Hysterectomy Post-Service

[Bookieboo79]

I am about to file a claim and I want to be sure I am going about it correctly. In service I had several surgeries to include fibroid removal, cyst, 3 D&C, 2 C-sections, laparoscopy etc. I suffered severe cramping and heavy bleeding. None of which I recieved a rating for. Fast forward post service I was still dealing with the same issues. Until I had mo choice but to have a total hysterectomy. Can I use this for a claim? I have records for days. Also my doctor who performed the hysterectomy stated that I had severe adhesion disease due to the prior surgeries. All of which were done in the military.

[GBArmy]

Hi Bookieboo79 Welcome to Hadit Yes, you can submit a claim for any illness or physical or mental injury that occured while you were in service, called service connection, or s-c. You need evidence in your service treatment records of the surgeries that you had; if you don't have them, the VA has a duty to assist to get them for you. If you had a total histerectomy outside the VA, I would get those records as well to submit. You have to sign a release to the hospital to get them released, but that is your info so they have to provide. If you look up http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/femalereproductive.html#loss you will see diagnostic codes 7617 thru 7620, which lists several removal or loss of reproductive organs. If you have those symptoms you can determine what your disability rating may be. It appears you may be able to get a 20, 30 or even higher rating, so it is worth it to submit a claim. You may want to get a "competent" Veterans Service Officer. VSO, to help you submit. but you probably can do it yourself. You can do this; good luck.

[paulstrgn]

Welcome to Hadit Bookieboo79. GB has good advice; you may also need an IMO (independent medical opinion) to tie your hysterectomy to your military medical treatment. If you do decide to go with a VSO make sure that they understand what you want to file and that they know how to file for it. If they say you do not qualify and should not file, then find a new VSO. Personally, I think you can file for your disabilities on your own, after all no one is more interested in your disabilities than you are. 

I also highly recommend you going through your medical records (if you have not already) and make sure that you have filed for all the disabilities that you are entitled to. Also, make sure that you file for any disabilities that are secondary to your rated disabilities or ones you are getting ready to file for. I personally have 9 rated disabilities that are secondary to other disabilities.

Good luck!

[broncovet]

If you want to increase the likelihood of getting service connected, then make sure you have all 3 Caluza elements:  Current diagnosis, in service event and nexus.

Beyond the diagnosis, you have to have "symptoms".  I dont know what your syptoms are after your hysterectomy.  The VA does not compensate us for "pain and suffering".  It needs to be a chronic condition that causes regular symptoms for compensation.  Example:

I sprain my ankle in service.  It hurts bad.  But it goes away, and I have no further problems with my ankle.  I wont get any compensation for that.  However, if a doctor diagnoses me with "arthritis of the ankle" and he says its "at least as like as not my current ankle issues are related to the in service event which caused my ankle sprain", and I am unable to walk due to severe ankle arthritis, then that is a horse of a different color.  

VA has a SMC rating for "loss of use of a reproductive organ".  Its SMC K.  I dont know if you would qualify for that, you might.  Generally, SMC is for Vets with "severe injuries", and I have not known anyone to get an SMC K rating when their total is less than 100 percent, but that may be coincidence.  

Edited January 23, 2020 by broncovet

[Bookieboo79]

Thank you all for the good information C&P exam in 2 weeks!!!