sleeper692

Try this address: "Julie Decker" <jdecker@mnglab.com> I just had contact with her last week. I think she is the office manager. She can at least get you started. Pete

An IMO would certainly help. Telling your VA primary care provider that you still have IBS symptoms will also help. As far as I know, short of them having someone follow you around for a few days to witness the cramping, bloating and diarrhea, there aren't any tests for IBS. Your doctor should have done blood tests to rule out celiac disease as well as other food allergies, a stool sample colon cancer screening and, if they are really aggressive, a colonoscopy. Assuming all these tests come back negative they have nothing to go on but your statements and any witness statements you can include. If you look at the Gulf War presumptive list it is astonishing how many of the illnesses listed can only be diagnosed by patient statements alone (along with ruling out other causes, of course). It's no wonder the docs unfamiliar with GWI look at us like we're looney. My best advice is to just keep complaining to your doctor about the symptoms you are having. Keep a food journal if necessary. Whatever you do, if you want to claim IBS, you will need to get a diagnosis established for it again. You should not have to have any service-connection criteria as this is a presumptive illness. When you file your claim you should always say, "due to my service during the Gulf War" and then cite the appropriate CFR, etc. If you have a VSO that is educated about GWI (another area that needs work!), they should know how to word your GWI claim. Half the battle is getting the VSOs and raters to understand the law about the GWI presumptives and service connection. Good luck. I hope you get the compensation and care that you deserve! Pete

This is good news! Thanks for posting the link. Now, if they would just make it P&T and quit futzing with the date we won't have to go through this again in five years. But maybe by then the VA will actually recognize all the current research, educate ALL their docs about GWI (not to mention VBA and their claims raters) and maybe, just maybe they will start treating gulf war vet's like real patients and not a bunch of lunatics. It's all about the education and the VA is doing a poor job of it. This is a good start though. There is a lot of GWI research that is going to come to a head in the coming year. My one and only New Year's resolution is to start a campaign to get the VA to pay attention to the government sponsored research and get that information to the doctors that are treating the gulf war vets. Millions of dollars are being spent on research yet the doctors who have hands on the patients don't have a friggin' clue about what is going on with GWI. I would call that dereliction of duty. Or ignorance. Either way, those of us with GWI aren't getting the proper medical care and that needs to change. I'm curious what will happen with the pilot Gulf War Clinic trial at the Salt Lake (?) VA. Ok.....I'm done preaching to the choir. Happy New Year everyone!

Gulf War veteran, shot by police, remembered at funeral

I was switched from zoloft to cymbalta as I needed an anit-depressant that also relieved fibromyalgia-like pain. I was off it in two weeks. First off, I had dark, suicidal ideations that scared the crap out of me. It gave me daily headaches, made me irritable and took my appetite away. I wouldn't take that drug again if my life depended on it. Even the VA order system has a big flag saying Cymbalta has a higher than usual incidence of suicidal ideation in people of all ages. My shrink saw that and declined to have me give it another shot (ie he didn't believe me in the first place).

Good luck! Every bit of research that we can lend a hand in will help.

Here is a link to a detailed follow-up article from the Las Vegas Review-Journal outlining this Gulf War Veteran's struggle with PTSD and his mistreatment by the VA: Loved ones recall vet's struggle with PTSD I've got to add one thing: Seven shots? From an AR-15? Really? Did this guy think he was shooting at Iron Man? The chickenshit cop with the happy trigger finger should be up on murder charges.

Vegas police: Officer fired 7 shots with AR-15 in fatal standoff with unarmed Gulf War vet I was in Las Vegas when this happened. It was very disturbing. The local news had many candid interviews with his wife who laid heavy blame on the VA for screwing with the guys meds and disability payments. Basically, he got caught in the system and the system chewed him up and spit him out when he needed them the most. His wife explained that he was in the wrong apartment complex because he was confused and couldn't find his own apartment. This should have been an easy fix. My heart goes out to his widow.

Believe me, it's more of a battle than the friggin' war was!

