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sbrewer

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Posts posted by sbrewer

    Scars

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Can someone explain what a scar disablility would be?

    Could this be from having surgery? For example-if you have heart bypass surgery-you would of course have a huge scar from you neck down to your stomach as well as your leg if they use a vein and even your arm if they use an artery. Would this be example of scar disability?

    sbrewer

    Primary Care Dr. Vs Specialist

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Thanks Berta for a fast response...

    You know, it's kinda scary when you don't know what to do with one come at ya one way and another the other...

    He is scheduled for a C&P the 17th for his toe. We're quite sure nothing will come of this(he filed an 1151 for this and it was denied and his SO appealed or whatever you do), he just wants that podiatrist to admit he screwed up the toe. Even his primary care dr has turned on him about the toe from her initial claim. He wants to swith drs, but said he wanted to wait until after the C&P to see what they say. She(primary care dr) actually yelled at him at his last visit. She told him that he knew his toe would not bend as a result of the surgery before he had it and that it was in his records. He said no I didn't and I have a copy of my records.

    Thanks for everything,

    sbrewer

    Primary Care Dr. Vs Specialist

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Hi,

    My husband's VA Primary Care Dr. put him on medicine for neurapathy a while back. (She tries to play the role of psych, podiatrist, and probably any other specialist). So, with his on going toe problem(after screwed up surgery and pt) he was sent to a Neurologist. Well, the Neurologist immediately took him off the medicine that his primary care dr. had him on. He said he could not believe she had him on that medicine with his history of mental health. He said that people with mental health problems have overdosed on this medicine. I think it was something equivalent to Elavil, but she had him on it for neurapathy. The neurologist also said that the dose he was on would do nothing for the neuropathy. Anyway, my question is has anyone had this happen before and what happens when one dr. goes against another both within the VA?

    Thanks,

    sbrewer

    Medicine Side Effects

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Thanks Berta,

    I thought that would be SMC, but SMC is really way over my head. I have hard enough timetrying to figure out the regular stuff. I looked at the SMC, but can not understand it.

    Do they do a C&P for this or how would they do it?

    Again thanks,

    sbrewer

    Also the book that you mentioned in previous post about depression and heart disease("the one you borrowed from the library"), do you recall the title to that? My husband was going to check the library here to see if they had the same book.

    Diabetes & Depression

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Thanks Allan for this information. You know he does have that chronic toe pain that seems to have no solution.

    Maybe that has something to do with his diabetes, none of the 3 drs. so far that he has seen for this has said anything about that.

    Again thanks so much,

    sbrewer

    C&p

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Thanks Berta for your response,

    You have really lost me now. His working at the VA will detemine his rating for sc condition? He's been there almost 2 yrs., which is about the length of time he stays employed somewhere. However, with this being said, he also has a very stressful job which I don't know if that matters or not. I think from what I've read, to be 100% just for mental, one would not be able to be employed, however, one can be employed and be 100% for other conditions right? He has CAD, diabetes, neurapathy, and hypertension which Mental Health drs. say are related to depression but I don't know if the RO's relate this of not. He still has not got a copy of his C&P yet, but the information that I did get was from the letter the 'VA sent. I guess we'll know more when we get the C&P.

    sbrewer

    C&p

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Thanks everyone,

    Usually he will a couple of days after seeing a dr. for any reason and go to ROI and get copies of that visit. He started doing this just in case "something disappears out of records". Anyway, he went and got other records but C&P was not included, so he didn't know if it was not there or what. This was after he received his letter from the VA about his increase. He was increase from 10 to 50 and should have done this 25 yrs ago, but for what ever reason and I don't know why, he just did'nt.

    He has talked to his SO, and he also had not seen the C&P or anything yet. I guess when he sees it, he will notify us back? Would the SO suggest whether or not to appeal for increase? I know some of his diagnosis falls under the 70% criteria, but some also was under 50%, however the letter from VA did state that from the C&P, the "overall disability was severe". It also said...social adaptability-severely impaired, occupational capacity-considerably impaired(he does work full time at the VA) due to memory and concentration problems, and his GAF was 53. At his last mental health app., 2 weeks ago, GAF was 50.

