pumibel

Thanks so much Andyman! I'm very blessed to have received my decision so quickly, and I wish you the best in your struggles with the VA!

I believe that "self medicating" is part of symptomology, so if anything, it may bolster your claim. Others in here with more knowledge will surely give you some more information, but don't worry too much. It sounds like you were honest and gave the examiner the full picture of your condition.

Best of luck to you Navy4life! Maybe the new exams won't change your rating if you have documentation that refutes it. The doctor who wrote the final exam report for my mom when she went for SSDI recommended that she not get it. He was known for this, and he based his decision on a lot of BS, but since my mom's medical records consistently stated that she could not work because of X,Y,Z, Social Sec granted her disability and threw out the last doctor's recommendation. I know VA is not SSA, but they have a similar process. If the C&P exam is not consistent with your records, then it should be suspect. Not that I know a lot about it, but I hope my reasoning is correct.

Thanks Green! It is most likely osteoarthritis as I do not have any compelling RA symptoms. I was a "desk jockey" for all my AD, and I was in at least 2 car accidents while AD. They have it connected as "lumbosacral strain and sacroiliac degenerative joint disease".

Thanks Flores97! I am rooting for you as well! Are there any new pain meds that can help you? NSAIDS tore my mom's stomach up really badly, and that is why she has to take opiates now. I am still able to take naproxen.

Yes, I just established care with a new PC provider in Dec, and he was very thorough about noting all of my diagnoses. I will def make new appointment. I have to anyway because I am losing function in my right wrist. Thanks for the advice and support! I hope your claims are resolved soon too! You have been through a lot with your process, and I think I had it easy by comparison. Now I wish somewhat that I had not waited so long, but I bet the process would have been longer and more aggravating if I had started before the FDC program came along.

Yes that is a great relief, really. If I need any type of PT or surgery, I can do it without worrying about the loss of income from not working. I want to work still- I am completing a degree right now! But there is no way I can work full time and be a reliable employee because of my MH issues and the recurring migraines and bouts of inflammation. I'm limited to freelance projects now.

Sounds reasonable. You know, the main thing that brings me relief right now is that someone finally diagnosed my arthritis. Because I have hyper-mobility, my ROM is good enough that docs would not DX arthritis. Finally they had to do x-rays and see that my joints have degenerated. This was an issue YEARS ago, but it took this claim to finally get someone to do a damn x-ray! That is why I m so antsy for the C&P results. I want to get PT. I had claimed the migraines s secondary to PTSD/anx but the doc I saw for the general C&P said that he was rating it as a claim on its own, and I see that is what happened.

Neck pain and both calves are still deferred. None of my C&P exams focused on the calves, but my record has entries about the varicose veins. I did have a procedure on one leg in 1999 or 2000, and I know I had seen the docs at my last duty station about the pain. In fact, they referred me to a vascular surgeon, but I could never get a consult appointment! I had forgotten about it until now. The Last C&P took X-rays of my neck with everything else, but I guess they need more info? I may have more appointments coming. Is that how they do the deferral?

Like you, there was evidence in my STR that my TMD was already evident when I left AD. But maybe now I can afford dental care. I feel very blessed right now!

And NO- my dental was not service connected either. I am not surprised by that.

Thanks- I will do that. I have an appt on Friday. look at this pic I attached! I have 80% total, and there are a few things still deferred. Here is copy/paste of some details- I have sweaty palms, and that never happens to me! -other specified trauma/stress related disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, nervousness)70 % -migraines 30%Service Connected -lumbosacral strain and sacroiliac degenerative joint disease (claimed as low back condition arthritis and muscle pain)10% 70%

My claim now says "Preparation for notification" [*Peanut Butter Jelly Time*] but that seems too quick. Does anyone know if my C&P exam results will be in my decision packet? I faxed my request for the results to the Evidence Intake Center a couple of weeks ago.

It seems like she should have provided a written rationale for this. I am not in any way professionally qualified to answer your question, but I do know from experience that VA docs write up a lot of paperwork when they make changes to patient's treatments or medications/dosages, etc. Are you able to get his Dr. notes from the VA HealtheVet system? There may be more information in there.

Just checked eBennies, and my claim has moved to "preparation for decision"! It's going to be hard to concentrate for a while...