How To Apply For Anxiety/depression Due To Chronic Pain

[BrookH]

Hi,

A friend of ours is rated at 50% with lumbar, cervical, carpal tunnel, gerd /h-h, shoulder raduicaphy, high blood pressure and something else. Anyhow they had a neurophysc visit while on active duty and the specialist said something like unknown reasons but problems like other pgw vets qualify with dsm iv (I think), now after retired they had another appointment because of memory problems, depression/anxiety (seeing a va counselor and such). The neurophysc tests came back good, brain is working well. A few things our friend said was the neurophysch seen sleep apnea and asked if treated with a cpap now. The answer was yes, so neurophysc said (not sure if he wrote it down) but possible reason test were bad back on active duty was maybe sleep apnea and good now because cpap has fixed that. Also said memory problems and depression now is probably because of current pain.

So it might be a stretch but if the military doctor on active duty thought svcmbr had sleep apnea could this neurophysch thoughts be help.......there are smr notes but not diagnoses.

Also would it be reasonable to claim depression/anxiety due to chronic pain and how is this rated?

Opps, also the person claimed sciatica on their claim but examiner said no sciatica but a lumbar strain. No MRI was given but probably 5 years later went to pain clinic and received a tens was also told pain was sciatica. Can that get reopened or not worth it and how to change to ivds or idvs?

Appreciate it and will pass all info on.

Edited June 10, 2011 by BrookH

[carlie]

Thanks to all that have allowed and whom have jacked my thread. I thought there were rules about thiss.

Best wishes.

Brook

Sorry about that - it happens sometimes.

[willie 74]

I had a fusion done two years ago when I was 34. It caused additional nerve pain and chronic pain in general. I claimed secondary depression a year later and recieved 50% for it. I filed for SSD about 7 months ago and got approved soley on my service connected issues. All your disabilities will add up and aid you in your success. I applied for TDIU and have not heard back about the decision. I have learned everything on this site and cant thank you all enough for the great guidence and hope. I just sent a statement in support of claim for the depression issue and they set up a C&P. Stay positive and keep asking questions, you will be ok.

[BrookH]

Willie 74,

Thanks. I am trying to help out a friend with his claim. He didn't have a fusion or anything but was rated on some herniated discs (has DDD) but as we know things get worse with time and now he is having depression and seeing a VA Counselor for this........but they (the counselor) seems to look for a reason which he has a hard time pointing out.

I had a fusion done two years ago when I was 34. It caused additional nerve pain and chronic pain in general. I claimed secondary depression a year later and recieved 50% for it. I filed for SSD about 7 months ago and got approved soley on my service connected issues. All your disabilities will add up and aid you in your success. I applied for TDIU and have not heard back about the decision. I have learned everything on this site and cant thank you all enough for the great guidence and hope. I just sent a statement in support of claim for the depression issue and they set up a C&P. Stay positive and keep asking questions, you will be ok.

[john999]

He needs to file a claim for depression as secondary to chronic pain due to service connected DDD. He may need to get an independent medical opinion. I would file the claim to protect the earliest effective date and then start to get more evidence. It takes months if not years to get a decision so he has time. Does he go to VA pain clinic? What kinds of pain meds does he get? He needs to tell them how badly his back hurts on a scale of 1-10. The closer to 10 the better. If a person has chronic pain the meds alone will tend to make you depressed. This is common knowledge except at the VA where they are thinking in terms of saving money for taxpayers. Is the VA counselor trying to find an alternative reason for his depression like the fact his mother took away his hobby horse when he was 5 years old? Usually, they will try and convince the vet it is all due to home life or the fact mommy whipped him or dad was a drunk. This is crap, of course, but the VA spent decades convincing combat vets that there PTSD was just due to home life or high school.

[BrookH]

John,

He was thinking of getting an IMO but do to finances it doesn't look like he can.They used to attend the pain clinic which they did get him lyrica, tramadol and a TENS which non of them really help. He did stopped going to the pain clinic because they tried to give him nsaids and more nsaids, which, he already has barettes espogus (service connected with H/H and GERD)....the NSAIDS really bother his stomach.......the Nurse at the Pain Clinic would not listen to him about NSAIDS and only gave him more, so he got a print out from the Gastro and said NO NSAIDS. The physican at the pain clinic did say he had abnomal gait but he doesn't have those records nor of his range of movement (he is working on getting these). My friend ended up not going back to the pain clinic because of the hassles he felt like they did not believe him about the NSAIDS and all. He does still use the TENS but does not receive anymore lyrica or tramadol (T did not help). The person that gave him the TENS said it sounds like siatica. When he filed his claim he put DDD cervical and lumbar. they did rate him cervical, shoulder and lumbar as "lumbar strain" but never did a lumbar MRI...but had multiple cervical MRI's while on active duty.

yes, I agree chronic pain causes depression and this is what his neurophysc told him.......but it wasnm't addressed in great detail and he does need those records. Sleeping and being woke up due to pain takes a toll out on you as welllllllllllllllllllll.

Thanks John and if I need to relay any other info to him please let me know......he is just was too fustrated and hasn't worked for a couple of years now.

Brook

He needs to file a claim for depression as secondary to chronic pain due to service connected DDD. He may need to get an independent medical opinion. I would file the claim to protect the earliest effective date and then start to get more evidence. It takes months if not years to get a decision so he has time. Does he go to VA pain clinic? What kinds of pain meds does he get? He needs to tell them how badly his back hurts on a scale of 1-10. The closer to 10 the better. If a person has chronic pain the meds alone will tend to make you depressed. This is common knowledge except at the VA where they are thinking in terms of saving money for taxpayers. Is the VA counselor trying to find an alternative reason for his depression like the fact his mother took away his hobby horse when he was 5 years old? Usually, they will try and convince the vet it is all due to home life or the fact mommy whipped him or dad was a drunk. This is crap, of course, but the VA spent decades convincing combat vets that there PTSD was just due to home life or high school.

[john999]

The thing is that if he is not in treatment and taking meds the VA concludes he is doing: 1. Better 2. Much better 3. Should be reduced.