[Degenerative Disk And Joint Disease, Question]

Guys.....

Rouge and I are SERVICE CONNECTED for our backs... That is not the question here.

My question is on my shoulder and wrist.. Arthritus.... I actually injured my left shoulder and left wrist on active duty orders.. But I don't remember if I was treated for it..

My questions is....... With having Degenerative disc/joint disease in my back........ CAN I FILE ON THE SHOULDER SECONDARY TO THE DDD IN MY BACK??????

I think that is what Rouge is asking as well.

I remember that my shoulder was sore for a few days but I got over it.. Now years later, I have alot of pain and stiffness with crackling during movment.

If DDD is an arthritic like condition, also called degenerative JOINT disease, calould the shoulder not be counted as a JOINT????

Carlie, I didn't mean to sound demanding... I know that you do ALOT here, you and several others spend ALOT of time helping vets and if I have enver said THANK YOU, I just did. I just tought you might know but I don't think you guys are reading our question right on this.

I"m sorry but this one has me frustraited to all hell.

VYNC.... I was told by several here that I would not be able to get my cervical spine linked to my lumber spine DDD as secondary because the VA dosent work that way...

I went to my C&P with 4 NEXUS letters from my primary doc, PT, Chiropractor, and Orthopedic specialist. The C&P examiner agreed with them and I got it.

Nexus letters are HUGE!!!!!

I hope one of you guys can address the Degerative Joint Disease issue.

Thanks.

Saw-Gunner

[Degenerative Disk And Joint Disease, Question]

Sir...

You have what I have and you have the same question that I have.

When I called the 800 number yesterday they mentioned that I was connected for something like degenerative arthritus of the spine.... This was over the phone but I had never heard it put that exact way and I honestly don't remember how she worded it.

I know I have arthritus in my shoulder and actually hurt it while on active duty but did not go to the doc over it as far as I can remember.

I would very much like to know if I can file on it.

Come on Hadit.... Somebody has to have an idea.... Carlie???

[Can I File On My Shoulder Secondary To Ddd In My Back?]

Can I file for arthritis in my shoulder or other parts of my body as a secondary claim for the DDD in my lumber and cervical spine?

[Claims Advice]

Chronic Pain Syndrome is a medical condition all it's own and is rated by the VA as a mental health issue just like PTSD or depression. Deppresion is often a part of CPS and can be factored into the rating.

If you your back/neck pain is chronic in nature, you should go see a shirnk to see if he thinks you have Chronic Pain Syndrome.

The mental health doc should do a letter for you stating that the CPS is at least as likly as not caused by your service connected conditions.

I currently have a claim in progress for CPS secondary to DDD of the lubmar spine and left hip IT band syndrome.

The letter from my doc says that my CPS "IS" caused by my service connected issues.

Hope this helps.

[How Well Do Other Countries Treat Their Vets?]

Thanks for your reply John.

I"m willing to bet that there are several other countries that treat their vets better and do it for far less tax dollars.

I would love to see detailed examples.

[How Well Do Other Countries Treat Their Vets?]

Do other 1st world countries have their own kind of "VA"?

UK, France, Germany?

How about one's a bit behind us.... Russia, Poland, China?

How do we compare to the rest of the world?

[What Does It Mean To Have A "global Assessment" Score Of 60%?]

:)Thank you Berta!

[What Does It Mean To Have A "global Assessment" Score Of 60%?]

In my doctor's letter with regaurd to my chronic pain syndrome, he stated that I score 60% in the global assessment.

He list all kinds of axctivities that I don't/ca't do or don't/can't do well. Including dateing and social life, as well as work.

I do work, but I work alone mostly at night.

How would the VA rate me if they go by my Global score?

I wan't to make sure I get a fair award, if I get one.

All of mine have been 10% to this point, even though I have what I thought were moderate to moderatley severe range of motionj issues.

To this point, I ahve been happy with 10% but I would think a rating that low would not be in order for this claim.

What kind of rating should I be looking at Chronic Pain Syndrome?

[Va May Have Messed Up My Claim.]

Thanks Bergie but I don't have PTSD. I went back and looked at my post to try to see if I said something confuseing to that extent but I can't find where I did.

I am rated at 10% DDD lumbar spine, 10% DDD cervical spine, and 10% IT Band Syndrome left hip.

[Va May Have Messed Up My Claim.]

I filed for chronic pain as secondary to DDD in my spine and IT band syndrome in my hip for which I am service connected.

