Upcoming C & P Exam

[cbayless1984]

Just a little background first. I got out of the army after serving 3 years on a medical discharge for a back injury substained on a jump in germany for my foreign wings. The paper when I got out said 0% but i was told that didn't have much bearing on my VA claim. For some reason (no good one) I waited from july of 2005 till october of 2007 to file my original claim. I'm gonna go ahead and be upfront. I filed for (and have plenty of medical records documenting each condition) Chronic back pain, Advanced degenerative disc disease, herniated intvertabral disc(s), opiod addiction, anxiety, depression and insomnia. That was in October of 2007. I just recently, after sending a formal complaint, was called and told my file was personally carried somewhere and they were scheduling me for a c & p exam. About a week ago I recieved a letter, alot like the first one, stating

"We are amending your claim to include service-connected compensation for depression secondary to your back condition (also claimed as insomnia, anxiety, and opiod addiction)".

As of today, I haven't recieved a letter saying when my c & p exam but the guy said 10-15 bus. days. Basically, and I was told this on the phone from a supervisor, my claim has been sitting on someone's desk since march but there "on top of it now".

I'm telling everybody 1. to introduce myself 2. ask if anyone is familiar w/ the opiod addiction part (i've researched it as much as i can, I was given percocet after my injury, then sent to physical medicine at womack where they gave me more percocet, then morphine and percocet, then fentyl patches and percocet, then finally oxycontin 50mg twice a day and 4 percocet for breakthru, the oxycontin and percocet went on for about 8 months till i got out and my physical medicine doc told me to go to the va and they'll give em to me. yeah right. I was told they don't prescribe narcotics for my type of injuries) that's pretty much the only time I've went to the va. They went from prescribing me 60 40mg Oxycontin, 60 10mg Oxycontin, and 120 5mg percocet a month to zip. No taper, no anything, and I have all the prescription records showing it, everything was filled at womack, they had to special order the oxycontin. I got off subject but I wanted to shed some light on that issue. the 3rd reason is if that statement the second paragraph I have, the one the VA sent me about amending my claim, does that mean anything good for me, I was hoping someone could shed some light. The last reason I guess, I've been thru all the pointers for the C & P exam but if anyone has anything specific for my situtation i'll listen. Thanks for having me.

Chris

[jbasser]

Follow this link to the exam criteria for the spine.

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/disexm53.htm

J

[cbayless1984]

Thank you J

[john999]

You don't have to tell me about the way the military and VA handle Pain management. I was on oxycodone and morphine for two years and in one half hour a nurse decided I did not need it anymore and cut me off. I did not punch her in the face, but just left and went to a private pain clinic. Now after all those years on opiates I also have a habit and still have chronic pain. Never trust the VA with your pain meds. Never go into a in-patient pain program at the VA because you have to be opiate free. Never get locked up in the mental health ward because you will be going cold turkey. They put you on drugs that will surely addict you and then decide to cut you off because you are addicted or because they believe the opiates are aggravating your depression. Yes, that happened to me. They drive you to start addict behavior like seeking backup sorces of drugs from other doctors. What else can you do if they are going to cut you off on a whim? I got addicted in Vietnam and stayed clean for 25 years until my injuries started to interfer with my job. Then I started taking pain killers at doctors advice and with prescriptions. Now where am I? There are guys that have been addicted since Vietnam. Your problem in not uncommon. My pain doctors at the VA won't prescribe oxycontin because they say it is bad, but morphine and methadone is good.

[cbayless1984]

Thank you for the reply, seems like you had a pretty similiar experience (however, i'm most certainly not trying to compare mine to vietnam vets) but were pretty much in the same boat. I never went back to VA and couple a couple prescriptions from docs from the time i got out, but nothing continous or long term. I was hoping someone could give me some advice on how the VA goes about rating it. I've got med. rec. from 2 diff. rehab centers (never VA), and I'm on suboxone for the rest of my life to treat my addiction. So if anyone is familiar with how its being handled please let me know. and john, i feel for you bro, they do some f*cked up things as far as cutting people off. That's pretty much turned me from being someone who could manage their pain and attempt to live a normal life to someone who's main concern was getting opiates to treat pain. Thanks for the reply.

Chris

[john999]

Chris

I don't know how the VA treats addiction if their meds are responsible for it. You know there were thousands of Civil War vets who became morphine addicts. That is one reason they invented heroin. Then to cure heroin addiction they invented methadone which now kills people. If you had gotten addicted on your own using illegal drugs they would throw you out as unfit and a personality disorder. You would get nothing for that in way of compensation. I have a feeling that they will try and blame you for your addiction. I was put on the same stuff as you but it made me itch. I think they will just consider the addiction as part of the chronic pain disorder. I don't think you will get a rating for addiction. This is my guess. Stay with this topic and keep asking about it. I got in trouble with the VA pain clinic because I complained about side effects of methadone and morphine. Many can't tolerate the side effects of these drugs such as terminal constipation and living in daze.

