War Pension medical help

[OKOC]

I am soon to be interogated by a doctor acting on behalf of HMG War Pensions. Has anyone got any tips/help of what to say or, more importantly, not what to say to the dear chap. I have basically got Chinook back problems. Thanks for any advice, and in particular from anyone who has experienced the interview process.

[floppyjock]

Hi
The Doctor will be a civvy and should be working for the Royal British Legion and he will be on your side. Just tell him the facts. Its just like a visit to your normal doctor. In fact he came to visit me in my house.

Floppy

[oldbeefer]

I was very impressed with the doc I saw - he went to great lengths to ensure he had noted everything that had happened to me (medically) while in the RAF that could have a bearing (even in the future) on my medical fitness. Before you go, have a think and write down anything you can think of - even if not directly service related - that has happened to you (ie, injuries playing sport, car/bike accidents, incidents while playing mess rugby, operations as well as the obvious probs with your back). These guys are very astute, so be truthful during the examination. They will eventually decide if you are a % 'disabled'. In my case, they decided 15%, which gave a lump sum only. I challenged the decision and they upped it to 20% (may have got the figures wrong, as it's a few years ago, but the principle is the same), which pays £1500 a year tax free (and is index linked). despite 30 years (mainly on Pumas) my hearing was considered to be 'reasonable', while my wife thinks I'm deaf as a post! Good luck!

[Chox Away]

I learnt through my own personal experiences that there are different ways to skin a rabbit (whilst also remaining truthful). For example, the type of questions I once faced was mainly the ‘Can you…’ type. For example:
‘Can you walk 1 mile?’
‘Can you stand for 1 hour?’
‘Can you lift that chair?’

Under my initial way of thinking, my answer had always been ‘Yes… but….’
‘Yes, but the problem arises later due to swelling/seizing etc.’
‘Yes, but I would have to sit/stand/stretch…..’

After taking further advice, my response to any questioning now, is firmly ‘No…not without’
‘No, not without pain/swelling setting in ….’
‘No, not without having to sit/stand/stretch’.

Hope this helps.

[om15]

My son left the RAF last year after 11 years service as a Tech, he suffered quite severe medical problems and was casevaced from Basra just before finishing his 3 month stint, after leaving the RAF he required a period of convalecense before resuming work.His treatment was carried out by the NHS.
He felt that the RAF did not treat him particulaly well, the NHS mislaid medical files etc.
In the end he stumped up for a full BUPA medical report and submitted this, and this resulted in the award of a War Disability one off payment ( with no liability etc etc.)

Best regards,
om15

[Pontius Navigator]

If you have two problems claim for only one at a time.

They gave me 15% for back and 4% for hearing. Hearing is a 'one-off' as they say it will not get worse because the source has been removed and any further deterioration will be age related.

For my back it can be expected to get worse so I can go back to the font a second time.

[floppyjock]

In addition I believe that if the condition gets worse in years to come you can get a review and you may get another payment.

Please correct me if thats wrong.

Floppy

[OverTq]

Yes, I had a review after 5 years - no change in condition, so carry on with same %.

[matkat]

I had the interviews and examinations several years ago and was initially awarded 15% and the associated lump sum but they did not for some reason take My left knee into account on querying this they(?) said I did not report any problems with My left knee but I argued that they had done nothing to help my right knee and logic would decree that as I had attributal damage to my right knee then surely as I done my service on both knees then one would assume that they both had the same problem, I won the appeal and was upped to 21% which is the minimum for a war pension and as previously said is worth £1500 a year. The reason for my disibility is arthritis in both knees and a rotor cuff injury to my left arm, got nothing for my hearing which is bad after 13 years as a tech on the line.

[Exrigger]

15% seems to crop up a lot. When I went for my medical they did all the tests and took measurements then a few weeks later I had to go to a specialist, eventually was declared 15% and got the lump sum. As has been said you can go back if you get worse, I am actually not sufferring as bad as I was since I changed jobs, so maybe stress added to my problems.

[cyclic gal]

As floppy said initially, the docs are on your side. They certainly were with me. I was assessed with a 40% disablement which gives me a monthly pension. The examination was extremely thorough and highlighted things which I wouldnt have mentioned.. My main problem was back and neck but when the doc noticed a mark on my knee due to a dislocation many moons ago and a scar on my wrist due to minor surgery years earlier he added those as well as they occurred when I was in service. They were extremely helpful and I'm sure are well capable of spotting the leadswingers from those of us who were injured in the service of Her Maj. I also get an allowance for lowered standard of occupation (which again I didnt ask for but was pointed ot to me by the Doctor) as my injuries curtailed my flying career.

