Wanting to apply for TDIU and add a secondary diagnosis. Help!

[Akay]

Hey everyone,

 

I was rated at 80% in 2014.  My highest rating is for a skin rash that covers about half of my body and requires constant systemic steroids.  For this skin rash I am rated at 60% (which is the highest of all my SC issues).  This rash initially occurred during active duty in 2012 and for the past five years doctors have just treated the rash and given me all the prednisone I could ever want.  In 2015 I developed migraines.  I began suffering from chronic fatigue, and I began experiencing muscle pain and weakness.  Long story short- I recently saw a rheumatologist and was diagnosed with amyopathic dermatomyositis.  The amyopathic dermatomyositis is basically the rash I have displayed for years, except no one ever knew that.  The migraines, muscle weakness and fatigue are also common issues in people who have amyopathic dermatomyositis.

I have wanted to apply for TDIU since 2015, however I didn't feel I had enough medical information to link all these issues together, and I also didn't have a diagnosis other than a basic rash.  Now that I have new information regarding my SC rash, I want to apply for TDIU.  I'm a bit nervous as to how these ratings might be combined.  For example, my current rating is under DC 7806 and the rating for dermatomyositis is under 7821.  I take chronic steroids, so under 7806 and 7821 I'd be 60%.  If I file a new claim for the dermatomyositis will the ratings from DC 7806 and 7821 be combined, or will it basically just be the changing of some verbage on my claim (7806 would switch to 7821)? I don't see anything that says 7806 and 7821 cannot be combined.

Like a lot of people, I dread opening the flood gates to my VA claims and risking my already 80%.  Any info/advice on my questions or TDIU in general are so much appreciated.  Thanks!

 

[MPsgt]

23 hours ago, Akay said:

Hey everyone,

 

I was rated at 80% in 2014.  My highest rating is for a skin rash that covers about half of my body and requires constant systemic steroids.  For this skin rash I am rated at 60% (which is the highest of all my SC issues).  This rash initially occurred during active duty in 2012 and for the past five years doctors have just treated the rash and given me all the prednisone I could ever want.  In 2015 I developed migraines.  I began suffering from chronic fatigue, and I began experiencing muscle pain and weakness.  Long story short- I recently saw a rheumatologist and was diagnosed with amyopathic dermatomyositis.  The amyopathic dermatomyositis is basically the rash I have displayed for years, except no one ever knew that.  The migraines, muscle weakness and fatigue are also common issues in people who have amyopathic dermatomyositis.

I have wanted to apply for TDIU since 2015, however I didn't feel I had enough medical information to link all these issues together, and I also didn't have a diagnosis other than a basic rash.  Now that I have new information regarding my SC rash, I want to apply for TDIU.  I'm a bit nervous as to how these ratings might be combined.  For example, my current rating is under DC 7806 and the rating for dermatomyositis is under 7821.  I take chronic steroids, so under 7806 and 7821 I'd be 60%.  If I file a new claim for the dermatomyositis will the ratings from DC 7806 and 7821 be combined, or will it basically just be the changing of some verbage on my claim (7806 would switch to 7821)? I don't see anything that says 7806 and 7821 cannot be combined.

Like a lot of people, I dread opening the flood gates to my VA claims and risking my already 80%.  Any info/advice on my questions or TDIU in general are so much appreciated.  Thanks!

 

Apply for TDIU and "let the chips fall where they may".  I don't sugarcoat things and at the end of the day.  It'll boil down to new medical evidence and an IMO.  I'm seeing the VA put a "smackdown" on VA doctors IMO's. Meaning they're harder to come by at most VAMC.  A great VA doctor won't let "bean counters" tell them how to practice medicine. Bypass the DBQ and ask your VA specialist to annotate in your VA medical records that you're TDIU.  Good luck, don't give up, and stay involved with your claim.