LauraB

Thank you! It is a medical evidence issue so I am doing my research on experienced doctors who understand the VA and their issues. I will never give up, it just gets discouraging at times.

Thank you...I will see what the letter says, my DAV rep read it to me and is sending me an extra copy.

I just spoke to my Rep at the DAV. He said that they denied it because the C&P exam docs had a stronger case than the 2 letters from my personal doctors. This makes my blood boil! Im not going to give up, I feel very strong about my case and don't want to just give up. I guess I need to look into appealing this and hiring a VA lawyer..

Can someone please explain to me what exactly this means? When I first read it I was super happy because I read GRANTED, then right after DENIED.... What does new ad material evidence to reopen claim even mean? Please help!!!! The Board made a decision on your appeal The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision on your appeal. Here’s an overview: Granted The judge granted the following issue: New and material evidence to reopen claim for service connection, Limitation of leg motion (flexion) If this decision changes your disability rating or your eligibility for VA benefits, you should see this change made in 1 to 2 months. Denied The judge denied the following issue: Service connection, Limitation of leg motion (flexion)

I received a letter from my Ortho doc, the one I had asked to write a Nexus letter stating that my left knee condition is due to overuse of my right knee, which is 30% S/C. He stated in the letter that it was Not connected due to looking over my charts, it is noted that I injured the left knee while playing tennis...I tore my meniscus , don't remember if it was playing tennis or getting up from a chair, but this all did not start until AFTER I started having surgeries on the S/C right knee...What I am trying to get at is : even if I had an injury to the NON S/C knee and then began having multiple surgeries, ending up with a TKR on the right knee, the NON S/C knee kept getting worse..I ended up with 3 scopes and a TKR. I have a doctor that states the reason for the NON TKR is due to over use of the TKR S/C....is there a way I can state that? I am a bit confused! Thank you!

I found my report on the Blue button on myhealth page..Im not sure what to do or where to go with this, I definitely disagree with the outcome, but not sure how to submit "new evidence"...Im meeting with my Pysch doc next week...this is what the Fibro exam b. The condition claimed is less likely than not (less than 50% probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service connected condition. c. Rationale: Up-to-date: "Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder with an unknown etiology and unclear pathophysiology." Therefore it is not possible to state that Ms. Penny-Birkenbach's diagnosis of fibromyalgia is the result of strain, lateral collateral ligament, right knee; status post lateral meniscectomy and medial meniscectomy chondromalacia patellae. For the MDD/Anxiety: The Veteran currently meets DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis of Unspecified Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress (transient, mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety that cause marked distress and mild impairment in social and occupational functioning due to withdrawal/social avoidance). The Veteran's records indicate that onset of her depression and anxiety (symptoms of her Unspecified Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress) had initial onset in 1995 and were primarily due to AIDS/HIV+. Although her VA treatment records show she had anxiety in 1995/1996, she states her anxiety became much more severe after her knee replacement surgeries last year. b. The condition claimed is less likely than not (less than 50% probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service connected condition. c. Rationale: The Veteran's depression (and anxiety) are not "due to or the result of" her knee condition ("strain, lateral collateral ligament, right knee; status post lateral meniscectomy and medial meniscectomy with chondromalacia patella) as symptom onset was primarily related to AIDS/HIV+ diagnosis in 1995. However, her knee condition is thought to aggravate and exacerbate her depression and anxiety. ***( I was diagnosed in 1993 so Im not sure how this applies!)

Just read my C&P report for the Fibro and MDD...the Fibro was denied, b. The condition claimed is less likely than not (less than 50% probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service connected condition. c. Rationale: Up-to-date: "Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder with an unknown etiology and unclear pathophysiology." Therefore it is not possible to state that Ms. Penny-Birkenbach's diagnosis of fibromyalgia is the result of strain, lateral collateral ligament, right knee; status post lateral meniscectomy and medial meniscectomy chondromalacia patellae. and the MDD was denied, stating that b. The condition claimed is less likely than not (less than 50% probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service connected condition. c. Rationale: The Veteran's depression (and anxiety) are not "due to or the result of" her knee condition ("strain, lateral collateral ligament, right knee; status post lateral meniscectomy and medial meniscectomy with chondromalacia patella) as symptom onset was primarily related to AIDS/HIV+ diagnosis in 1995. However, her knee condition is thought to aggravate and exacerbate her depression and anxiety. UGGHHHH...Im going to fight this..my depression was worsened due to the multiple knee surgeries!!!!!

