ArmyVet270

Hello Everyone, Hope all is well. I am a 90% Service Connected for multiple ailments to include Sleep Disorder/ Anxiety. I have been out for about 5 years now and wanted to know whats the best way to go about starting the process to get help for PTSD as a rating. Everyone knows there is a huge stigma attached to this which, is why I essentially tried to wish it away but of course thats not going to happen. There have been some people I look up to who have recently sought assistance by breaking the stigma which is giving me the courage to seek help. My question is what do I need to do to get this linked into my other ratings or did I wait to long to bother.

Hello everyone seeking a bit of assistance on getting my migraine rating increased. I have service connection as 0% so have nexus. However over the last several months my migraines have been progressively worse. I was able to get my civilian doc to fill out my DBQ for me. Believe I will be in the 30% range from the CFR. I have all my supporting forms and will be including a migraine log. My question is would the supplement attached along with a signed DBQ, Highlighted diagnosis from service records, VA treatment record, medication list & current problem list be considered sufficient to request a reconsideration? Thanks for any potential insight and have a great day! Rating Increase Request for Ophthalmic migraine (SCT 95655001) & Migraine (SCT 37796009. My name is Veteran. and I served in the U.S. Army on Active duty from 200#-20##. In this span of time I completed a Combat Tour for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. When training for Deployment I began experiencing what was the beginning of Ocular Migraines with sustained aurora in service. My peripheral vision started to close in on me and within 15 minutes I find myself almost completely blinded and light makes everything worse. The translucent artifacts that cover my eyes flash violently and then floaters cover my full span of vision making it impossible to see, function, or be productive at all. My body is overcome with flashes of heat and makes it challenging to breathe normally. This further aggravates my anxiety and amplifies every whisper to sound like a scream. This results in me using a large amount of sick days, taking extended lunch breaks, and limits my ability to drive and be productive. The loss of vision is my warning sign that a debilitating Ocular Migraine is starting to take place. This occurs fast and my field of vision deteriorates my head starts throbbing, feeling like my head is being stomped on from all angles and then set inside a vice that keeps squeezing tighter that brings tears to my eyes. I have to isolate myself as soon as possible and retreat to a completely dark and quiet room for hours until the pain passes culminating with me vomiting from the stress this places on my body. Once the pain starts to fade my visual field can take several hours to start to come back and it only does so very gradually over a span of 3-4 hours. These debilitating events take place at least twice a week and can exceed that as one set of migraines tends to compound the onset of another. Since 2012 I have been experiencing progressively worse migraines and have been treated for them directly by my VA & Civilian Medical Physicians. We have tried a series of medications that seek to limit the interval at which they occur both preventatively and other medications that are for when attacks do occur. (Topamax Discontinued to adverse side affects). At the peak of my Ocular Migraines I was experiencing 6 or more a week and some medication has helped me control that to about 8 a month. Over the past several years I have not had 1 single peaceful week that migraines haven't taken me away from participating at my son or daughters recital, award ceremonies, or family days out. There has not been 1 single week that my Migraines have not taken me away from my job hurting my professional life & there has not been 1 single week where Migraines have not played a central role in my life negatively impacting my presence at important moments that I can never get back. I am requesting that my rating be increased to be reflective of the compounding symptom’s and worsening condition that has taken place since 2012 by maintenance with constant medication (Amitriptyline 50 mg daily), (Sumatriptan 50 mgs daily) & (Naproxen 500 mgs daily). These conditions have had a significant impact on my life and are Service Connected as Ophthalmic migraine (SCT 95655001) & Migraine (SCT 37796009). Veteran U.S. Army SGT OEF Afghanistan Veteran

Thanks for everyones insights! I was able to review the primary care providers notes and while nothing was inaccurate its wasn't quite as substantive as it should have been. I drafted up some notes to update my Problem Lists, Notes, Medications, & Assessment & Plan that covers all conditions I am being treated for. On a final note I am rated 0% for Migraines although its service connected and been being treated for about 5 years with 4-5 episodes a week. Didn't realize I met parameters of CFR as everyone has pointed out for this. Should I get my VA Primary Care Doctor( Been my doc for 5 years) to fill out a Migraine DBQ for me or would I be better off to bring my records to a private doc and try to get a Neurologist to fill one out for me after I provide records and my log? Thanks for any additional insight and have a great night!

Bron, Thanks for the insight. On my end I can certainly say none of the conditions improved and many have gotten worse. Im working a Neuro/Psych consult for the Migraines and Anxiety classifications. I suppose Im asking an overly simplistic insight as to what would inprovement be. Would be only staying on prescribed medicine and going to routine visits be considered Improved? I suppose that subjective. For instance when I had my scope procedure and was awarded 60% for gastro does that remain sufficient or do I need annual or periodic new dbq’s submitted once the connection has already been made? Im unsure of if all are considered temporary or not only my back has a “may be reviewed note” in its write up where other conditions do not say this. Also all conditions have been service connected in 2014 so technically my 5 year review will be happening at beginning of year 6. Thanks for any additional insight

Hello, I have a question about the first 5 year review of C&P Exams. I have 7 conditions that are rated Lumbar Spine 40%, Insomnia/Anxiety Disorder 10%, Migraines 0%, Ankle 10%, Bilateral Pea Plants 30%, Tinnitus 10% & Gastro 60% for a combine rating of 90%. My gastro was a reconsideration with surgical scope and biopsies and private dbq was accepted. All other ailments were from initial ETS physical and 1st C&P Exam. I currently use the VA for primary medical care and have all my medications prescribed through them. My question is the 5 year review for each and every ailment or is the VA going to let me know what is under reconsideration? Only 1 condition Back states at the bottom of the write up "Since there is a likelihood of improvement, the assigned evaluation is not considered permanent and is subject to a future review". The majority of my conditions are basically treated with a regiment of medication I get from the VA and the standard 6-9 month checkups barring any acute instances. The VA Health care is great but the administrative side of consistently proving or re-justifying ones ailments is mentally stressful. I guess I just don't know what the threshold of acceptable is like is there a certain amount of appointments I need or checkups with specialists other than just continuing my regiment of medications and VA checkups like I have been. Thanks for any potential insights and have a great day! ArmyVet