spearhead91

Hello all, I'm back again 3 years later. My situation has gotten worse and hence the increase/new claim request I have just submitted and learning how interwoven my issues are and secondary claims. I've spent the past few weeks reading off and on. Learning the latest from for the few names I remember. Good to see some familiar names still here and I'm grateful for your wisdom and support to the Veteran(s) and their families and the community as a whole. I wish I could do more and contribute my limited experience to the new members but one of my major disabilities is with my dominant hand and shoulder/neck. I've been struggling for 3 years now and continuing to work for fear of loosing health benefits that have helped me and my wife(100% SSDI)non veteran with continuing medical care prescription coverage etc. But probably the quick access and no limit to specialist etc. That said, I am at a major crossroads with continuing to work with the trade off being the continued use of private health care vs being dependent on the VA all the time. That is one my major concerns since my wife's and my health situations are so complex. I've started the IMO process this time for the professional and expertise because of the complexity and really needing to get it right as possible this time. My first go around with a VSO experience they did the one form for the claim and I did all the rest gathered all the medical info, release forms, ebenefits uploads etc and made it to 50%. I have to give the RO credit though he/she did help me SC something I didn't even think of which got my rating to 50% the first time with a secondary connection. I would like to post my current and increase and new claims to compare but I'll hold off for now and see how these first couple of months go. I do have one major question though for the claim and it's a broad based question. I had let my employer know I was partially disabled from the VA and really nothing was done for my type of work, office work high stress etc, that was over 2 years ago. Long story short new manger understands my limitations and worked with our HR and we now have a reasonable accommodation letter and DR form filled out with bare minimum instructions to my employer. ((I was really upset finding out prior manager did nothing, trusted them because I knew them so long. Yes read EEOC and all that and holding for now)) Back to main question should I upload the reasonable accommodation letter from my employer and DR to the claim? The wording is very generic but implies breaks every 2 hours etc for 10 minutes and some other minor things. Is that a hinder or help in regard to claim overall and the reasonable accommodation? In other words if I'm doing increase and new will that help or rather hurt my claim? Thanks in advance. spearhead91

Thanks broncovet for that explanation.

Hello all, I have been away awhile busy with appointments and work etc. I have a question one rating and if it should have had two ratings instead of one by the verbage used from the decision. I've had the BBE for a week now and still digesting and reading and re-reading. Issue/Contention: XXXX knee degenerative arthritis, 20% status post meniscal tear with ACL reconstruction and ACL deficiency Explanation: The provisions of 38 CI'R $4.40 and $4.45 concerning functional loss due to pain, fatigue, weakness, or lack of endurance, incoordination, and flare-ups, as cited in Deluca v. Brown and Mitchell v. Shinseki, have been considered and are not warranted. A higher evaluation of 30 percent is not warranted for impairment of the knee unless the evidence shows: . Severe instability; or, . Severe recurrent subluxation. This is the highest schedular evaluation allowed under the law for dislocated semilunar cartilage of the knee. A higher evaluation of 30 percent is not warranted for limitation of flexion of the knee unless the evidence shorvs: . Limitation of flexion of 15 degrees or less. We have assigned a 20 percent evaluation for your left knee degenerative arthritis, status post meniscal tear based on: . Dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of "locking," pain, and effusion into the joint Additional symptom(s) include: . Painful motion of the knee . Slight instability. The effective date of XXX XX,2015 is assigned based on the date VA received your Intent to File (ITF). It looks like they used code 5258 meniscus. But isn't that two ratings in there one for meniscus and one for "slight instability" 5257? So meniscus is 20% and shouldn't the other be 10%? For a 20% and 10% for the knee? My ortho DR has given me a brace to keep from damaging it anymore. So is this really a CUE?

Charlieg great news getting back into the system so quick. I'm still waiting but the claim is started. I have to fill out the specific issues I'm having for the GWUI(Gulf War Undiagnosed Issues oxymoron in of itself) according to my latest development letter. I may have IBS(starting in service by my SMR and now my with private medial records show) but never diagnosed but have the stomach issues and other issues that essentially point to IBS. And now that I'm on pain meds for my back issues I have the exact opposite issues. I've seen PA's most of the time at a Family practice and the main DR or two there but they never thread anything together it's always dealing with the "at the moment issues and deal with that only" and no long term look. No further more in depth investigation.This point here is where we suffer the most in all of this IMHO. Than yes some random rashes. Low energy issues. Heahaches. Muscle joint pain(arthritis?yes maybe). Emergency room 3 times all scans/blood/etc etc normal or negative. Diagnosis: Febrile illnes Add in insomnia and anxiety because of all this and it sucks. And than still having to work full time to pay the bills and insurance, only saving grace is that it's not manual labor or I probably would not have made it this long. I'll be late 40's in a few weeks and quite frankly I look good on the surface but feel and have the insides of a 65 year old. No offense you older vets. It's as if I aged 15 or 20 years too soon with my symptoms and diagnosed issues.

