Shyne-I

As a veteran and a dependent of an AO vet with Prostate Cancer, it is my duty and a pleasure to add my signature to this petition!! I feel that more than half of my medical issues are due to my father's exposure in Vietnam. Shyne-I

Congratulations once again Carlie!! I am so happy for you Shyne-I

Congratulations on your win DoubleD!!

Congratulations on your win!!...Only 14 days after your status changed and you had your decision, that's not bad considering all that has been going on the last 3 weeks!!

Congratulations!!

Oh ok....I saw that post in another thread. Thanks for the response.

No movement on mine...

Good Luck Carlie and Congratulations!!!

Carlie do you mind me asking what this was for? I opened it and it just shows the different stages...

Congratulations!!! That was a terrific birthday present!! Shyne-I

I'm sorry TexasCop, I think that you misunderstood some of what I was saying.... I did state that they were not working appeals or records request and that my friend works in the record request department and that he was one of the ones furloughed on Tuesday(It was his department that went in that morning to clear out whatever they needed because they would not be allowed to re-enter the building). I did not say that the TVC was ordered to move out. As far as any work being done, when I talked to the TVC rep. on Thursday of last week, she told me that there was hardly anyone left at the RO working claims. Again sorry if I confused you. Good luck with your claim. Shyne-I

Lol...yes I've seen a 3 card Monte game and that sure feels like what they are putting us through!! I will keep submitting N&M evidence until they have no choice but to say..."where the hell is she getting all of this s***"...Lol. I don't give up on anything until I get the results that I am looking for, I am close to being Obsessive Compulsive. When I'm not in pain all I do is research. I went in to change my POA from AMVETS to TVC last week and the Representative was shocked that I had so much evidence and that I had all of my SMR, C-file, private medical records, statements, submission dates, cases resembling mine granted at the BVA, etc. organized and tabbed in 3- 3 inch binders. She even asked me if I could work and if so, had I considered doing it for a living!! If push comes to shove, I have until 4/2014 to file the Form 9. Thanks, Shyne-I

Asknod....was your last post concerning my nexus letter or were you referring to SueEdel's nexus letter? Do you think my letter touched on the points that they are looking for? He also responded to the reasoning of the VA examiner's opinion and countered some of her points about the etiology of Fibromyalgia, although both of them seem to be taking a best guess because of the mystery of Fibromyalgia itself!! Shyne-I

63SIERRA, My claim is also at the Waco RO. I posted either Tuesday or Wednesday that the Waco RO was not processing claims. I have a family friend that works there and he was furloughed Tuesday morning. I thought they would keep processing claims and not appeals, but when I spoke with the TVC service rep in Waco on yesterday, she told me that no one was working on any claims in Waco. I guess they have already ran out of money down there!! Shyne-I

Hi Sue, I ran into almost the same problem. I was denied for my Fibromyalgia claim as well. I wasn't diagnosed until 15 years after service, being treated for the symptoms without ever getting a diagnosis!! The C& P examiner said that although the symptoms exhibited in my SMR's could be symptoms of Fibromyalgia, they also have other common etiologies, etc...etc... AskNod is right on point when he says. "rational thinking and current medical theory that supports the hypothesis. A simple statement that has no corroboration or support is pure conjecture and, as such, speculative in nature." I believe this is why your statement was not successful. I submitted my IMO on 8/15 and they denied me again on 9/6 but they did not have it listed as evidence in the SOC. I believe that they had received the information but they rushed to close it out so that I would have to do a appeal at the BVA. I resubmitted the IMO as new and material evidence since they failed to include it as evidence listed in the SOC. Here is the one that I resubmitted after they supposedly didn't see the first one: I am Dr. XXXXXX. I am board certified to practice in my specialty of Rheumatology. My credentials are included below. I have been asked to write a statement in support of the afore mentioned veterans claim. After speaking with Mrs. XXXXXX's representative, I have elected to provide her with a written statement. She informed me that she believes that the statement that I provided on August 13, 2013 was not recognized because it was not on my office letter head, so I am providing another statement. I have personally reviewed her medical history in her service medical records as well as her more contemporary private medical records and history. I have also reviewed and have noted the medical circumstances and events during her military service. After reviewing the veteran’s service medical records I found several entries in which she complained of various symptoms indicative of Fibromyalgia and its chronic multi-symptom illnesses. While in service the veteran was treated for complaints of “low back pain, lower pelvic pain noted on 11/14, 11/16, and 11/22/94; bilateral knee pain noted on 4/9/94; as well as abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms that included nausea, diarrhea and cramping, headaches noted on several different occasions, hyperventilation and dizziness noted on 3/3/94”. There are also very frequent upper respiratory illnesses, as well as various headache types (Sinus and Tension headaches), that could have been caused by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity which causes negative health effects in multiple organ systems. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is a syndrome associated with Fibromyalgia and can cause respiratory distress which explains the hyperventilation and dizziness, and the nausea and headaches could have been caused by MCS as well. Mrs. XXXXX has been under my care since May 2012. Her diagnosis is Fibromyalgia with a co-occurrence of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, with Migraines and Depression secondary to her Fibromyalgia. Mrs. XXXXXX’s initial examination with me displayed chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender/trigger points (14/18) which have been refractory to treatment with medication. She continues to have migraine headaches, upper respiratory/chronic sinus infections, as well as intermittent irritable bowel symptoms. The combination of her symptoms and the various medications that she takes for her symptoms: Cymbalta, Neurontin, Plaquenil, Flexeril, Tramadol, and Ibuprofen, for Fibromyalgia and Depression; Verapamil, Epidrin for Migraines; and Zyrtec for Sinus symptoms, currently severely limits her ability to maintain employment. After a review of the pertinent service medical records, her C-file and her medical records and history from 1996 to the present, it is my professional opinion that it is at least as likely as not, meaning at least a 50% chance that the veterans Fibromyalgia was manifested during her military service. In my personal and professional experience and in medical literature, it is agreed that Fibromyalgia is a disorder of unknown etiology, even though some believe it can be triggered by stress or physical strain. Although the symptoms the veteran complained of in service may have multiple etiologies as well as pregnancy; it is the entire picture of the veteran’s medical history and subsequent manifestations of the same chronic illnesses that show both chronicity and continuity of a chronic disorder. Fibromyalgia has a tendency to “flare up”, meaning that it can cause the sufferer great discomfort and distress one day and show no symptoms at all the next. It is unfortunate, because it can take some time to develop to the extent where it is diagnosable by a doctor. It is worth noting that no two sufferers will have the same ailments as a result of Fibromyalgia which is also why the process of diagnosing it can take so long. It is my opinion that this is what has occurred in the veteran’s case. Signed, XXXXXXXXXXX, M.D. Board Certified in Internal Medicine Board Certified in Rheumatology License #: XXXXXXX

