Stu Sanders

Well I am going thru a MEB/PEB with the Army too. The podiatrist I seen last week for the last exam so he can write his comments not only said I have fasciitis, but said the bigger problem is what he called traumatic arthritis from repeated ankle injuries while on active duty. Didn't know I had that. He took the time to show me the x-rays and explain everything to me. So after he writes the narsum and the PEB rates me I guess I need to file for that. Funny the VA doc missed that and just put all the pain on the fasciitis. Army doc said move to a hot dry climate to ease the pain in addition to meds. Don't think I can afford to move. Anyone know anything about this and the VA?

Well here I am again, took what I learned here and I got the DAV letter today alerting me to a new rating. Still gonna have to work some issues yet I guess. I did all my own claim work, but kept the DAV as a POA and kept them in the loo if you will, but I did all the work. PTSD SVC 30% Increased to 50% Migraines SVC (new claim) 30% Neck SVC 10% Increased to 20% Back SVC (unchanged) 20% Plantar Fasciitis SVC (unchanged) 10% BL Tinniitis SVC (unchanged) 10% Deferred CTS BL BP aggravated by PTSD (had doctors letter but didn't expect it) Shingles (told to claim it from a friend, (he talked me into it) but don't expect it since the VA wants me to get the vacine even though I am under 60 and have only had it once....but it does get your attention) Got nothing about the nerve damage in the shoulders and arms as shown by the EMG from the neck injury (claimed). Overall from 60% to 80% and got more convalescence time than I had claimed, and something about SMC on housebound criteria for the same time period. I had claimed 8/4/08 to 9/3/08 the time the surgeon had me down from the neck fusion (w/instrumentation) the VA says 8/4/08 to 10/1/08? Okay, fine with me. Will have to wait for the "official letter" which I am sure will explain more. And maybe the dependant pay back to 2006 will be caught up with the back pay to the new rating dates. I use the INDY VARO and the increase requests were filed 25 June 08. The VA neurologist finally diagnosed the migraines as a result of a head injury from Iraq in late July so the claim for that was filed on 1 Aug 08. So 5 months on a request for increase and 3 months on a new claim, both going at the same time..............WOW I feel very lucky considering some of the other guys have been waiting alot longer than I have that were in the same unit as I was in. I am goin to get with Voc Rehab and see if they can help me out. The real problem is WHEN I feel like getting out and about (I deal with the outside world on my terms now) then the damn physical disabilites get me. Example, I have migraines a couple times a week, and they shut me down, the fasciitis keeps me from being on my feet much and the pain is now spreading into the ankle of the left foot so bad I use a cane about 25% of the time. I am gonna see if the VA can check out the ankle problems I am getting, I don't know if it is related to the fasciitis or not. And of course the back comes and goes on the pain scale, but mostly reduced ROM. The CTS and nerve damage in my shoulders and upper arms has dropped my grip strength down to about 70lbs each hand, and if I type to much or use my hands to much I am hurting. So I have seriously considered IU. Really wanna do the Voc Rehab thing to try and work. I hate sittin around the house and having nothing but the internet to keep me busy. Amazing how much my quality of life has changed from what it was before I went on my second trip to Iraq. Had a behavorial health appt today, discussed the situation with the doc, I mentioned Voc Rehab, he said I should get a hold of them and they will work with me. I don't know, I guess they evaluate you? See what you can or could do? I wanna work, but to be honest if I was an employer I don't know if I would hire me. Also it is kinda a scarlet letter being a "former" police officer, not retired. I have not had a repy to any of the resume's I have sent out. Any thoughts, or suggestions? Stu

In the past I have had to ask for a 180 day extension to gather evidence, records, etc. The VA granted it with no problems, however, right at the end of that time the C&P happened, and 14 days later the claims were rated, paid, done.

I have my 40 quarters, way more, the number of quarters and such are correct. My state job has a disability rating, although I haven't been retired yet. I get VA, and will either get severanced from the military or retired (PDRL). Because my primary job was with the state on state pension the only contributions were from second jobs and military (Guard Pay) and of course the deployment time I paid into SSI also. I think it has to with the amount of recent contributions or something, I can't find the statement from SSI now. I just was thinking though a young soldier with only a few years of paying in is eligible for SSI, but because i was on a private pension I wasn't. I guess I will have to wait and see, I don't know what the State will do with me when the military and VA finally get done rating me. Thanks Stu

I have a question for the experts, I am on a private pension at my civilian job (State). I don't contribute to SSI, however I do have the letter stating I am entitled to a retirement when I reach retirement, I have worked second jobs and of course the Army pays in too. The statement that come from SSI says I am not eligible for disability benifits. IF I am disabled due to injuries sustained in the Army in Iraq are there exceptions to the rule? As I proceed thru the MEB/PEB the process it is mentioned to apply for VA and SSI. Thanks for any help Stu

I had to ask for a 180 day extension on my first set of claims as I was still drilling with a Guard unit and had to fight through the unit to the state for records and for MRI's thru my personal insurance. The VA granted it, and when it was over rated me a month later.

