allan

I remember when I worked for the State agency that my checks were constantly late a week over a few months. They kept using the excuse that it was computer error. After a class action suit by state employees, it was proven the state was doing it to get a interest on the payroll funding. They quit doing that, but started paying comp time for all overtime to make up for it. Than they would refuse to let you take the comp time.

I would like to add that I requested my medical & service records from the VARO for over 25 years and never so much recieved a reply of any kind. It wasn't until I went through St Louis that I recieved what little was left of my records. For some reason the VARO got ahold of all my records right out of service in 1971. All requests for copies of service records & C-file from my service officers and myself were completely ignored. After I requested copies through St louis again in 1997, I recieved about a yrs worth out of 4 from the RO that held my records all those yrs. My advice to everyone is get them from ST. Louis before the VARO gets their hands on them.

Hospital records are kept for 10 yrs at the most. You can try to call the records dept of that facility, but they either went with all your records or were shredded like mine. To save time I would request these and all other service medical records from St Louis archives. It will add another 6 weeks going through the VARO to request records from St Louis archives, than for St Louis archives to reply back to the VARO. Once the VARO gets their hands on the records, it just gives it another opertunity for needed primary evidence to go missing. It won't hurt to try both, but St Louis archives is the fastest means of getting them. It takes two weeks just for your request to go through the VARO mail room. Medical and other service records may be requested by their form, electronically and through a fax using this online link............. National Archives and Records Administration http://www.archives.gov/index.html

TBird, last night i had to log back in everytime I made a reply or post. Also I am still not recieving replies to posts through email. Just thought I would let you know in case no one else has reported it or had difficulty with it. Allan

Glad to see it. Sometimes we just need to be persistant and call them on it. You may have also helped many vets coming behind you. Good for you for making the effort. Allan

Thanks for pointing out the error James. And thanks TBird for adding the link to a corrected site. This diagnostic code has been in my computer file for a good many yrs. Guess it just got outdated. Allan

