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rpowell01
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Posts posted by rpowell01
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Here it he thing about New and Material Evidence. If the VA does not properly review your medical file they will not allow New and Material Evidence even though it even shows in your VA medical file. The VA ROs personnel does not read the CFile whatsoever or properly. I have proof they don't. Heck I have proof they only pick and choose what they want. Example: My VA Medical Files shows Radiculopathy in BOTH my legs secondary to my lumbar spine. My VA Medical File also shows where my VA PCP asked the Neurosurgeon about my L5-S1 Radiculopathy. My VA Medical File contains a VA EMG that shows BILATERAL RADICULOPATHY secondary to my Lumbar DDD/DJD. I have a NEXUS from Dr. Bash that connected the dots. I even a SECOND Nexus from Dr. Bash CUEing the VA. Now, the VA RO did connect my Cervical and Lumbar spine issues from "sprain" in 1996 to DDD/DJD 2013 because of Dr. Bash's NEXUS. But they have REFUSED to connect the RADICULOPATHY even after the EMG which proved Dr. Bash's NEXUS has been 110% dead on.
I am saying all of this because your best bet is to just wait on appeal or file a CUE like I am now doing. Remember you can file a CUE ANYTIME when there is an error ON RECORD by the rater. Some people will tell you that you have to wait after the 1 year appeal period. Actually this is not correct 100% of the time. If the decision letter DOES NOT contain ALL the record of evidence then this is a TECHNICAL CUE. Its like in court when the DA doesn't present ALL the evidence that may show a defendent actually being innocent of a crime. This is a technical issue per the courts, even with the Veteran Court of Appeals.
My advice is to purchase TWO very, very immportant books that every veteran who files his/her claims and appeals. Go to NexisLexis and get the Veterans Manual and the Federal Code of Regulations which has all the CFRs you will ever need the VA MUST abide by.
Just my humble opinion.
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Or you can write a Letter of Evidence and use Exhibits which is the proper way to submit evidence.
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What pisses me off is I filed claims on my legs, one leg in 2011 and one leg in 2012. Dr. Bash did the IMO and then another one in 2013. What does the St Pete RO do? They approve me TDIU but denied me bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy EVEN AFTER they had the 2013 EMG to show proof I had. Dr. Bash diagnosed this in 2012 believe it or not. He didn't need an EMG, he knows his stuff believe me. He is a totally different person in person than he is on the phone, funny but true. Anyway I am going to submit this as evidence along with the 2013 EMG that I feel somebody has hidden it from the St Pete RO. I say this because Social Security didn't even get a clear copy of it. As a word of advice get on myheathevet, sign up for premium access, then each month retrieve your medical records. The only con about myhealthevet is you can't retrieve EMG reports for some odd reason which I have yet to find out why. Other advice, don't call your VA Doctors, secure message them on myhealthevet because then once submitted and replied to then its on paper. Understand?
I am NOT blaming the VA FULLY about this, I am blaming the Federal Government also such as Congress and the President. Why you wonder? New members on here might not realize that the VA has issues keeping Neurosurgeons on staff. Example: Whenever I was in the Bay Pines System in St Pete from 2008-2012 they did NOT have Neurosurgeon on staff!!!!!!!!!!!! And still today they do not have Neurosurgeons on staff. They utilize one contractor that outsources the surgeries to the "lowest bidder". My Uncle In-Law just had cervical surgery and now he has arm jerks. In the Rehab center the VA sent him to he ended up with Staph Infection in his NECK because of the rehab people. Yes I informed him and my aunt of filing a 1151 claim but we will have to wait until he gets home. The Surgery was so bad that his spinal cord got infected from the surgery meaning the surgeon was awful and didn't know what he/she was doing, period. I informed my uncle and aunt of their rights and to bring him home. They did but he kept falling so he was taken back up there to FINALLY have another surgery to correct the issues. He is doing a lot better. This is one in just millions of cases the way the VA does people.
Myself I informed my VA PCP that since James A. Haley utilizes MDs, surgeons and interns from University of South Florida that I believe I should have or need to be sent to Davis Island at the USF Medical Center on the VA's Tab. He told me he knows I have been suffering for a long time and he wanted the new EMG so he can do whatever he can.
