Sorry I just found this forum, I sympathize with so many of you. So a little background I was med boarded out in '98 at 20%. I was very upset, I suffered a AGE (Air Gas Embolus) from a diving mishap upon successfully removing a distressed diver (I was 2nd Class Diver at the time). I suffered photosensitivity and migraines after a TT6 with two extensions. I was told to suck it up or lose my pin, so I did.
Later in the middle of Phase I EOD training a DUI driver drilled me going about 60-80 mph the cop estimated. Being young and stupid I sucked it up and went back into training for a week until I was urinating blood and my left leg went numb. Later they found a undiagnosed bone spur that shredded my urethra and I have to self cath to this day. (NEW add as of today 2/12/2014) My Creatine levels are 1.38 so the doctors think I may just be starting very early stage kidney failure. They are going to test monthly to see if it stablizes.
A year ago they re-evaluated me at 80% my breakdown is:
Right hip injury/pain (was dislocated in the accident) 10%
Neuropathy of right foot 10%
Urethral stricture and Bladder neck contracture/stricture 60%
DDD L4-L5 and L5-S1 (two surgeries) 10%
Vascular migraine 10%
Tinnitus 10%
My question is my upper back is starting to obtain a moderate curve and is starting to cause breathing problems and shoulder pain (which I have been complaining to the VA about).
How would I try to process this? Attached to a pre-existing back condition or as a separate claim?
Also starting this last year I have been on HCTZ for high blood pressure (over a year of 164+/100+) due to chronic pain my doc figured. Is it to much of a pain to fight for that (not overweight no family history of HBP)?
Last question is I have had flat feet since I was released (no records indicate this that I can find) but my QTC doc stated that with my training and job that I should put in for it, I have been out for 15 years, or is it too much hassle. I am really not able to jump through too many more hoops, I feel like I will choke a doctor out. I have spent my life since age 25 dealing with this and mentally I am shot at 42 now. I have held jobs up until five years ago, the pain/stress have been so bad my wife said I needed to quit or get a divorce. So I quit.
I apologize for the format and the shotgun style questions but I have received no help of significance from the Legion or the DAV.
Regards,
Dan