hypertension Gulf War Exam Today...interesting.

[rootbeer22]

Folks:

Today I went and did my Gulf War Exam. I provided everything that was relevant to the case in an additional package just in case my records did not get digitized into the system? So, when I went in to the exam room the doctor had a package that consisted of no more than 3 documents? Also, I had studied the questionnaire in depth just to know how to respond to the questions based upon the relevant data in my SMRs. But, during the exam I had a quick cursory exam, and only a handful of questions had been asked while he typed and typed for some time? It appeared that the examiner may have already made up his mind based upon those 3 pages that he was already provided? Anyway, I provided my own package with over 100 key documents to make my case with very specific data? I provided a record of about 120 Blood Pressure Readings over my army career which shows that my significant hypertension started and when I had a kidney issue in Kuwait and after my hospitalization there? Also, in an accusatory tone said that my blood pressure was very high today and wanted to know if I had skipped my BP Meds? Frankly, I was very offended by that and said why would I risk a stroke or heart attack when my records already showed a detailed pattern of HBP while taking meds? So, we'll see how it goes because these were supposed to be my last C & P Exams? However, the jury is still out on that and the outcome of this as well. Mostly, I've been treated with respect but some of the attitudes are disappointing when I did my duty without question and with complete loyalty.

[Notorious Kelly]

Sounds like you have your ducks in a row and will win eventually.

Sucks we have to deal with examiners who sometimes appear to be downright flakes but it may be part of their game; who knows.

Good luck!

[Buck52]

Rootbeer,

Personally I don't like examiners like that that would offend me too, you can go get a copy of the exam if it was at your VAMC?

See what he said? and if he stated you had copies of your medical history? if he/she did that will help.

Good Luck

Buck!

[Scotter04]

Root beer, sorry to hear about your experience. Did you have the GW exam in Seattle or American Lake? I'm trying to get a GW exam and AL would be better for me. If you have a premier account in MyhealtheVet you should be able to see the examimers notes as early as next week.

[Scotter04]

Good luck

Edited February 28, 2015 by Scotter04 (see edit history)

[rootbeer22]

Scotter04:

It was in Oregon and may be the examiner will came around, I'll check my healthy vet to see? I almost did not put in the contention in the first place because I've heard that so many vets have been rejected for GW Issues but I can show a direct correlation during my time in the Middle East? I know I should not takes things personal but sometimes it's just too much that as Vets we are not respected? For me it's partly that we were exposed to bad environmental hazards at the time but no one wanted to address it for fear it would affect our missions? But as an eExample, I have renal cysts that showed up on both of my kidneys that were the same ones I had a problem with in the Middle East. Also, a whole group of us got really sick only to find that he camp water system had gross amounts of Ecoli poisoning for months and there was speculation which is probably true that the foreign contractor cooks used the same water for our food preparation? Suddenly one day at the camp bulletin board a memo was published on behalf of the camp commander (and I provided a copy to the examiner) that stated for several months that there was a gross contamination of Ecoli poisoning in the water supply and that everyone should now take precautions to protect themselves due to the environmental hazards on soldiers health? It went over the dangers of what Ecoli poisoning can cause longterm and permanent damage to a body? It's the same camp in which over 2000 pounds of depleted uranium caught fire in 1991 and there was little talk of the incident to troops later assigned there? I'm not looking for trouble but if hazards where there then we should have been alerted before we deployed there at least.

Edited February 28, 2015 by rootbeer22 (see edit history)

[lotzaspotz]

Do you know the professional credentials of the examiner? If not, you may want to determine what those are. Anyone in that capacity should realize that the situation is stressful and can elicit higher BP ratings than normal, even when meds have been taken to control it. Heck, my BP goes up when I have a regular checkup at my GP's office, and I don't suffer from hypertension. Idiotic question, not to mention insulting. By all means, get a copy of the exam results, but know the background of the person who examined you, in case you need to challenge the exam's validity.

[Navy04]

I am glad we both made it thru the exams, and I hope we both get good news soon. Good luck

[63SIERRA]

ROOT, keep very close tabs on your kidneys. Kidney cancer is high amongst desert storm vets. They told me I had a 5 cm cyst in 2005,, well in 2011 it turned out to be a cancerous tumor. The cancer was spreading fast, it was already in my renal vein and had much more time gone by, I wouldnt be here today, because it tends to spread to the lungs, and bones, then you can kiss your ass goodby. My entire kidney was removed, my adrenal gland, some of my renal vein, and in hoping its all gone.

Edited February 28, 2015 by 63SIERRA (see edit history)

[rootbeer22]

Folks:

Well, I was right...at 1038 in the morning, I had on reading on a Pulmonary Functions Test, for my Gulf War Exam then at approximately at 5: 40 P.M. On the same day, the reading was changed to an updated normal reading.. I have well documented Bronchitis and significant breathing issues since the Gulf War. I've heard about this before and know that I can appeal once the claim results are announced... However, I'm going to pay for an independent LFT Exam by civilian authorities and if it matches the original LFT that was changed, I'm going to request the matter be formally investigated by the proper VA Authorities. It's one thing to review "all" of the evidence and then make a decision, it's another to have preconceived biases that are instituted across the board for Gulf War Illnesses that may or may not be present for soldiers that served within the Middle East at various times?

Edited March 3, 2015 by rootbeer22 (see edit history)

[free_spirit_etc]

Did you get a copy of the document that had the PFT reading before they changed it?

Also -- Do you have a copy of any requests the RO made for the exam? That way you can see exactly what they asked the doctor to check / give an opinion on.

[rootbeer22]

Folks:

All good advice and I have a way to get all of that....information.

[rootbeer22]

Folks:

I took another PFT and they found some abnormal results...so it will be interesting to compare the 2 when I can...