Oh...ok...lol

I agree....Thank you guys for your hard work and dedication to Veterans and to your jobs. Hang in there, I know it has to be hard to be working in that type of environment!! Shyne-I

Has anyone been able to access my HealtheVets through E-benefits today? Shyne-I

Congratulations on you win!! I'm sure someone will chime in on an answer for you.

Congratulations!!

Jcolwell, I spoke with a Texas Veteran's Service Officer who works in the Waco RO this morning. She told me that Waco was not doing any work. They have furloughed quite a few people down there and that the have stopped working appeals and possibly claims. I have a personal friend who works there as well. I talked to him on Monday night and he told me that his department was being furloughed on Tuesday. His department would be allowed to go in Tuesday morning to clear out whatever they needed and that they would not be allowed in the building after 10am Tuesday morning. He works in the department where the make all copies of documents, so say if you were waiting on your C-file....you will have to wait until after the furlough is over to receive any documents. Any letters that need to be sent out, would not be sent out. The bottom line, he said was, that there maybe a few people that would not be furloughed to continue processing claims but there would be no one there who works on the claim process down the line. So there would be no rating, no approvals, no letters going out, etc....It sounds like the Waco RO has already ran out of money and are severely impacted by the Shutdown!! They are already slow as Molasses so this is not good for those like myself, who have appeals and claims pending at the Waco RO!! Hate to be the bearer of bad news. I'm not sure if this is the process in other RO's as of this morning or not. You may want to check with your representative to see what's going on at your RO. Shyne-I

I spoke with a Texas Veteran's Service Officer who works in the Waco RO this morning. She told me that Waco was not doing any work. They have furloughed quite a few people down there and that the have stopped working appeals and possibly claims. I have a personal friend who works there as well. I talked to him on Monday night and he told me that his department was being furloughed on Tuesday. His department would be allowed to go in Tuesday morning to clear out whatever they needed and that they would not be allowed in the building after 10am Tuesday morning. He works in the department where the make all copies of documents, so say if you were waiting on your C-file....you will have to wait until after the furlough is over to receive any documents. Any letters that need to be sent out, would not be sent out. The bottom line, he said was, that there maybe a few people that would not be furloughed to continue processing claims but there would be no one there who works on the claim process down the line. So there would be no rating, no approvals, no letters going out, etc....It sounds like the Waco RO has already ran out of money and are severely impacted by the Shutdown!! They are already slow as Molasses so this is not good for those like myself, who have appeals and claims pending at the Waco RO!! Hate to be the bearer of bad news. Shyne-I

Thanks Infantry...I am able to log in now. Shyne-I

I think it's down again!! Can anybody else get on tonight?

Congratulations apachegirl!! There has been a lot of movement of claims during the last week. Harleyman said that the RO's were working hard on completing as many claims as possible before any furloughs occurred. I'm happy for you and the others who are finally getting some success! Every win is a victory