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Proudvet

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Posts posted by Proudvet

    Retired Bdd Program Question On Temporary 100%

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Good afternoon meghp0405,

    Idiopathic Normal Hydrocephalus

    ICD-9-CM Diagnostic Code 331.5

    Communicating hydrocephalus, also known as non-obstructive hydrocephalus, is caused by impaired cerebrospinal fluid reabsorption in the absence of

    any CSF-flow obstruction between the ventricles and subarachnoid space. It has been theorized that this is due to functional impairment of the

    arachnoidal granulations (also called arachnoid granulations or Pacchioni's granulations), which are located along the superior sagittal sinus and is the

    site of cerebrospinal fluid reabsorption back into the venous system. Various neurologic conditions may result in communicating hydrocephalus, including

    subarachnoid/intraventricular hemorrhage, meningitis and congenital absence of arachnoid villi. Scarring and fibrosis of the subarachnoid space following

    infectious, inflammatory, or hemorrhagic events can also prevent resorption of CSF, causing diffuse ventricular dilatation.

    Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a particular form of communicating hydrocephalus, characterized by enlarged cerebral ventricles, with only intermittently elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure. The diagnosis of NPH can be established only with the help of continuous intraventricular pressure recordings (over 24 hours or even longer), since more often than not instant measurements yield normal pressure values. Dynamic compliance studies may be also helpful. Altered compliance (elasticity) of the ventricular walls, as well as increased viscosity of the cerebrospinal fluid, may play a role in the pathogenesis of normal pressure hydrocephalus.
    Hydrocephalus ex vacuo also refers to an enlargement of cerebral ventricles and subarachnoid spaces, and is usually due to brain atrophy (as it occurs in dementias), post-traumatic brain injuries and even in some psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia.[citation needed] As opposed to hydrocephalus, this is a compensatory enlargement of the CSF-spaces in response to brain parenchyma loss - it is not the result of increased CSF pressure.

    Retired Bdd Program Question On Temporary 100%

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    I started to have the same symptoms return about a month ago, concerning my Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, real bad headaches. heaviness in my feet and heartburn. I made a VA medical appintment and was seen by the Houston VA Neorologist who did my surgery by implanting a draining device in my skull to relieve the excess cereberal fluid building up. The doc, did alot pushing on the shunt (which didn't feel good), and stated my shunt is failing, which is probably causing all my original health issues to arise again.

    He made another appointment to have a full scale MRI to see if the "shunt is cracked, stopped working due to protein bulld-up clogging the tiny port holes not allowing drainage", abdominal x-rays, "to see if the drainage tube that dumps into my stomach is damaged or disconnected.

    If it failed, I'm for another revision to have this done all over again, It has been 1 year on February 17 since my last surgery,

    I was rated 70% for PTSD and 10% hearing loss, 10% for each of my knees and 0% for Normal Pressure hydrocephalus which was caused from electrical explosion while active duty in 1988.

    Should I resubmit for an increase now, for an increase on my 0% for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus or just wait it out and see what the next medical appointment says about my current medical problems?

    I really appreciate all the solid advice given in the past that you all given

    A Pervasive Incentive

    in VA Scandals

    Posted

    When I was active duty, our "SUPPO" Supply Officer would get with each department around the end of July each year and tell us to get a wish list of items wanted/needed before the end of fiscal year, to use up all the unapppropriated funds, so we would'nt reduced on funding the next year. You wouldn't believe the items folks would buy, furniture, pictures for the walls, trash cans, unessesary items, you name it, just to spend the money so they wouldn't have to give it back and be reduced on funding the next fiscal year. So unreal of the wastefulness.

    Had My Ptsd C&p Yesterday...

    in Veterans Compensation & Pension Exams

    Posted · Edited by Proudvet

    I recommend, keep going to your appointments, if scheduled, create a trail that your looking for assistance from the VA. I learned if I made all my appointments, was honest when talking to my Psychiatrist and VA Medical Doctors, that they went way out of their way to assist me.

    When you file a claim and their gathering evidence, the docs, VA social workers, receptionists, are all taking mental notes on how you act, what you say. When it comes for them to put their inputs on your condition, you want them to remember you as a troubled vet, and not some obnoxious person trying to game the system.

    I actually sat next to a vet, when waiting for one of my appointments, he was telling me in a low whisper how to game the system, buy a cane, fake a limp, etc. I was disgusted that he was associated with the U.S. Armed service's acting in this manner, when alot of vets that have true honest disabilities, and this "fake" is trying to tell me how to game the system. I told him, "you don't know me" and I could have been an imposter, checking on fakes. I am sure they're investigators out there, at the VA clinic's and hospitals.

