removal of the tumor did eliminate that old pain. I did claim this pain during my separation physical and I do not have a copy of my Medical Records so without my records I'm screwed.

Anyway my point is to inform and ask a few questions.

Anyone out there with this cancer or any thyroid cancer? There are four types.

Anyone having trouble locating records?

Any advice period.

I am at the end of my rope and need to get some outside advice. Any help would be appreciated more than I could express. I was in the first Gulf War and if you could pass this e-mail on I would really appreciate it. Here is my address and phone number. Write, call, e-mail, I don't care.

In advance, thank you and Semper Fi.

 

[mailmanusa]

Sorry to hear about your medical struggles. Its hard to believe how they have completely lost all the records. No hard copy backups or nothin? What about those stolen laptops from the VA? I wonder if that incident could have effected your situation. My son is a Marine stationed at Pendelton. He is 19yrs old and has been to Iraq once and will be going back again. While I cant give specific advice I would like to thank you for your service to our country. I am extreemly proud of all our service members and vets. We need to take better care of them. I hope your troubles can be resolved ASAP.

Semper Fi

 

[rokid]

Show-me,

My first job was as a VA claims adjudicator (school and medical claims).

If the veteran called in with a claim or a question, the request was handled by a GS3/4 who didn't know the law and would say anything.

If we got a letter from the veteran, I handled it (GS-5).

However, if we got a letter from the VFW, the American Legion (AL), a congressman, or a lawyer written on behalf of the veteran, we were VERY careful to get the right answer and coordinate it up our chain. In fact, we had full-time VFW and AL representatives stationed in our office.

Therefore, I'd suggest enlisting the support of your congressman, the VFW/AL, or a lawyer in that order. Note, beating up the VA is one of the constituent services congressmen offer. In addition, I'm sure all congressmen and their staffs will be highly responsive to their constituents between now and Nov 7th.

I'm sorry to hear that the USMC wasn't much help. Good luck!

 

[Show-me]

Thanks guys! First of all I am doing well. Being ill gives you different perspective on living. It is a very slow grower so they have been able to keep up with it.

Here's what I've learned so far. Talked to a Disabled American Veterans Rep. (DAV) and my VA rep. I'm screwed! It was explained to me that some "file clerk" may of had a bad day and "stuck it" in the wrong place. It doesn't happen often but it does happen. So my record "IS" at the VA but my record is "LOST" among 20 million other records. What to help me look? LOL

No electronic copies and from what the DAV guy told me was politicians are worthless. LOL Something we didn't know. My best advice was to actually go the the VA RMC to personally request my record, I have some vacation time coming. I guess that sends up some red flags when you do that and gives you higher priority. I also have a super secret number to a top VA manager.

 

[grandma]

Thanks guys! First of all I am doing well. Being ill gives you different perspective on living. It is a very slow grower so they have been able to keep up with it.
...No electronic copies and from what the DAV guy told me was politicians are worthless. LOL Something we didn't know..

I guess the position & level of the policitian may be the key to whether they are `worthless' or not. Hammerschmidt was one who could go the limit. Can you give a guess at what date they were last seen, & where??

Thank you on the medical up-date, Show-me; you continue to have prayers..........including the recovery of your records.
Grandma

 

[Show-me]

In March 1997 when they were turned over to the VA and thank you.

Can you give a guess at what date they were last seen, & where??

Thank you on the medical up-date, Show-me; you continue to have prayers..........including the recovery of your records.
Grandma

 

[Spaf]

Show-me,
Not as a moderator, but as a member, I've inspected Indian Affairs hospitals, VA hospitals, etc. There is a big difference that should not exist, it's not a government personel matter as much as it is a government matter. The disability does not show the needed help for vets.

Evidence: see a parking lot by a VA hospital vs a parking lot at any other hospital.........................Spaf

 

[robo]

I debated on doing this for many months and came to the conclusion that TSPTalk is a great way to network with people all over the country and in may different Agencies. I sent a blanket e-mail to all my USMC buddies in hopes for some help, soooo why not here. Every computer in the county sez my records are in the VA records center in St. Louis. The VA sez they can not find them. I have call USMC HQ, NPRC, USMC Reserve Center in KC and got nada. Any help would be appreciated.

All you military folks: MAKE A COPY OF YOUR RECORDS.


