ROMAD

That's great info, I see many of my weight entries and a couple BMI numbers. Also one entry where the word obesity was actually used. I may be able to reference your BVA appeal as precedent along with my excel sheet and IMO to get this done! I will search the BVA site for Jul 2019. Thanks a lot for the info.

Well, I just have the 50% for cluster headaches, 10% Pseudo foliculitis, and 10% GERD... nothing connected to OSA or Sinusitis.

Yea the tinnitus decision threw me for a loop as well. In my initial claim the evidence included the Noise Exposure chart but the second decision did not have it listed. No TBI just loud noises . I have very minimal hearing loss, just the ringing. As far as the contractor goes I brought the questionnaire typed and complete with all the basic information. None of the initial claim evidence was listed on the second decision letter, do they not review all the evidence when you submit a supplemental? I am diagnosed with OSA 60 plus events per hour so pretty severe. I do have a VA issued CPAP. Prior to getting a VA CPAP I had purchased my own to see if it would help with my sleep and it did, so I requested a sleep study and filed a disability claim because it was obvious I had sleep apnea. The same thing with the sinusitis or rhinitis. I may not know the correct name but I know I have pain in my face and head, as well as regularly have a stuffy nose making it difficult to breath and use my CPAP. Also I end up breathing through my mouth then you wake up with a sore throat. And I am currently overweight which the doctor doing the first DBQ listed as the more likely cause of my sleep apnea. So it seems one affects the other, I just don't see whay the VA can't see that. Sleep Apnea was not something I remember even hearing about in the 1980's My SMR's have references to sinusitis, and obesity, so some of the risk factors, but I never complained about being tired after work and coming home and taking a nap in my recliner. The fight continues.

I submitted a claim for Sinusitis, OSA,, and Tinnitus. My claim was denied for all 3. The tinnitus they claim was neither occurred in nor was caused by service. My job on active duty exposed me to gun fire, explosions, tanks, and tracked vehicles. I submitted the Duty Noise Exposure Spreadsheet that displayed my AFSC was rated as highly likely to be exposed to loud noise. In the first Exam they claimed I said my hearing loss was from jets flying overhead. Never said that, so they scheduled a second exam. This one they acknowledged the correct job but I was still denied. The evidence listed on the second decision dd not include the MOS Noise exposure chart I included on the first claim. I never went to sick call for ringing ears because that is just silly (had I known then) and was not something you did. I have had quiet office jobs since separating from The Air Force. What am I missing? For the OSA claim, I submitted Lay statements from my current wife and my ex-wife as well as explained to the doctor my symptoms and that when I was on Active Duty i had no idea sleep apnea was a thing. I assumed I just snored and was tired because I was working hard. I had a sleep study this past year and was deemed to have severe OSA. In my claim I listed that I believed my osa was related to my cluster headache disability. They responded Cluster headaches do not cause OSA even if there are many people with cluster headaches and also OSA. I experienced a stuffy nose during my headaches on the left side. This was completely different from the closing of my airway when I would sleep. It was just worst if both occurred at the same time. They claimed I have other risk factors such as being male, obesity, and advancing age. Something I did not include in my claim was the fact that I was on the Fat Boy program at one point on Active Duty and my SMR made a reference to obesity. Would this help support my claim. Also in the second decision they said I was a 73 year old male and I am no where near 73 so they probably mixed my records with someone else. What can I do about this? And Sinusitis, I have a couple diagnosis in my SMR's specifically listing sinusitis. I have had sinus issues since I was on Active Duty. I use a Netti Pot and have been diagnosed post active duty with sinusitis. The DBQ from the QTC Medical Doc claims I have rebound sinusitis because I mentioned using Afrin. I have always been aware of the danger of over use and in my VA records I discussed this concern whenever the VA would prescribe a nasal spray. What am I missing and how can I get this corrected. The errors on the 2 decisions make it seem as if they are not very organized and I have to suffer from their disorganization. Are they supposed to review all of the evidence from the initial claim when you submit a supplemental, or should I have resubmitted all the documents from the initial claim. Are the documents that contain research that supports your claim supposed to be on the evidence list as well? They were not on there and if they did not give those documents equal consideration what is my recourse. Any assistance would be appreciated Thanks for listening.