[cbayless1984]

Thanks again for the reply. I know the addiction thing has been dealt w/ several times. That why I'm suprised I can't find much info on it. I had never been prescribed a narcotic in my life before that injury. From that day (may 2003) to july 2005 they prescribed all my medications. All prescriptions were written by docs. in the physical medicine clinic and they were filled at the pharmacy at womack. If you read in my original post, they have my opiod addiction pretty much summed up w/ anxiety for depression secondary to my back condition, i was also wondering if anyone could give me advice on whether that means anything positive or ...? I know the VA medical has failed me, but while I was AD, They prescribed me narcotics for 2 years continuously, even made me sign a narcotic contract w/ them, and i followed it. Cutting me off from the dose i was at is sure to lead to addiction (you'd think). So i have my prescription records to send in from womack showing that everymonth i filled my prescriptions from their docs. Then they did nothing to try to help me, not the docs at womack (which i think they should have) or the docs at the VA. Maybe a slow taper, some kind of help, anything, could of kept me from doing what I did. I'm not trying to put my addiction on anyone, but they sure as hell didn't do anything to prevent it from happening. I call it addiction, in my records from womack it's listed as dependance? think that means anything. Thanks again

Chris

[cbayless1984]

Just to make it clear, what i'm saying is while i was on active duty, i was seen at the physical medicine clinic at womack and prescribed opiates for 2 years. I got out and made an appt w/ the VA, that's when they told me they don't prescribe narcotics for my injury. I've never been in any kinda pain program with the VA. The docs were at the physical medicine clinic at Womack while I was on active duty. Just wanted to clear that up, after reading my post, it sounded confusing.

[Pete53]

Chris:

Welcome to Hadit. From what you have written it looks like you have a Guardian Angel at the VA and for a change they are doing the right thing.

Good Luck

[john999]

Chris

The military and VA are responsible for your addiction. You were a compliant patient and now they have to fix you. You know I went to the VA and asked for Vioxx for my back and they prescribe morphine instead. They said Vioxx was too expensive. Then they tell me I have a problem!! I do not believe for one second your physical addiction is of your making. Mine was not either after I got hurt and started using the VA pain clinic. I have taken many drug tests and I never abused the drugs I got from VA. They are good at shifting blame. Also, pain clinics at the VA will blame you if you don't respond the way they want you to respond. You become a problem because you don't get better. If you complain then they want to get rid of you. Remember that every blood or urine test you take at VA is a drug screen, so don't have anything in your system you should not have, or not have something you should have. They get you both ways. The VA assumes you are a drug addict, and that if given a chance you will sell your drugs for cash.

[cbayless1984]

I'd like to say thanks to pete and john for replying, however, to pete, what exatctly did you mean by guardian angel at the VA. I considered it a horrible experience but if there's a bright side to it, please let me know. Thanks again.

Chris

[Pete53]

If I read your post correctly you said that the VA added you for depression and anxiety and they hardly ever add a claim or grant one that the Vet does not specifically ask for. I tried to go back and find it but did not so if I misread than I am sorry.

[halos2]

I buy my own pain meds civilian Dr prescribes...have for years. Herniated discs 3 for years...pain radiating down legs since 1969. Gets so much worse as the years progress.

[cbayless1984]

No, your right pete, and thanks again for the responses guys. I didn't look at it till now, but i guess i am lucky if there actually looking into my medical records already. That sounds like a good thing I guess. Hopefully i'll get my letter today stating the time and date of my c & p exam. 10-15 business days is what i was told, today is the 10th bus. day so we'll see... Thanks again

Chris

[jbasser]

The most important aspect of your examination will be your Range of motion and incapacitating episodes.

The Range of motion is your ability to bend forward, backward, side to side. The VA calls it flexion, extension. Incapicitating episodes is Doctors prescribed bed rest or hospitilizations. Spinal fusion is considered an Incapacitating episode.

The Lower the degree you are able to bend the higher the rating. Be sure to show any radicular signs. Pain radiating to another extremity, Sciatica, Leg numbness, weakness.

Be sure to get a copy of the exam about a week to 2 weeks after it is done at the medical records department. You will get a good idea of how it went when you get the copy.

Also be advised that the VA will spacifically ask the Doc in leading question format about your issues.

A good Doc wont play that game.

Also look for the following terminology.

Was not due to: 100 percent against

less likely than not: 75 percent against

At least as likely as not: 50/50

More likely than not: 75 percent sure

Was due to: 100 percent sure.

Good luck. Keep us posted on the Exam.

JB

Edited September 29, 2008 by jbasser (see edit history)

[rentalguy1]

Welcome to Hadit, Chris! I am a fellow spiney, and I also know what you're going through. I got the run around from Womack back in 1993-4. Click the links in my signature for the Spine Claim Repository and the Mental Health Claim Repository. There is a ton of good information on that type of claim compiled there. Good luck, and we're here to help!

[cbayless1984]

thanks for the replys and all the good info. nice to know that i'm not the only one going thru it. thanks for the support and i'll let you know on the c & p, as for now, well my wifes water just broke and i'm runnin around crazy.

chris

[John Purser]

Chris,

We could be twins except I came through Womak in 83-87. Today I'm laying in a chair 90% of the day due to chronic pain and dealing with depression. Haven't been able to work for a couple of years and the VA tells me that means I'm 40% disabled!

Keep fighting. Hang around this site. I got more useful information here from one post than I did from two years of listening to my VSO.

Good luck.

John