Fletch

I think that I'll do both. Thanks for the info. I'll post the exam as soon as I get it. I have spine surgery December 3rd. It will be a little bit before I get my hands on it. Thanks again. You guys are awesome! Fletch

Thanks Vync and jbasser. How do I get a copy of my C&P exam? Do I just call them and ask for it? From Vync's link and post, it looks like I'd be rated between 40 and 50%. I'd rather stay working if I can. I'm on the edge of being fired due to absenteeism. I've missed 3.5 months of work this year and now due to surgery December 3rd, I'll be out another month. I did ask for temporary convalescence. You guys are great! Thanks for your responses! Fletch

I had my C&P exam for my spine today. The doctor was very professional and friendly. My history shows a 30% rating for sacroiliac injury. My left leg is also SC'd at 10% for shortness. My civilian spine surgeon put in my records that my back problem stems from these 2 conditions. On 2 different occasions, the VA doc dictated into his computer that my surgeon connected my current condition to my SC'd conditions. My question is,,,,,does this mean that the VA doc found in my favor and my spine condition will be SC'd? I've had 3 surgeries this year alone and am scheduled for a spine fusion December 3rd. I really can't move. I'm in a back brace 100% of the time. Just curious as to what the elders here feel about how my experience went. Thanks in advance! B) Fletch

Thanks for your replies guys. It does help. I'm getting the placard from my civilian doc. I refuse to let the VA open me up. I will apply for IU once I get my rating for my spine. The issue with the placard was with the state of Nevada. I mis-spoke. I cant get disabled veteran plates without a 100% rating. I'm doing everything myself. No VSO or attorney. Hopefully everything goes well and I wont have to hire a lawyer. I'll keep everyone informed about this uphill battle. Thanks for the prayers. Fletch

I applied for IVDS back in Feb 09. I keep getting letters that say we are working on your claim. *sigh* I'm rated 50% now for other issues that include a sacroiliac joint in my hip that's listed as sacroiliac dysfunction. My neuro-surgeon wrote in my records that my sacroiliac issue was what caused the last 2 disc's in my back to slip. I've had 3 surgeries so far this year. I was just told that I need another to fuse the last 2 vertebra in my spine. I've now developed blood clots and need an IVC filter put in. The blood clots were from my spine surgery. Nobody in my family has a spine issue or blood clots. I'm not going to try to claim blood clots or the next surgery yet. I need the VA to rate and approve my IVDS so I can get the 100% temporary convalescence. I've been out of work for 4 and a half months so far this year. I really need to just try and get IU. I can't sit up right for very long or stand for very long because of the pain. It's hard to explain. You guys with back issues know what I'm talking about. I've been going through bouts of depression and even got a pre-auth from my insurance to see a psyche-doc. I haven't done it because I have enough doctor appointments every week as it is. I'm crying as I write this because it's so disheartening dealing with this every day. I haven't even got a letter asking me to go to a C&P exam. I don't know what good that will do anyway. I'm in a full back brace 24/7. I haven't added anything else to my claim because I really need them to finish and make their decision on the current back claim before I go on. My neuro-surgeon asked me what I was rated at. I told him 50% and he scoffed,"thats it?" I said yes and that I had a claim in for an increase. He feels as if I should be 100% at least. He's going to give me a handicapped placard since I can't get one from the VA because i'm not 100%. Anyway,,sorry to vent here, but I felt I needed to share this story for my piece of mind. You guys provide great information for every vet. Thanks for being here! Love you guys/gals! Fletch

Hey,,thats a great idea Pete! Thanks,,,

Argh!! Thanks.

I was called today and the VA rep told me I needed to get my 3 surgical reports since my physican didn't send them to the VA. He sent all my records, just not the reports. Easy enough fix. He said that this is all he is waiting for to be able to send me to the rater. Since they are sending me to the rater, does this mean I will be rated or is the the stage where they could do either rate or deny? Thanks in advance!! Fletch

I already had a VCAA letter and gave them all the info they asked for from my doctor. Maybe they are sending me another one to schedule another c&p exam? You think? I hope they don't do that. I'm in a spine brace for the next 3 months. I don't know what good a c&p would do at this point. They would ask me to bend and I would have to say no. LOL!

LOL!! Thats not what I meant! Is it between June 21st thru the 26th?

I just got an IRIS response and need some help. Here is what they said... We received vet's request for para 30 on 4-13-09. C-file on VSR's desk. Vet should receive VCAA letter soon 21-26 Is this a good thing or bad? What is the VSR's desk? 21-26,,,is this dates I should get the letter this month? Please help!

Thanks for your responses. I do plan on seeing someone for depression. I'm still an inpatient at the hospital. Hopefully I will get out Monday or Tuesday. I'm in all kinds of pain. Does a VSO actually help you that much?

