[C&P Exam next week]

Again, thank you all for your help and suggestions.  I went to my exam last week as scheduled and told the examiner my issues and where the pain is located.  She performed her exam and noted that she could tell I had knee damage and also did a ROM test on me.  Not sure how I performed on that as I haven't seen the results yet.  She did order an XRay and from that I did see the paper and to me it didn't read favorably.  It stated "mild degenerative disease present."  Assuming mild is not the best but I guess it's not the worst either.

I appreciate everyone suggestions and information.

[Combined claims and C&P exams]

I filed two separate claims one in Oct and the other in Nov 2019 and the VA combined them into one claim in Nov.  I had a C&P exam today for one of my claims but no movement or update on the second one.  I realize these things take time and I'm not rushing it but more curious.  Do all disability %'s have to have a C&P exam or does the VA ever award just based off of your submitted evidence?  I'm guessing I should hear something soon on my second submission but with all the evidence I submitted from my copies of my service record and private records I was wondering if a C&P necessary.

As always thank you all for your help to date on all my questions.

[C&P Exam next week]

I have an exam scheduled next week for my knees.  I've had trouble locating my medical records and so has the VA so when I made the initial claim for my knees I figured it would be immediately dropped because the rep that called me said I needed to provide documentation and I told him I don't have a copy of my medical record and for some reason it cant be located by the VA either. Anyway to my surprise I got scheduled for a C&P next week.  My knee issues are constant pain (even when resting) and really bad pain when bending......especially in my left knee.  I will be honest and tell them all I can but are there any tips I can get to assist to ensure I don't miss anything that I should pass along?  Basically what should and shouldn't I say?  Again, I plan on being fully honest but I don't want to screw this up either.

Thank you!

 

[Uploaded incorrect Doc]

47 minutes ago, GBArmy said:

Ranmic Don't have any good news for ya; it happen to me and I couldn't remove mine either. That's not to say there isn't a way to edit it, but I couldn't do it. The bright spot in this is, however, the VA hardly ever reads everything anyway. No harm, no fowl!

hahaha!  Thanks GBArmy

[Uploaded incorrect Doc]

I am in the process of filing a new claim (Glaucoma) and I inadvertently added an incorrect/wrong document.  Does anyone know how I can retrieve and delete it?  On the "VA.Gov" site there is no option I can find.  On the "EBenefits" site I can see my submitted docs with my claim and view them but I don't see a way to remove the one I want. Thank you!

[Multiple Claims at one time?]

12 minutes ago, Vync said:

Good advice from @vetquest. You served. If you have disabilities related to service, file for them. I view it as a moral imperative. Yeah, my health would probably be average for my age (48) had I not served. However, years or service can leave you less than whole. You earned the right to file and receive benefits for which you qualify.

Also, if a disability, or medication used to treat a disability, causes another disability, file for those too.

While browsing the BVA decisions web site, I can across a claim which had over 40 contentions that were decided. We lovingly refer to filing multiple issues as "shotgun claims".

File them if you got them. By the time you have your evidence together and submitted, the VA may have already made their decision. When filing for multiple things, they tend to try to complete the ones that they can and defer others until they can make a decision. It can be tedious waiting for a decision, but be patient instead of in a rush. 

Vync, thank you for your input. I may just move forward with my claim and see what happens.  I appreciate your insight.

[Multiple Claims at one time?]

24 minutes ago, vetquest said:

I would file the claim now.  Sometimes the VA combines claims and they all could be appealed at the same time if they are denied.  You need proof in your STR's, proof of a current chronic condition, and a nexus between the two.  If you are lucky you go to a C&P and they give you the nexus.  If not then you have to file an appeal, supplemental, higher level, or BVA with an IMO (independent medical opinion) from a doctor you employ.  Getting the IMO is not cheap but you need this as evidence.  I spent a total of $3500 on IMO's for my appeal.  No, I am not looking for money I did not earn.  I earned these benefits putting my body on the line for the military.  I was injured and can no longer work.  

Thank you Vetquest.  So, if I understand you correctly I need to take what notes I have in my service record, combine them with my current eye Doctor's treatment records and submit them with my claim.....correct?  It was stated multiple times during my service career that I was "glaucoma suspect" (their words) but never started on any treatments but after I got out and was visiting my eye doctors and he was immediately alarmed at my pressure levels and changing vision/prescription levels and started treatment for pressure shortly there after. So I am currently and will forever be taking eye drops nightly unless they come up with a miracle cure.

