unclaoshi

Hi, Its been a while but for anyone who maybe following with the help that I have received here everything went smoothly. The VA did feel that they accidently over look my claim for migraines and did service connect and back dated them to the original claim date of 2008. I also submitted the neurological paper work that they never received from the referral they made to a local non-VA doctor and the TBI claim was also approved. Thanks for all of the help.

Today and I went in for a re-evaluation. I had to go to another part of the clinic, when I came back one a clerk in the office and a doctor that was not related or working on my claim talking (there were the only two in the office and in a cubical not by the door) were criticizing one of the items I had made a claim on and there was no doubt it was someone else claim. I thought that this was very unprofessional of them.

Hi, Im not sure where to start I will give it a shot. Ok back in Aug 2010 I ended up having my first case of Uveitis, I ended getting treated for it at the VA and it ended up getting cleared up. I had a few more flare ups between Aug 2010 and then this Oct I had a really bad flare up and had to go back to the optometrist for more eye drops, he was concerned and had some blood work done. When the blood work came back I ended up testing positive with HLA-B27. When I had my comp exam back in 2008 they diagnosed me with service connected degenerative joint disease in my spine and a joint in my shoulder(both rated at 0%). I also had claimed hip pains and was told it was just pain that was radiating from my spine. The Optometrist said that their is strong evidence that I have an autoimmune disease. Alot of this points to Spondyloarthropathy. He is sending me to see a rheumatologist soon. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what to expect when I see the rheumatologist. I would also appreciate any suggestions anyone could give me on if they think this could be service connected and what steps should I take from here including what I should get from the rheumatologist to help with the claim. Another important note should be that I do have a comp exam coming up soon ( This was scheduled before the problems with the Uveitis came back and the blood work was done.) and I was wondering if the examiner doesnt bring it up when he is asking about my back if I should bring this up because I had filed for an increase because it has gotten a lot worse in the last 3 years. Thanks

The reopening was for two items that were on my 21-526 but never addressed anywhere in the decision narrative by the VARO, but maybe I shouldnt than.

Hi everyone. I thought I would maybe do a quick update. I met with my VSO and the meeting was good. The information I got here was great for helping me get prepared. She found two mistakes that the ratings board made that can be reopened, two for supplemental claims and somethings I thought I got denied for actually were service connected but just rated at 0% so that was good news to hear. We are waiting until I am done with my next doctors appointment in July before anything is filed.

Ah after re-reading it I saw that they had listed the headaches as they put it under the TBI section and denied it because the exam was negative for TBI that the VA gave me and ruled before I saw the doctor at the other hospital that said I did have it and recommended the other testing. When I was out processing the guy that was helping us with out processing, claims forms and VA benefits made sure to put down the migraines and the TBI both as separate items so was it right to have them lump them together? Also with the TBI symptoms a lot can be similar to PTSD symptoms so how does that work when they review claims?

Thanks that helps a ton :)

Also when I was looking over my copy of my C-File I noticed that on my 21-526 claims form when I got out I did list the migraines on the sheet but it was never addresses my in C&P exam and was not ever denied or granted, what suggestions would you have for this? Just bring it up to my VSO?

Yes you are correct I am not being treated for any sort of TBI. We did some testing that took maybe about two hours it was some written tests and some physical tests. On the result sheet he recommend a formal neuropsychometric testing be conducted, so that maybe what you are referring to in which case no I didnt Im not sure if the VA got the results now or if they just didnt want to follow his recommendations. I am not being treated for the migraines at all. The furthest that I ever ended up talking to them was at the C&P exam when he asked how frequent they were and if aspirin helped. They happen 3 or 4 times a week seem to be in the same spot and I havent been able to find anything that will make them go away.

5Hi everyone. This is my first post here and but I have been following some of the topics on the forum and have found a lot of useful info. SO right now Im rated at 60%, 30% for PTSD, 10% for tinnitus 10% for an ankle injury and 10% for a shoulder problem. I had claimed TBI from when my vehicle was directly hit with an IED, it was denied due to no evidence of a TBI existing. After the exam I was refereed to neurologist. I went to the neurologist and did the testing, this was back in 2008. I figured that I would have heard something or had some sort of follow up if I had TBI. Well anyways a few weeks ago I ended up pulling all of my medical info because I am meeting with a DAV VSO. I was looking through my records and saw the VA did not have the results from the testing in my record. I ended up going to the hospital and got a copy of the test results and the doctor put in it that he was concerned about possible underlying mild traumatic brain injury and on the following page "Current findings are consistent with diagnosis of a mild traumatic brain injury, yes. . Its hard because a lot of the residual effects I have also seem to cross over with PTSD. Oh yes I also forgot one thing that doesnt cross over into the PTSD symptoms are I get horrible migraines 3 or 4 times a week and they always feel like they are in the same spot each time, right above my left eye and there is nothing I can do to make them go away. So Im looking for any advice on this for when I go to talk to the VSO. Should I ask for the claim to be reopened or a new evaluation and anything else I should arm myself ( I currently am bringing my medical records, the copy of the TBI test results and my c-file)with them I present her with all this information. I honestly, from what I have been read feel that I got low balled on my claim, I also have had 3 other denials like flat feet, I joined the army and didnt have them my arches collapsed. I claimed them the C&P exam said I didnt but they gave me a referral to a podiatrist for something else and she said that I did indeed have flat feet. Sorry its just frustrating and I know I should not have waited 3 years to check my test results but I wish I had know then what I do now about how screwed up things can get and how claimed get denied. Any advice is appreciated and sorry about the long rambling post.