sawgunner

When I was issued a bi-pap, the doctor told me that in my case, it is likely that my neck muscles have become weakened and caused my sleep apnea, not weight... I only weigh 195lbs at 5'11". I asked the sleep tech to have the doc put that in my notes, they have not done so, so I am going to ask for a nexus letter. My question is, has anyone here ever done that with positive results?

God I love this!!!! Drain the swamp!!!!!

I don't have any answers for you except to say that I am interested in the same in reverse... I am service connected for DDD in my lumbar and cervical spine, and for the IT band on my left hip. Over the last couple of years, I have developed left knee pain with a stretching sensation, even when at rest. The VA did an MRI of my knee and found only bipartite patella.. They stated that I would not have known I had it if they hadn't done the MRI... and I thought, I would not be here if there was not a problem with me knee. I suspect that the knee may be affected by the IT band but who knows... It's difficult to get straight answers.

This is the latest ROM test from a VA doc. I am rated at 10% for each condition. AROM in degrees PRE/POST Lumbar spine flexation, = 60/60 extension, 20/15 cervical rotation R= 40/50, L cervical rotation = 20/32 Nonmeasured AROM.

If I file for an increase for DDD in my back and neck, doI need a new nexus letter from a private doc showing that it's gotten worse, or can I just schedual a C&P based on range of motion? I also plan to file for an increase on my GERD. My local gastro doc increased my meds to 80mg's per day of omeprazole last year, but they will NOT do a letter. I had asked her to state in a letter if she considered my GERD to be mild, moderate , or severe but sher would not. So can I file for an increase, based on the worsening symptoms and increase in meds?

What has been your experience/ I have never filed for an increase but I am given to understand that it is much earier and faster than filing a new claim. Is this true in your opinion? Can you file for an increase on multiple ratings at once, or do you have to file on each one and go to a C&P exam for each issue. For example, I would like to file for an increase on my DDD of the lumbar spine, as well as for my cervical spine.

If they are well documented in your VA records as you put it, then sure... You bet! I assume by the above statment that you mean they are documented as being treated while you were in the military. How long ago did you get out?

The service rep here at the VA hospital is not my rep. I only went to her office for the nexus form.

Thats right.. These meds were prescribed by a private doc for my VA service connetced conditions. Thing is.... my GERD is service connected for these same meds, but the service rep here said no.

If a veteran is prescribed meds from his private doc, for service connected conditions, and thise meds cause issues, can the vet file on thise conditions? Im being told by a vet rep here at the VA hospital that the anwser is no.

Hello All. I have been diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver disease. I don't drink and haven't in years. I was told by that my particular prescription anti-inflammatory meds for my service connected DDD is a possible cause. Do any of you know if this condition is covered by the VA? Can I file on it as secondary to my DDD due to meds? Any idea as to what kind of % it should rate at, if any?

I recived a letter from VA asking to bill my private insurace for some recent testing. It said that I would owe my normal co-pay. Thig is, I am service connected at 80%. The letter states that I don't not have to allow VA to do this but that I MUST reply. Should I tell them no? Will I be punished for telling them no?

Thanks Phillip. Okay..... How about this situation..... When my NG unit was called up for the war effort, I was examined by an Army dentist at Ft Eustis who stated then (2003) that I needed to have my wisdom teeth cut out... In a bad kind of way. Our orders got cut before my teeth did but there should be a record of that. Yesterday, I was told by my local dentist that I REALLY need those teeth cut out. Question... Could I get service connected for the wisdom teeth that needed to be cut out but were not? That problem was discovered by an Army dentist while I was on active duty orders. Thanks so much guys.

Can you gouys tell em what the co pay will be for me if I use a VA dentist? I am service connected at 80% and therefor don't pay a copay for medical issues/meds. Also.... Will the VA do porcelain crowns and veneers, or is that stuff considered cosmetic? The insurance at ,y job will likely not cover all the caps or veneers I"ll need. Any thoughts would be a great help.