[Multiple Claims at one time?]

Not sure what I should do in this situation so again I'm turning to all you for unofficial advice.  I have a current claim in for my knees with the VA.  The person doing the review called me and said that without more evidence my claim would more than likely be denied.  I understand his statement and it makes sense to me and I really cant ask them to SC me with very little evidence supporting my claim.  Now,  my next question is while I have the pending knee claim I digging through my copy of my medical record and found multiple entries (3 total over 4 years) related to Glaucoma (I actually posted on that a week or two ago).  My question is should I wait for the knee claim to get denied (or whatever happens with it) before I file for a SCD for Glaucoma?  I don't know if I have two pending claims if it reflect negatively on me or come across as a gold digger per se.  Basically I think my chances of getting the Glaucoma connected would be stronger than my knees but I am not sure when I should file a claim.  I have my service record entries and my Private doctor's entries for past, current and ongoing treatments.  Any thoughts on path forward would be appreciated.

[Glaucoma]

Thank you all for your input and information. I really do appreciate it.

 

 

[Glaucoma]

6 hours ago, GBArmy said:

Yes, it is possible. Do you have copies of your str, especially those relating to your eyes and eye exams?

yes, i have everything they documented. Cant say it was a ton but I do have it.  Plus I have a few years of my private doctors treatment records.

4 hours ago, Oceanbound said:

Like GB said, yes, now order your c-file.

sorry but what is a "c" file?

[Glaucoma]

Sorry to keep bugging you all with questions but as I think of them I post them.  I was noted as a "Glaucoma Suspect" according to my medical documentation while about mid way through my time serving, but a few years after I was discharged I was diagnosed with Glaucoma and have been being treated for about 5 years now.  Would that be a service connected (or could it be) condition?  I'm guessing no as no further attempts to treat me were made.

 

[Will I get an exam?]

27 minutes ago, DivComms said:

So it looks like you are both in different mindsets.

He is trying to help you establish service connection (SC) [no connection no rating] and you are trying to establish a rating.

Without that SC it would not matter if you rated 100%. So it would be kinda a waste to have you go to a C&P if you can't establish SC.

From what it sounds like he looked at what you sent him? and he said it was not sufficient. As such, you are likely not having an exam - till your medical record is more in order.

That makes sense and you are right I guess I was looking at it from that aspect.  I appreciate you making sense of this.

[Will I get an exam?]

I received a call a few days ago from someone in ATL doing a review of my claim.  He said they can not locate my medical record (no surprise because no one knows where is it) but I did send him what little bit I had in my record for my knee injury.  It was pretty well documented (IMO) but he stated that without more evidence then my claim would get denied.  So I asked if I would get a VA exam (the one where the Dr fills out the DBQ form) and he said probably not.  My issue is that I understand they want evidence of my injury and I was able to provide that even though he said that wouldn't be enough and also why did he state I wouldn't be getting a exam to fill out the DBQ form.  Is that normal?

As always I really appreciate everyone's help on this site.

 

[Knees and feet]

Thanks again.  I will see what they can find.  Like I said I have some medical documentation on my knee injury but with them stating in the past they couldn't locate my medical record I'm afraid it's almost like it didn't happen.  I submitted my claim and provided what medical documentation I have where I was treated at medical so we'll see what happens.  Until then I'll see what the VA can do to nail down the direct case.  Do you know if the person reviewing my claim will send me to the VA for an examination or will they send me to a private doctor?

 

[Knees and feet]

On 9/26/2019 at 8:40 PM, Richard1954 said:

It may be worth it if you have a doctor that reviews you active duty medical records, and somehow determines that your current condition is related to your in-service condition. If that is the case, it could be worth submitting a claim... but until you speak to a doctor and try to get a nexus you will never know.

Thanks Richard.  I just went to the VA recently and started seeking treatment for my knees and feet (among other things) and decided to file a compensation claim also.  The local VA took xrays and found no damage and I told her I appreciate it but it still doesn't help that I've had knee pain forever and it started early on in my career.  Not sure what the next treatment will be or what direction they will go in.  Part of the problem is NO ONE can find a copy of my medical records that notes anything  (can't say I'm surprised).  I have some copies of my record to cover a couple of medical visits for my knees but I'm afraid it won't be enough to give me a rating.  Hell, i'd take 10% if that's all I can get.