DIAGNOSTIC CODE MESSAGE Current Schedule of Rating Disabilities can be located here http://goo.gl/FDaI CODE 5000 OSTEOMYELITIS 5001 BONE DISEASE 5002 RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 5003 DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS 5004 ARTHRITIS 5005 ARTHRITIS 5006 ARTHRITIS 5007 ARTHRITIS 5008 ARTHRITIS 5009 ARTHRITIS 5010 TRAUMATIC ARTHRITIS 5011 CAISSON DISEASE OF BONES 5012 MALIGNANT NEW GROWTH OF BONES 5013 OSTEOPOROSIS 5014 OSTEOMALACIA 5015 BENIGN GROWTH OF THE BONES 5016 BONE DEFORMITY 5017 GOUT 5018 HYDRARTHROSIS 5019 BURSITIS 5020 SYNOVITIS 5021 MUSCLE INFLAMMATION 5022 BONE INFLAMMATION 5023 MUSCLE INFLAMMATION WITH BONE DEPOSIT 5024 TENDON INFLAMMATION 5025 FIBROMYALGIA 5051 SHOULDER PROSTHESIS 5052 ELBOW PROSTHESIS 5053 WRIST PROSTHESIS 5054 HIP PROSTHESIS 5055 KNEE PROSTHESIS 5056 ANKLE PROSTHESIS 5099 BONE CONDITION 5100 LOSS OF HANDS AND FEET 5101 LOSS OF USE OF HANDS AND FEET 5102 LOSS OF BOTH HANDS AND ONE FOOT 5103 LOSS OF BOTH FEET AND ONE HAND 5104 LOSS OF ONE HAND AND USE OF ONE FOOT 5105 LOSS OF ONE FOOT AND USE OF ONE HAND 5106 LOSS OF HANDS 5107 LOSS OF FEET 5108 LOSS OF ONE HAND AND ONE FOOT 5109 LOSS OF USE OF BOTH HANDS 5110 LOSS OF USE OF BOTH FEET 5111 LOSS OF USE OF ONE HAND AND ONE FOOT 5120 LOSS OF ARM 5121 LOSS OF ARM 5122 LOSS OF ARM 5123 LOSS OF FOREARM 5124 LOSS OF FOREARM 5125 LOSS OF USE OF HAND 5126 LOSS OF THUMB AND FOUR FINGERS 5127 LOSS OF THUMB AND THREE FINGERS 5128 LOSS OF THUMB AND THREE FINGERS 5129 LOSS OF THUMB AND THREE FINGERS 5130 LOSS OF THUMB AND THREE FINGERS 5131 LOSS OF FOUR FINGERS 5132 LOSS OF THUMB AND TWO FINGERS 5133 LOSS OF THUMB AND TWO FINGERS 5134 LOSS OF THUMB AND TWO FINGERS 5135 LOSS OF THUMB AND TWO FINGERS 5136 LOSS OF THUMB AND TWO FINGERS 5137 LOSS OF THUMB AND TWO FINGERS 5138 LOSS OF THREE FINGERS 5139 LOSS OF THREE FINGERS 5140 LOSS OF THREE FINGERS 5141 LOSS OF THREE FINGERS 5142 LOSS OF THUMB AND FINGER 5143 LOSS OF THUMB AND FINGER 5144 LOSS OF THUMB AND FINGER 5145 LOSS OF THUMB AND FINGER 5146 LOSS OF TWO FINGERS 5147 LOSS OF INDEX AND RING FINGERS 5148 LOSS OF INDEX AND LITTLE FINGERS 5149 LOSS OF MIDDLE AND RING FINGERS 5150 LOSS OF MIDDLE AND LITTLE FINGERS 5151 LOSS OF RING AND LITTLE FINGERS 5152 LOSS OF THUMB 5153 LOSS OF INDEX FINGER 5154 LOSS OF MIDDLE FINGER 5155 LOSS OF RING FINGER 5156 LOSS OF LITTLE FINGER 5160 LOSS OF LEG 5161 LOSS OF LEG, UPPER 5162 LOSS OF LEG, MIDDLE, LOWER 5163 LOSS OF LOWER LEG 5164 LOSS OF LOWER LEG 5165 LOSS OF LOWER LEG 5166 LOSS OF FOREFOOT 5167 LOSS OF USE OF FOOT 5170 LOSS OF ALL TOES 5171 LOSS OF GREAT TOE 5172 LOSS OF ONE TOE 5173 LOSS OF TOES 5174 HIP PROSTHESIS 5199 LOSS OR LOSS OF USE OF EXTREMITY 5200 SHOULDER JOINT CONDITION 5201 LIMITED MOTION OF ARM 5202 UPPER ARM CONDITION 5203 SHOULDER CONDITION 5205 IMMOBILITY OF ELBOW 5206 LIMITED FLEXION OF FOREARM 5207 LIMITED EXTENSION OF FOREARM 5208 LIMITED MOTION OF FOREARM 5209 ELBOW CONDITION 5210 FOREARM CONDITION 5211 FOREARM CONDITION 5212 FOREARM CONDITION 5213 LIMITED MOTION OF FOREARM 5214 LOSS OF WRIST MOTION 5215 LIMITED MOTION OF WRIST 5216 LOSS OF MOTION OF ALL FINGERS 5217 LOSS OF MOTION OF FOUR FINGERS 5218 LOSS OF MOTION OF THREE FINGERS 5219 LOSS OF MOTION OF TWO FINGERS 5220 LOSS OF MOTION OF ALL FINGERS 5221 LOSS OF MOTION OF FOUR FINGERS 5222 LOSS OF MOTION OF THREE FINGERS 5223 LOSS OF MOTION OF TWO FINGERS 5224 LOSS OF MOTION OF THUMB 5225 LOSS OF MOTION OF INDEX FINGER 5226 LOSS OF MOTION OF MIDDLE FINGER 5227 LOSS OF MOTION RING OR LITTLE FINGER 5250 LOSS OF HIP MOTION 5251 LIMITED EXTENSION OF THIGH 5252 LIMITED FLEXION OF THIGH 5253 THIGH CONDITION 5254 HIP CONDITION 5255 IMPAIRMENT OF FEMUR 5256 LOSS OF MOTION OF KNEE 5257 KNEE CONDITION 5258 KNEE CONDITION 5259 KNEE CONDITION 5260 LIMITED FLEXION OF KNEE 5261 LIMITED EXTENSION OF KNEE 5262 LOWER LEG CONDITION 5263 KNEE CONDITION 5264 PROSTHESIS FOR KNEE 5270 LOSS OF MOTION OF ANKLE 5271 LIMITED MOTION OF ANKLE 5272 LIMITED MOTION OF ANKLE 5273 MALUNION OF ANKLE 5274 ANKLE CONDITION 5275 SHORTENING OF BONE IN LOWER LEG 5276 FLAT FOOT CONDITION 5277 WEAK FOOT CONDITION 5278 CLAW FOOT 5279 FOOT PAIN 5280 FOOT CONDITION 5281 FOOT CONDITION 5282 HAMMER TOE 5283 IMPAIRMENT OF TOES 5284 RESIDUALS OF FOOT INJURY 5285 BACK CONDITION 5286 SPINE, COMPLETE BONY FIXATION 5287 LOSS OF MOTION IN CERVICAL SPINE 5288 LOSS OF MOTION IN DORSAL SPINE 5289 LOSS OF MOTION IN LUMBAR SPINE 5290 LIMITED MOTION IN CERVICAL SPINE 5291 LIMITED MOTION IN DORSAL SPINE 5292 LIMITED MOTION IN LUMBAR SPINE 5293 SPINAL DISC CONDITION 5294 SACRO-ILIAC CONDITION 5295 BACK STRAIN 5296 LOSS OF PART OF SKULL 5297 REMOVAL OF RIB(S) 5298 REMOVAL OF TAILBONE 5299 CONDITION OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM 5301 SHOULDER MUSCLE INJURY 5302 SHOULDER MUSCLE INJURY 5303 SHOULDER MUSCLE INJURY 5304 SHOULDER MUSCLE INJURY 5305 MUSCLE INJURY 5306 MUSCLE INJURY 5307 FOREARM MUSCLE INJURY 5308 FOREARM MUSCLE INJURY 5309 HAND INJURY 5310 FOOT INJURY 5311 LOWER LEG MUSCLE INJURY 5312 THIGH MUSCLE INJURY 5313 THIGH MUSCLE INJURY 5314 THIGH MUSCLE INJURY 5315 THIGH MUSCLE INJURY 5316 HIP MUSCLE INJURY 5317 BUTTOCKS INJURY 5318 HIP MUSCLE INJURY 5319 ABDOMINAL MUSCLE DAMAGE 5320 BACK MUSCLE IMPAIRMENT 5321 CHEST MUSCLE IMPAIRMENT 5322 NECK INJURY 5323 NECK INJURY 5324 DIAPHRAGM INJURY 5325 FACIAL MUSCLE INJURY 5326 MUSCLE HERNIA 5327 MUSCLE PATHOLOGY 5328 BENIGN MUSCLE GROWTH 5329 SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMA 5399 MUSCLE CONDITION 6000 INFLAMMATION OF UVEA 6001 INFLAMMATION OF CORNEA 6002 INFLAMMATION OF SCLERA 6003 INFLAMMATION OF IRIS 6004 INFLAMMATION OF THE CILIARY BODY 6005 INFLAMMATION OF CHOROID 6006 INFLAMMATION OF RETINA 6007 HEMORRHAGE OF THE EYE 6008 DETACHED RETINA 6009 EYE INJURY (UNHEALED) 6010 TUBERCULOSIS OF THE EYE 6011 RETINA SCARS 6012 CONGESTIVE, INFLAMMATORY GLAUCOMA 6013 GLAUCOMA 6014 NEW EYE GROWTH 6015 BENIGN EYE GROWTH 6016 RAPID EYE MOVEMENT 6017 CONJUNCTIVITIS 6018 CONJUNCTIVITIS 6019 DROOPING EYELID 6020 EVERSION OF EYELID 6021 INVERSION OF EYELID 6022 INABILITY TO CLOSE EYELID 6023 LOSS OF EYEBROWS 6024 LOSS OF EYELASHES 6025 EXCESSIVE TEARING 6026 OPTIC NERVE INFLAMMATION 6027 TRAUMATIC CATARACT 6028 CATARACT 6029 ABSENCE OF EYE LENS 6030 PARALYSIS, FOCUSING ABILITY OF EYES 6031 INFLAMMATION OF TEAR DUCT 6032 LOSS OF PORTION OF EYELIDS 6033 DISLOCATION OF EYE LENS 6034 PTERYGIUM 6035 KERATOCONUS 6050 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6051 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6052 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6053 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6054 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6055 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6056 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6057 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6058 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6059 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6060 (COVERED BY SMC CODES) 6061 ANATOMICAL LOSS OF BOTH EYES 6062 BLINDNESS BOTH EYES 6063 LOSS OF EYE, BLIND IN OTHER 6064 LOSS OF EYE, IMPAIRED VISION IN OTHER 6065 LOSS OF EYE, IMPAIRED VISION IN OTHER 6066 LOSS OF EYE 6067 BLINDNESS, BILATERAL 6068 BLIND ONE EYE, IMPAIRED VISION OTHER 6069 BLIND ONE EYE, IMPAIRED VISION OTHER 6070 BLIND ONE EYE 6071 BLINDNESS BOTH EYES 6072 BLIND ONE EYE, IMPAIRED VISION OTHER 6073 BLIND ONE EYE, IMPAIRED VISION OTHER 6074 BLINDNESS 6075 IMPAIRED VISION, BOTH EYES 6076 IMPAIRED