Very Light Wheelchair?

[Lindsey Angell]

I'm SSDI Rated at 100% becaue of my back...the VA already had me at 60% for my L Knee, Hearing, and stufffff. I have not had a wheelchair or asked around about one yet. I do have a history of back issues form 1973-1992 (durring my 20 years, but nothign ore than 15 or so entries for a messed up back and back school) THE SSDI rating says I cannot lift over 16 lbs so is there a place or whre whould I go to get a lightweight (Titanium maybe?) super light chair that I can use all by myself now? I have nearly lost all my ability to walk now...so now I am looking for help to figure out who to ask for assistnace for a super light chair that i can move and carry all by myself
Thank you for assitign me in this endeavour.
Lindsey

[SCI-Nurse]

You need to be seen by the therapists at your VA's Wheelchair Clinic (where they do evaluations for specialty wheelchairs). Since you don't have a SCI, that would not be at a SCI Center generally, unless you are referred there for more specialty issues. Once it is found that you have a medical necessity for an ultralight chair, and it is prescribed, it will be ordered by the Prosthetics & Sensory Aids department, and delivered and assembled at the VA for you to pick up. Since this is usually a custom chair, it make take 6-12 weeks to get the chair.

I am assuming you are already getting health care in the VA system.

(KLD)

[Lindsey Angell]

KC MO VA Center is the very worst VA Center in the USA. The last time I was there I had a knee scope that I was suppose to be there at 0530 in the4 morning. At 1530 hours I was sent to the 5th floor because we had people from Washington DC (a couple Congressmen and their Aides, brass and the like also with them) When they came into my room and handed me an American Flag and asked how I was doing and what I was doing in the hospital and for what proceedures I told them they had the wrong guy to be asking questions about as I only had bad and nasty things to say at this point because they had me at the place several times for simple testing and I was tired of drivng all the way over from Gardner, KS and as of that day I was still waiting for an operation/L Knee Scope. They insisted that I tell them what was going on so I let them have the whole story. I wasn't even assigned to teh 5th floor they had sent me up to get me out of the way and I had no idea when my surgery was going to take place. They had also taken my active duty Medical records adn said that htey didn't have them and on that day I discovered that in fact thay did have them and I refused to give my records back to them. They had lied about having my only copy of my medical records and said that they had no use for them yes, from 1972 to 1992 was all there and inclusive of my frotn cover of my medical records adn my pages numbered. I did get my scope about 3 hours later and I had my wife take my records out and put them under the seat in my truck and when I returned home that same evening, I vowed to NEVER go back to KC MO VA Ctr. Fort Leavenworth is close adn I prefer to use them. Should I just go to Ft.Leavenworth VA at this point and take my Federal SSDI court findings (The original court decision with me or take a copy?) to the VA in Ft. Leavenworth?

[Lindsey Angell]

I did not fully understand your response, but after reviewing it with my wife I now understand that I need to contact my Dr. at Ft. Leavenworth, have him refer me to the VA/Eisenhower Clinic up there and see the Wheelchair Clinic there. Thank you for the information and I hope my experience at the Eisenhower Clinic will work out.

[-scott-]

THE SSDI rating says I cannot lift over 16 lbs so is there a place or whre whould I go to get a lightweight (Titanium maybe?) super light chair that I can use all by myself now?
I think this is the only option < 16lbs: http://lashersport.com/products-btmg.html

or are you looking for something < 16lbs w/o wheels? that expands your options greatly.

[Lindsey Angell]

Scott, 16 lbs is my lifting limit according to the SSDI decision on paper, but I'm stronger since I've been working my arms so much so I would think (I sould say just the chair,with the wheels) although I know that I am much stronger with my arms now because I use them so much ...
I will respond saying that 16 pounds without the wheels would be a great starting place...as long as the wheels don't weigh any more than that each... ha... Thank you for asking.