Is there a part of the site, or another site that discusses grants for veterans to start businesses and such? I read something about grant money being available to vets to put solar panels on their roofs. What I read stated that the grants only applied to vets. Say I wanted to start a business and put solar panles on the roof? Who would I talk to to help me through the red tape?

To file for 100% IU? I seem to recall reading that in order to file for IU, you have to have one rating of a certian percentage. Mabey 40%? Mabey it was 60%? I don't remember.

When I was at the clinic the last time I noticed a pamplet about taking part in VA medical research. It did not say if you would be paid. It said to ask if you wuld be paid or charged anything, so I suppose it depends on what it is and with which department. IDK. I was just wondering if any of you might now more about what's going on.

Guys. My GERD is service connected to the rx anti inflammatory meds I take for other service connected issues. I now take RX meds to keep it under control. The meds work for the most part but not allways. The rating for the GERD is 10%.

Why would the A take my claim for "shronic pain disorder" and turn it into a claim for Fibro??? Is that so they can pay my a lower percentage? I have 2 letters from 2 different shrinks stating that I have "pain disorder/chronic pain syndrome" with accopmaning depression, sleeplessness, etc..... When I called the 800 number they told me that my claim was for Fibro. No doctor has ever stated that I have fibro.

Dawg. I had filed for Chronic Pain Disorder with 2 letters from 2 different head shrinkers to suppot the cliam. They also attribute depression, insomnia, mood disorder, etc as being directly caused by my chronic pain.

Ok... I filed a NOD on chronic pain as the VA decided that the painful range of motion on the DDD in my back and IT band trouble in my hip was considered a claim for pain. And that i could not be rated twice for the same thing. Funny that I have no mental health rating at this time and pain disorder is considered as such. I have TWO very solid letters for TWO different shrinks that state that my chronic pain disorder IS CAUSED by my service connected conditions. I called today to enroll in ebenifits and to see where my claim is at. I was told it was being treated as a cliam for fibromyalgia. Is fibro considered mental health as well? Could it fall under the same thing? I have never been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I know you guys are tired of hearing abot this one but it's driving me up the wall at this point. Any thoughts on this latest tid bit? SawGunner.

The rating code for pain disorder is 9442 John. I have been diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome by a shrink. The VA syas that pain was part of my claim on my hip and ddd in my spine, it therefore will not grant my claim, stating it would be pyramiding...... How can the VA argue that chronic pain is a mental disorder, and then turn around and tell me that I am allready rated for it, WHEN I HAVE NO MENTAL HEALTH RATING WITH VA???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Ok guys..... A while back I posted that my claim for chronic pain syndrome had been denied due to the fact that pain was considered in my original rating for my hip and DDD in my back. Question..... If CPS/Pain Disorder is considered a mental health condition by the VA, how can they deny my claim for it when I have no mental health rating with VA???? I provided the VA with a letter from my shrink where he diagnosed me with Chronic Pain Syndrome under civi mental health, VA says it's pyrmiding due to the fact that I had painful range of motion... However, I have no mental health rating with the VA. My local VA rep looked at the decision and said it muct have been a "rookie rater". What say hadit?? This claim is going to be VERY INMPORTANT to me. Also.... He stated that my chronic pain syndrome has accopanying depression and I"m sure he will ad anxiety and insomnia to it as well.. I have been diagnosed with an anxiety driven insomina by a sleep specialist.... Will the insomina be considered with the chronic pain claim, or is insomina not considered mental health. I understand that you can only recieve one mental health claim. Thanks.

Can you please explain the "Deluca Factor"? My claim for CPS we denied the first time around because they stated that my claim for my hip and back included pain as a symptom. Chronic pain syndrome is a condition of it's own, as I understand it.

Doc told me that her office policy would not allow her to put me out of work. She stated that I would need to get another doctor to do so first, THEN she could help per her company policy.