VISION, BOTH EYES 6077 IMPAIRED VISION 6078 IMPAIRED VISION, BOTH EYES 6079 IMPAIRED VISION 6080 LOSS OF FIELD OF VISION 6081 LOSS OF FIELD OF VISION 6090 DIPLOPIA 6091 EYELID CONDITION 6092 DIPLOPIA 6099 EYE CONDITION 6100 IMPAIRED HEARING 6101 IMPAIRED HEARING 6102 IMPAIRED HEARING 6103 IMPAIRED HEARING 6104 IMPAIRED HEARING 6105 IMPAIRED HEARING 6106 IMPAIRED HEARING 6107 IMPAIRED HEARING 6108 IMPAIRED HEARING 6109 IMPAIRED HEARING 6110 IMPAIRED HEARING 6199 EAR CONDITION 6200 EAR INFECTION 6201 EAR INFECTION 6202 OTOSCLEROSIS 6203 OTITIS 6204 LABYRINTHITIS 6205 MENIERE'S SYNDROME 6206 MASTOIDITIS 6207 LOSS, OR PARTIAL LOSS OF EAR(S) 6208 MALIGNANT GROWTH IN EAR(S) 6209 BENIGN GROWTH IN EAR(S) 6210 AUDITORY CANAL DISEASE 6211 PERFORATED EAR DRUM 6250 IMPAIRED HEARING 6251 IMPAIRED HEARING 6252 IMPAIRED HEARING 6253 IMPAIRED HEARING 6254 IMPAIRED HEARING 6255 IMPAIRED HEARING 6256 IMPAIRED HEARING 6257 IMPAIRED HEARING 6258 IMPAIRED HEARING 6260 TINNITUS 6261 EAR CONDITION 6262 EAR CONDITION 6263 EAR CONDITION 6275 LOSS OF SENSE OF SMELL 6276 LOSS OF SENSE OF TASTE 6277 IMPAIRED HEARING 6278 IMPAIRED HEARING 6279 IMPAIRED HEARING 6280 IMPAIRED HEARING 6281 IMPAIRED HEARING 6282 IMPAIRED HEARING 6283 IMPAIRED HEARING 6284 IMPAIRED HEARING 6285 IMPAIRED HEARING 6286 IMPAIRED HEARING 6287 IMPAIRED HEARING 6289 IMPAIRED HEARING 6290 IMPAIRED HEARING 6291 IMPAIRED HEARING 6292 IMPAIRED HEARING 6293 IMPAIRED HEARING 6294 IMPAIRED HEARING 6295 IMPAIRED HEARING 6296 IMPAIRED HEARING 6297 IMPAIRED HEARING 6299 EAR CONDITION 6300 CHOLERA 6301 VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS 6302 LEPROSY 6304 MALARIA 6305 LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS 6306 OROYA FEVER 6307 PLAGUE 6308 RELAPSING FEVER 6309 RHEUMATIC FEVER 6310 INFECTIOUS CONDITION 6311 MILIARY TUBERCULOSIS 6313 VITAMIN DEFICIENCY 6314 BERIBERI 6315 PELLAGRA 6316 UNDULANT FEVER 6317 TYPHUS 6318 MELIOIDOSIS 6319 LYME DISEASE 6320 UNSPECIFIED PARASITIC DISEASE 6350 LUPUS 6351 HIV-RELATED ILLNESS 6352 AIDS RELATED COMPLEX 6353 BLOOD TEST POSITIVE FOR AIDS ANTIBODY 6354 CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME 6399 SYSTEMIC CONDITION 6501 RHINITIS 6502 NOSE DEFLECTION 6504 RESIDUALS OF NOSE INJURY 6510 SINUSITIS 6511 SINUSITIS 6512 SINUSITIS 6513 SINUSITIS 6514 SINUSITIS 6515 TUBERCULOSIS LARYNGITIS 6516 CHRONIC LARYNGITIS 6517 RESIDUALS OF INJURED LARYNX 6518 REMOVAL OF LARYNX 6519 INABILITY TO SPEAK 6520 CONSTRICTION OF LARYNX 6521 INJURY TO PHARYNX 6522 NASAL SWELLING 6523 BACTERIAL INFECTION OF NARES 6524 NASAL GRANULOMAS 6599 UPPER RESPIRATORY CONDITION 6600 BRONCHITIS 6601 BRONCHIECTASIS 6602 ASTHMA 6603 PULMONARY EMPHYSEMA 6604 CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE 6699 BRONCHIAL CONDITION 6701 ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6702 ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6703 ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6704 ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6705 LUNG CONDITION 6706 LUNG CONDITION 6707 ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6708 ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6709 ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6710 ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6711 LUNG CONDITION 6712 LUNG CONDITION 6713 LUNG CONDITION 6714 LUNG CONDITION 6721 INACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6722 INACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6723 INACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6724 INACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6725 INACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6726 INACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6727 INACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6728 INACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6730 ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6731 INACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 6732 PLEURISY 6799 LUNG CONDITION 6800 ANTHRACOSIS 6801 SILICOSIS 6802 PNEUMOCONIOSIS 6803 ACTINOMYCOSIS OF LUNG 6804 STREPTOTRICHOSIS OF LUNG 6805 BLASTOMYCOSIS OF LUNG 6806 SPOROTRICHOSIS OF LUNG 6807 ASPERGILLOSIS OF LUNG 6808 MYCOSIS OF LUNG 6809 ABSCESS OF LUNG 6810 PLEURISY 6811 PLEURISY 6812 FISTULA OF LUNG 6813 COLLAPSED LUNG 6814 SPONTANEOUS COLLAPSED LUNG 6815 REMOVAL OF LUNG 6816 PARTIAL REMOVAL OF LUNG 6817 PULMONARY VASCULAR DISEASE 6818 RESIDUALS OF LUNG INJURY 6819 NEW GROWTH OF THE LUNG 6820 BENIGN GROWTH OF THE LUNG 6821 INFECTION OF THE LUNG 6822 ACTINOMYCOSIS 6823 NOCARDIOSIS 6824 CHRONIC LUNG ABSCESS 6825 PNEUMONIA 6826 PNEUMONIA 6827 PNEUMONIA 6828 PNEUMONIA 6829 DRUG-INDUCED PNEUMONIA 6830 RADIATION-INDUCED PNEUMONIA 6831 PNEUMONIA 6832 PNEUMOCONIOSIS 6833 ASBESTOSIS 6834 HISTOPLASMOSIS OF LUNG 6835 COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS 6836 BLASTOMYCOSIS 6837 CRYPTOCOCCOSES 6838 ASPERGILLOSIS 6839 MUCORMYCOSIS 6840 DIAPHRAGM PARALYSIS 6841 RESTRICTIVE LUNG DISEASE 6842 RESTRICTIVE LUNG DISEASE 6843 CHEST WALL DEFECT 6844 RESIDUAL OF LUNG SURGERY 6845 RESTRICTIVE LUNG DISEASE 6846 SARCOIDOSIS 6847 SLEEP APNEA SYNDROMES 6899 LUNG CONDITION 7000 RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE 7001 ENDOCARDITIS 7002 PERICARDITIS 7003 PERICARDIAL ADHESIONS 7004 SYPHILITIC HEART DISEASE 7005 ARTERIOSCLEROTIC HEART DISEASE 7006 MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION 7007 HYPERTENSIVE HEART DISEASE 7008 HYPERTHYROID HEART DISEASE 7010 SUPRAVENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS 7011 VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS 7012 HEART CONDITION 7013 HEART CONDITION 7014 RAPID PULSE OF THE HEART 7015 ATRIOVENTRICULAR BLOCK 7016 HEART PROSTHESIS 7017 CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS 7018 IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC PACEMAKERS 7019 CARDIAC TRANSPLANT 7020 CARDIOMYOPATHY 7099 HEART CONDITION 7100 ARTERIOSCLEROSIS 7101 HYPERTENSION 7110 ANEURYSM OF THE AORTA 7111 ANEURYSM OF LARGE ARTERY 7112 ANEURYSM OF SMALL ARTERY 7113 TRAUMATIC ANEURYSM OF ARTERY 7114 CIRCULATORY CONDITION 7115 BUERGER'S DISEASE 7116 CLAUDICATION, A CIRCULATORY CONDITION 7117 RAYNAUD'S DISEASE 7118 CIRCULATORY CONDITION 7119 ERYTHROMELALGIA, A CIRCULATORY CONDITION 7120 VARICOSE VEINS 7121 PHLEBITIS 7122 RESIDUALS OF FROZEN FEET 7123 SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMA 7199 CIRCULATORY CONDITION 7200 RESIDUALS OF MOUTH INJURY 7201 RESIDUALS OF LIP INJURY 7202 LOSS, OR PARTIAL LOSS, OF TONGUE 7203 STRICTURE OF ESOPHAGUS 7204 SPASM OF ESOPHAGUS 7205 DIVERTICULUM OF ESOPHAGUS 7299 CONDITION OF UPPER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 7301 ADHESIONS OF PERITONEUM 7302 ULCER CONDITION 7304 GASTRIC ULCER 7305 DUODENAL ULCER 7306 MARGINAL ULCER 7307 GASTRITIS 7308 POSTOPERATIVE STOMACH INJURY 7309 STENOSIS OF STOMACH 7310 RESIDUALS OF STOMACH INJURY 7311 RESIDUALS OF LIVER INJURY 7312 CIRRHOSIS OF LIVER 7313 RESIDUALS OF LIVER ABSCESS 7314 INFLAMMATION OF A GALL BLADDER 7315 GALL STONES 7316 INFLAMMATION OF A BILE DUCT 7317 RESIDUALS OF GALL BLADDER INJURY 7318 RESIDUALS OF GALL BLADDER REMOVAL 7319 IRRITABLE COLON 7320 INTESTINAL CONDITION 7321 AMEBIASIS 7322 DYSENTERY 7323 COLITIS 7324 BOWEL CONDITION 7325 ENTERITIS, A BOWEL CONDITION 7326 ENTEROCOLITIS, A BOWEL CONDITION 7327 DIVERTICULITIS, A BOWEL CONDITION 7328 RESECTION OF SMALL INTESTINE 7329 RESECTION OF LARGE INTESTINE 7330 FISTULA OF THE INTESTINE 7331 PERITONITIS 7332 IMPAIRMENT OF SPHINCTER CONTROL 7333 