I am praying and hoping they will send me over there or to Tampa General because I know James A. Haley is also lacking Neurosurgeons big time. Think about it, if you were a Neurosurgeon would you want to work with the VA? Less salary, less retirement and less benefits? You better believe it you would not work for the VA. I don't blame them.
Does anybody remember all these cards they sent out to millions of veterans? Look how much money that was wasted to print these cards, and the paper and postage but only to find out they were worthless to use.
I only ask the VA to give me P&T and I will get Tricare and go get proper treatment. Right now I just have medicare and its just too darn expensive with the 20% payment that I have to pay for these shots I have had. I don't have that kind of money. I want what is earned and the St Pete RO is not giving it to me but they have something that is going to come at them very soon. A request that the Rater to CUE himself/herself for not connecting the radiculopathy even after Dr. Bash's NEXUS (2 of them), an EMG all showed I have them from my Lumbar issues. Also a nice letter of Evidence will be coming also. I have hard times concentrating so I hope I do good in writing it.
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Andyman73 and others,
Here is the new impression from the new EMG I just had last Thursday. Keep in mind the VA conducted an EMG in Aug 2013 and those results showed L5-S1 Radiculopathy. This past weeks results are as follow:
Impression:
This is an abnormal electrodiagnostic study. There are electrical evidence to suggest a mild sensory and motor axonal and demyelinating polyneuropathy with bilateral fibular head entrapment and possible chronic right S1 radiuclopathy.
I am not MD but all I will say to everybody is if the VA is not giving you proper treatment such as ESIs and Facet Blocks get yourself to a Pain Management to get these done or you might end up with this crap. I sat right here on my computer on Secure Messaging and complained and complained about my radiculopathy and NOTHING was ever done, NOTHING. I am PISSED bigtime!!!!!
Dr. Bash was 110% whenever he said "If they (VA) doesn't do anything I will be paralyzed" and he said this in 2012 which was a year before ANYTHING was ever done which was nothing except given pain killers from Pain Management. I guess its time to file that complaint with a couple of Senators here in Florida about all of this crap.
Sorry I am not happy right now, I was hoping just to see the radiculopathy but now neuropathy which is most likely caused by the CHRONIC inflammation of the pinched nerve/damaged nerve.
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Dr Craig Bash, look him up on the internet. He is a Neurological-Radiologist and he knows his stuff. He diagnosed stuff on me way, way before the VA did. It took the VA over a year to do an EMG on me. He is the man and he knows his stuff, trust me on this. His name appears a lot on the BVA Search.
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spearhead91 you do realize that DDD/DJD can cause loss of blood flow to the legs. I asked this to Dr. Bash and he said Yes it can.
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Hello, I can't answer too much of what your asking or offer much guidance yet. What got me on your post were the ESI shots for the DDD, I have the same and roughly the same age, if I understand what your saying that the "ESI shot were wrong to do for treatment of the DJD/DDD" why is that? I'm curious because my path went from calf pain investigation, DDD lumbar L-X everything messed up, to PAD because the spine DR couldn't find my pulse on my left foot and quote"you need to get to a vascular surgeon to check that out now".
So we did and now diagnosed with PVD/PAD of both lower extremeties discovered after ABI's test resting and after treadmill test were below .40 both , MRI with contrast done to see blockages I was really and still messed up because of all this emotionally. But my main point was I started to get treated for one issue, and I still need to get treated for that, during this process a more severe issue was discovered (PVD/PAD/AAA) Not to cause alarm because so many conditions manifest way later in life I have two that normally happen to people in the mid 50's and later or not even until they are well into their 60's. For me I've been lucky that the ortho people on my back MRI found I have a 3CM AAA(abdominal aortic aneurysm). So getting the right DR or small group of DR's, to make sure they refer to one another is quite all right to have a few cooks in the kitchen IMHO.
How can someone without diabeties, which I don't have either but I suspect I have pre-diabetes which is just as dangerous because I've seen high glucose results a few times post-service, never checked during service.