    Sbrewer

    Va Press Release

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    I could not agree more about the need for good English speaking American Drs.

    My husband's primary care dr. looks fresh out of med school, Indian origin, and could care less about the vets. She told him she was sick of vets coming there just trying to get money from the government. Well what does she think she did. She took money from the government to go to med school to get her education and she's just paying back her time there until it's up. He wants to switch and just last night again said something about this. He said he was going to patient advocate and complain about her and get another dr. but could get one just as bad or that she talks to about him. He knows she went to the podiatrist about his toe the other day when he went to get a shot for pain. She also right after the surgery said "he usually does good work", and now defends the dr.

    Just Venting,

    sbrewer

    C&p

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    He just had the C&P on 6/7, but has already been approved for an increase. He went to ROI to get copies of it along with other records, and they did not have the C&P. We do not know what is going on with that. Maybe he can go back next week and see if he can get it then.

    Thanks,

    sbrewer

    1151

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Berta,

    Here's an interesting update on this situation.

    Husband went and picked up records today with C&P from (sucess stories thread) also neck x-ray and blood work ordered by the Neurologist which he saw 6/15 for his toe problem. Now during his exam the Dr. said the toe pain could be related to depression(which he was just increased to 50%). Well, we figured he would not put this in his records...wrong....he did put that the toe pain was from psychological (something I can't remember the exact wording). He also put NO MORE SURGERY on this toe. He told him the Podiatrist should have never done surgery. But didn't put this in the records.

    Now, my question is since his SO has filed a nod for the 1151 claim, could this be secondary to depression or what do you think?

    Thanks,

    sbrewer

    Quick Turn Around

    in Success Stories

    Posted

    Thanks Berta and John,

    I also had to fill out the dependant paper, which I am fixing to go mail. I wanted to wait and check to see what ya'll said about this first. He is not rated for PTSD, but Dysthymic Disorder with Major Depression Episodes.

    He is suppose to get a copy of his C&P today.

    Should he contact his SO?

    Now, how hard do you think it would be to get Hypertension/Heart Disease(he had a heart attack in 1997 and had to have a quadruple by-pass- at age39) and Diabetes/Nerapathy(sp)?

    Thanks,

    sbrewer

    Quick Turn Around

    in Success Stories

    Posted

    Now you are making me wonder...

    His GAF was 53 at the C&P, but 50 2 weeks ago by his mental health dr. I guess they used the 53, however there are certain things that fall under the 70% cat. and the C&P dr. did say overall disability was in the severe range. I don't know what that means, is someone can tell me.

    What happens now? Will he here from his SO or should he contact him? If he were to appeal this decision, would they pay at the 50% rate now or would that be held up until a final decision is made?

    Thanks,

    sbrewer

    Quick Turn Around

    in Success Stories

    Posted

    Hello Everyone,

    Just wanted to say husband received his increase today. He applied May 4, 2006-Had C&P on June7 and got increase in mail today from 10 to 50. Now that's a quick turn around....

    Thanks

    sbrewer

    ps...and now to continue that nagging toe problem

    1151

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Thanks everyone..

    Berta,

    "It was good that the VA considered that this could be possibly secondary to a SC disability-

    but still they should have addressed the evidence under Sec 1151."

    They said it was not due to his sc condition.

    However, he saw a neurologist today and he said "exploritory surgery? why did he do that?" (referring to the podiatrist) He also sent him for neck x-ray and B-12 blood work, said it could be either of those(he was being given a b-12 shot ordered by his primary care dr. and the last time he went to get one they would not wait on him so he went back to work, he also works there). Anyway, on his last app. with primary care, she was told this story, so she just said she would check it againg in 6 months...

    Back to the neurologist. He also stated that the toe pain could be from depression..which he is sc for, however he probably did not put this in his records as well as what he said about the podiatrist..

    "Did they give his toe a NSC rating?"

    No, they just flat out denied the claim.

    His so has submitted a nod or whatever you do next, but now I'm wondering about weather he should file it secondary to depression...sounds odd to me, but that's what the dr. said about the toe this morning.

    Thanks,

    sbrewer

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