STRUCTURE OF RECTUM AND ANUS 7334 PROLAPSE OF THE RECTUM 7335 FISTULA OF THE ANUS 7336 HEMORRHOIDS 7337 IRRITATION OF THE ANUS 7338 INGUINAL HERNIA 7339 VENTRAL HERNIA 7340 FEMORAL HERNIA 7341 RESIDUALS OF ABDOMINAL WOUNDS 7342 ABDOMINAL CONDITION 7343 NEW GROWTH OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 7344 BENIGN GROWTH OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 7345 RESIDUALS OF HEPATITIS 7346 HIATAL HERNIA 7347 INFLAMMATION OF THE PANCREAS 7348 VAGOTOMY 7399 CONDITION OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 7500 REMOVAL OF KIDNEY 7501 ABSCESS OF KIDNEY 7502 NEPHRITIS 7503 PYELITIS 7504 PYELONEPHRITIS 7505 TUBERCULOSIS OF KIDNEY 7506 KIDNEY CONDITION 7507 NEPHROSCLEROSIS 7508 KIDNEY STONES 7509 HYDRONEPHROSIS 7510 URINARY CONDITION 7511 STRICTURE OF URETER 7512 CHRONIC CYSTITIS 7513 CYSTITIS 7514 TUBERCULOSIS OF THE BLADDER 7515 CALCULUS IN THE BLADDER 7516 FISTULA OF THE BLADDER 7517 INJURY OF THE BLADDER 7518 STRICTURE OF THE URETHRA 7519 FISTULA OF THE URETHRA 7520 REMOVAL OF THE PENIS 7521 REMOVAL OF PENILE GLANS 7522 DEFORMITY OF THE PENIS 7523 COMPLETE ATROPHY OF THE TESTIS 7524 REMOVAL OF TESTIS 7525 EPIDIDYMAL INFECTION 7526 RESECTION, REMOVAL OF PROSTATE GLAND 7527 PROSTATE GLAND CONDITION 7528 MALIGNANT GROWTH GENITOURINARY AREA 7529 BENIGN GROWTH GENITOURINARY AREA 7530 CHRONIC RENAL DISEASE 7531 KIDNEY TRANSPLANT 7532 KIDNEY TUBULE DYSFUNCTION 7533 CYSTIC DISEASE OF KIDNEY 7534 ATHEROSCLEROTIC KIDNEY DISEASE 7535 TOXIC KIDNEY DISEASE 7536 INFLAMMATION OF KIDNEY GLOMERULI 7537 INFLAMMATION OF KIDNEY 7538 DEATH OF KIDNEY PAPILLA CELLS 7539 KIDNEY AMYLOID DISEASE 7540 KIDNEY DISEASE 7541 KIDNEY INVOLVEMENT IN SYSTEMIC DISEASE 7542 BLADDER PARALYSIS 7599 URINARY CONDITION 7610 INFLAMMATION OF VULVA AND VAGINA 7611 INFLAMMATION OF VAGINA 7612 INFLAMMATION OF CERVIX 7613 INFLAMMATION OF THE UTERUS 7614 INFLAMMATION OF UTERINE TUBE 7615 INFLAMMATION OF OVARY 7617 REMOVAL OF UTERUS AND OVARIES 7618 REMOVAL OF UTERUS 7619 REMOVAL OF OVARIES 7620 ATROPHY OF BOTH OVARIES 7621 PROLAPSE OF THE UTERUS 7622 DISPLACEMENT OF THE UTERUS 7623 COMPLICATION OF PREGNANCY 7624 VAGINAL FISTULA 7625 VAGINAL FISTULA 7626 REMOVAL OF BREAST 7627 NEW GROWTH OF THE BREAST 7628 BENIGN GROWTH - GYNECOLOGICAL OR BREAST 7629 ENDOMETRIOSIS 7699 GYNECOLOGICAL CONDITION 7700 ANEMIA 7701 SECONDARY ANEMIA 7702 AGRANULOCYTOSIS 7703 LEUKEMIA 7704 POLYCYTHEMIA 7705 THROMBOCYTOPENIA 7706 REMOVAL OF SPLEEN 7707 RESIDUALS OF SPLEEN INJURY 7709 HODGKIN'S DISEASE 7710 CERVICAL ADENITIS 7711 AXILLARY ADENITIS 7712 INGUINAL ADENITIS 7713 SECONDARY ADENITIS 7714 SICKLE CELL ANEMIA 7715 NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA 7716 APLASTIC ANEMIA 7799 BLOOD CONDITION 7800 DISFIGUREMENT OF HEAD, FACE, NECK 7801 3RD DEGREE BURNS 7802 2ND DEGREE BURNS 7803 SUPERFICIAL SCARS 7804 SUPERFICIAL SCARS 7805 SCARS 7806 ECZEMA 7807 LEISHMANIASIS 7808 LEISHMANIASIS 7809 LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS 7810 PINTA 7811 LUPUS VULGARIS 7812 NODULES, TUMORS OF THE SKIN 7813 DERMATOPHYTOSIS 7814 INFECTION OF FACIAL AREA 7815 PEMPHIGUS 7816 PSORIASIS 7817 DERMATITIS 7818 NEW GROWTH OF THE SKIN 7819 BENIGN GROWTH OF THE SKIN 7899 SKIN CONDITION 7900 HYPERTHYROIDISM 7901 THYROID GLAND GROWTH 7902 THYROID GLAND GROWTH 7903 HYPOTHYROIDISM 7904 HYPOTHYROIDISM 7905 HYPERPARATHYROIDISM 7907 CUSHING'S SYNDROME, A PITUITARY DISEASE 7908 HYPERPITUITARISM, A PITUITARY CONDITION 7909 HYPOPITUITARISM, A PITUITARY CONDITION 7910 ADRENAL CONDITION 7911 ADDISON'S DISEASE, AN ADRENAL CONDITION 7912 MULTIPLE GLANDULAR CONDITION 7913 DIABETES 7914 NEW GROWTH OF THE GLANDS 7915 BENIGN GROWTH OF THE GLANDS 7999 GLANDULAR CONDITION 8000 ENCEPHALITIS 8001 CONDITION OF THE BRAIN 8002 NEW GROWTH OF THE BRAIN 8003 BENIGN GROWTH OF THE BRAIN 8004 MUSCLE NERVE CONDITION 8005 BULBAR PALSY 8007 EMBOLISM OF THE BRAIN 8008 THROMBOSIS OF THE BRAIN 8009 HEMORRHAGE OF THE BRAIN 8010 MYELITIS, A SPINAL CORD CONDITION 8011 POLIOMYELITIS 8012 HEMATOMYELIA, A SPINAL CORD CONDITION 8013 INFECTIOUS CONDITION 8014 INFECTIOUS CONDITION 8015 DEGENERATION OF THE SPINAL CORD 8017 AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS 8018 MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 8019 SPINAL MENINGITIS 8020 ABSCESS OF THE BRAIN 8021 NEW GROWTH OF THE SPINE 8022 BENIGN GROWTH OF THE SPINE 8023 MUSCULAR ATROPHY 8024 SYRINGOMYELIA 8025 MYASTHENIAS GRAVIS 8026 CONDITION OF THE BRAIN 8045 TRAUMATIC BRAIN DISEASE 8046 CEREBRAL ARTERIOSCLEROSIS 8099 BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD CONDITION 8100 MIGRAINE HEADACHES 8103 NERVOUS TIC 8104 MYOCLONIC CONVULSIONS 8105 SYDENHAM'S CHOREA 8106 HUNTINGTON'S CHOREA 8107 NERVE CONDITION 8108 NARCOLEPSY 8199 CONDITION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM 8205 PARALYSIS OF FIFTH CRANIAL NERVE 8207 PARALYSIS OF SEVENTH CRANIAL NERVE 8209 PARALYSIS OF NINTH CRANIAL NERVE 8210 PARALYSIS OF TENTH CRANIAL NERVE 8211 PARALYSIS OF ELEVENTH CRANIAL NERVE 8212 PARALYSIS OF TWELFTH CRANIAL NERVE 8299 PARALYSIS OF A NERVE 8305 INFLAMMATION OF FIFTH CRANIAL NERVE 8307 INFLAMMATION OF SEVENTH CRANIAL NERVE 8309 INFLAMMATION OF NINTH CRANIAL NERVE 8310 INFLAMMATION OF TENTH CRANIAL NERVE 8311 INFLAMMATION OF ELEVENTH CRANIAL NERVE 8312 INFLAMMATION OF TWELFTH CRANIAL NERVE 8399 NEURITIS 8405 NEURALGIA OF FIFTH CRANIAL NERVE 8407 NEURALGIA OF SEVENTH CRANIAL NERVE 8409 NEURALGIA OF NINTH CRANIAL NERVE 8410 NEURALGIA OF TENTH CRANIAL NERVE 8411 NEURALGIA OF ELEVENTH CRANIAL NERVE 8412 NEURALGIA OF TWELFTH CRANIAL NERVE 8499 NEURALGIA 8510 PARALYSIS OF UPPER RADICULAR NERVE GROUP 8511 PARALYSIS OF MIDDLE RADICULAR NERVES 8512 PARALYSIS OF LOWER RADICULAR NERVE GROUP 8513 PARALYSIS OF ALL RADICULAR NERVE GROUPS 8514 PARALYSIS OF MUSCULOSPIRAL NERVE 8515 PARALYSIS OF MEDIAN NERVE 8516 PARALYSIS OF ULNAR NERVE 8517 PARALYSIS OF MUSCULOCUTANEOUS NERVE 8518 PARALYSIS OF CIRCUMFLEX NERVE 8519 PARALYSIS OF LONG THORACIC NERVE 8520 PARALYSIS OF SCIATIC NERVE 8521 PARALYSIS OF EXTERNAL POPLITEAL NERVE 8522 PARALYSIS OF SUPERFICIAL PERONEAL NERVE 8523 PARALYSIS OF ANTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE 8524 PARALYSIS OF INTERNAL POPLITEAL NERVE 8525 PARALYSIS OF POSTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE 8526 PARALYSIS OF ANTERIOR CRURAL NERVE 8527 PARALYSIS OF INTERNAL SAPHENOUS NERVE 8528 PARALYSIS OF OBTURATOR NERVE 8529 PARALYSIS OF EXTERNAL CUTANEOUS NERVE 8530 PARALYSIS OF ILIO-INGUINAL NERVE 8540 SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMA 8599 PARALYSIS OF A NERVE 8610 INFLAMMATION OF UPPER RADICULAR NERVES 8611 INFLAMMATION OF MIDDLE RADICULAR NERVES 8612 INFLAMMATION OF LOWER RADICULAR NERVES 8613 INFLAMMATION OF ALL RADICULAR NERVES 8614 INFLAMMATION OF RADICAL NERVE 8615 INFLAMMATION OF MEDIAN NERVE 8616 INFLAMMATION OF ULNAR NERVE 8617 INFLAMMATION OF MUSCULOCUTANEOUS NERVE 8618 INFLAMMATION OF CIRCUMFLEX NERVE 8619 INFLAMMATION OF LONG THORACIC NERVE 8620 INFLAMMATION OF SCIATIC NERVE 8621 INFLAMMATION OF EXTERNAL POPLITEAL NERVE 8622 INFLAMMATION OF SUPERFICIAL PERONEAL NERVE 8623 INFLAMMATION OF ANTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE 8624 INFLAMMATION OF INTERNAL POPLITEAL NERVE 8625 INFLAMMATION OF POSTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE 8626 INFLAMMATION OF ANTERIOR CRURAL NERVE 8627 INFLAMMATION OF INTERNAL SAPHENOUS NERVE 8628 INFLAMMATION OF OBTURATOR NERVE 8629 INFLAMMATION OF EXTERNAL CUTANEOUS NERVE 8630 INFLAMMATION OF ILIO-INGUINAL NERVE 8710 