CG

[RubiC Cube]

My doc was excelent. She asked about every possible thing that might be wrong with me over and above what I put on the form. As mentioned before, sports injuries, back problems, RTA whilst travelling to work etc. I am 19.9% disabled, but it won't take much to take me over 20% in the not too distant future!

[OKOC]

Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply to this question. All your comments have been very useful--thank you. If there is anyone else out there who wishes to add their 2 pennorth please do-thanks.

[Pontius Navigator]

Anyone care to share bad back tales? What contitutes a bad back and a bad back getting worse?

I am mobile but find I unconsciously compensate. I don't do manual work for too long. I stop when I feel twinges etc. When my back actually goes I am off work for 4 weeks.

Last time was 3 years ago but only because I have been very careful.

Does that sound like grounds for a re-check?

[Doctor Cruces]

I came down with Rheumatoid Arthritis whilst in the RAF. The RAF treated me abominably but the, then, War Pensions Agency were superb.

I ended up 40% disabled with a war pension and a lowered standard of occupation supplement which gives me about five grand a year tax free.

I applied more through optimism than expectation and said as much to the Doc who came to see me. I understood that my condition was inherited from my mother so how could the RAF be responsible for it? The answer was (after a lengthy interview by a splendid old chap who was a retired rheumatology professor) that despite my giving them signposts to my condition and being down at the medcentre bi-weekly, the RAF failed to diagnose for some four years which led to the damage causing my disability.

So, if you can prove that the mob were negligent in diagnosis it may help your cause.

Doc C

[crakedale]

Hi There,

I was medically discharged from the RAF after suffering 2 major strokes followed by a TIA(minor stoke), which has left me partially disabled. After discharge the Veterans Association contacted me and arranged for one of their doctors to come and assess me in my home. He was extremely thourough but at no time did I feel under any duress whatsoever. The examination/questioning took about 2 hrs. It was about 2 weeks later that the Association informed me of the outcome. You may be assessed as having a % disability, and providing that the assessment is over 20 % you will receive this percentage of the standard disability pension, tax free. The association then contacted me again to arrange a visit from one of their members to assess if there where other allowances that I may be eligable for. They recommended I apply for mobility and reduced employment allowances. The mobility allowance again required being assessed by one of their doctors, again at my home. Although a different doctor to the first his attitude and professionalism was first class. All I can recommend is that prior to the visit, make a list of all relevant ailments etc that are pertinent to your cause, as at the time it is very easy to forget point which may be of benefit to you at a later stage.

good luck

[BANANASBANANAS]

My father trashed his back aged 19 driving a tank transporter which was ambushed in what was then Palestine in 1947. He had the lower vertebrae (can't spell cocix) surgically removed in a field hospital and was in a wheelchair for 2 years. The support he has received from both Army and civilian medical services over the years has been extremely good. He was originally assessed as 30% disabled but calcification of his spine set in a few years ago and the %age has been increased to, I think, now 50%.

His employment prospects in his early 20s were obviously not flash but he found work with NAAFI runing the shops on many RAF stations in Lincolnshire until his retirement in the early 80s. The war pension he receives is indeed a significant part of his total income, but far more important to him and me (I live in Singapore) is the comfort of knowing that help is only a 'phone call away.

I think he gets about GBP500 pcm, which added to his OAP and NAAFI pension affords him a reasonable quality of life which he might not have otherwise had. We are certainly very grateful for the help and support he has received over the last 60 years.:ok:

[diginagain]

I was advised that med docs frequently disappear into the NHS admin vortex, so I invested in a good bottle of malt for my practice manager, who, in exchange, gave me access to a photo-copier and my docs during a quiet lunch hour in the med centre. True to form, when I went down the claim route no evidence could be found, until, hey presto, I pulled the lot from my briefcase.

The advice about the examining doctor being on your side seems to hold true. He and I had a chat about my general health, as well as the specific damage (knees), and having been subjected to gunfire and helicopter noise. He wrote me up for 40% disability, and his parting shot was to tell me not to be ashamed about having to use a walking-stick. He'd seen me putting one into the boot of my car when I drove up. I didn't feel like telling him it belonged to my father-in-law.