Jump to content
VA Disability Community via Hadit.com

Ask Your VA   Claims Questions | Read Current Posts 
Read Disability Claims Articles
 Search | View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Rules 

Proudvet

Second Class Petty Officers
  • Posts

    64
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Proudvet

  1. The VA WILL service connect migraines. A claim for 'headaches' might be too vague for a proper rating.

    The Migrane rating schedule is in the fairly recent VA decision:

    “After considering the evidence of record, the Board finds that the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100, are approximated. The evidence throughout the appeal period shows that the Veteran has consistently reported having, on average, weekly migraine headaches. Because these migraines occur frequently, last for long periods of time (several hours to days), are accompanied by pain, nausea, and light sensitivity, require her to lie down for extended periods of time, require her to rely on friends to help care for her children on a weekly basis, and require her to miss work frequently severe economic hardship has resulted. In other words, the Board finds that the migraines are productive of severe economic inadaptability. Comparing these manifestations to the rating criteria, it is clear that the criteria for a 30 percent rating is exceeded, because that rating requires characteristic prostrating attacks that occur only once a month. Throughout the appeal period, the Veteran's migraines have occurred much more frequently than once per month. Moreover, even if all elements specified in the 50 percent rating criteria are not shown, they need not be. 38 C.F.R. § 4.21. The Board must resolve any remaining doubt in favor of the Veteran and find that the 50 percent criteria are more nearly approximated throughout the period of time covered by this claim. This represents the maximum disability rating assignable under Diagnostic Code 8100.”

    In this case the veteran was still employed so the VA did not consider either TDIU or an extraschedular rating.

    You stated as 'new;' Issues ( do you mean they have been deferred or you filed for them after your original claim?)

    “post traumatic stress disorder (New), depression caused by PTSD (New) “

    PTSD can be diagnosed as causing depression but VA only pays for one MH issue.

    The new 2010 PTSD regs are here in our PTSD forum.

    By retired do you mean you are a 'lifer'?

    If so have you checked into CRDP and./or CRSC info here?

    Have you checked your direct deposit account? The retro could show up anytime now.

    Welcome here!

    I asked IRIS and this is what they say. Guess no temporary payment. Oh, well hope is all I can pray for, is a positive resolution even though it stated on e-benefits (New), Temporary 100 percent .

    We are unable to locate a letter dated in June 2013 awarding you benefits for temporary 100%. A review of your on-line record indicates you have an open claim and the temporary 100% is on the open claim.

    Your claim is currently in the development phase of processing. This phase is where we gather all the evidence we need in order to make a decision on your claim. If we determine that we need additional information, we will contact you.

    Currently claims at the Salt Lake City Regional Office (RO) are taking about 8 months (239 days) to complete. Please understand that these timeframes are only averages, and that your claim may take longer based on the specifics of your claim and VA's pending workload.

  2. Forgot 2 questions, has any doctor indiocated that the headaches are in fact migraines?

    Has any doctor stated in your med recs the migraines are directly due to your Communicating Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.?

    Can you tell us the diagnostic code VA used for the hydroencephlus? I am wondering if headaches or migraines are part of the overall 100 % rating for that and included in the rating for it.

    Also:

    "I was electrocuted in 1988 on a living barge while my ship was in overhaul. I obsorbed 440 volts of electricity and was seriously burned with second and third degree burns on my arms, chest and face."

    Do you still have residual scarring from that

    ? If so, check the scar [percentages in the VA SRD here at hadit .

    (SRD SChedule of Ratings for Disabilities)

    I would assume that electrocution was a major inservice stressor for you, however the PTSD regulations here will explain that more.

    Has any doctor indiocated that the headaches are in fact migraines?

    No. Just in my medical Service records many comments when I went to sick call. Gave me motrin and said "get back to work".

    Has any doctor stated in your med recs the migraines are directly due to your Communicating Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.? yes, the VA docs after I retired. That's when they did an MRI which showed I had Communicating Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. And that was some shocking news.

