60+20=60?new Exam By Original C&p Examiner

[cannoncocker]

Below is the redacted version of the letter I received as a result of a very recent Decision Review Officer action, which leads me to 2 questions:

These are my questions

1. “Your overall or combined rating remains 60% effective April 22, 2008. We do not add the individual percentages of each condition to determine your combined rating. We use a combined rating table that considers the effect from the most serious to the least serious conditions.” In English and standardized math how in the world did they come up with the 60 plus 20 equals 60 since they didn’t seem to pull the pyramid card out?

2. If 60 plus 20 equals 60 what would be the point of another exam, utilizing the same examiner by the way, that denied me in the first place due in no small part because of the numerous discrepancies in his original C&P Exam and the MRI/Consult/Physical Therapy/IME exam findings, which pretty much agreed? It would be relatively difficult to ignore or disagree with an MRI image it would seem to me. So why another exam for severity since 60 plus whatever equals 60?

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

We made a decision on your appeal.

This letter tells you about your entitlement amount and payment start date and what we decided. It includes a copy of our Rating Decision that gives the evidence used and reasons for our decision, We have also included information about additional benefits, what to do if you disagree with our decision, and who to contact if you have questions or need assistance.

What We Decided

Service connection for XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXis granted with an evaluation of 20 percent effective April 22, 2008.

The above action is considered a full grant of this benefit sought on appeal.

An examination will be scheduled at once to evaluate the severity of your service connected XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. You will receive notification regarding the date and time of your exam in a separate letter.

Your overall or combined rating remains 60% effective April 22, 2008. We do not add the individual percentages of each condition to determine your combined rating. We use a combined rating table that considers the effect from the most serious to the least serious conditions.

Your compensation payment of XXXXXXXX will continue unchanged.

Any hunches would be greatly appreciated. Actually I have spoken to an Attorney and I seem to be out of my depth here.

[chr49]

Vync & Carlie...

Thanks for informing me on tinnitus being a flat 10%, not bilateral.

The thing that stumped me with this one was the pyramiding of R & L leg so I didn't look up tinnitus regs. Thanks for covering for me!

[cannoncocker]

Vync, now that you mention treatment, as is my way, I have been using a small portable fan, pointed away from me, so I won't freeze solid, but is enough background sound that distracts me so I can sleep. Otherwise I'd be sleepless for years, long before I even knew there was a VA. honestly when I got out I had never even heard of the VA. Years later an old guy, me now, wised me up. Where ever you are Bless you buddy!

chr49, I never gave it a moments thought since many years of never really understanding pyramading, in my case L & R Feet post surgery stuff. Everybody just seemed on board so I hopped in board and went on my merry with the masses. Actually, after all this time I believe I have a handle on it.

carlie? What exactly is meant by "Subjective"? as in "Service Connected Recurrent Subjective". Or better where can I get the definition of subjective? or does that mean the standard dictionary definition:

a standardized view rather than one persons view of an event.

Actually I suppose that doesn't really matter since it is really just part of the diagnosis verbage.

Edited March 31, 2010 by cannoncocker

[Vync]

cannon,

Just about anything that generates 'white noise' is supposed to help drown out the whirring. The marsona tinnitus treatment kit is supposed to be superior to just a fan. It also has a battery pack, so you can take it anywhere. Having it at work would be a big plus. Visit the VA audiologist and see if they can get you one. My audiologist was very positive about the benefits of it over a regular fan.

[cannoncocker]

I'll be by the Asheville VAMC and give it a try. I can't even sleep anymore without that niose in the back ground. That is as bad as cigs, being an ex smoker, I can say the correlation exists authoritatively . I hope that kit works for me like it does for you! Hopefully it will work for others that haven't tried it like me.

Strange my Dr. didn't mention this to me; instead I had to get it off hadit from you. Sad in some way it seems.

Needless to say I appreciate that and will give it the whirl.

[Vync]

Sounds cool. I hope they offer that as a solution for you. Also, please note that they said it takes 4-6 weeks for it to be delivered. I don't have mine yet, but it totally blew me away that it was offered to me. With the constant noise, any relief is welcome relief.

[Pete53]

I want to thank all the Members of Hadit who take the time to respond to other Members and give them answers that their VSO rarely or never would do.

I have had tinnitus since 1994 and sometimes I don;t notice it and sometimes it drives me bonkers. Mine is a sharp buzzing sound like the noise a high tension electric wire makes only very loud.

The VA gave me a hearing aid.

Good Luck to all specially my fellow sufferers.