Once again, thanks to 91outcomes.com: VA Approaching Deadline without Promised Action

I saw this on 91Outcomes.com. Please give it a read and then write to your congressmen and representatives and ask them to lend their written support for Senator Murray to Sec. Shinseki! VA Requirement for Diagnosis Determination May be Hindering Gulf War Illness, Other Claims "A key lawmaker says the Veterans Affairs Department may be unnecessarily delaying disability claims by heaping needlessly complex requirements onto the physicians who screen veterans."

I realize my answer may be a little late but it may help the next guy down the line. I used to go to the VARO and do a FOIA request for my C&P exam and that would take 2 or 3 weeks. This time I went to the local VA hospital records and simply requested a records update about three days after my C&P. Sure enough, the C&P exam was in the update and am I ever glad I got it. To go back to the original topic of why I was getting C&P exams for things I didn't request, here is what happened: First, I was getting an exam for Rheumatoid Arthritis when none was claimed. What happened was that my service officer had requested that my polyarthralgia (joint pain) be rated as RA since there is no direct rating for polyarthralgia. This is directly in accordance with VA directives. Apparently the rater was new and misunderstood and ordered a C&P exam for RA. The doc blew it off and didn't even do an exam and pencil whipped the whole thing. Then, for sleep apnea, for whatever reason, they confused insomnia with sleep apnea because there was mention of an upcoming sleep study. To top it all off, I had the exam for sleep apnea before a sleep specialist could interpret my sleep study so the C&P examiner pencil whipped this exam too. Now I have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and have a CPAP. I had to take my medical records and a copy of the C&P exam to my VSO to show her how ludicrous the whole thing was. She got on the phone right away and nipped the whole thing in the bud. Then my claim went immediately into decision mode. Now its once again gone back into development mode and I imagine I will have to go see another C&P doc for a fresh exam since my VSO challenged the total incompetence of the previous one. What I don't understand is that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at my medical records and see the diagnosis of sleep apnea and the prescription for a CPAP then tie it in with my request for sleep disorder under the Gulf War presumptives. I'm not sure this could get any more frustrating.

Ry. It sounds like she treated you fairly and did her job. I would think that her dissatisfaction with the system may even work in your favor. You'll know in just a day or two if you can get down to the records office at your VAMC and get an update on your medical records. I mean, at least she actually did an exam! It sounded like she was paying attention and picking up on everything she should have and then some. From your description, it sounds like she was trying to give you a fair shake. I just got a copy of my C&P exam today (the one I started this thread about). I'm so pissed I could scream. This doc totally hosed me on the "arthritis" claim and completely, and I mean COMPLETELY ignored the claim for polyarthralgia that was diagnosed on a previous C&P exam. He even stated so. Unbelievable. He did, of course, state the obvious: I don't have any form of inflammatory arthritis but he refused to consider osteoarthritis and never ordered any x-rays. Instead he cited x-rays that were over a year old. Then he completely ignored the directions that told him that, if inflammatory arthritis was ruled out, continue with the exam for joints. No exam for joints was done. No exam was done, period. Then, for the sleep apnea, he said that the only indication I had were notes from a sleep technician describing positional sleep apnea. Then when asked if my polyarthralgia (aka chronic body pain) was a cause of my sleep disorders, he ignored that the sleep technician wrote that I had problems sleeping due to chronic pain. Then, after listing that I have hypersomnolence (I fall asleep very easily during the day) that it would not affect my work. Really? If anyone knows of any jobs that require sleeping, please fill me in. I would be an excellent candidate. The only intelligent thing he said was that the rater should wait for a signed review of my sleep study by a medical doctor. Looking at the rating schedule, I might get 30% for the hypersomnolence due to sleep apnea if they will tie it to the Gulf War presumptives. This doc said it was less than likely it was service connected. Once again, hosed by ignorance of Gulf War Illness. And they wonder why I'm suicidal. Geez. The fact that this guy totally threw my claim for polyarthralgia out the door is ludicrous. This pain, which was previously diagnosed and has been treated for in the past 18 months, was just totally ignored and it just happens to be one of the biggest medical issues I face on a daily basis. And he decided all this before I even walked into the room. What a jerk!

