Fails To Show That This Disability Has Been Clinically Diagnosed

[kaosama05]

Hello everyone,

First off let me say thanks to every one who posts on here, the information that I have read on here has helped me allot. I recently was denied for my claims of cervical spine condition, thracolumbar spine condition and right shoulder condition. All three conditions in my decision letter state that they are denied because the medical evidence of record fails to show that this disability has been clinically diagnosed. From this I get that my issues are in my records but because I don't have a named diagnoses I am denied. I have tons of in service treatment records from Docs and military neurologists stating that something is going on but they can't put their finger on it. One of the neurologists when I was in thought that I might have parsonage turner syndrome. I have been to my doctor who sent me to a neurologists who did tons of tests and states that my test show some nonspecific myopathic findings. I was awarded degenerative knee joint disease for only two entry's in my service records about knee trauma without having degenerative knee joint disease clinically diagnosed in my records. How do I handle this from here? Do one of my doctors have to make some sort of diagnosis? I have all my military medical records and the records from my neurologist. Can someone help me figure out my next move.

[Philip Rogers]

What's your goal?

pr

[free_spirit_etc]

kaosama05,

Are you a Gulf War vet? If so, you might be able to claim the condition as an undiagnosed illness.

I am not certain on your answer if you need an actual diagnosis otherwise. It may be possible that your doctor could diagnose some non-specific condition - one of those "he has this, but we are not sure what is causing it" type diagnosis.

Can I ask how long you have been out of the military? And have you been seeing a doctor for it the whole time?

Edited October 30, 2013 by free_spirit_etc

[kaosama05]

What's your goal?

pr

What I'm trying to say is what should I do. I have issues that I deal with on a daily basis, issues that were never clinically diagnosed but treated many, many times in service I have been to my primary civilian doctor a few times and got meds and was sent to a neurologist who can see issues but doesn't know exactly what is causing my problems. Whats a veteran to do. I'm lost what do I do. Do I go to my doctor and tell him I need him to try and diagnose me or I just don't know....

[kaosama05]

kaosama05,

Are you a Gulf War vet? If so, you might be able to claim the condition as an undiagnosed illness.

I am not certain on your answer if you need an actual diagnosis otherwise. It may be possible that your doctor could diagnose some non-specific condition - one of those "he has this, but we are not sure what is causing it" type diagnosis.

Can I ask how long you have been out of the military? And have you been seeing a doctor for it the whole time?

I'm not a Gulf War vet, I was in the Marines from 1995 - 1999. I have seen my doc on and off for this in the past 7 - 8 yrs (got muscle relaxers and pain meds) but only really looking for help the past 3yrs (seeing specialist) because the pain has gotten worse over time. I'm not sure of what to do from here. Is asking my personal doctor to diagnose me with a non-specific condition (as you were saying) what a vet who gets this decision from the va do? I'm just kinda lost right now. My knees were never diagnosed while I was in and I was self medicating with asprin and heat/ice and the va named the problem and rated it in the past. It seems as if I am missing something.

[free_spirit_etc]

I am really sorry. I can add a little bit, but I am not really sure. I was hoping you might be able to claim under GWI for an undiagnosed illness. I am not sure exactly how to turn it around at this point. You probably will need a diagnosis, and will probably need for your doctor to state that this relates back to the same symptoms you had in the military. Again, even if a doctor can't figure out exactly what is causing the symptoms, sometimes they will note that and at least give a provisional diagnosis of some type -- even if it is very general.

You can still appeal the decision and have time to submit additional evidence. Based on the limited information I have, I would say you might want to talk to your doctor and see if he thinks this all relates back to the same symptoms you were having in the military. If so, you can ask him to provide you with a nexus letter. In the very least, he might be able to help you start building a case by documenting how long the records show you have been having these symptoms.

If there is a gap between service and post-service treatment, the VA is likely to say that even if you have the condition, it might not be the same condition that you had in the service. So you would need to have a doctor to say that it was.

What does your SOC letter say specifically about the issue?

I am sorry you are in a lot of pain from it. Hopefully, you will be able to get the medical documentation you need for it to be service connected.

Hopefully, someone else in here that might know a bit more than I do will be able to help.

Edited October 31, 2013 by free_spirit_etc

[Philip Rogers]

What I'm trying to say is what should I do. I have issues that I deal with on a daily basis, issues that were never clinically diagnosed but treated many, many times in service I have been to my primary civilian doctor a few times and got meds and was sent to a neurologist who can see issues but doesn't know exactly what is causing my problems. Whats a veteran to do. I'm lost what do I do. Do I go to my doctor and tell him I need him to try and diagnose me or I just don't know....

If you're looking for treatment, be sure to tell your doctor everything and maybe they can come up w/a diagnosis. If you're looking for compensation, you can file a claim but they usually need a diagnosis to service-connect anything and a link to your service.

pr