ArNG11

Well update is on this matter is the same old same old. Waiting. I have submitted all I want to submit at this point and I made it very clear that was the case. I asked for a decision, without submitting any more evidence. That was my intent and plan. Whether it will speed things up who knows if this course of action will. I am on stand by now. The last of the C&P's were done this week and VA is estimating the same old same old. A decision may be given as early as early as April to June of this year. Funny thing I noticed coincidentally it was in June of 2012 that I received my first service connection and first decision. What are the chances of that? Doesn't really mean anything though, just made me smile somewhat.

I myself am on the 10mg twice a day with 15mcg of Buprenorphine and take a max or two lorzone, with interchanging treatments of ice, heat, pain cream cocktails, and most days my pain is not manageable. I asked my private provider about a pain pump as well and was met with resistance. Now mind you these are from providers that know my situation and the details of my predicament. Fusions in the c-spine and lumbar spine is all I can get as far as treatment options with the additional note of PT and weight loss. I have even asked my provider about an upright bed, inert pain stimulators, pain pump, and meet resistance, no where near the resistance like the VA, however, still there is some. At times I hate to even think in terms like this but even with good insurance, folks, medical professionals still can't stop from thinking you are just looking for a fix. I am in the hopes, for change, Day by day is what I keep telling myself though, day by day. Has anyone found any recent statistics of the success rates of the pain pumps or other similar means? Just curious really?

So sorry to hear Navy4life. Completely understand your position and rights. Don't stand for it and do what you can so this type of behavior is not ever repeated or allowed ever again in your future. Maintain your wits and keep your composure. Hang in there and good luck.

Submit the your info again and make sure you meet the Form 9 deadline. IMO make sure you keep a copy and send it green card special to the VA, even if you utilize your VSO.

Yup it is not by mistake bud. I am in the same boat. Although I won on getting an increase and won a snack amount of retro, the VA still did not rate me correctly either. Plus there is also the bilateral factor and pain factor(Delucca vs Brown???) If you do not have an IME/IMO obtain one is my recommendation. If you want to do it on their terms, get a specialist to fill out a DBQ and attaching a letter stating the usual nexus info along with the "reviewed your SMR's" statement and you should be in good shape. If you had any structural work done on the knee, yup yes sir e BOB, I would fight the rating you were given. I state this as I am fighting a very same rating decision on my knees. JMO

Same scenario here. We went to a different armory where it was set up like a horseshoe circus. Yup, POA, Wills, Legal, make sure you trust your spouse briefing,ect., It is plausible deniability. I was in a medical company. Battalion had no business or expertise to process that many soldiers. A battalion or two is not a small task to accomplish for MOB processing. FAV 178 and FAV 110 are the batches I am talking about and two of the four series are missing lot, batch, and serial numbers. Documentation is key there with those kind of inoculations it wasn't omitted by mistake or just oops I forgot kind of a thing. The person administering the shot signed off on it and initialed the shot records and administrative personnel would update and verify the service medical record. I know this for a fact, as I would process soldiers from other deployments often before our unit was sent. Shenanigans in the worst way is how I see that.

Make an educated decision with as much information as you need to feel confident in your treatment plans and options.

Agreed don't settle for substandard care, especially in a location such as that. Get the unbiased experts input and opinions. You owe yourself that. Don't just go by the advice of one doctor. JMO

Sad but true Andyman.

I know from military personnel that I knew many of the medications and inoculations were not how should we say verifiably tested. As many of my colleagues on here have stated we were used as guinea pigs. I have gone through my records item by item and theres a reason why inoculation batch numbers, lot numbers, expiration dates, serialized shots, are not documented in my service medical records. Heck from personal experience on a humanitarian mission to Dominican Republic, the Guard would not pay for anti-malaria pills, we got them, but only from one of officers because he or she owned a private practice. The anthrax vaccinations that I received, two sets were from expired batches and lot numbers that were deemed known to be harmful. Not trying to start anything. If you don't believe me, or have doubts please research these statements yourself. Look through your own records and look it up. You will be surprised on what you uncover.

