Vync

I don't have one, but my girlfriend does. It's easy for me to sleep through with the noise and all, but she hates it. I hear the first couple of weeks take some getting used to.

"more likely than not" is good. They recognize you have disorders related to service. "speculative" could be a mixed bag. I'm interested in seeing what others say about this too.

My C&P exams were last month and I called the VA to check on the status. I was told that they just received my C&P exam results late last week. That's about 3-4 weeks after they occurred. Like you, I was able to get copies from ROI the next week. RO = slow...

Some conditions can be rated based directly on what they see in your treatment records with no need for a C&P exam. Sending in the IMO/IME was a good idea, but did it use the VA's jargon like 'is due to' or 'least as likely as not' and also include some medical rationale?

I personally think the upper GI procedure would be more bearable if they had a bed with a cushion instead of a hard radiology table. Regarding the exams, I had the upper GI about 13 years ago, a C&P exam for GERD last month, but no repeat upper GI. The doc opined the connection from my VA treatment records and VA prescription history. If you don't already have you C&P results, get them.

"at least as likely as not" equates to 50/50 probability. You might win by 'benefit of the doubt'. Keep an eye on the mailbox and let us know what the VA decides...

Pete provided interesting trivia. Bergie is absolutey correct here. Due to warfarin, you will not be able to clot normally. Even when they take blood samples, it might take a bit before the bleeding stops. If you need any medical procedure which involves piercing the skin, including dental work, it is a good idea to let them know up front. This also holds true to people who take other blood thinners, like Plavix or even daily aspirin. Here is some other information about these meds. Be sure to also read up on the side effects. Warfarin http://www.drugs.com/warfarin.html Diltiazem http://www.drugs.com/diltiazem.html

I just read that link Carlie posted. You can't be any more forthcoming than that. Also, the VA has tried to discredit the claims by www.hcvets.com by issuing a fast letter intended to debunk any claim that Hep C was contracted by jet injectors. Hep-C Fact: You can have it, yet exhibit no symptoms. If you have it, it can go active at any time. The only way to know for sure is by a blood test to detect Hep C antibodies. Stories about immunizations by jet injector take me back to basic training. I remember being part of a long line of recruits. As we were being looped around the room to each injection station, I remember seeing a number of people in front of me with blood running down their arm after receiving injections. After I was injected, blood ran down my arm. No attempts were made to wipe down any of the jet injectors. As previously chronicled here on Hadit (http://www.hadit.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t16731.html), here is something to chew on: http://www.ha.osd.mil/afeb/reports/vaccines.pdf (Chapter C, Page 60) C. Issues of Administration 1. Jet Injector Use "Acetone or alcohol wipes were used to clean the tips after each inoculation, nozzles visibly contaminated with blood were replaced and sterilized before additional use, and all injector nozzles were cleaned and sterilized daily. All services reported using the injectors routinely." ... "Of note is that the AFEB made a site visit to the MTF at Parris Island and directly observed high volume recruit immunization using jet injectors. It was noted that jet injector nozzle's were frequently contaminated with blood, yet sterlization practices were frequently inadequate or not followed." For official VA-related Hep-C info, go to: http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/vahep?page=we-00-00 Hmm... Sounds like the VA was a bit hasty to release that fast letter: http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/vahep?page=basics-05-00 "Who should get tested?" ... "- Had exposure to blood on the skin" My take on this: If you know you were not the very first person in the morning to have been given air injection immunizations, you need to be tested. Even if you were, based on the military and VA record of sterility, you probably should get tested. Bottom line, get tested...

Berta, I love your response: "They only seem to disregard the good stuff" Does this also apply to the C&P doctor or just the rater? Example: WERE SERVICE MEDICAL RECORDS REVIEWED: Yes PERTINENT EVIDENCE: Several visits for lbp started in May 1990. Separation exam normal spine x-ray. Based on that small write up, how do we know that the C&P doc looked at everything? There were no mentions of physical therapy, medical assignment to quarters, or even profiles for weeks and weeks. There is a big difference between having a lower back pain visit in comparison to being injured in a fall, a motor vehicle accident, or even moving military office furniture. "They only seem to disregard the good stuff"

Good post!

Prolonged NSAIDS usage hoses up the lining of your stomach. This leads to GERD. Then the VA will probably give you some antacid like omeprazole. That puts out the GERD fire, but causes headaches and hoses up your lower intestines. Seems like a chain reaction here, but remember treatment/side effects of SC conditions can also be SC. Secondary SC, Secondary SC, Secondary SC... Another case where the QTC examiners cause problems. My C&P examiners have luckily all been VA staff physicians...