I didn't know Magnesium could be used for wheel chairs, very interesting. I've been lucky (?) falling down the stairs in the apartment building so many times and not breaking anything only bruising and straining body parts. I'm not sure how many more times I can take it though before I break something. Not to worry, I suppose is the correct way to think about this at this point. The most embarrassing thing is getting out of my car or truck and collapsing, as there is just no graceful way of doing it in front of so many people.
Kansas

[Lindsey Angell]

You need to be seen by the therapists at your VA's Wheelchair Clinic (where they do evaluations for specialty wheelchairs). Since you don't have a SCI, that would not be at a SCI Center generally, unless you are referred there for more specialty issues. Once it is found that you have a medical necessity for an ultralight chair, and it is prescribed, it will be ordered by the Prosthetics & Sensory Aids department, and delivered and assembled at the VA for you to pick up. Since this is usually a custom chair, it make take 6-12 weeks to get the chair.

I am assuming you are already getting health care in the VA system.

(KLD)

I had been receiving health care from the VA in KCMO at one time for years, but their meathods and all keep me away from them. Besides keeping my Active Duty Medical records then telling me for 2 years that they didn't have them (I brought them in (in goods faith) to show them that I had in fact had a scope on my left knee at Tripler Army Hospital and failed my last 3 hearing tests, even for reenlistment, etc and they ended up testing, fitting me and giving me a hearing aid...they even sent me batteries for it because I was in College at the time and it relly helped to hear the instructor when IU had no way of setting up front in a classroom. When I lost the hearing aide and later found it in a bucket of water when I moved...I tried to get another one issued and they had me drive all the way over from Gardner, KS to KCMO 3 times and every time marked my hearing test "Inconclusive". it ws the lst time I was at the VA Hospital that they gave me all of my records and sent me for something that I was handed not only my VA Charts but my own Active Duty Navy Medical records. I kept them and the Nurse was nasty and said that I had to give the records back to them, I refused and finally when there was a very large crowd, includign security and people in civilian clothes she was told that the records were in fact my Personal Navy records NOT the VA Medical records and that was it. I was given more dates for more tests in the mail and I just let them pass. It is a long way to drive,,,Fort Leavenworth is closer and on the Kansas side, and I don't have to go through streets aand pass though the 12 foot chain link fences with cerpintine wire all across the top of it, not to mention the bad neighborhooods around the VA Ctr in KCMO. Kids flashing guns, just not my kind of neighborhood.
IF I could go to Fort Leavenworth VA Center I would prefer that.
Medicare is pretty good for the most part, but I don't get medications from them I'm only Part A&B on my card. Medications for my wife and myself using Tricare for Life is still over $250 a month. My Dr. was really mad at me for not taking my meds 3 months ago for depression, etc but I can't afford them when I have 4 vehicles ALL broken. A drivers side Mirror on one car and the electric window wants to fall, the second si nt the shop because the engine front seal is leaking and I also need an oil pan and starter, the third needs a tensioner pully, the one car only had the sway bar ends broken on both ends and was the cheapest to repair. I'm spendign money to repari my credit ($200/mo) for 5 months just started this month; so that I can get my credit cleaned up enough to use my Guaranteed VA Home Loan. I have everythign that I had in my house in 2 storage units becaue I don't have any space in my apartment for tools, ladders, furniture etc so that is $195/mo. I could go on and on. When I do get into a house I will be able to do my own oil changes do some minor work on my cars, have storage for my ladders, tools, furniture, etc that won't fit around corners and narrow hallways in the apartment building. It will be nice to spend that extra money that is going out to put into taxes, home inprovements and actually make it much easier to pay for meds each month.
I find it difficult to accept the decsion from a 26 year old Dr. that doesn't know a thing about the military to set at his desk and tell me that he doesn't care about what I did in the Navy for 20+ years and that my l Knee that I was Medically Discharged from the Navy with just doesn't matter right now with the work load that they currently have, and probably won't ever have enough priority for them to do anything about it.
Yes I can use Medicare and Tricare for Life if I need to...
Right now I'm gettign ready to go to the VA and take my records back with me and make coppies of the pages and dates so that I can claim my consistant back issues for 20 years, inclusive of the date of the incident and give them a reprot of what happened when the ladder/stair broke and I was carrying a 250lb CO2 bottle wen I landed on the deck in the Forecastle and I never let the bottle go...instead I held onto it knowing what could have happened if I did.
Thank you for your time. I do appreciate the Military DR's at Fort Leavenworth and the DR's at all teh hospitals, my councilors etc .