NEURALGIA OF UPPER RADICULAR NERVE GROUP 8711 NEURALGIA OF MIDDLE RADICULAR NERVES 8712 NEURALGIA OF LOWER RADICULAR NERVE GROUP 8713 NEURALGIA OF ALL RADICULAR NERVE GROUPS 8714 NEURALGIA OF RADIAL NERVE 8715 NEURALGIA OF MEDIAN NERVE 8716 NEURALGIA OF ULNAR NERVE 8717 NEURALGIA OF MUSCULOCUTANEOUS NERVE 8718 NEURALGIA OF CIRCUMFLEX NERVE 8719 NEURALGIA OF LONG THORACIC NERVE 8720 NEURALGIA OF SCIATIC NERVE 8721 NEURALGIA OF EXTERNAL POPLITEAL NERVE 8722 NEURALGIA OF SUPERFICIAL PERONEAL NERVE 8723 NEURALGIA OF ANTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE 8724 NEURALGIA OF INTERNAL POPLITEAL NERVE 8725 NEURALGIA OF POSTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE 8726 NEURALGIA OF ANTERIOR CRURAL NERVE 8727 NEURALGIA OF INTERNAL SAPHENOUS NERVE 8728 NEURALGIA OF OBTURATOR NERVE 8729 NEURALGIA OF EXTERNAL CUTANEOUS NERVE 8730 NEURALGIA OF ILIO-INGUINAL NERVE 8799 NEURALGIA 8850 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES 8851 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - AMPUTATIONS 8852 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - JOINTS, SKULL, AND RIBS 8853 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - MUSCLE INJURIES 8860 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - DISEASES OF THE EYE 8861 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - HEARING LOSS 8862 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - EAR AND OTHER SENSE ORGANS 8863 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - SYSTEMIC DISEASES 8865 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - NOSE AND THROAT 8866 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - TRACHEA AND BRONCHI 8867 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - TUBERCULOSIS 8868 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - LUNGS AND PLEURA 8870 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - HEART DISEASES 8871 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - ARTERIES AND VEINS 8872 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - UPPER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 8873 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - LOWER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 8875 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - GENITOURINARY SYSTEM 8876 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - GYNECOLOGICAL SYSTEM 8877 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - HEMIC AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEM 8878 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - SKIN 8879 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - ENDOCRINE SYSTEM 8880 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM 8881 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - MISCELLANEOUS NEUROLOGICAL 8882 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - CRANIAL NERVE PARALYSIS 8883 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - CRANIAL NERVE NEURITIS 8884 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - CRANIAL NERVE NEURALGIA 8885 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - PERIPHERAL NERVE PARALYSIS 8886 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - PERIPHERAL NERVE NEURITIS 8887 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - PERIPHERAL NERVE NEURALGIA 8889 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - EPILEPSIES 8892 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS 8893 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - ORGANIC MENTAL 8894 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - PSYCHONEUROTIC 8895 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGIC 8899 UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION - DENTAL AND ORAL 8900 SEIZURE DISORDER 8901 SEIZURE DISORDER 8902 SEIZURE DISORDER 8910 SEIZURE DISORDER 8911 SEIZURE DISORDER 8912 SEIZURE DISORDER 8913 SEIZURE DISORDER 8914 SEIZURE DISORDER 8999 SEIZURE DISORDER 9000 PSYCHOSIS 9001 PSYCHOSIS 9002 PSYCHOSIS 9003 PSYCHOSIS 9004 PSYCHOSIS 9005 PSYCHOSIS 9006 PSYCHOSIS 9008 PSYCHOSIS 9009 PSYCHOSIS 9010 PSYCHOSIS 9011 PSYCHOSIS 9012 PSYCHOSIS 9013 PSYCHOSIS 9014 PSYCHOSIS 9015 PSYCHOSIS 9016 PSYCHOSIS 9017 PSYCHOSIS 9018 PSYCHOSIS 9019 PSYCHOSIS 9020 PSYCHOSIS 9021 PSYCHOSIS 9022 PSYCHOSIS 9023 PSYCHOSIS 9024 PSYCHOSIS 9025 PSYCHOSIS 9026 PSYCHOSIS 9027 PSYCHOSIS 9028 PSYCHOSIS 9029 PSYCHOSIS 9030 PSYCHOSIS 9031 PSYCHOSIS 9032 PSYCHOSIS 9033 PSYCHOSIS 9034 PSYCHOSIS 9035 PSYCHOSIS 9036 PSYCHOSIS 9037 PSYCHOSIS 9039 PSYCHOSIS 9040 PSYCHOSIS 9041 PSYCHOSIS 9042 PSYCHOSIS 9043 PSYCHOSIS 9044 PSYCHOSIS 9045 PSYCHOSIS 9046 PSYCHOSIS 9047 PSYCHOSIS 9048 PSYCHOSIS 9049 PSYCHOSIS 9050 PSYCHOSIS 9051 PSYCHOSIS 9052 PSYCHOSIS 9053 PSYCHOSIS 9054 PSYCHOSIS 9055 PSYCHOSIS 9099 PSYCHOSIS 9100 NEUROSIS 9101 NEUROSIS 9102 NEUROSIS 9103 NEUROSIS 9104 NEUROSIS 9105 NEUROSIS 9106 NEUROSIS 9110 PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGIC HEART DISORDER 9111 PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGIC HEART DISORDER 9112 PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGIC STOMACH DISORDER 9199 NERVOUS CONDITION 9200 PSYCHOSIS 9201 SCHIZOPHRENIA 9202 SCHIZOPHRENIA 9203 SCHIZOPHRENIA 9204 SCHIZOPHRENIA 9205 SCHIZOPHRENIA 9206 PSYCHOSIS 9207 PSYCHOSIS 9208 DELUSIONAL DISORDER 9210 PSYCHOTIC DISORDER 9211 SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER 9299 PSYCHOSIS 9300 DELIRIUM 9301 DEMENTIA DUE TO INFECTION 9302 BRAIN SYNDROME 9303 BRAIN SYNDROME 9304 DEMENTIA DUE TO HEAD TRAUMA 9305 VASCULAR DEMENTIA 9306 BRAIN SYNDROME 9307 BRAIN SYNDROME 9308 BRAIN SYNDROME 9309 DEMENTIA 9310 BRAIN SYNDROME 9311 BRAIN SYNDROME 9312 DEMENTIA 9313 BRAIN SYNDROME 9314 BRAIN SYNDROME 9315 BRAIN SYNDROME 9316 BRAIN SYNDROME 9317 BRAIN SYNDROME 9318 BRAIN SYNDROME 9319 BRAIN SYNDROME 9320 BRAIN SYNDROME 9321 BRAIN SYNDROME 9322 BRAIN SYNDROME 9323 BRAIN SYNDROME 9324 BRAIN SYNDROME 9325 BRAIN SYNDROME 9326 DEMENTIA 9327 ORGANIC MENTAL DISORDER 9399 BRAIN SYNDROME 9400 ANXIETY DISORDER 9401 NEUROSIS 9402 NEUROSIS 9403 ANXIETY DISORDER 9404 OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER 9405 NEUROSIS 9406 NEUROSIS 9407 NEUROSIS 9408 NEUROSIS 9409 NEUROSIS 9410 NEUROSIS 9411 POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER 9412 PANIC DISORDER AND/OR AGORAPHOBIA 9413 ANXIETY DISORDER 9416 DISSOCIATIVE AMNESIA, FUGUE OR IDENTITY DISORDER 9417 DEPERSONALIZATION DISORDER 9421 SOMATIZATION DISORDER 9422 PAIN DISORDER 9423 SOMATOFORM DISORDER 9424 CONVERSION DISORDER 9425 HYPOCHONDRIASIS 9431 CYCLOTHYMIC DISORDER 9432 BIPOLAR DISORDER 9433 DYSTHYMIC DISORDER 9434 MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER 9435 MOOD DISORDER 9440 CHRONIC ADJUSTMENT DISORDER 9499 NEUROSIS 9500 NEUROTIC SKIN DISORDER 9501 NEUROTIC HEART DISORDER 9502 NEUROTIC STOMACH DISORDER 9503 NERVOUS CONDITION 9504 NERVOUS CONDITION 9505 NEUROTIC SKELETAL DISORDER 9506 NEUROTIC RESPIRATORY DISORDER 9507 NEUROTIC HEMIC AND LYMPH DISORDER 9508 NEUROTIC GENITOURINARY DISORDER 9509 NEUROTIC ENDOCRINE DISORDER 9510 NEUROTIC SENSE ORGAN CONDITION 9511 NEUROTIC CONDITION: OTHER 9520 ANOREXIA NERVOSA 9521 BULIMIA NERVOSA 9599 NERVOUS CONDITION 9900 INFLAMMATION OF JAWBONE 9901 LOSS OF LOWER JAW 9902 PARTIAL LOSS OF LOWER JAW 9903 NONUNION OF LOWER JAW 9904 MALUNION OF LOWER JAW 9905 LIMITED MOTION OF THE JAW 9906 LOSS OF UPPER JAW 9907 PARTIAL LOSS OF UPPER JAW 9908 LOSS OF CONDYLOID PROCESS OF JAW 9909 LOSS OF CORONOID PROCESS OF JAW 9910 LOSS OF MAXILLA 9911 LOSS OF PALATE 9912 LOSS OF TEETH 9999 CONDITION OF JAWW

