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How To Apply For Anxiety/depression Due To Chronic Pain

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BrookH

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Hi,

A friend of ours is rated at 50% with lumbar, cervical, carpal tunnel, gerd /h-h, shoulder raduicaphy, high blood pressure and something else. Anyhow they had a neurophysc visit while on active duty and the specialist said something like unknown reasons but problems like other pgw vets qualify with dsm iv (I think), now after retired they had another appointment because of memory problems, depression/anxiety (seeing a va counselor and such). The neurophysc tests came back good, brain is working well. A few things our friend said was the neurophysch seen sleep apnea and asked if treated with a cpap now. The answer was yes, so neurophysc said (not sure if he wrote it down) but possible reason test were bad back on active duty was maybe sleep apnea and good now because cpap has fixed that. Also said memory problems and depression now is probably because of current pain.

So it might be a stretch but if the military doctor on active duty thought svcmbr had sleep apnea could this neurophysch thoughts be help.......there are smr notes but not diagnoses.

Also would it be reasonable to claim depression/anxiety due to chronic pain and how is this rated?

Opps, also the person claimed sciatica on their claim but examiner said no sciatica but a lumbar strain. No MRI was given but probably 5 years later went to pain clinic and received a tens was also told pain was sciatica. Can that get reopened or not worth it and how to change to ivds or idvs?

Appreciate it and will pass all info on.

Edited by BrookH
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7 hours ago, awgv001 said:

I'm glad this Devil has retained their sense of humor.

That was my one good shot for the day. I'm not always putting coherent thoughts and ideas together at the same time, but when I get it right it comes out like that. It's a daily struggle to keep the darkness at bay.

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On June 29, 2016 at 3:13 PM, Andyman73 said:

That was my one good shot for the day. I'm not always putting coherent thoughts and ideas together at the same time, but when I get it right it comes out like that. It's a daily struggle to keep the darkness at bay.

It was just your turn on that day.  Some times it is mine for several.  :biggrin:

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I am service connected at 20% for spinal stenosis, 20% radiculopathy right leg, and 30% radiculopathy right leg (both secondary to the spinal stenosis.  I am also (now) rated at 70% for Somatic Pain secondary to my spinal stenosis.  This is where it is “possible” to claim as secondary to your chronic pain for depression/anxiety.   Take in mind that each of us have our own unique situations and my situation warranted the connection.   The connection for depression and anxiety is due to the fact that after several jobs that as a blue collar worker I was not able to find a job suitable with my limitations.  After losing those jobs I lost confidence in myself and able to provide for my family adequately as I should have been able to do if it was not for my service connected spinal stenosis.   I am still after ten years dealing with this as well as my children are.   I am not going to go into the details, but it didn’t just cost me my job (and others) paying $26.50 an hour but my children as well which added to my depression and anxiety.  I am going to try and upload the last award letter (partial) so you can see Somatic played a role into depression.

Scan_Doc30001.pdf

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hmm, I haven't read a somatic symptom claim like this.  At least not referring to mental issues as somatic.  Interesting though.  In OK, at least the reps or decisions didn't refer to my condition like that.  My specific claim decisions went from adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed to PTSD/Major Depressive disorder.  Regional still hasn't provided me with a hard copy of my most recent decision. This info I have is from ebenefits which is not reliable.

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Kevin, if and when I get my last decision that won me the 70% for mental health, I will post how it was worded.  I haven't made the effort to go to Muskogee to ask for a copy yet.  My case is supposedly boxed up and on its way to DC, at least according to the last VA letter I received, however, I will eventually visit Muskogee again.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

I am interested in this thread but I think it will be a hard sell to VA. But my philosophy has always been to run it up the flag pole and see what happens.

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