I woul;d also like to ask you if you could tell me what "Blue Water" is all about. I have a buddy (in CT) I served with in 1973-1975 that said to mention it to the VA, as the Hospital and hios councilors discusssed it with him. I don't know if it had to do with our Copper pipes, lead solder and all driking water, our asbestos rip outs, the water we were processing adn drinking off the coast of Vietnam (Agent Orange involved), I don't have any idea unless I go back and aks him...he said that the VA would know.

Thank you, Kansas

[skippy13]

Another site to check out about the blue water navy is http://vets.yuku.com/ . They have a whole forum dealing with AO and the blue water navy. If you made sick call with the back injury it is possible to get service connection for it even after all these years. And you should. You will need a record of treatment while you were in the Navy in order to create a nexus for any potential claim.

I got service connection and 100% permanent and total rated 35 years after I had been out of the military. I did it with the help of the guys on the veterans benefits network. VBN is run by former raters, psych guys and VSO's. No b.s. answers, just the factual and correct information.

Not all VSO's are created equal, and lucky for you you have county veteran service officers so if one doesn't know what you are talking about, another one will. Be sure you are happy with whoever you choose before you sign over a power of attorney form.

Agent orange and its effects on the body are still being researched by the VA. Just recently there have been a whole bunch of presumptive disorders added to the list they already had. A new AO screening would not go amiss at this point. Also exposure to asbestos takes sometimes many years to cause harm to the body. This should also be looked at by the VA doctors.

At your level of disability (I won't mention it since you have not made it public) you should be entitled to all meds and treatments free of charge from the VA, or at least with a very tiny (8.00) co-pay. They should be treating all of you not just the service connected stuff.

[skippy13]

Another thing I forgot to mention about the wheelchair. If you can stand to transfer or walk at all, they have rules in the VA manual 1176.1 about what kind of chair you can be given. You can look up and download the manual from the Veterans Affairs website.

You need to read the manual to understand their decisions.

[Lindsey Angell]

Another site to check out about the blue water navy is http://vets.yuku.com/ . They have a whole forum dealing with AO and the blue water navy. If you made sick call with the back injury it is possible to get service connection for it even after all these years. And you should. You will need a record of treatment while you were in the Navy in order to create a nexus for any potential claim.

I got service connection and 100% permanent and total rated 35 years after I had been out of the military. I did it with the help of the guys on the veterans benefits network. VBN is run by former raters, psych guys and VSO's. No b.s. answers, just the factual and correct information.

Not all VSO's are created equal, and lucky for you you have county veteran service officers so if one doesn't know what you are talking about, another one will. Be sure you are happy with whoever you choose before you sign over a power of attorney form.

Agent orange and its effects on the body are still being researched by the VA. Just recently there have been a whole bunch of presumptive disorders added to the list they already had. A new AO screening would not go amiss at this point. Also exposure to asbestos takes sometimes many years to cause harm to the body. This should also be looked at by the VA doctors.

At your level of disability (I won't mention it since you have not made it public) you should be entitled to all meds and treatments free of charge from the VA, or at least with a very tiny (8.00) co-pay. They should be treating all of you not just the service connected stuff.

Skippy13,
WOW, You are a wealth of information and a fresh breath of air for me. I feel better now knowing I shouldn't just stay clammed up and living in my proverbial shell. I don't think my Shrink at the County has a clue about the VHA Handbooks and my condition which is actually all related to the thigns I experienced in the Navy.

I'm rated 100% SSDI Failed Back Syndrome after the so called "Emergency surgery" that had to be performed by the Neurosurgeon or I'd most likely be a para-permamantly and that I had no time to wait. I was rushed in and he did the surgery in about a week later. My VA Disability is only 60% ($974/mo), DFAS ($1218.10/mo), SSDI ($1023.40 after taking $180/mo out for my Sallie Mae College Loans).

