Is It Too Late For Me?

[Charlieg]

I am a USAF Gulf War Vet. Left service in 1992 and went to VA clinic for skin rash medication and stomach issues as I can remember. I had a very serious rash on my feet while in Saudi Arabia and did not go away for years. Also was rushed to Air Force hospital after coming home with stomach issues and had tests but no diagnosis. I stopped going to the Va clinic after only about 3 visits because of work. Just could not keep getting time off. Over the years I thought about checking in with the va but never seemed to have time and when I needed help I would just go to a family doctor. My va card is so old as compared to others that I've seen. I was doing some construction work in a va clinic and asked about my status and was told that they had never seen a card like mine. I've had a lot of the same symptoms that others here have, just wondering if I can still get help. Or is it too late.

[63SIERRA]

My advise would be that if you think by any stretch of imagination that you have ANY gulf war related ilness FILE A CLAIM NOW.

Even though you may get a bullshit gulf war exam, by a bullshit Cp Doctor who is being told by the Va to opinion that you dont have gulf war ilness and manipulates your medical data, that doesnt mean you cannot go outide the Va and see a fair and impartial doctor who will tell you the truth and win your claim.

DO NOT HESISTATE FILE BEFORE THE DEADLINE in 2016.....

THERE IS A REASON THEY ARE TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR. !!!

You may not live long enough to see the comp, but your spouse and kids might,,FILE TODAY!!!!

Edited June 28, 2015 by 63SIERRA

[Charlieg]

I know this is a lot of information, but I think it is all important, and I probably left some things out.

What are your symptoms/problems and do you have any current diagnosis of any illness/disease?

One of the biggest problems Gulf War vets have is getting an incorrect diagnosis from a physician. And the only diagnoses that the VA will except for presumptive claims are; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If you are diagnosed with a known condition they will not grant your claim. An example - you have shortness of breath and your physician gives you a diagnosis of Asthma - Asthma is a well known illness with known etiology therefore it is not an undiagnosed illness. The physician has to state shortness of breath with unknown etiology for the claim to be granted.

Start by reading the information at http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/medically-unexplained-illness.asp

There are links there with more specific information.

Then go to https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.317

This is a search page for VBA appeals decisions. If you search for undiagnosed illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and read some of the decisions, you can get an idea of what they are looking for in the claims. http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/bva.jsp

Go to the link for 4.88a on this page and read it. http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?rgn=div5;node=38:1.0.1.1.5

You should get a copy of all of your service and private physician medical records so that your physician can review them. Then explain Gulf War Illness to him/her, if they are not familiar with it. Ask the physician if they are willing to complete the required paperwork to help you with your claim. If not find a new physician, If yes then they should start evaluating you.

You should get your physician to complete DBQ's for any of your symptoms. Search Google for CFS DBQ, Fibromyalgia DBQ, Irritable Bowel Syndrome DBQ, They are easy to find. Your physician should test you to verify that your symptoms are not related to any known disease/illness which is not related to service.

A lot of people say it is not needed, but I think it helps if your physician states in a letter that your symptoms are "more likely than not" or "at least as likely as not" related to your service in the military during the Gulf War. The terms "more likely than not" (meaning greater than 50% likelihood of a connection) and "at least as likely as not" (meaning equal to or greater than 50% likelihood of a connection) This is called a nexxus statement, and there is a lot of information about nexxus letters on this sight.

When you are reading about the presumptive illnesses if you don't understand a symptom, research it. I found that I didn't know what some of the symptoms were, and after researching realized that I had those symptoms. Some Symptoms I thought I knew what they were, but after researching realized I didn't understand them.

This is the rating table for CFS, the numbers on the right are the rating percentage for the listed severity of symptoms. (The copy and paste didn't work as well as I would have liked but hopefully ou can understand it.)

6354 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): Debilitating fatigue, cognitive impairments (such as inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, confusion), or a combination of other signs and symptoms: Which are nearly constant and so severe as to restrict routine daily activities almost completely and which may occasionally preclude self-care 100

Which are nearly constant and restrict routine daily activities to less than 50 percent of the pre-illness level, or; which wax and wane, resulting in periods of incapacitation of at least six weeks total duration per year 60

Which are nearly constant and restrict routine daily activities to 50 to 75 percent of the pre-illness level, or; which wax and wane, resulting in periods of incapacitation of at least four but less than six weeks total duration per year 40

Which are nearly constant and restrict routine daily activities by less than 25 percent of the pre-illness level, or; which wax and wane, resulting in periods of incapacitation of at least two but less than four weeks total duration per year 20

Which wax and wane but result in periods of incapacitation of at least one but less than two weeks total duration per year, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication 10

Note: For the purpose of evaluating this disability, the condition will be considered incapacitating only while it requires bed rest and treatment by a physician.

