Hello Guys and Gals, So forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong place. Last June I submitted a FDC for 6 different items. Last month it was determined by the VA none of them are service connected. I contacted a VSO and they said the va made a determination from looking at 3 weeks of physical theory records even though I have documented MRIs stating sciatica and two different herniations in my spine. NO CMPs, nothing. They just uped and said none of my stuff was connected. They never had my full service medical records. So I sent in my 300 page record and a current screening for TBI and PTSD, along with a NOD and a new FDC for additional items, to include PTSD and TBI. My question is this, I know I have TBI and they screened me for it a month ago. I have an upcoming neuo-psyc test for it as well. What Im worried about is them saying it was not caused by the service. It happened during my first tour to Iraq in 2004. Not to tell war stories, but I was in Fallujah in Nov of 04 during the major operation. It wasnt like I could stop what I was doing and go to medical. I have CAR because of that operation. Will the CAR and the offensive do anything to help my claim when I explain it to the VA?
The new FDC includes the TBI and PTSD. I was diagnosed and given a PCLM score in the low 50s. The same day I was screened for TBI and the report stated I had a moderate TBI, that was submitted as well. When I sent the new FDC the vso had me fill out some paperwork for the ptsd where I had to list the stressor. The entire two months was a stressor so I just picked one incident and articulated it.
They said there was no current diagnosis for my first fdc...but if they had looked in my record they would have seen everything I claimed was in there. Even my final physical stated all of it. So that tells me the Vso was right and they just gaffed it off because they couldn't get my records. Meaning they never looked at them.
So I guess my question is: would the va make a determination without even looking at my medical records? The one time I called the 800 number, they said they were still sending out letters to gather my records? Then two weeks later they made a decision. I don't even think it was two weeks actually. Maybe one.