Rating Dystonia

[bakerkd]

I am interested to see if anyone on here can answer how dystonia would be rated. From what I understand it would be rated as either Tic, convulsive Max 30% or Paramyoclonus Multiplex 60%depending on severity of muscle contractions. Is the accompanying Peripheral Neuropathy rated as seperate or factored into one of the two ratings above? The neuromuscular stuff is pretty confusing. I'm pretty lost as far as how this would be rated. Has anyone on here been rated for this or helped with a similar claim.

[edsteph98]

It appears that they questioned the inservice nexus- did you have an IMO?

Does this disability or symptoms of it appear in your SMRs?

I do not have the disability in my SMR'S it appeared after discharge and I did have a C&P Exam with an orthopedic whom felt the burning sensation was related to cervical dystonia but I had positive straight leg raising which ws related to a service injury so that how i got the 10%. I had a second C&P exam with neurology and apparently since I was using medication for the headaches they felt it was controlled and at the time I did not keep a calendar. I since went back to VAMC neurology for cervical dystonia and informed them the meds are not helping any more. They actually wrote that in me medical records which I sent into teh R/O as new evidence in conjuction with my headache log...I realize they maybe looking for a nexxus but I am more amd more confident my exposure to the toxins, vaccinations from teh gulf war is the nexxus.

I just wish they would recognized teh diagnosise may not appear within a set timeframe after discharge.

[Berta]

You will need an independent medical opinion to prove that toxins in the GW caused this disability- or whatever else could have caused it.

"I just wish they would recognized teh diagnosise may not appear within a set timeframe after discharge."

If this is an established medical fact (I dont have time to research this disability) and if there are good medical texts refered to on the net regarding that- then this could help an IMO doctor make a "as likely as not" nexus statement.

Can you obtain buddy statements that might reflect any early symptomatology you had of this condition during your service?

[bakerkd]

I do not have the disability in my SMR'S it appeared after discharge and I did have a C&P Exam with an orthopedic whom felt the burning sensation was related to cervical dystonia but I had positive straight leg raising which ws related to a service injury so that how i got the 10%. I had a second C&P exam with neurology and apparently since I was using medication for the headaches they felt it was controlled and at the time I did not keep a calendar. I since went back to VAMC neurology for cervical dystonia and informed them the meds are not helping any more. They actually wrote that in me medical records which I sent into teh R/O as new evidence in conjuction with my headache log...I realize they maybe looking for a nexxus but I am more amd more confident my exposure to the toxins, vaccinations from teh gulf war is the nexxus.

I just wish they would recognized teh diagnosise may not appear within a set timeframe after discharge.

Edsteph98,

I have found through experience that it takes a considerable amount of time for doctors to diagnose Cervical Dystonia or Spasmodic Torticollis. Some people get the telltale head pulling in one direction but others such as myself just get the painful constant muscle contractions. There are so many other, more,common, explanations for the symptoms you get. I have been told i'm having sinus pain, eye strain, tooth ache, DDD, muscle strain, Facet Joint pain, shoulder strain, tension headaches. I've had doctors who have made it obvious that they felt i was either faking it or exaggerating my pain. It took 9 years and more specialists and tests than i care to think about to get where i'm at now. Do you have a similar experience? I'll bet your SMR's are riddled with some of these same complaints. Get an IMO from a Dr who has experience diagnosing Cervical Dystonia.

Your dilemna is that Cd is a diagnosis that requires ruling out just about everthing else, there is no gold standard test for it. Basically your likely to have multiple "wrong diagnosis'" before anyone even considers it. Makes nexus a bitch, but if you can get a doctor that knows movement disorders to look through your records you may get that IMO you need. Good luck!

[edsteph98]

I asked my neurologist at the hospital (non-va) and he wrote me a detailed letter basically indicating he was not able to determine if the cause of my cervical dystonia was related to the gulf war and exposure to toxins. I also asked my neurologist at the VA and he said he could not be sure the disease was related to the gulf war and toxin exposure but did state he would document my medical records incase this turns out to be another agent orange in the future.

Its really frustrating because I have no family history and did serve 3tours in the gulf with direct exposure to the toxins. I also have the shoulder pain/burning sensations which does extend into my arms from time to time and have increased headaches as well as sensitivity to light. I actually went to pain management and they wanted to proceed with a rhizotomy but I declined the operation.

Perhaps being out of work on disability got me mad enough to reopen the claim and continue to fight again. I am sure there has to be more vets with dystonia out there and maybe this time I will take the fight to the US District Courts just to have my case documented for any other vets whom experience this illness.

The VA makes me feel asahamed for my condiion and as if I am looking for a handout.

We shall see what hapens now since I have supplied new medical evidence and am at the RO. I have been given the strong feeling the claim will be denied again and have since requested assistance from the DAV. Thats who alerted me to keep a headache calendar/journal....

[bakerkd]

I asked my neurologist at the hospital (non-va) and he wrote me a detailed letter basically indicating he was not able to determine if the cause of my cervical dystonia was related to the gulf war and exposure to toxins. I also asked my neurologist at the VA and he said he could not be sure the disease was related to the gulf war and toxin exposure but did state he would document my medical records incase this turns out to be another agent orange in the future.

Its really frustrating because I have no family history and did serve 3tours in the gulf with direct exposure to the toxins. I also have the shoulder pain/burning sensations which does extend into my arms from time to time and have increased headaches as well as sensitivity to light. I actually went to pain management and they wanted to proceed with a rhizotomy but I declined the operation.

Perhaps being out of work on disability got me mad enough to reopen the claim and continue to fight again. I am sure there has to be more vets with dystonia out there and maybe this time I will take the fight to the US District Courts just to have my case documented for any other vets whom experience this illness.

The VA makes me feel asahamed for my condiion and as if I am looking for a handout.

We shall see what hapens now since I have supplied new medical evidence and am at the RO. I have been given the strong feeling the claim will be denied again and have since requested assistance from the DAV. Thats who alerted me to keep a headache calendar/journal....

Unfortunately nobody really knows what causes it. I think the "when " is more important than the "why" in your case. If you had a history of the symptoms that date back to your SMR's you may be able to get it SC'd. I have had the RF Rhizotomy at multiple levels probably 8 or 10 times. It may help. BOTOX is what you need. It will help, wont get rid of it but definately makes it bearable