I know I was among the minority (at the time), but I thought Ross Perot was the wisest presidential candidate of his time. Hey Mr. Perot, if you're out there, we still need your help!

I've read through this report several times and I just can't exactly figure out what there solution is other than throwing a lot of words at what their loose definition of what a "gulf war clinic" should be and their trial in SLC. I've been working on a draft of a rather lengthy reply to their report but I'm still nowhere close to having all the facts that I need. I'm afraid that my lack of medical authority won't carry much weight anyway. There is one post on their discussion board that I thought made a very interesting point. That is, that these Gulf War advisory boards are closed bodies with no input from Gulf War Veteran's. Another thing that struck me from this report is the amount of money spent on research over the years (much of it ill spent) versus the number of GWV's that have sought treatment. I don't have the numbers in front of me at the moment or I would do the math but I promise you the amount of money spent per veteran is astronomical. If the VA/DOD would cut the crap (aka politics) and apply that money (per sick veteran) to treating them for what the research and common sense has already shown to be the cause of GWI, could you imagine the "first class" treatment those sick Desert Storm vets could have been receiving? It has been my first hand experience as a Gulf War Veteran with Gulf War Illness that the VA has paid mostly lip service to GWI. There is such a small number of us that are truly sick and an even smaller number that are vocal that I think they are going to ride it out until we all croak and there is no one left to speak up. I was welcomed home by the American people to a hero's welcome. 20 years later, I feel forgotten and cast aside as my life has become a daily struggle against physical and mental ailments that worsen with each tick of the clock. Sec. Shineski needs to stand up for his fellow Desert Storm brethren and quit just picking up a paycheck. The solutions presented are too soft and too short-sighted.

Ryguy, I feel your pain. I had to get up at 5:30am to get ready to go clear across town for my 8am appointment. I assure you that I was cranky from lack of sleep on top of being wary and defensive going into my exam. My doc sensed my attitude pretty quick and started in with the "what are your questions, siiiiirrrrrrr!" crap, showing me he wasn't exactly thrilled with my questioning his or the VA's authority. I bit my lip pretty hard at that point to try to remain civil and I strongly urge you to do the same. Keep in mind that these docs have your claim in their hands. While they might not get away in the long run with derailing your claim when you actually deserve the benefit, they can certainly derail it and throw your claim into years of appeals if you piss them off sufficiently. Besides, you might get one of the good guys that is actually trying to help you out. If you have someone that can go with you, all the better. Just remember, don't poop where ya eat and just because everyone is out to get you doesn't necessarily mean you're paranoid. Good luck tomorrow!

What I am looking for is a specific code, such as something buried in the CFR that describes what an examining physician must do during a C&P examination. Are there specific requirements spelled out that must be taken, such as "note history, note whether c-file was reviewed and conduct a comprehensive physical examination....," etc? I've searched but I couldn't find anything definitive but I may not be looking in the right place or know exactly what I should be looking for. I know there are various worksheets for certain C&P exams but they are by no means all inclusive. At least not from what I've seen from the link on the VA web site. I'm looking for specific codification requiring a physical exam (or not) of the affected areas or a general exam in lieu of a specific exam. In the event that my recent C&P exam is used to deny my claims, I'm curious if I will have grounds to challenge the competency of the exam if it comes down to that.

