DanielB

File an increase. I also suffer from debilitating Migraines secondary to TBI. I take a daily Migraine Prevention Med and get Botox every 90 days. You are going to need more evidence. Start keeping a Migraine Journal, when they occur, duration, any meds you take, any sensitivities(Light/sound), outcome.

Within this 1st year after separation is when you need to get anything that is in your Medical record service-connected. For me I had several conditions such-as a TBI, Lumbar Strain, Otitis Externa/Media, and TMJ all rated at 0%. Now as I’ve aged, filing a claim for an increase is more straightforward, where I don’t have to try to connect-the-dots for the VA.

Update: The 10% in my rating decision letter was a Typo per Mr Peggy and for me to disregard. The real issues I found was with IBS. My rating decision letter showed s/c for IBS and % but no effective date. In EBENEFITS it showed IBS and % and no effective date. When I looked up my disability percentage in VA.gov, IBS was not included because of the No effective date. Mr Peggy sent an Inquiry Letter up the Chain to correct the issue: now I wait up to 5 business days for someone to contact me.

I emailed my DAV Rep Friday and ask them to call me. Hopefully they can shed some light on my situation soon. The chart and a pencil doesn’t lie. In the mean time , I have PT for my back and nerve pain at my local VA hospital on Monday, would the Benefits Center there possibly be able to answer my question?

I used the bilateral factor for my knees,21%, than included the other 9 disabilities and plugged into the hadit va disability calculator =94.83%. Thanks for your input Hamslice.

My letter shows 90%. So I’m not sure if the bilateral factor was applied. Would the bilateral factor be used for L&R lower radiculopathy and/or L&R knee? Using a disability calculator I come up with 95%. I downloaded a va disability APP and it shows 94.71% that rounded down to 90%. VA math is so confusing.

When I spoke with PEGGY earlier, she was no help. Va math: 1:migraines-50% 2:Chronic Adjustment Disorder-50% 3: IBS-30% 4. Tmj-20% 5. Right lower sciatic radiculopathy-20% 6. Left lower sciatic radiculopathy-20% 7. Right knee-10% 8. Left knee-10% 9. Back-10% 10. Tinnitus-10% 11. Otitis Externa-10% =93%? Correct?

GBARMY, Who is Peggy?

I was reading through my Va rating decision packet. On page 2 it states that “evaluation of left lower sciatic radiculopathy currently at 10% is continued.” Than on page 4 it states “evaluation of left lower sciatic radiculopathy currently at 10% is assigned a 20% evaluation based on MODERATE INCOMPLETE PARALYSIS.” So I called the VA, the gentleman I spoke to said it shows 20% in their system and disregard the 10% typo. My question is how do I know what % they used to calculate my disability rating? The difference in my calculations using 10% or 20% with the bilateral factor changes my rating. thanks, Danie

Did you ever receive clarification? I’m in the same boat. 20% each right and left Lower Sciatic Radiculopathy and 10% each Right and left knee. How does the bilateral factor apply?

My claim for GERD and ibs recently closed. The claim for gerd was denied. I would self medicate and never went to sick-call so there was no paper trail. I got diagnosed over a year after discharge , provided multiple lay statements and it was not enough evidence. IBS was diagnosed 3 years after discharge. I provided evidence that I was deployed during the gulf war, Evidence of a diagnoses of IBS, Lay statements, and was service connected.

Thanks for the inputs.

Good Morning All, My C&P claim filed 1-2-2020 recently closed. My claim for an increase for left lower sciatica radiculopathy came back as Continued at 10%. When I look at my list of disabilities in EBENEFITS it shows Left lower sciatica radiculopathy increased to 20% effective date 1-2-2020. My question is which is the mistake? Thanks, Daniel

I have never heard of the codes being rated separately. The VA combined the codes for my service connected back condition. I’m serviced connected for Lumbosacral Strain with Arthritis and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome.