ptsd Hip Arthritis Appeal

[bergin c/o]

recieved 10 percent for ptsd but they denied service connection for bilateral hip arthritis. one hip has beed replaced and the other is on the way. i began having hip pain while in desert storm but did not give it much thought. i discharged shortly after returning and it grew progressivly worse. i was 30 when i had my first hip replaced. v.a said in denial letter that my docters relied on speculation in the evidence letters i provided the va. words like possibly caused by service in the military and may have been caused by . also c-p exam stated a cause could not be assigned without resorting to speculation .even though my docters stated abnormal amount of degenerative arthritis in a young individual..got a letter today asking me to pick between traditional appeal or a decision review officer.were do i go from here to get more supporting evidence?

[bergin c/o]

^{another update, got a second call from claims .the va said i had claimed joint pain , spinal pain , and arthritis. he said my claim was going before the board and had an unresolved issue. he stated my claim was to vague . it did not say which joints i was claiming under joint pain, what part of my spine i was claiming. and for arthritis what joints where affected. this seemed strange, i had the general medical c-p exam where i listed all my problem areas. i just told him everything from my original statement and he said i would here a result in 4-6 weeks. i think they are trying to lump my hip arthritis claim ( that is at the dro) and my new claims into one.}

[autohound]

Best of luck. I have two TKR total knee replacements 1 is at 30% and the other at 20% hopefully going to 30% soon. Im trying for 100% but like you said the Dr's are scared of the VA. They wont write any thing point blank. Best of luck.

[bergin c/o]

thank you for your support . i had gotten my original doctor to write a medical nexus report. he was in retierment and i had originally seen him in 1994.did the whole dro thing and they still decided against me . when i recieved the statement of case the medical nexus report was not included under evidence. even though i had reciepts from my veterans advocate having sent it to them with the letter about me chosing a dro . they got the dro part but never used the nexus letter. so now i am up to bva , and a long wait .i s disapointing that you cannot call them and say hey you did not use the cridical evidence can you take another look before it goes to bva.

[bergin c/o]

called bva number ,they said my claim was there and had not been heard yet.

[scscrewed]

At least the crucial evidence will be used by the BVA, andw they are suppose to give the benefit of the doubt. I am sorry this has taken so long for you. Hang in there.

[bergin c/o]

my service officer resubmitted all our evidence to the board just in case , they seem to lose stuff when it comes time for the case to be heard.thanks for your help