Anyone Care To Add Their Thoughts

[bakerkd]

I have dizziness, tinnitis and balance problems and alanto-occipital pain as a result of TMJD and Musculoskeletal disorder of cervical origin. This is what the C&P examiner listed in my exam results. I have a claim in for retro-orbital Headaches, Vertigo, Bruxism and jaw pain, Cervical DDD w/radiculopathy and Cervical Dystonia. I realize that a lot of these seem to overlap symptoms. Before anyone asks, yes they are in my SMR's and this is my initial claim post retirement.

Will the dizzines/stumbling/tinnitis be rated analogous to a peripheral vestibular disorder and be secondary to TMJD? I know that there is some literature to suggest that ALL of these conditions to include the Dystonia can be caused by TMJD.

The other question I have is that the examiner listed no ROM for Mandibular Function. Isn't TMJ rated base on ROM and other symptoms secondary?

[bakerkd]

did you rule out whip lash? anything like that ever happen to you?

http://www.dizziness...l/cervical.html

Yes, I have had whiplash. Multi-level DDD Cervical. Have had Bilateral Facet Denervations from C-2 through T-3

[Vync]

Hi bakerkd,

Carlie asked me to help. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

Retro-orbital headaches

These could be related to anything, but if you have a claim in for TMJ, they most likely could be rated secondary to that.

Tinnitus/Vertigo

I am not overly familiar with peripheral vestibular disorder (Vertigo). I am familiar with Tinnitus and have a claim in for it. The inner ear is very close to the TMJ. If you encountered some form of head injury, car accident, or maybe had some oral surgery that went bad, it might be related.

Bruxism/Headaches

These are definitely related to each other and I believe to TMJ too. You definitely can get headaches SC as secondary to TMJ, but I am not sure if there is a rating for bruxism.

Cervical DDD/rad/Dystonia

I also have read where these can be caused by TMJ, with TMJ even reaching the lumbar region with similar problems. I have not filed for these secondary to TMJ, but I don not doubt it is possible to win SC.

Jaw Pain

Getting a rating for pain would be more likely via a mental rating for depression/chronic pain syndrome, but there would have to be a very well documented history. See next paragraph....

Yes! TMJ is rated by ROM (via diagnostic code 9905 Limited motion of the jaw) and then other issues may be rated secondary to that, unless there is clear justification for them to be rated otherwise. My C&P exam for TMJ was performed by the VA dental clinic, not the regular C&P clinic.

Whiplash may be a serious factor, depending on what is found in the accident and medical treatment reports.

After researching, I found some conditions which may be rated as secondary TMJ:

GERD caused by NSAIDs used to treat SC TMJ

Constipation/IBS caused by narcotic pain medicatioon used to treat SC TMJ

Headaches caused by SC TMJ

Depression/PTSD caused by SC TMJ

Important -- Check your C&P exam results. The big factor is the doctor's opinion. Good opinions include 'is due to', 'more likely than not', and 'least as likely as not'. Bad opinions include 'probably', 'less likely', and 'is not'.

[bakerkd]

Hi bakerkd,

Carlie asked me to help. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

Retro-orbital headaches

These could be related to anything, but if you have a claim in for TMJ, they most likely could be rated secondary to that.

Tinnitus/Vertigo

I am not overly familiar with peripheral vestibular disorder (Vertigo). I am familiar with Tinnitus and have a claim in for it. The inner ear is very close to the TMJ. If you encountered some form of head injury, car accident, or maybe had some oral surgery that went bad, it might be related.

Bruxism/Headaches

These are definitely related to each other and I believe to TMJ too. You definitely can get headaches SC as secondary to TMJ, but I am not sure if there is a rating for bruxism.

Cervical DDD/rad/Dystonia

I also have read where these can be caused by TMJ, with TMJ even reaching the lumbar region with similar problems. I have not filed for these secondary to TMJ, but I don not doubt it is possible to win SC.

Jaw Pain

Getting a rating for pain would be more likely via a mental rating for depression/chronic pain syndrome, but there would have to be a very well documented history. See next paragraph....

Yes! TMJ is rated by ROM (via diagnostic code 9905 Limited motion of the jaw) and then other issues may be rated secondary to that, unless there is clear justification for them to be rated otherwise. My C&P exam for TMJ was performed by the VA dental clinic, not the regular C&P clinic.

Whiplash may be a serious factor, depending on what is found in the accident and medical treatment reports.

After researching, I found some conditions which may be rated as secondary TMJ:

GERD caused by NSAIDs used to treat SC TMJ

Constipation/IBS caused by narcotic pain medicatioon used to treat SC TMJ

Headaches caused by SC TMJ

Depression/PTSD caused by SC TMJ

Important -- Check your C&P exam results. The big factor is the doctor's opinion. Good opinions include 'is due to', 'more likely than not', and 'least as likely as not'. Bad opinions include 'probably', 'less likely', and 'is not'.

Thanks Vync

This is the exam results from ENT C&P I think the doc gave a good opinion. Just didn't get any kinda ROM for mandibular

Bilateral Temporalis pain is elicited with palpation. He is tender in both masseter muscles in particular to the sinus walls. He also has muscle relaxents which apparently have little if any benefit. In regards to his dizziness and vertigo in fact this does not represent true vertigo and the dizziness IS ASSOCIATED with musculoskeletal disorder consistent with cervical origin and CERTAINLY with bilateral temporal mandibular joint pain. The Headaches ARE ASSOCIATED with this as well and the treatment that he is undergoing with mouth guard is certainly at this point in time a reasonable pathway to persue. In summary this is an evaluation for dizziness which has no middle or inner ear connotation as well and IN FACT it is musculoskeletal and alanto occipital pain IS RESULTING from musculoskeletal disorder and TM Joint problems.

I also have claims in for Headaches-retro-orbital,Tinnitis, IBS, GERD, Anxiety NOS (C&P tied to multiple ortho problems), Multilevel DDD cervical and bilateral facet denervation from C2 Through T3, and Cervical Dystonia wich is treated with 20 botox shots every 12 weeks

Edited June 15, 2011 by bakerkd

[Vync]

That sounds promising and I hope it works out in your favor.

Arthritis - Do you have any treatment records from active duty or within 12 months after retirement? The VA has a special presumptive category for this.

The VA dentists have talked with me about botox shots to relieve the constant facial muscle tension. What have been your results from your botox treatment?

[bakerkd]

That sounds promising and I hope it works out in your favor.

Arthritis - Do you have any treatment records from active duty or within 12 months after retirement? The VA has a special presumptive category for this.

The VA dentists have talked with me about botox shots to relieve the constant facial muscle tension. What have been your results from your botox treatment?

Yes. I have volumes in my smr's. Im still within 12 months of retirement. I retired in august and filed my claim within 10 days. Botox is awesome. Been getting it in my neck and traps since 2004. Helps make the headaches more bearable. In Georgia dentist can no longer give masseter botox treatment, must be MD. Tricare prime won't pay for dental amd my MD can't charge against my dental insurance. Nobody wants to take responsibility for TMJD. I have two dental insurance plans and neither will cover TMJD anyway. They will happily fix all the teeth i'm destroying though

Edited June 15, 2011 by bakerkd