BlastDaddy

I am looking for advice. I need to write a letter for support of my claim of Fibromyalgia. I have a diagnoses from the Rheumatologist that states I have Fibromyalgia and my C&P was clear I have a severe case of Fibromyalgia. But it also said "not connected to Active Duty Service by review of service records". So I think they are going to screw me. What content should I include in the letter to support the claim related to the Gulf War/SWA. I am already 50% connected with PTSD that validates I was in the Gulf War. There is a lot of stuff about presumptive illnesses diagnosed and undiagnosed. So Please provide guidance on the content and format that I should put in this letter so I don't screw myself with my own wording. Thanks

After reading this how do I proceed? I have a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and myophacial pain. My claim is in the gathering evidence phase. How should I write a letter letting them know I am associating the Fibromyalgia to the Gulf War Illnesses. I don't want to word it in a way that screws me. Any suggestions on the content of the letter.

How has this claim progressed. What did they say? I am sitting and waiting for my results on the exact claim.

Veternmo, 63sierra is right. Calm Down. Do not put yourself through the stress from this. It is not worth doing something irrational. Please trust me on this. I tried twice and was unsuccessful. Thank God I was. Your C&P's are just way for the VA to check and balance. Yes they may have seemed negative and point to you getting better. But "BETTER" as far as what. You are no way healed. The disability is still their and still interferers with your daily activities. Continue to look at these forums. They have calmed me down and now is providing me with information I will be using. It sounds as if you are local or around Killeen, If so and need help message me and we can talk or meet.

I finally got an appointment in Round Rock with the Rheumatologist who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. The Dr. will review my records and I am attempting to get an Medical opinion. Then I will submit the IMO and their regs. Hope this works. But the appointment isn't until July.

Does anyone know a doctor who does IMO letters for Fibromyalgia. I have a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia from a Rheumatologist from Scott & White, Chronic Pain Syndrome and Myofacial Pain from the VA. The C&P clearly went my way except the nurse practitioner who did the C&P stated I had a diagnosis but it does not seem related to Active Duty Service by review of SMR's. So it is going to be hard to pass this under Gulf War presumptive illnesses. Any Help in this matter will be appreciated.

I will be watching your post. My Fibromyalgia claim says basically the same. I also was a 12B.

Pete, 1. I don't know how to navigate the site to find a moderator. 2. Do you know what the IME and IMO letters are and what information should be covered on them. Is their a format.

John 1371 USMC Combat Engineer I believe. I felt the same way with my stay in the hospital. Did not good. Now I am waiting for additional care that has yet to come. I was just referred to MH at Scott & White Hospital. I am hoping they will help. The VA damn near stopped most of the medications for fear of another suicide attempt. So I am constantly in pain. I didn't think of an IME or IMO. Do you have any idea where to get one. I don't think the VA would do it. Also is their any format they should use or information they should place in it? I hope you are doing better and get the help you need. It is very sad so many have to suffer before it is realized the problems we have are not all from depression. Are you in Central Texas?

The definition of a service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Guidance documents from the U.S.Department of Justice have established two training requirements for a Service Animal. The first is that the service animal must be individually trained to perform tasks or work for the benefit of a disabled individual. The second is that a service animal must be trained to behave properly in places of public accommodation. Inappropriate behavior that disrupts the normal course of business or threatens the health or safety of others is automatic grounds for excluding the team fro the premises. Most animals, including but not limited to those labeled as companion animals, emotional support animals and therapy animals or pets are NOT service animals according to the ADA's definition, as they have not been trained to perform disability mitigating tasks. Thus their handlers do not legally qualify for public access rights. Typically these animals also lack the months of training on obedience and manners needed to behave properly under challenging conditions in places of public accommodation. The owner of a non task trained dog, whatever the label given to that dog, is NOT eligible to join the IAADP as partner member to receive benefits for assistance dogs that perform trained tasks. IAADP appreciates the role that an emotional support animal or therapy companion animal may play in the life of a disabled individual. Such animals can provide unconditional love, comfort serve as crime deterrent or perhaps in some way enhance someone's physical or mental health by their presence. So Unless this guy is highly trained himself in dog handling and training. NO. Also under the ADA the dog must be able to demonstrate three task associated with the disability for the disabled person. In Texas the handler Must be trained as well in the rights of the disabled person and responsibilities in public places. I whole heartedly think therapy dogs and emotional support dogs will benefit our veterans with PTSD. But in most cases the newness of having the dog around wears off and the dog turns back into a pet. A service dog is a lot like having a very young child. You must bath, feed, transport everywhere you go, and take care of the dog. That is very hard to do on a daily basis the rest of your life. Especially if your PTSD limits you overwhelms you to a point you have difficulties taking care of yourself. Also You MUST demonstrate you can take care of this dog. Trust me in what I say. It is very hard to do. I do it each and every day. Yes I have PTSD and for PTSD he provides emotional distress relief and is therapeutic. But he is no service dog for that. He is a Medical Alert Dog. I have Seizures and he has been identified as a dog that can smell the change in aura. He also can tell by my continuous stares before the seizure. In the past year I can recall at least two seizures he has prevented by the distraction he provided. I lack being able to properly take care of him.. Because of short term memory loss and two failed suicide attempts, the lack of energy and not wanting to take care of myself presents a big problem. But I have a supportive wife and son who assist with the daily tasks I need help with. I have a true need for him in my condition and I'm sure PTSD vets do as well. Just be careful.

Ok, I see now. I don't think I need to wait. I will get on the ball.

Thank you Pete, I will wait and see how it goes. I am also waiting on my appeal for PTSD. Do you know anything about Essential Tremors. I have essential Tremors in my right hand and arm. Is there anything to relate them to SWA?