Department of Veterans Affairs VHA DIRECTIVE 2000-029 Veterans Health Administration Washington, DC 20420 September 22, 2000 PROVISION OF MEDICAL OPINIONS BY VA HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS 1. PURPOSE: This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive establishes nationwide policy requiring VHA health care providers, when requested, and under certain limited circumstances, to provide descriptive statements and opinions for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients with respect to patients’ medical condition, employability, and degree of disability. 2. BACKGROUND: This policy rescinds all restrictions on VA physicians and other medical practitioners, defined in M-1, Part I, Chapter 9, section 9.50. Restrictions on the ability of VA health care providers to provide statements and opinions for VA patients are inconsistent with the goal of VHA to provide comprehensive care and place a serious burden on veterans who depend on VHA for their care. This policy must, however, be implemented in a way that avoids inappropriate VHA participation in the claims adjudication process that determines eligibility for VA disability benefits. It is anticipated that this policy area will be the subject of future notice and comment rulemaking. 3. POLICY: It is VHA policy to remove restrictions on the ability of VA health care providers to provide statements and opinions for VA patients. 4. ACTION: Medical facility Directors are to implement this directive immediately. Use the following guidelines: a. Support by Treating VA Practitioners of VA Benefits Claims (1) Veteran patients may request descriptive statements regarding their medical conditions and/or opinions concerning the “possible cause(s)” of an existing medical condition for VA disability claims purposes. VHA health care providers shall provide a statement or opinion describing a patient’s medical condition. If the health care provider is the veteran’s treating physician, and is unable, or deems it inappropriate, to provide an opinion or statement, such physician shall refer the veteran’s request to another health care provider for the opinion or statement. NOTE: For purposes of this policy, a note in the consolidated health record containing a statement such as, “in my medical opinion the currently existing medical condition is ‘related to,’ ‘possibly related to,’ or ‘at least as likely as not related to’ an injury, disease, or event occurring during the veteran’s military service” constitutes a sufficient supportive statement. The injury, disease, or event can be something described by the veteran or shown in other records, but should be identified as such by the health care practitioner in the health care practitioner’s statement. A statement to the effect of, “I am unable to determine whether a relationship exists” between the present disability and a described injury, disease, or event occurring during military service, is also acceptable. (2) When providing medical statements and opinions, the veteran patient must be informed that decisions concerning VA compensation and/or pension benefits are: THIS VHA DIRECTIVE EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 31, 2005 (a) Decided by VA regional office adjudication officials based upon the law, regulations, and the totality of medical evidence pertaining to the disability claimed, and (b) Not controlled by the physician providing the veteran’s care or the medical facility furnishing treatment. b. Medical Opinions for Non-VA Purposes. Veterans may also ask VA health care professionals for medical opinions to assist them in filing claims with other agencies, e.g., the Social Security Administration (SSA). These opinions may be provided in the same manner and under the same restrictions as opinions furnished for Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) claims processing purposes. NOTE: This does not include completion of Social Security Administration (SSA) forms for examinations where SSA would pay a private practitioner, but is prohibited from paying other Federal agencies such as VA (see Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 17.38 (a)(1)(xiv)). c. Requirement for Disclaimer. In all instances involving VA determinations, the veteran patient must be asked to sign a statement indicating the veteran’s understanding that the opinions of the VA physician do not constitute an official VA determination of service connection, degree of disability, or eligibility for VA benefits. The disclaimer documented below is being added to VA Form 10-5345, Request for and Consent to Release of Medical Records Protected by Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 7332, to facilitate its use. In the meantime, for releases of information covered by this directive, incorporate a statement like the following, signed by the veteran, in the Consolidated Health Record: “I understand that the VA health care practitioner’s opinions and statements are not official VA decisions regarding whether I will receive other VA benefits or, if I receive VA benefits, their amount. They may, however, be considered with other evidence when these decisions are made at a VA Regional Office that specializes in benefit decisions.” 5. REFERENCE: None. 6. FOLLOW-UP RESPONSIBILITY: The Office of Patient Care Services, Forensic Medicine Strategic Healthcare Group (11F) is responsible for the contents of this directive. 7. RESCISSIONS: M-1, Part I, Chapter 9, section 9.50 and VHA Directive 98-052 are rescinded. This VHA Directive expires September 31, 2005. S/ Frances Murphy, M.D. for Thomas L. Garthwaite, M.D. Under Secretary for Health DISTRIBUTION: CO: E-mailed 9/22/2000 FLD: VISN, MA, DO, OC, OCRO, and 200 - FAX 9/22/2000 EX: Boxes 104, 88, 63, 60, 54, 52, 47 and 44 - FAX 9/22/2000

