Vync

Ryan, I have had bad muscle spasms and reflux for a long time which started after my health took a turn for the worse. I am not SC, but the VA sends me Omeprazole for $8 per month co-pay. That's lot cheaper than getting it on the outside. Ask your VA primary care doc to prescribe something like that and it will help to tide you over until you can make it SC. Also, watch out with the muscle spasms. I have a lot of 'lumbar strain' and spasms in my service medical record, but the VA keeps denying SC. Wings is right. A nexus letter is probably the only way to get SC. Be sure to see an orthopedic doc or neurologist about it. In my case, it developed into disc herniations which can be totally agonizing. Get them checked out before you get any worse.

At worst, they will put you in the claim file records room and have you alphabetizing the folders.

Good question there John999...

Awesome! Grats!

Hey 60%, I hope things work out for the best for you. I am taking a college course and we just finished studying the brain and results of brain injuries. "Plasticity" is one characteristic of the brain. Depending on the type of damage you experienced, it is possible that healthy parts of your brain may learn to compensate and eventually replace some of the functionality you lost during the IED. Also, check with the provider of your courses. Disability support services may be available that provide special accommodations during your term of study. Be sure to see a professional counselor (at the VA or elsewhere). Definitely stop drinking, because that will make things worse. If you choose to continue taking courses, here are a couple of links that might be helpful: http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2...th-college.html http://www.cleinc.net/home.aspx

Awesome work Kelly. Once (if) they send me my C-file, I am going to try to verify if this is a factor for my claim.

Here's a few other triggers I have experienced... - Receive allergy shot and was given maximum dose from the wrong (strongest) vial and go into anaphalactic shock. - Initial VA claim denied because VSO sent a blank jacket to the BVA, resulting in years of appeals. - Sent letter regarding a scheduled VA appointment. I arrive, the doc says, "So, what brings you in today?" - VA nurse line refuses refreshing prescriptions because I am due to see my VA primary care doc in six weeks. - Use sit-down toilet at VA hospital and the auto flush activates. Plumbing not sealed properly and my back is sprayed with cold water. - Stand in line for 30 minutes to get travel pay and they run out of cash before I get to the window. - Noob VA resident doc listens to my heart, diagnoses me with ACS and puts me through the ringer, but cardiologist says nothing wrong. - Small car in the VA parking deck is overlapping two spaces, so I have to park on the deck roof. - Have asthma attack on VA hospital shuttle bus because the person who sits in front of me just smoked a carton of Camel's. I didn't realize it, but this stuff really adds up. Carlie's right. Pay attention when receiving medical treatment. Since my last injection problem, I watch them like a hawk and know my dosage schedule.

Hey Pete, If someone goes to Kinko's to make copies and keeps receipts, could they be reimbursed for these expenses once their claim is approved?

- Dealing with the VA - Receiving an SOC denial followed a week later by a letter telling me they are still working on my case - Chronic pain - Lack of sleep PTSD - I know it is caused by traumatic experiences, but could it also be caused by having to endure the items listed above?

Hey dav_marine, I don't have any problems with my feet, but it looks like you have a decent case based on the fact that you have all of your ducks in a row here. Being that you got out in 1995 and the VA diagnosed you in 1996, this may qualify as presumptive SC. You might want to double-check the time frames, because there is a time period that applies. See §3.307, §3.308, and §3.309 for more info. Other peeps might have more info on this. I just ran across it during breakfast while I was researching my claim. I hope this helps...

fanaticbooks, How was the long list of evidence broken down? Were they listed generically like "treatment records", indicated by date range "treatment records from {start date} to {end date}", or actually itemize the list of evidence like "treatment records for 12-29-2008, treatment records for 12-30-2008, treatment records for 12-31-2008"? I have a feeling they overlooked something, but want to know exactly what they looked at - not some generic list.

I just got a letter in the mail from the VA regarding my claim. This is dated 11 days after the SOC denial letter. From what it says, it sounds like my claim is not actually closed. Anyone else have this happen to them? Here is what it basically says: We are working on your claim for: - Back disability to include neck and lower spine Where should you send us what we need: {RO address} How soon should you send what we need: We strongly encourage you to send any information or evidence as soon as you can. If we do not hear from you, we may make a decision on your claim after 30 days. However, you have up to one year from the date of this letter to submit the information and evidence necessary to support your claim. If we decide your claim before one year from the date of this letter, you will still have the remainder of the one-year period to submit additional information or evidence necessary to support your claim. what have we done? We have requested copies of treatment records or other evidence from: {list of 10 civilian treatment providers} Even though we have asked for this information, it is your responsibility to see that VA receives it (except for any evidence kept by the VA, military or any other federal government agency). Medical evidence from private provider. How can you contact us? {VA contact methods}

vaf, I appreciate the information. I think I will look into it with my HR department. You're right. It is better to cover all the bases. Thanks!