UPDATE Well further info has been received. He was told he would be placed on a watchlist as a controlled drug seeker. Since he wanted something other than tylenol. Does this change anything? ROMAD

I have a fellow vet student that was having difficulty at our local V.A. hospital. He went in for some surgery on his elbow and was prescribed some over the counter pain reliver. He was concerned with being given tylenol after surgery and though he should have something stronger. Well they did not agree with him and told him tylenol would be fine. Well he told them that this was another example of getting poor service and he was going out in the hallway and let everyone know how "piss poor" his service was. Well he did approach the advocate office to explain his displeasure and was told that he could and would be placed on a "national watch list" because of his behavior. Now my question is do we have to bend over and take it or is there such a watch list and what effect does it have. He is stressed out about this and is drafting a four page letter to explain his point of view. He is working on his bachelors degree in a V.A. program and is concerned about trying to get a position in the federal government. So can anyone shed some light on this? What should he do? Is an appology in order from either him or the VA? ROMAD

Is there anywhere on Hadit to post information about other benefits people have found/ I learned today that as a SC vet we get free access to many National parks, and 50% off of camping at thousands of campgrounds in many federal locations Forest Service, Corp of Engineers, National Parks, Tenessee Valley Authority, Bureau of Land Management. I found info on www.recreation.gov . are there other programs that you all have found that may be of assistance. primarily something with significant discounts not the standard 10 to20 percent that is given for hotels and the such. Any free or 50% and greater is what I am curious about. Thanks! Romad

How do I go about getting copies of claims that were denied from 1993 - 1995. Does anyone know if there is a record of these that I can get. I can not find my copies and denials. And I am sure i will need them for my CUE. My second question has to do with combined diagnosis type ratings. How do i receive a rating for both conditions. I just recently had my rating increased to 50% SC "Cluster Headaches with Horners Syndrome" 8100. I see that Horners Syndrome has seperate rating criteria but there is no rating for it that I can tell. My service medical records refered to my condition with the entire phrase as well "Cluster headaches with Horner's syndrome" So in addition to the CUE for not being rated for my 8100 claim should this be brought up at the same time or would this be two seperate issues. The rating for horners would be an additional 10 -20% 6019 or 6030 from the guide. So what do you all think?? ROMAD

The rating guide shows 50% as the max for my disability. But I do intend to work on getting it retro back to my date of seperation. I should have been rated 50% from day 1. ROMAD

Well first off I want to thank everyone for the assistance in relating your stories on the process. After much research and reading, my package was submitted and I waited patiently. I recieved my award letter granting 50% SC from my previous rating of 30%. It was a strange feeling as many of you have related. But a good feeling as well. I will take a few days to get used to the idea before i apply for CUE. I should have been granted 50% from the original date of award in 1993. But being employed at the time and having small kids I did not pursue it. Well based on the verbage of "frequent and prostrating attacks" which I have had from day one, I believe they made a mistake way back when. I had to wait several years to pay back the lump sum I recieved at seperation but not sure how it will work if they grant my CUE. Well thanks again to everyone in the group.

oops forgot I guess I am looking for VA101... there should be a college course for that don't you think? :D

I have been actively reading as many post on the forums as I can to get up to speed and learn as much as possible about this animal we call VA. One problem I am having is getting all the abreviations down. And some of the acronyms as well. So my question is does anyone else have this problem or am I missing a post that has alot of them listed. I realize that most on here are used to the terms but I am struggling to cram years worth of experience and knowledge from you guys/gals into my head. so any help you could provide for Frequently used terms, flow charts of the process, the approval chain of command, from submission of a claim through the highest level of approval in the va. Thanks for all the help so far.

Well now I have a question after reading this post. When I was medically seperated from the Air Force I was placed on the temporary retired disability list. During my Out Processing I was going through a check list with the personel toads and they asked me about any medical conditions other than my disability. I advised them of my shoulder injury from tech school and we noted that on the checklist. he told me my seperation date could not be pushed out for me to get a physical that I had to get out on the date specified on my Orders no if ands or buts. So I got out and had ID card listed as medically retired. I went to the VA and signed up told them about my shoulder injury which was not what I was seperated for and was denied a service connection rating. They said there was no record of me having a shoulder injury. Well now I am ordering my Admin records from the Archives because I believe that checklist may be in there. So my question is. Does the VA have to get my Service records or just my Service Medical records. and are they Liable for not reviewing all my records for supporting my claim. Is this an example of them not doing everything they can to help the Vet per U.S.C. regulations? I seperated in 1993 was removed from Temporary retirement in 1995 and have been rated at 30 percent for my headaches ever since.

Hurray! well I called back like you suggested and asked to speak to supervisor and they asked if there was something they could help me with and I explained my frustration and theysaid I would have to submit another request because I did not ask for the right thing. Well I explained what I was looking for and she said I should have asked for... I interupted and explained that I was not aware of that and should not have to start over. She issued another request number and listed it as a complaint and said they will process the complaint and send me my entire military personnel record. I asked her name and she told me she was Agent 5402. So thank you for the advise to call back. It is so nice to bounce things off of others in this forum to see the best way to handle the brick walls. Thanks again!

Thanks for the links. It looks like they bundled my Horner's with my headaches. It has been listed in my medical records all the way back to my active duty medical records that I have Horners, but there has never been a seperate rating or anything seperate from my 8100 rating for headaches. It is always refered to as "Cluster Headaches with Horner's Syndrome". saved all 3 links so I will have some Info on Horners. How did you find this and how do I go about finding more specifically about Cluster Headaches and about Horner's Syndrome. If I can find additional ammo it may make it easier to file a CUE since it appears they listed as a disability but never gave a rating for it.

