ptsd New Claim

[ruby]

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF CLAIM

January 28, 2008

1. By this document I am filing a claim for service connected compensation for prostrating headaches and bilateral radiculopathy secondary to my service connected cervical arthritis.

2. My headaches are frequent in nature occurring on average 3-4 days a week, lasting from a few hours to constant pounding at the base of my skull for days to weeks. These headaches occur primarily at night while I am sleeping. I wake up in mild to severe pain depending on how long my neck was not in proper ligament. I must sit up and put on a neck brace (soft collar), take some form of pain medication either ibuprofen, soma ( muscle relaxant), or percocet. At times when the headache is severe it is necessary for me to take all the above for pain relief. These actions may eliminate the pain or I may have a constant ache at the base of the skull for days. As a result of the headaches my sleep pattern is disturbed. I may get no sleep throughout the night or a limited number of hours. The headaches are becoming more severe in nature due to the ambien (sleeping pill) and prozasin (hyperviligance) that I now take for PTSD symptoms.

In accordance with CFR 38 the percentage for this condition under section 8100 would be 50%.

3. I also have constant tingling and numbness in both hands specifically in the little finger and ring finger along with weakness and pain in my arms and hands. This condition also wakes me frequently at night. In order to eliminate the tingling and numbness I must change positions and shake both hands.

As indicated in the MRI dated June 19, 2008 this condition is moderate to severe in the left and mild to moderate in the right. The EMG performed on November 8, 2008 showed bilateral muscle membrane instability in the C6, C7 myotomes. According to the CFR 38, section xxxx this condition should be rated at 30% for the left and 20% for the right.

4. Enclosed are of pertinent medical records to support this claim.

1. VA Medical Records:

A. rheumatlogist notes--- notes dated August 29, 2008.

B. MRI dated June 19, 2008

C. EMG dated November 8, 2008.

D..I have more notes like from PT saying they wont do PT until I am cleared from a neurosurgeon. I am having pain procedures on my neck for the headaches and numbness and tingling. I also have another note from rheumatologist

Thank you for your time and consideration to my claim.

Respectfully submitted,

Thanks for any response.

[Berta]

Ruby-I think you prepared this very well.

There is certainly medical association in the standard medical community between cervical arthritis and radiculopathy.

"The headaches are becoming more severe in nature due to the ambien (sleeping pill) and prozasin (hyperviligance) that I now take for PTSD symptoms"

If the PTSD is SCed already you can add also that the

headaches have increased in severity directly due to the medication for your SC disability PTSD.

A vet can give more than one basis for service connection or for a higher rating.

[Pete53]

Good job Ruby. I think that Poolguy and Berta are right on. John made a good point about 1 page.

Best of Luck

[ruby]

thanks everyone.

I am waiting on a rating for the PTSD but I a pretty sure it will be approved. Hopefully, I will have the rating soon so I can reword this.

I have an appt with the rheum doc Friday and I will ask him to directly connect the headaches and radiculopathy to the djd.

thanks for the rewording Berta it makes more sense.

Again thanks to all.

[carlie]

ruby,

I will be really happy for him to connect those dots for you.

Looks like it could be a winnerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

carlie

[ruby]

New advice or thoughts. I went to the Rheum doc on Friday wrote out what he needed to say to connect the dots but he didn't do as I ask, we had a little tiff also. here is what he wrote any comments just so I am prepared if this isn't as good as it needs to be.

Problem

Spondyloarthropathy.

Has a lot of musculoskeletal probems-most likely her Hidranitis contributing to ther problems.

She asked me for a referral for non-traditional fee based therapy. she wants to sit on a horse-I told her that if RMS (PT) is too scared to give her traction--I am not going to refer for horseback riding therapy.

I reviewed her SI joints on x/ray-they are virtually obliterated. I injected her rt shoulder and the base of the rt thumb as adjucntive therapy to her NSAID r/x she has failed MTX in the past.

HER MAIN PROBLEMS IS NECK PAIN. SHE HAS HAD NCV (emg)DOCUMENTED RADICULOPATHY. SHE HAS A LOT OF NECK PAIN--SOME RADIATING TO THE BACK OF HER HEAD--IN THE OCCIPTAL AREA--SHE IS SC FOR CERVICAL SPINE DISEASE-SHE IS HAVING WORSENING OF HER SYMPTOMS AS DOCUMENTED BY HER NCV'S. SHE WILL NEED NEUROSURGICAL EVAL RE HER NECK PAIN.

Is this GOOD or BAD.

Neuro actually reviewed my consult today and they are making an appt for me to see the surgeon in reference to my neck.

Edited February 10, 2009 by ruby

[carlie]

bump