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Andyman73
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Posts posted by Andyman73
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iceturkee,
I told that guy that I am currently being treated by a MH specialist at that same VAMC, and that he DXd me with MDD, recurrent. Some how he magically left that out of his notes. But I did not, I mentioned it in my original statement, and I sent a copy of the DX from Blue Button. And I do believe I mentioned it again in my second statement where I touched briefly on all the topics I wanted to make sure were discussed. Same for all of my SCDs, and STRs showing treatment for pain and the alcohol incident related treatment. So I hope and pray the RO isn't more of the blind leading the blind.
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Corpsman,
I don't have my test results handy, but I did look at them yesterday. I had a sleep study done at a local lab. They only observed me for 2 hours without CPAP on. Only because I woke up after 2 hours to pee. They told me that they had seen enough and were going to continue the study with CPAP on after that point. I think I had between 60-90 apneas during the first 2 hours, with my pulseOx dropping in the 70% range at least once. I think the longest time between breaths was 48 seconds. I had both types of events but predominantly the OSA events with a few CSA mixed in. Also they noted that my pulse raced as high as 98 bpm, and the over all rate was elevated as well.
I also had what they called hypopneas(?) And an awlful lot of non-sleep or wakeful sleep events...or something like that. I can post my findings later today, once I get home from work.
I am currently using a heated humidifier CPAP set for 11 on the air pressure setting. They told me that my SA was severe enough that the insurance provided everything right up front, no additional evaluation needed.
Semper Fi.
Andyman
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Andyman
to be honest it don't look to good...maybe SC but probably not a rating but we never know how the rater will see this?
or it could just be denied on bases of what this examiner mention about depression ( I personally don't agree with that)
This is why I suggested PTSD....and depression has a get better stage for improvement and set up for C&P through the years to come.
It maybe a good Ideal to go get a private IME from a specialist...if he/she gives you a better favorable exam the VA will believe the specialist. and over rule your denial....if they deny???
JUST WAIT see what they say? it could be SC AND 30% RATING Were just giving opinions and we can be wrong...no telling what kind if rater you may get.
Hang in there buddy let us know how it goes.
Andyman is this what the examiner said/ or what you said?
''The presence of psychological symptoms can be considered "normal" depending on various factors. For example, it is not necessarily pathologic (a mental illness) for one to feel sad, angry, anxious, depressed, etc. Experiencing such symptoms does not mean that one is suffering from a clinical depression or has mental illness ( e.g. psychopathologic depression). It is within the range of normal human experience to feel "emotional", sad, angry, or even anguished at times when thinking of friends, fellow soldiers, or innocent victims that have been injured or killed; merely experiencing such an emotion does not constitute psychopathology. In some individuals, feeling intermittently emotional about past traumatic experiences can fall well within normal limits, even if symptoms surface on and off for many years. Feeling strong emotions at times does not necessarily mean that you are mentally ill (experience psychopathology). Discussion: The veteran feels strongly that his clinical depression which has been present throughout most of his adult life has been caused by a leg injury that he had in the military. He did not seek out any help for his depression in the military because he was ashamed. When he left the military, even though he continued to be remain moderately to severely depressed dailiy, he never sought any form of treatment and has no documentation of clinical depression.
Buck,
These are all his words, except the last few sentences starting with the where I didn't seek help for my depression. And besides, the last line says I didn't seek help and no documentation of clinical depression. Hmm, if I didn't seek help, there wouldn't be any documentation, right? And I suppose my alcohol related Article 15, and 3 weeks of outpatient treatment don't count as documentation of substance abuse.
As for IME, do the raters give any value to the treating Dr. especially if it is a VA MH specialist?
Andyman
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Buck,
Yeah...but you know the waiting is the hardest part!
Andyman
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I'm sorry for your loss. My paternal grandfather passed when I was only 2 months old, and my Dad was 25. Grandpa was drafted for WWII at age 34. He was a commercial pilot with an engineering degree from Drexel. He had to turn down his appointment to West Point to care for his widowed mom. Due to family dynamics she would have been destitute, which would have meant certain death for his feeble minded spinster aunt, who lived with them. Grandpa served in the OSS and exited the war a fulll bird Colonel.
I sure wish I could have known him.
