iceturkee

part of the reason i received unemployability is because of my depression/anxiety issues, especially when with others. the shrink who did my depression comp and pen wrote that this would proclude me from sedentary work. i am confused here. if you can volunteer a few days a week, that is consider sedentary (in my book anyway). so how does it not affect your unemployability?

first, i would ask your doctor to inquire why the neurology consult was cancelled. then i would ask if he or she would list it on your problem list. my radiculopathy has been confirmed several times from emg's and also listed several times on my problem list. good luck.

i would file for radiculopathy. as for being awarded retro back to 2004, i dunno. don't see a confirmation of it then. have you had any emg's? did they confer the diagnosis? and, if so, how far back do they go?

i had one exam rescheduled because of regional's error. in reality, it was the same exam. i was going for an increase for my thoracic spine. regional ordered a lumbar comp and pen. then realized they made a mistake and reordered. all the comp and pen doc did was change the wording and do a thoracic xray.

i got the samae. the navy gave me 10 percent with severence pay. and then the va gave me 10 percent about 30 days after i submitted my request. no comp and pen exam either.

you might want to cover your naame as it is mentioned several times in the report.

i intially got 10 percent from the navy and 10 percent from the va.

you can always talk to me andy. i'll listen as best i can. :-)

i got lucky too (somewhat) is that the landing broke my fall and i tumbled down the second flight, landing flat on my back. that was 1975. its much worse now than it was then.

i have never had suicidal thoughts so i'm not sure what you should or shouldn't be feeling. the fact you are seeing someone is a place to start.

my first va rating was based on my recently discharged navy medical records. so they didn't order a c&p exam. just gave me 10 percent. the same the navy did when granting me medical discharge.

andy, both my rheumatologist and then primary care doc plus a friend who was the then drug and alcohol social worker, told me there was no shame in seeking help for depression. i finally went on anti depressants. and i recently graduated from the telecare mental health program after 4 years. guess i learned the hard way there is no shame in admitting you have a problem. the only shame would be if it got so bad it drove you to suicide. god bless. :-)

i am 40 percent for my back. i am receiving 100 percent because of unemployability. and i wasn't thinking in terms of special monthly compensation. my primary care doc has said in the past she believes my back issues are responsible for my foot issues but has never written that in her notes although, she lists lumbar radiculopathy as a problem. i have had several emg's that comfirm this. my last foot xray indicated i had baad high arches, hammertoes and arthritis. those were done 3 years ago so the comparison should be interesting.

i have a question. i have a long history of back problems, stemming from a fall down 2 flights of stairs (i broke it after the first flight and rolled down the second) in the 70's. the culprit ws i had bad feet and couldn't wear heels. i strongly believe my entrance physical didn't indicate aany type of foot problem. flash forward. i now have pain in both feet which bothers me, even aat night. i am also experiencing some numbness in both feet too. they were both xrayed friday (9/11). and a consult to podiatry is forthcoming. i'm debating whether or not i should file a claim.

andy, from what i remember the psychologist who did my exam, covered just about everything including how old i was when i had my first sexual experience. i recall telling her things like i needed the television on at night because i couldn't sleep in the dark. and if i didn't have pets to care for, i wouldn't get out of bed. if the doc is doing their job, it will no doubt be a painful experience. if i think of more, i will gladly share.

this was in late 2010 i believe when i filed the claim, because my c&p was in april or may 2011. i didn't use ebennies. i filed the paperwork the good ole fashion way. but i filed it specifically as a secondary claim to my chronic back pain. i should add that during my c&p, the doc reminded me i had really bad mood swings right before my period when i was in the navy. it was so bad, i went to sick call. they gave me meds and started me on relaxation exercises.

andy, my depression was rated as secondary to chronic pain.

hardly an expert here but i would guess where he is being treated. however, it might not hurt to send identical application to varo in pa where he lives. my 2 cents.

be closer to mid october. and if the government shuts down, it will be later than that!

but i know the house (and assume the senaate) passed a cost of living increase for veterans.

thought it had to be for a service connected disability.

jay, i don't know what he has. but i got an allowance for my jewett back brace because there is metal in it. hope this helps!

it was always explained to me as one disability at 40 but i see what the reg says. they are always confusing!. thanks.

matthew, the link you provided clearly states one of the disabilities must be, at least, 40 percent. if you have a single disability rated at 60 percent, that will also quaalify.

my employment history coupled with my college degree helped me!