PLS and ALS

[mtau 0]

I would like to know if you are diagnosed with pls, are you able to get disability under als.

[Berta 2,731]

http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=793404

There is a difference.

Was the PLS diagnosed by the VA or by a non VA specialist? Did they say they would expect a possibility the PLS could advance into ALS?

[Berta 2,731]

This vet had his PLS service connected as a variant of ALS.

http://www.va.gov/vetapp12/Files6/1241096.txt

The vet cited some treatises and also he had a strong IMO.

Would your doctor (if non VA) be willing to prepare and IMO for you if needed?

The above articles or medical treatises the vet used might be enough for VA to connect the dots but probably not.

Have you filed the claim yet?

 

[mtau 0]

Thanks for the replys Berta. A private neurologist said that it could be pls. I've been going to the va for the last 8 years with neurological problems ie lack of mobility in legs, numbness, etc. First they diagnosed pinched nerves in my back. Got mri, seen a neurosurgeon, he said there was no evidence of pinched nerves in my spinal column. The last neurologist I went to at the va, said that he didn't know what I have. Haven't filed for PLS yet. Did file for PD last year, because I thought that was what I had. It was rejected, which I thought, Just wanted my neurological disorder on record.

Edited August 17, 2015 by mtau

[Berta 2,731]

I would file for ALS as a variant of PLS ,as the vet at the BVA did.

There are a few more PLS claims there but I don't have time to read them today.....when I can ,and if they might help, I will post their links. If that Neuro you see would agree with the variant statement and give a brief opinion that you do have PLS ,"more the .llikely" as an ALS variant,  and you can refer the doc to the studies in that decision, I think you can definitely succeed in the claim.

[DonH 0]

Bertha,

You are a walking wealth of knowledge. Whenever, I observe your posting, I generally stop to read. Interesting reading about PLS as a variant of ALS. Particularly as it relates to  my husband's gradual worsening condition of indeterminate onset after Vietnam/Agent Orange Exposure.

My husband finally  took my advice and made it known to his VA doctors that he has lost use of his right hand. Since he is left handed, he has managed to cope for many years as he gradually lost use of his right hand.. This issue with his hand has been a gradual process over the years to which it is not one that can continue to be ignored at this point. It first became more noted about 9 years ago. However, his right hand has become increasingly clawed and deformed looking. One of his fingers on his right hand is completely crooked and immobile. He cannot push back on force when right hand or fingers are pushed on with force.  My husband cannot screw lids off jars with his right hand. He can no longer grasp the car's steering wheel to steer the car with his right hand. The responsibility of preparing his ostomy bag by cutting a hole to fit the size of his stoma and clipping the ostomy bag closed at the end is completely on me now. Because my husband can no longer use scissors for cutting and cannot clip items together due to the loss of strength/use of his right hand.

On the possible/likelihood of the contributing condition of my husband's neuropathy in both feet and hands; the VA's desire is to continue to blame my husband's past use of heavy alcohol consumption for his neuropathy. To that effect, he was denied the neuropathy claim. We appealed that denied finding. it is presently on appeal. He now has been determined to have DM2; but, his neuropathy was denied prior to the DM2 determination. 

My husband use to always say that a pinched nerve was causing his hand to gradually become worsened to the point of losing all use, The VA doctors in the neurology department are saying his hand has increasingly become worsen over time due to a pinched nerve in his neck and degenerative narrowing of his spinal cord. After my husband's MRI, we had a consult . it  was proposed to operate on my husband's neck to relieve the pinched nerve. In discussing possibilities of the underlying cause, degenerative arthritics was mentioned. They also seemed to think tht my husband's condition could be related to the neuropathy;; however, had gone beyond neuropathy. ALS and MS was sort of mumbled by the doctors as a musings of wondering to pinpoint. Then, after the X-ray, the supervising/Chief doctor called to say upon viewing the X-ray, surgery would not alleviate the problem. So, next month, my husband has an upcoming EMG, So it seems, the jury is still out to say exactly what has caused my husband to lose the use of his right hand.

Edited March 19 by DonH
spelling, clarity, and adding more details