ShrekTheTank

Hey, There is a 1 year in which you have to file, but you can always reopen your disability for review. The one thing I have learned is to have all of your evidence (Medical-appointments-lay statements-Buddy statements-spouse statements) anything that has to do with your injuries. Do not leave it for the VA to find. They never will, so the work on your end is to get this information and then get with your VSO and reopen/appeal what is service connected or you can prove is service connected. Make sure during the intake process you are showing a timeline to give a full picture of issues and how they have gotten worse. I would also suggest looking at how the VA rates any disability you have and see what criteria you meet for each, as they are looking for specific things to rate each one. Your VSO will ask you why you did not file within a year, and they need a reason so they can reopen. You can also go the way of a veterans attorney, they do charge for their services after the case is won, but they do have a good record with navigating the VA.

To all of my Sisters and Brothers with this disease. For all of those who have fought this in the past, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I wanted to get this out as I am in my appeal stage and just realized the verbiage on this has changed and the diagnostic code to better address the issues. The diagnostic code I was given is 7819-7821. The Skin Basic Rating System The Basic Rating System below is used to rate many (but not all) of the skin conditions on this page. Find your condition first to see if it is rated under this system. It is vital that you understand how the VA defines systemic and topical treatments in order to determine your correct rating. The Basic Rating System If the lesions cover more than 40% of total body or more than 40% of exposed divisions, or if it required the constant or near-constant use of systemic therapy for the past 12 months, it is rated 60%. If the lesions cover 20 to 40% of total body or 20 to 40% of exposed divisions, or if it required the use of systemic therapy for a total of 6 weeks or more over the past 12 months, it is rated 30%. If the lesions cover 5 to 19% of total body or 5 to 19% of exposed divisions, or if it required the use of systemic therapy for a total of less than 6 weeks over the past 12 months, it is rated 10%. If the condition only required the use of topical medications over the past 12 months and the lesions cover less than 5% of total body or less than 5% of exposed divisions, it is rated 0%.

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to post to tell my story and how it has progressed. In 2004 I had my first 5 lipomas removed. At the time I had no idea what it morph into. Currently I have had over 120 removed and I have many more painful lipomas. Sad part is half of them will return, so I am hoping for some better ways to take care of this. In 2013 I started my appeal with the VA and I am finally at the BVA in the remand stage. I think a miracle might have happened as previously I was rated at 10% under a poor rating of the disease. The VA just updated the way skin is rated, so for me as I do painkillers and topical treatments I think this will be a blessing. The Appeals judge changed my rating code to 7819-7821 and with the wording clarifications should really help with this disease. In my opinion it does not go far enough, but it is better than 10% Hope this can help someone! The Skin Basic Rating System The Basic Rating System below is used to rate many (but not all) of the skin conditions on this page. Find your condition first to see if it is rated under this system. It is vital that you understand how the VA defines systemic and topical treatments in order to determine your correct rating. The Basic Rating System If the lesions cover more than 40% of total body or more than 40% of exposed divisions, or if it required the constant or near-constant use of systemic therapy for the past 12 months, it is rated 60%. If the lesions cover 20 to 40% of total body or 20 to 40% of exposed divisions, or if it required the use of systemic therapy for a total of 6 weeks or more over the past 12 months, it is rated 30%. If the lesions cover 5 to 19% of total body or 5 to 19% of exposed divisions, or if it required the use of systemic therapy for a total of less than 6 weeks over the past 12 months, it is rated 10%. If the condition only required the use of topical medications over the past 12 months and the lesions cover less than 5% of total body or less than 5% of exposed divisions, it is rated 0%.

Does it matter if they were OTC meds? Just wondering as I was told at the VA they would not cover Topical creams. So I have been buying my own. Not sure how the VA views this as meds that are being taken?

I guess here is another question. If I do not get prescribed topical medication does it still count if I get it on my own? As the verbiage has changed with the rating, before it only said for very certain things and now it is far more open.