  3. Proudvet,

    Sorry to hear that they gave you the runaround. I had staff infection cut out of my head last year and every since been suffering from Headaches. I am 30% SC from the Navy for the Migraines and I take medication. I was Medically retired in February this year, after 9 years active duty. It took me 3 months to get paid. So you should get it soon. Good luck and wish you the best.

    navyo4,

    Thank you for your reply. I am learning so much from this sight and everyone who has responded to all my questions. I would like to personally say thank-you to all. When I was active duty I was electricuted in 1988 absorbing 440 volts of electricity which caused severe 2nd and 3rd degree burns to my hand, wrist, arm and face. Then the electricity exited my body through my neck. I believe this is where the hydrocephalus was caused. I have memory problems. (which effects my employment performance) usually most current events I have problems remembering, but can remember years ago events that happened during childhood.

    I have bouts with extreme headaches especially where the shunt was placed. My feet feel like their glued to the ground most the time. They said before my shunt implant (February 2013) I would see immediate results (and I did for about 6 months) now the same symptons have appeared just like before the shunt implant.

    Now I have another medical appinment scheduled with the same doctor who performed my original surgery next month to see what's going on. I hope they can fix tjis as I am tired of having all these headaches.

  4. Greeting's Berta,

    Thanks for the information I will check on this and keep you informed. I appreciate all your assistance.

    This what e-ebenefits is stating. This was posted in August 2013 and I still haven't seen any payment for (Temporary 100%). Can you let me know how long it takes for the VA to deposit into my account the (Temporary award)?

    Is it retroactive to when I filed this claim?

    Contentions: Headaches (Reopen), Normal pressure hydrocephalus (New), Temporary 100 percent (New), multiple digestive disorders

    to include gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus (Increase), post traumatic stress disorder (New)

  5. "I filed a claim for disability increase as I have Acid Reflux (Barrets disease) and having this surgery aggravated the Barrets disease as the tube running from my right venticule to my abodomin has irritated the barrets disease"

    Do you mean you filed for the Barretts specifically as aggravated by and/or as secondary to the surgery for the SC hydrocephalus?

    Has a doctor made the medical connection yet in your medical records?

    “I am scheduled to go back to the doctor who performed my shunt surgery next month. What do you think they'll do? “

    It is hard to know the answer to that as to what the doctor will do.

    It might be a good idea to ask him to put into your med recs, that the surgery has caused the Barretts to be aggravated. That is the evidence you will need for VA to increase the rating for this condition.

    It pays to look up these conditions in the VA Schedule of Ratings here at hadit.

    http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=c130ec487ea61b8a40ad0836188b94bc&rgn=div5&view=text&node=38:1.0.1.1.5&idno=38

    There is a lot of good info at the beginning of this link and the Rating schedule is about 1/10th of the way down in the link.

    A vet can check by the Diagnostic Code the VA gave them and see ,in the percentage areas, if their medical evidence warrants a higher precentage than what they have been given..

    This is always a good idea for every vet who gets an award, to double check the rating with their evidence.

    VA makes errors in DC ratings that should always be discovered and appealed right away.

    Otherwise the vet, years down the road might have to file a CUE claim on an erroneous rating years ago that they never appealed.

    Greeting's Berta,

    Thanks for the information I will check on this and keep you informed. I appreciate all your assistance.

  6. proudvet,

    depends on your VARO. I have seen vets wait up to 18 months to receive this award.

    I went through non-communicating low pressure hydrocephalus which caused me to have migraines which I have been service connected for. I was fortunate as my neurosurgeon was able to reconstruct a "window" between my third and fourth ventricle. he had told me before the surgery, if he couldn't make the window work that I would receive a shunt. I had told him that I didn't want a shunt.

    I was a 1SG that was selected for the Sergeants Major Academy with 18 years in the Army. The Doc told me that if he had to place a shunt, it would be an automatic medical retirement. I didn't want to get out, but I didn't receive a shunt, but was still medically retired.

    good luck to you!

