DBQ added 8 months later?

[allansc2005]

Morning folks,

 

Eight months ago I had a C&P exam for SC Miniere's disease, and am following it's progress on va.gov.

 

This morning I noticed they added a new DBQ dated July 13th, 2024.

 

I guess under any other circumstances a new DBQ would be good news, but 8 months AFTER my C&P exam?

 

Questions:

Does this late DBQ sound legit?

Does anyone know how to interpret all these numbers, letters..., associated with a DBQ; is there a "cheat sheet"?

I already know there are certain forms for each DBQ, Mental, Organs, Spine.., but here is my new DBQ(first million numbers and letters omitted )   4_1_DBQ_1015_1

 

Also please note that the VA won't give you a copy of a DBQ if the case hasn't been settled.

 

Thanks,

2-2-0 HOOAH!

 

 

 

 

[allansc2005]

Lemuel,

Actually Meniere's disease used to be grouped with other conditions of the ear including Otis Media, perforated eardrum, chronic ear infections...

 

However, over the last year or so Meniere's has been designated as a separate condition mainly because it's a condition of the inner ear, and it's cause is not well understood.

I take meds for it that are specific to it, and no other ear conditions.

[Lemuel]

Just now, allansc2005 said:

Lemuel,

Actually Meniere's disease used to be grouped with other conditions of the ear including Otis Media, perforated eardrum, chronic ear infections...

 

However, over the last year or so Meniere's has been designated as a separate condition mainly because it's a condition of the inner ear, and it's cause is not well understood.

I take meds for it that are specific to it, and no other ear conditions.

Exactly.  Menier's syndrome was treated by the VA as a symptom of the other or other condition's that cause the room to spin or dizziness including eye conditions, not a separate condition of it's own with a specific cause that has become treatable because the specific cause has been identified.  Menier's syndrome from that cause is much worse than the symptom of dizziness from other causes.  It can be very severe comparatively.

[allansc2005]

Yes, and my examiner indicated I probably had it for a long time, and asked if I had the same symptoms after being discharged in 1990?

 

 

 

[Lemuel]

Have you seen the rating schedule for Manier's syndrome?

 

Diseases of the Ear

	Rating
6200 Chronic suppurative otitis media, mastoiditis, or cholesteatoma (or any combination):
During suppuration, or with aural polyps	10
Note: Evaluate hearing impairment, and complications such as labyrinthitis, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, or bone loss of skull, separately.
6201 Chronic nonsuppurative otitis media with effusion (serous otitis media):
Rate hearing impairment
6202 Otosclerosis:
Rate hearing impairment
6204 Peripheral vestibular disorders:
Dizziness and occasional staggering	30
Occasional dizziness	10
Note: Objective findings supporting the diagnosis of vestibular disequilibrium are required before a compensable evaluation can be assigned under this code. Hearing impairment or suppuration shall be separately rated and combined.
6205 Meniere's syndrome (endolymphatic hydrops):
Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, with or without tinnitus	100
Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month, with or without tinnitus	60
Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or without tinnitus	30
Note: Evaluate Meniere's syndrome either under these criteria or by separately evaluating vertigo (as a peripheral vestibular disorder), hearing impairment, and tinnitus, whichever method results in a higher overall evaluation. But do not combine an evaluation for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205." There may be a difference in opinion of the frequency between QTC and your private physician.  May be like epilepsy now.  If controlled by medication, the rating goes down. How are you doing?  My deceased wife's was cured with about a 6 month medication treatment.  Without medication she was unemployable before finding a neurologist that was aware of the new treatment in the early part of the 21rst century. The medication has varying degrees of effectiveness.

[brokensoldier244th]

just because you had a C&P eight months ago, doesn’t mean that they didn't just recently get the results and that there wasn’t something incorrect, not detailed enough,  or not answered correctly on them, meaning they have to go back for a different opinion either from a different examiner or to be corrected by the same examiner. 

[allansc2005]

Lemuel.

Yes, and the subjective questions the examiner asked concerning the frequency of the vertigo, and cerebellar gait, as well as tinnitus, were all answered with "everyday", as that's how often they affect me; tinnitus is already SC.

 

brokensoldier24, correct.

We already know that if there are any differences of opinion as to the severity of the condition, the opinion that benefits the veteran the most, stands.