PE1

Are there any Doctors or PAs in the forum that can answer questions without giving medical advice that puts them at risk of being sued?

I'm still active duty but retiring next year. I don't have any % yet. I don't have PTSD. Just wanted to know if someone is rated 100% for a physical condition, could they still work as a teacher or at the VA pushing paper. I know that I would be very helpful, that I would do anything I could for another Veteran. Every time I talk to some one senior to me that was a Vet, I know that I'm just a little winnie. I've talked with Vets from Normandy, Iwojima and VietNam and I know that there's nothing I've done that remotely compares. I have alot of respect for my seniors. I just wish I could help in some way.

I wonder what the difference is between California vs Texas

only 100% SC. no SSDI.

Thank you for your advise. I'm in a good position right now. I retire in 244 days. So I still have time to make the claims more solid. I'm putting an actual diagnosis for each claim. Each claim will have at least 2 different specialists saying that the diagnosis is because of such and such an event. Not claiming "neck pain" but Intervertebral Disc Syndrome or Degenerative Disc Disease at C5-6. I have labs, x-rays and MRIs for each complaint. I have notes for the past 20 years. I sucked it up for the first 6 years so I don't have any sick call notes. I'll retire with 26 yrs. Each complaint has a diagnosis rated by the CFR38. I will number each page 1 of 30, 2 of 30, etc. I'm only claiming chronic complaints. The Majority of the complaints are from Airborne operations, I have my jump log, was on jumping status for 6 years, and I have the ER visit from a bad jump. The Dr wrote that I was abnesic and that the neck x-ray was a "wet read" which means that it was read right away. He actually just looked at it using the ceiling lights (also known as the malpractice light). I have the ER notes from when I was told that all I had was viral gastroenteritis but turned out to be a ruptured appendix. Have all the surgical reports and inpatient records. I made 4 complete copies of everything. I haven't done the retirement physical yet but everything will be written in it. I'm only claiming diagnosis that are service connected, are chronic and still present. Each claim has proof: x-rays and MRI findings, or abnormal laboratory values. I've been doing all this after I've been reading your posts, your advise and your experience. Thank you very much. I know I still have much to learn

The form only has room for 9 complaints. How do you add more? What if you have more than 9 complaints? Do you just write a letter? Make photocopies of the for and staple it to the packet?

Can you work even if you're 100%? Not from PTSD. Say a Professional job like a Lawyer, Doctor or Accountant? Those jobs are physically not demanding.

Is there a good Lawyer in San Antonio, TX? One that knows how do that? That's where I'm planning to retire to.

Which organizations helps the most when applying to the VA? other than Hadit.com of course. even if I don't join

Which Organization should I join? The American Legion, The VFW, DAV or AmVets? I retire in 246 days. I was going to join which ever organization that helps me with my claim before I retire.

The guy's not alqueida, and if the gov doesn't give him the money, they'll give it to someone else that will trow rocks at convoys bringing them food........

You need to call Tricare for your region and get prior authorization to see a Podiatrist.

All the ratable conditions on the GFR do not make it clear whether the rating is base on symptoms that show up when the patient is taking medication or before taking it. They do mention that if medication has to be taken to control it, then rated as such and such %

Calcaneal Spurs: 5015 Bones, new growths of, benign. Which will be rated as 5003 arthritis degenerative at 20%. 5284 Foot injuries, other is only 10%. Plantar Fasciitis: 5276 Flatfoot acquired can be as much as 50%. 5020 Synovitis is only10%. Thank you very much

I've never heard of a machine or cuff that did all that. Unless if you take the office BP cuff that takes the BP automatically every 15 or 30 minutes. And then you wear it around the house all day. The machine has to have a roll of paper in it. It can be done that way. But everywhere else you do a 5 day blood pressure check. You go to the clinic and sit for 20 minutes, then a medic takes you BP and writes it down. You go see the DR when you're done and he averages it out. But I like the idea of taking the BP machine home for 24 hours. Pull the stand around the house. It would give the true BP.

I'm claiming those two conditions atributed to a ruptured appendectomy in 1998 and gallbladder removal in 2000. I have a note from 3 gastroenterologists and 2 urologists in my service record. But, if the frequency of trips to the bathroom for both conditions is less once you are on medication, does the VA still gives you the rating based on how many trips to the bathroom before medication or after medication? 7319 Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis, mucous colitis, etc.): Severe; diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea and constipation, 30 with more or less constant abdominal distress................ Moderate; frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with 10 abdominal distress........................................... Mild; disturbances of bowel function with occasional episodes 0 of abdominal distress........................................ Urinary frequency: Daytime voiding interval less than one hour, or; awakening 40 to void five or more times per night............................ Daytime voiding interval between one and two hours, or; 20 awakening to void three to four times per night.............. Daytime voiding interval between two and three hours, or; 10 awakening to void two times per night........................ Vesicare is an anticholinergic and works really well. Can sit through an entire movie at the movie theater. Vesicare is anew drug. So if I take it and the symptoms are less does the VA rate it lower? Because if I don't take it, then it's very frequent.

I'm also claiming Hypertension 7101. I also take medication to control it. I have 9 years of notes in the service record. I've had several Diastolic readings over 100 and several Systolic readings over 160. But only while I'm not taking the medication. Will it be rated as 10%? Does the blood pressure have to be over 160/100 even on medication?

I'm going to claim Diabetes Mellitus 7913. I take Glucophage to control it. Rating should be 20%. It's well controlled. I have 8 years worth of notes in my service record. I'll retire with 20 years active duty. I can still claim Diabetes right? I can't atribute it to agent orange or any chemical exposure. Am I correct in that as long as DM was diagnosed during active duty then I can claim it?

ADHD is not a personality disorder in the DSM IV. But it's under childhood and adolescent conditions. In the new DSM V coming out in 3 more years it's not going to be a personality disorder either. Until then, does the VA rate adult ADD/ADHD?

I just read AR 40-66 and it says to put the SF 600s in chronological order with the most recent on top. That makes it hard to find notes. No wonder people don't get the right rating. It would take all day to find each individual note for each complaint.

Will the VA rate calcaneal spurs as degenerative arthritis? Both spurs show up on x-rays. Got orthotics from Podiatry. Podiatrist added Plantar Fasciitis too. And he atributed to military duties.

I'm still in. I retire in 252 days. ADHD and Anxiety were diagnosed at the TMC. Never went to MH. Take Wellbutrin and Concerta. Made a big difference.

I haven't found ADD or ADHD in the 38 CFR. Is it rated if it's treated with Concerta?

In the past 5 years or so, the medical record is for the most part electronic. I can print out copies of each visit and I guess it's considered an original copy. But remember the old SF 600s. Double sided. The lines were brown. And the DR would hand write the note? I have copies of those notes but not the originals. I have copies of an ER visit after a bad parachute landing fall. I didn't know if the VA only takes original notes. Thank you so much for the information