dizzyvet

I am completely confused and think that there may be changes in the way the pharmacy is trying to save money, I have been on hormone therapy for 5 yrs now and at my last visit my Dr. renewed my meds, one week later I get a letter stating that the pharmacy has refused to fill this request and want additional information. Great!!! my Next appt in March and I only get a month at a time for my testosterone, WTF is going on? W

I am in my 8th year of chronic pain management and have been through it all. The thing you should be aware of is that depending on your state and the pharmacy monitoring system, they will not give you pain meds on a long term basis if you are taking non va prescribed meds, including THC, The VA pain management contract can be found on line and describes what is and isn't allowed. Basically you cannot even consume alcohol while receiving narcotics from the VA. The idea is that they can manage your pain with pharmaceuticals without the need for anything else. But you must sign a pain management contract before they begin. As for not prescribing narcotics at all just check the va formulary which is also available online and you will find a multitude of pain meds that they can dispense if they see a necessity. W

Hvygns38, Having been through the ringer with Meniere's disease and getting a claim won I thought I might pass a little info that might help in the future. If your meniere's becomes debilitating, to the point that you can no longer work, I would advise that you start the process for a diagnoses. The reason that the va will not award or service connect is that it sounds like you have yet to get a valid differential diagnoses. Meniere's is a bad disease to have. Because the cause is unknown, it is very difficult to diagnose. Here Are some examples. I had to have multiple hearing tests to show that I had fluctuating hearing loss. I had to have blood tests to rule out being born with syphilis. I had to have tubes put in to see if aural pressure could be relieved mechanically. I had to endure multiple injections through the eardrum of steroids that cause additional hearing loss. All of these treatments and tests were to rule out other diseases, and there are more. A diagnoses for meniere's is only accepted after all else has been ruled out. Its a long process and let me tell ya it can be demoralizing at times. But until you are actively seeking treatment and show history its not likely that they will award for it. I found that going through the process for me was to find relief from this disease, I realized later what the Dr was doing and Im thankful. In the end he did all he could to prove my case. And that was a VA ENT. Good Luck and congrats on your other successes. Diz

From one 81150 to another, Since you live in Texas make sure to have the TVC represent you and do not go through this without their help. It is a good organization and helped me to %100 over the last 4 years. This is the best state in my opinion to win your case. Dizzy. PS. Cold War Vet "83 to "91

Good on ya Mate !!! Way to hang in there. Diz

Dont know if this will Help. I have a %20 rating for tender scarring at a bone graft site lower leg. Weird thing is I have a bunch of scars from all of the surgeries. They took a lot of bone off my hip and left it all jagged in there so a belt can be very uncomfortable sometimes. They also took out my fibula right leg and left a huge scar there. Not sure of the wording but maybe I got %20 for all the scars. not sure. Im just happy I got to keep my foot : ).... I almost lost it. Good luck on the C&P Diz.

Hey Dave, I have been using Actos for 3 yrs now and I have not had any experience with muscle pain. I have had great results with it and it really is like a magic bullet for getting the sugar under control. If you are having some of the negative side effects I suggest that you talk to your Doc or Endo. I think that under special circumstances the VA will also prescribe Januvia. It works Amazing with no side effects. Good luck. Diz

4 months after winning %100 percent VA, I Just got my letter from the SSDI folks and was approved with back pay arriving at the same time. Couldn't help but share the good news. Now to go back to work on P&T Diz

I keep hearing the %50 percent rule and to date no one has cited the code that covers that. I would really like to see the source of this contribution rule. Im not sure its accurate. DIz

I recently got my Award for Meniere's at %100, I was previously %70 for hearing and other conditions. I am very happy with the award and they gave me housebound SMC. But the more I read through the letter the more worried I get that the letter specifically states that P and T was not awarded as the disease is likely to change?? Now haveing said that they have to know that there is no Cure for Meniere's and I have clearly shown that no fewer than 5 surgeries over the last eighteen months and there has been no improvement and am now bilateral. How may more evaluations should I be expecting before P%T? Any Ideas would be helpful. Thankfully I currently have long term disability insurance but after that will definately need a way to keep my Wife covered for health care. Diz

Hi Berta, I think you may be overlooking a compliment here. Maybe the wins are directly related to all of the hard work and information shared here ! I think it is a distinct possibility. Diz

Thanks Again to every one. Not P&T yet. But At least I got the SMC without having to ask. Going to see the TVC tomorrow to get help with working out the P&T. Diz.

It's official,Letter arrived today. %100 Meniere's and SMC granted. Ear to Ear Grin now permanent!!!!!!!! Diz

Hey Jim, In my case I got the deposit first, hoping for the letter today or tomorrow. It has been a pretty long claim process and I was awarded a partial for hearing loss two months ago. But for some reason with my claims here in TX I always seem to get the money couple of days before the letter. Maybe just because I have the Direct deposit already set up. Hope you get your money soon. Good Luck Diz

May be premature, But the amount of deposit indicates %100 rating. Happy Happy. Just need the letter to confirm. Right on time too, Finishing SSDI claim at the SS office day after tomorrow. Will be nice to go in there with %100 award letter. Been a long road. I research here a lot more than I post. A HUGE THANKS TO ALL CONTRIBUTERS. Diz

