Aa
Good news from the VA? Possibly?
About a week ago I got a letter from the VA about the appeal I had put in for my disabilities. I say possibly because they remanded almost everything back to doctors to reevaluate. But what was surprising was they even referred back some items I had not appealed. At least I don't remember appealing them. LOL
The weirdest part of their letter was that on one page they acknowledged that I had appealed my PTSD level and well as my hearing level of disability. Then in the very next paragraph (on the next page) they stated I needed to get my appeal for those in quickly. That makes no sense to me, but I refiled that appeal just to be covered.
First up was my appeal for PTSD effecting my BP, Heart, IBS, and others due to the constant stress of the PTSD. I have read many articles about PTSD effecting these things and included them with my appeal.
Next they are reconsidering if my Sjogren's is service connected. I don't remember appealing that one so was surprised to see it. They stated the doctor didn't give any medical reasons in his report as why he thought it was not service connected.
They are also reevaluating if my service connect left knee problem are why my right knee bothers me due to favoring (over using the right) my left knee. I don't remember doing an appeal of this one either.
And finally they stated that the exams/reports have to be expedited. So I should not have to wait years again for the next decision.
For this latest appeal on the PTSD and hearing I used their own words in the denial to make my case. They had stated what their doctor would have to say is wrong with me in order to get 100% disability for my PTSD. They stated as total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms SUCH AS. and then listed 7 symptoms. Well their doctor had stated I had total occupational and social impairment due to 4 of the symptom they listed. The way I see it SUCH AS doesn't mean all of them and even then I have over 50% of them which is the criteria they use for service connection.
The article I used for the hearing disability went into Central Auditory Processing Dysfunction (what messes with MS'er hearing, I think it was the 9th cranial nerve) and how normal audiological tests don't pick up these types of problems with a persons hearing. My contention is that my hearing loss (which is service connected) makes the problems of CAPD worse.
I also finally have an appointment with a Neuro for my MS. Evidently the Nashville VA now has an MS Clinic after all of these years. In the past they always sent me to the Movement disorder Neurology clinic. It isn't until Nov 10th so it will have been almost a years since I last saw someone for my MS (had been being seen every 6 months before this). Hopefully this will mean I will see someone that knows something about MS.
I have been enjoying living up here in Maine for the summer. It has been at least 10 and most of the 20-30 degrees cooler here than in TN. So I have done a lot better this summer due to less heat. I maybe had around a half dozen days where it got up into the high 80's. I think I would have done even better if not for the stress I have been under. My Brother and Niece were here for most of the time helping me do work around here. But I'm use to living alone and it didn't help when my brother would start playing his guitar at 2AM among other things he would do.
Dennis
The weirdest part of their letter was that on one page they acknowledged that I had appealed my PTSD level and well as my hearing level of disability. Then in the very next paragraph (on the next page) they stated I needed to get my appeal for those in quickly. That makes no sense to me, but I refiled that appeal just to be covered.
First up was my appeal for PTSD effecting my BP, Heart, IBS, and others due to the constant stress of the PTSD. I have read many articles about PTSD effecting these things and included them with my appeal.
Next they are reconsidering if my Sjogren's is service connected. I don't remember appealing that one so was surprised to see it. They stated the doctor didn't give any medical reasons in his report as why he thought it was not service connected.
They are also reevaluating if my service connect left knee problem are why my right knee bothers me due to favoring (over using the right) my left knee. I don't remember doing an appeal of this one either.
And finally they stated that the exams/reports have to be expedited. So I should not have to wait years again for the next decision.
For this latest appeal on the PTSD and hearing I used their own words in the denial to make my case. They had stated what their doctor would have to say is wrong with me in order to get 100% disability for my PTSD. They stated as total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms SUCH AS. and then listed 7 symptoms. Well their doctor had stated I had total occupational and social impairment due to 4 of the symptom they listed. The way I see it SUCH AS doesn't mean all of them and even then I have over 50% of them which is the criteria they use for service connection.
The article I used for the hearing disability went into Central Auditory Processing Dysfunction (what messes with MS'er hearing, I think it was the 9th cranial nerve) and how normal audiological tests don't pick up these types of problems with a persons hearing. My contention is that my hearing loss (which is service connected) makes the problems of CAPD worse.
I also finally have an appointment with a Neuro for my MS. Evidently the Nashville VA now has an MS Clinic after all of these years. In the past they always sent me to the Movement disorder Neurology clinic. It isn't until Nov 10th so it will have been almost a years since I last saw someone for my MS (had been being seen every 6 months before this). Hopefully this will mean I will see someone that knows something about MS.
I have been enjoying living up here in Maine for the summer. It has been at least 10 and most of the 20-30 degrees cooler here than in TN. So I have done a lot better this summer due to less heat. I maybe had around a half dozen days where it got up into the high 80's. I think I would have done even better if not for the stress I have been under. My Brother and Niece were here for most of the time helping me do work around here. But I'm use to living alone and it didn't help when my brother would start playing his guitar at 2AM among other things he would do.
Dennis
Good grief, that sounds like a very complicated way for them to do business! Kudos for keeping track of it all.
Fingers crossed that this gets resolved in a more expedient manner than in the past.
Keep us posted,
Corrie
Fingers crossed that this gets resolved in a more expedient manner than in the past.
Keep us posted,
Corrie
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