LOA

Sorry Josephine and other members. I have learned alot from your case. Good luck

Can someone explain this, I found this on another post on this site: the veteran said she recieved a combined rated (I think thats what it was called) for all her issues. I have CFS, IBS, reflux disease and depression. Am I correct and assuming that VA is going to combine all these diagnosis into one catagory. Again never heard of this until I read this under FAQ but it did not explain what this meant. Again this is not my cause: (I have not had my C& P yet) 'SUBJECT TO COMPENSATION (1.SC) 8863-6354 CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME CLAIMED AS SYMPTOMS OF FATIGUE, WEIGHT LOSS AND DIARRHEA DIAGNOSED AS IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME AND REFLUX DISEASE, INSOMNIA, ANXIETY NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS, MEMORY LOSS AS DUE TO AN UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS [Environmental Hazard in Gulf War/Undiagnosed Illness] Service Connected, Gulf War, Presumptive 60% from 05/09/2000'

any other help on what the VA C & P will ask during the pshchiatric Consult? I will be having one soon and am afraid the doctor will try to pin it on my childhood as my parents divorced when I was young. Which is not the cause because I was fine for the first 11 years of my military career, Believe alot of problems are due to medical conditions and stress of military occupation. I know I need to be prepared but I do not know what to expect. You all are great and any help would be appreciated

Dean you brought up a good point I had not thought about. I go for my first C & P next month and I am afraid that they will lump all my medical conditions together as one. I have Fibromaylgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypersomnelence, Headaches, IBS, and depression. I believe they might lump them as Fibromaylgia and that is it. Althought he symptoms are all related, they are all seperate and I know when one is flairing up and not the other. Also I know when each problem developed. Does anyone have any advice to prevent VA from doing this.Dean you brought up a good point I had not thought about. I go for my first C & P next month and I am afraid that they will lump all my medical conditions together as one. I have Fibromaylgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypersomnelence, Headaches, IBS, and depression. I believe they might lump them as Fibromaylgia and that is it. Althought he symptoms are all related, they are all seperate and I know when one is flairing up and not the other. Also I know when each problem developed. Does anyone have any advice to prevent VA from doing this.

Dean, Sorry to hear you are in so much pain. I too have fibromyalgia and understand. I understand what your doctor is saying but if he has done the 18 tender point check on you (diagnosis requires 11 positive) and has ruled out all the other possible causes (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis) then he needs to annotate that you have this. You should ask him to do blood test and an MRI anyways to rule out other causes because there are many disease that mask themselves as fibromyalgia. Now here is the good thing although it is not curable there are medicines out there that work for fibromyalgia, finding the one that is right for you is the key. There is National fibromaylia Organization with a website fibromaylia.com that may be able to answer some of your concerns. Good luck

I have filed the Va 21-526, and claimed 18 aliements, including the breast reduction. My medical documents have already been transferred from the military to the VA and I have several copies already. In it the military doctor doing my breast reduction said soldier wishes a reduction due to chronic back pain resulting from a MVA. My scars are numb and tingling with nerve damage. I do have mild depression as a result of my medical conditions (lack of energy and ability to so things). It is listed in my medical records as a secondary issue to CFS and fibromyalgia. I am slightly worried about the phsy. eval as I too have denied the issues for years. I appreciate all the information that you all have provide. I will definately follow your advice and thanks to you I will be prepared. Again thank you all for the service you have provided this country and the gracious time you are giving to help future vets.

I will be retired next month. Va allows for C& P exams as part of retirement and a claim is filed as soon as you are discharged. I am not sure how to claim the breast reduction and that is my delemia. I had it to releive my chronic low back pain which ended in a disc replacement. My VSO said claim it, VA rep said I could not (elective surgery). I was hoping someone here had some insight or advice

not yet my first C & P will be next month

Good day, First thank you all for all the information it has been very helpful and has easied my anxiety. I am retiring from the military and my C&P is coming up. The VA rep who set it up told me I could not claim my breast reduction only the scars. I have several issues I will be claiming and have looked in CFR 38 and breast reductions is covered. I had the surgery after a car accident that injuried my back. For years a doctor told me I would benefit from the reduction but I would not do it. (all documented). After my car accident again a doctor recommended it to relieve the pain and pressure on my back. (noted in around about way in my record). This was after several other medical optioned failed. So I had the surgery. This was a significant reduction with scars from one side to the other. I ended up have a artificial disk replacement for my back. My question is why is this not claimable and does anyone have any recommendations. I will be claiming several other problems including CFS, Fibomyalgia, hypersomnelence and IBS. thank you for any help or advice you may give me