Cool, I will do that, will have him review the SMR and VA records. Also going to try and get the VA head doc to write the same in my notes also. Thanks Stu

I was hoping I would get the instrumentation (titainium plate) for added strength and insurance of stability, seems this doc uses them all the time, so I feel better about that, but I am going to super careful, thanks for the advise. Stu

Something different happened this morning before I left for my neurosurgeon appt. The VARO called, they wanted to talk about my request for increses "I" filed in June.......I didn't file for any increases yet, she said it came thru my POA. (DAV) Guess the DAV didn't like my rating and requested increases without telling me? Told her about the requests for increases I was planning on filing as soon as the fusion was done. Went thru the list she had, then through the list I had, she said a request for increase will go much faster, should be done in 2 months. She is scheduling exams and the like. Just struck me funny that the Army is processing me for retirement and the VA calls an is all nicey, nicey. And, I am having a cervical fusion on 4 Aug with titainium plate, Doc said the spinal cord is compressed so much it is a have to act thing, no waiting lest I loose even more arm and hand fuction. More on the VA as it develops. Stu

I use the Evansville out patient clinic, my first PCP was a woman Dr. and was lousy, hurried everything, was into mass production, and she left after about 6 months, second PCP is a male and he ain't much better. BUT the nurses are the saving grace there, they really look out for you and really run the place. The specialists are contract and fee basis and they are great, as is the Behavorial Health folks, they are top notch. I have a friend who is a female vet and she sees mostly men, but would have my wife go with herfor alot of appts, the women docs she did see tended to be more caring, at least to her.

Celexa, like all ssri's I seem to be overly sensitve to, they work for a couple weeks, (and I feel the effects after only 3-5 days) then after a couple to three weeks I turn into a zombie, quiet, drooling, increaase of SI. After my VA doc running me thru a gambit of them at different doseages, he asked if I would try one more, Buspar. It is working fine for the last month, no side effects, well maybe a slight sexual effect. Still have all the same emotions, but a drop, but not eliminated depression, decrease in SI. Hope it works for you. Stu

What this says to me is the VA thinks the Docs are not qualified to write a statement about your condiction and to judge the disability, BUT, the raters are, casue we all know they are SO much smarter than the Doctors, and they never makes mistakes in rating your disability to insure you get what your entitled to.

My family Doc is great, he checks what the VA is doing and guides me if he thinks they are straying from what he deems proper. I have to say he has been treating me for years and my wife and I trust him completely. He knows all the local specialists and knows who is good and who isn't. He always gets us hooked up with other Doc's he trusts and would or does have treat his family. As for the Labile Hypertension, he wrote it on letterhead, and stated that the Labile Hypertension I have developed since my return from Iraq is most likely caused by the PTSD I developed while in Iraq. He also states he has treated me for some years before I went to Iraq, and is very familiar with my health. Funny side note the Doc and I both have tattoos, mine show, his don't, but we compare notes if you will when we each get a new tat. I can say if needed he would teleconference for a board, or even appear for a hearing if I asked him too. Too bad the VA doesn't hire doctors like him, but they can't afford him, and the drive would be a killer for him also.

Well its been a while I guess an update might interest somebody. Rating wise I have not requested anything, HOWEVER Results from Neurologist, Physiatrist, EMG, MRI, Podiatrist, and more. I have a pending fusion as soon as the neurosurgeon can arrange it, looks like C-4,5,6, I have a diagnoses of Post Trauamatic (Injury) Migraines, (about twice a week) was using Zomig, changing to Immatrex. I have moderate nerve damage in the left arm, and severe damage in the right (dominate) arm I have carpal tunnel in both arms. Family doc says Labile Hypertension aggrevated by PTSD. Podiatrist sent me to a local prostetics lab to have special shoes with build up and angled soles with flares on the outsides to try and prevent the chronic ankle twist, sprains. Pyschiatrist says 30% is way to low, 50% minimum and wants me to go to aa inpatient treatment program as soon as I can work it out with the ongoing family problems. All of the above is written as SVC in my files, just need another C&P I gurss. The Army is preparing the MEB packet to send to the PEB, they want me gone. And I don't dare type what the Army put on my profile for the "S" in PULHES, but if the civilian job sees it I am definetly done. Civilian job has me on admin duty, took my ID, Badge, and weapon, they are gonna retire me before its over (or should I say the phone company took my calling card, linesmans pliers, and truck...LOL) I already have the new claims and request for increases done but am gonna wait to send them in until after the surgery, and I will have a chance to catch up all the med records to be sure the docs did SVC them like they said they were gonna write. OH, and I also got lots of documents from work and Army to support the increases, and the Army was kind enough to finally send a General down to award me a BSM, with my CAB coming very soon...finally. Okay folks, let the advise roll in. Thanks for listening Stu I have come to the realization that my life as I knew it is gone, Now even though in some ways I feel guilty for applying for the due benefits I know that I have to protect the future of my familys interest.

I don't know if that would quite apply to me. I use inserts which have almost stopped the pain in my feet. They brought my pain level down in my back and pretty much stopped the hip pain I was experiencing. I still have some lower back pain but it is from issues in my back, however like I said the inserts help alot. I am going to address the back when I see the nuerologist monday for my neck. I do appreciate your reply and will pass the info to my friends. I don't really have any deformity of the feet as of yet. Thanks Stu