What years did you serve? For me 84-97 Persian Gulf Vet. What bothers me most is how can someone only 48 years old have the body of 65 year old, no offense you older VETS. These silent diseases are a real (fill in the blank) when not found early enough. Also why in service are we not checked every 2 or 3 years for basic metabolic panel and cholesterol is beyond me. And the kicker for me is I tore out my left ACL during the prepping exercises for the push north for the ground phase and dealt with that the next 6 years and then finally got out because I was tired of keeping getting profiles for running etc . I gave up basically and didn't re-enlist because I couldn't deal with the knee issue anymore and didn't look like they were going to medically retire me. So basically two choices: forced to keep on keeping on or exit the military on your own which I did. I would loved to have stayed the next 7 years for full 20 years. Always the famous have some motrin and Return to duty.
spearhead91 to understand there is a difference between DDD and DJD. DDD has to deal with the disc themselves where DJD is where the cartilage in the back of the spine deteriorates. And ESI is for inflammation at the nerve root while facet blocks are just that, the same medication for ESI used at the joints in the spine.
Constant inflammation and pinching on any Lumbar nerve(s) can and will cause Neuropathy. Here is a link I found out how and why:http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/chronic-pain/all-about-neuropathy-and-chronic-back-pain
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Well I just submitted a complaint to Representative Thomas Rooney to hopefully get something done. You know what is so bad is Dr. Craig Bash told me in 2013 whenever he examined me that if the VA doesn't place me into James A. Haley's Spine Program they have for people that are severe, for the ones who for example become paralyzed, that I will be paralyzed in the future. I have this feeling Dr. Bash was 100% because from the beginning he diagnosed me with issues way before the VA ever did because of all the red tape we have to go through.
This is not about me anymore, I will be 47 in three months, so this is about my 3 children and my wife. I need to get P&T to get ChampVA so I can get proper treatment because right now I can't get medigap, way too expensive. Plus I need my wife here at home with me but right now she is working. If I fall again I might not be able to get up to get to the phone to call for help.
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I've been researching this but can't find anything. I've been seeing a Pain Management and Neurosurgeon facility since Sept-October 2014. They decided to give me an EMG yesterday because of the pain and numbness/tingling I have. The pain started down my buttocks into the bottom of my feet and toes back in 2012. Currently I have loss of sensation that has wrapped around to the top of my feet and up into my shins. After the EMG the MD said he had to put everything together for his report and will call me back in for the FULL results. He did say his initial results are that if I only had L5-S1 Bilateral Radiculopathy in 2013 then its getting worse and has progressed into Neuropathy.
I've read in the past on the differences of these two things. Radiculopathy means one nerve is being pinched and Neuropathy means that more than one nerve is DAMAGED.
So my question is how can Radiculopathy progress into Neuropathy? BTW I am not diabetic and never have been. See the Regional Office approved me IU but denied my legs and I and I am thinking they were "hoping" I would get diabetes so they could say "We can't distinguish between the two"....Yes I read this exact phrase on my wife's Uncle Report from a claim.
See I started seeing this Neurologist/Neurosurgeon place because the VA has done NOTHING to properly treat my spine condition. The only thing they did was in 2013 was to send me out for ESI in Clearwater, FL. That was the WRONG treatment because I have DJD and little DDD even though I herniated a disc back in 2012. Now whenever I asked my VA PCP through secure message on declaring me P&T he said no he can't do that. Don' t worry Dr. Bash has already done this and Voc Rehab has declared me unemployable. Anyway my VA PCP had the nerve to tell me that one of James A. Haley PM specialists stated that I had "too many cooks" for my treatment. What such BS (Jesus please forgive me for saying that).
First I was having Thyroid issues that my VA PCP refused to treat me even after 2-3 blood results showed high Thyroid levels since 2013 so now I see my private PCP. Second the VA pain management wasn't doing anything, nothing to help me, nothing. I couldn't even see a surgeon after I requested it to PM. So whenever I finally was able to qualify for medicare I decided to go see a private PM facility. But the VA PM had the nerve to say "too many cooks"?
Guess what I am going to file a complaint with the IGs office because the Neurologist in Pain Management who improperly treated me wrote up a report stating he did a full exam on me. Guess what he never did that exam, I secured messaged PM at James A. Haley about this and secured messages shows he he called me back after I caught him in a lie after reading over the report. He calls me back in to finally do a proper exam. He lied and this is unethical. How many other veterans have been treated this way from James A. Haley?
See, I've complained and complained and complained about my low back and lower extremity issues and James A. Haley with no results. Luckily I secure message everything.