If I may interject an additional opinion. I believe that using his services at the very least will strengthen a claimants case. Utilizing an established doctor obviously would be stronger, just as a specialist in the field of your disease or injury. It's probative evidence. It can't just be ignored. Also his opinion will tip the scales in your favor. The VA will try and will get away with it if you don't challenge them on it. Food for thought. JMO

Interesting read. Thanks gs106.

rpowell01 on the "DEAL WITH IT" I completely agree with your observation. Different studies state different approaches to a spinal cord injury. Depending on the depth of compression, nerve block and nerve roots affected, osteophytes and osteoarthritis, muscle groups, age, and I know you know the rest as the research you have shared with me opened my eyes to many treatment options. For as many success stories of surgeries helping I have found the same or more on the avenue of not. In some instances leaving the patient in worse health. It's a hard choice. The question becomes what will medicine have available to you when your liver & kidneys can't tolerate any more medicine. Although the above, concerning less side effects is promising. I don't have the answers but I am curious about them just the same. A multi discipline approach yields the best results but what then? I am there myself. I feel your pain. If I find a combination of something that works for longer periods I'll be sure to share. Until then, I am under the same dilemma. I have been trying to decide on whether I can deal with a pain pump myself. Is "zombie-land" and alternative for a while.???

Fight!

I would not put it in terms like that. Look at it this way, Range of motion, scoliosis,nerve issues can and do yield different ratings and can make a significant difference in the total rating for the injury. If you haven't done so already I would suggest you obtain a second opinion and obtain some unbiased testing performed. Those would be my suggestions, the decision is yours to make. Good Luck and congrats Also look at the eCFR's ratings for the C-spine , different ratings are there for other issues to the thoracic and lumbar region. Meaning they can have separate ratings.

Other than getting on the hamster wheel again, that's not good, however, take the win and go with it. That latter is the good news Chuck. Fight on.

That's a tough one, but if you don't try it you will never know. Since it is that far I would try to get it on fee basis or by the choice card, I would imagine that it would make it easier to get approved. Some people have had luck going that route. Acupuncture, chiropractic services and alternative medicine can do wonders. Results vary from person to person depending on their conditions and so forth.

Andy don't take that crap. If that were the case then the VA's opinion would never be substandard to the effect that it has to be appealed. Benefit of doubt, credentials and expertise of the doctor, a more thorough examination from a competent and unbiased professional with the background to substantiate his or her findings with past and contemporary medical evidence. A gynecologist to opine on a respiratory issue is my example. Or using a Nurse Practitioner to trump a specialist doctor. Complete BS. Remember a draw between doctors the VA is supposed to give weight to the more experienced and specialized doctor but the VA never does this. Nor if the evidence is both for and against the nexus. By law, you are not supposed to loose. Plus the right language on records review and as likely as not. Most times it never gets caught because the Veteran does not know any better, hence why so many claims wind up on the "hamster wheel"or just plain get abandoned once denied. My increases, particularly this last batch, I didn't submit anything that I hadn't before, Ellis' opinion to be precise. The probative evidence was there back in 2014 and the VA gave me the increase based off that examination, but gave me the increase in 2016, well to be fair 12/31/2015. The VA had the evidence, a valid medical opinion, from a doctor that actually read my records all along. Don't give up bubba and don't take the crap. JMO P.S. The kicker is the VA just gave me what I need to fight my other low balls and denials. "fight till your last breath"

