Losing What Left Of My Mind With Insane Amounts Of Medical Records

[retiredat44]

My VSO wants more records and organized.. At this point i am still waiting for my military personal records, i have all others. I have too many large boxes and folders. My wife is going to help me sort and organize. I am unable to get across in a forum of the large amount of records. this absolutely punishing. I have one good eye left that has had prvious catarat surgery. My bsad eye has catracts and may also have Glaucoma (I jus thad a checkup and they found more problems..

So going through papers is very hard to say the least..

the burden of proof must be for me to dig thought records as I am gulity unilt proven innocent..

This is monumental and I lose my sanity every day...

Reading medical records os cose to impossible because i don't inderstand the doctor writing and medical terms..

This is what I am going through after my DRO hearing..

next week my wife says she can start helping me organize my medical records.. I am tempted to show a photos of the boxes surrounding me,, really really insane... with the workd of computer, why can't they look using key word searches?/ wtf??

anyone know what to have when you are in this position of having too many records/

thank you,

Edited December 25, 2010 by retiredat44 (see edit history)

[Berta]

"anyone know what to have when you are in this positions of having to many resords//"

Yes- I bought a large box of manila folders- 100 but it wasn't enough so I bought some more.I have 2 filing cabinets and 4-5 plastic totes full of VAOLA.

I have separate manila folders for all VA correspondence such as SOCs, SSOC award letters and rating sheets.

My husband's med records are in order by date but my daughter separated them by year and tabbed the folders that way.

Some years were so extensive the folders are tabbed by month.

His military records and his SSA awards are in separate files.

I keep my C file copy in the same box and same order the VA sent it to me in.

I also have a Master list of all of these files.

I buy colored labels and even yard sale stickers to highlight by color some files.

I use orange stickers for Agent Orange files and found some colored manila files for my most recent issues.

I know my IHD claim is in a pink file with orange stickers and that my original DIC app is in a lavender file with pink stickers.

When I dealt with REPS I could quickly find my REPS file when they called me a few times because that is a bright blue file.

My AO claim involved copying some med records which -this time-I did put right back into the med rec files but I have a separate file that is bright chartreuse that is labeled RE-FILE THIS STUFF and I try to do that refiling ASAP as soon as I use a med rec so I don't lose it.

This stuff is a pain in the butt!

But organizing stuff can be fun and it sure pays off.

And can reveal enlightening evidence that we might have overlooked.

I hate clutter because I cannot think straight with lots of paperwork around but when the paperwork is organized it becomes so much easier to deal with it all.

Med recs should be kept in order by date.

I tabbed the blood chem reports, MRI, exam reports etc,and C & P exams.

I had a significant medical notation that was 2 pages long to use for my recent claim.The second page had no date on it but was obvious continuation of the first page in the same doctor's handwriting .This is another reason to keep med recs in the same order you got them in order replace them right away if you copy them.

The second page would mean nothing to VA as it has no date but luckily follows the first dated page.

There is lots of Peace of Mind when VA stuff is organized.

[carlie]

retired,

Welcome to the Appeals Club.

[Pete53]

Be patient and the organization chronologically is very important to your claim. My recommendation is to work a reasonable amount of time every day and take the weekends off. Let your wife help you your success is in her best interests. Don't be hard on your self do your best and allow your wife to help you.

I start organization by using a folding file by month and year and just read the date and file in the month. On the second pass use an accordion file that has 31 slots and go to town. You can also review and set aside duplicates.

I woudl also consider using Bertas System for tabbing and color coding.

[Notorious Kelly]

Great advice already given.

I'll add:

I primarily used Medical Summary (or whatever it's called) and put aside all of the labs, prescriptions, etc. Since virtually everything in those other records was covered in the Medical Summary it cut down on the bulk.

At the top of every page, I wrote codes for any affliction that might be mentioned on that page such as A for Arthritis, PN for Peripheral Neuropathy etc.

Once notes were in chronological order I numbered them in large print with a black marker.

I then made a Master List by Affliction with the page numbers i.e.

Affliction Pages

Arthritis 3,25,26,29,110

PN 2,6,7,45,46

Hope this helps!

Edited December 24, 2010 by Notorious Kelly (see edit history)

[Commander Bob]

My VSO wants more records and organized.. At this point i am still waiting for my military personal records, i have all others. I have too many large boxes and folders. My wife is going to help me sort and organize. I am unable to get across in a forum of the large amount of records. this absolutly punioshing. I have one good eye left that has had previous cataract surgery. My bad eye has cataracts and may also have Glaucoma (I just had a checkup and they found more problems..

