Crystal_707

Can I and/or should I file for cubital tunnel syndrome to my left arm? I was physically abused by my ex while we were both active duty. He tried his hardest to remove my wedding ring from my finger and with my trying to fight back, my arm/elbow was hyper extended and I was seen at medical complaining about my arm, neck and lower back in that entire scuffle. I hadn't been seen for my arm for about 6-8 years, because I was a stay at home mom and my elbow wasn't painful enough to have to seek medical services because OTC meds took care of the pain. So I went and complained as I started working again and noticed tingling and numbness occurring more and more often. I went to the VA and they diagnosed me with mild cubital tunnel syndrome, but when I applied for it I was denied. I never had any other trauma to my elbow except that one time and it was a painful aftermath, but once the pain reduced I had not reason to seek medical attention for it until I started working again and ever since then the pain has been chronic. Do I have a basis for going back and opening another claim? If so what would I need from the Doctor to relate it to that past injury/trauma to be entitled to any rate/percentage at all? And because the pain has been chronic and reoccurring it has affected my PTSD and now I am diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, with the pain more severe and concentrated in my neck, arm and lower back. I'm not sure what to do or how to go about it as I keeps getting denied....?

Thank you broncovet for the education. I will have to see what I can get from my doctor without me having to push them in the direction of stating that its "at least as likely not". Also what should i do about claiming my neck, back and arms from the abuse? Ive been denied, nut do ibhave to fet the same statement to tie it to my service being that it is documented in my service medical record?

I recently filed a claim for my newly diagnosed Fibromyalgia as secondary to my PTSD and was outright denied. My PTSD started out as panic/anxiety disorder at 30%. My mental health counselors diagnosed with me with PTSD and stated that I should go file. I did and my panic/anxiety disorder increased to 50% as PTSD with panic/anxiety disorder. I went in for an increase to the PTSD as my medication strength was increasing and I was finding myself isolated and such and it was increased to 70%, ever since the PTSD was getting worse, the symptoms of Fibromyalgia began to appear alongside the PTSD. How do I go about claiming or appealing their decision as I was told by DAV to suck it up, you're at 90% and to not f**k with the 5 year VBA rule, otherwise they can reduce all my percentages down to 0% and have me just at service-connected 0% and just pay all my medical, which scares me because I have 3 boys who are highly active and as a single parent with this new, painful diagnosis, it stresses me out more that I can't keep up or participate and be active with them. The DAV rep did say to have my Dr state that the fibro is "at least as likely not" to win my case, but if I'm claiming it as secondary to my PTSD what do I need to do? I'm not sure what I need as both symptoms of the PTSD and Fibro are very much related. So I'm not sure what I need to do at this point as it's becoming increasingly frustrating, because had I not had PTSD, the fibro would not exist. Does anyone know what to do or has been in this similar situation and can help guide me? Side note* I was physically abused by my husband, both of us were active duty at the time, where I did complain about pain in my lower back, neck and elbows and was seen for medical for all three, all of which each of those areas are intensified from the Fibro. I have put in claims for those 3 areas too and have been denied because there's a break in treatment, but if I can handle the pain for a while, and then later seek treatment for them and can only relate them to that time frame/injury, can't those be claimed as stand alone service connected? I know that symptoms and pain can lay dormant for years even decades and can be brought back to surface due to age or aggravated by another event. So how can I get these conditions service connected as well?