Rating Increase (New Medication)

[Wooderson]

I am currently 10% for Chronic Urticaria, my dermatologist has changed my medication (because the antihistamines quit working) and for the past 4-5 months I have been on a second-line treatment (leukotriene inhibitors). Under the VA Schedule those medications when used to treat the condition looks like it should be rated at 30%.

I've never requested an increase, is there a certain amount of time you need to be on the new medication? Is there anything else I need to know/do to present the evidence properly when doing the claim. thanks

[brokensoldier244th]

Lots of smaller hospitals use mobile MRIs. If they weren't legal they wouldn't exist.

 

If there weren't contractor exams veterans would be complaining about how long it takes to get into a VAMC (and did). If there are contractors, veterans complain that they think (based on a very limited POV) that all they do is deny. I can pretty unequivocally say that they are incorrect- it has nothing to do with delay and deny, it has to do with trying to actually get veterans seen. COVID didn't help- and Office of Personnel Mgt sets the rules about when govt agencies can be open, or closed, or what the staff levels are- including VA and NARA (national archives- where your STRs and 201s are). The contractors set their own rules- they are not govt employees.The hangup in timing and speed for the last year isn't much VA's fault.

I see 20+ case files a day, and I am in the meetings and Teams calls about RO office efficiency/grants/denials/etc, and i'm constantly having to change the way my workflow goes- in the interest of both trying to increase accuracy and speed. I don't mind the changes, but I'm not really sure what more veterans want VHA/VBA to do.  I see a lot more approvals than denials, at least at the RO level where I am. 

VA isn't going anywhere, in fact, right now there is a bill making its way through Congress to try to increase funding overall 10%- of course it's being contested by several "pro veteran" senators who suddenly are worried about deficits, but aren't really all that worried about them when building another bomber or two, or maybe just not sending us all over hell and gone for some things that we don't need to be involved in. No 20+ yr continuous conflict might reduce some of that spending that could be re-appropriated, but they can't seem to make the connection that continuous op-tempo and overbuilding will increase the number of veterans filing claims for things. 

[john999]

I have had horrible exams from VA employees and some very good ones from contractors.  For years when I asked for an increase for mental health problem the VA doctor doing my C&P exam asked me one question:  "Are you working?"  Of course, I was working due to desire not to starve.  Claim denied.  This went on all through the 70's and 80's.  The last time I got a C&P from a VA doctor he told me that Vietnam vets get fat on purpose to get a better rating on their diabetes.