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im surprized they arent dumping the Tramadol down your throat,, thats cheap, synthetic, trash, prison grade medicine.. It gave me very primal nightmares of seeing dead rotting bodies and bones and life like horrific dreams.. when I told my doctor abt it,, his answer was... " that doesnt surprise me"'' well if they know it does this, why the hell do they give it to veterans..
Heres something to check into.. real doctors in real hospitals now use lasers to deaden the nerves that are getting pinched. very small hole, then they identify the nerve being aggravated, and burn it,, BUT nerves do grow back., so the treatment is chronic.. like every 6 months or one a year,. VA knows abt these things but its expensive.. not the treatment, the EXPERTISE .. Its hard to find good doctors who will work for the VAMC... ( veterans ambulatory medical Circus)..
Well I take Oxycodone 5mg 4x a day as needed. Even thought I have an agreement with the VA I am about to go see my Private Internal Medicine MD to see if he can prescribe me Tramadol just for a breakthrough medication. Because previous veterans abused these drugs and because some of the VA MDs were overdosing some of the Vets with these pain meds they are now being, well I can't think of the name of it. They just don't want to give anymore than they have to even though I stay in a lot of pain.
Just two years ago Xray showed mild progressing Osteoarthritis but a CT scan a litter over a week ago now shows the OA to be moderate and still progressing. Here is the thing, as long as it keeps progressing and not stabilizing then there will be a lot of pain because of all of the muscle spasms.
My VA MD said he will talk with Pain Management about the Lyrica because only a specialists at the VA can prescribe it and of course he/she still has to get it approved. It was the same way with Cymbalta that I can tell you was a miracle for me. Cymbalta has allowed me to finally get out of bed which I've been laying in for a year and now I can go outside and do things. Yes I hurt really bad but I have to move. I am lucky I did't form any blood clots in my legs.
See I feel over a month ago in my bathtub and slammed down on my left ribs. No broken ribs but the ER MD told me that he wished I had a broken rib because now I have torn muscles and whenever I hit the side of the tub my ribs did something to my spine. I think those ribs hit my spine in the back and did some damage. Plus the muscle spasm wrapping around from the front around to my the back is so horrific. This is the worse pain ever. Here is the funny thing, JBasser told me about 3 day - week before this incident for me to keep BOTH feet on the ground. So for others who have radiculopathy in both legs, KEEP THEM ON THE GROUND. Trust me whenever I lifted my right legs to wash the bottom of my right foot my left leg just gave out and booom slammed down onto the side of the tub. I should have listened to JBasser so be forewarned if you don't listen protect your ribs and your head.
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I take 3600mg of Gabpentin a day. Its been a struggle to get my VA PCP to at least switch me to TRY Lyrica.
I've been seeing a Private MD, Pain Management MD and now a Neurologist. They ALL told me they felt Lyrica would be better for me since I am on such high dosages of Gabapentin.
People with permanent nerve damage does Gabapentin or Lyrica help you better? I am thinking of getting away from the VA totally because of this and I believe because other veterans were being overdosed with pain medications those of use who have permanent nerve damage are being PUNISHED because the VA will not give us any breakthrough medication to go along with our pain medications. See the VA screwed up and now we all have to pay for it without due process.
A friend of mine down in Pt. Charlotte, FL has arthritis and nerve pain but not nearly as severe as I do. He even told me he doesn't understand. He goes to a private pain management center down that way and he receives TWO different types of pain meds, one is a breakthrough medication. I even ask my VA PCP to see if he can prescribe me Tramadol to go along with my Oxycodone and he just keeps denying me this.
I am at the point in my life, a branch in the road, where I believe I need to make a choice, get away from the VA medical care totally and go out into the private fully or just quit the private sector and let the VA keep doing nothing much for my pain issues.
I guess I didn't talk about this on here but approx a month and 1 week ago I was in the bathtub taking a shower. I lifted my right foot to wash it and my left leg just gave out on me and I was slammed onto the side of the tube hitting my rib cage. Now, I have been in severe pain for that, luckily i didn't break any ribs but the MD said that deep bruising and muscle strains like this is worse than breaking a rib. Again my VA MD didn't do NOTHING to help me with my pain.
He doesn't understand, he just doesn't believe the pain I am in and I am tired of it. EMG proved to him I have bilateral radiculopathy in my legs. He just doesn't care.
