tinnitus New Here, First Time Questions

[DDuck]

Sorry I just found this forum, I sympathize with so many of you. So a little background I was med boarded out in '98 at 20%. I was very upset, I suffered a AGE (Air Gas Embolus) from a diving mishap upon successfully removing a distressed diver (I was 2nd Class Diver at the time). I suffered photosensitivity and migraines after a TT6 with two extensions. I was told to suck it up or lose my pin, so I did.

Later in the middle of Phase I EOD training a DUI driver drilled me going about 60-80 mph the cop estimated. Being young and stupid I sucked it up and went back into training for a week until I was urinating blood and my left leg went numb. Later they found a undiagnosed bone spur that shredded my urethra and I have to self cath to this day. (NEW add as of today 2/12/2014) My Creatine levels are 1.38 so the doctors think I may just be starting very early stage kidney failure. They are going to test monthly to see if it stablizes.

A year ago they re-evaluated me at 80% my breakdown is:

Right hip injury/pain (was dislocated in the accident) 10%

Neuropathy of right foot 10%

Urethral stricture and Bladder neck contracture/stricture 60%

DDD L4-L5 and L5-S1 (two surgeries) 10%

Vascular migraine 10%

Tinnitus 10%

My question is my upper back is starting to obtain a moderate curve and is starting to cause breathing problems and shoulder pain (which I have been complaining to the VA about).

How would I try to process this? Attached to a pre-existing back condition or as a separate claim?

Also starting this last year I have been on HCTZ for high blood pressure (over a year of 164+/100+) due to chronic pain my doc figured. Is it to much of a pain to fight for that (not overweight no family history of HBP)?

Last question is I have had flat feet since I was released (no records indicate this that I can find) but my QTC doc stated that with my training and job that I should put in for it, I have been out for 15 years, or is it too much hassle. I am really not able to jump through too many more hoops, I feel like I will choke a doctor out. I have spent my life since age 25 dealing with this and mentally I am shot at 42 now. I have held jobs up until five years ago, the pain/stress have been so bad my wife said I needed to quit or get a divorce. So I quit.

I apologize for the format and the shotgun style questions but I have received no help of significance from the Legion or the DAV.

Regards,

Dan

Edited February 13, 2014 by DDuck

[carlie]

Sorry I just found this forum, I sympathize with so many of you. So a little background I was med boarded out in '98 at 20%. I was very upset, I suffered a AGE (Air Gas Embolus) from a diving mishap upon successfully removing a distressed diver (I was 2nd Class Diver at the time). I suffered photosensitivity and migraines after a TT6 with two extensions. I was told to suck it up or lose my pin, so I did.

Later in the middle of Phase I EOD training a DUI driver drilled me going about 60-80 mph the cop estimated. Being young and stupid I sucked it up and went back into training for a week until I was pissing blood and my left leg went numb. Also a undiagnosed bone spur shredded my urethra and I have to self cath.

A year ago they re-evaluated me at 80% my breakdown is:

Right hip injury/pain (was dislocated in the accident) 10%

Neuropathy of right foot 10%

Urethral stricture and Bladder neck contracture/stricture 60%

DDD L4-L5 and L5-S1 (two surgeries) 10%

Vascular migraine 10%

Tinnitus 10%

My question is my upper back is starting to obtain a moderate curve and is starting to cause breathing problems and shoulder pain (which I have been complaining to the VA about).

How would I try to process this? Attached to a pre-existing back condition or as a separate claim?

Also starting this last year I have been on HCTZ for high blood pressure (over a year of 164+/100+) due to chronic pain my doc figured. Is it to much of a pain to fight for that (not overweight no family history of HBP)?

Last question is I have had flat feet since I was released (no records indicate this that I can find) but my QTC doc stated that with my training and job that I should put in for it, I have been out for 15 years, or is it too much hassle. I am really not able to jump through too many more hoops, I feel like I will choke a doctor out. I have spent my life since age 25 dealing with this and mentally I am shot at 42 now. I have held jobs up until five years ago, the pain/stress have been so bad my wife said I needed to quit or get a divorce. So I quit.

I apologize for the format and the shotgun style questions but I have received no help of significance from the Legion or the DAV.

Regards,

Dan

Welcome,

1st suggestion - - - - - do not choke any doctors out.

[DDuck]

Yeah, thanks I do try to keep that in mind. My wife comes to most of my appointments now to be my advocate.

I tend to not answer questions and just want to get out of the office. I am leaving out a whole mess of daily pain and wanting to be left alone mostly. But I think I am safe with my wife there. Also the doctors that interact with me I feel fine with, it is just the doctors that ask if I need pain meds to get on with their case load that anger me.

Sorry didn't mean to come off as a sociopath or anything.

Edited February 12, 2014 by DDuck

[Notorious Kelly]

Sorry to hear of troubles that were no fault of your own, Dan.

You've 'sucked it up' enough and are right to pursue all benefits due you.

Others will give detailed help and I encourage you to research hard and get what is fair.

Good luck!

