diablogun

Hi, It looks from your conditions that the psoriasis rating if done at the 60 percent would put you over the top for 100 scheduler. If you have been under constant treatment for psoriasis with an immunosuppressive drug for more than 6 months out of the last year I believe you will get the 60% rating. I would be sure if I was you to get your dermatologist to write a note that says you have been traeated for that amount of time and submit it, making sure he puts that it is for psoriasis. This really is a slam dunk, they cannot interpret it any other way. Good luck and keep me posted.

I would send an IRIS. For me, I elected a DRO review when they ignored my treatment with immunosuppressive therapy for 5 years for psoriasis. From the time I gave them a NOD and asked for a DRO review, it took about 10 months for them to grant my appeal completely. However, I literally sent perhaps 15 IRIS inquiries, and from the amount of times that I got confused responses, I got the impression I would have waited at least 2 years in order to get it resolved without constantly quizzing them. You also may want to ask for a reconsideration instead of the whole DRO review, as I have heard this is faster. When I finally got the Statement of case that granted my NOD, I was impressed with the thoroughness of the response. This was in the Phoenix VARO. Hope this helps :-)

Don, Do what I did and immediately stop giving them insurance information. After they billed my insurance a couple of times and took money from my medical savings account that my wife was unable to use as a result (I am 90 SC), I learned to tell them I have no insurance. It took me 6 months to get my insurance money back. I switched insurance at the next open season and am now uninsured as far as the VA knows.

I am service connected at 60 percent for the psoriasis, 90 percent overall. 60 percent is the highest and requires immunosuppressive therapy or being covered in psoriatic lesions. It has to have been diagnosed when the veteran was in.

Thank you Capt :-) Hang in there, I really kept on them throughout the process, mostly from sending IRIS inquiries every few weeks. Now, I will keep on here in case I need to file IU in the upcoming years, as I am pretty sure I will...

Thank you sir :-)

LOL, I think she has already appropriated the entire sum!

I will do that, thank you so much :-)

Carly, The initial SC date is 6/23/08, I sent my appeal on 3/10/09, and the final date on the appeal was 1/04/10. It was stressful, but worth it. Thank you for your congratulations :-)

Just got my envelope, and am happy to report that I had my rating raised on appeal--from 60 to 90 percent. The VA acted honorably and scored it correctly--albeit on the appeal. Thank you all for your help, I don't post much, but I read all of your input, and it has helped me to keep perspective.

I am currently in VocRehab to finish my BS, then I will do my Masters as well. I have found the program to be great. I am thinkiing of changins schools for my masters, so I am wondering if they will approve that. Anyone know how much they are willing to spend on a graduate degree?

I thought I read somewhere that one cannot use VocRehab until the GI bill is exhausted. Anyway, one can receive VocRehab and work; I work full-time and go to school full-time.

The rating cannot be taken down if one is still on the immunosuppressive therapy. I for one am going to continue to take it for the rest of my life, so I would not worry about being downgraded for Psoriasis. As to the arthritis, I can imagine for some it may get better, but I know that it is not likely for me. If they want to reduce it I don't think it would work without a C and P exam.

I am not sure what you are asking :-) If one has arthritis in two limbs as part of their SC psoriatic arthritis it should be bilateral under the rating for rheumatoid arthritis. The psoriasis should be rated completely separate as it is entirely a separate issue; thus, a 60% rating would be appropriate if one meets that definition under psoriasis.

If you have been on medication of an immunosuppressive drug on a constant basis for a long time(I think 6 months), it is a 60% rating for that alone(psoriasis), outside of the psoriatic arhtritis. I am currently waiting for them to increase the rating for psoriasis as they rated me at 0% but it should be 60%. It is unbelievable that they could miss something so obvious but they did. You need to make sure you are rated separately under psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. :-) You would think they would at least read 38 CFR.