Holllie Greene

Hi Buck, Came across the link about eliminating the 7 condtions, very concerned to say the least. Why did the VA build 2 Multiple Sclerosis centers of excellence---one on the West Coast in Seattle and one in Baltimore, MD. if the govt going to eliminate MS from it's wheelhouse. My husband says do not borrow trouble. Stay strong fellow vets.

I agree with you in that there is nothing magic about a C & P exam, quite the opposite it would seem. My non-VA neurologist's notes were totally ignored by the C & P D.O. Same with my non-VA ophthalmologist's notes that were also ignored by the optometrist. In my opinion it seems the only information the MIGHTY raters look at is the information from the VA doctors. It was a waste of time for me.

"Medical evidence"---I like those 2 words! Thanks Broncovet H

Hi, This is probably a stupid question but are the treatment notes written by he VA doctors taken into consideration by the MIGHTY raters? Thank you one and all. H

Hi Vync, These SCIDs are in many places in the US plus Puerto Rico. I have put off going long enough and am going for a 3-4 hour appt. late next month. Take good care. H

Hi, Hope all is good. Has anyone been to a VA Spinal Cord Injury/Disease clinic? If so, what was it like? I appreciate any and all comments. Thank you. H

Hey Vetquest, Thank you for the advice. It is great your civilian medical records and buddy statements carried the day at the BVA level. I intend to keep pushing until things work out. The local VA seems to be made up of a few stinkers who act like it is a bother to them when they have to deal with vets. Thanks again. :)

Hi, I agree the system needs to be ripped apart then fixed. What I have noticed is non-VA records, when taken to a C & P exam, do not mean squat to the examiner. Even though it says on their appt. card to bring any medical records, in my case (maybe yours too), the D.O. just flips thru the papers not reading anything. WTF? Why did I spend my money to get copies and the VA does not take the medical papers? What is up with that? Then the case goes to THE RATERS who pencil-whip the file and deny the claim. I for one am sick of this. It seems that the only records that count are the ones in all the VA databases. Great post Retiredat44. H

Ms. Berta, Buck, and Gastone, Thank you all for the excellent information, I appreciate it. I think I am going to work my claim myself (advice from Buck years ago), I talked to the county VSO the other day and he recommended a statement from my husband and the new VA urologist, okay fine will do. The county VSO is calm, listens, and has a rep of an all around nice guy. Killer instinct? I dunno. IMalways Humble Opinion it seems the VSO has to have that instinct to get a positive result for the veteran. It is nuts to have conflict with the VA/raters and have to jump thru hoop after hoop after hoop after hoop after you get the picture. Well, thanks again you all. Have a nice evening.

Hi, the situation never ends (or it just ends with denials), no wonder my claim was denied---a D.O. did the C & P for worsening of M.S. The D.O. got it so wrong. A D.O. (doctor of osteopathic medicine deals with the "muscle-skeletory system"), hmmmmm, no mention of the neurological system. Thanks a lot VA. :(( OK, you all take care. H

Hey Buck, Thank you for the information, much appreciated. H

Hi Jefmil50, Good you did not develop cataracts. I took Avonex (my husband gave me the injections every Friday) but stopped because I developed Antibodies, Betaseron and Copaxone both made me ill. Please let me know if you find an alternative? Thank you. H

Hey Jefmil50, Have not heard from you for awhile. Nice to receive a post! Thank you for your good wishes, and I plan on appealing b/c "they" did just not get it right. IMHO. I am sorry the disease has taken a turn for the worse in the last 3-5 years. I despise this *&^$%# disease. To begin with, my urologist has me taking a low dose of Trospium (that name is funny, just says it all) then if that's a bust, ISC. But we have got to do what we have to do. It is good your VA neuro filled out the DBQ. Say, I presume you were given prednisone and I was wondering if you developed cataracts? I developed them (secondary to prednisone use but rated at 0% but that is ok b/c my cataract surgeries were successful) and was shocked at how quickly they grew. Have a nice weekend. H

Hi Gastone, The way the MS is broken down is by body parts, for example "left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (minor/non-dominant) due to multiple sclerosis---20% "right upper..." "---20% Same wording with the lower extremeties but both legs rated at 40% each. Adjustment disorder due to multiple sclerosis old percentage was 30% but now it is 50% then---stress incontinence due to multiple sclerosis old percentage was 60% and now the new percentage is 40%. Totally bogus b/c my bladder is more of the urge type (gotta go right now, get out of my way type) and my new VA urologist has words to that effect in the treatment notes. This is the best I can do Gastone. Thank you very much for your input. Holli

Hi, there is no TDIU in my situation. I am scheduler. SMC L. My husband resigned from his job to watch over me for which I will always be grateful. There was some kind of disconnect between the C&P neurologist and the rater because the rater dropped my 60% neurogenic bladder to 40% and upped the anxiety/adjustment disorder to 50% from 30%. Obvious playing with the numbers because I am rated T & P, the disease is Static, I am 56 years old. Sorry to be blunt but the bladder issue really disturbs me because my bladder has gotten worse not better (that would be a medical miracle). Anyway, Thank you all for your time and effort in responding. H