    All I can say is be honest when you go to your appointments and when scheduled for a C & P exam always make this appointment even if you have to get their the night before and have to sleep in the waiting room.

    Had My Ptsd C&p Yesterday...

    in Veterans Compensation & Pension Exams

    Posted · Edited by Proudvet

    Wolfhound88,

    I can relate how you feel having to revisit traumatic events of your life to a total stranger. I experienced the same emotions as you explained in your post. Having a hard time concentrating, etc. If you have a good VA Psychiatrist as I did he/she will make you feel at ease and eventually you will open up and release all that emotions, feelings, guilt etc. I went to the VA for two years seeing the psychologist and having a C & P exam that they finally rated me 70% for PTSD.

    I don't attend any VA groups or anything, but am still employed, not because I need the income, it just helps me keep my mind busy and not thinking of recurring events when I was active duty.

    Dav Lifetime Membership Worth It?

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted · Edited by Proudvet

    I agree with everyone who responded about hiring a VSO to file your claim. When I filed Benefits Delivery at Discharge in 2010, I hired a DAV Rep and he didn't do much when I took all my medical records to him to view anfd file. I learned how to file myself reading the CFR- manual and when I got to my present home of records I went to the VA hospital with my medical records in tow.

    I explained that I had (3) knee surgeries for torn meniscus, headaches (due to an electrical explosion while onboard one of my commands), and tinititus due to electrical explosion. It took me two years seeing a phyciatrist, a medical doctor and a speech therapist for the VA to finally order an MRI to which to my surprise showed I had Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. I had a shunt implanted and then was diagnosed with depression, that was later diagnosed at my C & P exam as PTSD. Rated 70%, GAF-Score 60, and 10% hearing loss. I was originally awarded 10% for each knee and 10% hearing loss, o% headaches, in 2010 but was not satisfied.

    Like I said, I learned from reading the CFR manual and this website and believe doing your claim yourself you have more interest than a VSO does. Save your money.

    Just my $.02 worth

    Fraud Alert For All Veterans – Don’T Carry Your Va Card In Your Wallet

    in VA Scandals

    Posted

    I saw the following below on another website I was following and thought I'd pass this valuable information on.

    November 8, 2013 – If you are a veteran and you have been issued a VA card, you need to start treating it like your social security card. When you don’t have anything on your calendar requiring it – like an appointment at the VA – leave it at home. An ABC News affiliate in Florida has discovered that every single VA card issued since 2004 contains the social security number of the person the card was issued to in a bar-code on the front of the card. More importantly, the bar code can be deciphered by anyone who has a free bar-code-reader on their smart phone.

    According to the report, the VA has known about this issue for years but has failed to correct it. And they haven’t been proactively notifying veterans about the issue. They claim to be working on a new generation of their card but it will not be available until sometime next year.

    Any veteran who has lost their VA card should be concerned. Not only could they be subject to financial identity theft but it is also possible that they could be targeted for healthcare ID theft. That’s because the VA handles both medical and retirement benefits for veterans.

    I Got A C&p With Nuro For Headaches?

    in Veterans Compensation & Pension Exams

    Posted · Edited by Proudvet

    Jesusplay,

    I filed a claim during my discharge medical examination back in 2010 for headaches, (which was documented a few time in my SMR). All the shipboard corpsman did was give me motrin and documented I came in for a headache, motrin provided. Well I told this to the outbreifing physical doc, and she said theirs probably not enough evidence to file a claim.

    So a cou[le months after I retired, I made an appointment with the local VA medical center near where I live and they initially sent me totalk to a psychologist, speech therapist. This went on for about 6 months, then finally after six months seeing these folks, my VA primary doctor ordered to have an MRI done. Wow, what a surprise when the VA doc called me while I was at work and said I have "Normal Pressure Hydeocephalus. I had surgery 4 months late to have a shunt put in to relive the excess fluid built-up in my skull. I have scense submitted another claim for this condition, had a C & P exam done and am waiting for a decision. I am currently (according to E-benefits) in the PREPARATION FOR DECISION phase.

    As Tiredcoastie mentioned you need to have some documentation in your medcial record for them to tie it to service connection. It's a battle I know. If you made copies of your medical records before yor were discharged take a look back through them all and see if you can find anything documented for headaches.

    I wish you all the luck!!!

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