I'm a Vietnam Vet who served with the 25th ARVN in Duc Hoa.
Fortunately, I've been a healthy guy all these years since my discharge in January 1967. Then suddenly, WHAM! - 18 months ago a domino effect began. Since then, I've been diagnosed with PTSD, Diabetes Type2, Hypertension, Parksinson's Disease and then on January 18, 2010 I had Colon Cancer surgery.
The VA messed up with my original intake medical exam. After getting my medical records from the VA so that I could file a claim,I realized that thier readings showed that I was Diabetic, yet, no one ever told me. It wasn't until 8 months later when my private primary care physcian had me do a glucose tolerance test and he confirmed that I'm Diabetic. He prescribed Actos which has my sugar under control. However, I then had a Ratings Exam in Phoenix and the Ratings doctor told me that it didn't appear to him that I had Diabetes. I told him I was on Actos but he never charted it. Therefore, my claim for Diabetes was only awarded 10%. Of course it's on appeal.
What I don't understand is that the VA Regional has scheduled me for a mandatory neuro exam this week. I've "googled" information about neuro ratings exams but have found nothing relating to Parkinson's Disease. Does anyone have any information as to what I should expect during this exam. Is it wise to take all my medications with me?
The PTSD is still bouncing around (as am I!) It just happened out of the blue...I'm sure many of you can relate to this. All of a sudden terrifying nightmares, severe depression, wanting my life to be over but no specific plan to end it, panic attacks, fearing to go into public if I don't have a detailed specific plan, etc. So far the VA hasn't accepted my stressor letters as of any consequence and have referredt them to some place for further research. What they fail to recognize was that my stressors occured on the Vietnamese Base to which I reported to my Col.
I realize that Colon Cancer is not presumptive to AO but it all looks pretty strange when you look at all that has happened in this short period of time. I have Dukes IIIc Colon Cancer - you know the stage just before terminal.
And , of course, as we all know - Senator Webb had the Senate"table" the 3 new presumptives - what a guy! sure glad he didn't have my back over there! I'll probably be dead before I receive any compensation but, I guess, that's what the VA is counting on.
Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.