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]

IMO?

Keith

I would say you got the green weenie on that PD thing. They did not diagnose you because they did not want to pay for a mental/medical condition. I did have a lot of experience with the PD thing in the Army and with the VA. I believe with a good IMO you can get this thing changed. I did it.

[carlie]

Keith,

1) has a medical doctor or mental health doc ever provided a written diagnosis of PTSD

and/or provided any treatment for such condition ? If the answer is yes, then

2) what do they state, in their medical opinion, is the traumatic event that is the cause

of your PTSD ?

carlie

[carlie]

Josephine,

You asked, "I read what you posted, but what is a " Personality Disorder"? Epilepsy? Dementia?"

The earlier post that I made refers to:

Example: Prior to active duty, claimant has NO mental health, behavorial or adjustment

problems. While on active duty, claimant sustains a head injury and begins having

seizures (epilepsy), or begins exhibiting signs and symptoms of a personality disorder,

if the doctor states that there is no evidence or indication of a personality disorder prior to

trauma to the brain, they have reviewed the SMR's and reports of XXXX dated XXX,

and in their medical opinion, the personality disorder is as likely as not, a result of the brain trauma the claimant received during injury documented in SMR's dated XXXX and/or

etc....

Does that clarift anything, if not - let me know.

You keep on fighting your claim woman !

carlie

[john999]

Keith

An IMO is an independent medical opinion. If you get a good one from a doctor who knows how to write what the VA wants to hear you can really turn your claim around to the right side.

[timetowinarace]

Josephine,

You asked, "I read what you posted, but what is a " Personality Disorder"? Epilepsy? Dementia?"

The earlier post that I made refers to:

Example: Prior to active duty, claimant has NO mental health, behavorial or adjustment

problems. While on active duty, claimant sustains a head injury and begins having

seizures (epilepsy), or begins exhibiting signs and symptoms of a personality disorder,

if the doctor states that there is no evidence or indication of a personality disorder prior to

trauma to the brain, they have reviewed the SMR's and reports of XXXX dated XXX,

and in their medical opinion, the personality disorder is as likely as not, a result of the brain trauma the claimant received during injury documented in SMR's dated XXXX and/or

etc....

Does that clarift anything, if not - let me know.

You keep on fighting your claim woman !

carlie

Your example is a very good one. I understand your point here as it pertains to psychomotor seizures vs personality disorders. They can have simular symtoms and the Code in simplified form says to make sure suspected psychomotor siezures are not actually PD's. Without clearcut evidence of seizures, the service member will likely be given the PD diagnoses. Evidence and/or diagnoses of these small weird seizures is very, very hard to get.

I'm unsure of why you'd consider dementia as a PD. There is no relationship between the two that I know of. There is a relationship between dementia and mood disorders but mood disorders simply mask the dementia so it is not diagnosed.

Personality change is the #1 indicator to family and friends that a head injury has caused major problems. Unfortunatly, few realize what has caused the change. For me and countless other soldiers/Vets it is assumed that "the war changed him". But these are usually mood disorders, or misdiagnosed as mood disorders not PD's. Those that are misdiagnosed as PD's, before a head injury is suspected, are rediagnosed with dementia, mood disorders, cognative dissorders and other residuales, but not PD's.

I have both psychomotor seizures and dementia due to head trauma along with a long list of other residuals.

The case below is very simular to mine except I was hospitalized for a couple of weeks for my head injury and still was undiagnosed for years.

VIDEO: TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY - ONE OF THE WOUNDS

Time

Edited July 4, 2007 by timetowinarace

[Josephine]

Keith,

You can turn this thing around. You need to get the IMO while you are still young and fresh out of service.

I am fighting a claim that goes back to 1978, as the VA, did not acquire my "Psychiatric Records".

They are " New and Material Evidence" and now some 43 years later, the VA wants to tell me that my doctors have been treating me for the incorrect illness all of these years.

This don't jive in my eyes.

On this one, I shall continue to fight them. I have been to the BVA and remanded to The Appeals Management Center awaiting their answer and if it is a denial, then to the courts, I will go next.

I had hoped to have a lawyer at this stage, but the new regulation does not allow me this.

Thanks, Carlie, and Time, Now I understand what you were saying.

Always,

Joephine