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pelicanbrave

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About pelicanbrave

  • Birthday 08/14/1968

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    pelicanbrave@yahoo.com

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  • Service Connected Disability
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  1. I am a 50% vet with a claim for two conditions, Cervical radiculopathy as secondary to left knee surgery and chronic lower back pain as well. I was released in January 2000 and have had chronic back pain since before I got out. I went to a local ER in early December of 2000 with shoulder and elbow pain, numbness in hand and his opinion was that my conditions were consistent with cervical radiculopathy and for the last 14 years I have been in a whole lot of pain.I have been on meds for years as well. I have been going through pain management for two years through a private pain management doctor and before that the VA had me on methadone for over two years. I filed a claim back in 2010 but was denied because I was told I didn't have the condition in service or it had not manifested within a certain amount of time. I recently found in my medical records from 2000 where I was diagnosed with possible Cervical Radiculopathy. I heard that if the condition manifests within a year of discharge I could be considered service connected, Is that right or wrong? and if I am granted service connection will it be retroactive to 2010? I would appreciate any information I can get and thank you all! I can upload the doctor's report if that will help?
  2. Thank you both, I will take your advice and run with it!
  3. I am a 50% veteran with a claim in for an increase for my sc left knee, Lower back secondary to sc left knee and a few other things. I have done most of my own work on my claims over the years but I am a a point where I need some help. I got a call from Columbia a few months ago asking me for supporting documentation such as names of private providers and statements in support of my claim which I sent in and they received. I got a call two days ago from the rating department asking for me if I would go to all of the private providers I listed and get a copy of my records and send them in because they were ready to rate my claim. They said that the new company that had the contract to get the records was overwhelmed and it would be quicker for me to get them and send them in. I listed eight different providers so thats a lot of legwork which I am willing to do but I would like to know if this is something that anyone else has had to do and if so I would like some feedback on what I should do. Thanks!
  4. I was just approved for Voc Rehab and I am in my 11th year and haven't even started school yet. Your counselor can give you extensions until you complete your education goal. I am very fortunate to be extended 36 months and not even opened a book yet! I wouldn't sweat the small stuff but I would recommend calling her counselor ASAP so that all of the paperwork is in place ahead of time. Good luck!
  5. My claim is at the Columbia, SC Regional Office and I was just wondering if anyone has any idea how fast or slow, they are processing claims. I know each one is different but the wait is getting to me I guess. Mine went to the rating board on 28 Feb 2011 so I'm already past the national average for the amount of days it's supposed to take, (16-27 days), but I understand that is the average from last year. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
  6. Actually I had spinal fusion at c-6/c-7 for a herniated disk which I have had for as long as I have had carpal tunnel symptoms. I always thought they were related but I wasn't sure. What is LOU by the way? Thanks!
  7. Before leaving active duty in January of 2000 I filed a claim through the VA for four things: Three left knee surgeries, Hypertention, Hearing Loss, and Right Wrist Gangleon Cyst. A was awarded 20% for my left knee and 10% for Hypertemtion, the other two conditions I was denied for. Nine months after I got out of the service I went to the ER for Back Pain, pain in my right wrist and numbness in my fingers in my right wrist. Earlier this year I filed a claim for Carpel Tunnels on my right wrist and I noticed something the ER doctor had written on my exit report. It states: Most likely Carpal Tunnel, versus the ganglion cyst that is not palpable at this time. Patient has a positive Tinnels Sign. Since this was within one year of leaving the service and I have in service medical records where I went to Sick Call for a wrist problem, will this be a no brainer claim and the ER report clearly states that I had a positive Tinnels sign within one year of discharge. I also had a nerve enduction test done through the VA in Charleston and I was diagnosed with major carpal tunnel syndrome with no median nerve response at all. Will I need any more than that doctor's report? Please tell me if I have a valid shot at winning this claim based on the information I've provided. Thanks!
  8. Thank you for your responses! I fractured my patella while in service but not combat realted. I had a lateral release which is where they incise the quad to, from what I was told, loosen the muscle so my kneecap would have more range of motion. This has left my left leg much weaker than my right. I think this as also why my left leg is 2cm smaller than my right. I have so many issues back, leg, and ankle issues but if I wear a brace at my job I will probably be fired or at least scrutinized a lot more. I am a painter and work for a city government in South Carolina and I am afraid I will lose my job. I live by myself and this would be devestating to me.
  9. Thanks Berta! I really don't mind paying for an IMO, after all, I am taking up the doctor's time, and time is money. I just wish each city had a list of doctors that wrote IMO's without having to go through the whole process until you finally found someone! Thanks again for your opinion!
  10. After reading and posting on this forum I knew exactly what the nexus letter needed to say. I agree, he should have known the format if he had written letters in the past. He is a very good neurosurgeon and was highly recommended other than that I have no idea what his standing in the medical community is. I haven't had a C&P for my back. I have only had C&P exams for increases in my already service connected disabilities which are left knee and hypertention. He would not ammend his letter but the VET REP said the letter would work. The waiting really sucks but if I am denied I will try to connect secondary to 3 knee surgeries! Thanks for responding.
