Just Had My Re-evaluation For Tbi

[carguy29]

Hi to all,

This is my first post here, so sorry for the length.

I recently had my re-evaluation based in the infamous letter announcing the change to DC 8045. When I sent in the form to request the re-evaluation, I got a letter back stating that they would make a decision within 30 days. I thought this was a bit strange as I anticipated actually talking to someone. I got an odd call from MES Solutions on the 30th day informing me of 3 appointments the following week.

The first was a neuropsychological evaluation, which took parts of 2 days, Friday and Monday, since I take an ADHD medication (I was wrongly DX'd by my family doctor with ADHD in 2006 – 6 years after discharge), I had to come back on Monday for the long part. The Neuro-psych Dr told me it was my decision to either take it or not (I did not take it all weekend). The testing on Monday was 4 hours long and the Friday part was 1-1/2 hours. This Dr. was NOT with MES, he was a third party.

The second appointment was about an hour with the MES Dr. (MD) and this was 1-1/2 hours and more testing, mostly balance and muscular testing along with the self-evaluation while reading off of the VA form and he typed in my words (I watched).

The third appointment was a skull x-ray, which the MES Dr. told me was useless since it has been 10 years since I was discharged.

My question is, how long does it take to get the decision back from VA? And… For those with more experience in this process, does it sound like I got fair testing?

I am in Dallas, TX and my regional office is Waco.

I am currently rated (in November 2000) at:

10% - Residuals of Head Injury

10% - Lower back

10% Right Knee

10% Left Knee

Thanks,

Mike

[carguy29]

So, as I am waiting for the VA's "speedy" decision, I received a letter stating that they were still reviewing the evidence and would make a decision shortly. Since the reply from Pete, I expected at least the 60-90 day wait. I received a letter from MES yeaterday stating that I have another appointment for a C-Spine X-ray on Friday (18-DEC).

The MES Doctor told me that he really thought that my headaches actually stem from an injury to the C1-C3 area and he made a verbal nexus to the accident which led to the first TBI. This was a parachuting accident at Ft. Bragg where I burned-in from 150 ft. This is all well documented in my SMR, but I have a lot of questions about why they would offer this testing without me pushing for it. I can't see the VA trying to do anything in my favor unless they had to. Maybe this is just me being cynical.

On a related note, I am service connected for my lower back and my head (among others), but have seen a specialist on my own about my back. I had a MRI done on Lumbar, Thoracic AND Cervical areas (3 hours in that tube!) and I will see the results on Wednesday (16-DEC), so should I offer the MRI to the VA as evidence, or keep that ace up the sleeve.

The Back Doctor noticed several problems in all 3 regions as did the MRI tech (who would not make any official statements other them "I just take the pictures", but he made several comments because he and I had a good rapport.

Since they are now looking at the Cervical Spine as a related condition to the TBI, what are the possible outcomes and do they work for me or against me?

Thanks for the help!

Mike