This was my fourth C&P exam today and definitely the least "exam-like" of any of them. Today's exam was for sleep apnea and arthritis. As I mentioned in my original post, I had not personally requested a claim or request for increase for either one of these ailments. So here is how this exam went. I got called into the doctor's office. No vital signs were taken. No physical exam was done. I was asked about how I sleep, if other people say anything about my sleeping (searching for "snoring" and "stopping breathing" complaints), and if I feel tired or fall asleep during the day. I confirmed I sleep better with meds but still don't feel rested, people tell me I snore and occasionally stop breathing, that I never feel rested and that I frequently wake up with headaches. During all this, the doc didn't type or write a note. In fact, he hardly ever glanced at my chart. Then he asked me to tell him about my arthritis. I told him I had just went to the rheumatologist and they could find no signs of anything in the form of inflammatory arthritis. He then elaborated that he had reviewed the findings of that exam and agreed. I explained to him all the types of pains I have in my hands (sounds like osteoarthritis to me) and he nodded. Then he asked me if I had any questions. That was it!! No touchy-feely with my hands. No x-rays, no blood work (not that he needed to repeat that again), no nothing. No questions about when did it start, what makes it better, what makes it worse, how long does it last, etc. He either had all the information he needed, he didn't care or it didn't matter. So I started asking questions. It seems that a sleep specialist doctor hasn't even reviewed my sleep study yet so there has been no official opinion entered into my medical records beyond the notes of the sleep technician. (He would not elaborate on what the sleep tech wrote in my records.) When he told me that, I asked how that was going to affect his report to my rater. He said it wouldn't be a problem, that he already had his prognosis. Unfortunately it was so early in the morning and I was still groggy that I didn't have the presence of mind to ask what that prognosis was. Then again, I had the distinct impression that the doc was done with the conversation and ready to move me out of his office. My impression of the whole "exam" is this: for what information the doctor decided he needed to hear from me, he could have probably conducted a phone interview. Maybe setting eyes on the patient is a requirement. I had the distinct impression that, as I had suspected would happen, the doctor pretty much had his conclusions drawn from his review of my medical records before I ever walked in the door and I simply confirmed his diagnosis. I don't know if it ends up working in my favor or not once it gets back to the regional office and everything melts together with my IU claim but it sure seems like a funny way to drag things out. First someone, whether its was my VSO or my rater, created claims I'm not aware of. Then I'm sent on exams for these phantom claims that are merely reviews of my medical records or based on conjecture of exams that haven't been expounded upon by medical specialists. On one hand, if they are trying to give me increases for stuff they see that I didn't claim out of the kindness of their heart, then I am blessed. On the other hand, if they are trying to stick a diagnosis on my "medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness" claims under the Gulf War presumptives so they can deny my claims, then shame on them. Either way, I'm still in the dark as to what in the hell is going on.

I just had a thought (a scary thing, I know): In my case, since a lot of my filings are tied to the Gulf War presumptives, I wonder if this is the rater's way of trying to get the doc to find an actual diagnosis on my hand pain so they can deny it. Under the Gulf War presumptives, if something like joint pain can be given a definitive diagnosis, then it can't be rated under the presumptives and must be service connected under normal conditions. That still doesn't explain the sleep apnea exam but I'm past worrying about it. I'll figure it out soon enough and follow up with what transpires at the exam.

I'll definitely go to the exam loaded with lots of my own questions. I don't have an attorney. I do have a VSO but I have not had a response from emailing her yet and will probably have to call her on Monday. I have a friend that works for a different VARO and he said it sounds like to him that they see something in my medical records and they are trying to give me the increase via the exam to confirm. I don't know, it still doesn't make much sense to me. I intend to ask the doctor what questions the rater forwarded for the exam so maybe I can leave with some clue as to what is going on. Otherwise I will have to wait until I get my copy of the C&P exam and hope its not to late to figure out what is going on. I hope my friend is right and they are trying to do something good and not screw with my current IU claim and the increases/NOD's I did file with this trumped up stuff. I have read that the rater can "infer" a claim but I did nothing on my end to cause that. I just can't imagine where they are getting this particularly since I am reasonably sure about how the outcome of the exam is going to go.

I got a call today from VBA to schedule another C&P exam. When I asked what the exams were for, he said they were for my requested increases for arthritis and sleep apnea. The funny thing is, I have never filed a claim or an increase for either one of those things. In fact, I've been examined at a previous C&P as well as by a rheumatologist for arthritis (because I have pain that is similar but I lack any signs of inflammation). After both exams and a battery of blood tests, they both reported that there were no findings in my lab reports that indicated I have arthritis. I have a NOD in for insomnia as a sleep disorder for connection under the Gulf War presumptives. I never mentioned sleep apnea. My neurologist *suggested* I might have sleep apnea and sent me to a sleep study. That was just a few days ago and they said I had very little problem with my breathing during sleep. In both cases, I have already had recent exams done by specialists and they haven't found arthritis or sleep apnea. I don't understand why I would have another C&P exam for things that they already know are going to be negative since they have full access to my medical records. Is it normal for the raters to just pull things out of......thin air....and create a claim on my behalf? Am I missing something here???

