[Ihd From Ao]

Got a call from the VA claim development this morning. My claim for IHD due to AO is being sent to rating today. My claim started March 2010. My rating should be 60% based on METS of 4.4. I also submitted a claim for an increase in my disability rating for my DDD and right leg radiculopathy rated at 40% in August of this year. The reason the lady called was to see if I want to apply for UI since I stated on my claim I have not been able to work for the past year because my condition has worsened considerably. So I imagine I will be getting a form to fill out for IU in the mail soon. Then I will need some help from you guys and gals on how to support my claim. The lady stated that all claims for IHD associated with AO are priority rated. So it is finally happening for us. Good luck to all of you with any pending claims.

[New Guy]

I filed my paper work and took a C&P exam. The exam was based on ROM and the doc also stated he would note the ridiculopathy of the right leg. Turns out the doc was active NG and did two tours in Iraq and does VA exams part time. So now I wait and see what happens. By the way a big THANK YOU to JBAAER for the chart on neuroanatomy and ridiculopathies. That chart is great. As for claiming other conditions I will have to thank about it for awhile. Right now my claim for IHD and back is enough. I don't want to overload the my file with too many claims at once. If I get an 80% rating then I'll look in to TDIU since I have not been able to work for over a year now.

[New Guy]

[30 Day Time Limit To Send Claim Info]

hello all, I am applying for an increase in my disability rating and the VCAA notice says " I will send more information of evidence to support my claim. VA will wait the full 30 days from the date of the letter sent with this notice response before deciding my claim." I am still waiting on some doctors reports I would like to submit. My 30 day time limit is up on the 3rd of august. Should I send what I have available now such as my statement in support of a claim, some doctor records etc. then send the rest as I get them or can I wait to get everything and send it all at once. Thanks so much for your knowledgeable answers.

[Release Of Information Form]

I am applying for an increase in my disability rating for my back. They sent me one consent to release information form. I have 4 different doctors offices I have records at. Does anyone know if I should put all 4 offices on that one form or should I have 4 forms one for each office for the VA to send them too.

Thanks for the help

[New Guy]

I am amazed also. Only 40 years and the VA decides to act responsibly to a Vietnam Vet. What next? Get every dime you can out of these guys while they are in the mood. If you get 80% you can apply for TDIU if you have to retire from your job. The VA is handing you a gift. Get the increase for your back if you can and get rated for the IHD. Why did you never claim PTSD after being blown up by the rocket? You could easily get it. You should have gotten it 30 years ago. You have a PH right? Just from a cynical point of view you have left thousands of bucks in the VA's pockets. Didn't you feel just a bit nervous after being blown up by a rocket not to mention all the pain you have suffered over the years. You never got compensated for that. Did you ever make any claim for a nervous condition at any time in the last 40 years?

Thank you for your reply.

After surviving vietnam I wanted nothing to due with the military or the VA. The few times I had to go to the VA were not pleasant experiences so I stayed away from the VA except for my last evaluation for increased disability in 1993.

Back in 1970 I did not know what PTSD was or even heard about it. I thought carrying a 357 magnum around everywhere I went was as normal as carrying my M-16 in nam ( never leave home without it ) or waking up in the middle of the night drenched in a cold sweat or not being able to get to sleep because my mind was going a hundred miles per hour thanking about "STUFF" all the time. I managed to live through it until 3 years ago when my life came crashing down around me. Depression,worsening back pain, isolating myself from others, alcohol use, became addicted to my pain meds causing me to have to retire from my job and move away. Entered into a VA drug and alcohol program and now finally getting my life back under control.

[New Guy]

CAptain SOggy what are you rated under. Traumatic Arthrisis or Invertabral Disk Syndrome?

The rateings are based on Range of motion for TA and ROM and Incapicitating episodes for IVDS.

Do you have any neorological deficits resulting from the back. If so you can file for radiculpathy secondsry to the Back.

J

Thanks for your reply. The letter I got in 1993 states " the veterans low back condition previously diagnosed as osteoarthritic changes involving L5/S1 now includes degenerative disc disease of L5/S1 and is evaluated a 40 percent disabling because the condition is severe with reoccuring attacks.

Where can I find information on radiculopathy secondary to the back. I have persistent and continuous numbness in my right quadraceps and intermittant sharp stabing type pain in my right foot. I assume you are saying this is a seconary problem and I can recieve additional compensation for it.

Thanks again for you advise.

[New Guy]

Good day all. I have been a lurker for some time now and have really enjoyed this informative site. I am 40 % SC for a back injury when I got hit by a rocket in vietnam. I applied for IHD due to AO exposure and like everyone else I am waiting for my claim to go through the bureaucracy. Yesterday I got a call from someone in development. He read a letter from my VA doc about my IHD and also part of that record had some progress notes discussing by back issues. He called to see if I wanted to apply for an increase in my rating since it appears my condition has worsen since my last claim 18 years ago. So it seemed reasonable to due that and he put the claim in for me and I should be getting a letter in the near future. I was absolutely amazed that they asked me if I wanted to apply for an increase. Then I got to thinking since I am only 2 years away from the 20 year mark where they can't reduce may rating maybe they are trying to get me in for a C&P so they can reduce my rating. If I get my 60% for IHD which I should since my treadmill exam was a METS of 4.2 and combined with my present 40% gives me a rating of 80 % So even if I got an increase to 60% for my back according to the combined rate table I would still only be rated at 80% So what say you all should I go for it or withdraw my back claim. VA diagnosis is lumbar strain physician diagnosis is Lumbosacral spondylosis with myelopathy spinal stenosis and right leg radiculopathy