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Cervical Spine And Sciatic Nerve Symptoms Exaggerate Years After Injury
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![Jak](http://content.invisioncic.com/r264491/av-5264.jpg)
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Jak,
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Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection
Tbird posted a record in VA Claims and Benefits Information,
Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL
This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:
Current Diagnosis. (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)
In-Service Event or Aggravation.
Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”-
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Tbird, -
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Post in ICD Codes and SCT CODES?WHAT THEY MEAN?
Timothy cawthorn posted an answer to a question,
Do the sct codes help or hurt my disability ratingPicked By
yellowrose, -
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Post in Chevron Deference overruled by Supreme Court
broncovet posted a post in a topic,
VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.
They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.
This is not true,
Proof:
About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because when they cant work, they can not keep their home. I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason: "Its been too long since military service". This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA. And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time, mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends.
Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly. The VA is broken.
A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals. I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision. All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did.
I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt". Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day? Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.Picked By
Lemuel, -
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Post in Re-embursement for non VA Medical care.
broncovet posted an answer to a question,
Welcome to hadit!
There are certain rules about community care reimbursement, and I have no idea if you met them or not. Try reading this:
https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-emergency-care-at-non-va-facilities/
However, (and I have no idea of knowing whether or not you would likely succeed) Im unsure of why you seem to be so adamant against getting an increase in disability compensation.
When I buy stuff, say at Kroger, or pay bills, I have never had anyone say, "Wait! Is this money from disability compensation, or did you earn it working at a regular job?" Not once. Thus, if you did get an increase, likely you would have no trouble paying this with the increase compensation.
However, there are many false rumors out there that suggest if you apply for an increase, the VA will reduce your benefits instead.
That rumor is false but I do hear people tell Veterans that a lot. There are strict rules VA has to reduce you and, NOT ONE of those rules have anything to do with applying for an increase.
Yes, the VA can reduce your benefits, but generally only when your condition has "actually improved" under ordinary conditions of life.
Unless you contacted the VA within 72 hours of your medical treatment, you may not be eligible for reimbursement, or at least that is how I read the link, I posted above. Here are SOME of the rules the VA must comply with in order to reduce your compensation benefits:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.344
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Post in What is the DIC timeline?
broncovet posted an answer to a question,
Good question.
Maybe I can clear it up.
The spouse is eligible for DIC if you die of a SC condition OR any condition if you are P and T for 10 years or more. (my paraphrase).
More here:
Source:
https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/
NOTE: TO PROVE CAUSE OF DEATH WILL LIKELY REQUIRE AN AUTOPSY. This means if you die of a SC condtion, your spouse would need to do an autopsy to prove cause of death to be from a SC condtiond. If you were P and T for 10 full years, then the cause of death may not matter so much.Picked By
Lemuel, -
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Question
Jak
I separated from the army in 1997 and was awarded 20% disability for low back pain by the VA. Many years later, my symptoms have reared their ugly heads more vicious than ever. Set aside from my episodes of "undiagnosed endometriosis" my military service years were relatively uneventful as far as injuries go except for one incident which resulted in the VA rating.
In 1994, I incurred an injury while participating in an "indian run" at PT. As opposed to the normal PT uniforms, we were dressed in full BDU - kevlar, rucksack and all. I was running downhill at a cautious speed and got knocked into and knocked down by a fellow platoon member who had tripped on a rock, fell and landed partially on top of me. Nothing really happened after that - we both got back up and finished the indian run. Three days later, I went to sick call thinking I tore muscles in my back and was experiencing sharp pain that ran down my leg. I relayed the story to the technician who inspected me and diagnosed me with muscle tension and soreness. I was prescribed 500 mg of generic tylenol and sent off with a profile for light duty and temporary profile for PT for 3 days.
To make a long story short, my back pain turned into a permanent profile which included pain in my knees and feet. All of my treatment is in my records with exception of the event that caused the injury. In 2003, my pain alleviated to a point that I couldn't treat myself with methods that I had been taught in physical therapy (in the military) and with finally having health insurance I sought out medical treatment that is continuous up to the current date. Through an MRI, I was diagnosed with cervical injury from C4-C6, bulging disks, arthritis, and degenerative disk disease to include diagnosis for "military neck". This isn't the end. Three weeks ago, the pain from my lower back starting acting up. I was sent for an MRI on my lumbar and the pain specialist thinks the pain is from my sciatic nerve. I'm still awaiting the MRI.
I don't think I have any problems showing where I incurred the injury but my problem is that from 1997 to 2002, there's no records of any treatment for me. The reason is simple: I didn't have health insurance and I had no idea what services were available to me from the VA. Had I known, I wouldn't be posing this question now.
The pain management doctor believes that the reason my neck injury hadn't shown up for so long was due to my body "prioritizing" what needed to be treated and the pain intensified once I had my twin sons. I was told that many women don't even know they have neck problems until after their pregnancy due to the constant stress and unnatural positions that our arms, shoulders, neck and back are placed in while holding our babies. Once I had my neck treated, my lower back flared up again. This has been the constant cycle since 2003. I've been on some (what I consider) hardcore medicine such as vicodin for the last three years. I have a hard time dealing with the pain and dealing with my twin toddler boys. Take a moment to read my post on infertility -endometriosis and add those symptoms to these. Between everything I've gone thru, I have bouts of panic attacks, periods of migraines, can't sleep without medicine, constantly tired, moody. At least once a week, my husband has to stay home from work to help me with my sons. Those are the days that the pain and moods are at their worst and I need bedrest.
What are your thoughts? and also, now that I'm aware of VA medical services, should I forget the pain doctors and return to the military for treatment? Again, your thoughts and suggestion are appreciated!
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