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

[john999]

Vet2010

Your doctor is probably thinking that in ten years the back bones that are going to anchor your fusion will go bad due to extra stress on them. Then ten years later those discs will go bad and on and on unless some new procedure is discovered. You may not have much ROM left. If you were 59 then maybe when you were 70 you might need help again or you might not even be alive. I guess if your quality of life is so poor because of this back pain I think I would shop around for a new doctor. A doctor recently suggested I do a cervical fusion. I got a second opinion. The SECOP said I did not need a cervical fusion. It is a very personal decision about accepting surgery. I had a few and they did not fix my problems. Surgery does not always fix pain and there is even a disease called "failed back surgery syndrome".

[BrookH]

John,

The member said......the va neurphysc said the depression, anxiety and memory loss was due to his pain, he did not point out the SC pain or what. He also seesa va counselor and psychiatrist only for the past few months. The drepression seems to be from loosing the ability to work, pain sleeping and insomnia because of the sc, pain walking/sitting.

I guess he needs the records to see what has been documented.

Tia

[vet2010]

What does ROM stand for, I looked under the abbreviations but it wasn't there.

[Guest]

ROM means Range of Motion

A veteran can always open or reopen a claim that was never addressed or a claim that has gotten worst. If the veteran has records of sleep apnea in service and is currently using a CPAP machine, he or she should definitely file a claim for sleep apnea. As far as I know there is no cure for sleep apnea, it can be treated with a CPAP machine but the treatment must continue.

[vet2010]

During my C and P exam I can remember the doctor stating my Lower Back ( spine) was the worse he ever seen in a person my age. I have tried everything from steroids, Epidirals, Discesectomy to one of the strongest Narcotics they (pain managemet) have to offer (Exalgo) and nothing works. I am worried when I go to my initial VA appt tomorrow they (VA) will take away my 100% and put my family in financial hardship. I hear of all these stories where the VA reduce your percentage for no reason and you have to fight to get it back. I am 50% depression, 40% prostatis, 50% Sleep Apnea and a host of other issues however those are the major problems. So, whoever state they cannot be service connected for depression do to other medical issues should look at my situation. I retired in Oct 2010 and since that time I worked for two weeks and I had to quit because of my issues, luckily I have a supporting wife that work and assist me every day.

vet2010

[BrookH]

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

Best wishes.

Brook

Edited June 15, 2011 by BrookH