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shakeyswife
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Posts posted by shakeyswife
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I have tried to figure out how the VA is rating Parkinson's Disease, and I am having much difficulty deciphering the rating schedule. I have done a little bit of research, but just can not seem to grasp how PD is really rated. I have read 30% initial rating, we know this is true.
My question is, once they start rating all the other aspects/secondaries does that initial 30% stay and combine with all the secondaries or do they disregard the initial 30% and just rate on all the "secondaries"?
I have tried to do some research but I'll I seem to come up with is contradiction, in the way PD has been rated. It appears as though some raters add the secondaries to the 30% and some do not. Even with research of some of the citations, I am still unable to comprehend how the VA is rating this disease.
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Big congrats
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LC,
Changed your bank account numbers...........now the VA will never get your deposit to you! :)
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That is one down, two to go. I know when we did one of my husbands it was also regarding one of his recurring nightmares. That may also help you get into writing it down. You can claim how you wake up all sweaty disoriented and afraid to go back to sleep, because you do not want the nightmares to start all over again.
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First, be honest and complete as you can with your stressors. The main form that you need is the 21-0781. My husband is a Vietnam Vet. and was there during the TET Offensive. Some of the verbage they are looking for is "horrified", fear for your life or for the lives of others. He didn't remember the names of the other men that had been shot or killed. Cripes how could he remember or even know the names of practically a whole dang platoon being ambushed by the VC. Do you have the dx from a VA psych? Ask your VA psych. to write a statement in support of claim (21-4138) stating that your stressors are related to combat, and how you really are having a hard time functioning in your daily life due to your symptoms of PTSD. We didn't put date of attacks, (Just the time frame) they were happening all the time during TET especially spring/summer of 1968. Try to write out three different ones, they can all be in the same time frame. Send in your DD214 with every claim that you file for. Isolation is another aspect because you do not want to be near people.
Hopefully others will chime in.
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Thanks 71M,
The first C&P the examiner stated she did not have the c-file and her computer was not even working! , Fortunately I feel she did a good job and she accepted the evidence that we brought to the exam. Hopefully this examiner will take what evidence we have from the neurologist, since he just had an appointment on the 9th, and his Parkinson's has progressed since she filled out the initial DBQ for Parkinson's. The DBQ for Parkinson's can not even begin to state what goes on with this disease just like they are changing everything for TBI's.
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We just received a notice from the Denver Varo, stating that they asked the VAMC in Asheville to schedule the exam. We were even told by our VSO that Winston Salem is the one who schedules the C&P's and not the temporary office of jurisdiction. This is for a deferred DBQ claim for Parkinson's. So to stay on top of it, called VAMC in Asheville and they said that QTC will be doing the exam. Now we wait for them to schedule the exam. At least something is happening. Where does the final say so come from? The temporary office that develops the claims or does your home VARO adjudicate the claim. Winston Salem is less on errors than Denver, so we have been told.
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So, besides them needing to rate PD, "the issue of compensation for PTSD and cognitive disorder due to Parkinson's disease is deferred for the following information: VA examination and to determine if and how much your Parkinson's related cognitive disorder is intertwined with your PTSD, Depressive disorder and sleep disorder."
Part of what Psych. wrote " Cognitive impairment is common among veterans with PTSD,, and depression, and sleep deprivation, and Parkinson's Disease, and it is not possible to attribute features of his cognitive impairment to one etiology or another without resorting to mere speculation."
This is part of what neurologist wrote "Likewise, all symptoms related to Parkinson's can and should be evaluated as part of Parkinson's Disease and not in the context of PTSD and depression as these are separate issues."
Cognitive impairment was checked off on the DBQ for Parkinson's, and nothing about it was stated in his claim for PTSD by anyone or any of MH doctors or C&P examiner, but yet they still want to figure out where and how to rate it.
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Two plus hours away from us, maybe we can find a way to attend. Need to learn more. My husband has had a thyroid issue for years, oh heck we didn't put our first claim in until Oct.2012. But anyhow a hypo thyroid is still not on the presumptive list. Wonder if we should put a claim in for that, who knows maybe some year they will connect it. The problem with AO and Vietnam or agent orange in itself, is that there needs to be more connected health issues and proving these issues is well...............like trying to fill in the blanks when reading written language from another country you know nothing about.
