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Andyman73

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Posts posted by Andyman73

    Veterans With Upper And/or Lower Radiculopathy

    in Medication – Prescription Drugs-Health Issues

    Posted

    I tried the Gabapentin, about 10 yrs ago, worked great, however it screwed up my sleep schedule so bad I had to quit cold turkey. I still have to work to support my habits(aka family and such) and can't have anything keeping me from what few precious hours of sleep I manage to snag. Even with OSA, sleep is still elusive, but at least my CPAP stopped my snoring, so my fleeting sleep is "a better quality".

    Va Press Release Re: Suicide

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    The suicide thing is why they VA is contemplating cutting me off my pain meds after ten years. Because I have sleep apnea, chronic pain and anxiety and depression I am a OD/suicide risk I guess. I called the medical director's office today to get somebody involved with the incredibly poor care I am getting. The VA blames me for being sick. I am non-compliant because I cannot spontaneously cure myself of OSA, mental health issues, and chronic pain. If I can find a private pain doctor who will prescribe for me I won't go back to the VA for that care. The thing is I earned medical care from the VA. Because the care is so poor I must pay for care myself. What is wrong with this picture? I want to cause the VA grief before I go to the VA cemetery.

    Sounds like me. I have OSA, diagnosed by my civilian dr, chronic pain and MH issues which I have only just begun to get looked at, forl

    Scheduled For Future Reduction?

    in VA.gov Questions (formerly E-Benefits)

    Posted

    Buck!!!!!!!

    I actually do have a few claims in the works. I have L foot condition to include plantar fasciitis, of which I mailed approx 35 pages of supporting docs, some of which covers treatment of said foot condition since 1997-8 AD and from then to present VA med treatment. I expect a C&P in the very near future, since I was called by the Philla VARO and the voice on the phone said my local VAMC will be contacting me shortly with the C&P appt. time/date. And I just now submitted a reopen/reconsider application for my denied sciatica(radiculapathy) of each lower extremity claim. And I will be USPS cert./return receipt on Monday, the new and materiel, or not even looked at evidence for same.

    And...I have my initial MH eval scheduled for June 25th. From which I plan on filing claims for PTSD/MDD and associated OSA, and alcohol abuse due to same. So, I do have several balls in play at this moment.

    Andy

    I Am So Incredibly Lost

    in PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Claims

    Posted

    Amanda,

    Thank you for your service, and thank your husband for his, too. I can't imagine your state of mind. I have my initial MH eval in a few weeks, so I only just started that trip. I do know this, though, recently it was made public that medical studies show that Sleap Apnea(SA) is greatly affected by PTSD. The study showed that the worse the PTSD, the worse the SA. The VA's rating schedule has SA rated at 50% if you use a CPAP machine. You didn't state what type of sleep condition you have. I can't speak to the non SA type sleep disorders, since I do have SA, and have had sleep issues that started during the 2nd yr of my 6yr enlistment.

    I hope and pray you can stay away from alcohol. While in the Marines, I drank to deal with stress, but it escalated, I drank just to fall asleep every night. It was a hard road to travel. Even now, I hear it calling me.

    You may have to get an IMO(independant medical opinion, but the sleep disorder should be SC. It all depends on the type of disorder and severity, like USMC_HVEQ stated above. The SA is a tough one to get, so I know I have a tough road ahead of me, for that...and whatever MH I end up being diagnosed with.

    You may also have to contact a lawyer who specializes in Vets rights and VA claims. You and your husband have earned the right to be taken care of, and deserve all there is from the VA.

    Please stay connected hear on Hadit.com. There are soo many knowledgeable Vets here, and they can guide you in the right direction.

    Semper Fi.

    Andy

    Scheduled For Future Reduction?

    in VA.gov Questions (formerly E-Benefits)

    Posted

    Bass, Gastone, Navy4life,

    Yah, I heard about the 5yr thing, too. But on that same page it shows my most recent upgrade was dated February, and this "downgrade" appt. is for April, 5yrs and 2 months. I find it amuzing that their 5yr timeframe is longer than 5 yrs. I must say, since my original award date of 11-'98, I have not had one single appointment, exam or whatever that wasn't due to my action first(like filing for new SCD or increase).

    Furthermore, none of my SCD are of the self-healing/improving variety(are there any that are?). My knees have gotten worse, my back has gotten worse, my hearing...worse..tinnitus...worse...voices in my head...screaming...and so on. I've even had several different VA docs tell me that my condition(which ever they were specifically looking at) has gotten worse, and will continue to do so....like DDD, and the loss of cartiledge in my knees.

    My wife was upset by that, when I told her, but I said it's just more of the VA's bs. And the only reduction I actually will be facing won't be till our kids age out. She felt better then.

    Anyway...I appreciate ya'lls responses, as always.

    Semper Fi.

    Andy

    Va Rating Reviewed For Compliance With Laws And Regulations

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Add,

    I have the unique position, at work, of being the only Vet that did not serve during any active war or combat type actions. We have one Vietnam Vet, and 4 young guys that all served mid-2000s and were in theater, and were each injured during combat actions. One of the young Vets has no current SCD or claim. But I convinced him yesterday to look into it. The other 3 do have SCDs of various levels. However, one of them had filed for a foot cliam in the fall of '13, expecting 10%, went to his C&P, the examiner/doc had his complete Med file, ran him through the ringer and he ended up with 60% combined for 9 different SCDs. And that doesn't include PTSD. He is my definition of lucky, as far as SCD claims go. He told me he felt like he won the lotto.

