Vync

I did some digging regarding tinnitus. See note 2, below, as tinnitus is a single rating, not bilateral. §4.87 Schedule of ratings—ear 6260 Tinnitus, recurrent 10 Note (1): A separate evaluation for tinnitus may be combined with an evaluation under diagnostic codes 6100, 6200, 6204, or other diagnostic code, except when tinnitus supports an evaluation under one of those diagnostic codes. Note (2): Assign only a single evaluation for recurrent tinnitus, whether the sound is perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head. Note (3): Do not evaluate objective tinnitus (in which the sound is audible to other people and has a definable cause that may or may not be pathologic) under this diagnostic code, but evaluate it as part of any underlying condition causing it.

Drw, Welcome to Hadit. Surgery is an option, but other routes like physical therapy or epidural pain blocks can give you relief. Yes, bone spurs can grow back. They are part of your body's defense system, ironically. When you go to your specialist, try to see a neurologist. Preferably, not a resident. Ask for a senior staff physician. You don't want a resident poking around in your back. Some doctors prescribe bed rest, but others want you to get moving around. You need to report problems going to the bathroom to your doctor asap. If they gave you strong pain meds, it could be the cause, but let the doctor make that decision. My doctor gave me some laxatives which helped make it easier to go, which caused me less pain. X-ray's can show the presence of a spur, but you probably need an MRI so they can see exactly what is going on in there. You could have just a spur or other problems. In some cases, people develop stenosis or may have other material floating around in the joint. X-rays can only show so much. What are your cervical and lumbar SC ratings for?

Larry, They tried the same stuff with me a while back. They held my meds hostage until I went to see a primary care provider. They said I need to see him annually, because my specialty docs, the ones who actually prescibe stuff for me, don't count apparently. Now I just call the VA nurse line when my meds need renewal. Been doing that for over a year and had no problems so far.

Glad to help. One thing also to know. Some SC ratings are bilateral. If one is, then it actually will say bilateral on it. For example, I am SC for bilateral conjunctivitis at 10%. The Hadit SC calculator does not factor in the bilaterals. My understanding is that you calculate a rating for all bilateral conditions, just like you do the regular ones, then multiply the combined value by 1.1. In my case, the 10% bilateral equates to an 11% rating. Afterwards, the bilateral combined value is calculated in with any non-bilateral values, to produce your final SC rating. Somewhere here on this site is a link to a spreadsheet that is supposed to allow you to do this calculation. If any of your ratings are bilateral,then it is best to go that route instead. You might want to call back to the 1-800 number and check on it. Also, i assume the 60% rating was based on the conditions you just listed (30/20/10/10/10/10). Was the additional 20% from your initial post factored into this or is it separate? If it was factored in (20 lumbar), then your 60% rating is correct. If it is something new or different (not an increase from one of your 10% ratings), then the calculator shows you should have a 70.6% rating. Of course, all of this is if you have NO bilateral ratings.

Hey cannon, Here's the SC calculator here at hadit: http://www.hadit.com/service_connected_dis...calculator.php/ As you see... 60% + 20% = 68% (rounds up to 70%) Call the 1-800-827-1000 number and talk with the puppet on the phone. Ask them to confirm your individual and combined SC percentages.

Carlie, I had 5 C&P exams in the last two weeks. I looked at each of the examination request paper copies, because they were on the desk during each examination. They were all exactly like what Wings posted a moment ago. My C&P appointment letter said for me to bring any additional medical evidence. I did. The examining doctor accepted my evidence and made copies of it while I was changing into a flimsy examination sheet/gown. She came back in and the copies were date stamped. She gave me back my originals. My opinion is the examining doc in your case was a real moron. At the end of each examination, I asked each of my C&P docs what they thought. None of them could tell me specifically the way they would opine, but said they had to review the contents of my thick c-file. They said the results would be posted to my records within 1-2 weeks.

Congratulations!!!!

I agree with Bravo6 100%. If it's documented in your service records that you were busted for smoking pot or boozing while driving, you can't do anything about it. There is a big difference between sipping the communion wine, a single glass of fine wine with a gourmet dinner, in comparison to over indulging. Additionally, if you are taking any meds that explicitly say to avoid alcohol, you better heed the warning. It is there for a good reason, not about what's ethically accepted, but you are placing your health or life on the line if you ignore it.

I think the VA should post a SC calculator on thier site which matches their fuzzy math and also allows you to see the SC payments and SMC for various conditions all in one spot

Sgt Dove, If you are curious about the math, you can use Hadit's SC calculator: http://www.hadit.com/service_connected_dis..._calculator.php I plugged in your numbers and it said you have a rating of 85.888%, which the VA rounds up to 90%.

I would recommend your buddy take a copy of the GAF 40 exam to the new C&P exam. Also, he might want to go ahead and fill out a release of information letter with the VA so they can get the records directly from the GAF 40 examiner.

In the last six months, I have sent six IRIS requests and only received responses to two of them, one of which was a completely wrong answer., corrected in the second one.

Here are the ratings for sleep apnea: http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKC/PART4/S4_97.DOC 6847 Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed): Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or corpulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy 100 Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine 50 Persistent day-time hypersomnolence 30 Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing 0

Hedgey, If any of DH's SC conditions are listed as bilateral, please let us know that too. Also, on his 30% SC 3rd degree burn ratings for his arms, I noticed that you listed him as 30% for the left arm and 20% for the right arm. Just curious if the right arm % was a typo and supposed to be 30% instead of 20%.

I checked my old outlying clinic to track down some old medical records. I have not been to the place in over 10 years. They said my records were transferred to the VAMC near where I live. However, they only had records in their electronic system which went back to 2002. I had to put in a special request for my archived records. After a couple of months, I received them and everything was there except some imaging lab results. I had to go to the nuclear medicine records department and they were able to print those out. Records can be everywhere!

Congratulations!

If a vet wins an 1151, what's the result?

Is this anything different than requesting records from the storage facility in Missouri? Also, does anyone know if the records stored in these archives also contain security clearance-related investigation results and related documents?

Does this apply to refinanced homes too?

Sweeeet

Just remember to be courteous. They can have security escort you out if you start causing a scene.

From what they wrote, I bet the treatment records they reviewed contained some sort of recent range of motion numbers, which may explain why they said your knee has DJD and did not give you an exam. Physical therapy can help -some- patients, but not all. They do that to strengthen your body and help compensate for your weak spots. The stretching can help stretch nerves so that your bones/growths don't impinge on the nerves as much. I don't know what to make of the report because it seems to contradict itself. You have one recommendation telling you a desk job would be a good idea, but the other wants you out of the desk and on your feet. I have a desk job and can tell you that sitting at a desk is not a good thing to do for your back, as I also have DJD in the same vertebral joints as you. The only time I am comfortable and in less pain is when I am laying on my side, like when I am watching TV or sleeping.

Just doesn't sound right. The doc could still be 'debating' his results. If the doc hits send accidentally, the Veteran is screwed. I view this like a check, not valid until signed.

Someone please tell me if I am correctly reading the decision. It looks like the court upheld the denial because the unsigned report was submitted via the CAPRI system, which indicates an 'implied' signature. The dissenting judge disagrees because the the rules require a signature. i.e. meaning that if the doc fails to sign the document, it's still official. Is that correct?

A few folks here said they received their medical records on CD. I checked with my VAMC, but they have not implemented that feature yet. The way I see it, is if I could sign a release, maybe a VAMC that supports that feature could fulfull my request and send my data on CD. It would be a good start.