Secondary And Claims Questions

[roses15534]

Questions

I am 80% service connected and a Gulf War Veteran

I am service connected for fibromyalgia 40%

I am service connected for post cholecystectomy with scars 10%

My questions are on the above 2 and another one that I am trying to get service connected for.

First I was diagnosed with keratoconus in service and was denied service connection in 2001 upon retirement I now have precedent opinions I will submit for a CUE now here are some of my questions about that. Do I just ask for the service connection? I have had both corneas’ transplanted do I let them know that upfront or let them find that out? I was 20/200 in service and required to wear contact lens then before my transplants I was 20/400 those would have warranted a % rating, but now that I had the transplants I can see again and can wear glasses or contacts but I do have sensitivity to light and glare. So what do I ask for exactly? Do I ask for diagnostic code 6035 or 6036 or both? The VA does pay for by way of fee basis for me to have checkups every six months to check my graphs.

I was serviced connected for gastritis 7307 known as heartburn as diagnosed on 04/24/2001. I was service connected. In my medical record I was diagnosed with GERD Nov 1999 but was service connected for gastritis. I want to ask for increase and was wondering about asking secondary conditions how does that work? Like I have barretts esophagus and hiatal hernia found on a scope done by VA, would that be secondary to this? If so are they rated on their own? Or do they pyramid those ratings? How to I ask for that or word it? Also I have taken and still take and have for years NSAIDS medication this could also be part of the problem as well what do I do with that? I take meds from VA for this.

I was service connected for fibromyalgia and recently awarded 40% up from 10% with a note that in the near future they would examine me again to evaluate the severity of this condition. I was wondering about secondary’s to this like I have fatigue, sleep disturbances I take sleeping pills prescribed by VA and stiffness, headaches I have meds from VA for this and IBS I have meds from VA for this and anxiety I have meds from my private doctor for this. What and how do I ask for these and word it?

How does the pyramiding work as well? I have 100 or 110% total and 80% combined how many % do you need in the pyramiding to actually get another 10% combined?

[jvretiredvet]

There's can be world of difference, sometimes subtle, between hereditary/familial/genetic versus developmental.

What was written generally can be true, however I can envision some circumstances where a non-physician opinion on a developmental issue would not be inappropriate.

The question of whether a condition is congenitial or acquired in service would normally be answered by a doc, probably at a c and p exam.

Laypersons, including judges and rating specialists can not substitue their own opinion for those of a qualifed medical professional on matters of a medical nature.

[jvretiredvet]

I finally got around to reading my gmail and found your message from September 22. I really prefer answering these questions publicly, unless the subject matter is extremely sensitive or extremely detailed As it appears that your PM is neither and there is no indication that your PM to me has been answered publicly, here goes ...

You wrote: so do I file for a cue or file to reopen due to new and material evidence for my karetaconus?

CUE.

Questions

I am 80% service connected and a Gulf War Veteran

I am service connected for fibromyalgia 40%

I am service connected for post cholecystectomy with scars 10%

My questions are on the above 2 and another one that I am trying to get service connected for.

First I was diagnosed with keratoconus in service and was denied service connection in 2001 upon retirement I now have precedent opinions I will submit for a CUE now here are some of my questions about that. Do I just ask for the service connection? I have had both corneas’ transplanted do I let them know that upfront or let them find that out? I was 20/200 in service and required to wear contact lens then before my transplants I was 20/400 those would have warranted a % rating, but now that I had the transplants I can see again and can wear glasses or contacts but I do have sensitivity to light and glare. So what do I ask for exactly? Do I ask for diagnostic code 6035 or 6036 or both? The VA does pay for by way of fee basis for me to have checkups every six months to check my graphs.

I was serviced connected for gastritis 7307 known as heartburn as diagnosed on 04/24/2001. I was service connected. In my medical record I was diagnosed with GERD Nov 1999 but was service connected for gastritis. I want to ask for increase and was wondering about asking secondary conditions how does that work? Like I have barretts esophagus and hiatal hernia found on a scope done by VA, would that be secondary to this? If so are they rated on their own? Or do they pyramid those ratings? How to I ask for that or word it? Also I have taken and still take and have for years NSAIDS medication this could also be part of the problem as well what do I do with that? I take meds from VA for this.

I was service connected for fibromyalgia and recently awarded 40% up from 10% with a note that in the near future they would examine me again to evaluate the severity of this condition. I was wondering about secondary’s to this like I have fatigue, sleep disturbances I take sleeping pills prescribed by VA and stiffness, headaches I have meds from VA for this and IBS I have meds from VA for this and anxiety I have meds from my private doctor for this. What and how do I ask for these and word it?

How does the pyramiding work as well? I have 100 or 110% total and 80% combined how many % do you need in the pyramiding to actually get another 10% combined?

[john999]

When you file for a secondary condition you really need medical evidence that spells out how, why, when your primary condition led to the secondary condition. With DMII, for instance, if you have heart problems or PN or any other secondary DMII condition you need a doctor to say that you heart or PN is a direct result of your DMII. My PCP at the VA did this for me for my PN and artery disease. If you could get a non-VA doctor to do the same thing that would work but you want to use a format the VA accepts.