So going through papers is very hard to say the least..

the burden of proof must be for me to dig thought records as I am guilty until proven innocent..

This is monumental and I lose my sanity every day...

Reading medical records is close to impossible because i don't understand the doctors writing and medical terms..

This is what I am going through after my DRO hearing..

next week my wife says she can start helping me organize my medical records.. I am tempted to show a photos of the boxes surrounding me,, really really insane... with the work

ld of computer, why can't they look using key word searches?/ wtf??

anyone know what to have when you are in this positionhs of having to many resords//

thank you,

Well said 'retiredat44'. I really feel for you. Excellent suggestions from our other HADIT members. It is inspiring, however, it still boggles my mind and triggers my PTSD, just thinking about boxes of records, missing files, etc...

This is why I am seriously thinking about finding an attorney for my appeal. I'll pay the ransom...

Edited December 24, 2010 by Commander Bob (see edit history)

[fanaticbooks]

That is a LOT of Sorting!

I didn't have that type of work to do, BUT the others are correct. By sorting now, later you won't have to sort again!

Take a look at my website (http://www.howtoassemblevaclaims.com/). It might offer additional information to aid you.

One possibility that comes to mind at the moment....

Eventually, have everything sorted, but if you know the disability you are addressing, then maybe just look for those documents first, organize them by year/date and doctor...then work the contents.

All other documents, rough sort into doctors or years or both.

Gather your military and again sort according to year or incident or doctors or medical reports...whatever stands out for attention.

Use the Schedule of Ratings (See my website, Step 3) as your base for sorting. By noting your disabiities in advance, as you go through the documents, you can put them in groups that cover that disability. If more than one disability is impacted by a document, write down the doctor/date and disability and keep a list. You can then go back to research it later.

When you first start sorting, it can be overwhelming. By breaking them down into groups of rough sort, you can possibly make it a little less overwhelming.

I do wish you the best as you start this difficult task.

fanaticbooks

[Berta]

Great advise Fantastic-

I did exactly what you suggested for my AO IHD claim.

My husbands ischemic heart disease was malpracticed on and he and I never knew he had significant heart disease.The head cardiologist at Syracuse, when I asked him about any heart conditiond he might have,(after another EKG and ECHO was done) told me nothing was wrong with my husband's heart.

The VA has never rated his heart disease but did grant me DIC under 1151 mentioning this as a 1151 disablity years ago and earleir this year I got direct SC death DIC award due to AO.Again no DC or raing for the IHD (I had filed a CUE claim on this in 2004 - and with Nehmer people and still pending)

I had to seek every single medical record over a 6 year period and all the FTCA reports so that I could prove my husband had IHD, it was noted in the medical records and acknowledged n 3 peer reviews for my settlement yet remained unrated and had no DC code in any decisions-not even the recent AO award.

But after I copied these records I managed to put them right back in order right away in the med rec files.

Same as with my A & A claim.

My keeping them in the same order by date that I received them in it helped me to prepare not only my original 1151 and FTCA claims but also my other AO death claim.

The best thing is to try to maintain focus on the specific disabilities,

Eventually, have everything sorted, but if you know the disability you are addressing,as you stated: " then maybe just look for those documents first, organize them by year/date and doctor...then work the contents."

You are right- and it pays to try to keep the focus simple.

It is easy to have your mind wander when you get glazed over on detailed med recs.

Past SOCs and SSOC are invaluable to read and re-read when you have other claims issues.

VA will often put their foot in their mouth in SOCs and sometimes this can be used against them for a new claim.

For example in an old SSOC the VA doc said my husband had "hyperlipidemia".

I didnt have a clue what that was and found nothing in his med recs or blood charts with that word in them.

Then after I began study endocrinology I realized this meant high blood lipids indicative of (in his case) undiagnosed diabetes and atherosclerosis.

This is a good topic because nothing is more frustrating and intimidating then a big pile of paperwork that holds the keys to the claim.

I just wish that disabled vets didn't have to do this work but it pays off.

So-

Great advise Fantastic-

I did exactly what you suggested for my AO IHD claim.

My husbands ischemic heart disease was malpracticed on and he and I never knew he had significant heart disease.The head cardiologist at Syracuse, when I asked him about any heart conditiond he might have,(after another EKG and ECHO was done) told me nothing was wrong with my husband's heart.

