rpowell01

I filed for a claim back in June of this year and just received my award today December. 6 months is average from the time they start to finish.

Greetings to all. I just want to let everyone know that this is my first post on this board but I have been a regular visitor for awhile. Thanks to all the info I have read I am now 40% service connected. I have been reading on the Ft McClellan notes that are all over the web. I went to chemical school there in 1994. The list of Autoimmune diseases that are on others websites have been very helpful for my current claim I am submitting next week. I really do not understand this rating thing except I was given two SCs, 20% for my CSpine and 20% for my LSpine. They combined it at most serious which my payment schedule is set at 40%. Hope I got the understanding of it correctly. Anyway, I am about to file on my T-Spine because I believe this is where most of the issues are. Back in June of this year I started having tingling in both hands starting at the same time, I cannot hold things without dropping them, my heart rate jumps from 80 to 120 back to 80 back to 120 for no apparent reason which is causing my blood pressure to rise. I have had all test done to rule out anything with my heart. I have ended up at the ER once this year on a EKG which ruled out any heart attack. I have been on a EKG at my personal Doctor's office and heart was ruled out. Then just this week I read about the information about those who were at Ft McClellan. Could this be the reason my heart is doing what it is? I do have osteo arthritus in my spine due to the damage in my discs. I am getting a MRI on my T-Spine January 4, 2011 so I am hoping that they find something on that. Also reading articles everywhere on the net one of the autoimmune diseases is arthritus which I have. Another is IBS which I was diagnosed with back in 2003. I am also in need of a little help on getting something answered. On my letter in the table it states: Mechnical lower back pain syndrome (also claimed as lumbosacral strain and thoracic spine and perviously evaluated under DC 5295) My question is I never filed for my T-Spine because 14 years ago I filed for my back. I didn't know they separated the spine into 3 things. I asked my evaluator during the evaluation why she was not looking at my T-Spine and she said I never filed a claim for this. Can I file on my T-Spine? Also what would be considered secondary claims? I have had Internal Bleeding Hemorrhoids for 8 years now. I have had surgery once back in 2003. I know it is because of the stress of my back pain that caused this. Also, I am now obese because I cannot do any excessive exercise because of my back and neck pain. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, R Powell