What Does "may Be Caused By" Mean Va Wise

[OnRiver]

I posted to long of a message before. Basically does anyone know what "Maybe caused by" really means in VA jargon?

Thanks

[john999]

Onriver

If you have diabetes and PN then there is a much better than likely chance the two things are related. Get a real doctor to connect the dots for you. I have DMII and PN and it was service connected, but I had to fight for it. PN is a very common secondary condition to DMII. That doctor is just tap dancing around. There is no diagnosis that says "maybe". You can't win service connection with a "maybe". I am not being funny. You need something like "as likely as not" to get service connected.

[OnRiver]

Dear John

Thanks for your comments and input. I don't have the money to see a dr. for another opinion. I kind of read this as if their was only two reasons for the Perehial neuropathy ...a either or when he states...."The periperhial neuropathies may be secondary to long-standing diabetes or small fiber painful type." The va turned me down the first time because of the false assumption that EMG's ruled out diabetic neuropathies which it does not. That has been noted in my file. Al;so since I only claimed nueroptjies of the lower extremeties I can still claim upper ones as they have now been shown by examinations to be there.

[john999]

Onriver

I went through the same BS about my PN. The VA granted 10% for each lower extremity but denied the upper PN based on the same evidence. I appealed this and won and so can you, but you need a medical opinion!!!! The C&P doctor should have given you a physical exam to determine sensory loss. Not all PN shows up on an EMG, as you say. You should have the benefit of the doubt on this matter. For the doctor to make a statement like "maybe" is irresponsible. They know that PN is a major secondary condition of longstanding DMII. Ask the VA for another C&P exam to make a determination as to the fact of your PN being secondary to the DMII. You got an inadequate exam. Ask your primary care doctor to send you to the neurologist for an opinion.

[Hoppy]

It does not sound like the statement was written for the purpose of adjudication and was only a justification for his treatment plan. Take him the nexus form.

[Guest rickb54]

OnRiver,

Stated," "Maybe caused by" really means in VA jargon?"

It means the doctor is not sure if the problem was caused by....

For a va claim you will need a statement that reads;

it is more likely than not that the present condition is caused by ______ or;

it is as least as likely as not that the present condition is caused by______.

If your trying to get service connection for a new conditon, the doctor needs to indicate he has reviewed your active duty medical records, and he also needs to justify his opinion.

If your trying to get a condition service connected as a secondary issue, than it may not be necessary to review the active duty medical records. But the opinion still needs to be justified.

You don't need any special forms or letters for the va to accept the statement.

Your doctor can write this statement right in the medical record, it is eaiser for him to do this, and it is faster than having to dictate a letter, and then having it typed on letterhead. It is also cheaper and less time consumming for him to write it in the medical record.

Hope this helps...

Edited December 6, 2006 by rickb54

[Guest jstacy]

Here is the examination criteria for DMII;

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/disexm13.htm

I hope this helps.