The VA has never rated his heart disease but did grant me DIC under 1151 mentioning this as a 1151 disablity years ago and earleir this year I got direct SC death DIC award due to AO.Again no DC or raing for the IHD (I had filed a CUE claim on this in 2004 - and with Nehmer people and still pending)

I had to seek every single medical record over a 6 year period and all the FTCA reports so that I could prove my husband had IHD, it was noted in the medical records and acknowledged n 3 peer reviews for my settlement yet remained unrated and had no DC code in any decisions-not even the recent AO award.

But after I copied these records I managed to put them right back in order right away in the med rec files.

Same as with my A & A claim.

My keeping them in the same order by date that I received them in it helped me to prepare not only my original 1151 and FTCA claims but also my other AO death claim.

The best thing is to try to maintain focus on the specific disabilities,

Eventually, have everything sorted, but if you know the disability you are addressing,as you stated: " then maybe just look for those documents first, organize them by year/date and doctor...then work the contents."

You are right- and it pays to try to keep the focus simple.

It is easy to have your mind wander when you get glazed over on detailed med recs.

Past SOCs and SSOC are invaluable to read and re-read when you have other claims issues.

VA will often put their foot in their mouth in SOCs and sometimes this can be used against them for a new claim.

For example in an old SSOC the VA doc said my husband had "hyperlipidemia".

I didnt have a clue what that was and found nothing in his med recs or blood charts with that word in them.

Then after I began study endocrinology I realized this meant high blood lipids indicative of (in his case) undiagnosed diabetes and atherosclerosis.

This is a good topic because nothing is more frustrating and intimidating then a big pile of paperwork that holds the keys to the claim.

I just wish that disabled vets didn't have to do this work but it pays off.

So-

[mortarman]

I no it is a pain,but it will pay of in the end.Mortarman

[fanaticbooks]

Just some other suggestions as you begin....

1. Get some MORE boxes....empty. I would buy those file boxes that you can get at Office Depot or Staples that are about $7-$9 for six boxes. They are simple to buy and have a space on the front for a box number, title, location...whatever.

Use these boxes to sort into.

File the stuff in boxes with labels such as:

Hospitals

Doctors--

General

Heart

Eye

Whatever

Military---Vietnam

Military--Camp Lejune (whatever, just example)

2. Sorting:

Now, go through and find the specific doctor/hospital/military (whatever) and as you find documents, dump them neatly into its box. Label on outside of box who or what as well as years. Write on the outside of the box all over it if necessary. I have. Keep in mind that if you have small amounts of specific, you can dump a bunch of different folders into one box...just as long as you label on the outside what is there.

If you can specify for a disability, write on the outside of the box so it is easy to spot. Use Colored Markers, such as Red, for writing the disability. Thus you can spot that easily.

3. As you empty out a full box, turn around and use THAT box to fill with new documents, doing the same thing.

4. Number the boxes as you go...1, 2, 3, 4....

If more than one box for a specific item (i.e., hospital, doctor, whatever) than label the boxes 1a, 1b, 1c and so on so you know how many for that specific one. Later as you delve into them more, you can always sort them even finer, but for now it allows you to perhaps control it better.

5. Make a list as you go.

Just write down the name of the doctor/hospital/whatever, possible disabiilty if you wish and the box number.

By doing this, you can then go back to sort and research by scanning your list and choosing which box to work.

Doing this rough sort, cubbyholes your information. You then don't have to work a whole bunch at once, but can still find something as you investigate.

Eventually, you should be able to see daylight.

6. When you begin the actual working of contents, create a system easy to see.

You said your eyes are kind of bad, well, choose bright colors to flag specific boxes--stickers or markers, anything that is easy to see. Put that same color next to the list you have so you can look for the box that way to pull to work.

When you begin working the information actually in the document, do so knowing the disability.

7. Research your disability. Try Medlineplus if necessary. Check for medications and side effects.

Once you know symptoms, studies, tests that a doctor does, you might be able to skim the medical documents easier. Highlight any information you find and note on a piece of paper date and doctor.

Once you have those documents narrowed down, you can just copy those to send with your report.

8. Another suggestion.....

When you find these documents that are pertinent, make copies of them. Then take these copies and put in a folder at the front of that doctor/hospital/whatever or put in a box just for copies you have found. Return the original to its spot in the box.

Now, all of these are suggestions for when you basically start and then begin the process. You can refine it as you find time and energy to sort even closer. However, it might be a place to start.

Good luck.

fanaticbooks