Curious as what your first appointment is? VA C&P or VSO? etc...

Bump?

Hello, all thanks for all the continuing advice and support. I'm not sure to let the VSO thread this together or what. Most of this is my SMR and PCP. For various issues listed in the presumptive list. I can bullet point each item and point them and date and symptom I guess which would be the most efficient. For example: Symptom date SMR/PCP/ETC Symptom date SMR/PCP/ETC Symptom date SMR/PCP/ETC Symptom date SMR/PCP/ETC Symptom date SMR/PCP/ETC Symptom date SMR/PCP/ETC Thoughts? I know there is a list to work from but might not have or chronic any but all here and there over the years. This is Page 4 of the letter I received and I got some notes jotted down. Doing a timeline of in service and post service month/date health issues seen for. I need to respond in 30 days by sending snail mail because I can't do a FDC. Which I didn't really start but I have used eBenefits to upload documents that I also sent into Private Medical records intake place in VA. This letter says I have to send to one of the two other snail mail centers. Or can I still use the upload area on eBenefits to add files? I'm confused. It says they are doing a Stand Claim now. They also stated they sent a copy to my VSO. This letter has a 800 number to call for help but I want to make sure I do this right the first time. I believe I need to do my own Statement in Support of Claim or not? Than some buddy letters, that's a hard one. Feeling really lost in the wind here right now and could use some advice. Thanks spearhead91 Development Letter Page 4.pdf

Well my results are in my score 5.8 pre-diabetes type II as I had suspected. Only thing is I'm not Vietnam Veteran, Gulf War Veteran, and I don't think I ever had the test done while in service. So not sure how to proceed with this new information and claim in Gathering of evidence. Hurt or help? http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/diagnostic-tests/a1c-test-diabetes/Pages/index.aspx

Hang in there you're not alone. As a quick fix if in need are you a VFW member? Can join for 1 year as a member at large. They have some assistance programs that might be beneficial for you also. Just my 2 cents. One day at a time. And one bite at a time of the big VA claim elephant.

Finally did my A1C test thanks to another DR not my PCP. Have to wait for the results now. But at least I'll know for sure.

All completed. Highlighted certain sections. Cover page for each medical DR. Will just use a big paper clip for each section will not staple anything. VA Letter and medical release forms signed and faxed and will be sent in also. Certified Mail, Priority Overnight with Return Receipt. ((Side note 2nd provider talked with today had already faxed in info last week, so that's 2 so far)) Progress. Also noticed late last night in eBenefits my VSO rep shows there now and my claim is there now where I can upload any future documents. So officially marked "Under Review". Frustrating part though it shows the expected completion date range of April 2016 to Oct 2016. Wow! Only point of contention I have now is my intent to file Date is on the top of page with a 2 month older date than the claim date where I can see all my issues listed. Is that normal? UPDATE: And now my dates got pushed back even further. Things that make you go hmmm?

Funny story contacting one of the medical offices today about medical release forms and faxing. Quote "I received this request last week from them(VA) and I have the fax receipt to prove it." So it's almost as if they sent this letter and some of the medical offices were already sending. I have my faxes all out to them with medical released signed. I have my copy of all relevant documents with my name//SSN on all documents. Will also send them the faxed medical release forms I signed as someone suggested. Then will send Certified Mail, priority overnight with return receipt as suggested. Anything else?

Good quick hack for adding your name and SSN to all medical documents you might have. Make a new file..adjust the page layout settings and remove the top margin. Save the file with your name/SSN at the top. Take your other documents you may have load them in the printer hopper and than go to back to file you made and pre count how many pages you need and than print on top of your documents. Tada! All sorted and name/SSN on top of each page now. No need for stamp or handwriting. Example: Doe John XXX XX XXXX that is all the file needs. Worked like a charm.

