dolin333

IMG_0001.pdf Berta & Deltaj, Just wanted to thank you for the information, I'll definitely research it. To answer a couple of your questions, the right forearm was a through & through, the hip & thigh were entry only leaving 3 three inch plus scars with muscle damage and loss. I do have a copy of the rating decision (Which I've attached) and most of the med records which verify my request for a cue. I believe that the rater had all the info but he just used incorrect low ratings, if anyone thinks I'm wrong please let me know so I won't waste anybody's time Thanks

Hi, If I could get some of you folks that are familiar with CUEs to take a look at this, I would really appreciate any input. A couple of years ago I did my best to research the codes in use in the late sixties and there did not appear to be any changes in the verbage. Thanks, Bill 2010_CUE_claim_pdf.txt

I've had him before for a C&P for back and neck and thought he was very fair. You need to tell him a complete synopsis of your problem and whatever problems you are having with the specific problem being examined. He's a younger Doctor and pays attention to what your saying. Good Luck!

J, Thanks for your reply, guess I'm going to ask to be re-rated. When I was first rated I was just out of the service and just wanted to get on with my life. Pretty sure they did not take the muscle damage into consideration since on a recent C&P the VA Doctor told me that I had quite a bit of muscle damage. Again, thanks for the answer.

If anyone would have an answer or be able to tell me where to look, I would really appreciate it. Was awarded 20% in 1969 for three wounds that VA combined all together; one is on the outer right thigh (hip level) approximately 4" long (vertical-superior lateral thigh) with quite visible muscle damage. The second wound is on the right buttocks and is also approx. 4" long (horizontal-right lateral gluteus maximus) with quite visible muscle damage. The third wound is about 4" to 5" below the buttocks and is also approx. 4" long and is horizontal (superior posterior thigh), large scar but does not appear to have any muscle damage. Question is, are they allowed to combine the three wounds (some type of muscle group), even though they are different muscles or did they make an incorrect initial decision by combining the three wounds to the hip and buttocks. I've been looking at decisions and googleing, but have not had much success. Thanks for your time and comments.

I am a 80% Vietnam disabled vet, 60% was awarded for wounds in 1969, right after discharge, initial rating; Residual shrapnel wound right forearm w/ healed comminuted fracture of ulna 30% Residual Shrapnel wound right buttocks and thigh -20% Residual Shrapnel wound chest - 10% Residual Shrapnel wound right lower leg - 10% PTSD awarded in 2003 - 50% I started a claim in 2001 for back problems (six ruptured discs-2 neck, 2mid, 2 lower) related to my hip (walk with an altered gait)and the "three shrapnel wounds I have in the Back (NOT CHEST), the wounds are fairly small, one is probably an inch in diameter (about the size of a .45 wound)and is about 5 to 6 inches to the right of my spine, the other two are smaller (3/4") and not in any significance to my spine. Now here is the interesting issue, the award for the 20% for my buttocks and thigh include three wounds: one is on the outer right thigh (hip level) approximately 4" long (vertical) with quite visible muscle damage. The second wound is on the right buttocks and is also approx. 4" long (horizontal) with quite visible muscle damage. The third wound is about 4" to 5" below the buttocks and is also approx. 4" long and is horizontal, large scar abut does not appear to have any muscle damage. The first thing the Doctor that the VA had contracted to do a follow up C&P said “Man, you've got a lot of muscle damage there". To try and shorten this up, my claim originally went to the BVA, they remanded it to AMC to get my medical records from Nam and to have me re-evaluated. My Nam records show the wounds to the back and a lot of head wounds, mostly very small shrapnel, due to my helmet, but definitely show the amount of blast trauma I received. The contracted VA Doctor stated in his evaluation that it was "more likely than not that my back problems are related to the blast injury" This story gets better as it goes on; the AMC gets all of this information and states that they are not going to accept my Doctor's opinion "well known Neurologist" or their own Doctor's opinion, since there is no etiology. So they say I have sixty days to respond with more info or they will send it back to BVA for them to decide. Now I go and get a opinion and etiology from Dr. Bash (very expensive, but hopefully worth it) and I send it well within the time frame, about 35 days. A week later I get a letter from the AMC that they have forwarded my claim back to BVA, no reason why or if they received my packet (I have the receipt and electronic form from the Post Office, so that's not a problem). I call BVA to try and find out what’s going on with my file and a lady tells me there a letter in the mail (won't tell me anything else), so I wait and sure enough, I get a letter telling me that the judge that reviewed my case, no longer is with the BVA and would I like another hearing or them to proceed with a decision. I signed off and just told them to make a decision. Sorry, I think I got to rambling. The actual question I have is, how would I go about finding if they made a correct initial decision by combining the three wounds to the hip and buttocks. I've been looking at decisions and googleing, but have not had much success. I would really appreciate any answers you might have.