I have been to a shrink who has diagnosed me with chronic pain syndrome and has stated that it IS directley caused by my service connected injuries and goes on to talk about how it affects my life.

The VA has made contact with my twice in the last week on my 2 seperate pending claims. One is for GERD caused by years of medication used to control the pain for my injuries. I have a seperate nexus letter from another doctor who connected the meds to the gerd.

Here's where the trouble starts.

VA has the letter from the shrink listed as evidence in support of the claim for GERD and does not have the letter that is actually ment for that claim. They simply don't have it listed.

AS for my chronic pain claim, they DO NOT list the letter from the shrink as evidence for that claim. Further, they have scheduled a c and p exam for next week, and the exam is for an increase fore the DDD and left hip IT BAND SYNDROME, as it pertains to CHRONIC PAIN. In orther words.. It seems the VA thinks I am filing for an increase in my past claims that are already service connected.

That was not my intent.

My intent was to file for Chronic Pain Syndrome, for which I have been diagnosed. I plan on seeing a second psychiatrist for a second opinion and 2nd nexus letter and perhaps a 3rd nexus letter from my primary care provider who has also stated that my pain is chronic.

The letter written by the psychiatrist is an OUTSTANDING letter. Probably the best nexus letter I have evear recived.

The exam is for next week and I don't know what to do at this point.

Please help if you can..... Any advice?

[I Called The 800 Number Today, Hope Info Was Good...]

LMAO at Larry!! :D

I have never called the number but I am tempted.

Allways been kinda afraid to. :D

[Sinusitis]

I just went to the doc todfay with what I thought was a cold... I was diagnosed with "acute sinusitis".

I remember when I was active duty, I was treated for cold like conditions that included prescribed meds. I have records of the meds given.

Would I be able to file a claim on Sinusitis now or is it too late? I would have been treated in 1998 and may have been treated again in 2003.

Have a I let the boat pass on this one?

I honestly didn't know you could file a claim for Sinusitis.

[How Did This Website Get It's Name?]

I've been telling other vets about the site and I kinda get some strange looks when I tell them the name of the site.

So... How did it get the name "hadit"?

I think I just posted this in the wrong section... please delete.

[Need Help Fast On This One! Please Anwser...]

Which statement should I get my doc to say in his letter.

The lady at the local VA office said it is allways best to get them to say "at least as likely as not", but some here have said "more likely than not".

I believe my doc would be willing to write ethier...

Is ethier one better?

It would seem that the latter is better but the lady at the VA office said that the VA can actually use that wording against the vet.

[Help Me With My Nexus Letter.]

I have a nexus letter from my PCP on my chronic pain. I am in pain managment for my service connected injuries (DDD lumbar spine, and Left Hip) I have also been in PT 3 times in the last year for them.

I spoke to a shrink that my mom knows so, I could get a diagnosis on the mental health side. He is a nice guy and seemed very, VERY favorable to vets and to me. He advised that would have no problem at all in doing me a letter and even went so far as to tell me to type up a draft and, he would review it and tewak it if needed.

I need good, soild examples of what a nexus letter for chronic pain should look like!!!

Should I list all the activites that cause the pain to worsen?

Should I attempt to rate the pain? ( one of my meds states for "moderate to moderately sever" pain).

I also have a claim for DDD in my cervical spine, should I list that pain as well?

These injuries go back to 1998 and have gotten worse over the years.

Also... about my neck claim.

I am trying to link the DDD in my cervical spine to the service connected DDD in my low back. Now, many here said that was a long shot but...... I have no less than 4 nexus letters from different docs, does that improve my chances?

In the letter for my P& T exam, it mentions that they are going to examine my entire spine.

I believe I will show some signs of DDD throughout my entire spine.

[How Is Chronic Pain Rated?]

Can someone post a link to the scale that VA uses in evaluating chronic pain.

Thanks.

[Ok..... Here Is My Sleep Apnea Thread.]

Thanks alot floks....

Acesup...

Yes... I take prescription antiinflamitory meds, an anti-depressant for chronic pain, and I have had sterios shots.

I did not know that steriods can cause sleep apnea... I had thought the link would be the DDD in my neck but I could find no articles about it.. But I did find the ones about acid reflux.

Could it be that I may need to link the apnea to a combination of things?

For example... If I could get the doc to state that several factors from the way I sleep because of the pain, to the steriod shots, to the acid reflux might have caused the apnea.

Would that be better?... Or do I want to focus on one cause?

[Ok..... Here Is My Sleep Apnea Thread.]