While I agree gotta be careful not to get into the politics of this situation. Accountability. Yup accountability, somewhere I have heard that word, that term, that philosophy,.. Oh yeah ALL 22 YEARS OF MY SERVICE HISTORY to this country. There should be no reason for this to happen to any person who is treated by physician. VA, or private, or whatever covered insurance. I know on the private side you will have appointments and reminders for the visits to continue the prescription of pain meds. I call the Doc office, nurse gives the message to the doc, doc approves refill, or denies until scheduled appointment for a face to face the same week or days of the call. Mostly I go in for every refill. Heck they even have the means to do via internet or a home visit. They count pills, review the registry and so forth. Easy peasy no harm no foul. Excuses are all I hear, and putting the blame on the Veteran. Hmm if no meds or pills then offer viable alternative to pain relief, structured counseling, alternative medicine, osteopathic means, I am sure we can name several more. But oh no that's not possible! It can't rain every day, the sun will break through eventually.

Vync I understand and know how you feel about a random sneeze. I am careful how I walk, stand, sit and all that jazz. Fear of popping joints or a slide of the patella is nerve racking enough. Even the left hip surgery I had while it's healing nicely the joint has popped a few times and I about panic every single time. Clean popping without the grinding so it is better than before. Id wish that the folks that need the pain medications wouldn't get treated as drug addicts, or dope dealers. If you get caught then you should have consequences but not before. Presumed guilty until proven innocent philosophy there. Some day that will change, hopefully.

Ok Buck unless they have physically changed something on the machine there should only be one slot on the back of the S9. It is located in between the filter housing and the ac/dc plug. Only room for one SD card. The techs can switch cards but there is only one slot. I am not aware of any removable card inside the machine, inert parts, there is a soldered chip in the center of the circuit board. But really I wouldn't recommend opening the inside of the machine, leave that for the techs that specialize in up keeping the machine. I back up the data to a file folder and keep a copy of whatever files will transfer and then transfer them to another SD card before giving the card to say the docs or the techs that upkeep the machine. Mind you this is what I do on the private insurance side. The VA has never physically touched my machine. Believe it or not none of the VA docs ask for anything from my machine. They have been nice enough to resupply some parts and filters but that is the extent of it. No download or anything related like that. Yes it's paranoid, and I don't want to put ideas into your head, however, that is what I do. Better safe than sorry is the theory I go by on that one. Google it or go to Resmed site. There is info on there as well as the manuals.

I am curious as to where your search winds up. People, specifically doctors don't like coming to conclusions like that from fear. The booger is getting a doctor to state it in the "at least as likely" as terms is difficult but possible. Do you know how many thousands of soldiers, sailors, civilian contractor personnel would have a case and to also include civil damages against say KBR. Please don't give up. I'm fighting this very same exposure from my time as a aircraft fuels mechanic, from my federal job. Plus trying for the year from Bucca and the "pits" the problem I'm facing is what caused it, the year from Bucca or the years in federal service as a tank rat with DOD. A hemeotologist, cancer specialist and environmental specialist would help immensely. unfortunately for me the is no benefit of doubt in Department of Labor claims. And no way of proving which exposure caused the most damage. There is no at least as likely in DOL claims. ill share whatever research I've found. A class action case to look at would be the KBR case that back In appeals court circuit.

With the inert pain stim machine it just would not cut it, in the docs opinion as he stated I'm too far gone to try. Money issues for the insurance company if you understand my meaning. His opinion but I haven't pushed yet. I do have a tens unit that I use though. Nerve Ablations helped for a short while but they also hit a plateau. plus heat , ice, PT, chiro, acupuncture, herbals, topicals,etcetera. Mind over matter, well, even the strongest will cave. It's a battle no doubt. Hypnosis, cognitive behavioral techniques and so forth. Just have to find the treatment regiment that works most effectively. That's the extremely difficult part.

Yup that's the same as done using private insurance. I get blood tested , urine tested, and every so often get a pill count. Also the contract. That's all normal procedure for class I or II narcotics. My local VAMC would not rx any narcotic pain relievers. Tramadol was once given in line with the VA and DOL. Agencies are to paranoid with everyone because of the actions of a few.