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hedgey

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Thank you again, everybody.  I can't measure what it means to me to have you folks here to cheer for me.

 

Tbird, this was a big deal to me for the same reasons. It's painful and scary and it definitely affects the people you live with.

Maybe you could try again? Maybe something has changed in the VA mind about connecting digestive distress (not too strong a word!!) to anxiety.  I can't believe I'm the only one who will ever get approved. 

One question at the Comp & Pen seemed especially important in retrospect... she asked whether taking the Ativan for anxiety had any impact on my IBS. Well, yeah, it does. It calms down everything for a little while. Not for long, but for a little while.... I'd take it all day long if I could. But that would mean me sitting in my chair literally counting the flowers on the wall.

That question was not asked at my first Comp & Pen for IBS secondary to PTSD.

Thanks again, everyone.

:)

 

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Good news-congrats !!

I was denied for ulcerative-colitis even though I had a nexus letter from VA doctor who treated me for 12 years. They said the C & P examiner statement carried more weight than the doc who treated me. Huh !!

I am preparing a NOD ....

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  • Founder

The VA starts over with VA math on the disabilities beyond 100%, if you have a single 100% disability. SMC and how it's calculated is not well documented in anything I've seen.

The oft cited examples in the instructions and regs are a tip of an iceberg. It's as if the VA does not want veterans to know, for fear that they might have another major issue to complain about and appeal.

Try our page it has a calculator and some explanations you can find it here Service Connected Disability Calculator

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  • Founder

Thank you again, everybody.  I can't measure what it means to me to have you folks here to cheer for me.

 

Tbird, this was a big deal to me for the same reasons. It's painful and scary and it definitely affects the people you live with.

Maybe you could try again? Maybe something has changed in the VA mind about connecting digestive distress (not too strong a word!!) to anxiety.  I can't believe I'm the only one who will ever get approved. 

One question at the Comp & Pen seemed especially important in retrospect... she asked whether taking the Ativan for anxiety had any impact on my IBS. Well, yeah, it does. It calms down everything for a little while. Not for long, but for a little while.... I'd take it all day long if I could. But that would mean me sitting in my chair literally counting the flowers on the wall.

That question was not asked at my first Comp & Pen for IBS secondary to PTSD.

Thanks again, everyone.

:)

 

I think I'm all done with the VA for awhile. I take Imodium and bentyl it helps. Yeah "distress" sounds a bit dainty for what we go through, I have often had to sleep on the bathroom floor because it gets so bad. The pain has been so bad I've lost consciousness so I do feel you - it is a rough one.

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Good news-congrats !!

I was denied for ulcerative-colitis even though I had a nexus letter from VA doctor who treated me for 12 years. They said the C & P examiner statement carried more weight than the doc who treated me. Huh !!

I am preparing a NOD ....

You certainly should appeal (NOD).

The thing to remember is that the VA treating doctor is often not a specialist, and the VA system at the RO level accepts the Examiner's word as gospel, regardless of actual qualifications. The BVA is a bit better.

Then, there is the question as to what caused the condition, and the date that it was diagnosed/treated. Even though you have a problem/condition, it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause and onset. The VA will take every advantage?/path  it can to try to justify saying that military service was not the cause.  It often comes down to opinion stated by an examiner or a physician, since that's what the VA looks for. I'd, in a situation like this, first look at respected medical references concerning the condition. Then try to obtain a favorable medical opinion (IMO) from a board certified specialist in the appropriate field.  The IMO should, as much as possible, meet "medical standards", and contain reasons and the basis for the opinion, along with the physician's CV (qualifications). 

An example of VA thinking vs. actual fact and medical information might be "heart trouble" as a general term.

In the Korean war, Autopsies were routinely conducted on casualties, and the results recorded. One of the findings was that many young males had premature indications/evidence of arterial disease (cholesterol deposits) that can eventually lead to serious heart conditions and death.  It was suspected, but never really addressed, that factors such as diet and stress were involved. After all, this might impact the governments cost and liability, since field rations were often the diet, and combat is stressful by nature.

Although this sort of thing might establish statistical relationships, probable, or reasonable cause, the VA often chooses to ignore such things, even today, unless some sort of medical evidence exists that the problems occurred in or are the result of military service. When I separated from Navy active service the exit exam was basically that you passed if you could walk in and out of the examiner's office, and answer a few general questions. A complete medical examination? That might find something that will cost the government, so we won't go there!

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