Testicular Hydrocele

[Confirm orDeny]

Hello,

I am currently rated for a left Testicular Hydrocele (service connected) at 0%.

I received my rating about 11 months ago, and I left military service about 16 months ago.

Since exiting military service the hydrocele has got considerably worse. It swells and recedes into my scrotum much more frequently, and causes pain while walking,exercising, sitting, and during sexual activity.

At times the hydrocele swells so much that it causes pain throughout my stomach and lower back.

I have begun having sexual problems as well. I have had difficulty maintaining an erection, and when I do I have anywhere from moderate to extreme difficulty climaxing.

I also began to notice whenever I urinate, after cessation of urination I still drip urine for sometimes several minutes. Not like a heavy stream, but drops that fall out well after I've walked out of the restroom.

I am going to appeal the rating, as the condition has worsened, but how does the VA rate testicular hydroceles with respect to what symptoms?

I also plan on having my spouse write a letter in support to corroborate my statements.

Also, my primary care provider(at the VA) does not want surgery performed, as he feels the risks to the genital region and nerve endings far outweighs benefits.

Any information on this subject would be appreciated, and I didn't find any information on this anywhere I looked.

[jbasser]

You should appeal. the clock it ticking and it is getting late. You may want to consider a Good IMO from an outside source.

Do you receive an SMC for this problem?

J

[Confirm orDeny]

I was under the impression that once you were rated for something(service connected) if it worsened at any time you could file a claim requesting your rating be increased because...(reasons), and your claim would be reconsidered and you would be reevaluated.

I didn't even know that SMC might apply until today.

I don't have the funds to see a third party doctor at the moment.

How does the VA rate hydroceles? A doctor at the VA had told me that the VA doesn't rate disabilities with respect to pain.

[Berta]

Yes-John means the SMC "K" award.

http://www4.va.gov/vetapp10/files3/1024729.txt

About halfway down this recent BVA decision is the rating criteria for your condition.

If you go to the BVA web site and click on decisions and then put testicular hydroceles into the search browser, other BVA decisions will pop up for your condition and how they are rated.

Go to http://www.va.gov/

click on Site index on the bottom of the VA home page,

then click on Board of Veterans Appeals,

then click on Search decisions and the search browser will pop up.

Edited February 22, 2011 by Berta

[broncovet]

The obvious answer is that since you dont have the money for a private physician, to change docs within the VA to a more "Veteran friendly" doctor. This can be done in one of two ways:

1. Go to the second nearest VAMC. Of course that would involve commuting to another VAMC but you would probably get travel pay.

2. Change your physician at your local VAMC. I have done it before. You will simply fill out a form to change doctors...ask them at the Prime Care desk how to change your doctor, and where to submit those forms. It might be a good idea to "ask around" other Vets who have been treated about how they like their doc, did he treat them fair, what was the docs name etc. You can do this while waiting, sometimes hours, to see your doc in the waiting room. Make friends with another Vet who has had some long term experience at your VA. It worked for me.

You dont have to put up with bad or "Veteran unfriendly" medical care in most cases. My PCP called me, after I filed the "change doc" request, and wanted to know why I was switching doctors. I explained that I did not feel she was thorough on my care, and I did not think she was "Veteran friendly"...because she put stuff in my records that were not in my best interest and were her opinions that I disputed. She promised to do better, and to clear that stuff up. I consented to keep her, but she knows I will again change docs if she does not keep her committment. I got the idea other VEts switched from her, and she was "under the gun" and maybe even about to lose her job if her "Veteran satisfaction" remained poor. She is from India and her English is poor and would no doubt have a difficult time finding work in another hospital because of this. Now, I get whatever I ask from her. No Guff. She knows I am serious and I will complain, and then she will have to answer to her boss.

[broncovet]

Of course, you need to remember that the docs report is often the "deal maker or deal breaker" to your claim. If the doc reports evidence to award, it is going to be very difficlult for the VA to deny you. Conversely, if your doc reports evidence to deny (such as "It is not likely this Veterans condition is related to military service"), then you are going to need another docs favorable opinion to get awarded benefits. If you are eligible, whether you get benefits or not is more about what the doc says than anything else. Even the judge can not substitute his own opinion for a MD qualifed to make such an opinion on medical issues.

I found that out because a rating specialist did just that to me. The audiologist opined, "The Veterans hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during military service". The rating specialist said that it was a long time since the military and he was denying it. The BVA said NO. The rating specialist was substituting his own unsubstantiated medical opinion for that of the audiologist qualifed to "make that call", and reversed it.

[allan]

When you file for increase, secondary claims for ED, orchitis/orchalgia and epidimitis,( if they have been diagnosed in your records), should be filed.

Orchitis/orchalgia are both testicular pain conditions rated at 10% from what I remember reading in the cases. Make sure to show those records to your C&P examiner. They will tell you to not bring records, but the RO is not going to do it for you. I can tell you it really helped to prove my claim. None of my military records were made available to the examiner. Even the VARO rating officer hasn't viewed my service records and they have all the originals.

Hydrocele's and vericocele's get worse over time. Been dealing with it for over 40 yrs. Was rated 20% for incontinance VA says was from the hydrocele/vericocele as a residual of a testicular mass surgery.