brokensoldier244th

Got my unofficial 'white' letter today from DAV.Rt lower extremity radiculopathy continuedService Connection for left lower extremity deniedservice connection for ED is denied. My EMG for left leg came back negative, though id been taking meloxicam and neurotnin as newer medications, that seemed to help with the pain and numbness. No EMG, no radiculopathy, I guess-though I never had one for my right leg-I don't know if they went off the MRI's or what. The ED was based on my report of it at a VA appt. in 2003 during a C&P, my Dr.'s statement of such in 2010, and her prescribing Paxil for PME, plus issues ive noticed with getting a firm erection after starting neurotnin. I haven't seen her for that yet, though. The C&P doc wrote up a statement that said there was not enough evidence of either for her to make a decision one way or the other. Ill get the statement of case and decide if I want to pursue it further or not. I really don't have any other evidence to throw at it right now. Is the list of things submitted via VonApp and Ebenefits the same list of things they evaluated, e.g. is there going to be a list of every thing they considered in the SOC when I get it?Does the act of submitting a NOD and requesting DRO review require me to have a lawyer or court or is it more like submitting more things for 'discovery'? Is 'reconsideration' basically the same thing as a NOD-They both reconsider, but what are the more subtle differences between the two processes? I thought I had a solid claim. I submitted supporting copies of my own SMR's from 2002 that show both L and R leg radiculopathy, but my C&P then for my initial rating only noted the R leg. I was trying to correct that. My new x rays from a few months ago show decreasing disc spacing in more levels than in 2002, and Im on stronger drugs for pain than I was before. The ED was noted by my doctor, and I complained of it in 2003 to a VA doctor and in a C &P then as well. I finally went to my Dr to be treated for PME, and we started with Paxil to try to help with that (2 months ago) but now I have trouble getting erect at all (and I take gabapentin for my lower back). She wrote a letter for me that stated based on her evaluation of both me and my service records that my erectile issues were caused by my back. I also had a letter from my wife (RE: Pain and ED issues) and co worker (pain issues, mobility). All in all between my old evidence (for SC of left leg contension) and ED, plus xrays and narratives, etc was some 20 pages. I got copies of it all, typed up a cover sheet noting pages and paragraphs) and sent it off. One of the hurdles that I have is that my EMG said I was fine, and since I started on these new drugs (mobic and gabapentin) my symptoms in my Rt leg that is already rated are better then they are without. Since the drugs help with both legs, I can't really see how I can show what's going on short of them (or me) getting a new MRI, probably on my own. That may be my next step.

Is there supposed to be an attachment?

Good question. Im in decision now, too.

is this for a hearing? If for a regular claim I would just type up the highlights like a termpaper cover sheet and cite various places/dates/forms. You can't really 'do' a PPT or a videography to the RO, and the C&P docs probably don't have time (though they should make time), though I would think it to be immensely helpful during a C&P for some conditions like mental health or ambulatory.

If they are P and T, I thought you could work, it was just if you were IU where you were penalized for working?

'Remanded'-means it goes back to somewhere-the RO? Watching.....

If you are rated over 30% you go to the Travel office and they punch in your mileage and pay you 41.5 cents per.

It depends. If there is the chance of a widow, or of going downrange from one of your non-SC conditions, Id get the worst of them on the list, even at 0%.

THey have to notify you first, then prove it and give you the opportunity to appeal, during which your benefits remain as they are.

Thats the downer of Ebenefits-it's tied to the RO's. You can see plainly that it's information, for good or ill, probably mirrors the Monday Morning reports. Its a great resource if you live near an RO that is not overwhelmed, but if you live near one of the more used ones in the country, well, *shrug*. I don't really know what to say-short of thin-clienting the entire RO system to one Cray sized computer farm (or a RAID network of cheap Dell optiplex's set up to mirror each other) there really is no solution to the disparity of information available. I think they should contract with Google and get a search server or 5 installed. Our State Legislature has one in the basement, and once the documents are digitized they are instantly accesible via Google search algorithms on the server. Its maintained by Google, too, so there is little overhead. It's pretty slick.

Thats the same source-all they did was copy the blurb from cq.com

The linked article is a blog/journal that you have to pay for. *shrug* cq.com

I have a claim in for an increase, a claim for SC on a related issue to my already rated back, and a claim for ED. I put in the first 2 on the 22nd of July, and the ED on the 29th. I had my C&P two weeks ago for the radiculopathy/Service Connection claim, and this morning they called me about dependents that they should already know I have. Along the way was 1 PCP appt, 1 private doctor appointment for a nexus for ED, and an EMG. I'm not sure what the Ebenefits screen is saying to me, other than I don't need to send anything else in on my side and they have copies of everything already. The old dependency was the birth of my daughter.

The catch 22 is that if they moved faster and missed something along the way that affected a Veterans rating they would get sued, so they wait for paperwork just in case something shows up. I make copies of all my own stuff and carry it in there ( i live in the same town as my RO, though) but certified mail or VONAPP work, too.

Well, that could be good....... it just looks weird since there is the overview says 'development' and the closed/historical are for things that don't sound like claim actions. *shrug*

Got you . 'common' usage of a loaded word. Sorry! :-)

Thats the basics of it, yes, but it can go to approval, and then be reviewed and sent back to development and more C&Ps could be ordered too. There is no real guideline for each stage. If you live in a state with an RO that does expidited claims that is an option, but you waive some things and it shortens the appeal period afterwards that you have, vs. someone else that didn't do it that way. CAS

Could be days, could be weeks, could be remanded back down to a rater after review for more information or C&Ps, too. Good luck.

I got a phone call to verify my dependent's status this morning at relatively O dark Thirty. Later today I logged onto Ebenefits and saw the image below-any ideas? So....does anyone know what this means?

Same thing, most of the time. The list of tests that can be performed by VA for a C and P is on line. Yours would probably be under urogenitary or urology. http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/

You are in the 'go fishing' stage. After your C&P's are transmitted you are in the queue. Where that is solely depends on what RO you are under and their backlog.

good question. Id like to know what constitutes 'urinary urgency' too.

Thanks, Phil *fixed* Im more attentive to other stuff now-its kind of like being in HS when you were always worried about being caught......all work up and no bang.

My doctor typed this up and faxed it to me today for ED. She is not a specialist, but we did spend over an hour going through my cfile, MRI's, xrays, etc-so at least she's a good doctor, and we have an 8 year comfort history, so it wasn't *too* awkward to talk about. "Dr. So-and-SoFamily Practice, Name of Medical Practice Date To Whom it May Concern,I have reviewed Mr. Veterans service medical records pertaining to his back injury that he sustained while in the service in 2002. I saw him August 6th and we went through the history and current issues involved with his low back pain and radiculopthy. At that time he told me that he has had issues with erections and premature ejaculation since that injury was sustained. Therefore it is my opinion that his current symptoms appear to coincide with the injury in service. We have started him on Paxil as that does tend to help delay ejaculation and hopefully will improve his symptoms. If there is any further information I can provide please contact me at >.......ph number Signature Doctor Doctor, M.D.

I had a C and P for peripheral neuropathy three weeks ago and the end result (according to her) was that there was not enough clinical evidence to support the PA making an opinon for that or ED. She had my C file and brought the highlights and my own doctors notes with me to the C and P. Yippee. i love PA's. I have a nexus letter for ED because of my DDD....but apparently no clinical evidence. Awesome.