It's A Medical Miracle..!

[jecsb4]

Boy did I get hosed by ….

I got bush whacked by QTC! I currently have 10% for bilateral hammertoes, 10% bilateral bunon surgery and 30% bilateral pes planus w/ plantar fasciitis! Well I asked for a relook based on new evidence – the evidence was pretty significant – the VA podiatrist listed all my feet issues mentioned above along with posterior tibial tendon disfunction – bilateral, and other things and wrote that no question my feet were SC.

So, I felt I should get the higher rating. SO the VARO sent me to a contracted internal med dr! Well I just got the results via FOIA. It’s a medical miracle!!!

Dr. said I had no hammer, bunions, metatarsalgia. And my flat feet went from bilateral to just one foot! My plantar fasciitis stayed the same.

Earlier this week, I gave to my VSO a IMO from a podiatrist that has done the actual surgery on me for hammer and bunions! The ones that don’t exist anymore pert the internal med dr! My doctor said my feet were in the top of the list as being severe for my numerous feet issues. The IMO is worded strongly to leave no doubt of the severity and the proper rating. Anyway I turned in the IMO with my statement. My feet are worse since their rating decision and my Dr even took pictures which I submitted along with some that I had taken.

So, will the VARO go with what my doctors (including what the VA foot doctor) says or just go by what this contract doctor said. This doctor is the only one who has denied my claims.

Will they actually try and reduce my rating? The preponderance of evidence is on my side. If they deny my recon and worse try to reduce me, I think I will try to have a local hearing.

I know for one thing, flat feet, hammertoe and bunion surgery doesn’t just go away, unless you surgery remove the limbs.

In my SOC , the VARO determined my feet increased to a 30, but now that this one doctor says otherwise, what will they do? What is my best approach to this, wait for their decision, get another opinion. See what they do with my statement and IMO, or file even more feet claims for week feet (ankles give out, and I also have a dropped foot condition.), and for Foot Injury Other (tendon tears) . I included all of that in my info and wanted them to basically count all of that as a whole to see how it effected my flat feet vs additional separate claims. Was that a good strategy? Should I change course? Ask my doctor to refute these new "findings"?

Thanks all.

[rentalguy1]

I think the VA podiatrist and the IMO will far outweigh the contract quack. I am in a similiar situation. In 2003 the VA C&P quack said my back injury that I recieved in 1993 had healed and I was all better. They reduced me from 10% for my back to 0% and I was so mad that I didn't fight it. Have you ever heard of a back injury healing? Fast forward to 2007...I woke up one morning and couldn't get out of bed. by far the worst pain I have had since the accident in 93. Went to a civillian dr, got an MRI, showed severe DDD, DFD, and spinal stenosis. Been having sciatica, incontinence and other issues over the last several years. Finally got a new C&P from a VA doc that listened and actually wrote the real facts. If the VA follows it own rules I should have 80% in a few months. Long story short, I think you will end up with an increase, but if the VARO screws you, then don't give up. Appeal, appeal, appeal! I also would hold off on filing seperate claims until this one is resolved as it will only hold up the process. Good Luck!

[jecsb4]

Rentalguy1,

Thanks for the advice. I know from this board, that I am not the first vet who is dealing with this! You are right, the only way to describe some of these C&P doctors is with the word quack. This dr. was only in their early 30's - not a lot of experience, not a specialist (ortho or foot) and I believe is a product pf a medicial program from a 2rd world / developing country. THe doctor is serving it's master - the VARO. I have heard from my SO that a lot of cases are going to this person. Now I know why!

After watching the CCN special a few weeks ago where they told a soldier that his numerous shrapnel injuries were not SC!! And the rater cut off their name from the papers for fear of attention from the media.

[cloudcroft]

I believe that the name was removed because NONE of us are supposed to know the name of the person who rated us...it's just SOP and it's probably for security/pivacy reasons.

Can anyone here name their rater?

-- John D.

Edited December 8, 2007 by cloudcroft

[Pete53]

My first rater was Jiminez and my last rater I know also. I do know that they pretty much have a bunker mentality and are scared of Veterans. Even my so called VSO said he did not allow his door to be closed when he was with a Veteran. Not for the Veterans protection but for his own. He laughed about how ya know some Vets have a tendancy to go off on you.

[jecsb4]

My first rater was Jiminez and my last rater I know also. I do know that they pretty much have a bunker mentality and are scared of Veterans. Even my so called VSO said he did not allow his door to be closed when he was with a Veteran. Not for the Veterans protection but for his own. He laughed about how ya know some Vets have a tendancy to go off on you.

Well,

I never understood why the VA & VARO has their own police force. I know that when I use to take my Dad to the VA in the early 80's I don't remember seeing any, but I wasn't looking.

I started to take this as an insult that they need a police force to keep Vets in line. I think this may have been an over reaction by the VA to get cops after a few vets who lost their cool and could not take the abuse. I suppose if a Vet comes in an say's they are sucidial they want to make sure the Vet does no harm to themselves and others.

We all have read and watch TV reports about postal employees gong postal and I don't see cops in the post office. I know they do have investigative cops (with fire arms) for mail fraud, and employee stealing but I have never see one.

I guess it's the times we live in, with off duty cops, rent a cops and cameras everywhere.

[carlie]

My 1st rater at Bay Pines, Fl VA was M.R. Woodall -- dated 11-15-1978

Rating specialist on 2-22-1979 is G.M. Lopes

3-28-1980 is K. Knapp - who is also listed as Chairman at a VARO

Rating Board Hearing dated 7-15-1980.

I do have more ---- but as the years go by, VA redacts more.

jmho,

carlie