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For the past couple of years my mind has been in what I am calling a "smoke cloud". I couldn't remember anything and I couldn't do much writing because I didn't have any will power because of the pain I have to deal with. Anyway I have been dealing with memory issues due to chronic pain and of course these medications I take. Finally after about 10-15 trips to the Emergency Room due to heart rates rising to 180+ some I, not my VA MD, but I found out it was caused by the Elavil/Amitriptyline. Along with the Tachycardia I had to deal with, I had dry mouth all the time and I would get severly dehydrated even if I didn't go outside. Finally, after talking with the ER MD he suggested I quit taking the Elavil and boom there has been this "smoke cloud" that has lifted off of my mind. I sent my VA PCP a secured message (BTW I ALWAYS send secured messages to get it all down on paper) and I told him about the Elavil. He comes back and says things like its prescribed to younger men like myself, blah, blah, blah. I'm 46 years old and I'm not a young man. Some of you older folks may say so but if you look at the life expectency of human beings I am approx 16 years beyond the halfway point in my life. So, I am not a young man if you look at it like I do. LOL
Anyway, I wanted to share this for people, who like me, has memory issues. For the past year I could NOT write my Letter of Evidence because I could NOT remember a legal name of something that is very important for my case. I have TWO NODs at the RO level for De Novo Review. These two NODs should actually be combined together because on one NOD I have a contention of Right Leg Radiculopathy secondary to my Lumbar spine and on the second NOD I have Left Leg Radiuclopathy secondary to my Lumbar Spine. Below is an example I found on the BVA search. Its funny how just out of the blue I remembered the name of the legal phrase I've been trying to remember for the past couple of years.
The Court has held that when a determination on one issue could have a significant impact on the outcome of another issue, such issues are considered inextricably intertwined and VA is required to decide those issues together. Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 180 (1991). As an example and to understand why inextricably intertwine is important read an excerpt I found of a case from the BVA website: The claim of entitlement to a TDIU requires consideration of the effect on employability of all service-connected disabilities. The determination regarding the remanded issues could impact the veteran's TDIU claim. The Board therefore finds these issues to be inextricably intertwined. Thus, adjudication of the TDIU claim will be held in abeyance pending further development of the veteran's claims.
Of anybody has multiple claims or current NODs really read over your contentions. Inextricably intertwined can be helpful if you do have multiple NODs and the contentions in those NODs can affect each other on a decision. For me, as part of my letter of evidence I am respectfullly requestion that both NODs with all contentions be inextricably intertwined per Harris v. Derwinski.
I just felt on writing this to maybe help others so I am now going back to writing up my Letter of Evidence. I can tell you the St Pete RO raters are something else. Example: I filed a claim for BILATERAL Sciatica. The RO changed this claim to Right Leg only. This is ILLEGAL, period. They are NOT and cannot changed any claims that are legally written. Anyway they come back and say something to the affect of "There is no new evidence from the Tampa VA to reopen this claim" blah, blah, blah. Now this is how bad they are. The original claims were decided in 2012 and around June 2013. I had an EMG in October 2013 which reported BILATERAL L5-S1 Radiculopathy in my legs. Then in November 2013 Tampa VA Pain Management Neurologist also diagnosed the same thing after he did a FULL exam. The exam was more detailed than any C&P exam I have ever had with the VA which is another debate for another time. Anyway, these raters are really, really bad.
Anyway I hope this helps other people in their writings and NODs.
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Disregard, I am starting to find OTHER healtcare providers who provides it. Don't see how one provides it and another one doesn't just because of age. Congress needs to fix this on the FEDERAL Level.
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Is there anybody who has any medicare supplement here in Florida? I'm 46 and can't get a quote online because of my age, which I still say is illegal. Example: AARP who uses United Healthcare provides these plans for people over a certain age. If somebody is OFFICIALLY medically retired, on SSDI and has medicare then NO insurance company should be allowed to decline people like me medicare supplement insurance.
IMHO this is discrimination because a company cannot provide service to just a group of people based on their age and not others who have the same disabilities. Anyway this is another debate for a another time.
Is there anybody on here in Florida who is under 50 and has medicare supplement? My bills are way, way too much and we would be better off just paying the higher rate for medicare supplement plans.
HELP ANYBODY PLEASE...