    I was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus in May 2012, and had a shunt installed in February 2013. Now it's October 2013 and I am experiencing the same symptons I did before the surgery. Gait (heaviness in my feet, headaches, memory loss, etc.) I filed a claim for disability increase as I have Acid Reflux (Barrets disease) and having this surgery aggravated the Barrets disease as the tube running from my right venticule to my abodomin has irritated the barrets disease. I am scheduled to go back to the doctor who performed my shunt surgery next month. What do you think they'll do? Thank-you for your advice and assistance.

    Respectfully,

    Proudvet

  7. Forgot 2 questions, has any doctor indiocated that the headaches are in fact migraines?

    Has any doctor stated in your med recs the migraines are directly due to your Communicating Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.?

    Can you tell us the diagnostic code VA used for the hydroencephlus? I am wondering if headaches or migraines are part of the overall 100 % rating for that and included in the rating for it.

    Also:

    "I was electrocuted in 1988 on a living barge while my ship was in overhaul. I obsorbed 440 volts of electricity and was seriously burned with second and third degree burns on my arms, chest and face."

    Do you still have residual scarring from that? If so, check the scar [percentages in the VA SRD here at hadit .

    (SRD SChedule of Ratings for Disabilities)

    I would assume that electrocution was a major inservice stressor for you, however the PTSD regulations here will explain that more.

    Forgot 2 questions, has any doctor indiocated that the headaches are in fact migraines?

    Has any doctor stated in your med recs the migraines are directly due to your Communicating Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.?

    Can you tell us the diagnostic code VA used for the hydroencephlus? I am wondering if headaches or migraines are part of the overall 100 % rating for that and included in the rating for it.

    Also:

    "I was electrocuted in 1988 on a living barge while my ship was in overhaul. I obsorbed 440 volts of electricity and was seriously burned with second and third degree burns on my arms, chest and face."

    Do you still have residual scarring from that? If so, check the scar [percentages in the VA SRD here at hadit .

    (SRD SChedule of Ratings for Disabilities)

    I would assume that electrocution was a major inservice stressor for you, however the PTSD regulations here will explain that more.

    Greeting's Berta,

    This is what the V A Doc's put for the diagnostic code for the Communicating hydrocephalus (ICD-9-CM 331.3) They say I have. I am still have headaches and gait in my feet. Have another V A appointment to see the neurosurgeon next week. Not sure whats going on. Either the shunt stop working or something else going on. I am still working, but in takes every bit of energy to keep going. When I had my shunt put in January 2013 thet put a tube from my right venticule draining to my stomach which affrcts my reflux.

    Thank-you for your assistance.

    Best regards,

    Proudvet

  8. My apologies for chiming in on your thread. I have a question hopefully someone can answer. I retired from the U S Navy in June 2010. I went through the BDD program to start my V A Disability claim process. One of my complaints was headaches that was recorded through out my SMR for 20 of the 23 year years I was in. I was electrocuted in 1988 on a living barge while my ship was in overhaul. I obsorbed 440 volts of electricity and was seriously burned with second and third degree burns on my arms, chest and face. The V A Doc who examined on my Benefits Disability at Discharge told me, the VA doesn't award for headaches. Well, I went and settled down to my home of records and went and seen the docs at my local VA Medical Center and they conducted tests and reveiled I had Communicating Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. I had surgery February 2013 to have a shunt inserted to relieve the fluid build-up in my skull. I explained the above at my C & P exam in September 2013 and was awarded 100% Temporary disability but haven't received any payment yet.

    Can anyone tell me how long it takes to receive temporary 100% diability award payment from the VA?

    normal pressure hydrocephalus (New), Temporary 100 percent (New), multiple digestive disorders to include gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus (Increase), post traumatic stress disorder (New), depression caused by PTSD (New)

    Thank-you.

    U S Navy Chief (Ret)

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use