Another good link is http://ngwrc.org And you may want to print this and give it to your physician http://ngwrc.org/docs/Help%20for%20your%20Claims/VAtl10-01.pdf .

You can private message me with questions, and I will help you if I can. I didn't know what I was doing in the beginning and am now in the appeals process. Maybe the good folks at had it and I can help you and you can get it right the first time.

My symptoms right now I guess would be stomach issues. I rarely go a day without diarrhea, especially if I am doing physical labor ( which I do). Also always have the issues with rashes. I have been treating them with my sons eczema stereoids. I have been treated for low testosterone but it was costing too much and didnt seem to help so I quit. The reason for going in for low T was from always being run down and tired. I cant seem to remember anything and cant learn new things as fast. Could all be old age. I dont have any current diagnosis. I dont like going to the doctor because it drains money from the family. I dont have good insurance. I am a temporary federal employee for the 2nd summer in a row, but just cant seem to get permanent even though they really want me. I am not in the va system anymore even though i have a card from 1992 and was being treated. As for as a VSO, I can call my local DAV tomorrow.

[k5one]

Just look at all the information i posted. It sounds like you are having problems consistent with Gulf War Illness. If you can't go to a physician outside the VA request a Gulf War exam through the VA. The gulf war exam is free and they will reimburse you for travel. You just have to get to the nearest VA clinic. There is a good chance they will deny you for chronic fatigue if you have low T, but if you were treated for low t, and continued to have the symptoms, then it may be CFS. The main thing you need is current medical records that show you have undiagnosed problems, and what they are.

When did the symptoms start and how old are you, Most Gulf War Vets are in their 40's and should not have all of these problems. Its not old age if it started more than 20 years ago.

The Skin rash is a symptom of Gulf War Illness, if they are not able to diagnose it. The memory problems and confusion are related to CFS. If your symptoms get worse with exertion that is a symptom of CFS.

The Diarrhea may be IBS. IBS can be secondary to Fibromyalgia, so that could be part of your problem.

Submit an intent to file, and start getting checked out.

[TALON II FE]

In my experience, getting a diagnosis for Fibro has been challenging, especially with AD docs. The docs WANT to label everything, it is the primary function for a lot of them. The "points test" has been proven to be too subjective, actually requiring specific training that most non-rheumatology docs (and many of them as well) do not have, though some are more than happy to try and administer it incorrectly anyways AND you can have fibro without qualifying thru the test. It is essentially a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that the doc is "throwing his hands in the air" about what is going on. SO, they give things labels, and you cannot claim the presumptive once that happens.

I have been diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome and chronic pain syndrome, nerve issues, along with every other parallel condition (IBS, migraines, OSA, dermatitis, heat rashes, etc) but not fibro. By definition myofascial pain syndrome looks the same and chronic pain is their way of saying that it's in your head, which they cannot show, essentially preventing future docs from taking you seriously. It's a tough road, brother, but you need to try and get something going, it is not going to go away. I spent my last 2-3 years before retiring from AD trying to figure out what the hell was going on, and I never got any definitive answer, just a long string of diagnosis' and a new one every couple visits it seems like. I don't even like going in and telling them anything anymore, it just seems like they will diagnose something else that isn't tied to the original reason I went in and yet, I still feel like I am being patronized half the time. In a few years, you could be like me, hurting if you stand, hurting "different" if you sit and pissed at the world because I can't do anything to get cashflow into my household. Waiting on the VA while everything I spent 20 years building slips away. You don't want to be here, I promise. Get the claim in while you can still work, follow k5one's advice above, it's all good advice. Request a GWI screening, nothing to lose there, and if things go downhill with your health, you have a contingency in place for yourself and your family. Better to get things rolling, the VA is going to take their time, believe me. I am only 44, btw, way too young to feel so old, lol.

Edited June 29, 2015 by TALON II FE

[Charlieg]

I finally got through to the secretary of the county va rep. I can call on the 13th to see about making a schedule on one of my regular fridays off. She wanted me to bring all of my medical records with me but I dont know when I'll have them.

[Charlieg]

Finally got appt for this Friday with VA rep. Don't have records yet though.