[DDuck]

Ok so had a yearly checkup VA appointment on the 11th. The doc went over all of my issues, and she made a statement that I had listed my current pain as a 3-4 (I was on a double dose of Cyclobenzaprine and Ibuprofen which I told her). She said that she was glad to her that my pain went down from the 8-9 of last year. I then told her that I hadn't had any sleep in 30 days last year and that was the closest I had come to losing my mind (worst experience of my life).

But now I am concerned because my claim has "IN HOUSE" listed as evidence with the 11th as the date of evidence. Is this a problem because my pain was out of control last year but now is lower this year? I filed for UI and all the VA docs said I shouldn't be working, at least that is what they told me that who know what they wrote...

My wife wasn't able to come with me this time (she is a firefighter and was on a 24 hr shift) and she always has to interject and say things I don't say. I am mentally chewing my mind up, and haven't slept in 3 days so it's getting worse thinking about it now.

I hate this stuff I am so pissed I am not looking for a free ride but most of my life has been screwed I have never complained every doc says I will be lucky to make it to 60. I feel like they are treating me like a mongrel dog. This process is BS if people are slowly dieing and the VA has proof from the beginning why do they treat us like this... If my kids weren't in the room I would be yelling. Sorry to vent but I am overloaded.

[Berta]

“I am not looking for a free ride “

Of course not...You want a fair shake and proper compensation for the sacrifice you made that caused these SC disabilities.

“I filed for UI and all the VA docs said I shouldn't be working, at least that is what they told me that who know what they wrote... “

What is the status of the TDIU claim (if any ,yet)

“Also starting this last year I have been on HCTZ for high blood pressure (over a year of 164+/100+) due to chronic pain my doc figured. Is it to much of a pain to fight for that (not overweight no family history of HBP)? “

Did you claim the HBP as due to the pain? ( The DeLuca factor)

“I have held jobs up until five years ago, “ are you receiving SSDI and if so, is it solely for the SC conditions?

If not I suggest you so to the SSA web site and file out the SSDI application right away.

There is a cut off date for filing for SSDI and I believe it could be 5 years from last day worked, to be eligible.

“(Air Gas Embolus) from a diving mishap upon successfully removing a distressed diver “

Do you have any hearing loss? If so, have you claimed that as it could possibly be due to your MOS.

“Last question is I have had flat feet since I was released (no records indicate this that I can find) but my QTC doc stated that with my training and job that I should put in for it .”

If the QTC doc ment your inservice training and job, the doc is right.

I assume it wasn't mentioned in your SMRs or on your discharge certificate?

But maybe best to see what is what with the TDIU claim before adding anything else.

When did you file it and have you heard anything at all from the VA on it?

Dont feel bad about what you said here.

I think if a claimant does not have PTSD when they begin this process, they might get it from dealing with the VA .

And they Want us to feel Overloaded and stressed out.......

I finally learned to stay calm when dealing with them over the last 2 plus decades, just to piss them off and to be able to keep enough of my senses to

fight back when they sent me crap denials ( that I overcame anyhow).

VA isn't really our enemy...Time is.

(although I think the VA could use lots of "Reading for Dummys" books as part of their training programs).

Edited February 15, 2014 by Berta

[DDuck]

When did you file it and have you heard anything at all from the VA on it? What is the status of the TDIU claim (if any ,yet)

I submitted it in March 2013. It is in the Evidence gathering stage. They sent me a letter stating "We have requested VA Form 21-4192 from Metrolink Security. We have not received any information from this most recent employer... etc, etc"

This was in 2006 when I left to use Voc Rehab because things started getting bad with my knees and back. In 2009 I had to quit school because kidneys and hip problems with all the back and knee problems I couldn't focus so the VA counselors suggested I file for UI because they found me not able hold hold employment and canceled my benefits, I have the letter.

Did you claim the HBP as due to the pain? ( The DeLuca factor)

I haven't filed for any HBP I didn't know that was claimable until I started reading this forum. I didn't know if I need to have it in my service records, which I do not.

Are you receiving SSDI and if so, is it solely for the SC conditions

No I haven't I did not even consider it as this was SC. I will look into that.

Do you have any hearing loss? If so, have you claimed that as it could possibly be due to your MOS.

No hearing loss in the range that the VA compensates for but they did give me SC tinnitus 10%

If the QTC doc ment your inservice training and job, the doc is right.

No flat feet in the records, and I didn't even know this was claimable until the QTC doc told me I should file a claim for it. I have been wearing inserts for 15 years.

Dont feel bad about what you said here. I think if a claimant does not have PTSD when they begin this process, they might get it from dealing with the VA .

Thank you for your kind words, I did feel bad writing that, I know most if not all of people here are in the same boat.

In 1999 the VA had a doc ask me about PTSD and gave me meds. They always ask me about my PTSD at my yearly appointments, which confuses me because I do not remember being evaluated for it (My NEC/MOS falls in Special Operations but I had no combat time). I know you didn't ask me about that but I just remembered, when you made that statement, that she asked again about my PTSD on the 11th.

Edited February 15, 2014 by DDuck