JonesZen

Thanks Carolyn, any bit of advice helps. I'll report later as to what happens, if anything.

I wonder why E's lab uses that range, when the lab I go to specifies such a lower range. Assuming they are both VA labs, I would think they would use the same numbers. I wonder who is the entity responsible for deciding these ranges, why they vary so greatly, and who I can use as a definitive source to present to the VA to support my case. Rhetorical question, I imagine...

Hi Carolyn, thanks for your response. I read your thread about E's testosterone and was hoping you would comment. From my understanding over the years, I agree with your points re: acceptable ranges, and symptoms of low testosterone. Supporting evidence is readily available at several reputable online sources. The problem is my VA PCP disagrees and I don't know how to dispute the decision or get a second opinion at the VA - 21 years at this, and I still don't know how to get a second opinion at the VA. I can go to a civilian doctor and get a proper diagnosis, but VA doesn't respond to that. Don't know if Medicare will pay for testosterone supplements, guess I'll look into that. Thanks again, and best wishes to you.

"What's your reasoning for wanting your testosterone increased??" I have reason to believe 139 ng/dl is low and should be supplemented.

Hi all, I see some discussion about this and have researched, and it appears to me that my testosterone level of 139 ng/dl is low and should be supplemented. My PCP at the VA disagrees. This person claims the normal range is 84-402 ng/dl and therefore I am fine.. I am 51 years old, have a spinal cord injury (quadriplegic) and have the classic signs of low testosterone. What recourse do I have to this one person's assessment, if I want to try supplements? Thanks in advance.

I couldn't agree more, thank you, and thanks to those who put this site together and keep it going.

Nursey is here, time to get busy! Y'all have a great day!

Yes, schools omitted, overlapping dates on Good Conduct Medals... but dates are correct otherwise. I'll just try to get the VA to use the date on the latest DD 214. Shouldn't be too hard...

Good morning to you, Commander Bob, and thanks. Hope you have a nice day.

I can't speak for this guy's credibility, but it's posted to a group called Veteran Employees & their VA Medical Records here: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=1540...amp;topic=14148 He says "When you are a SC Vet and an employee of VA, you are considered a "sensitive 7" file minimally." Hope that helps.

Roger that. I've learned from this thread that a DD 215 will be issued that sort of goes with the two DD 214's like an addendum... if I understand correctly.

Thanks again. Yes, you are correct. Had a helper here yesterday. Found that the DD 214 I was looking at is a really crappy copy of the original, don't know where it came from. The original concurs with what you are saying. Now to get it straight with the VA...

That would being nice, Pete. I get a bit of a "fix" with my annuals at the VA, makes it more bearable.

Thank-you, Marine. With this, I will agree: "your date of discharge is generally the last day you were in prior to TDRL." However, the date on my retirement certificate is the day after my orders state I was removed from TDRL. My latest DD 214 has no dates entered. I'll have to have someone help me go through my records, to see what other supporting documents I have. Please understand that my discharge was a bit hectic, and the following years have been medically challenging. Probably not unlike most of us here.

I'll take this as motivation, Commander Bob, thanks. God how I'd like to break bread and pound back a few brewskis with y'all.