Well the battle continues... I requested a copy of my Military service records from the Archives in St. Louis. I received a copy of my DD-214 and copies of my Medical Board results seperating me from the Air Force. Now I spent 11 years on active duty and had numerous changes in duty stations temporary duty assignments and tech schools I attended. And much more "stuff" than the 6 pieces of paper they sent me. So I called down there armed with my request number and after waiting about 10 minutes (not bad I am told) the woman came on the phone and asked me if I received the letter accomping my records I told her yes but they were incomplete and I was curious if there was another package enroute to me. She said no but let me check and see what is going on and I will call you later. She asked for my phone number and said she would call me back. So I did the naormal thing and asked her name and she informed me they don't give out their names... Now thats customer service.

Well I am going 3/4 time just to test the waters and I will be attending onsite. The studying might be an issue since my condition is neurologic in nature "Cluster H.A" but I am not sure this will be the answer to getting me reemployed but I will give it a shot. The problem is employers don't like you taking 20 to 30 minutes out of "their time" to administer medicine if you have an attack that is not during your lunch hour or break. but we will see. Thanks for all the good info I appreciate it. I am represented by the Wisconsin department of Veteran Affairs but they don't seem real aggressive in helping with things that may cause conflict. I never thought in a million years that I would ever be hung out to dry by the government I pleadged my allegiance and dedication to.

I am trying to find a record of my Clinic visit from Hurlburt Field in 1989. I was sent to sick call because of a shoulder problem from excessive pushups. I was seen by a doctor but there is nothing in my medical records. Would hospitals have a record of this visit and how would I go about getting a copy to support my VA claim for SC shoulder injury. We did push ups everytime we went into a classroom and everytime we left and the pushups we did just because the instructor wanted us to. probably 10,000 in the 90 days i was in tech school. But I have been paying for it ever since. I filed a claim for shoulder injury 6 years ago but was told my medical records did not support the claim. So how do I go about proving it actually happened. Its amazing when you are on active duty you think you can "walk on water and talk to god frequently" only to pay for it later. Youth huh!

Well thank you for responding. I currently take imitrex nasal which is non-formulary but does work. i have also use oxygen therapy with some success. But the Imitrex Nasal spray definately work. I just requested my file be copied so I would have one, but it is currently out of the regional office while they are processing my C&P exam. Getting things in the permanent record can be tough, and my calendar is not complete I am trying to check dates now so I have a better picture of when they occured. But i won't give up, but they do make it hard.

Well thanks for the info on Horners just curious if you know the code that applies to Horners. if it is a compensable disability it sounds like a CUE because it has been in my records as cluster with Horners and not seperate so as to have to pay a compensation. Have not had an eye exam to check my vision. I do on occasion see spots but not sure if it is related. I guess I will be going to the doctor more over the next few months.

Well first post to the forums so here goes. I served on active duty in the AF for 11 years. during my service I developed Cluster Headaches. I received PCS orders to Korea and was sent to the Board and was medically seperated with severance pay and 10% disability. They pushed me out the door and I did not have a seperation physical because there was not enough time and they could not delay the seperation date. Ok so I am told to go to the VA for care and get a disability rating while on TRDL. 1 year later they officially seperated me. I received a 30% rating and had to wait for the amount of my severance to be recouped. Well during this time I have been in to see the docs and have been told there is no cure and they can continue to see me and try and treat the pain. The headaches happen every year several times a year. They have tried me on several medications over the past 10 years, and while on active duty as well. I live 35 miles from the VAMC and could not drive there everytime I got a headache. Not only because I can't drive during an attack but they can't do anything for me. So for six years I had no appts. with the VAMC. During this time I just used the oxygen and rolled around in pain. I am not able to get a statement from previous employers about firing me because of my disability. So now I am asking the VA for an increase in my disability payments and doing Voc rehab. When I spoke with the VA C&P doctor on the 8th it was a short appt and he asked me a few questions and rubbed my feet checked my reflexes and that was about it. But the one thing I did not do is have a complete timeline of when my headaches were and how long they lasted. They really put you off asking sort of matter of fact type questions and taking what you say during this chat as exact. well I received a copy of my C&P exam notes (from ROI request) and they state my condition appears to have not changed and draw conclusions that my dates don't fit what my medical record says. I did not take a copy of them with me to check the dates. My question is how do i fix this? The review is not complete yet but I believe it may be denied. By rating is based on code 8100 my condition is Cluster Headaches with Horner Syndrome. The VA rating guide does not have a code for cluster headaches they use Migraine which I feel is not correct anyway. So what does everyone think did i screw the pooch?