My Medical Record from teh US Navy has ASBESTOS RIPOUT in big block letters on the front of it. I was actually in 2 asbestos ripouts; onboard two different ships. The first ship we started using plastic goggles, and a paper mask, and we had a single light bulb and no fresh air. When we were done every evening we coughed up black junk and our sinuses were full of the stuff as well. It was not a pretty sight when your eyes were watering and you sneezed out black gobs of stuff or your nose was running hours later and black stuff ran out of your nose like you had a runny nose. I don't think htey knew any better in 1974 or any better in 1977. In 1977 we at least started out using low pressure air from compressed air and it ran into our masks but it was dry and really burned after a while so we ended up not using it at all and back to plastic safety glasses and a paper mask once again...the goggles were always fogging because it was so hot. Some of us that wore the asbestos firesuits on the Flight deck (In the Crash Carts with Dry Chemicals) actually had rashes and big nasty welts from the asbestos suits. We only had 6 of them on the flight deck so we didn't have much of a choice but to wear them, sometimes for hours on end because Flight Operations went on 24/7 for 4-5-6 days in a row.
Brown Bag sack lunches then was eating nasty green slimy bologna, with your choice of mustard or mayonaise, an apple or an orange and warm milk but it came to a serious dead end one day. I was tired and cranky...one of our Deck Petty Officers Tossed me a brown bag special and I threw it back at him and shouted "You eat this shit first then I will, but not until then!" I didn't see the Officers standing on the wing 3 stories above me. The Skipper and the Admiral were there and didn't look to happy when they shouted "You, Sailor in the Red Shirt, Report to the Bridge with the escort Master at Arms!" Oh, POOP! Seems the Air Boss (CDR) was was informed, my Department Head (LCDR), Division Officer (LT), and before the MAA could show up my Deck Senior Chief (E8) and my LPO (E5), were asking me questions. I went to the bridge with my Brown Bag lunch as Ordered. The Admiral and the Skipper (Laurel and Hardy) opened my lunch looked at my sandwich opened it up then dumped out the crumbs of my so called Potato chips, looked sadly at my apple and my boiled egg, and opened up my milk and had them on a very nice silver platter. They said "Sir help yourself to a very appetising sandwich with your choice of condements", Mmmm Warm milk perhaps"...they then called the Air Boss and said to shut down Air Operations ASAP. Neither of them would touch the green slime of meats, or eat the apple or anything in my brown bag lunch. 4 days of not eating and most of us were worn to a frazel. Lunch went down For the Aviation Department FIRST, then showers, then we had the afternoon off. I knew my career may have done a nose dive, instead, the Airdales were given a speech by the Air Boss, then our departent heads...I was never punished and I received a really awesome Letter from the Commading Officer. I think the Air Boss received somethign in Verbal instruction about a new policy and we never went more than 48 hours again without a hot meal, although Flight Ops went for nearly a week at a time durring Special Operations.

Thank you for the great chat. I enjoy it more than most anyone will ever know. I know that my Councilors at the County have no clue as to what life on a Flight deck is all about. Ask me about my Parachute Firesuit sometime when you want to hear a scarry story. Yes I lost my firesuit helmet over the side of the ship, but I had a buddy smart enough to know to jump on top of me to deflate the suit and help me grasp for tiedowns.

PS I haven't tried to use the VA For meds...I was so upset havign them do the L Knee scope then sendign me home right out of the Recovery Room I just wanted the entire hospital to go to someplace etrnally hot.
I have been readign the VA / VHA Handbooks that are all seemingly interconnected. You may have saved me so much in this entire situation. I'd laugh for you to let you know I feel better but I hurt to bad to do so. SO Thank you for now and I appreciate your help.
Lindsey "Kansas" Angell

[skippy13]

Glad to help. Spend some time reading and posting on Veterans Benefits Network and soon you will know a lot more than most vets do about how it all works.

October of '06 I didn't know anything about the VA or it ways. Now I do. Give the VA another chance, at least to get updated on the AO stuff and find out a little bit more about the asbestos exposure. There are still some issues with that that have not been ironed out, but they are moving along.

If your condition is not static and is in fact worsening as time goes by, you owe it to yourself to have someone at the VA look at you for a possible increase in your current rating. Not the most important thing maybe, but it would help too. At least maybe they can offer you some current treatment and some physical therapy.

At 60% your meds would all be covered without charge by the VA. And not just the service connected meds either.

In 1977 (the asbestos ripout) they did know better.