    Me, not so much, I languished for 16 years at 40% because I didn't know where to get help, that I felt comfortable with, till I stumbled upon Hadit.com. Now I know that I've been lowballed and kept in the dark about so much. I feel lucky(blessed) just by finding Hadit. And I've since learned that I can claim pretty much everything I've been living with since my AD days. Not only that, but secondary contentions as well. But the biggest one is that I can finally get help/treatment for my MH issues that I developed while on AD. Since I didn't have a traumatic event or combat experience, I figured I was not eligible for VA MH treatment or qualified to put in a SCD claim for it either. I learned from Vets here on Hadit, that the VA regs for PTSD changed a few years ago, and you no longer need a Nexus event, but if you have the markers, then you qualify for the claim.

    And I'm quite sure I'm not the only one who feels like this. Even this morning I was speaking to a VSO from the VFW, off the record, and found that I have a strong case to get one of my recent denials reconsidered(I'm well within the 1yr window)from the evidence I showed him. I told him that even though he is not representing me, I really appreciated his time so very much, and thanked him for his service.

    Sorry for rambling, I tend to wander, a lot.

    Semper Fi.

    Andy

    Scheduled For Future Reduction?

    in VA.gov Questions (formerly E-Benefits)

    Posted

    Was just checking my ebennies to see if and or what is new different exciting or same-same. Saw on my benefits summary letter this interesting statement; You are considered not permanantly disabled due to my SCDs because I am scheduled for review on April 1st, 2020. Also said; You are considered not permanantly disabled due to my SCDs because I am scheduled for future reduction in ratings on April 1st, 2020. Are they yanking my chain, or what?

    Claim Process Status

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Hey Slick,

    Pulling all the way for you, Devil Dog! I'm considering using Dr. Bash(name makes me think WWF/WWE). How long does it take to see him, or to have him go through your medical history, from start to finish? Is there a waiting list miles/years deep, or what? Thanks.

    Semper Fi.

    Andy

    Gathering Of Evidence Development Letter

    in Entitlement - Veterans Compensation Benefits Claims

    Posted

    Shannon and Navy4life,

    I always take a seat with my back to an outside wall with a view of the entry ways and dining area. I hate going to any kind of social events that involve anyone outside my family. I can tolerate my inlaws, cuz I've known them since before I left AD. But I do not fit in. I am the only one of my generation, of her family, that served. One of her cousins husband is a retired Fibby(FBI). And he's also an outsider like me. Only 2 of her cousins actually acknowledge me.

    I tolerate other public assemblies on a base by base case. Church is ok, but we have armed contract security in the building. Most folks don't know they're armed, but I was one of their volunteers for awhile. But school events....they really push me to the limit of my tolerance. I manage out of fear of my kids peers ever seeing me acting strange, and then causing them issues.

    I think that's what is causing my "head fires", keeping it bottled up for too many years. To think, it's been 21.5 years since my suicide attempt. 21.5 years of no help or treatment of any kind.

    Gathering Of Evidence Development Letter

    in Entitlement - Veterans Compensation Benefits Claims

    Posted

    Shannon,

    I don't know how long you've been knocking on that door, before finally getting someone to answer. Me....it started late summer of '98. And I know some on here have been screaming for anyone to notice, twice as many years as I have. I don't even know how to express the way I feel. I know that finally I am going to get help, yet somehow that seems even scarier than the alternative. It's giving me nightmares already, and it's only been a few days since I had my appointment scheduled. I have such a very hard time accepting anything good for me, or even believing that I deserve thanks for anything I've done. It blows my mind when ever anyone tells me they appreciate me, I don't know why they would.

    To Cue, Or Not To Cue, That Is The Question My Friends.

    in CUE Clear and Unmistakable Error

    Posted

    Berta,

    Thanks. I have looked at the DC lists and am not sure what my corrected code would be, for the extinct 5295 code. And as far as the DDD goes, I'm not even sure what that would translate to. I only know that the C&P examiner called me at work to discuss the MRI report. And she said that the proper diagnosis should have been the DDD instead of the low back pain, since it is the more serious medical issue. She made a note about the DDD being the correct diagnosis. But the RO just left it with the 5295 code and "low back pain" descriptor. They did bump me from 10 to 40%. She implied that if the DDD had been the original rating code/DC that my original rate of 10% would have been higher.

    Does this mean it was detrimental to me? I think so, but that don't mean they will.

    As always, Berta, you are the best!

    Semper Fi.

    Andy

    Gathering Of Evidence Development Letter

    in Entitlement - Veterans Compensation Benefits Claims

    Posted

    Shannon,

    Praise God!!! I'm sooooo happy you got your upgrade!!!!

    It's okay you didn't answer back, I never expect a reply anyways.(I feel like I'm not here, nobody sees or hears me, no good deed goes unpunished. Guess that's one of my MH issues)

    No appointment yet, it's June 25th, the soonest available. The scheduler/office manager was so nice, almost cheerleader bubbly. I asked about what should I bring, my SMR copies and such, and the MyhealthyVet PTSD questionaire? She said just bring the PTSD questionaire results for the initial evaluation. When I mentioned that one, she said definitely bring it, especially since it said to get me to a MH specialist ASAP. Downside is my anxiety is screaming at me, feels like I'm falling and the ground is rushing to "catch" me...except it's dark and I can't see it coming!!!

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