BFR

This is a list of links and information that I've compiled while researching GWI for my claim. All those included in this post come from the VA, so one would assume that the information they contain is accurate. Always verify that the page you're looking at is up-to-date! Please add or correct any information in this thread. General Info from VA on GWI: Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses: Illnesses Associated with Gulf War ServicePresumptive period extended to December 31, 2011Veterans Compensation Benefits Rate Tables - Effective 12/1/09 (From what I see this is still accurate in 2011.)Gulf War Registry Health Exam CFS: VA's Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Examination worksheetVA Rating chart (from CFR):6354 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): Debilitating fatigue, cognitive impairments (such as inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, confusion), or a combination of other signs and symptoms:100% Which are nearly constant and so severe as to restrict routine daily activities almost completely and which may occasionally preclude self-care60% 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 year40% 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 year20% 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 year10% 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 medicationNote: For the purpose of evaluating this disability, the condition will be considered incapacitating only while it requires bed rest and treatment by a physician. Fibromyalgia: VA's Fibromyalgia Examination worksheetVA Rating Chart (from CFR):5025 Fibromyalgia (fibrositis, primary fibromyalgia syndrome): With widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, with or without associated fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, anxiety, or Raynaud's-like symptoms:40% That are constant, or nearly so, and refractory to therapy20% That are episodic, with exacerbations often precipitated by environmental or emotional stress or by overexertion, but that are present more than one-third of the time10% That require continuous medication for controlNote: Widespread pain means pain in both the left and right sides of the body, that is both above and below the waist, and that affects both the axial skeleton (i.e. , cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine, or low back) and the extremities. IBS (***NOTE: I could not find an examination worksheet or a section in the rating table listed as "irritable bowel syndrome." This information may or may not be accurate!) VA's Intestines (Large and Small) Examination Worksheet 7319 Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis, mucous colitis, etc.):30% Severe; diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea and constipation, with more or less constant abdominal distress10% Moderate; frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress0% Mild; disturbances of bowel function with occasional episodes of abdominal distress .

I'm in Austin. It seems to me like San Antonio is a lot closer, but for some reason Waco is our RO. @ Veldrina: Do you think it would be of any use to switch to a rep with an office in Waco? I understand that they can at least find out where things are stalled. Or does that just further delay the process?

My claim was received on Aug 24, 2010 and went to rating on Oct 25, 2010. I called in Feb 2011 and they started some kind of "investigation" to find out why it had no activity. Now the only information I can get is that it was "scanned" on April 7th, but no one can tell me what that means. Here's a funny story about eBenefits: I run half of the servers that application lives on but I cannot access it as a vet. They tell me that I'd have to drive to Waco, TX (a 4-hour round trip) to be personally identified by an ISO (Information Security Officer). Nice.

I thought I had a pretty solid bid on a CFS and FM rating with GW service and an awesome write up for the VA from my doc, but no bedrest was ever *prescribed* for me. I just stayed home when I couldn't move. Do you think that takes the wind out of my claim?

19D Cavalry Scout with Alpha Troop, 1/2 ACR our of Bindlach Germany.

I remember standing in line by squads while the medics dispensed a PB pill to each of us, and then the squad leader would issue the commands "take pill" and then "drink water." After that we had to open our mouth for a visual inspection to make sure that we'd swallowed the pill instead of "cheeking" it.

/agree with mpara about wishing I had spoken up or gone to sick call. I was in some fairly hardcore units, and going to sickcall was a good way to get in trouble. Get it documented while you're in AND get it documented during your first VA exam. When I ETS'ed out of Ft. Riley there was a group of civilians that gave "classes" on transitioning out of military life. One of the classes was how to file your initial VA claim. They had you bring in a copy of your medical records, gave you the forms, and encouraged you to file for anything you'd ever been treated for. When I went to my first C&P I was still in the hardcore mindset and really messed up my chances; later I got a lot of denials from VA because even though I could document the conditions while on active duty there was nothing found in the C&P.

Boy, don't I know it!

Thanks, Berta and Pete. The last several times I submitted claims I did it on my own. This time I went with our county's vet rep and filed everything through her. She makes a copy for me, a copy for her archive, and sends a notarized copy to the VA with a cover letter. I'll have to ask about some of the acronyms used: IMO...is that independent medical opinion? I don't know what the VCCA letter is. I did get one asking if I had more evidence to submit that I answered and mailed back. Soon after that my rep mailed in all my evidence. For each component of GWS I looked up the VA's criteria and rating schedule. I used that to create a template for my private doctor to use along with the suggested phrasing. She used that to create 7 pages of evidence for me to submit, using VA's terminology where possible. I suspect that the VA is more receptive to this approach than others. I did an IRIS inquiry and got this response last week: Our records indicate that your claim opened on August 24, 2010, for Gulf War Syndrome, was made ready for decision on October 25, 2010. All of the requested evidence has been received and your claim file will go to the rating board, the team who reviews evidence and makes decisions, for review. If additional evidence is needed, you will receive a letter from the regional office informing you what is needed. If no additional evidence is needed, we will make a decision. Unfortunately, we can't provide a time frame in which this will occur as this depends upon their current caseload. Once a decision is made, your claim will then be given to the staff that reviews the information for accuracy and approves the payment, if applicable, which is usually the final step. The rating decision will be sent to you by U.S. mail when the claim is completely finished. I don't know if this is the step at which a C&P might be requested or if they're ready to make a ruling (when they get to my stack of paper).

With respect to the senior members of the forum, wouldn't the right answer be to locate a good representative, collect all available data, and submit a claim?

Sorry, wrong worksheet. Sleep deprivation at it's best. See the attached PDF. ptsd eval.pdf

Is this what you're looking for? VA's CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) as of November 2010: General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders: 100% Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name 70% Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships 50% Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships 30% Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events) 10% Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication 0% A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication 0

I just located the Gulf War subforum. I'd like to move this post to that area since it seems more appropriate, but I dont know how to remove this post. Neither would I want to double post. What's the most appropriate action?

Greetings all. I did several searches across hadit but didn't seem to find this specific question so I'll post it here. I'm a veteran of the first Gulf War back in 1990-1991. Recently IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), and fibromyalgia have been deemed as presumptive conditions. Since that ruling came out I was diagnosed as having all three by my private physician, (Endocrinology and Internal Medicine). From what I understand from my research there are no definitive tests for any of these conditions. She wrote a beautiful statement for me to submit with liberal use of the magic phrase "In my opinion this condition is at least as likely as not related to military service" for each disorder. (My thanks to the Travis County Veteran's Commission (Texas) for the heads up on the VA's preferred phrasing!) I wondering if the VA may use a C&P to counter the private doctor's findings. Any ideas or previous experience with filing based on presumptive conditions documented by a non-VA doctor? TIA, BFR