  11. I told the Dr. that I would even re-write the letter and he said no. My vet rep said that the letter looked good and with all of the additional evidence from the service and a continuation within the first year after leaving the service that it looked like a no brainer to him but I'll believe it when I see it! I even went to another Dr. and asked him if he would review my records and was up front and honest and he gave me some story about a patient that had came in to his office and asked for the same thing and later he found out that that person was arrested for fraud and I told him I wasn't worried about that because I had a valid claim and if he would look at my records he would see that I wasn't trying to cheat the system! I am not a whining and complaining fraud and all I want is someone to take the time to look at my medical history and they would see that. I told him that I was willing to pay for his opinion and he kept on with the story. It sucks!
  12. I don't even know where to begin writing and I know this is boring but I need help. I have had lower and upper back problems while I was in the service but I am not service connected for my back. I filed a claim earlier this year after having spinal fusion at c-6/C-7. I was diagnosed with chronic lower back pain through the VA in 07 or 08. I am hurting all over my back. I got out in 2000 with service connections of 20% for my left knee and 10% for hypertention. I have been seen over 25 times for my back since I got out in 2000. I was seen within a year of getting out of service and I found where I went to the clinic twice while I was in the service for lower back pain. After I had spinal fusion my neurosurgeon looked at alot of my medical records from the military and local hospitals and wrote me a letter stating the had reviewed many military treatment records and local hospital records and it is QUITE POSSIBLE that my back problems were caused or aggrivated from my military service. I asked if he would write it in VA format and say it was as least likely as not and he said that he had written many letters to the VA and this would be good enough. I'm so depressed from my back hurting all the time and taking methadone everyday. I sent in the letter and asked for a reconsideration since I was denied earlier in the year. I didn't have proof that it happened in service or evidence of a continuation of treatment after service but I did find additional records where I was seen 10 months after I got out for lower and upper back problems plus new evidence of treatment in service so I hope that the new evidence plus the so called nexus letter from my neurosurgeon will put me over the top. I work for a city government as a painter and I am really having a hard time doing my job everyday. It's a great job that most people would love to have especially in this economy but I just don't know how much longer I can take it. Please give me your opinions as to what I should do. Do I need a lawyer or should I just sit back wnd see if this claim gets approved or denied? I need some good advice. The weakness and depression are taking a great toll on me. Any advice or help will be appreciated! Thanks.
  13. Just had C&P exam for my Left Knee in early December and I have a few questions on rating certain things: I am SC at 20% for left knee lateral laxity after 3 surgeries in the Army. I was kind of confused because I actually had 2 C&P exams for my knee within a week and each had different results but I just went with the flow. Here's what was written on my copy of the C&P: One doctor had knee range of motion: Left Flexion 0 to 90 degrees and extension was 0 degrees Summary of joint findings Joint: Knee SIDE: Left Findings: Crepitus ADDITIONAL DISCRIPTION OF ABNORMAL FINDINGS: Mild crepitus with ROM PATELLAR ABNORMALITY: YES TYPE OF PATELLAR ABNORMALITY SUBPATELLAR TENDERNESS IS THERE LOSS OF A BONE OR PART OF A BONE: YES One third of knee cap removed. IS THERE A HISTORY OF HOSPITALIZATION OR SURGERY: YES REASON FOR SURGERY: Had one third os knee cap removed with lateral release also left knee debridement and scopr A Fabella is noted otherwise normal X-Ray. OTHER SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL FINDINGS: Scar located mid patella, 1cm x 6cm linear scar< well healed, no keloid formation, no tenderness to palpation affecting 0% of exposed skin and less than one percent of entire body The other doctoe stated that my extention was 20 and flection to 95. LEFT THIGH: Is 2cm smaller in circumfrence than his right SUMMARY OF SYMPTOMS: JOINT: KNEE SIDE: LEFT DEFORMITY: NO GIVING WAY: YES INSTABILITY: YES PAIN: YES STIFFNESS:YES WEAKNESS: YES INCOORDINATION: NO DECREASED SPEED OF JOINT MOTION: YES EPISODES OF DISLOCATION OR SUBLUXATION: NONE LOCKING EPISODES: NONE EFFUSIONS: NONE SYMPTIOMS OF INFLAMATION: NONE DOES THE CONDITION AFFECT THE MOTION OF THE JOINT: YES FLARE UPS OF JOINT DISEASE: YESSECERITY: MODERATELY FREQUENCY: WEEKLY DURATION: 1 TO 2 DAYS CAN ANYONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THIS MEANS AND AM I IN DANGER OD LOSING MY 20% SC RATING? I HAVE BEEN SC'D SINCE 2000. THANKS!!
  14. I am currently SC'd 30%: 20% for Left knee Laxity and 10% Hypertention. I had C&P exams in early December seeking an increase in ratings for both conditions. I got the results back from the exams and I would like some clarification of the results if someone would please help me. I'll start with hypertention: I could not finish the Bruce Stress Test due to alot of pain in my back and right ankle. The test lasted 2 minutes and 44 secondsand the results read... Stage 1 METS 4.60 Target HR 151 Max HR 178 Interpretation: 1. Suboptimal Test 2. Low Exercise Tolerance 3. Symptomatically Negative 4. Electrically Indeterminant secondary to target heart rate not achieved. 5. Indeterminant risk by Duke Score Positive History of Hypertension; Dyspnea Dyspnea onset: On moderate exertion Continuous medication is required for heart disease Continuous medication is required for control of Hypertension ECHO: The left ventricular ejection fraction is >60% Borderline elevated RV filling pressure Mild PI WAS TESTING FOR LV DYSFUNCTION DONE? YES EJECTION FRACTION: < 30% This is the short version and I'll address the C&P for the knee if anyone responds. Can someone tell me what this means and if this is good or bad? Thanks in advance!
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