C&p For Headaches

[mike/3/8/cav]

I requested the exam notes that the doc did during my exam on Jan 20th. They requested I go to this exam, not me.

PROBLEM: headaches

DATE OF ONSET: 1976

CIRCUMSTANCES AND INITIAL MANIFESTATIONS: Veteran had last C&P exam for this condition in April 2008. Since then he indicates his condition is still the same, experiencing several times a week, lasting few hours alleviated with tylenol with codein; he also states partial relief,no side effects. Last headache today January 20, 2009.He adds pain associated with his neck condition. He adds pain type: sharp like needle, associated with blurred vision.

COURSE SINCE ONSET:Intermittentw/remissions

CURRENT TREATMENT FOR THIS CONDITION:Medication

DESCRIBE CURRENT TREATMENT(S): tylenol with codein,valium,ibuprofen

RESPONSE TO TREATMENT: Fair

SIDE EFFECTSFROM CURRENT TREATMENT(s): no

SUMMARY OF ALL PROBLEMS, DIAGNISIS, AND FUNCTIONAL EFFECTS

DIAGNOSIS: HEADACHES ASSOCIATED WITH NECK CONDITION

ARE THERE EFFECTS OF THE PROBLEM ON USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES: Yes

CHORES: Moderate

SHOPPING: Moderate

EXERCISE: Moderate

SPORTS: Moderate

Recreation: moderate

TRAVELING: Moderate

FEEDING: mild

BATHING: None

DRESSING: None

TOILETING: None

GROOMING: None

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: He states since 2000 has remained unemployed due to medical conditions.

I was hoping somebody could look at this and hopefully let me know what to expect next?

Edited February 11, 2009 by mike/3/8/cav

[carlie]

Mike,

I went back over some of your topic's.

From: http://www.hadit.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23338&hl=

"In sep 08 I was granted 70% sc. 50% ptsd,10% left ankle, 10% left knee, 10% right knee."

I can't find where your neck condition is service connected.

If your trying to get headaches SC'd secondary to a neck condition, then you'd have to get the

neck condition SC'd first.

Now if it's Migraines they have to be prostating and with certain amounts of frequency,

those would be found under:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/jul...38cfr4.124a.htm

Diagnostic Code 8100,

Miscellaneous Diseases

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rating

------------------------------------------------------------------------

8100 Migraine:

With very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged 50

attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.........

With characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an 30

average once a month over last several months................

With characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 10

months over last several months..............................

With less frequent attacks.................................... 0

OR Diagnostic Code 8045

8045 Brain disease due to trauma:

Purely neurological disabilities, such as hemiplegia,

epileptiform seizures, facial nerve paralysis, etc.,

following trauma to the brain, will be rated under the

diagnostic codes specifically dealing with such disabilities,

with citation of a hyphenated diagnostic code (e.g., 8045-

8207).

Purely subjective complaints such as headache, dizziness,

insomnia, etc., recognized as symptomatic of brain trauma,

will be rated 10 percent and no more under diagnostic code

9304. This 10 percent rating will not be combined with any

other rating for a disability due to brain trauma. Ratings in

excess of 10 percent for brain disease due to trauma under

diagnostic code 9304 are not assignable in the absence of a

diagnosis of multi-infarct dementia associated with brain

trauma.

Your headaches can also be SC'd under more DC's.

What is your opinion as to why you have the headaches and

how do you think that is related to military or as a secondary condition ?

Has a doctor provided an opinion as to why you have headaches and been

able to provide a nexus (link) to military service?

I do not view this C&P as being any help towards a grant of SC for headaches.

I do not post this to knock your claim or bring you down.

I do see this section of the C&P as an informal claim for TDIU

"ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: He states since 2000 has remained unemployed due to medical conditions."

If you have not yet applied for it, you may want to formalize a claim for TDIU and

this Jan 20th could set an effective date if a claim for TDIU is granted.

Hope this helps a vet.

carlie

[jbasser]

These headaches that are related to the C Spine are rated by the migraine criteria.

Carlie hit it on the head when she used the word prostrating.

J

[mike/3/8/cav]

Thanks for the replies, I must have omitted the following from the Dr.

MEDICAL HISTORY

=============

HISTORY OF HOSPITALIZATION OR SURGERY? No

HISTORY OF TRAUMA TO THE CNS? Yes

TYPE, LOCATION AND DATE(S) OF TRAUMA:

multiple falls on his head from a tank during active duty

HISTORY OF CNS NEOPLASM? No

Edited February 11, 2009 by mike/3/8/cav

[carlie]

Mike,

I am sorry but you need much better evidence.

Such as:

It is my medical opinion that this veterans suffers from

headaches on a scale of 8/10, upon waking several times per month.

The veteran states he has had to either lay down on the floor at

work in order not to vomit on his boss, due to the intensity of the headache.

He has to have blackout shades closed at home and lays down for several

hours until the pain from the headache subsides.

After review of the veterans service medical records,it is my medical opinion

that the veterans headaches are as likely as not a result of head concussion

shown on XX/XX/XXXX. Service members file also shows he was on put on

limited profile due to headaches on the following dates, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX.

Doctors name and Title

Other's will chime in.

jmho,

carlie

[mike/3/8/cav]

Mike,

I am sorry but you need much better evidence.

Such as:

It is my medical opinion that this veterans suffers from

headaches on a scale of 8/10, upon waking several times per month.

The veteran states he has had to either lay down on the floor at

work in order not to vomit on his boss, due to the intensity of the headache.

He has to have blackout shades closed at home and lays down for several

hours until the pain from the headache subsides.

After review of the veterans service medical records,it is my medical opinion

that the veterans headaches are as likely as not a result of head concussion

shown on XX/XX/XXXX. Service members file also shows he was on put on

limited profile due to headaches on the following dates, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX.

Doctors name and Title

Other's will chime in.

jmho,

carlie

Thanks again Carlie,

My PCP is setting me up for a professional opinion on what is causing my headaches. I have copied all my service medical recs for this exam. I guess what I'm trying to get at is yes I have headaches and a 0%sc rating. When I went to my very first exam at VA I tried to explain to the examiner that I thought they were caused by falls and things that occur while on heavy equipment. She just said "I will ask the questions and you just answer", this seemed inappropriate to me so I clammed up and just went through what she wanted to do. Now they ask me to go back for another exam and did'nt justify the cause again. I think that my headaches are the result of the falling and being banged around but they don't listen. Hopefully the civilian professional will give some help to this. I have already given VA x-rays and MRI evidence that shows vertabrea problems and still nothing. I am hoping that I could find someone on hadit that is or has gone through this for additional advice such as you and Jb. Again, thank you for your input.

[mike/3/8/cav]

Maybe I should request a TBI exam? It sounds like a long exam.