After the VA got a hold of my service records I ended up missing 3 yrs of my medical records. It's not uncommon to have this done. After you left service, did you go to any private Dr's for treatment? Go to the VAMC's for treatment? I was lucky enough to have more than a decade of medical records at a private Dr following service. I was in an accident in service and theres a paper that shows the Navy requested the ER hospital treatment records, but no such records were in my service records or c-file. Much will depend on wether the C&P examiner service connects your back to the jump injury. Even than, if the rater doesn't want to rate it, they may keep Dr shopping for another IMO to shoot down the favorable one. If they can grant, than it's all up to if they want to or not.

bandido, Some meds you can ask your Dr to prescribe a 90 day supply. For pain meds, mark on your calendar the day you recieve your meds. Than mark two weeks from than to call in and reorder the pain meds. Calling to soon after you recieve them, "MAY" make them think that you run out to soon and are taking more than prescribed or selling them. Everything except pain meds can be ordered at the,"My Healthy Vet" online site. I order all my meds except pain meds through this site & have never had any problem recieving them on time. You can also see what you have ordered in the past and what is about to expire on the site. Hope this helps. Allan

Pete53, Was that your diabetes test strips you had resolved?

e4766, [Who did you talk to at your VA? ] You need to contact the FEE BASIS dept at the VAMC that treats you. They are the ones responcible to pay for outside the VAMC treatment or testing. ******************************************************************** John, [My pain doctor told me oxycontin was too addictive but the fentanyl, morphine and methadone is not addictive I guess.] Oxycontin is highly addictive if your crushing it up and shooting it in your vains like any common street junky. If taken as prescribed, it has far less side effects during usage and withdrawal than the others. For almost a year, the VAMC would send my prescription of long acting Morphine, than be a month late sending it. Calling them and telling them I was having severe withdrawal symtoms did no good. They just acted like I was a drug addict, even though it was them forgetting to send it that put me there. They can be cold sometimes. They did this off and on for a yr or so. Than changed it so I had to call every month in order to get it. At least this kept them from forgetting to send it. I know very well about morphine and metadone withdrawals from their lack of sending the prescriptions out on time. I have to see my private Dr every two months to make sure i'm not abusing the medication and taking more than prescribed and the VAMC Dr checks with blood test to see how much is showing up in the blood. I don't worry about any of it because I have never taken more than prescribed. Thats when you get in trouble. Pain meds do not get rid of pain for one thing. They only dull it enough to function. Somedays that doesn't happen either for me. One thing also. The more you take, the more you need. It's better to suffer through the day than to have your body get to used to the drug. Thats when it will quit working for you.

