Healthevet And Blue Button

[asheth007]

Is any of the information in HealtheVet and the blue button good or strong enough to include with SSDI, IU, or other claims?

[asheth007]

Yes, definetely you could ask your doc to fill it out & then you would submit it with your claim. Some docs will do it & some wont.

Here's a link with some more info on DBQs

http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/dbq_disabilityexams.asp

If you already have service connection for an issue, then filling out the DBQ is pretty straightforward for the doc. After its completed you could submit it along with the FDC application, either in paper form or upload through ebenefits.

If you do not already have the SC, then the DBQ won't be enough. The doc will also need to make a nexus statement and give their rationale & state they have reviewed your pertinent medical records. You can research those terms here on hadit by using the search box.

You can reference the DBQ to know how they rate each issue, but you need to compare it to the rating schedule for your issue, first. You need to lookup the rating code for your issue.

Here's the link.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?rgn=div5;node=38:1.0.1.1.5

Thank you NavyWife and you have opened my eyes to something. My rating is inflammatory myopathy since there is no rating for inflammatory myopathy they rated it max for fibromyalgia. Looking at these codes you provided I see 5021 for myositis my condition code is 710.4 according to my Health E Vet summary or polymyocitis which is what I actually have. Looking at the chart it looks like I would qualify for a higher rating if it was determined to be myocitis which is what I am diagnosed with. The inflammatory myopathy I was initially diagnosed with was because they weren't sure if it was inclusion body myositis or polymyositis.

Under the rating codes I see

The diseases under diagnostic codes 5013 through 5024 will be rated on limitation of motion of affected parts, as arthritis, degenerative, except gout which will be rated under diagnostic code 5002.

Edited October 13, 2014 by asheth007

[john999]

SSDI wants to see a statement that you are totally disabled from all work for at least a year. They don't care about SC. They just care about your record of SSA payments and your being totally disabled.

[asheth007]

SSDI wants to see a statement that you are totally disabled from all work for at least a year. They don't care about SC. They just care about your record of SSA payments and your being totally disabled.

Thanks to Navywife I did some more digging and found this

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/14.00-Immune-Adult.htm#14_05

14.05 Polymyositis and dermatomyositis. As described in 14.00D4. With:

A. Proximal limb-girdle (pelvic or shoulder) muscle weakness, resulting in inability to ambulate effectively or inability to perform fine and gross movements effectively as defined in 14.00C6 and 14.00C7.

OR

B. Impaired swallowing (dysphagia) with aspiration due to muscle weakness.

OR

C. Impaired respiration due to intercostal and diaphragmatic muscle weakness.

OR

D. Diffuse calcinosis with limitation of joint mobility or intestinal motility.

OR

E. Repeated manifestations of polymyositis or dermatomyositis, with at least two of the constitutional symptoms or signs (severe fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss) and one of the following at the marked level:

1. Limitation of activities of daily living.

2. Limitation in maintaining social functioning.

3. Limitation in completing tasks in a timely manner due to deficiencies in concentration, persistence, or pace.

This is exactly what I have, especially the limb-girdle I have all the tests to back up that I do in fact have polymyositis. The issue was that they didn't know when I was in the med board process, so I was under the assumption that it was inflammatory myopathy which is what diagnoses from the VA initially. Now the diagnoses is polymyositis which is much stronger for my claim purposes. Inflammatory myopathy is just a general term when they aren't sure. I downloaded a RFC form and will talk to my rheumatologist about filling it out. Can a DBQ also be used in my SSDI claim?

Edited October 13, 2014 by asheth007

[asheth007]

This site is great I have to say I feel much better now because I know now that I need to communicate the polymyositis now. There is so much information to go through but you guys have helped me and I have to say that I'm happy with what I learned today because now I know exactly what I need to communicate to SSDI and the VA in regards to compensation. Some days I get upset to my stomach thinking about it but now I feel much better moving forward. I am only 4 months medically retired from active duty and this whole process has me feeling down and depressed someday's so I definitely sympathize with those that have been fighting for years.

Thank you