Getting a statement from your doctor helps. A lot of them are hesitant to provide such a statement but if you remind them that, under VA rules, they have a duty to assist veteran's in such matters they'll give in. Sometimes it takes a little push in the right direction. Regardless, unless overwhelming medical evidence already exists in your VA records they will probably send you for C&P exams (mental and physical) for another opinion. Hopefully you'll get a doc that is more thorough in answering the rater's questions than my docs were and they won't have to send your file back to the examining doctors for clarification. That kicked my IU claim back from Decision to Development phase and its been stuck there for weeks. I told my VSO that if they deny my IU claim, I'm marching right up to the VARO and applying for a job and see how quickly they turn me down when I explain all my limitations. For some folks IU seems to be cut and dried and for others its an uphill battle. I hope yours goes smoothly and quickly.

Thanks Kelly for the good advice. I've already contacted the VA social worker, my VSO and my VARO trying to get some assistance. I also have an attorney from a renters advocate group researching the situation. There seems to be some muddling of my rights as a tenant when the landlord occupies the building which I don't quite understand. Basically it comes down to the dude waaaaaaay overreacting and not bothering to actually talk to me face to face. Of the four of us that live in the house, he is the only non-veteran and not quite as sympathetic as the other guys. The ironic thing is that, up until a month ago when I had to respond to yet another email about issues that he couldn't bring up in person, he didn't even realize I was all that sick. I pretty much stay in my room and he is either gone at work all day or in his own room. Now that I've said something, he thinks I'm going to suddenly be an invalid overnight. Now he says he's worried about me so I should move out. Sure is a funny way to show concern. Thanks everyone for putting up with my rant. It really does help. Sometimes I don't know what I would do without all the great folks on this board!

Geez, I hate to even continue this thread but yet another issue has cropped up due to my illness. A smidgen of background: I rent a room in a 4 bedroom house and the owner of the house is one of the occupants. I've lived there for over 3 years with little to no problems, pay my rent, clean up after myself, etc. As is the way with GWI, my health has been steadily deteriorating with it getting really bad in the last few months. Mind you, I'm still able to take care of myself, cook simple meals, wipe my butt....you know, the important stuff. Last night, just as I was getting ready for bed, my landlord drops an email bomb on me (and yes, he is rarely man enough to bring up issues face to face). He sends me this long email about how he is worried about me and is concerned about what I am going to do in the immediate future as my health goes south. He made it sound like he expected me to be drooling and crapping on the floor and having someone to feed me in a very short time. Its a totally ridiculous conjecture. So what is his solution? He tells me he wants me to "make arrangements" to move out before my health gets so bad that I need help to care for myself. First he writes that I should do so by the end of October then says the end of November would be okay too. At first I was so angry I almost stormed into his room to give him hell. I managed to calm myself from that but spent the rest of the night feeling quite hopeless and alone. Its no wonder I have the crisis line phone number on speed dial. Not only is his request illegal under the ADA (city, state and federal, no less), its downright immoral and cruelly selfish. Its also doing wonders for my major depressive disorder. I know this board is about getting help with claims but I had to find someplace to vent that other GWV's might chime in. I've yet to see the idiot and I'm honestly afraid to as I'm certain the conversation won't go well when I tell him to (nicely) stick his vaguely disguised eviction notice up his fat, lazy ass. It might not be a wonderful living situation if I stay but if he insists, I will file complaints at every government level possible. Thats not to mention turning him in to the city for numerous (and dangerous) violations of the building codes (electrical shorts, wiring done without a permit, rotting boards on the porch stairs....the list goes on). Sadly, I can't afford to move out (can you say "separation pay recoupment?") and I've already borrowed every cent I can from family just to stay in this shit-hole of a house. I understand now why people "just snap" and start shooting up the post office. When does this lunacy ever end?????

Portland, OR I had hope that my claim would be processed soon but its since been kicked back to Development from the Decision Phase. I think the doc didn't quite answer all their questions during the C&P exam.