Confused on connection granted

[toomnyhats]

I served 4 years active USAF from 1986-1990.  Worked avionics...lugged heavy toolboxes and worked in cramped spaces and on flight line.  Fast forward to 2001...C5-6 disc rupture resulting in cervical myelopathy and incomplete spinal cord injury (quad with para function).  Apparently I have a very narrow spinal canal which obviously existed when I was in the AF.  The degenerative processes in my neck had already begun by that point.  

On 11/30/2015 I submitted claims for:

Spinal stenosis, cervical myelopathy, quadriplegia, neurogenic bladder (I have to cath), neurogenic bowel (I have an ileostomy), severe spasticity and muscle spasms, tinnitus.

They scheduled C&P's quickly but only for bladder and tinnitus.  Claim moved fast.  Today I was granted 60% for neurogenic bladder and 10% for tinnitus.  Everything else is listed as non service connected.  

While I'm extremely grateful for the 60% rating, I'm confused because the neurogenic bladder was caused by the spinal cord injury which they didn't service connect or even do a C&P on.  I submitted a lot of medical records from Mayo Clinic regarding the spinal cord issues so they may have used those but I don't understand how they can rate the bladder but not the spine.

Because they only rated the bladder, I assume I won't be able to pursue IU because the bladder is not what is keeping me from effective employment...it's the spinal cord injury, spasticity and pain.

Can anybody shed any light on it?

Thanks!!!

 

 

[TALON II FE]

Have you explored your right to pension if they do not SC?  That may be another option and is a benefit earned by your service.  Your medical records from your time in service are what will be the determining factor for SC.  If you don't have many entries, it gets more complicated.  Pension does not require a SC, but I am no expert on Pension Benefits.  Hopefully, someone else may chime in who has experience with that type of claim...

[toomnyhats]

Thanks TALON II FE.  Unfortunately our family income precludes us from the pension avenue.  Income not high enough to pay for all the things involved with having a severe disability but not low enough enough to qualify for pension guidelines.  I'm waiting for the final envelope but it is my suspicion that they didn't find anything neck/back related because even though I had a lot of pain during my time in service, I'm not a complainer so I'm guessing they couldn't find anything.  Will have to dig through the archives in the attic for letters written home and rely on current medical opinion most likely.  Luckily I'd already been given catastrophic status (priority4) and now this recent rating moves me to priority 1 and an extra 1000 bucks a month so even if I get nowhere with an appeal, I will still be thankful to God for his newest blessing!  Sometimes, I feel greedy wanting to pursue this further but I will do so and just accept however the ball rolls once we've exhausted all avenues.

[broncovet]

You have gotten great advice from Buck and Talon, especially.  The only thing I have to add is get your cfile.  You can not be sure if you have a nexus statment, or the effective date of your nexus without it.  There is a disconnect between all our medical records and the cfile, as VA may or may not have all your records.  Usually they just "happen to be missing" the one piece of evidence you need, just like what happened to me, which, of course, causes another 5 year delay.  

[TALON II FE]

Very true, the c-file will show you exactly what they considered in the decision process.  I am still waiting for mine.  The other thing I would mention is that, even if there is no Nexus in the c-file does not 'kill' your claim either.  An independent doc, such as the one you said was willing to help, can help you to make that connection, as Buck outlined.  NEVER FEEL SELFISH FOR RECEIVING SOMETHING YOU EARNED!  If the Doc can draw a legit connection back to your service, get what you earned and never look back.

[toomnyhats]

Heard back from VSO.  They couldn't grant spine because there is nothing in military file...makes sense since I've never been a complainer.  Usually I just sucked up the pain and moved on.  They granted the neurogenic bladder because there was documentation of bladder spasms.  She does think since I have my first VA annual sci exam coming up that we have a good shot at the doctor agreeing to the "at least as likely as not" for the aggravation of pre existing spinal stenosis and will then resubmit for reconsideration with the new evidence.  From there it should be a cascade effect for all the other related items.  If the VA doc doesn't feel comfortable doing that, I'm fairly certain my civilian doc will.  Either way...I will push on. Thanks for the encouragement and advice!  Hopefully I'll be able to post back positive results in a few months if a reconsideration is done.  Otherwise - I know I'm looking at years lol.

[toomnyhats]

Just spent a week getting my first annual sci/d evaluation at the Minneapolis VA.  I've been receiving outside care for my sci for the last 12 years.   I can't say enough good things about the VA sci/d process.  They have it down to an art.  Not only was the medical part totally complete and comprehensive, but the staff were professional, kind and caring.  I know the VA healthcare system gets a bad rap many times but I believe it is just like the civilian system ... there are good facilities and there are bad ones.  I feel blessed to have experienced one of the best.  Kudos to Minneapolis!