Just had my C&P exams today, one for the Fibro and the other for the Pysch...needless to say my anxiety is thru the roof right now....First of all I do NOT like having to explain myself over and over, especially when all of the info is right in front of them in my VA files...it is hard for me, and Im sure for MANY others, to try to justify something that I know is correct...is it their job to make me feel as though I was making everything up???? Well at least it is over, I did my part and I was honest...now I just have to sit back and wait...hurry up and wait...I am SOO thankful for this website, it really makes me feel as though I am not alone in the VA web by myself!

I guess my VSO sent in a written disagreement with an election of DRO process...so now I guess now I am in the wait and see phase of the process..anyone have an ETA on these type of things? I got the letter from the VA stating that they received it and what is supposed to happen from here on out...fingers crossed that the awesome Nexus letter that my doc wrote will be enough for the DRO to make a new decision!

I received the dreaded denial letter earlier this month for Left knee condition secondary to Right knee S/C condition. I have been trying to get the left knee covered due to overuse and severe limp, due to 6 Right knee surgeries, one of which was a TKR. My Primary doc at the VA wrote an awesome Nexus letter and I gave it to my VSO at the DAV...she submitted it with a reconsideration request, stating new material. I have been looking daily on e-benefits to check the status but it hasn't shown up on my Dashboard..so I decided to check the Disabilities tab and there was this: Pending Disabilities: Vbms/appeals and Left knee condition secondary to right (due to compensation). both had the exact date...can someone tell me what this means? I didn't fill out a NOD on the claim, but we only filed the reconsideration paperwork.. Anyone else have anything like this?

Tomorrow I am scheduled for 2 C&P exams..Psych and General...I am applying for MDD/Anxiety secondary to my Right knee TKR and Fibro Secondary to the MDD/Anxiety..I have diagnosis for all, all done by the VA...As Im looking through the web to help prepare myself for these C&P's I am having an anxiety attack! Do I need to bring any of my MHV notes from Myhealthvet? And what in the world are Axis on the DBQ? As far as the General exam, which I assume is for the Fibro, I have all but 1 of the trigger points and if you press any of them it is quite obvious! Just wondering if there is anything that is NOT ok to say at the Psych exam...Im not worried about the previous drug use question, I haven't any, but Ive had depression most of my life..it just started getting really bad, enough to go on meds, after my 1st surgery on my SC right knee...then the Anxiety came about after the RTKR..hope this makes sense...I just need some guidance on these exams, and CANNOT wait until they are over!

Got a letter last week with my C&P exam dates..I have a Psych and a General Medical exam the same day...Im hoping to meet with my psych at the VA before hand and ask her to fill out a DBQ and my PCP doc to fill out the DBQ for Fibro....Ive never had a Psych C/P, only multiple Knee ones....Hoping it goes well!

I do have a Fibro diagnosis, so that isn't going to be a problem...What seems to be the issue now is my VSO at the DAV already filed the MDD and the Fibro as a secondary to the Right knee...I just sent my doc an email asking her to write a Nexus linking the MDD/Anxiety to the Right knee and then a Nexus linking the Fibro to the MDD..whew..

HI...I was wondering if anyone has been successful in get Fibromyalgia as a Secondary SC to Knee injury. I am 30% SC for my right knee, had multiple scopes and then a TKR in Feb. of 2015. In Sept. of 2015 I had to have another scope to remove the scar tissue and to clean up the prosthesis in the Right knee...the moment I woke up from that surgery I had severe neck pain, then shoulder pain, leg pain, skin pain, lethargic...ended up with Bells Palsy and Shingles as well..was tested for Lupus and that was ruled out..I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and started medication. I was also diagnosed with MDD the same time..Ive been dealing with this left knee injury since 1986 and also just had my left knee replaced (in the process of getting left knee as secondary to right knee as well). I was NOT in the Gulf war, so I know I do not qualify under that one. But it is all documented in my VA files, I see a VA doctor every 3 months...I am in the process of getting a Nexus letter from the doc and one from the Pysch as well...Any thoughts or suggestions would be very helpful! Thank you!