[Knees and feet]

So the back story is I went to medical a few times early on in my military career and had noted issues with my knees feet.  Beyond that I never really went back towards the end of my 9 year stint I just kinda toughed it out.  It was documented in my medical record that I visited the clinic a few times for my knees and feet.  My questions is I've been out for a long time now and my knees and feet have gotten worse.  I'm planning on going to the VA for treatment but is it worth filing a claim for disability after I've been out so long?

[Additional Claims]

Thank you all!  I was pretty sure that dude was out to lunch as it didn't make much sense to me but then again the government doesn't make much sense to me on a daily basis.  I will dig though my med records an make sure all my "ailments" are in there.  If not, maybe I'm screwed but we'll see.

 

Again, thank you all for the quick responses and information!

 

[Additional Claims]

Hopefully this is not a silly question but if so please entertain me.  I have an SCD rating of 10% as of this moment and when I filed the claim and was awarded it I had done it all on my own with no help or guidance.  I didn't know that I could file a claim for my knees causing me issues or carpal tunnel (call it ignorance on my part) but after talking to a gentleman last week at work that helps guide Vets on their claims he said now that I have a 10% SCD it will be difficult to get anything else as I should have claimed all of my ailments in the beginning.  Claiming everything at once makes since but I obviously didn't know that.  Now comes my question.  So is it or will it be worth trying to move forward with a claim for the two conditions I just mentioned?  Lastly for whatever reason the VA last time the looked could not find my medical record, so what do I need to do to prove I have these issues?

Thank you for any guidance you can provide.

[Tinnitus C&P]

On 8/19/2019 at 12:40 PM, Mcbwv said:

Sounds good...…. I was just worried about the below. I guess you are either denied or 10% and there is not a )% rating for Tinnitus

 

Functional impact of tinnitus
--------------------------------
Does the Veteran's tinnitus impact ordinary conditions of daily life,
including ability to work: No
4. Remarks, if any, pertaining to tinnitus

Did you hear (no pub intended) back from the VA yet?

[Hearing Loss appeal?]

Thank you all for your feedback, I'm trying to avoid hearing aids but I swear if I can get some relief from this ringing then maybe it's worth a shot.  I honestly cant remember what it's like to not hear constant ringing in my head.  I have actually gotten pretty good with living with it and trying to tune it out but the bad part is I turn out everything else too.....like my wife (well, maybe that part isn't so bad......hahaha).

 

again, thank you all for your feed back.

[Hearing Loss appeal?]

1 hour ago, GeekySquid said:

to get anything above 0% SC on HL your puretone and Maryland CNC scores have to really be "bad".

as someone with Cathedral Bells going off 24/7 I sympathize with you but the rating structure on hearing doesn't seem to have a modifier for Tinnitus but I would have to go back over it again to verify that.

 

if this is in writing it might have some impact but the HL standard is pretty set in stone.

If after a couple weeks post-exam the results are not in Blue Button, assuming this was done at the VA and not an outside contractor, then go to the Records Office in your VAMC, fill out the form and they will print them for you.

 

Again that depends on your Puretone results and Maryland CNC results. They use multiple tables based on the readings in each ear, combine them and that gives a result. So without that data we really can't offer any solid opinions based on facts.

I will say that if you are deaf as a post and can afford and IMO/IME then that might help you in an appeal.

Thank you very much!  I can honestly say that I am not "deaf as a post".....LOL, but it does have some affect on me.  I don't think my hearing is bad enough to warrant being that bad and I'm actually happy about that.  I just wish there was a turn off button for this damn ringing.  

Thank you again for your comments.

[Hearing Loss appeal?]

I was recently rated 10% disability for Tinnitus and 0% for hearing loss. Would it be worth it to try and push for hearing loss also or is it a lost cause?  My Tinnitus totally sucks with constant ringing 24/7 365 but my hearing is definitely affected by this too and the audiologist made that statement after my hearing test.  For some reason I am not able to view my hearing test results on the VA site and the audiologist said the VA would share them with me but so far they have not.

I'll be reaching out to them more for a copy of the results but what I really want to know is it even worth pushing for hearing loss if the VA has already put me a 0%?

 

Thank you in advance.