Meds And Iu

[erico541]

i have recently applied for iu and ssdi my va psych doc has me on fluxotene and lithium do the meds you are given have any weight in a iu or ssdi decision? i have not worked in 4 months at all either i am rated at 90% and 170% by regular addition... does that carry any weight? thanks

[purple]

Meds-no.

Regular Math-no.

The fact that you haven't worked....only if your doc(s) wrote about it in the letters that were submitted to the VA. If no physician wrote anything to support it....not good.

[erico541]

i was in voc re-hab and the fellow in charge is writing a letter saying i am better off not working. does that carry any help?

[john999]

Yes, it should carry weight. He needs to say that because of your SC disability that Voc Rehab is not going to help you, and you are unemployable.

[erico541]

okay so i just come out and request he put that in his letter? what about my psych doc at the va that i see . does he put things in his talks with me that may carry weight in this? thanks

[purple]

Yes. Physicians need to write letters on your behalf stating that you are not able to work due to your SC condition(s). The letter should be brief but strong.

[erico541]

as far as employers go my last employer said he would help with this any way he can.what should his letter say again thanks

[purple]

A previous employer ltr needs to state why you stopped working and how your SC disability negatively affected your work and the business/mission/etc (if this is true). Get copies of your time cards/pay stubs if they show excessive use of sick time, LWOP, etc that was used for medical appts.

[LarryJ]

as far as employers go my last employer said he would help with this any way he can.what should his letter say again thanks

The VA will send an inquiry to your last employer. In that inquiry will be asked why, how long, etc.

I am assuming that you used the proper form in your application for IU?

The proper form is form 21-8940. If you did not use this form, then go to the official VA website and download it.

Also, form 21-4140, you must fill this form out also. (past employers, etc.)

[darkhorse]

I called my last employer and asked if they received this form and she said yes the did but didn't fill it out since there not allowed by corporate. She said all they can say is that I used to be an employee and it would be a liability to explain why I was terminated.

This form sent out is just a bunch of crap just to prolong the process. In the end it's the medical opinion(s) and medical evidence that gets the IU.

DH

The VA will send an inquiry to your last employer. In that inquiry will be asked why, how long, etc.

I am assuming that you used the proper form in your application for IU?

The proper form is form 21-8940. If you did not use this form, then go to the official VA website and download it.

Also, form 21-4140, you must fill this form out also. (past employers, etc.)

[purple]

Maybe the VA is more picky now....but I submitted letters from my employer and the timesheets as evidence; worked for me.

[darkhorse]

oh I agree letters help...I'm just talking about the form. If you have a medical opinion and medical evidence to back up IU that is most important. I guess that's the point i'm making. A letter adds weight.

DH

Maybe the VA is more picky now....but I submitted letters from my employer and the timesheets as evidence; worked for me.

[sharon]

Focus on your symptoms. The medications are a result of your symptoms.

[Pete53]

Some medications can make you unemployable. Hard to be a heavy equipment operator and take meds for pain at same time. My xanax says I should not drive car when I take xanax

[erico541]

understand about the meds and equipment i did farm work and property mgmt. but being on prozac,lithium, gabapentin ,vicodin and diazepan does not make this too safe. will the meds matter for ssdi?

[john999]

Yes, if your meds make you unable to do any kind of work then it will matter for SSD. SSD has a very high standard for being disabled. You pretty much have to be unable to do anything useful. Just keep information about yourself to the VA limited to SC conditions. If you have NSC conditions that affect your ability to work keep that to yourself if you are going to use SSD records for VA purpose. To get IU from VA your inability to work must be solely due to SC condition. Don't volunteer information about NSC conditions to the VA. They may use it to deny IU.

[darkhorse]

Yeah especially if you're having side effects from your medications. Sometimes the side effects alone will make you umemployable.

DH

understand about the meds and equipment i did farm work and property mgmt. but being on prozac,lithium, gabapentin ,vicodin and diazepan does not make this too safe. will the meds matter for ssdi?

[Berta]

If the side affects of SC meds you take hinder employability by all means make sure the VA knows that.

They can be referred to on Question # 25 on the TDIU form that a separate page is attached regarding what you take and the known side affects-

The side affects can be found on the inserts that come with the meds or googled by medication.

Meds can cause confusion, lack of sleep or too much sleep, irritability, some side effects say Do not take and drive ,or do not operate heavy equipment while taking this med- any and all of these side affects can hinder one's employability.

[erico541]

ok thanks for the info. yeah the prescriptions make it very difficult to drive and impossible to keep a job. im glad that would be considered on unemployability. the fellow from voc rehab told me today that he is drafting a letter to mail to me stating i am not stable for work or school at this time. will that help my case?

[Berta]

"the fellow from voc rehab told me today that he is drafting a letter to mail to me stating i am not stable for work or school at this time. will that help my case?"

If he added this was due to your service connected disability- that should prompt an award of TDIU.

If a vet is un -vocrehabable due to service -they are obviously unemployable due to service.

[oldman273]

It was strange today I was going to ask if being on morphine for pain 3xday makes me sleepy and I was curious if that would affect my claim for IU. I am pretty much in the same boat as far as the NSC information will not help you at all. Thanks so much for all you guys help. Have a good day..