I complained about the distance to drive to get blood work once so the VA Dr ordered it from a local hospital. The hospital billed me for a yr because the VAMC refused to pay for it . The Hospital threatened to turn it over to a collection agecny so I had to threaten the VAMC billing office with a law suit for damaging 20+ yrs of perfect credit if it goes to collections. It was paid in two days. I drive what ever it takes now and take what ever travel pay they offer. Pain meds at the VA is all about the money. I had no problem at all getting Oxycontin CR through a private Dr after showing him my medical records when VA suddenly stopped my meds and put me into sudden withdrawals. The VA quit supplying it to anyone but terminal patients simply to save bucks. They don't care how much you suffer. If we were dogs they would be in jail for such inhumain treatment & cruelty. I've been on Oxycontin now for over 6 yrs. No side effects except feeling sleepy at times. Am not able to tollerate Methadone or Morphine. They just make me sick. Terible stuf. One thing a Dr should never do is make you suffer or make your condition worse. The VA health care could care less and ties their Dr's hands when it comes to relieving your pain. With neuro pain, you need what works period. I forgot to add that I still get breakthrough neuro pain meds through my VA Dr. I simply let the VA know I was recieving Oxy CR through my private Dr & provided them with his contact information. Your VA Dr does not have to except any meds prescribed by a private Dr, but if they do'nt think you would abuse it, they can cordinate with your private Dr to set this up. I spend nearly a fourth of my disability income on just this one pain med including a Dr's visit every two months. Theft of Oxycontin by VA employees is the number one reason the VA stopped supplying it to those Veterans that cannot tollerate methadone or morphine. Seems like 5 yrs in a federal pin would stop that. Thats atleast what they would give a Veteran for stealing benefits through fraud.

Pain Management August 2010 Pain is the most often reported reason for seeking medical care. Acute pain is a major symptom of many injuries or conditions. Chronic pain can have a serious effect on your quality of life long after your body has healed. Pain is not just a physical sensation. Your experience of pain can control how you respond when you hurt. Your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors make a difference. For example, negative thoughts and emotions "turn up the volume" of pain. Pain certainly can cause depression. Your mood also will influence your pain. Read More » After Shingles Pain If you have ever had chickenpox, you are at risk for developing shingles. If you have shingles, you may also develop after-shingles pain. The medical name for this pain is postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN. Read More » Diabetic Neuropathy and Your Feet People with diabetes can, over time, have damage to nerves throughout the body. This nerve damage is called "diabetic neuropathy". This can cause numbness and sometimes pain and weakness in the hands, arms, feet and legs. Read More » https://www.myhealth...geLabel=mhvHome

VA NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE Toll Free/24 Hours/7 Days a week 1-800-273-8255 Spokane-First Call for Help local Number (509) 838-4428 TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4489) VA VETERANS CHAT http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org Operating Hours: 24hours a day 7 days a week Ckick On Veterans Menu to...... Chat Live Online Are you a Veteran in emotional distress? If so, chat live with a crisis counselor and get help.

[i drink allot now because of the pain and I am always thinking of suicide because i feel there is no end to my pain and problems and no one takes me serious and i dont want to go to a shrink because im afraid they will lock me up or something.] TLaff, the above statement of you drinking all the time and are desperate for pain medications is one reason the VA and private Dr's will shy away from giving you anything but inflamatorys and muscle relaxants. It wasn't until I got my head together enough to make myself go to a psychiatrist that I finally started getting the right medications prescribed. Pain is felt by the brain. Therefore the psychiatrist takes president over pain issues. Make up your mind now to save your life and do something about your chronic pain. Go see the psychiatrist and get some real help. I feel for you. I've been there. Allan

Okie143, ditto what Carlie stated. I just went through this myself. They will reevaluate everything. Did you not have any chronic pain with your back or take medication for it? Do separation exams show back issues, hearing loss or tinnitis? Service records show treatment or injury? Allan

thanks.................i'll pass it along. Allan

New Senate Caucus to Focus on Military, Vet Families A bipartisan contingent of senators announced the formation of the Senate Military Family Caucus, a group that will focus on issues facing the families of active-duty servicemembers and veterans. The caucus, which will work closely with its recently formed House counterpart, will seek to improve programs and services for military families. The caucus aims to address issues including childcare, education, employment, health care and the effects of multiple deployments on the mental health and well-being of spouses, caregivers and children, according to an Aug. 18 joint statement by Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Richard Burr, R-N.C. “The families of America’s men and women in uniform are the backbone of our military,” Burr said. “There is a lot we can do for these families to ease their burden.” Co-Chairs Boxer and Burr were part of a congressional effort last month which urged Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to force insurance companies into adequately notifying military family members of their right to lump-sump death benefit payments. To see more, go to: <A href="http://burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=86fd564d-b30f-493e-080e-754398a3f6a6&Region_id=&Issue_id"'>http://burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=86fd564d-b30f-493e-080e-754398a3f6a6&Region_id=&Issue_id" target=_blank>http://burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice. PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=86fd564d-b30f-493e- 080e-754398a3f6a6&Region_id=&Issue_id. August 18, 2010 - 4:55 PM Burr, Boxer Announce Formation of Senate Military Family Caucus Bipartisan Group Will Work to Support Military Families Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), along with 18 colleagues, today announced the formation of the Senate Military Family Caucus - a bipartisan group that will focus on issues facing the families of active and veteran service men and women. “The families of America’s men and women in uniform are the backbone of our military,” Senator Burr said. “They often sacrifice of themselves to offer the support and motivation our servicemembers need to accomplish their mission, all while living with the reality that their loved one may be in harm’s way. There is a lot we can do for these families to ease their burden. The Senate Military Family caucus signifies that we, as a group of Senators, recognize a need to support military families and provides an avenue to push for legislation that will benefit these families.” “We recognize that when a service member puts on a uniform, the entire family sacrifices for our country,” said Senator Boxer. “The Senate Military Family Caucus will put a spotlight on issues affecting our men and women in uniform and their spouses and children. Working together, we will continue to address the unique challenges military families face with childcare, education, multiple deployments, spousal employment and more.” The Senate Military Family Caucus will work closely with the recently formed House Congressional Military Family Caucus to improve programs and services for military families, and to focus on the unique and growing challenges they face. The Caucus aims to substantively address issues including childcare, education, employment, health care and the effects of multiple deployments on the mental health and well-being of spouses, caregivers and children. Along with Co-Chairs Burr and Boxer, the founding members of the Senate Military Family Caucus are Senators Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Max Baucus (D-MT), Mark Begich (D-AK), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Scott Brown (R-MA), Roland W. Burris (D-IL), Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA), Kay R. Hagan (D-NC), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), John F. Kerry (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/

I'm getting Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in /home/haditvet/public_html/forums/admin/sources/classes/bbcode/core.php on line 1050 when I try to post in agent orange forum. This is what I was trying to post: Agent Orange: Resources and Materials http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/resources.asp Other posts have been freezing during posting, so i'll ckick it again and this will end up in double posting.

Agent Orange: Resources and Materials http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/resources.asp

Agent Orange: Resources and Materials http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/resources.asp

You can request a transcript of the VA's recording they make during hearings. However, the transcript I recieved was so messed up, no one could make since of it. Most of it just repeatedly said it was garbled. Or so they claim.

So does clothing allowance just come once pr yr? And if so do Vets get it at the same time each yr? I have a Veteran looking for this information.

Hearing loss was on my separation examination papers in 1967, so I filed for hearing loss in 1997 & tinitis after I heard I may be entitled to benefits without being in combat. The VARO rater wrote in his denial, that l I told the C&P examiner my military occupation was a marine boiler repairman and operator when my military occupation was a truck driver. My dd214 shows nearly four yrs of sea duty aboard a heavy destroyer as a Boilerman. Rate of 4500. They can sure lie, but they can't read a dd214. I eventually won my hearing loss and tinitis claim. It helped to go to a free examination at one of the hearing clinics that sell hearing aides. With that saying it was likely caused by working around marine boilers, the RO ordered yet another C&P and this one also came back as caused by marine boilers. I guess they felt since lying and Dr shoping didn't work, they may as well grant it because I wasn't giving up and going away.