My dad was telling me some years ago he couldn't get it because of his age. I thought this was changed in Florida but I am not 100% sure. If I can't get a plan because of my age then I think its time for me to become a huge advocate in getting this all changed.
The law is clear on discrimination on age, it was not just created for the workplace, it was created in ALL circumstances.
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The VA LOVES to confuse Veterans. A confused Veteran often gives up, or does not even apply for benefits. Your decision is no different.
The VA often uses "codes" as to whether or not you are P and T, and does not come right out and say it, in order to confuse you.
If the letter says you are eligible for DEA Chapter 35, this means you are P and T.
If the VA says no reexams are scheduled, this means you are P and T.
If you AB8 letter on ebenefits says you are P and T then you are P and T.
However, the VA does not always come out and say you are P and T.
My AB8 reads I am NOT P&T but the RO keeps sending me applications and information for my daughter to fill out to go to college. She will be a Senior this upcoming year. They sent them TWICE.
I'm about to file a P&T claim based on previous IMOs the RO used to determine me as IU. But they purposely decided not to give me P&T even though Dr. Bash wrote not just once but twice in two different IMOs that I am P&T.
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I was rated for the following:
70% mdd concurrent
50% sleep apnea
40% sciatica right
30% tracheotomy scar
20% sciatica left
10% deviated septum
10% nerve damage right shoulder (forget medical name for it)
0% hypertension
This is all from memory because e-Benefits is down. How do these ratings work with reevaluations and future appointments? After reading some of the stories here, I'm a little afraid that the docs at the VA will take anything I say at appointments and turn it around in a way to reduce my rating.
Thank you all again for your help and insight.
Yes this is correct to review because they can review any veteran anytime they want. But, it appears your in a stabilization period for your sciatica in your legs. If you have permanent nerve damage in your legs like I do then don't worry about it because EMGs will show proof, in the future, if they got better or worse. The RO's really doesn't know your treatment plans so whenever they see things like "sciatica" they automatically kick in the "stabilization period" just in case your sciatica gets better because of treatment such as surgery or something like physical therapy.
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Congrats....
Boy these ROs don't like giving out needed P&T to help us get CHAMPVA insurance for our families do they?
To answer your question about the 5 years, there is a stabilization period. Once your medical issues stabilizes then they will review it to see how bad the damage there is. I don't know what your medical issues are so its hard to explain without knowing. But for example: if you have spine issues with arthritis then they will have to wait until the arthritis stabilizes once it kicks in such as in DJD. Then afterwards they will review it again to see if it got better or worse. Such as in my case, I am stuck in limbo, nerve damage in my legs now so there is no fix. Hope you understand why they did the 5 year time period. But, if you have the funds and if your records show permanent issues I would get a NEXUS written up and submit a claim for P&T.
Best of luck, go get your military ID cards so you can get discounts at some lodges and other places.
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Well I have been having a lot of problems; Tachycardia and heart rate been just jumping up to 180 for no reason. This started months ago around January and we all thought it was linked to Thyroid issues. But, I think what happened was I was having Thyroid issues for a long time now, since 2013 and my VA PCP didn't care one bit about the levels. The TSH levels with the VA has been OVER .6 THREE times since 2013 and each time it was check I had some kind of Thyroid attack during that month or weeks following up or right after it was checked. My VA doctor tells me in a secured message that "The medical field doesn't get worried unless the TSH levels reach a 10"!!!!! OMG, WTH is wrong with these VA doctors? The cut has been LOWERED to something like .3 two to three years ago and they are still saying anything over a 10 they are worried. Guess what, now I have freaking Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's Disease)...Thanks VA Doc for caring and thanks for looking out for me because I know you want me in the 6 feet under club...Thanks Bud..
