Imo Or Not?

[TLaff]

My metal health doc said in her notes major depression due to all the pain i have from DDD and cervical pain and migraines and i get 2 different kinds of meds for depression and one for migraines also because of meds experiencing ED. (is this enough to file a claim for depression as a secondary condition due to my ddd and my triple cervical fusion?) or do i need to get an IMO?

My neurologist prescribes meds for daily headaches and states its cervionic headaches from my cervical fusion (is this enough to file a claim for headaches and migraines as a secondary condition to my cervical fusion?) or do i need to bet an IMO?

What about ED?

I also read somewhere not to make more than two claims at a time it will hold things up for ever? I also have the following to put in it believe.

Bilateral lumbar

Bilateral arms

Sciatica

Scar on neck from cervical fusion

I take about 20 pills a day and i will say this my doctors do seem to care and be helping some, vary rarely do i take pain meds i take allot of nerve meds, anti inflatori and muscle relaxers, i want to stay away from addicting drugs.

Should i claim them all together or a couple at a time?

ANY advice is appreciated.

[carlie]

TLaff,

What disability's are your currently SC'd for and at

what percentage for each - Diagnostic Codes too please, if you have them.

[TLaff]

TLaff,

What disability's are your currently SC'd for and at

what percentage for each - Diagnostic Codes too please, if you have them.

[TLaff]

I am at 20% for a 3 level fusion for my cervical and 10% for Lumbar DDD, arthritis, annular tear (hernitated disc)

my VA doc's 3 of them told me i was very under rated so i filed a NOD to be re rated by a senior rater “De Novo Review”

i filed 8 months ago waiting for a response. I believe i should be rated 50% for my Lumbar and Thoracic which both indicate Chronic and my fusion at 40%

I also dont know what number to call to check on the NOD.

TLaff

[Chuck75]

If you were able to get the three doctors to put their opinions in writing, that would surely help.

I had a VA doctor give me such an opinion in writing. The VA RO's ignored it, until the claim (after partial denial) went to appeals,

and a C&P was ordered. The C&P examiner was an RN, and was not about to try and rebut or disagree with the VA doctor's written opinion.

Another part of the claim was intentionally "minimized" by the C&P examiner.

The examiners opinion was rebutted by statements and diagnoses from board certified specialists contained in my medical records.

I used an "in house" VA form that has since quietly disappeared from the VA's forms lists. A form is not really necessary, but a written statement is.

I am at 20% for a 3 level fusion for my cervical and 10% for Lumbar DDD, arthritis, annular tear (hernitated disc)

my VA doc's 3 of them told me i was very under rated so i filed a NOD to be re rated by a senior rater "De Novo Review"

i filed 8 months ago waiting for a response. I believe i should be rated 50% for my Lumbar and Thoracic which both indicate Chronic and my fusion at 40%

I also dont know what number to call to check on the NOD.

TLaff

[TLaff]

I stated sure in the NOD that i would try the Senior rater first with the intention of appealing it if not given a better ratting and i did provide more evidence a ROM from a chiropractor, a new letter from my orthopedic surgeon stating i have Chronic lumbar and Chronic Thoracic DDD and is only going to get worse and i sent two photos of my 2 xrays of my hardware in my neck. If they would of been decent and gave me what i deserve to begin with like about a 70 or even a 60 i would of excepted that and left it at that but now i have been told by numerous people they try to low ball you and hope they never hear from you again so now because of that i will go for every single possible thing i can possibly make a claim for. I had insurance for years in and took care of the cervical surgery and then loss the insurance due to a divorce. I could of put in claims back in 1986 and been collecting benefits all these years but did not do so because i was working and had insurance. But for them to low ball me now? shame on them.

Edited April 24, 2011 by TLaff

[TLaff]

Let me rephrase part of what i said: it upsets me that others are getting 50% for a lumbar with only ddd, (i meant) it upsets me that i was low balled when i have so much more than just lumbar ddd and only given 10% and know i should have a 50%. Now i know what it means when i read its an up hill battle.

TLaff

Edited April 24, 2011 by TLaff