I work at a place where I qualify for FMLA, but I also have decent short and long term disability insurance. Not going the FMLA route unless it becomes absolutely necessary. My girlfriend and I talked about having another pain block, so I am going that route within the next two weeks. Before then, I am hoping to find a doc who is willing to write a nexus letter. Finding one in my area who will do it under my insurance is going to be a challenge.

Chronic pain disorder? I need to research that. The last doc visit shows my ROM has degraded significantly over the past year. I think the big obstacle is getting a nexus letter.

It took them about 6 weeks before responding to my request. I got a letter in the mail and it gave me an appointment date that I was not supposed to miss.

Awesome! But a word of warning about their fried chicken. Check the drumsticks to make sure the claws are not still attached...

Poor choice of words John. My fault there. The disc nucleus and annulus are no longer contacting my nerve roots.

I am drafting up my NOD. If I placed my request via IRIS, how long does it really take to get them to send a copy of my C-file? My latest SOC denial is only about two weeks old and don't want to take a chance on them taking so long that my NOD time limit expires.

MRI results are in! The doc said my herniations have healed, but I definitely have DDD. It is almost bad enough for surgery, but the doc wants to take a conservative approach first. He recommended another epidural pain block injection to help keep the pain and chronic muscle spasms at a manageable level. Below, ArmyTexas indicated that he had bad luck with the injections. I only had one and luckily it lasted for a while. I am thinking about having another...

Hoppy, I really appreciate the information. That's awesome. No, I have all of my military treatment records, but do not have my civilian records from 1995 through 2004. The doc says they normally keep records for 10 years, but cannot locate anything for me prior to 2004. I make sure that I always send in copies of everything I reference, but the VA says they are copies and sends them back. At least they acknowledge their precence. Regarding DDD, I was 24 when I got out of the Army in 1995. DDD diagnosis in 2006, just 11 years later, when I was 35. I just turned 38 last week. In the case I referenced, the person was at least 10 years older than me, but he had the VA staff physician's nexus reference. I wonder if it would be possible to submit a referenced case like the one you explained as 'new evidence'. I like the approach you recommended on taking medical literatire and BVA cases to the doc. Also, asking for MRI justification in its relation to my condition is a great idea. I never thought about doing either of those things. Based on your advice, I did a little digging and found the following two cases which might be helpful: Case 1: Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377, 381 (1994) Ruling: Holding that, in a claim for an increased rating, the Board erred by relying on a 23-month-old examination where the appellant submitted evidence to indicate that there had been a material change in his disability since that examination. Case 2: Palczewski v. Nicholson, 21 Vet.App. 174 (2007) Ruling: An RO determined that the veteran did not have a hearing disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385. Fifty months (over 4 years) passed and the Board then reviewed the case. veteran claimed that the mere passage of time should have triggered VA’s duty to provide a new medical examination, even though he did not claim his condition had worsened. However, the RO determined that the veteran did not have a disability, so the Court found that there was no “competent lay or medical evidence of a current disability or persistent or recurrent symptoms of disability” under 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d) (the duty to assist statute). Thus, the duty to assist was not triggered and the veteran was not entitled to another exam. My original C&P was in 1995 and again around 2000. They have reviewed my civilian medical evidence, which is persistent and recurrent to the degree that I have plenty to justify a material change in my disability since their last C&P. Maybe citing this will trigger their attention.

I plan to make an appointment to review my file, but first will request a copy of it. I'll bounce the copy against what I have and then go down there to see what's missing. Also, they told me the medical treatment records are stored at the medical center, so I have to request those separately. The most interesting thing of all was the number of employees (with badges) who were wandering the halls and socializing. The DAV rep reviewed my SOC's and said what so many of you have told me already: get a nexus statement

I called the 800 number and asked them how I go about reviewing my c-file and the told me it is at thr RO. they said no appointment is required, just drive over and they will be able to help me out. I took today off and drove to the Montgomery RO. The guy at the front desk said the people at the 800 number were wrong. He said I have to turn in a request and wait until someone calls me. He offered to let me speak with a supervisor, so I did. the supervisor said the same thing. He said the files are stored in a different building and there is a lot that happens to get the files. He estimated that it wll take a few months to get a copy of my file. He was very respectful, but it stinks that I wasted a day to drive down here. I am now waiting to visit with a DAV representative. Hopefully they will be able to review my claim and turn my day into less of a waste.

Reservations recommended. http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featur...iation-Day.aspx <h1 align="center">Sunday, November 8, 2009</h1> WE PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR VETERANS WITH A COMPLIMENTARY ENTREE FROM A SPECIAL MENU Click here to view a list of participating locations. Please present proper identification to your server when you are seated. Proper ID includes VA card, VFW card, American Legion card, discharge papers, DD214 or other Veterans ID . Please note that in an effort to accommodate as many Veterans as possible, many restaurants will not be able to seat parties larger than 6.

lol.... "Our goal is to reduce the remand rate to 30% by the end of FY 06."