I need some help here. The Basic Rating System below is used to rate many (but not all) of the skin conditions on this page. Find your condition first to see if it is rated under this system. It is vital that you understand how the VA defines systemic and topical treatments in order to determine your correct rating. The Basic Rating System If the lesions cover more than 40% of total body or more than 40% of exposed divisions, or if it required the constant or near-constant use of systemic therapy for the past 12 months, it is rated 60%. If the lesions cover 20 to 40% of total body or 20 to 40% of exposed divisions, or if it required the use of systemic therapy for a total of 6 weeks or more over the past 12 months, it is rated 30%. If the lesions cover 5 to 19% of total body or 5 to 19% of exposed divisions, or if it required the use of systemic therapy for a total of less than 6 weeks over the past 12 months, it is rated 10%. If the condition only required the use of topical medications over the past 12 months and the lesions cover less than 5% of total body or less than 5% of exposed divisions, it is rated 0%. So I have a rare disease called Dercum's Disease. I am finally at the BVA and am in the remand stage. They have changed the rating schedule and I now fall under the basic skin rating. My question is what counts as Systemic Therapy? or Topical Therapy? The reason I am asking is I have been on pain killers since 2004 and topical cream that is also a pain reliever for over 10 years. I am also taking a drug called nortriptyline which helps my pain subside so I can sleep at night. If I am reading this correctly anything that is used to treat the condition would count correct? Any help is greatly appreciated! Randy

I sent a waiver and the 286 medical pages. Crossing my fingers the rep does their job well!

I have 3 years of VA medical records which where not sent with my claim. I was wondering if the representative will look at my medical record to build my case? It is at the Board. Thanks for the help!

Do you by chance know where I can find the waiver of RO consideration?

Thank you so much!

So my case is at the board, am I safe to send the last few years of medical records without a waiver? Just don’t want to make it take longer.

So my appeal is at the board and I have 3 years of medical records I want to send in. Do I need a Waiver so the appeal does not go back to the local RO? If so does anyone have a link to a PDF? I have the FAX number to send evidence is (202)-565-4720. Any help here is greatly appreciated.

broncovet - I found the report in your another post. Thanks

Where is the chairmans report at? That is great news! Nothing changed yet, but I am checking once a day. Thanks

Hello All, I have a question about what might be going on with my appeal now. I had 3 appeals and 2 of them are now Appeal Complete on ebenefits. I am assuming they combined all 3 of them together? The last on says it is "with your representative". I am guessing this is someone from the VFW? Also does anyone have an idea of how long it takes once it reaches the board? Thanks in advance!

Not yet. Says it is intake processing. I am going to check back in with them every few months to see if the number has gone down or not. Looks like they are not fixing anything just adding more time.

I have never gotten a response back this quickly and with a follow up!? My question is do they only do 1 video conference a day? Next I have had 8 or 9 surgeries since then, will my case get pushed back if I submit updated evidence?

Recently you requested assistance from VA. Below is our response. If you wish to reopen this issue, you may do so within the next 14 days. Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you. Response By Email (Dept of Veterans Affairs) (03/01/2017 01:28 PM) Dear Mr. Beagley, This is an additional response to your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dated March 1, 2017 regarding the status of an appeal. It appears that most of your questions were answered in Board of Veterans Appeals earlier response however after checking with the Lincoln Regional Office (RO) appeals coach the following information can be given: It has been confirmed that your appeal is currently at the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) and is pending a Video hearing. There are approximately 180 appeals pending processing ahead of yours from the Lincoln RO. The Lincoln RO has no more video days available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 (FY = October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017) and therefore you can be safe in assuming that your hearing will not be any time in FY 2017. As noted before, appeals are processed in accordance with their place on the docket. Thank you for contacting us and for your patience. Please be assured that appeals are processed as quickly as possible. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely, Regional Office Director 334/211/dwh How to Contact VA On line: www.va.gov By Phone: 1-800-827-1000 Department Of Veterans Affairs Evidence Intake Center PO BOX 4444 Janesville WI 53547-4444 Or fax your information to: Toll Free: 844-531-7818 Local: 248-524-4260 Response By Email (Dept of Veterans Affairs) (03/01/2017 11:12 AM) Dear Mr. Beagley, Lincoln Regional Office Department of Veterans Affairs Evidence Intake Center P.O. Box 4444 Janesville, WI 53547-4444 Phone 1-800-827-1000 Fax 1-844-531-7818 Your file has been uploaded to an electronic filing system that allows multiple offices to access your file and develop your claims at the same time. According to the Board's database, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Lincoln Regional Office transferred jurisdiction of your appeal to the Board on March 2, 2016, but has not yet electronically transferred jurisdiction to the Board. You have requested a Board hearing to be held before a Veterans Law Judge at the appropriate location. A transcript of the hearing will be incorporated into the record and will be considered along with the other evidence in the appeal when the Board conducts its review. The Board, as required by law, will consider the appeal according to its place on the docket. You can contact Veterans Information Office for more information. 1-800-923-8387 or Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m. est I hope this information is helpful to you.

