lancelot6840

I never got an answer to whether contacting my congressman about my case would be a good idea? Would it help to get him involved?

That's interesting. I'll try the BVA site. I've just never heard of a rating for chronic pain or I would have tried to get it years ago. Thanks Berta.

I know this is an old post, but I have a question. How do you file for chronic pain? I have 20% for DDD. I am in constant pain, and have been on narcotics constantly for around 5 years and haven't worked in since. The narcotics lessen the pain, but I still can't work due to pain and side effects of the medication. What code or codes would the VA use for these conditions? Thanks. Lancelot6840

Thanks for the replies. They did not list the medical exam in the evidence section, but they did mention that the C&P doc looked at it and still denied my claim. I won't give up. I was at 0% in 2003 and I'm 80% as of March of this year. I'm not stopping until I'm at 100%. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it still seems so far away.

I need to know what would be my best course of action. I filed a claim in Sept of 2009 for PTSD and Mastocytosis. I recieved a decision on my PTSD claim in March for 50% which put me at 80%. They also invited me to file for individual unemployment. I received a decision on my mastocytosis claim in April. It was denied due to the VA's 5 minute exam at C&P. Every piece of evidence I sent them shows that I have this disease, and that I incurred it during my time in the military. The evidence includes 3 doctors statements and a medical report dated while I was still in the military. I filed for 100% IU in April, about 2 or 3 weeks ago. My DAV rep decided to do this versus appealing the denial. I recieved paperwork from the VA today requesting more evidence for my IU claim. They have already requested C&P exams for all of my service connected conditions. I haven't been able to work since 2005. Here is my question. Would it be wise for me to appeal or send a NOD for my mastocytosis claim while they are working on my IU claim? Or would it be best to wait for the outcome of the IU claim? I am also debating on contacting my congressman about my situation and maybe filing an appeal at the same time. What do you guys and gals think? I'm just not sure which route to go with this. Thanks in advance for any opinions.

I have been disabled since 2004. I also recieve SSD. And Yes, I filed for IU on Monday.

Thank you Berta. I'll check out that link tonight. I have been using the DAV since 2003. For the most part, they have done a pretty good job. They just got me 50% for my PTSD last month. Added to the 60% I already had, it bumped me to 80%. I originally filed in 1993 when I first got out of the military, but was denied and I gave up. My wife got me on the ball in 2003. Thanks again.

Thank you Carlie. I'm glad I found this place. There is a lot of great info here.

Hello everybody. I just found this site, and this is my first post. I have a disease called Mastocytosis. It first started during Desert Storm, but it was undiagnosed then. For 11 or 12 years it just appeared as little brown spots on my skin. In 2002 it started itching really bad. I saw 3 different Dermatologist, but they all gave different diagnosises. When I finally filed a VA claim in 2003 for an undiagnosed illness they sent me to their dermatology clinic who diagnosed it as Mastocytosis. After the diagnosis VA denied my claim do to the illness being diagnosed. I waited until September 2009, got all of my evidence together, got a doctors statement from my civilian primary care physician, a statement from my VA hemotologist, and had my VA dermatologist put notes in my VA medical records. All of the statements state that I had a skin condition in Desert Storm, and that the condition I have now is most likely the same condition that I had then. I also provided a medical examination form from 1991 (when I was still in the military) showing that I had a skin condition. VA set me up for a C&P exam. This exam took all of ten minutes. Their doctor decided that I did not have a skin condition back when I was in the military, even though the medical examination form states that I did. VA denied this claim last week strictly on what their doctor said. It went against all of the evidence and the statements from all three of my other doctors. Does anybody have a suggestion on the best way to appeal this decision? Just a little background on this disease. It effects your skin first. It makes you itch all the time. Everything bothers my skin. Heat (from the sun, heating pads, moist heat), hot water, clothes rubbing it, etc. I am now allegic to things I have never been allergic to before. I have also become chemical sensitive. When it goes systemic it affects you liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, and causes lesions. It can cause Degenerative Disc Disease, and cause lesions on your spine. I have had 3 Bone Marrow byopsies to see if it has gone systemic in me yet. It also causes muscle pains, bone pain, nausea, vomiting, digestive problems, among about 30 more symptoms. I am wanting to find out if anybody here knows anything about this disease or if they have it. My Dermatologist at the Little Rock VA told me that he has seen more cases of Mastocytosis at the VA in adusts and children then he ever saw outside of the VA. This disease is what is called an orphan disease. It affects roughly .001%, roughly 300,000, people in the United States. Sorry for ranting, I had a lot to say.