First I want to thank you for having such a venue where veterans can come to get information and post their concerns. Now to my situation. I am a 38 yr old Female Army veteran. I served from 1992 to 1999. I was never in combat. I currently have a disability rating of 40% with an effective date of July of 2009. I have not been feeling good for what seems years and only feel like I am getting worse, which I told the doctor at my last medical eval. And thank to his advice I now have been seen a Rheumatologist (VA Hospital)since. It is obvious to me the Rheumatologist does not know what is wrong. All the blood test imaginable and otherwise have been performed and come back negative, I do have a positive ANA. I feel like they look at me like a trouble patient, and they do not know what to make of me, since according to them I am soo young. I am depressed, hurt all over like I just run a marathon, did I mention that doing the most menial task takes extra effort. In a nutshell I feel horrible. Well, I have been put through the wringer. To make matters worse. on FEB of 2010 I had emergency gall bladder surgery which was so inflammed and infected that I remained in hospital(VA) for a couple of weeks and of which I nearly died, surgery was supposed to be less than four hours mine was nearly eight. I have a big scar across the stomach as a remainder. The doctors were surprised to hear I have never had a gallbladder attack and that there is no history of it in my family. I believe in my heart this is connected with my inflammation and whole body decline. My health seems to me to be getting worse. I have no energy. The whole thing its so frustating to me, as I used to be very active and now have a hard time getting out of bed as it is. Every 3 months or so I see my rhemautologist, I also am seeing an Eye Specialist because of the medication I am on. I see GI specialist(also @ VA hospital) because I still have part of my gallbladder, which causes sharp pain on my right side and which ultimately they want to go back and remove, which is scary for me and I do not want to do as they are no guarantees I will take away the pain. But my choices are dwindling. I am on several differents medications: Hydroxychloroquine, ursodiol, omeprazole, meloxicam and just recently got prescribe amitriptyline because I cannot sleep and wake up in pain and exhausted. I also suffer from dry mouth and eyes and horrible headaches, which I never had before. I was one of those people that never even took aspirin. After a lip biopsy, they ruled out Sjogrens syndrome, but my rheumy doctor thinks I still have a form of it. (?) I am aware that it takes years to find any chronic autoimmune disease, which does not help at all. In the meantime I pray for health and hope someone will find out what is wrong before its too late to do anything about it. Last week after seen my rheumy dr. she told me I might have Fibromyalgia but still believes there is something else going on. I have made an appt. for 9JUN11 with a local VA Rep to see if I can get an increase on my VA disability. I am unemployed and at this time trying to use CHPTR 31 to go back to school. We will see how that goes I hope it goes well and am excited about it. I should also mention that while in service I was diagnose with Dequervain's tendonitis on both wrist for which I had surgery to release tendons on both hands. Inflammation problems again way back when. Also had pain in knees, but who doesn't in the Army right? Just like every soldier I also took Anthrax vaccine. Ultimately, this is why I am writing, I want to see what my options are to get an increase if any at all. Any help, suggestions or advice are kindly appreciated. Thank you.
My Current rating is 40% for the following: (previously I had 20%)
Retropatellar pain syndrome with limitation of motion, right knee & left knee: 10% (this is what change from 0% to 10% in 2009 evaluation)
Tendonitis, right wrist (major): 10%
Tendonitis, status post surgical release of first dorsal compartment, left wrist: 10%
Retropatellar pain syndrome, left knee: 0%
Retropatellar pain syndrome, right knee: 0%
Bilateral pes planus, status post bunionectomy: 0%
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Athena2
Hello All,
First I want to thank you for having such a venue where veterans can come to get information and post their concerns. Now to my situation. I am a 38 yr old Female Army veteran. I served from 1992 to 1999. I was never in combat. I currently have a disability rating of 40% with an effective date of July of 2009. I have not been feeling good for what seems years and only feel like I am getting worse, which I told the doctor at my last medical eval. And thank to his advice I now have been seen a Rheumatologist (VA Hospital)since. It is obvious to me the Rheumatologist does not know what is wrong. All the blood test imaginable and otherwise have been performed and come back negative, I do have a positive ANA. I feel like they look at me like a trouble patient, and they do not know what to make of me, since according to them I am soo young. I am depressed, hurt all over like I just run a marathon, did I mention that doing the most menial task takes extra effort. In a nutshell I feel horrible. Well, I have been put through the wringer. To make matters worse. on FEB of 2010 I had emergency gall bladder surgery which was so inflammed and infected that I remained in hospital(VA) for a couple of weeks and of which I nearly died, surgery was supposed to be less than four hours mine was nearly eight. I have a big scar across the stomach as a remainder. The doctors were surprised to hear I have never had a gallbladder attack and that there is no history of it in my family. I believe in my heart this is connected with my inflammation and whole body decline. My health seems to me to be getting worse. I have no energy. The whole thing its so frustating to me, as I used to be very active and now have a hard time getting out of bed as it is. Every 3 months or so I see my rhemautologist, I also am seeing an Eye Specialist because of the medication I am on. I see GI specialist(also @ VA hospital) because I still have part of my gallbladder, which causes sharp pain on my right side and which ultimately they want to go back and remove, which is scary for me and I do not want to do as they are no guarantees I will take away the pain. But my choices are dwindling. I am on several differents medications: Hydroxychloroquine, ursodiol, omeprazole, meloxicam and just recently got prescribe amitriptyline because I cannot sleep and wake up in pain and exhausted. I also suffer from dry mouth and eyes and horrible headaches, which I never had before. I was one of those people that never even took aspirin. After a lip biopsy, they ruled out Sjogrens syndrome, but my rheumy doctor thinks I still have a form of it. (?) I am aware that it takes years to find any chronic autoimmune disease, which does not help at all. In the meantime I pray for health and hope someone will find out what is wrong before its too late to do anything about it. Last week after seen my rheumy dr. she told me I might have Fibromyalgia but still believes there is something else going on. I have made an appt. for 9JUN11 with a local VA Rep to see if I can get an increase on my VA disability. I am unemployed and at this time trying to use CHPTR 31 to go back to school. We will see how that goes I hope it goes well and am excited about it. I should also mention that while in service I was diagnose with Dequervain's tendonitis on both wrist for which I had surgery to release tendons on both hands. Inflammation problems again way back when. Also had pain in knees, but who doesn't in the Army right? Just like every soldier I also took Anthrax vaccine. Ultimately, this is why I am writing, I want to see what my options are to get an increase if any at all. Any help, suggestions or advice are kindly appreciated. Thank you.
My Current rating is 40% for the following: (previously I had 20%)
Retropatellar pain syndrome with limitation of motion, right knee & left knee: 10% (this is what change from 0% to 10% in 2009 evaluation)
Tendonitis, right wrist (major): 10%
Tendonitis, status post surgical release of first dorsal compartment, left wrist: 10%
Retropatellar pain syndrome, left knee: 0%
Retropatellar pain syndrome, right knee: 0%
Bilateral pes planus, status post bunionectomy: 0%
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