Flatbroke

Took a second sleep test Oct 4th and was told the doctor would have to review results then set things up to ship a CPAP machine would probably take two weeks or so. Monday was a holiday and I got a call today, they are shipping a machine in the next couple of days. So I will have it hopefully by Monday. Also took a stress test by chenical means today. Oct 9th and I will say the nurses, doctors, and all were very good at Harry S Truman in Columbia. They explained everything as we went along and kept checking on me continusely during the test and during recovery. Good news is the doc said that my heart looks pretty good , no major blockages that he could see, only have high blood pressure. Now where could a guy with PTSD, border line Diabetic, waiting on a DRO hearing in 2 weeks get high blood pressure. Now if things go well on the 24th at the DRO hearing in St. Louis that will ease things up a little. :)

Got the results fro my sleep test in August: 398 minutes in bed - 303 asleep 140 epesodes of arousal and 35 awakenings Sleep efficency 76.1% sleep maintance efficany 77.5% Stage I sleep 6.8% Stage II sleep 77.2% Stage III sleep 2.0% Stage IV sleep 0.0% Stage REM sleep 14% 16 obstructive apneic episodes 0 central episodes 8 mixed episodes 64 obstructive hypopneas An average respiratory disturbance index of 17.4 p/hr with an Apnea index of 4.8 and a Supine Index of 57.5. Average duration of 16.3 seconds with episodes up to 24.5 seconds in duration. oxygen saturation in Non-Rem 94%, Rem was 93% and the lowest saturation was 86% Leg Movements index of 6.53 IMPRESSION Moderate Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea I go back on the 4th of Oct for CPAP initiation and triation. So I will be getting a machine after the doc sees the results. I am still waiting to be rated for PTSD but hope that is soon.

Tower Rat good luck I think we both will need it

Berta, The IMO was introducted in 2004 when I was awarded a 20% disabality for LBP. Spina Bifida with spondilisis and spondilosis. The IMO stated that spondilisis can only be seen on an xray ( will not show up on Mri or Cat scan) and once it has been diagnosed it does not need to be diagnosed again as the condition does not go away. The orginal diagnoses was by the Military Doctors before I got out in 1970. And that was part of the IMO and it held up in 2004. Also although it is a condition that developes to people with Spina Bifida over the course of 15, 20, 25 years it does not develope in the 13 months. Mine did while I was in Viet Nam while serving as a rammer for 155 howitzers handleing 94 pound round all day and night. With this the VA said that the ponderance of evidence was in my favor and awarded me a disability. Then I had a C&P by a Nurse practioner at Columbia and was only awarded 20% and and effective date of OCT 2001. In the denial I got yesterday no mention was made of the IMO, only that the COVA made a decision on an EED in 1997. The COVA did not make a decision on an EED for my disability thier decision was because I missed a NOD date because I did not know what to do. My attornies took it (missing the NOD) to the federal court in D.C. and won but the V.A. got it over turned. That was in 1997 we reopened the claim in 2001 and from there we won a small battle and now we are trying to win the big one. I called the 800 # today and got a real nice lady that when I told her what was going on said that the decision I recieved should not have been made because there was a pending on my appeal and that I had a hearing in Oct of 07. She also said that there was activity on my request for PTSD on the 17th of this month. She said that someone had looked at my file but did not know what was going on.

Good luck Pete mine is going to be interesting. Mine is at the St. Louis RO.

Got my yellow envolope from the RO today. Was denied for an earlier EED and Higher % for LBP. This was a suprise since I have a hearing with the DRO on Oct 25 for an earlier EED and a higher % for LBP. ?????? I am simply amazed at the amazing way our VA is so good at screwing things up. I have been denied again for the same reasons that I now have a disability rating of 20 %. If this makes sense to any one they must work at the VA. My attorney (a former JAG officer) was amazed that these people can actualy tie thier own shoes until I reminded him about velcro. I am waiting now for my hearing to ask why this letter and then remind them about the 15 page IMO that was wrote for me by a professor of Radioligy at YALE that explained to the VA why yhey were wrong and now they are wrong again. Semper Fi Brothers and Sister in this Battle against INJUSTICE

Thanks guys, I was a little worried, my brother -in-law went in a civilian hospital just before xmas last year to have a stint installed. They lost the stint and he is no longer with us. So I am a little apprehensive about some one messing with my heart functions. Maybe I wont worry so much.

Checked the automated system and found out that I am scheduled for a stress test, (my first). The doc decided after I had complained of chest pains and they did an EKG on me at the clinic that I might have Plurasey. So after xrays and no plurasey scheduled me for PFT 72 before treatment and only picked up 18 after treatment. Learned that the first visit in late April heart rate only 56. Not bad for a 30 year old athlete but for a fifty eight old fat man? Then June 25 at next appointment the nurse took my blood pressure and said it was high. I asked what my heart rate was and she told me 53- she changed cuffs took my blood pressure again and said it was better, asked again what my heart rate was and she said 49 hot dogs. So doc says I need a STRESS TEST. Since bothlegs and feet are messed up he said they would do a chenical stress. Like I said only 4 weeks and 1 days to get a stress test. What to expect never done or seen one done. Am going to Truman in Columbia MO. Have been told they do a lot of heart work there and that they were pretty good.

Saw on the internet an article from The Boston Globe. There is a team on Iwo JIma searching for the remaions of Sgt William Genaust, of the 28th Marines, who was the marine photographer at the flag raising ( i think he took the movie picture) and was killed 9 days later while helping some marine securs a cave. semper fi brother!

Carlie and Vike17 Thanks I was hoping that was the way it worked. Gives avet more reason to win we can protect our families since thats a given the the VA wount help them.

I am understanding the 10 year and 20 year protection that we have on our SC and rating. I guess my question is if we win on a CUE, and we are awarded an earlier starting date on our SC and rating does our 10 and 20 start now or are we grandfathered back in time to the new start date of our SC and rating?

I went in the Marines in 1967. Found out I had spina Bifida of L5 and told the D.I.. They sent me to sick bay , xrayed my back said I had SB and sent me back to train. The Marines put me in heavy Artillary in Viet Nam. I developed spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in the 13 months that I was in Nam. Then I was discharged AFTER the Navy docters found S & S on xrays. S & S WILL NOT show up on cat scans or mri's. I fought the VA until 2004 when my attorneys father in law who teaches radiolgy at YALE University explained in a language that the VA could understand that I was entitaled to a service aggrated disability for S & S. I was originaly turned down one month after I was Honorably discharged for disability. I now carry a 20% because S & S are not listed on the ratings chart. And they only went back 3 years. I go in front on a board review Officer in Oct. Thats after filling a protest in Nov of 06. DONT give up brother it took me 30 plus years but I finaly got something. I am in the process of Agent Orange tests for PTSD, type II, sleep apena, increased disability on my back, breathing problems, and flat feet.