Va Compenstation Question

[scooter318]

Hello Everyone

My name is Eric and I'm new to the site and so far from reading this it is really a wealth of knowledge. I was talking to my sister on the way to work this morning and she told me to come to this site and post my question and get an opinion from people who have been through it and can probably give you an answer really quick. I filed for VA compensation on January 18th of this year and I had a claim in for my back and my appendectomy scar because of the pain that I have. Everything went through and I went to my C&P exam on the 27th of August and I received a letter in the mail from the VA about 2 weeks ago stating that I rated 10% for my appendectomy scar pain and 0% for my back. This is the think that I wanted to know, currently the VA has me seeing a private chiropractor 2 times a week for the next 3 months and then I'll go back to them for follow up and before they referred my out I was seeing the VA once a month for my back. The provider that I'm seeing now actually sat me down and showed me the X-Rays and the lower part of my back where L-4 and L-5 meet are some what separated and out of alignment and that's why I'm in so much pain. I was in the Navy and station in 29Palms with the Marines for 3 years and out in the field all the time, I was a corpsman and I walked around with my gear on my back and took a few falls with caused the injury, but me being macho didn't go get my back looked at when I started having back pain and just dealt with it. Now it's really bad and I filed for it but they are saying that in so many word if it's not in our record we aren't going to compensate you for it. I wanted to get the groups opinion on filing an appeal, do you think that it's even worth it or should I leave it alone because I probably won't get rated for my back. I talked to several people and I've heard different story from some saying that I should because I can and other saying no because I'm wasting my time and I'm stuck at 10%. I wish I would have went and had this added to my medical record when I had the chance but I just didn't know. Thanks in advance for the advice and I hope to hear from you soon .

Eric

[infantry10]

Fighting the VA for compensation that you earned and is owed to you is a long emotional battle. Don't ever give up the fight! I was told by my wife's grandfather, who was a retired Marine and helped many vets get on board with veterans affairs, to always put in a claim for hearing loss. More than likely you will always get 10% for it. I'm not sure if thats true or not but most vets I personally know have a % for hearing loss. Just a thought...

[Philip Rogers]

Fighting the VA for compensation that you earned and is owed to you is a long emotional battle. Don't ever give up the fight! I was told by my wife's grandfather, who was a retired Marine and helped many vets get on board with veterans affairs, to always put in a claim for hearing loss. More than likely you will always get 10% for it. I'm not sure if thats true or not but most vets I personally know have a % for hearing loss. Just a thought...

VA makes the standard for hearing loss fairly high, so it's kinda hard to get but you can usually get 10%, for tinnitus, the ringing or buzzing, in your ears that make it hard to sleep, at night. jmo

pr

[meghp0405]

you should also be aware that when the VA rates a % on any joint, a range of motion test using a doinmeter will be conducted by the C/P examiner. Your % will be determined on your ROM.

[infantry10]

VA makes the standard for hearing loss fairly high, so it's kinda hard to get but you can usually get 10%, for tinnitus, the ringing or buzzing, in your ears that make it hard to sleep, at night. jmo

pr

You're right. That was the word I was wanting to use but wasn't exactly sure what it was. He always said 99 out of 100 people will get it if they put in a claim for it. Thanks for the correction!

[scooter318]

Hi Everyone

I have a question about the IMO, I am currently seeing an outside chiropractor by the VA for 8 visits and then they want to re-evaluate my back. But I wanted to know could I use the same Chiropractor for the IMO and just use my insurance from my job to pay for those visits or should I find another one and explain to him what I'm trying to do.

Thanks in advance and I really appreciate all the help that everyone has given me thus far, you guys have really helped me a great deal.

Eric

[Chuck75]

That's a good question!

Is a chiropractor "qualified" to write an IMO for a VA back claim?

In favor - The VA is paying the chiropractor, so there is a level of recognition by the VA.

Against - The VA is paying the chiropractor. Does the chiropractor want to write an IMO?

Would a favorable IMO impact his relationship with the VA?

Personally, I'd rather have an MD specializing in back problems write the IMO.