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I currently am diagnosed with sleep apnea, and use a CPAP. I have at least one entry in my STR where I mention trouble sleeping, while being seen for something else. My question is this, should I file a claim, now, today, for sleep impairment, or wait until my current claim for depression finishes? Also, would then, my SA be a direct link to hypertension? Thanks,
Semper Fi.
Andyman
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I remember getting Vitamin "M" in 800 mg size pills! My twin brother has developed some type of ulcer from his long term VA prescribed naproxen. I'm currently taking tylenol because it doesn't raise bp like ibuprofen does.
So, if ibuprofen raises bp, and I've taken it too many years, prescribed by AD and VA docs, would that be the link for hypertension, secondary to meds?
Andyman
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Broken,
Hey, when you went through the process of the "sleep disturbance" claim, were you already DXd with SA? If so, did you have to do another sleep study in conjunction with the C&P exam? I was DXd by my private insurance Dr, and have been using CPAP for 2 years now. I did mention once or twice in my STR that I was having problems sleeping. Is that enough to make a connection? I'm like Shane, in that my wife complained since our wedding night, that I snored like a cross between a freight train and a grizzly bear. Eventually she noticed that my breathing was stopping and starting, took her some time but she finally convinced me to get check out. Anyways, thanks.
Andyman
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Carlie,
May you receive the reward that God has for you, for your undying service and loyalty to this great nation "under God", and to all the Veterans here on Hadit.com. I never met you, nor conversed with you, but I have reaped the benefits of your shared knowledge, here on Hadit.com. I salute you, great and mighty warrior! I will be praying for your spouse, Lucy, that God will shower her with mercy and grace, and will provide her financial blessings beyond her own imagining. I look forward to the day, I get my reward in heaven, that I may greet you, and thank you for all that you have done for the Hadit family.
Semper Fi.
Andyman
- Tbird, SeattleShay, flores97 and 3 others
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Congratulations on your bump!
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Can a kidney condition that "more than likely" was caused by VA prescribed meds make the condition SC? The meds are for a SC back problem.
Chief,
How long you been taking those meds? I'm curious, since I have been taking NSAIDs for 23 years now, and have had plenty of IBS/GERD type symptoms.
Andyman
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No one else brave enough to even try to comment??? Dang...doesn't bode well for me, huh?
Oh, I apologize for the duplicate thread creation, I just realized it was there, and have now deleted it.
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It was rather convenient for him to say that my chronic pain can't really be from a minor leg injury that led me to wearing a brace for 8 days. Never mind that I told him in detail that it was both of my knees and lower back. He even told me he reviewed my records, apparently not, if he missed that.
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I hope it works for ya!
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You're welcome! I actually learned those terms from here on Hadit!
Yeah, that would explain why I always woke up feeling like I hadn't slept.
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Maybe it means the Veteran is boring? Ok, maybe not most likely means not showing symptoms.
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I just had my C&P exam on Tuesday, I posted the MyhealtheVet blue button notes on a new thread (Depression C&P Exam, I think).
I was DXd as MDD, recurring this past July, as I only finally reached out for help. So, I had the current DX before I filed my claim. I gathered all the pertinent evidence from my STR and wrote my statement in support of claim and mailed it off last week. Shockingly I got my green card back yesterday, stamped from Monday receipt!!! Must be some kind of record posting and turn around! Anyway, they got it Monday and my exam was Tuesday, whew, just got there!
Semper Fi.
Andyman
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I just read my exam notes from Tuesday's MH C&P, and while the doc wasn't too favorable in my direction, he did note chronic sleep impairment. And that I told him I have SA,
Sleep Apnea home test
in VA Disability Claims Research
Posted
Corpsman,
Hey...do you have any teeth wear and tear??? My dentist had been telling me that I have excessive wear from grinding in my sleep. How ever I was never told that I grind, none of my roomies while in the Marines, not growing up at home, nor my wife of 16 years ever say I grind my teeth. Now, I do clench, and even went to sick call for medical and then dental evaluation for jaw pain that went undiagnosed for most of my 6 yr enlistment. Back to my dentist, his point was this, in his experience and professional opinion, most grinders have SA to some degree. And he was very serious in telling me to get checked out. But it was my wife that finally nagged me to near death, that got me to get checked out. I'm sure it saved my life.
So, look into that connection, may possibly help you out. I will be filing a claim for the jaw pain issue, ASAP.
Semper Fi.
Andyman