A Few Questions

[Keith85]

Three things I filed for:

1) Hernia pain - Had surgery on a naval base, scar tissue casued pain - service connected

2) Personality disorder (Reason for discharge, Honorable)

3) Hernia Scar

Granted:

1) Hernia scar - 10%

My question is why was I denied a rating on my hernia pain - They even admitted it was service connected. They said I did wear a device, so they would not grant it (Something along those lines, I have lost the paperwork during a move - Any way for the VA to get me a copy of the rating review? And also, if they admit is service connected how could they give me 0% rating. It causes pain at work as well as at home.

Also, I was denied on the personality disorder, but never spoke with a phyciatrist. I was discharged due to a service connected personality disorder.

Last, its been a year, and I didn't really know about the appeals proccess. I guess I will have to resubmit a claim? My scar has cleared up a bit, will they review that?

[Keith85]

Also, even after its been a year is it still possible to review a denied rating?

[Testvet]

Personality disorders are considerd to be pre-existing conditions that were not disclosed when you entered the military. If you are diagnosed with PTSD or other MDD then you can file an appeal to have your medical reason changed which is extremely hard to do, but given that the Army and marines have been putting a lot of people out on PDO discharges rather than letting them be diagnosed with PTSD, the service organizations and Congress is taking a really close look at the situation now. On your hernia issue I can't explain why they don't rate pain yes I have seen 0 % ratings before it just means yes it happened on active duty, but they figure it has been repaired, end of story

Did you get buddy statements about your military service and what was the cause of your mental issues, did you go to the sand box and had issues dealing with the problems when you came back to the states. We are not mind readers and without information it's hard to give you ideas in which direction to go in.

If the information is persoanl I suggest you go to a Vets center and get help with the emntal health issues if you can get the PDO changed, the quicker you take action on it, you might stand a chance, the longer you let it stand, the harder it will be to get it changed.

PDO discharges have been saving the VA millions of dollars in mental health compensation claims since Vietnam....

[Berta]

If the year has passed from last decision date- you can re-open thie claim for hernia increase in rating with new evidence.

Did they measure the scar or did they consider you need a hernia apparatus in the rating?

Hernia ratings are all found wiithin this 2007 BVA decision -if your medical evidence matches a higher rating with this criteria you should file a claim and tell them why

your present rating is too low- and attach any medical evidence that shows it should be higher %.

As you know the VA will never SC a PD.

A full battery of phychological tests from an independent psychiatrist might reveal that the PD is actually a service connectable condition.

[Keith85]

I filed the claim march 21 of last year. I didn't recieve a decison until about July 15th or so.

They actually measured the Hernia scar. I'm sorry, I am a little unclear when you say a hernia apparatus.

They said the hernia and pain from the hernia is service connected but gave it a rating of 0, unclear of why that would be 0.

Honestly I could live without the PD rating. I would really like to get a rating on the Hernia pain.

Thanks for you reply.

[Keith85]

Hernia ratings are all found wiithin this 2007 BVA decision

Where can I look into the 2004 BVA decision?

[Berta]

Gee-sorry about that:

http://www.va.gov/vetapp07/files1/0706644.txt

Recent BVA decision re hernia SC and ratings