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

[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

[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