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Well, we were able to get two statements in support of claim from both neurologist and psychiatrist. The VARO has still not set up a C&P exam for PD. But he just had another neurologist appt. on the 9th, and she stated his PD symptoms have progressed and increased medication (once again). Also on ebennies there was information that was requested 1/13/14 (do not know what because that part is blank) but also the information was received on the same day. I can only assume that it might have been the rater or someone requesting more information from the VAMC. Any ideas? I still do not know how they can rate a cognitive impairment either with PTSD or Parkinson's Disease. I have done some research and I have seen that they have rated cognitive impairment with PTSD and then there were appeals to rate it separately. It also appears that different VARO's rate Parkinsons Disease differently. What gets me, is that the PTSD claim was filed in Oct. 2012 and the Parkinson's Disease was file 06/13. I would think that they should have at least rated the PTSD claim and not deferred it because of Parkinson's Disease.
Any input? Thx.
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I am sure others can help you more than I can. But the best representation is your self using all the postings in hadit as your guide. Heck our VSO has been helpful, only to a certain extent. I do all the research, submit what we need to as evidence, etc,, upload it and then just hand it over to him, we do not use him for his knowledge or anything otherwise. It is just the fact of having a POA and duplicates of everything that you have mailed in and someone else has all this information. Know what you want, and be specific with what you want, learn as much as you can from the folks here on hadit, there is so much information. I also think there is a place somewhere here on hadit that lists the VSO's for the state in which you live in. Hopefully others will chime in.
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I still do not know how to sign in w/o using facebook. I could not seem to get past the squiggly letters and numbers. It seemed as though there had been a reply. But I was not authorized to view it.
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Ignore it until you have something physical and tangible received in the mail. JMO
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same problem here, all day long
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Got an answer. The exam request was sent from Denver to Winston/Salem.
Do all c&p exam requests in the end need to come from Washington? ie as stated on the letter when they scheduled the c&p's for QTC to complete.
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When a claim is farmed out, which VARO has the responsibility in requesting the C&P exams? Home or Away?
My husband has had two C&P's by QTC and the heading of the letter to schedule these exams were from Washington. He still has deferred claims in which a C&P needs to be scheduled. The temporary office of jurisdiction is Denver and our VARO is Winston/Salem. A request was for an exam was put in on December 18, when the rating decision was also made for hearing and tinnitus. An inquiry to IRIS only tells me to be patient and they were waiting for the medical facility, well we know that was BS, because we called QTC and the C&P office and they had not received any info to schedule an appointment. So back to the inquiry and correct them on this then they ask us to be patient for them to put in a request for the exam.
Thanks for any input.
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Berta,
He was in the Army. (67-69) in Vietnam. While he was stationed in QuiNhon, and operated an LCM8, they would go out to the merchant marine ships in the bay and haul agent orange back to the beach where it was unloaded. His company was located next to the airfield in QuiNhon. The opposite side of the airfield was mountainous which was regularly sprayed to defoliate. Then he went TDY with Navy to DaNang. Operating an LCM8, which had 3 50 calibers there was always sniper fire or firefights on the rivers. Would go to Cuaviet, Hue, travel the Perfume River all to different drop of points for troops, fuet, etc. or there were also extraction points. He transported anything that needed to be transported including 2 1/2 tons filled with body bags, villagers whose villages had been destroyed, platoons to fight on the ground entering "hot areas", ammunition, full fuel bladders. They also had incoming rpg's especially during the TET Offensive.
The VCAA letter did not ask any questions or make any points.
We have absolutely no records
Unfortunately we do not have any of his records. Time will tell what they will rate.
Now that I got him all frazzled, cripes I just learned a little more. Glad he has an appointment today with psychiatrist.
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Thanks Berta,
Is the stressor for the PTSD verified or has it been conceded yet by the VA,under the new PTSD criteria ? I do not know, not sc yet; but psychologist wrote a statement in support of claim due to combat, and C&P examiner believes his PTSD is due to Vietnam.
I am assuming here that your husband is a Vietnam in country veteran, and the Parkinsons is due to his AO exposure..?” Yes, was a boatswain, hauled it on the boats as well as being sprayed on. Would it matter whether they decide this as presumptive or direct service connection?