C&P Exam Results Per Berta, get a copy of this. Don't just get a copy of one exam results, but get copies of all exam results. Do you have a copy of the C&P exam results? If not, get them. Knowing exactly what the docs logged will help you formulate a better response. C-File Per Berta, get a copy of this. Don't be surprised if it takes a while to arrive. I have been waiting about six months and still have not received my copy. Back My private neurologist did not use a goinometer, but my VA C&P doc did. Ironically, the numbers were just about identical, but the C&P doc's numbers were in ranges like 0-15 or 0-30. Not using the goinometer is bad. I just checked my C&P exam and it did not indicate if the doc used a goinometer or not, though I know they did. GERD Per Berta, research your treatment records for your DDD. If they prescribed NSAIDS (ibuprofin, naproxen, etc...) it can cause GERD or other gastro problems. They may need to do an upper GI or a scope exam to confirm GERD. MH Revisit the Depression, because you are now SC for DDD. Also, remember you can have only one MH rating, which is for the worst one, regardless of how many MH-related conditions you have. Regardless of your conditions, you should look into being treated. You can get meds and counseling at the VA MH clinic, which might help you feel better. You can also visit your local vet center which is usually more relaxed and inviting, but they don't prescribe meds. You can also see both.

Good question... Sounds like someone just 'hadit' with the system...

Good point, Bergie. I was just describing from personal experience. When I have my pain blocks, they pull me off the meds for a week prior. The first day or two are bearable, but as I got closer to the seventh day, I was hurting pretty bad. They pulled me off of opiods, NSAIDs, and a couple of other meds, including blood thinners. It might be different for everybody.

Hey Cannon, I just had one of these exams a couple of weeks ago. Here is a link to the questionnaire used by the examiner: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/disexm53.htm I hope that helps. It pretty much goes down the line of what I experienced. By far, the worst thing was when the doc was assessing my range of motion. The straight leg raise caused some real pain You might consider not taking any medication which could make your back feel a lot better. Do this for about a week ahead of time. This will allow the examiner to see your baseline condition, not a pharmaceutically improved condition. I did this and it was tough to even get some sleep at night because I was hurting a lot. When I got a copy of my results, I was surprised that I was in worse shape than I thought. I'm no doctor so skip the meds only if you feel like you can make it there. You can usually get a copy of the results within a week or two after the exam occurs.

When I was originally SC, they did a CT scan and found blockage to be 100% on one side and 75% on the other. Still need to dig through my mountain of med records to see if I have it documented.

Was getting lots of errors logging into the forums. Seems to be sort-of fixed now... Anyone else have this problem today?

Congratulatioms!!!

Yes, it's deviated. I cannot remember if it was from trauma or not. I will need to dig through my medical records again to find out. I hope your DRO claim goes well.

Sorry, I forgot to note that this is for an increase request, not an initial rating. §3.400 (o)(2), see below: (o) Increases (38 U.S.C. 5110(a) and 5110(:D(2), Pub. L. 94-71, 89 Stat. 395; §§3.109, 3.156, 3.157): (1) General. Except as provided in paragraph (o)(2) of this section and §3.401(:o, date of receipt of claim or date entitlement arose, whichever is later. A retroactive increase or additional benefit will not be awarded after basic entitlement has been terminated, such as by severance of service connection. (2) Disability compensation. Earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred if claim is received within 1 year from such date otherwise, date of receipt of claim.

VA letters are always a source of confusion. Last year, I received a denial letter. The next week they sent me a letter saying they are still working on my claim. I called the 1-800 number and they confirmed my claim was still active. Go figure... The VA could save a lot of money by sending emails (to those who request it) telling them their claim is still being worked on...

You might want to call your local VOC REHAB counselors. Often times, they can explain the way things work a whole lot better than anything you can find on the VA web site.

Inferred claims/effective dates This might be a bit wierd... Regarding inferred claims and effective dates, I understand that if you seek medical treatment within 12 months of your claim request, then the EED is the date when treatment was sought. Given this hypothetical situation, what would be the effective date? Jul 2007 - Office visit, condition diagnosed, prescribed monthly medication to treat condition {insert 3-4 VA telenurse refill calls} Aug 2009 - Office visit for condition Oct 2009 - Filed claim for condition The medication refills were requested every month and renewed via VA nurse line as needed. Would the effective date be Jul 2009, Aug 2009, a VA telenurse refill call between Oct 2008 and Jul 2009, or by oldest date where refills were received? I'm curious if the VA defines the inferred date based on an office visit, telenurse refill calls, or merely because the Vet was receiving medication for the condition (i.e. receiving treatment). Thanks

Congratulations! Definitely fight them about the denials...

If the Chief of Psychology diagnosed you with PTSD, Chronic, make sure you have a hard copy of the diagnosis. If the chief told you verbally, then there is no evidence of it occurring.