Ray C

Thanks Vync, I'll take a look at those cases. I appreciate your time.

Has anyone received a disability rating for Diabetes and Gout that is secondary to another condition ? If so, can you advise what was the primary condition ? You can Private Message me if you prefer.

Hello Gastone, I first posted this inquiry about 2 weeks ago and I was out of town until today. I received the attached VA rating decision letter today when I went to the post office to grab my mail that I had on hold. Anyhoo, as a summary to my initial inquiry, I wanted to know why the VA didn't grant me Bi-lateral factor ratings for both the femoral and sciatic nerve SCD's when both the left and right lower extremities are affected ? radiculopathy, femoral nerve, left lower extremity - 20% radiculopathy, femoral nerve, right lower extremity - 20% radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity - 20% radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity - 20% - I don't get paragraph 7 where the finding seems to repeat itself "Evaluation of radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (previously rated as radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity) I appreciate your assistance with this in advance. If you rather discuss via PM, that will be fine. Thanks, Ray VA Rating Decision - May 18, 2018.pdf

Hello Gastone, I appreciate your assistance but let me run something by you. My calculations come out to 88%. Not that it makes a difference in achieving the 90% combined disability but I just want to understand the VA math. Following is my calculation. I grouped all the SCD's that involved the lower extremities even though not all are not described as "Bilateral Conditions" in the disability list. Can I not count all lower extremity SCD's towards the Bilateral Factor ? I see you mentioned that you used Hips and shins, which did you use for the shins, femoral or sciatic ? 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 + 10 = 70% + 7% (bilateral) = 77% 77% + Non Bilateral SCD's - 40 + 10 + 10 = 88% Once I receive the rating decision letter and analyze it's contents, I intend to ask for a reconsideration/appeal for the Diabetes and the rest of the arthritic hip conditions. Thanks again for your help. Ray

Could someone take a look at the attached list of rated disabilities that resulted from my March 15, 2018 claim that was just completed this week and in accordance with the VA, I am now at 90% disability . I took a screen shot of this list from Ebenefits. I haven't received the rating decision letter yet and I wanted to confirm that the VA correctly took into account the "Bilateral Factor" for the SCD's that involve the lower extremities and the 90% combined disability is spot on. I thank you in advance. Ray Rated Disabilities - March 15, 2018 Claim.docx

Gastone, Thanks for the comeback. I understand the Bilateral Factor when there's a situation that only encompasses a left and right extremity. In my case I have multiple SCD's that involves both lower extremities but the Bilateral Factor was only applied once. I am awaiting my rating decision letter and if I receive before my leaving town on May 30 for an extended period I will post it here for commentary. I do have a VSO and she will sit with me as soon as we both can see the Rater's decisions letter. I just wanted to pose the Bilateral Factor inquiry to have a better understanding. Thanks, Ray C.

Berta, Thanks for the references. I have seen the PH slide show but it's still a bit complicated for me to understand. I have not yet received the rating decision letter. I went onto Ebenefits to see the disability ratings that were decided two days ago. When I receive the actual letter, I will post on here sans the Personal Information. Thanks !!! Ray

Good Day, Can someone please assist with my inquiry. I was rated for degenerative arthritis right hip adduction (20%) and degenerative arthritis left hip adduction (10%) and both ratings state (claimed as bilateral hip condition). I was also rated for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve (Left 20% + Right 20%) and radiculopathy, femoral nerve (Left 20% + Right 20%) for both left and right lower extremities. The sciatic and femoral nerve ratings are for both legs but why aren't they rated as bilateral factors since they affect both lower extremities ? Is this only applicable once to a rating affecting a "paired" extremity or should it apply multiple times ? As a side note, I was rated 0% for degenerative arthritis , right hip extension (claimed as bilateral hip condition) but this bilateral statement is not paired with the "Left" hip extension. Following is the definition of Bilateral Factor: When a veteran has a disability that affects both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles, their overall combined rating must reflect what’s known as the bilateral factor. Specifically, the bilateral factor is defined by statute as existing when “a partial disability results from disease or injury of both arms, or of both legs, or of paired skeletal muscles, the ratings for the disabilities of the right and left sides will be combined as usual, and 10% of this value will be added before proceeding with further combinations.” Thanks in advance for your comments. Ray C.

Gastone, Yes I used a VA rating calculator but not the one provided by Hadit. It came with a "73" figure. I haven't received my rating letter yet, I got the ratings from the Ebenefits website. Like you said, maybe the rating letter will be more descriptive and show the missing numbers. I appreciate your help thus far !

Gastone, Thanks for your response and the chuckle after reading "Dead D Award" !

Do you happen to know if percentages are awarded to SMC-K ratings ? I don't have my letter from my previous claim in front of me but that's the only thing that I can think of that may give me the extra bump to reach 80%.

I just found out by going onto Ebenefits that my disability rating increased from 30% to 80% after my recent submitted claim. I have not received the award letter yet. I went to the combined ratings table to check on how they arrived at the 80% figure but I end up with a rating of "73". From what I read I should have received a disability rating of 70%. Not that I'm complaining but I just like to know how they determined it was 80%. The following are the individual ratings. Can someone shed some light on the VA rating system. Thanks in advance. 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10