Hogfan1978

Will do - thanks.

Thanks again!

Ok thanks. If you get the increase do they retroactively pay back to the intent to file?

Hi, I was active duty from 2001 to 2008. I was given a SC of 0% for sinusitis back in 2016 based sinusitis being detected by x-ray only. I did not appeal the decision. This past year, I decided to start going to the doctor when my sinuses got bad instead of just toughing it out, in order to document the issues. I’m getting over a sinus infection now and was prescribed meds and antibiotics by my PCP last week. My med record from last week calls it “acute sinusitis”. My plan is to document the occurrences over the next year with my primary care physician. Once I have those medical records documented of three or more non-incapacitating episodes, I can submit a claim for an increase….right? Am I missing anything? Any other advice from fellow vets?

Hi all, good site and good information. So I was diagnosed by my VA doc with obstructive sleep apnea last year. They gave me a CPAP machine as a result of the sleep study. Earlier this year I was given a 0% service connection for sinusitis. About a month ago, I put in a claim for sleep apnea secondary to my 0% sinusitis disability. There's no sleep apnea in my service records. I'm assuming that I had sleep apnea while in the service because nothing had changed and the wife tells me I snore the same... Today, I was scheduled for 2 C&P exams at the Houston VA Center. Any idea why there are two exams? Any idea what the exams will entail? I want to be prepared for the exam. Thanks!

usmcgirl, Thanks. That makes sense. I might try to go see a VA doc at the clinic prior to going to my C&P exam. I've not yet been to a VA doc, so that will be a new experience...

I'm scheduled for a C&P exam in November due to my lower back condition worsening. They want to examine me for an increase in my existing SC disability. Do I need to show that I've been to my doctor recently for the worsening condition, or do I just show up for the C&P exam? I haven't been back to the doctor since I was awarded 10% disability a few months ago, but my back definitely hurts worse and my ROM seems to have decreased since then. Just wondering if I should go to my private doc about it prior to going to the C&P exam? Thanks.

Broken, My cervical spine injury is NOT service connected...yet...waiting to get a nexus letter from neurologist (hopefully). However, when they retest my ROM for my increase in my lumbar spine (current 10%) in this next appointment, they should see much less ROM in my cervical spine. I am basing this on what my lumbar spine decision report stated would have to happen for me to get 20%: forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees. Am I correct in this? Or is that JUST for cervical spine injuries, even though it says that in my lumbar decision report....? And yes, I currently have deadening in my left tricep, the back of my forearm, and my index and middle finger...I will look in to filing a claim for that too... Thanks.

Wait, I just realized something in my current decision rating... In my current lumbar decision report, it says to "receive an increase to 20%" there must be.... Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but notgreater than 60 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees; or, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis The part that I bolded above talks to the ROM my cervical spine....so even though my current SC injury is in my lumbar spine, I should see an increased rating when they examine me nest month since my current cervical spine injury prohibits my forward flexion from going barely 15 degrees... ...RIGHT????

Howdy, I received a call today from the VA notifying me of a C&P exam...and I'm not sure why.... I currently have a SC lumbar spine disability of 10%, which was decided on 2 months ago. Around the beginning of this month, I experienced an upper spine injury (herniated discs). I called the VA and they reopened the lumbar spine claim and added notes about the new cervical spine injury. According to the VA, the lumbar spine strain claim says "new/reopened/increase in rating" and the notes mention my cervical spine injury. Apparently, the "new" part is the cervical spine injury, and the "reopened" part is the fact that the lumbar sprain claim was closed and now reopened, and the "increase in rating" is because ??????? I never asked for any increase in rating. The VA guy I just talked to on the phone said he really didn't know why they scheduled me for this new appointment. He just said that the appointment was listed as a "thoracolumbar spine" appointment and the appointment didn't mention ANYTHING about my cervical spine injury, but the cervical part was listed on the claim. Based on the fact that it's listed as a "thoracolumbar appointment", doesn't it look like they are not looking at my new cervical injury, but at my existing lumbar spine SC injury?? Questions: 1. If that is so and that the only reason for my appointment is to re-look at my existing thoracolumbar injury.......my existing thoracolumbar spine injury has not really changed....why the heck are they calling me back to re-look at my thoracolumbar spine injury when I never told them that it has changed?? 2. Do ya'll think that they might be taking a look at my new cervical injury? Even though I haven't given them ANY evidence of the cervical injury (haven't sent them the MRI pics, and NO service records mention cervical injuries or problems) Thanks.

It wasn't a VA doc, it was my private general practitioner letter.

So, I used the below nexus letter format, wrote a "sample" letter, and scheduled an appointment with my General Practitioner. I gave my doc the choice to write "as likely as not" if she thought it was 50/50 chance of service connection, or "more likely than not" if she thought it could be more than 50/50 chance that my current herniated disc was caused by my ATV accident back in 2002. She said, and I quote, "I can't really say either way, so I can't sign the letter". I told her that she didn't have to be 100% on her decision. I told her that if she thought it was just a 50/50 chance, then she could say "as least likely as not" on the letter....she still wouldn't sign the nexus, and apparently no explanation of mine would change her mind. I thought that it was kinda strange that back during my first doctor visit after this herniated disc started causing problems, her exact words were "have you had an accident in the past? If so, that accident could have caused it...." HOW THE HECK DO YOU GET THE DOC TO SIGN A NEXUS?!! Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. I have yet to ask my neurologist to sign a nexus, afraid he might reject me like my general practitioner did... Any ideas before the neuro says the same thing she said???

I have been watching other posts on here and reading them. However, due to my limited exposure to the VA (sent my first claim in May of this year), I don't know how to answer most questions. I'll keep reading posts and as I gain experience, I will add my $0.02 when I am able! Thanks for all the help that all of you experienced folks have given me! I promise to give back when I can!!

Okay, so I found the "Dr. Quack/John Doe" sample nexus letter that has circulated around this site. I basically pasted that sample letter into a Word document and inserted my info and several notes for my general practitioner to put her own words in it. In a nutshell, it's got the following items in it: -the fact that she has reviewed my service medical records and the medical records that she has on me since I separated (which is not much) -her diagnosis of my problems -specific references to pertinent medical records (the ones that complain about back problem (although they are all complaints about my lower back) and the record of my ATV accident) -the fact that I have not had any traumatic injuries since my ATV accident that would have caused or worsened my accident -medical terminology that links my ATV injury to my current condition -I gave her a choice that if she feels that there's a 50/50 chance that my ATV injury is linked to my current condition to say that "it is as least as likely as not" and if she feels that the chance is greater than 50% that they are linked, to say, "it is more likely than not" that they are linked. I gave her the sample and explained that all of the above info must be in the letter or the VA would disregard it. I also gave her copies of any service records about my back and the ATV accident. I also included the neurologist's diagnosis that my C6-7 showed an "impressive herniation". Once I have my general practitioner's nexus letter (assuming she does write it), I will include her letter in a similar package to my neurologist to get a nexus letter from him. The reason I'm doing this is because my neurologist's nurse told me that he would probably be glad to sign such a letter, but it would be advantageous if my general practitioner signed one first and he could follow up with a similar letter.... So, what do you think about how my nexus letter will be written? My only concern is that I wasn't able to give the nexus letter request package (as described above) directly to the doc. In fact, I had to give it to the receptionist who looked like she was about 18....so we'll see what happens.....*fingers crossed*