Neurological exam for sTBI

[jfrei]

I am understanding that this exam can now tell me if my sTBI exacerbated my childhood ADD but what can it show? Can it show what symptoms are related with my TBI and my PTSD? A veteran rep from the VA called me explaining saying I should ask the doctor performing the exam to see if he can opinion what's my TBI and what's my PTSD this call I got was because he said he was asked to call me from someone at the Philly RO. I think he said he was responding to an inquiry that the office of case management made on my behalf. If the VA hospital giving the exam I also have another SSA medical exam. I know the va and ssa can get each other's reports but Am I allowed to ask this neurologist if he can opinion what he thinks. These next two weeks I'm so on edge no matter what I am told I won't be able to sleep maybe 5 hours until appt at 830 on Tuesday.

[broncovet]

Calm down.  There is an important preperation you can do, and you should be ready for this question, from the examiner:

 

Quote

How are you doing today?

Your answer is important.  Most of us were kinda taught to say, "fine, how are you?", in response.   If you do that, you will be backtracking all the exam.  Your C and P exam is not the time to give someone the "short" answer, but rather your time to reveal issues related to the benefit you are seeking, that is, the symptoms.  

Better is to say:

"Today is better, under the circumstances, but (insert the day of your worst day)   last Thursday was a nightmare...(then descibe your worst day, last thursday).  For example, I had a flashback from my  PTSD and nearly tried to shoot my wife, when she woke me up from a deep sleep.......we got in a terrible fight, and she called the police and I had to spend the night in jail....etc., etc.  Here is a copy of the police report..do you want to see it??  (Then hand him a copy of the police report the night you tried to hurt your wife, and were arrested for it, or other applicable documentation of your disability symptoms)  If you flew off the handle at work, and got fired, this is a good time to talk about that.  

 

Never lie, but dont unexaggerate your symptoms either.  This is not the time to "suck it up" and pretend like everything is fine, when you are hurting, like they told you to in the military.  If you tell the examiner you have no (symptoms) why should you be suprised when your rating comes back either denied or at 0 percent?  To reiterate, dont lie or exaggerate, but do tell the doc what happened on your worst day.  

Edited March 20, 2017 by broncovet

[armorer]

The Neuro exam is the heart of the TBI exam, exactly. Plus it gets catscans if not already taken and MRI's and other important tests to cancel out other factors (like epilepsy for example), Meniere's (which I have too) and other electro-anomalies in your brain that could cause similar effects. Most tests show nothing most of the time, unless you let them cut your brain open for study.

You find out how far  you are in dementia if applicable, if you have water on the brain (not good and no extra rating percentage either), and by the end of all the tests, you will find out how hopeless you are (in a cheerful way to VA employees.) Your  Neuro will be your main VA Health provider to help you from now on, until they cut your brain open to study (in a cheerful manner.)

**  It's the same as the TBI exam with 30 more tests added from specialists to show that it IS tbi, dementia, Parkinson's,  Meniere's, and/or NPH (water on the brain or normal pressure hydrocephalus.) You will also get a neuro-psychological exam (and THAT could be up to multiple years, if you pursue that route.) "Live long and prosper."

 "Live long and prosper.

[jfrei]

I've had MRis that show residuals of my sTBI from 2006 still to this day. I've not had treatment since I got out in 2010 and my mind is slipping. It took until 2016 until service connected but in those 6 years working had been hell one job after the next. I'm at 70% for my TBI this test comes after my MRI and since my last one was in 2010 when I got out the military. My Primary wants to see how much we have to start over for my treatment plan. And then I have to do another exam 9days later for SSDI. So I haven't been getting sleep with anxiety this is my only source of venting and helping other vets on here takes my mind of my issues.

[jfrei]

6 hours later that was exhausting. I thought I did ok but the second half of the day I felt like a total rifle range Unqualifed with a pistol nominee. But I guess I see we're I need to work and I'm not sure it will be done in 10 days I told him about my SSa claim he said he will try but who knows I just want the results...