Then in January of this year my heart would just start racing to up to 180BPM for no apparent reason. They thought it was the Thyroids because some nurse had the same symptoms. I am still having these issues and I think I have linked it to amitriptyline I take at night to help me sleep. I have been waking up since January with a dry mouth and I mean a really dry mouth. Didn't think nothing of it. So we tried the switch to Topiramate but after they attempted to wean me down off of Gabapentin my feet and toes would just be in severe pain so it was agreed for me to quit taking the Topiramate and stay on the Gabapentin. The other day I decided to try to do some work in the yard and after taking a shower BOOM heart rate to 180 again for no reason, well I thought so. The ER doctor said these issues must be linked to the amitriptyline which has a habit of creating dry mouth in people. Whenever a person has a dry mouth they are, you guessed it, DEHYDRATED. So I came home and threw every amitriptyline in the yard. See I was suppose to have surgery for excessive snoring on June 18th. They were going to fix my "uvula" and remove my tonsils. Since I threw out the amitriptyline my snoring has been pretty much down 75%. My wife said I snored very little last night and none the night before. So, a forewarning about that stuff, be careful. So, I just take my .5mg Xanax at night to help me sleep. The amitriptyline effected me so bad I was having weird dreams and I mean some weird dreams of just things in my past history but with people out of sync, they were in the wrong places where they should be, LOL. Anyway I am feeling much better but to make sure nothing is wrong with my heart or arteries I am going to see a private cardiologist next Friday. Also on June 15 I am getting another EMG on my legs but this time from a Private Neurologist to see how bad the nerve damage has spread.
BTW I love it when you receive a letter from the VA on a reconsideration and they say "There is no diagnosis" whenever its written in the medical records at least over 100 times. They have something coming to them during my hearing at my appeal hearing at the RO. I hope its a man so I can see how far his softball go up inside him whenever I present him all this evidence I have. See the RO just looks at the "Problems List". This is a NO-GO. Because many diagnosis' are made but not placed on the problem's list. Remember this on your claims and read your records carefully.
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I get Cervico-Genic Headaches a lot that comes from my C2-C3. I hope this medication helps because the Amitriptyline isn't helping much. All that stuff does is put me to sleep and causes me to sleep longer hours which is not good for a person with spine issues. Meaning sleeping 10 hours makes the DJD issues stiff and causes more radiating pain.
My VA PCP is starting me off on 25mg of Topiramate and bringing me down off of the Gabapentin at the same time. As for effects such as the memory loss, well I already have that with the high dosage of Gabapentin. I just pray it doesn't make my memory loss worse because I will go insane if it does.
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Well my VA PCP is changing me from Gabapentin 3600mg per day to this topiramate stuff. I read everywhere online and here on hadit about its side effects. Since starting Gabapentin I've gained weight big time and had lots of memory loss. I hope I don't get all the weird side effects of topiramate but hope I do get the weight loss side effect.
He wants to change some medications up with me because of the effects of other medications plus at my request I want to come down off of the opioids that I hate very, very, very much. All that stuff is doing to me is causing me to become a hermit in my bedroom. I'm going to end up dying from under activity with blood clots in my legs shoots up to my heart. I remember whenever I first started Percocet I was active and was able to do stuff, now I'm on Oxycodone I can't manage to do crap. I would rather live in pain than to take the opioids and with all their side effects. I did it for 2 years before I agreed on doping up on Percocet. I was on Tramadol for about 3 years then in Nov 2013 my pain management Neurologist changed it to Percocet. Boy that stuff is evil for long term use and it will make the pain worse after taking it long term. If my dad who is 70+ years old and has all kinds of neck and back issues with radiculopathy can live without the opioids I think I can. He has shown me that you just have to keep moving. Even though I will never ever be able to go back to work he said that there are plenty of things a person can do around my house. He finds things to do just to keep moving. He is my mentor and my dad whom I love very much.
It was at my request that I will be entering the Chronic Rehab & Pain Management program at James A. Haley for 19 days. But, they can only get me cleared in August then it takes about a month to get in the program because they are backed up that far. I am willing to try anything since I found out the real reason surgery is out of the question for me. My private pain management doctor said I had herniated a disc in 2012 and since the VA surgeon declined to do surgery I now have permanent nerve damage. The good thing is he said that the disc healed itself but I will eventually need surgery on that area because it will eventually give out.
I will let everybody on here know how that program is and if it helped me. My VA PCP and myself have made a written agreement in secured messaging that if the program doesn't help me then he will place me back on the opioids maybe something other than Oxycodone.
Rob
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I can't find it anywhere online no longer. Help?
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Well this past Tuesday is a day, last day that I will ever, ever let anybody put a needle in me. This is not against any MD or anything but the pain I experienced as the MD did the Facet Joint Block Injections, three needles right above each other that when he shot each injection at the level, L5, I screamed with all the breath I had. I have never, ever felt pain like that ever in my entire life. There is no pain scale that I could place this pain on. It felt like I was having surgery without Anestethia.
