Help Me Figger This Out........?

[LarryJ]

Okay, I finally got 20% for my badly screwed up ankle.

So, having never been SC'd before, I get myself set up in the VA healthcare system.

First thing my primary care doctor does, is he sets me up for the prothesis dept to get me an AFO (Ankle/Foot Orthosis) because he says my ankle/foot is useless and this AFO will help the pain of my ankle when I walk and, if I wear it to bed, it will keep the bed covers from twisting my ankle when I try to turn over in bed, so maybe I'll be able to get some sleep......but, as useless as my ankle is, if they had a good surgical replacement, he'd recommend that, but, seeing as how they don't, they will try this AFO and if it doesn't work "you'd be better off without it", meaning my ANKLE/FOOT!

For this, I get 20%?

Then he sends me down to psych, tells me with my depression they are going to have to come up with something stronger than my Welbutrin (taking it for the last 10 years, because of the pain and crap related to my ankle).

Anyway, I'm just wondering if the VA will take a look at my VA primary doc's opinion/referrals/scripts that he has already done for me, and whether they will take a look at my VA orthopedic doc's and radiology doc's studies on this ankle and the pain clinic's opinion (7/10 varying to 9/10 pain, made worse due to lack of rest/sleep, etc., uncontrollable medically....)?

Drawing SSDI for this, have been for last three years. Getting worse.

Am I going to have to wait another 3 1/2 years for them to do something other than award me 20%. I mean, I am grateful for the 20%, just kinda disappointed, I guess.

I am rambling, kinda down right now.

Sorry.

[Pete53]

Larry I wish I knew what to tell you but I don't understand how they rate this type of injury. I do know that usually they low ball a Veteran on the first swipe.

Hang in I am sure that someone will be able to explain it much better than I.

Peter J

[Ricky]

Wait until you get the AFO. Nod the original decision with the new evidence to include a statement from the Doc that provided the ankle/foot was so bad. Ask for a rating on the foot of loss of use. Looks like you may have the evidence to support such a rating.

[sixthscents]

I agree with Ricky, look at the requirements for loss of use, and see what you meet. If you do meet them, file for it.

Bob Smith

[LarryJ]

Good Morning, Fellow Vets!

I'm in quite a bit better mood this morning. Got some sleep last night. Amazing what that will do for you, I just hate having to take this codiene stuff (gotta make that first cup of Joe really strong ;-) ).

I'm NODing every darn thing. Really chaps me that, after all this time, that they would low-ball me this way, but, in my opinion, they did (apparently, in my VA primary doc's opinion, also.....).

I've just sent in my NOD for the 20%.

I've also just sent in my NOD for the "effective date".

I've just sent in my claim for depression, connected to the pain, etc., of the SC'd ankle.

I've just sent in my claim for my knee, and hip, and back.....same SC'd ankle.

I've just sent in my claim for my Ulcerative Colitis, due to the NSAIDs that I've had to take for the last 20 years.....same SC'd ankle.

I've also sent in my form, claiming TDIU.

I'll be sending in my claim for "loss of use of".

I really didn't want to do all this. All I really wanted was for them to recognize the fact that I did the best I could, when I enlisted, and that they had dissed me way back then. That's all. I figured I'd get whatever the max for a bad ankle is, percentage wise, which amounts to a couple hundred bucks a month.

But, they are still, after all these years, disrespecting me.

So, they want to play?

Okay.

Let the games begin.

Sorry guys/gals, looks like I'll be hangin here for "the duration".