Vetsvet, I'm in the same boat right now. My decision was made on the 1st of April and still waiting for the letter. Yes they do handle the claims seperately sometimes. On this claim they deferred two of my claims pending the outcome of 2 others. So don't feel alone right now. This is my 5th time waiting for the "letter". I did receive a very nice reply from IRIS stating that it was in for accuracy and approval. 20 Days and Waiting : ) Diz

Hey 68, I currently have a claim in for meniere's. The only advice I can give that seems to help is to get treated for it by the VA. I have had several surgeries and have had some special equipment issued for therapy. I did not submit the claim for it though until I had received the correct diagnosis from my ENT. So I let him reach the conclusion and make the diagnosis and then made the claim about six moths and a couple of surgeries into it. I have not received my decision yet but got a promising sounding response from IRIS stating that they made the decision on the 1st and it is at the RO for accuracy review. At one point during the C&P I notice that at the bottom of the screen that the condition was shown as service connected. I also had an appointment with a VA Neurologist. I can't tell you how important their input is. Neurology is a big part of a meniere's diagnosis. Ultimately they are the ones who end up doing the more advanced surgeries. (I've had 4 now) and lost most of the hearing in my left ear trying to stop the vertigo. This one is a very slow meticulous process. Even other specialists will contest a Meniere's diagnosis. And I have personally had my Audiologist reffer to it as a "Junk" diagnosis because a lot of doctors who do not want to spend the time with all of the required testing just throw it out there. One important thing to remember is the Meniere's is NEVER secondary to tinnitus or hearing loss. if it is Meniere's it is the cause of those and the aural fullness and rotational vertigo. Good luck. Diz

Roadking, I have recently been awarded %10 for hearing loss. I have been SC for hearing loss for almost 10 yrs at %0. I might be able to help by explaining my process. First you should know that you can be SC for hearing loss but at a %0 rating. Second, any percentage higher than that will be based primarily on Speech discrimination. While I, for example, am nearly deaf in my left ear (70 db loss average) and severely impaired in my right, (60 db loss average) my speech recognition remained above %90 in my right ear. This kept me from being eligible for compensable rating. So During the C&P when they test you you will take the standard audiogram and a Maryland Speech recognition test. During the Test they will do a "Stenger Test" to test reliability of response. This is essentially a test to weed out cheaters. I was not aware of it for the longest time as I was not concerned about cheating. Being %0 percent does have the advantage of being supplied with Aids if you need them and the VA has always taken very good care of me in that area. I was awarded my %10 for tinnitus without asking for it because they discovered it at the audiogram and they were nice enough to add it to my claim for me. the interesting thing about tinnitus is that it is linked to your hearing loss, when you lose hearing in certain frequencies your brain tries to replace that noise and produces the "ringing". Good luck with you C&P and I hope this has clarified some of the process for you. Dizzyvet

Thanks! I couldn't agree more.

Hey all, I dont post too much but I thought Id share that I got a decision yesterday in the mail with some small amount of back pay. The good news is that after 16 yrs of being %0 for hearing loss I won. I wish they would have broke the numbers out on the decision form like they usually do but in this case they just gave me my new overall. Im happy with that. @ other claims have been deferred. So off to Neurology. Just a little good news that I wanted to share. Hope everyone else is doing well. Diz

Thanks for all of the info guys. It's a little embarrassing to elaborate on all the illnesses. The short list is diabetes mellitus, hormone replacement therapy, numerous joint and skeletal issues, and now Meniere's. The site was remediated and SAC closed the 42nd bomb wing in 1994. MT, when I was "initiated to Charlie FLight" when I got to the base, I was thrown into the pond you spoke of fully clothed and the temp was about 25 degrees F. What a way to be welcomed aboard huh. All in good fun though. I really appreciate the advice Capt Contaminate. Ill start working on all of the things you listed. I will start by raising the question of possibility with my Dr.

Looking for anyone else who worked here. I stood on top of these trenches and tanks for over a year while assigned here. I remember the "vents" sticking out of the ground with warning signs. And we were posted right next to them. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/loring/laf_p2.html Extract: "Radioactivity associated with storage and maintenance of strategic and conventional weapons at Loring was confined to Operable Unit 1, the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Sites. These seven sites, designated Areas A through G, were located in the former Weapons Storage Area of Loring Air Force Base. The seven sites include two former low-level radioactive waste disposal trenches and five underground storage tanks (USTs) for low-level radioactive liquid waste. The five radiological USTs were removed in 1994, as were the contents of the two waste trenches. Tests showed no leaking of the tanks and that no significant radioactivity remained after exhumation of the contents of the trenches. All radioactive waste was disposed of off site. Any remaining low levels of radioactivity at Site 1 pose no public health hazard to persons, including those who might visit the OU1 sites." LOL, Sure, no threat now, ummmm what about 1984 and 1985? Dizzy

Thanks Salty, Good information. Dizzy

Wow. This is all really interesting. I am SC for hearing loss but at %0. I am SC for tinnitis %10. I have just been DX with Meniere's by my private ENT. The VA ENT still has not given me a DX even though he suspects Meniere's. I'm with rental guy on this one. I plan on opening a claim for Meniere's as both of these symptoms of menieres was present when I separated from service. I'm hoping that that weighs in C&P. I have had the episodes of vertigo for over 10 years now but no Dr ever put them all together. Even though I have records that I at some point repoted all of the symptoms to VA dr's. I just need to find out how to see all of my medical records since separation. Im really happy for Saltydawg! Way to go! Dizzy

Thanks Don. I'm going to check with new ENT and see if he will write one for me. Dizzy