retiredat44

I have these same symptoms with my nose and was treated for those while on active duty. I have had a bad nasal infection for 1.5 years. My doctor said she could not give me medicine because of liver problems.. I will not get into the gross symptoms... I am going to see my doctor again very soon, I have an appointment. I was in the hospttal with a feeding tube that ran through my nose into my intestines for six months, and asked them if that caused my latest nose infection. They were not sure. my question is how do they treat nasal infections? I am so pissed having ot live with this.. Do they treat it with anti-biotics? what a crappy way to live.. :)

My first claim in the 1990's was out of the Hospital office of the VSO in San Diego, LaJolla. Now, my VSO is in Vista. I am not sure why you are not happy, but I think they do a great job. I caan only base it on my limited knowledge. I also think they are are overworked.. As far as offering you any advise you can use, I am sorry, but I can only offer you hope, I am reading this forum, just like everyone else,, to see if there is something I can add to help you..

Thank you Bertha for those links,, I wish I could say yes, and give you one. I too might need one for my claim.. I have a claim in appeals from chmical poising from fuels, which contained lead. My VSO is also helping look for info. I had an occupational Specialist Doctor which specializes in ptro chemicals, and thoser that include (and inlcuded lead in the past..) exam me and my records and do an IME/IMO and also inlcuded is info on lead, and that tests could be used. but, I see tohers have a links for you (us), and others do look. The USAF never offered lead tests for vets who worked with lead..

The doctor that did my IMO created reports that took 2 reams of paper... she also did no form letters at all.. all were written from scratch..

Why would anyone want to send the arabs $4.00 per gallon at 8 mpg..??

time is ticking,, when you go to an outside medical care service, hospital, ambulance, whatever, if you have the capacity to tell the hospital (capacity meaning, you are able to communicate to the hospital..) that you have VA health insurance, and to contact the VA (Fee Basis. for billing..) then you also contact Fee Basis with the bills, dates, info... They will then determine if they wil cover you... and then if they say no, appeal.. It may take weeks, but usually takes months.. do not only rely on letters, but also see if you can call, fax, and more, keep documents and names.. Good Luck!

I guess I will check it.. pretty depressing though.. I do suggest that if anyone is short on insurance, they consider buying more, if at all possible,, I only get part 'A' and do not pay for any extra... as mine is covered %100 by the VA.. but if I do go to any outside medical care, and Fee Basis punts it, the bills will be hell!

my VSO suggested I go to the shrink to help my claim.. my doctor used to ask me to go, because I had gone through so much suffering over the years. I really prefer not to go to a shrink. I go to please them to show that I really want my health to get better. But, I see little value in going to sit there and tel them how sick I am and how screwed up it is being sick.. but, I do it, if it helps my claim. I just don't see how it helps.. and I defintely do not want them to give me any drugs,, not for depression.. Just thought I would chime in with why I went.. B)

My IMO was $1,600 and consider it well spent.. so I must say, anything less is a bargain.. --- what bothers me is that my father, while was very sick, got 100% was a heavy cig smoker.. and never spent a day of his life in a doctors office until he file and when he died.. He got 100% no questiions asked,, I did not smoke or drink, and spent 6 months in the hospital and the VA refused my claim to go from 50 to 100% There is no justice.. I have an appeal pending..

I have had back surgery (L-4) and have degenerative disc disease. and arthritis of the spine.. I get shots in my spine for pain,, and they seem to help pretty good, but only for about 4 weeks per shot I did heavy work in the USAF, and am only rated at 50% perent, but that was from chemicals and jet fuel and headaches and edema.. I did not have a specific back injury while in the USAF. Therefore, I never filed for back problems.. I take morphine for my pain and that barely helps.. I am not sure if you can get a claim approved for your back if you did not get back injury in the service.. the injury may not have shown up while on active duty, but can who up many years later.. but unless you can show it happened while on active duty, I am not sure it it can be won in a claim.. I am not sure if my VSO put that in my paperwork for my new claim.. but that would be nice, as hard physical labor defintely contributed to my back problems.. I am a total basket case.. My docotrs are a astonished of how by of shape my body is in.. I know.. because they tell me.. I am held together with hope, pain killer, and insanity,, (I suppose there is some sanity left...) Good luck with you claims too!

