Just diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome

[allansc2005]

Afternoon folks, new kid on the block here.

 

Last week I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, which is an autoimmune syndrome, it's also known as Siccus Syndrome.

 

I was going through the VA's lists of medical conditions, and didn't fine the condition.

 

Anyone have any information on how the VA rates Sjogren's or Siccus Syndrome?

Thanks,

Allan

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Berta]

The eligibility criteria above from the VA states:

"The basic period of eligibility may be extended if a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) determines that a Veteran has a Serious Employment Handicap."

What did the VRC actually do- to determine if you have a serious employment handicap?

If they did nothing (meaning no interviews,etc etc) you can appeal on that basis-but I found nothing like that at the BVA site...

It might take an independent Vocational expert's opinion to determine the serious employment handicap.

You might be eligible for a state Pell Grant or other programs, non VA, but maybe best to look into the IL program.

[Berta]

and to add: these are the regulations that control the determination of a "serious employment handicap."

 

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/21.52

[allansc2005]

Gastone,

Finally got my Voc Rehab appointment for 5 December.

Any pointers? I'm at 80% by the way.

 

 

[Gastone]

This is your very 1st trip to the VR Dept, right.

Be very upfront with the VR Councilor, explain your disabilities & claims situation. The VR Councilor may decide to forgo the Intake Pretesting, battery of no wrong answer tests to determine your interests.

You will need to address all the employment problems you have, not only working with other people, even on your own. So, just be yourself, tell the truth and don't over-report a problem. The VA VR Councilors are to the best of my knowledge, all MS Degree Employment Specialists with plenty of experience dealing with their sole clients, Vets.

Allen,Todays 12/5, I'm your VR Councilur. Mr allen, what do you expect to get out of the VA Voc Rehab program, Retraining, Back to School, Self-employment, what?

And your answer is:?

Semper Fi 

[carfixer208]

On 5/24/2016 at 8:29 AM, Berta said:

This is an award for Sjogren's Syndrome from the BVA.:

http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/view.jsp?FV=http://www.va.gov/vetapp14/Files5/1441401.txt

The case contains a good nexus the veteran had:

“Regarding the second and third Hickson elements, in-service incurrence and evidence of a medical nexus, the Board acknowledges the Veteran's service treatment records are silent for a diagnosis of or treatment for Sjögren's syndrome.  However, an August 1985 service treatment record indicates the Veteran received care for arthralgia of her left foot, during a period of active duty service.  Additionally, in an April 2008 letter, Dr. J. W., the Veteran's treating rheumatologist, opined that the Veteran's Sjögren's syndrome initially manifested during her period of active service between 1984 and 1987.  In his rationale for the rendered opinion, Dr. J. W. explained that the symptoms in question were migratory symmetrical polyarthralgias, symptoms that are quite typical of early Sjögren's syndrome, and eventually became the swollen joints the Veteran now suffers from.  He further explained that the joints in question, hands and feet, were also typical of Sjögren's syndrome.  He also noted that the Veteran had a positive antinuclear antibody test which showed a slow progression of the initial illness, and had lymphadenopathy, which demonstrated that the Veteran's immune system was beginning to be overactive. 

 

Additionally, the September 2008 VA examiner opined that the Veteran's symptoms of inflammatory arthritis first manifested in August 1985, and that it was easy to deduce that those symptoms were related to the Veteran's current Sjögren's syndrome.

 

This BVA case reflects the diagnostic code and rating info for Sjogren’s Syndrome.

http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/view.jsp?FV=http://www.va.gov/vetapp14/Files6/1451816.txt

This syndrome can appear initially as polyarthralgia, as well as inflammatory arthritis per the above BVA case.

 

I can not seem to get to these web sites it will not open them. am I doing something wrong?

[Guest]

On 3/13/2020 at 12:40 PM, carfixer208 said:

I can not seem to get to these web sites it will not open them. am I doing something wrong?

Carfixer, this post is very old. In the future, you may want to start your own post to get more responses.

Try these:  https://www.va.gov/vetapp14/files5/1441401.txt

and

https://www.va.gov/vetapp14/files6/1451816.txt