Conditions Question

[j92mike]

Here is a list of the conditions claimed as written on my 21-526 in May 2011

Degenerative Disc Disease lumbar cervical

Anxiety/Depressive Disorder

Osteoarthritis, Cubital tunnel

Knees, Ankles, Shoulder, Back

Tendonitis, Chronic Fatigue

Positive PPD (Nonactive TB)

Questions are

Does DDD rate seperately for the lumbar spine and cervical spine or are they combined under one rating?

Also the VSO that preped the form while he was going through it he said I most likely had Fibromyalgia. If the evidence shows as such from my C&P exam would all my arthritis issues be combined and turned into Fibromyalgia? Or would I need a seperate diagnosis of it?

-Jeter

[jbasser]

Cervical spine is rated separately

Thoracic and Lumbar spine are rated together as 1 segment.

If it was diagnosed. A C and P examiner doesn't do that.

Keep an eye on this VSO.

BAsser

[Gulfvet45]

Fibro is a illness of the soft tissue and not the joints. when the regulation was made final it stated that a veteran could be rated for arthritis or DJD and FM. Have your VSO look up the letter from 1998 or 1996 when the the regulation was being done.

you should have your doctor check you for FM and then file for it if you have it. Do not wait for a C&P to find it. The C&P is to look only at what the RO is asking them to.

Also the VSO that preped the form while he was going through it he said I most likely had Fibromyalgia. If the evidence shows as such from my C&P exam would all my arthritis issues be combined and turned into Fibromyalgia? Or would I need a seperate diagnosis of it?

-Jeter