TOC is setup..printer and paper folders at the ready. I have mostly everything just the extra medical release forms for a few and should be good to go. Send certified mail with return receipt. Knocked out a copy of MRI CD easy peasy. Action plan: -Gather all medical release forms. And sign. PRINTED OUT -Print out my digital copies of pertinent information from medical records. Ortho, vascular, EENT, ER visits. PCP not so much but some. PRINTED OUT, need highlight. -Check for completeness -Review -Check again -USPS deploy -Certified mail with return receipt. Double check. -Review again.

Thanks all for the feedback and kick in the rear. One issue though is my main PCP medical documents which was XXX pages worth I had to pay $80 to get that myself, I gave that to the VSO rep. So where the heck is that? Still in the VSO office or in the in box at the Intake Center??? But I have digital copies of that in 4 different places. So yes off to Kinkos with the USB stick I'll make a bundle folder to have two new full new paper copies of every last bit of information I have. One to send and one in reserve. I asked the VSO rep if I could upload but the Claim in eBenefits is only in the Intent File and something else down below and blue button says Apply. I had thought that I could not do anything since the VSO has the POA and the INTAKE step has not happened yet. That is my major point of confusion here. I have the summary steps of the overall process but it looks like this is getting done out of order. Or they are trying to immediately brush me aside with my major SC which is valid and I have a current diagnosis and MRI's to back that up. So that is it in a nutshell. I'm questioning the order at which this is taking place. Doesn't seem right. I will comply as my whole reason of finally going to the VA was and is for compensation and to get enrolled.

I don't like the fact and for the life of me one DR is not on that list and I don't remember giving that name to the VSO rep or not. It's the same office just different DR. So will they even take in all what I send or not? I have MRI's on CD's etc that are critical. Along with current diagnosis of two main issues. Perplexed. But I do understand what you are saying..Certified return mail and copies copies copies. And focus and send. Now I may have to take a day off of work tomorrow to put his altogether. I should just send them copy of my USB stick that has it all on it. :)

Hello all, We came home this afternoon and received a VA letter stating I needed to provide all medical records within 15 days of the letter dated 2 days ago 07/21. It is now evening of 07/23. Does this sound correct? I scrubbed all the names etc and left the basics. My major problem is they left off my main DR for my service connection major point. And another two DR's were not on the list. I have copies all my important exams and MRI's in digital form so I'm good there. This just seems very odd. How or what do I do here? Attaching the from I received. My VSO has not contacted me at all about any of this. spearhead91

Finally got a different DR to write up the lab slip for A1C test so now just have to go in and do the blood draw. No appt necessary and no fasting.

Measured for custom sports brace so I do not damage/wear down my knee anymore. Now to entertain scheduling bypass surgery for PAD on my other leg or wait for VA C&P exam for that? Update 07/27: Custom brace measured and ordered so hopefully end of this week or early next week for that. Update 07/27: Hearing aides ordered. Thank goodness for excellent employer health insurance. 60 day free trial 2 years of batteries. 3 yr warranty. Update 08/12: Custom knee brace not in yet. She said she would put in a rush so will see. Update 08/12: The Mrs called the hearing aide place 08/11 shows shipped and may get today 08/12. So we'll see about that.

Human error. Double post.

Found a new and useful addition to the the handy Veteran toolbox...dermatone map...never knew existed. Having some serious lower back flaring and numbness tonight. Had a ESI shot this past Monday. Here is a link to a map that maps your lumbar to parts of the leg and the bottoms of your feet and toes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatome_(anatomy)

Believe it or not my chiropractor was able to get the Labcorp form to do the A1C test for me to give me peace of mind. PCP lost words on that part. So now have to schedule and do the test.

Learned a new phrase from my lumbar back MRI...from website: http://www.treatpains.com/neural-foraminal-stenosis/ "intermittent neurogenic claudication is manifested as leg pain, weakness and numbness on walking. The symptoms are relieved when the patient sits and rests for a few minutes. The symptoms of neural foraminal stenosis develop and get worse gradually over a course of several years. The symptoms of leg pain and low back pain are worse after standing and walking and the more the duration of exertion is, the worse the symptoms become." So my PAD caused my calf claudication which resolved post bypass surgery BUT more importantly my one foot and both sometimes are the results of this. I've been studying and reading my reports to understand every aspect of the MRI's.

Oh my dear lord. RIP my brothers/sisters! Unbelievable. Shocked. Horrified. Astonished. Mad.Egregious. SHAME!

And more bad news. The VSO office I started at is closing Mar 2016. WTH!?! Unbelievable.