It appeas that I have sleep apnea...

Over the last couple of years I have been having fits with my heart. I wake up at night with my heart racing.

Screening test for sleep apnea was a 10.5.

I had the sleep study last week and will get the reslut late this week.

I am 33, 5'11", 165lbs. Not at all overweight.

The doc did not suspect sleep apnea but ordered the screening test just to rule it out.

I am service connected for DDD in my lumbar spine. L5-S1 and my left hip.

I have 2 claims in the works. Chronic pain and DDD of the cervical spine. C-5,C-6.

Over the last few years I have developed Acid Reflux... I have it really bad now. I take a couple pf over the counter pills each day and thats not really working anymore.

I was prescribed anti-inflamitory meds several times in the military and have taken them for years. I have been planning to file for acid reflux due to the anti-inflamitory meds.

My question is this....

If i can get service connected for the Acid Reflux..... What are the odds that I can get service connected for the sleep apnea secondary to the acid reflux?

Again....

I am 5'11", 165lbs....

My doc came right out and said that she did not fellthat I had sleep apnea for this reason. i see her later this week and I am going to ask her what she now thinks, and why I have it.

[Can Sleep Apnea Be Connected To A Cervical Neck Injury?]

I thought I understood one of my docs to say that.

Can a neck injury be used as a link to sleep apnea?

Any exapmles?

[Boot Trama.]

Thanks Pete.

[Can A Wife Of A Vet File After His Death?]

My uncle is a highly educated Veitnam vet who is in very bad shape with cancer. "prostate,colon, and now liver".

As smart as this man is, he is also terrifed of doctors and neddles and the VA.... He flat out refuses to go through the motions of filing a claim with VA.

With certian cancers being linked to service in Nam, can my aunt file a claim after his death?

[Boot Trama.]

I have developed pain in my right foot over the course of the last few months.. I have not injured my right foot at any time in my life except for boot camp.

I"m pretty sure I had stress fractures.. I remember going to the doc, being placed on a soft shoe profile and having it called boot trama on the profile slip. No exrays were taken.

I also have scars on both feet, left from boot camp.

I had alot of trouble out of my feet for about the first year or so after I finished basic and ait...

Do I have anything to file on in reference to my feet?

I have never thought about scars being somethig I could file on, until I came here.

[Can A Person Get A Rating For Acid Reflux?]

Can a person get a rating for acid reflux after taking medications to control pain for a service connected disability?

In other words.... Can it be proven that years of taking the meds caused the acid reflux?

[What Do I Need To Establish "chronic Pain".]

Greetings again...

I was under the impression that you had to be considered ''depressed" to get chronic pain second to depression.... From what I now understand, the depression is secondary to the pain.

I have a 10% rating for DDD in my lower back and my left hip condition. I just got my rating after first filing back in 2005 and then filing again in Jan 08. I was denied again but the DRO reversed the decesion.

My rating is 20% for both conditions.

I have been in PT 3 times over the years, seen multiple civi docs, been script anti inflamitory meds, issued a heal lift, seen chriopractors, and local clinics, etc....

I don't think I"ll have any trouble gettign my doc's to write letters for me linking my daily felt pain to my DDD and hip... Both hurt every hour of every day.

My questions are two fold......

Is there any certian way.... "besides "at least as likely as not" that my docs need to word the letter to link the pain to the condition and what position might the VA take to argue it? "I don't see how they can" I have tons of evidence on my side.

Do my doc's need to diagnose me with "chronic pain" as a seperate condition?

Also.....

How will the pain be rated?

Will i get an increased rating for each condition or will the pain be one seperate rating?

I assume the latter is true.... if so... How will the pain it's self be rated? would a % ammount be awarded for each area of the body or would I be looking at a 10% rating at best for the pain?

Whats the most I might see for the pain itself? I would rather get a service connection for the pain before I try for depression.

Thanks so much hadit.

[Lariam]

I was given this drug with another pill that was supposed to "counter" the effects of Lariam back in 2003 for my deployment.

Question....

How important is this drug in depression cases with the VA in terms of evidence?

I also understand that chronic pain is linked to depression in as far as VA claims go..... Is this correct? I need a depression rating to get a rating for pain?

I am a police officer and honestly.... I have been affraid of pursuing a depression rating out of fear of loosing my job or my gun rights... I have made some arrests in my time and I don't want to have to encounter those guys in the future without my iron.

One thing I can tell you about the drug.. It gave me SEVERE headaches...