Went in today and had my first 2 hour session. I think it went very well, as the rater actually had done his home work on my disease. So it looks like it should be favorable. I now have another 2 hour session on the 29th and this should finish my claim. The rater told me my claim was one of the largest in his docket. He is squeezing me in early in the morning at 6 am. So I was very impressed that he actually cared to get this done sooner! Also i think the PTSD review went well, and I am hoping it goes up also!

Thanks so much for all of the input! I see these longer visits turn out to be better and I am hoping to have the same result! I will update this on Wednesday! Thanks again for all of the support!

do you think they will schedule more exams? Or could this be the last one? for now that is as I am sure they will miss something.

I am needing some help understanding why the VA is going to take all of this time. Let me explain I have a current claim for multiple issues and I have 2 NOD in with the regional office. They called me a month ago and ask me if I could reschedule and come in for a 2 hour session. I asked why I could not do 2 different times and the person told me they had to do it all together even though the NOD's and the claim they are working are not the same. I am trying to figure out why they need 2 hours when I have already been to the specialist for everything and only 1 new item came up with the DRO. I am very confused here, because they have settled half of my claim deferred 4 items and I am still waiting on all of the bigger issues. Items like CFS-Dercum's disease-Sleep disturbances-joint pains and unknown illnesses. Does anyone know why they need this long? and are they going to make me wait to see another specialist? BTW this is going onto it's 2nd year. thanks for the help!

You are right about them going forward with the easy ones. So I was told i had depression with severe anxiety. So they will join the two together into one rating? How high could it go? I am currently at 30% Also any idea of the 40% for undiagnosed illness, but is there a rating for CMI? or are they rated under the condition they are? Thanks!

I am in need of some guidance here. I currently have a claim in with the VA and this what is throwing me off. Disabilities Claimed: joint pains (knees, elbows, ankles, cervical, wrists) (Secondary) Deferredright knee condition (Secondary) Deferred Fibromylgia (New) Not service connected due to no record in service IBS (Secondary) 30% because i have seen a doctor for this and they used the presumptive headaches (New) 0% CFS (Secondary) no denial or anything else vascular disease (New) denied not service connected sleep disorder/disturbances (Secondary) no denial or anything else gastrointestinal problems, signs or symptoms (New) rated with the IBS muscle pain (Secondary) no denial or anything else skin condition (New) Dercum's disease psychophysiological disorder (New) no denial or anything else-The evaluator told me i had depression and anxiety. Gulf War veteran with unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (New) no denial or anything else Gulf War veteran with diagnosed illness as qualifying chronic disability (New) no denial or anything else Gulf War veteran with undiagnosed illness (New) no denial or anything else depression to include cold sweats (Secondary) no denial or anything else dercum's disease (New) no denial or anything else-I am service connector for Lipomatosis Dolorsa which is the same thing but they do not rate it. shortness of breath (Secondary) no denial or anything else low back condition, back injury, back pain (Secondary) Deffered numbness in both legs (Secondary) denied not service connectedPTSD at 30% NOD filed for this and the dercum's diseasetinitus 10%left knee 10% My first question is why would they why would they only rate certain things and do nothing with so many other things? Could the DRO have stopped them from claiming them as they normally do? I talked to my rep from the VFW and he stated my DRO was looking at a bigger issue. not sure what this means Next question, I see you can get up to 40% for undiagnosed illness, but is there a rating for CMI? or are they rated under the condition they are? Last has anyone been rated for Dercum's Disease? Thanks in advance for the help!