degenerative arthritis Where Am I?

[TALON II FE]

 

I am unfamiliar with SSDI.  I have an attorney, so I am not drawn into the bureaucracy like with the VA.  They submitted my claim and put together the required documents, including my 2k page service records.  I am currently 44.  I just did a few questionnaires sent to me directly from SS.  They almost seemed like they were in lieu of an exam.  Is this possible?  I have not seen any SS Doctor's or received any requests to do so.  I am a 100% scheduler, but too young for P&T, I guess.  What can I expect next?

 

 

Here is a list of my rated disabilities (many are lowballed, a few are completely missing, awaiting C-File):

 

70% post-traumatic stress disorder (also claimed as adjustment disorder)

10% varicose veins, right lower extremity (also claimed as venous reflux disease) 10%

10% degenerative arthritis of the spine to include lumbago, lumbar spondylosis and myofascial pain syndrome (claimed as lumbar bulging disc l4-l5)

50% sinusitis (claimed as chronic pansinusitis)

20% carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity to include lower radicular group and cubital tunnel syndrome post excision of arteriovenous malformation (also claimed as peripheral nerve injury shoulder, neuritis median nerve right arm)

0% carpal metacarpal arthritis, right hand (claimed as osteoarthritis right hand)  

0% vasomotor rhinitis (also claimed as nasal polyps)

30% headache syndrome to include occipital neuralgia (claimed as migraine headaches and occipital nerve impingement)

20% status post cervical vertebral fusion C4-C6 to include myofascial pain syndrome (claimed as herniated disc (c5-c6) left, cervical spondylosis)  

0% radiculopathy, left upper extremity 

0% lliotibial band friction syndrome, right thigh

0% ganglion cyst, left wrist (claimed as ganglion left/right wrist)

0% meralgia paresthetica, right lower extremity  

10% seborrheic dermatitis 10% Service Connected 

50% obstructive sleep apnea   

10% left peroneal neuropathy (claimed as deep peroneal nerve atrophy)

10% varicose veins, left lower extremity (also claimed as venous reflux disease)

 

[Vync]

Hey Talon,
The whole "thru pain" deal is a ripoff for veterans when a doc failed to do the job right the first time.

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but are you sure about sinusitis having the polyp rating? I thought it was allergic rhinitis. I was SC for both sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, but they took the higher rating of the two because I had polyps.

Quote

6522   Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis:
With polyps	30
Without polyps, but with greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side	10

 

Quote

6510   Sinusitis, pansinusitis, chronic.
6511   Sinusitis, ethmoid, chronic.
6512   Sinusitis, frontal, chronic.
6513   Sinusitis, maxillary, chronic.
6514   Sinusitis, sphenoid, chronic.
General Rating Formula for Sinusitis (DC's 6510 through 6514):
Following radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis, or; near constant sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain and tenderness of affected sinus, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries	50
Three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or; more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting	30
One or two incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or; three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting	10
Detected by X-ray only	0
Note: An incapacitating episode of sinusitis means one that requires bed rest and treatment by a physician.

 

 

 

 

[TALON II FE]

I have both sinusitis and rhinitis.  They are rated separately and I am maxed at 50% for sinusitis, but rhinitis w/polyps is a 30% rating and they gave me a 0% for that. 

[Vync]

17 hours ago, TALON II FE said:

I have both sinusitis and rhinitis.  They are rated separately and I am maxed at 50% for sinusitis, but rhinitis w/polyps is a 30% rating and they gave me a 0% for that. 

Even if you were to get your rhinitis rating corrected, I am afraid the VA would still not include it in your combined rating due to their stupid pyramiding policy.

[TALON II FE]

5 minutes ago, Vync said:

Even if you were to get your rhinitis rating corrected, I am afraid the VA would still not include it in your combined rating due to their stupid pyramiding policy.

They do not pyramid, they are rated separately, which is why it needs to be disputed.  They are unrelated issues within the same functional system.

[Navy04]

I got my SSDI in 2014 in less then 8 weeks and I was only 31 at the time, after being medically retired from the Navy at 30.I was 100% VA Temporary from 2013 thru last fall, then became Permanent at 33. I filed my claim online with SSA, did not even use a Lawyer. I had multiple exams thru the SSA, and was approved very fast and only on Mental and Bone issues, they did not even need the Crohns or other health issues to approve me. In my case I have had 19 surgeries since 2009, so it didnt take much to make the SSDI get approved. With the SSDI the process is actually quite smoother compared to the VA as long as you have the Hard Medical Evidence. Also I can help you on a side note, but you will need to PM me. Good luck and God Bless!!!

[TALON II FE]

I have been out at Lake Palestine, we have a place there (my parents) and we are trying to get it into a condition that is more "rentable".  Been there almost all week, no internet, power kept going out, tornado a few miles south and lightening sparking trees.  Just another day in East Texas, lol.  Did not get much done but a better idea of what needs to happen.  I'll pm you when I get settled back in here at the house.  Trinity and pretty much every other river coming home has jumped their banks.  I lived on Palestine on and off since I was about 8, only seen that lake as high as it is (maybe higher) once and I remember my grandfather was still around.  He died in 1989, so...the waters high.  Stay dry wherever you are!