Hi Gastone, Switching my POA to another VSR is the best option for all, my husband thinks he may be a mysogonist or have it out on a personal level against me. I kind of think he is not used to dealing with women vets as he addresses my husband (hence that scene where he was in very high spirits asking my husband what a FDC was). Interviewing other VSRs is a good idea and we plan on talking to one in particular who has a good recommendation from a mutual friend. I am 100% T & P, static disease of multiple sclerosis and the appeal will be for worsening of the disease. I wish I could post a copy but I do not have the knowledge or equipment to scan. It was all I could do to get that snow pic on my profile. Thank you for your ideas and thoughts, I appreciate it very much. HG Long story short: I experienced a flare of the disease approx. 8 months ago and went to the local civilian ER where I was stabilized. To me this was "worsening of MS" so I put in for an increase (in this case it would be a half step in the SMC realm but it was DENIED. So that is what I am up against.

Hi Kevin T. and Gastone, Kevin T., that is a good idea about the IME---I know a doctor who used to work at the local VA clinic and now in private practice so making an appt. is in my future. Thank you for that reasonable advice. Hi Gastone, I do expect pushback from the visit to the VSO office next week, my husband is all geared up for it and I advised him to cool his jets and wait to see what happens. Going by the one VSO's attitude I would think he would be glad to get rid of my case. Thank you for your advice also, I appreciate it. I am very much tempted to work this claim myself but my husband thinks that it would be "running away" so to speak. I feel bad I have had to expose my hub to all this but he has been exposed so it is too late to take it back. Many thanks to both of you kind gentlemen. I will post details of the VSO visit next week. HG

Hi Broncovet, ...denials happen. Thank you for acknowledging my situation. Yesterday I was so shocked I did not even eat dinner. My attitude was "Eff-it" but this morning I felt and still feel like a tremendous weight has been lifted. I can't explain it. I read Alex's article about the raters being known as coaches and gleaned more info from that along with smiles at his writing style (I especially love the one about the raters and how a medical doctor gave up his practice to work as a rater---hilarious). So, next week it is off to the county VSO (is he really a shill for the VA?) to initiate a NOD. The visits to the county VSO office are always fraught with drama and yelling from one particular VSO (the last time my husband and I went he yelled at me for no reason and demanded to know from my husband what a fully developed claim was.) Yeah right, this VSO is buds with the new boss so no one is going to nark him out. As far as my hubby knowing what a fully developed claim is---no chance of that b/c my hubby was never in the military. When my 6 foot 2 hubby stood up the VSO finally shut his trap. Oh it is such a comedy show with that office. Several months ago, Buck suggested I work my own claim but I think I would make the situation even worse. Anyway, I appreciate your advice about the denial reasons and bases. Thank you. H

Hi Skull, Welcome. You will not find a better group of people anywhere---Hadit is THE rockstar of websites. Anyway, my advice is to keep your shot record, something I wish I could have remembered to do. Have a good day. HG

Dear Ms. Tbird, You are most welcome. Holli

This is by far THE BEST website for Veterans. The folks are top-notch and sincere, empathetic, and truly knowledegable in their desire to help others. I do not know what I would have done if I had not found this website. Respectfully, Holli G.

Hi, I finally got the BBE yesterday. My efforts were a total waste of time. 1) Worsening of MS--I did not have to use a walker all the time, increased urge to urinate, LOU of left hand ---due to major MS flare last year. Had C&P. BUT IT WAS DENIED. MS does not ever get better it gets worse. 2) Secondary service connected cataracts due to Prednisone use for MS flares. Denied. Glad to have my eyesight of course (surgery done by local non-VA ophthalmologist---my private BC/BS insurance paid for one eye and Veterans Choice paid for other eye) but there was a time my eyesight was bad. WASTE OF TIME GOING TO PALO ALTO VA for C & P exams. WASTE OF TIME. WASTE OF TIME.

Dear Ms. T-bird, Thank you for the link and the information, I appreciate it. Hadit and Ms. T-bird totally rock!!! Sincerely, H

Hi Broncovet, The optometrist said the cataracts were caused by Prednisone use for MS exacerbations which is already deemed service connected (the MS is service connected). I was rated 0% for cataracts in 2005. So I guess we will see what happens. Thank you for answering my post. H :)

Hi, I hope all is ok. I saw in the myhealthevet treatment notes last night the words "as likely as not" in regard to my cataracts (I have since had surgery to have new lens inserted) being a result of prednisone use due to multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations. Yes, many, many rounds of Prednisone use for MS. No BBE yet. My question is this: are the new lens in each eye considered prostheses? My husband thinks it is too far-fetched of an idea to which I say: you never know. Happy Saturday everyone. H