I hope that you and your families are well. I am trying to locate my military medical record from the VA and have almost exhausted all avenues with the exception of write you all and my elected officials. I would rather write you all first. LOL I have been diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in 1998 (MTC Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma), very deadly but very slow growing cancer that can be monitored with blood test and PET Scans. I have had 4 surgeries to remove the main tumor and nodes. Other that a scar that runs from ear to ear and below my Adam's Apple I am fine. Living a good life and enjoying every single day. My cancer is unique because everywhere I have had pain there has been a confirmed PET scan uptake. This is unusual because "cancer don't hurt" according to the medical world, that philosophy is changing. I started to have this pain PTing around Navy Lake at Camp Pen. and when I was finally correctly diagnosed the removal of the tumor did eliminate that old pain. I did claim this pain during my separation physical and I do not have a copy of my Medical Records so without my records I'm screwed.

Anyway my point is to inform and ask a few questions.

Anyone out there with this cancer or any thyroid cancer? There are four types.

Anyone having trouble locating records?

Any advice period.

I am at the end of my rope and need to get some outside advice. Any help would be appreciated more than I could express. I was in the first Gulf War and if you could pass this e-mail on I would really appreciate it. Here is my address and phone number. Write, call, e-mail, I don't care.

In advance, thank you and Semper Fi.

Show-me,

A good place to talk it up with other vets that have similar situations. Asking that question on this board might get you some help. It is possible to get that cancer service connected. Good luck!

http://p203.ezboard.com/bvetbenefits

http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/va_search.jsp?SQ=vt_vetappall_ext&QT=thyroid+cancer

search thyroid cancer, read about similar claims.

 

[Show-me]

Well years later I am still waiting for my records to be found and my case to come to the top of the pile. The NBC news last night reported that the only way to get you file moved up to the top of the priority list is to call the VA suicide hot line and claim you are suicidal or homicidal. I wonder how many extra calls the hotline got in the last 24 hours from Vets trying to get their cases moving again.

 

[nnuut]

That's a sad situation, they are supposed to keep your records forever, typical. Do you think it's some kind of a conspiracy or just losing your records, I bet they are there and they just can't find them. Took my brother 4 years to get his. Hope they do what they are mandated to do.

 

[PessOptimist]

duplicate

PO

 

[PessOptimist]

I saw this tonight and thought it was a new thread. I wasn't a member when Show-me originally posted it.

I did get the advice to make a copy of my medical records when I was retiring. This came from an AmVets advocate who also helped me through the VA hurdles.

Getting my records to make copies of was a problem as I had "no right" to see my medical records.

At some point after retirement a reserve unit at Ft Dix started my "retired medical record" When I moved to AZ and enrolled in TriCare Prime, Luke AFB requested my records from Ft Dix. No mention whatsoever of my active duty records. After many months my retired record folder arrived at Luke. An E-4 in the records section told me the active records had nothing to do with the retired records and were not available to me or them. Later my "PCM" advised me that if I did have a copy of my active duty medical records that I should drop them by the records section and they would put them in my retiree records. I made a copy of my copy and took it to the records section. A very nice E-4 told me thank you and she would get them filed. Next time I saw the doc, the active records were not in the retired records. I mentioned I had dropped them off at records and he kind of didn't answer and concluded the visit. I stopped by records and they denied ever having received the active duty records. Of course I had no receipt and didn't remember the E-4s name.

One other copy of these records was given to the VA in Philadelphia. I did request that these be transferred to Phoenix. I have never checked if they were, what was in them or even dealt with the VA here. They have enough problems and I have a medical plan of sorts.

The reason for this long story? I lean to the conspiracy side, nnuut. The military never wanted me to see my medical records while I served, didn't want me to copy them when I retired and surely doesn't seem to want them available now.

Show-me, I wish you luck, As you said, All you military folks: MAKE A COPY OF YOUR RECORDS.

This is not so easy to do these days as you never have your hands on a paper copy and can't get to the electronic files. In spite of what TriCare says on their web site.

PO

 

[alevin]

Yes, wish my sis had made a copy of hers before she got out. She could really really use them right now, but they claimed years ago they'd lost them, and claim certain parts of her record don't exist-even tho that part is the reason she was forced out in lieu of being given disability retirement-her choice. She didn't want to get "labeled", but she sure as shootin is disabled at this point from conditions that started while she was in. but not drawing benefits, probably never will, since she can't prove anything.

Nextdoor neighbor is disabled Nam Vet, hungers to get his medical records from office across the state, to show they knew certain pre-existing conditions when he was processed in. Good guy-he can't drive any more, completely impoverished, no family to speak of, Legal Aid says they don't have enough budget to help him. One of these days I may find myself taking annual leave to get him over there-would end up being 2-3 day trip. Would want to be sure we could get the records while standing on their doorstep, before undertaking the trip.