Stateside Legal

Dear Jim, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had the Brachy implant surgery performed. My Dr.who was not a Va Dr. that performed the operation said it would be 2 yrs. before I could be determined as cancer free but in your Va watchdog article about prostate cancer it says that my disability will end after the procedure. How can that be? Reply: That's how VA works. VA relies on the PSA blood test as the standard to determine whether your cancer is "cured". Once you're treated, your PSA should fall pretty quickly. There isn't any reliable way to declare you as "cancer free" so VA uses the PSA test. It isn't very good but it's all we have. The alternative would be more invasive biopsies but that isn't a good alternative...more...

Jim, I was just reading your article about using Medicare with your VA benefits. I do have VA benefits, but have 0% rating. I have AARP suppliment. In all your dealings with this, what do you recommend as the best Medicare insurance supplement? Reply: My expertise, such as it is, is focused on VA benefits. I also have Medicare Part A & Part B. I don't understand nor do I use Medicare supplemental policies. I can't recommend any particular supplemental policy. But I can tell you what I do myself.more...

Jim, For reasons unknown my SSD attorney withdrew representing me for reasons that the case is no longer feasible. I still do a hearing with a ssd judge, but that date is yet to be determined. I am TDIU (P&T) and I've read that DOLE/SHALALA REPORT somewhat states that is a vet is deemed unemployable thru the VA, then SSA is to streamline an approval?? Any suggestions? I've called several other attorneys and they won't represent me due to the nature of my prior attorneys withdrawing from my case.... Should I get a senator to help t go to the hear alone?? more...

Hi Jim, My father in law is at the VA in Texas. He came here to get a diagnoses about his cancer, he was being treated in New Orleans the doctors there told him had had stage four cancer under his arm and at the base of his skull . We finally got him I'm to the VA here ( my husband and I live here) and we were hoping to start some kind of treatment . He has been there over a week and we still have no answer as to what type of cancer he has, his care has been horrible from nurses not bringing him his meds to dr not talking to my husband ( who does have a medical power of attorney )we have repeatedly asked dr to call him if he is not in the room because his father can not remember any thing they say. The room he is in is so dirty! How do we get him help when it seems like every one there really does not care. The doctors have been rude as well as the nurses. We just want him to get help they have told us they can not really do much to save his life but they can try to prolong it, but we still don't know what kind of cancer he has. He has had three biopsy's no one can tell us anything.more...