I have learned much from your postings, and many others as well. My condolences for your loss of your husband, with his loss you have become a mentor to many members here because of your tenacity.
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My husband does not receive a pension and had no ratings at all for anything or even a claim in for hearing at the time VA gave him the hearing aids. He now has 10% for hearing. A Vietnam vet. His mos is what "more than likely" caused his hearing impairment, heck that was years and years ago.
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Meg,
It appears that the Denver VARO is doing the rating.
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Thank you everyone,
I consider two wins out four with the other two being deferred is a big start. I sure in heck hope that all goes well in the rating department once they figure out how to rate PTSD & Parkinson's together.
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Thanks PR,
Changed the believe parts to observation.
Now I really hope that either his psychiatrist or psychologist will write a statement in support of claim. Actually his VA psychologist already had written one for the PTSD. I'm just not sure how they can intertwine cognitive disorder with PTSD.
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DH was rated 10% hearing and 10% tinnitus, but VARO deferred PTSD and Parkinson's, so they are back to gathering evidence.
VA wants an exam for Parkinson's which is fine because symptoms have worsened since DBQ filled out in June by VA neurologist.
Already had a C&P for PTSD (looks to be 70%) Also filed for TDIU, but that may be moot.
So, besides them needing to rate PD, "the issue of compensation for PTSD and cognitive disorder due to Parkinson's disease is deferred for the following information: VA examination and to determine if and how much your Parkinson's related cognitive disorder is intertwined with your PTSD, Depressive disorder and sleep disorder."
Would it interfere with the claim date if we submitted statements in support of claim.
Also cognitive disorder appears more to be a brain disorder and not a mental health disorder.
I have learned from the site from many people here and thank you. When you first file a claim go for the kill shot. And thus far we have been successful. Any help on improving my statement in support of claim, we are also going to ask treating psychiatrist to fill out a statement in support of claim.
My statement: My unprofessional personal opinion.
1. I do believe that x's cognitive disorder is due to PD. His thought process has slowed (takes more time for him to figure out problems or what to do in many situations, his response time it not what it used to be), has difficulty multi-tasking (didn't in the past), becomes confused following conversations, etc. It is easy for me to notice because of our length of time together.
2. Both dx's of PTSD and PD contribute to Depressive disorder. Depressed that he has PTSD and so much difficulty in dealing with all the symptoms. Depressed that he has PD because he is losing his mobility and is in pain because of the rigidity.
3. Both dx's of PTSD and PD contribute to sleep disorder. If not awoken by a nightmare or even if awoken by a nightmare has trouble turning to try to find a comfortable position. Or if he wakes up to urinate has trouble getting into a comfortable position--simply put, has difficulties turning in bed because of PD!
I am not sure, because I guess that we would rather have the PTSD have more weight, because in the long run for PD that will end up being or should end up being 100% P&T. Would it be feasible to submit a statement in support of claim. I am sure who ever does the exam, would have a heck of time unless they just come up with BS, which we want to avoid. Thanks
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Navy,
Thank you.............
The FDC is for Parkinson's filed June 24, 2013, deferred pending C&P because of PTSD. Winston/Salem VARO. Just waiting for the appointment for the c&p exam. There was a request on 12/18, but they still have not followed through with actually getting an appointment.
Does Anyone Really Know How They Rate Parkinson's
in Agent Orange
Posted
Thank you so much Warren,
I was hoping that either you or another member that has PD would respond, as I have read many of your postings. My husbands claim has been deferred it was submitted on a DBQ (filled out by VA). TDIU has also been deferred. Gets a bit complicated, because they want to see how cognitive impairment is intertwined with PTSD, which has also been deferred. He should be having a QTC appointment soon, as they have received his records. (We called them, they just need to make the appointment)
This is another part of my confusion as to how they want to rate it.
"The issue of compensation for right upper extremity neurological impairment due to Parkinson's Disease (to include bradykinesia, tremor, muscle rigidity and muscle cramps." same for upper left
"The issue of compensation for right lower extremity neurological impairment due to Parkinson's Disease (to include bradykinesia, balance impairment, tremor, muscle rigidity and muscle cramps." same for lower right
I thought balance impairment was a separate issue, as well as bradykinesia.
They also have listed the stooped posture, ed, etc.etc........
May God Bless and be with you as well.