I lost track of my SMR's in my pile of papers, if/when I find my copy I will check it again foir numbers.. too many papers here,, but copies were sent with my claim.. my case if a mess because I have so many issues and symptoms and boxes of records.. Until I find them again, I will not be posting anything.. either that or I get my next decision..

where so you live? I put up the name and address (in these forums under the IME section) of a occupation med place that spedcialiazes in finding doctors to do IMO/IME.. But, this is for Southern california.. Also, it was $1,600 for a 2 hours visit. I gave the doctor copies of my records, she examined me and sent me a report 2 months later. I then had it submitted with my appeal.

I am educated, and feel at one time I had al my smarts, but being very sick and on heavy meds, my smarts are clouded and my mental condition is not well, as being on heavy meds and having been through so much hell and in severe pain for so many years.. I am in no shape to try to play legal cousel for myself, and try to win a claim, fill out pparers, do research and try to understand the language of government forms.. therefore, I woul not think it smart, for me, and probably people like me to go this process alone.. the VSO knows their job, knows the system, and the more help and iformation I can give my VSO the better they can help me in my fight.. If a vet feels they can do this on their own, that's fine.. al the power to them.. but if you are under stress, and ina condition like I am I would defintely have help.. Just my opinion.. I understand what you are saying,, yes, you are your own responsibility.. but... all help is welcome..

What's an SMR? these short descriptions confuse me.. My military medical records show me on those meds.. proponol.. and having Hypertension.. I stil have to read those records.. might try that now... 2:30 am, sound slike a good time to get a magnifying glass out.. LOLOL..

I was hospitalized last year for it.. long story short... after an operation to remove the cyst on my pancreas, I spent 6 months in the hospital.. the operation went wrong.. what apparently happend on the operating was that when they tried to remove the cyst, it broke open.. they abondonded the first try and wheeled me to ICU. in 2 days they tried again.. the acid from my pancreas had spilled into my guts.. after a few months of fighting many problems, still in the hospital, very long list of infections.. they thought they had it all under control.. they relased me, 3 days later I was admitted again.. another month and half I was released again,, 3 weeks later I reposted to my primary check-up.. I was in very bad shape, but I made it there,, how I don't know.. I could not get the energy to go one inch without pushing with all my might.. they took the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and were freaked out,, apparently my pressure had dropped so low, I was in danger of dying, they called 911 at the clinic.. ,, cut out lots more info to make this short.. after a few days at a local hospital and being stabilized, I was transferred back to the VA... and spent one more month in the hospital.. I was released without the a ability to walk without help.. I was so skinny I had no muscles left.. My intestines were not working properly and trying to learn to eat again.. I had been tube fed the whole time while in the hospital except for the last few days The tube was in my intestines.. I learned about hypertension to the extreme.. but, knowing what the reading of my hypertension where while on active duty, I don't know, I wil try to look at the records.. again.. last time I looked it hurt my eyes and needed to call in some egyptologist type hyroglyphics person.. I did have it confirmed by others that did say I had it on active duty, I just can't remember all the different readings and meds I took.. ** I do remember taking propanolol - Inderal for several years..

Congratulations! there is probably would be a better word, as it is not as if you won the money... you fought for it.. :)

if you are asking 'me' what my hypertension reading were, I really don't know what the numbers were.. I had many symptoms.. I also had severe swelling of the limbs, edema, and more from chemical poisoning.. and the hypertension is only part of my illness that started on active duty.. I have all the paperwork... and so does the VA and all the submitted reports and records.. I tried to read the medical records, and found it them very hard to read the doctor's writing.. how anyone can read medical records written by hand is beyond me.. B)

I wish someone could boil this down so I could understand it better... I am espeically interested as I have just recently submitted an IMO with an appeal.. it was very thorough and included tons of medical research with the exam, research, and opinion.

I was treated for hypertension in 1980 while on Active Duty. I was also treated for chemical poisoning from working with gasoline and jet fuel. I have since had been diagnosed and hospitalized (6 months hospitalized..) for blood pressure problems and Portal Vein Thrombosis. I was hospitalized with a cyst and surgery on my pancreas. I have suffered form intestinal disease and chronic pancreatitis, and also have liver disease (now being tested for what type of liver disease). I am very curious how the hypertension claims are handled.. I will find out soon if my latest appeal for my denied claim will include the hypertension if/when the latest claim and it's appeal gives me 100%. I am currently at 50%.