I talked with my DAV service rep today about sending a support letter in to identify that although I have a diagnosis from a doctor for Fibromyalgia, it is still a Gulf War Illness. I read that Persian Gulf Illness could be presumptive illnesses either undiagnosed or diagnosed. The diagnosed could be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, IDS. Is this true and should I hold off for the decision or send a letter in now? If I send a letter how do I reference the correct information.

Berta, Also the NOD was simply done on the VA Form 21-0958 and the box marked was evaluation of disability. In box 16a. It said: (PTSD Attempted suicide twice, treatment at VA Severity shows 70%-100% Eval. See letter from Mental Health Intensive Case Management Titled MHICM Note, dated 10/18/2013 to show original severity. DXVA Diagnosis of Severe and Persistent Mental Illness). All they were was Progress notes. They read as. Diagnosis of Severe and Persistent Mental Illness includes, but is not limited to; Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major affective disorder, or sever post-traumatic stress disorder. Patient meets criteria? YES Severe Functional Impairment is such that the veteran neither currently capable of successful and stable self maintenance in a community living situation nor able to participate in necessary treatment without intensive support. Patient meets criteria? YES I don't receive the SSDI, Do I need to turn in more information than the progress notes? I didn't think a spouses letter would hold up due to being the spouse and they would believe it is fabricated. We turned on in for the original claim. I know I should go to the mental health for support. But when I missed my appointment they filled it with someone else. When I was reviewing my records I found the information inputted for that appointment wasn't mine. I regret to say I blew up. I called MH and talked to the receptionist about the information not being mine. But I was upset and was threatening to go there and kick the guys ass. The information was removed within 15 minutes but my next appointment with him was canceled. I know I was wrong but I was upset about the information I read.

Berta, I couldn't copy and paste the VA award of PTSD so I attached it. VA response PTSD.rtf

The VA can only ask if you would like to be self admitted unless you are a harm to yourself. I know because they had been asking me for almost 8 months. They even Flagged my records and placed me on the Suicide Watch List. I guess they should have done more. I only say this because I did try and kill myself twice. I ended up locked up in the hospital. So take it from me. If you feel you need help GET IT. I didn't. As for your rating I'm in the same boat. I was given 50% when my GAF was 41 and should have been awarded 70%-100%. I didn't let it all hang out during my C & P. I held back. You need to let it all out. Good Luck.

I need some help. I file a claim for PTSD and was awarded 50%. But the C & P showed I should have been higher. The Beck Anxiety Index score was 56 severe Depression Inventory II was 49 severe Global Assessment of Functioning was 41 serious symptoms I don't want to put the whole C & P on here but I have some issues and they were noted. I didn't have help with the claim so everything else I claimed was denied. I didn't think the rating was fair and was looking at the possibility of it being 70% (but oh well) The VA's reviewers stated although the GAF score stated a 70%-100% It wasn't warranted because I didn't have enough anger issues or my panic attacks wasn't continuous and I didn't show signs of family problems. I am constantly in a panic state and my first wife left me due to anger issues after returning from the gulf. Since then I had been having a lot of issues relating to my health. Especially chronic pain all over, headaches, lot's of mental issues. I often think I see apparition's of three dead burnt bodies coming at me. I went through group counseling for over a year and had an individual counselor for a while. My psychiatrist felt I was suicidal and placed me on the Suicide Watch List. Back in late 2013 I was hurting so bad and emotionally distraught, I thought these same three burnt up bodies were coming for me so I decided at that point I couldn't stand it any longer. I tried to commit SUICIDE. I took a hands full of medication I thought would put me out. As a result I ended up in the mental ward at the VA for 4 days. After It wasn't a month after I was released I sliced my wrist trying to kill myself for the second time. I was referred to mental health and after the first appointment I haven't went back. I feel as if I can't trust them. All the psychiatric doctors at the VA seen my conditions were getting worse but they did nothing for me. Hell they gave me more pills to stop the pain and depression, anxiety and so forth. But they stopped the psychosis pill that help me stop seeing apparitions. They just sat back and let me try and kill myself. My wife found I could do a Notice of Disagreement so she filled it out and I sent it in. What should I do now and HOW? BTW my wife locks up all the medications in the house and gives me them as prescribed to ensure I take them and not try all at once.

I think the claim just stated for fibromyalgia, could a letter or something be sent stating I'm claiming it for gulf war? Also they have it documented I was in the gulf war.

pete992, Could I relate the fibromyalgia to a diagnosed or undiagnosed illness under the gulf war? I read on here as long as it is claimed before Dec 2016.

pete992, Yes I was in SWA as an engineer. We blew up the munitions dumps and ordinances left behind. I wasn't treated but once for stiff muscles in neck and back. But I did have them mention all of them on my out processing physical.

I got out of the Army in 1997, on my physical leaving the Army the doctor annotated I had headaches, muscle and joint pains and so forth. I started going to the VA in 2001. Immediately I started complaining about muscle and joint pains, headaches, IBS, Acid reflux. For years I was bounced around from doctor to doctor with treatment for each symptom individually. It wasn't until recently in 3013 A civilian Rheumatologist doctor diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. Then a VA doctor reviewed all my records and diagnosed me with Chronic Pain Syndrome and Myofascial Pain. I received my C & P and it has me with the diagnoses, unsuccessful treatments, medications not working, interferers with daily activities, It even addressed my wife's assistance. But the lady who did the C & P annotated it is not related to active duty service because it wasn't diagnose on active duty and was not treated during active service. I talked with my DAV rep and he said it will probably be denied due to that statement. HELP. What do I need to do?