I've had 2 back surgeries in the last 30 days and a 3rd scheduled for May 11th. I start short term disability on May 11th as well. Can I apply for TDIU at that point? I have DDD and had to have a disc removed and 3 weeks later, the vertebra above the disc collapsed and pinched the nerves that control my legs. I now just found out that I'm leaking spinal fluid and it needs repaired. This is the May 11th surgery. I'm only rated at 50%, however, I applied for an increase after my first surgery. The VA doesn't know about the other 2 surgeries yet. Basically, I walk with more of a shuffle and have to deal with my legs giving out on me from time to time. It's extremely painful. Every day. I'm going through bouts of depression(not SC'd). Sometimes I sit in my chair and cry because I can't get rid of the pain or how I can't get off the floor easily. The reason I think I should apply for TDIU is because I have to have the ability to lift 100lbs as part of my job description. There is no way I can do this now or in the future. I can't even sit for more than 30 minutes without pain radiating down my legs. My feet are numb all the time. etc,,,etc,,,

I am SC'd for migraines at 30%. I have prostrating headaches and racked up 5 weeks off last year in total. Right around 5 or 6 monthly episodes. Some lasting a few hours to a day. I have light, sound and motion sensitivity. once in a while they make me throw up. They really knock me down. At the C&P exam, I brought a letter from my doctor stating frequency and prescriptions given. I also had a letter from my employer verifying the amount of time I had taken off related to migraines. I had a couple of emergency room visits where I had to be given shots to clear up the migraine and brought those too. I feel as if I should be rated at 50%, but they only awarded 30%. Any way that's my experience. I hope this helps some.

I'm so happy for you! Congrats on the win and better yet, peace of mind!! Enjoy!!

Here's an off the wall question. What if you have already adapted your house without the VA, but could benefit from a pool? My civilian doc told me that it would help me a lot to wade/swim in a pool. I have severe back and hip problems. I just had 2 surgeries on my back 3 weeks apart. I'm waiting for an increase in rating right now. I may have to apply for TDIU. My employer said that they understand that I can no longer do my job to the fullest and are willing to keep me on the payroll until I get the TDIU. I thought that was cool of them. I told them it would be in upwards of 1 year and they were still OK with it. These are some great people. Just a thought...

I currently have an increase claim in process for my back. I'm recovering from a laminectomy at the L4,5 level that required 2 surgeries 3 weeks apart. I've been out of work for almost 8 weeks now. I haven't even got the temporary 100% convalescence yet. I'm SC'd for sacroiliac disfunction at 30%. I submitted everything a month ago and just got a delay letter. I'm trying for an increase and for them to add my spine as an additional SC. They have all my records. I even quoted the 38cfr4, 4.66 which states,The lumbosacral and sacroiliac joints should be considered as one anatomical segment for rating purposes. This should be very easy, however, it seems like the belt has tightenened everywhere. I need to get this done so I can apply for TDIU. I can barely walk. I have to continue working until I get the TDIU. It seems to be a viscious cycle. There is nothing easy about these processes. I totally wish you luck!

Too true Pete. Just curious. LOL!

"Bump" is just a quick reply to get that thread back to the top of the list for more exposure. Hope that helps...

Wouldn't it be more cost effective to offer vets lump sum buy outs? A friend of mine and I were talking about this. Say you are 50% or more SC'd. You would qualify for it. The option would be up to the vet. If you were 50% or more SC'd you could receive lets say 1 million dollars and not be eligible to receive treatment from the VA facilities. You would be on your own from that point on. There would still be the ability to claim disabilities that got worse over time. That would obviously, if approved for an increase, qualify the vet for another lump payment of X amount of dollars. 1 Million would seem fair. If you look at my case, I've had 9 surgeries that were in the 10's of thousands each and pending more. I do have my own private insurance to cover me. I think that over time, it would save the VA all kinds of money and if the vet that got this lump sum invested wisely, the vet could live a comfortable life from the interest earned. Whatcha think?

I know that you are not here 24/7. In no way shape or form did I suggest that. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I asked for YOU Berta because I value your opinion greatly on this site. You should have felt good because people seek your valuable opinion. This VA business is driving me crazy! I was attempting to gather as much information as I can to continue to fight my case. I'm going broke and defaulting on bills because of the VA's slowness. *sigh*

Is Berta around or anyone else with some helpful knowledge?

Ya,,I sent the VA everything they asked for in their letter. My surgeon added, on his own, that the cause of the disc herniation was caused by my SC'd sacroiliac dysfunction and lower left extremity shortness. Basically what happened was that the lift the VA gave me to wear in my shoe wore out and the department that makes them was closed down and they would notify me when they could make one. The notification never came and my private insurance wouldn't cover a pre-existing condition and I couldn't afford to replace it. This caused me to walk and stand crooked for several years throwing my back out of whack. My hips sat crooked for so long that it forced my spine to put more pressure on 1 side allowing the disc to rupture. The 2 vertebra above and below it had to be reshaped to allow the nerves to pass. My surgeon also said that I would have to be fused at a later date. *sigh* I see it as that there is a no way they wont link it. (Optimist) I've been out of work for a month now. I'll probably be able to go back next week. I missed a week of work prior to the surgery because of pain and pinching. My issue is 1.)how long does it take to process this? 2.)How long do I get temporary 100%? The problem is that if I don't work, I don't get paid. I've been borrowing money from relatives in order to make ends meet. This really sux.

Do you think they will order me another c&p exam?

I was told by the VA to not submit for temporary 100% until after surgery. I just did that a week ago. The question I have is how long do I get temporary 100% with a disc removal at the L4,L5 level and how long does it take to start receiving it? Another issue with this is that my back condition has not been linked as SC'd yet. That was submitted too last week. I have sacroiliac dysfunction and this caused my left leg to shorten by 1 and 1/4 inches. This is SC'd at 30%. (Which i feel is low) this condition caused my disc to rupture and it needed removed and the 2 vertebra above and below were reshaped to allow the nerves to pass unpinched. The surgery doesen't seem to be 100% succesful. I still have radiating pain down both legs and numbness in both feet along with spasms in the legs not to mention a burning sensation in my lower back during certian movements. Any help would be appreciated.