I suppose we need to say we are grateful for the 12 minutes.. B)

When they showed boxes of claims, and said some single claims alone take up to 2 boxes. I thoguht, dam! my claim takes one whole box, and I have now more to add if I need to for my appeal. But the VA admitted they do not even read them all. They just send out a letter saying they did not see the paperwork. And in fact they did not see the paperwork, because they refused to look at the paperwork submitted. I recently sent for copies of my medical records for my 6 month stay in the VA hospital. They sent back 2 large packages that weight about 10 pounds each. If I need to send those in along with the IMO I sent in (the IMO was the size of a large phone book, and weighed as much..) then they will need another large box. And also a forklift. B) d have to take up a collection to help fund such investigation. Make it a requirement to Fox that their investigation be a "no-holds-bar" for both veterans and the VA. If we veterans have any dirty linen then show it. But show the VA dirty linen as well (I'll bet the VA's dirty linen is far, far dirtier). " ................................................................................ .................. 1)Might mean we would have to take up a collection to help fund such investigation. 2) If we veterans have any dirty linen then show it? After watching this news piece, what left you with the opinion it's the veteran's dirty linen that's caused a million claim backlog? Sounds like we could end up paying a news source to assist DVA in dumping it on veterans. This isn't something vets should even consider. I would like to set something strait. We served honorably & have honest claims for compensation & deserve a just & expedient claims process. My claim file was stuffed in a cabinet for months. Think they would mention the endless remands with consistent, repeated error's, shredding files, hiding files, refusing to grant weight to favorable medical opinions, altering favorable opinions & doctor shopping, just to keep those bonuses coming in? Maybe Katie Curic doing a well investigated hour or Amanpour, Cooper. If we could get the focus Tigar Woods got on every chanel in the nation for cheating, it would go along way toward changing things. Maybe flooding every news source in the nation for help would bring better results. There are allot of seats coming up for election soon so contacting local Sen/Reps may help..

I didn't know Rupert Murdoch runs 60 minutes?? B)

I don't know, but I was on Morhpine, went to methadone.. I hated it,, and went back to morphine... there are no good pain killers, some are just better than others.. Dilaudid is way too strong for home use.. Morphine can be handled in most situtations.. but is still very strong.. Methadone can be handled in most situations.. but it still very strong. I found some side effect of methadone bothered me more than other pain killers.. dry nose.. some mood swings on the up and down cycles.. I have been through withdrawls of these pain killers... and withdrawls are horrible.. trying to get a smooth cycle so that it stays at an even dose 24/7 for months and years.. is very difficult.. it takes a lot of trial and error to find the dosing.. I also spent lots of time with pumps.. (while hosptialized..) you press a button to tell the machine when to release the medicine into your vein.. I never had Heroin... I don't want to... I have a medical electronic stimulator for my back... it applies current to my muscles near my spine.. I am also getting new spinal shots soon... for pain for spinal disease pain..

http://www.garlandpr.com/ Garland & Associates California Med-Legal Evaluations California Workers' Compensation Med-Legal Evaluations Agreed Medical Evaluations Qualified Medical Evaluations* Disability / Retirement Evaluations Independent Medical Examinations Tel. 888 455-1600 888 455-1600 Fax 888 737-0019 Please contact: Marlena Garland or Federico Ciampa ------------- info on who to contact to find doctors that do independent medical opinions and evaluations Doctor found through this organization for my exam and wrote me a 'more likely than not' letter for my claim. I am passing this info on for people looking for doctors for a nexus. This organization is located in Southern California. I have no clue if they help in any other locations. You will need to tell them you are paying out of your own pocket, and not through an insurance company. Also, that you care needing this for a military disability claim. That way you will not have any confusion during the process about what is needed. They will do the legg work to find the appropriate doctors for your needs. Then you contact the doctor(s) and find out more info, directly from them. Good Luck! ================= ===================

Not sure if we can post info here on organizations that will aide you in a search for a doctor that does IMO's. I recently found a company that will help find you a doctor for an IME/IMO. They didn't charge me a dime. I did however, have to pay the doctor $1,600. I have now included the IME in my claim appeal. (I was laready rated 50% from many years ago..) This organization/company is in Southern California. I neve rput a link up in my post, because was afraid it might be against rules. I had struggled with searching hard for a doctor that specializes in my illness and that could understand what a nexus letter is for submitting to the VA. After many weeks and months of searching I found this place, and though I have only just submitted it with an appeal, I am happy with the work that was done. I just wanted to pass this on. I have no connections to the place and gain nothing on recommending the place. I just phoned and emailed them, told them I am a disabled vet putting ina new claim and need an IMO/IME. They old me they usually only deal with insurance companies, but in my case they took me privately, and I paid the doctor cash. This doctor was a specialist in specific areas of medicine. My issue was internal medicine and toxicology. It took a couple months to see the doctor and two more months waiting for the report to be made and sent. FYI