How are number of days determined for incapacitating episodes?

[Guest ScareCrow]

Hello,

 How are number of days determined for 'incapacitating episodes' of service connected injuries/illnesses?

 For example a disabled veteran is service connected for an injury/illness and it states that for incapacitating episodes of said named injury/illness so many days qualifies for its respective determination by VA.....

 However, there is no mention anywhere of what determines this number of days of the 'incapacitating episodes' in relation to the said named injury/illness and so I am understandably curious as to whom or what determines that.....

  Does the patient just simply tell the doctor how long the 'incapacitating episodes' have lasted, who then makes notations in the patients record perhaps or is there something else involved?

Thank you

[Navy4life]

Flores

i think that's the difference and confusion. Exacerbating and incapacitating are two different animals. 

[flores97]

Navy4life, you are absolutely right, I just don't see how VA could say incapacitating has to be prescribed bed rest. Heck, I had a relative with stage 4 terminal cancer and they still advised her to move around as much as she could. They do not like prescribing bedrest now, but then again, i could absolutely see why VA states bedrest is required for episodes to be considered incapacitating, its so hard to get prescribed bedrest it makes it extremely difficult to be awarded sc.

[Navy4life]

Just now, flores97 said:

Navy4life, you are absolutely right, I just don't see how VA could say incapacitating has to be prescribed bed rest. Heck, I had a relative with stage 4 terminal cancer and they still advised her to move around as much as she could. They do not like prescribing bedrest now, but then again, i could absolutely see why VA states bedrest is required for episodes to be considered incapacitating, its so hard to get prescribed bedrest it makes it extremely difficult to be awarded sc.

Eating disorder though its its own rating the criteria to even get 10% is hard!  I suffered for decades and still do yet all I am is 0% because of the stupid rating criteria of 2 weeks of incapacitating episodes. Ugh!!!

[flores97]

Navy4life, I agree completely, its absolutely ridiculous that the standard is so hard to reach. If we go in to the VA with symptoms that the doc agrees prevent us from working or doing normal activities, that should be enough.  I am sorry that you are going through the ringer trying to get your deserved rating for eating disorder, those are no joke, are life threatening and one of the hardest things to break free of. 

[flores97]

Well, i did google "what does the VA consider incapacitating episodes", and some interesting BVA cases popped up. I skimmed through them and it seemed bva was going by veterans going into get treatment and stating symptoms were severe to the point they couldnt function. In the first case, for gout or gouty arthritis, the vet was still employed and the pain was so bad he had to leave work and go to the er. Upon exam, he did have swollen knees, feet, etc(this happened quite a few times in this example), and stated to the doc that the swelling had been ongoing for 5 days. There were a few other exams mentioned as well, and these were considered to be incapacitating. I havent mastered the art of posting links yet, but the citation number is 0319104. 

[flores97]

Does the type of incapitating episode matter? For example, would back injury or migraine episodes be treated the same as eating disorder or gout episodes?