BUT, within 10 minutes after the shot the pain in my legs subsided. I not just have the normal pain from the nerve damage.
I say that I will not let anybody touch me again because right now at this point and time I am litterally scared of anybody sticking anything in my spine because of that pain I experienced.
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I am bringing this topic back up today because I have TWO things to talk about and a question to ask.
1. This past Friday I lifted a 40lb box of chicken leg quarters from the shopping cart into my SUV. I didn't feel any pain in my back when I did this. As I was putting the shopping cart back up where it belongs I started having pain in my right legs in the front part of my thigh and down into my shin. By the time I got home BOTH legs were in severe pain, again in the front of the thighs and into the shins of both legs. Since then I have not been able to sleep good because the pain is so severe not even any of the pain meds I have or muscle relaxers are helping. To be honest I have been crying Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and this morning because the pain is worse than I have ever felt before. What lumbar levels affect the Front-side thigh and in the shins? My wife keeps begging me to go to the ER but as I now know there is nothing they will do except charge me or my medicare an outragous bill. I don't trust my local hospital just as much as I don't trust the VA. Do you all remember the movie where the baby swapped occured? Yes that is my local hospital here in Wauchula, Hardee County, FL. Tomorrow I am suppose to have my third and final set of Facet Joint Blocks in my lumbar spine but I will explain to my doctor what had happened. I have feeling he isn't going to give me the shots but send me across the street from his office to have an MRI. I think I herniated or have a severely bulge disc. Its not the pain that bothers me but I can't have a stool without have pain in my lumbar and legs. I've been constipated and that doesn't help. This morning I took a suppository and 15 minutes later I was on the toilet. The pain was so bad in my back and legs I cried. I will admit that to anybody because unless you never felt this type of pain before be forewarned is one of the worst pains ever.
2. I am currently researching P&T/ permanent and total disability. I was granted TDIU March 2014 retro back to July 2013 but they didn't give me P&T even after TWO IMOs Dr. Bash wrotes stated that my conditions were in fact permanent and total. Vocational Rehab changed me to Independent Living Program and wrote me a letter stating I cannot go back to work. I completed the Independent Living Program last month and my Vocational Rehab Couselor stated that I cannot go back to work. She has helped me more than any person as the VA ever has. She is one of the few that really cares about veterans and their health.
So my question is does anybody here on hadit happen to have template for P&T I could use? Per the Federal Veterans Laws, Rules and Regulations I qualify for P&T and should have been given this when they granted me TDIU. So now I am going to file a claim for P&T but I don't know how to write this one up even though I wrote many others types of claims up before today. Is there a website that might have a template for P&T?
Thansk in advance,
Rob
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Well I can't believe its true, finally the VA is recognizing the contamination at Ft McClellan and surrounding area such as Anniston:
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/fort-mcclellan/?hc_location=ufi
Maybe sticky this up somewhere up top or another topic.
Proof That C&p Exam Didn't Match Our Discussion
in Appealing Your Veterans Compensation Disability Claims NOD, DRO, BVA, USCAVC
Posted · Edited by rpowell01
Under FEDERAL Law you can RECORD anybody, anywhere. The VA policies cannot trump FEDERAL Law. Its called the One Party Recording Law. If just one person, even the one who records the conversation, agrees to the recording its legal, per federal law.
Here is the law: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2511
Also read here: http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/recording-phone-calls-and-conversations
Trust me this happened to me also back in 2012 and from that date forward any C&P exams, hearings and such I will be recording all conversations. You can actually get these C&P examiners into trouble and have any and all licenses revoked. They cannot lie, period. They swore and oath to tell the truth when they got their licenses. I would send this recording to FOXNEWS and many other media outlets but make sure they agree they don't use your name. Most of them will agree with this. Trust me they, including NBC, wants to get what should be coming to the VA.
I feel sorry for the VA and to many, many veterans. If it wasn't for fraudulant claims we wouldn't be in this situation. Also its works the other way around to where the VA personel filing fraudulant claims and taking money from US.
I am telling you there is something big going to happen in 2016 financially, trust me on this, save your money starting now. Its going to be worse than 2008 and in the 70s. It will be the 2nd worse hit this country will take since the Great Depression. Its coming folks.