[C & P Exam Advice]

John, I currently am working. Just got off 2 1/2 months disability due to femoral nerve compression. Finished up 8 weeks of PT.

I want to try for scheduler first since I am still working although its been tough my first 2 weeks back.

Are you working and trying to get 100% schedular? You have enough for TDIU if you can't work.

[C & P Exam Advice]

Papa, Don't think I'll get the results for at least another month. Just had the exam on 5/4.

I did request the results of the exam when I reopened my claim.

Jeff

Have you requested or gotten the results of the exam? Personally, I would wait until I saw the report.JMHO.

Papa

[C & P Exam Advice]

Hello everyone,

First of all thanks for all the great info and advice provided to Vets here. I am 90 % SC and in Dec 10 reopened my case.

Most ove my problems were with back and legs. 40% for lumbar strain, DDD, peripheral neuropathy etc. I decided to apply

for IVDS along with Sciatica, neuorgenci bladder and cerical mylopathy. I have read the training letter that VA has put out to

physicians examining Vets claiming IVDS. Last week I went for my C & P exam with QTC doctor. I expected full exam per instructions

listed in the letter. Instead I sat down answered a lot of questions about back problems and urinary problems but never got examined.

My question is do I not rock the boat and say anything until I get the results. I'm afraid if I say anything I'll be rescheduled for exam. I got the

impression from the doctor that he agreed with everything I was claiming. So I don't know if it was a good exam or not. Any advice would be

appreciated.

[Need Guidance On Reopening Claim]

Are you able to work? If you are trying to get 100% schedular you need another 50% since you are 90% now. If you can get total plus 60% you can get SMC "S".

Yes I am still working but for how much longer I don't know . Weakness in legs plus pain is making it difficult. I don't know if I should file with my asking for a upgrade in disability the form that asks me to be considered unemployable too. I'm not familiar with SMC"S". What is that

[Need Guidance On Reopening Claim]

Thankyou so much for the advice. I just visited your website and was quite impressed. I always have copies made of any visit I make to doctors. I guess I'm using a combination of all 3 of your options you list. I am forever doing research on the internet about different conditions and your site definitely provides enough links to get that info as well forum sites for vets......Jeff

[Need Guidance On Reopening Claim]

Up until Oct 08 I was drawing 40% disability. 10%of the 40% was for lubarsacral strain. I reopened my claim and was awarded 90% 4 months later. During the claim process I had back surgery which gave me temporary relief. Now 2 years post-op my back condition is worse than when I had the surgery. My rating breakdown was

40% right lower extremity radiculopathy

20% left lower extremity radiculopathy

40 % residuals phlebitus right leg

40% lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and DDD

I have reopened my case 3 weeks ago. When I saw my VSO 3 weeks ago he reopened my case for the lumbosacral strain and left and right radiculopathy.

After reading many posts about vets with spinal problems on these boards I feel that now I am short changing myself by not filing for other problems i.e. foot drop,

sciatica, poplteal nerve problems and perpheral neuropathy etc. Is it my reponsibility to put these codes on my new application or if I have these should I make sure that my doctor states these problems in his report that will be going to the 'va? I currently am seeing both neurologist and orthopedic surgeon. Both are private practice.

[New To Forum]

Thanks Lorraine. I think you're right. I will post my questions about reopening my claim on that Forum....Jeff

[New To Forum]

Hello everyone,

I want to start by thanking everyone that posts here for all the wealth of info that you provide to help vets who are contemplating filing for disability or are currently drawing disablity. I am VietNam vet who got out of Army in 1978 (10 years service) and applied and got awarded 30% disability. Approximately 2 1/2 years ago I reopened my case because my back was giving me problems. I was drawing 10% for lumbosacral strain. I had all the required MRI's done and saw a private neurologist to support my case. While the case was pending I had back surgery by a private doctor at my expense. I had foraminotimy L3-4, and L4-5, and a hemi-laminectomy L3-4. While recouperating I got my case settled and was upgraded to 90%. My new disability breakdown is now.

20% left lower extremity radiculopathy

40% right lower extremity radiculopathy

Residual phlebitus right leg upgraded from 30 to 40%

Lumbosacral strain with sponylosis and degenerative disc disease upgraded 10% to 40%.

I also have a 10% bilateral plantar keratosis which wasn't considered because I've had it for over 20 years.

During my neurological exam prior to awarding this new % I told my doctor of incontinence I was experiencing. It was mentioned in my award letter but wasn't considered because there was no clincial evidence to support it. This brings me to my present situation. The back surgery was only a temporary fix. All my symptoms prior to surgery were on my right side. Now I have same symptoms on my left side. Recent MRI has show spinal stenosis and forminal stenosis along with 20%scoliosis which wasn't there 2 years ago. Also bottom of both feet has gone numb. I decided that it was time to reopen my case with the VA which I did 12/8/10. I went to see a urologist to see if sciatic nerve was playing a role in my incontinence problem Had the necessary bladder pressure test don 3 weeks ago (not fun at all) and haven't got results yet. I go for EMG?NC test with neurologist next week.

After seeing the VA to reopen my case the rep listed that I wanted to be reevaluated for the radiculopathy and DDD. My questions here are multiple. If urologist finds that bladder problems are related to back problems should I have listed that code (for urinary frequency at night) or will the VA do that when they get urologist report. After reading these boards about peripheral neuropathy and nerve damage to sciatic nerve etc. should I tell the VA or my doctors I see to mention it in there reports when they evaluate me. As for medical status now its wait and see. Doctors are talking about spinal fusion which has me worried. I've heard to many nightmare stories about it.

Finally can anyone explain to me how my 90% was derived. Do I just go to combined ratings table and not use bilateral factor which I don't know. Any help would be appreciated