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    VA threatening My Service Connection Status!

    Despite a big RE FLAG (multiple cranial nerves involved) that my diplopia is fact MS related, the C&P Dr(?) said he would claim it was NOT related. He would claim (speculate, pure conjecture w/o basis) that I had the problem as a child and somehow was able to accommodate/overcome the issue till I was near 20.

    That got me to do more research; My Meniere's Sx turned out to a MS mimic Hence the reason my Meniere's Dx was superseded (REPLACED b the MS Dx). I am going back this week to the ENT that did the Menier's Dx, (with possible CNS issue noted) in hopes of getting it I WRITTING.

    VA battles never end!

    Gomer, aka Sir Falls a Lot

    #2
    It's sad that you have to go through this. I pray it works out for you.
    The future depends on what you do today.- Gandhi

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      #3
      The VA C&P doc(?) was clear about his agenda during and at the end of the exam. Even after I clearly quoted from the Merck Manual He still insisted he was going do it. His report, so am told never made it. someone else wrote the FAVORABE C&P that got entered, THREE weeks later!! (I have NOT seen it, in writing, YET?)

      I fired off letters to my senator & congressman, questioning VA ethics & competency, a day or 2 after the C&P. I even noted the page the red flag is on. ( I have the hard-bound 3,750+ pg 19th edition of the professional version, in my home lib). Can U say BIG tech BOOK?

      This MS world editor is near impossible for me to use...........


      Originally posted by Navy
      **Edited by moderator in compliance withave guideline 4**

      Comment


        #4
        My most recent C&P was handled by a contractor outside the VA, a company named Veterans Evaluation Services. I was sent to a Nurse Practitioner to be evaluated for an increase in rating for SC MS. This NP asked me a bunch of questions, probably from a checklist and did some strength checks (squeeze fingers and push with arms/legs) but didn't even check my reflexes, pretty thorough Neuro exam right?

        When I went to the VA in Biloxi, the Neuro there was questioning my Dx 2 minutes into my visit with him. Didn't look at the documents I brought in with me or my MRI discs, wanted to order up a lumbar puncture. No thanks. At this point I had 3 different Neurologists, from 3 different offices confirm MS over the course of 15 years. He did write me orders for an outside consult, so my private Neuro is covered by VA now.

        You have to fight for everything with them. Patience is a virtue.
        The future depends on what you do today.- Gandhi

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          #5
          I know of ANOTHER (here in MI) Vet with MS that the VA (same Detroit VARO) is also trying to undermine. (remove service connection). They are also apparently locked in a huge battle. My VA MS neuro has complained more than once that MS was "expensive" to the VA a if its NOT very expensive to/for the vet!

          Comment


            #6
            If you wanted to go somewhere, such as the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center, for a second opinion... would this be allowed by the VA?
            https://my.clevelandclinic.org/depar...iple-sclerosis

            I realize you might or might not want a second opinion from the Cleveland Clinic; just asking if something like this or similar is feasible in the VA System?

            Best Wishes!

            Alan

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by alanpgh View Post
              If you wanted to go somewhere, such as the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center, for a second opinion... would this be allowed by the VA?
              https://my.clevelandclinic.org/depar...iple-sclerosis

              I realize you might or might not want a second opinion from the Cleveland Clinic; just asking if something like this or similar is feasible in the VA System?

              Best Wishes!

              Alan
              No, this is not permitted as there is a distinction between the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Every neurologist on the healthcare side could claim his MS is service connected, but the VBA does not have to agree with them. The VBA uses their own Compensation & Pension (C&P) examiners and most of the time you don't even see a neurologist (for MS). My C&P was conducted by an internal medicine doctor with almost no MS experience. Their examiner spent about 15 minutes reviewing my MS and contradicted my MS Specialist that carries 1300 MS patients and had been my neurologist for 6 years -- the VA sided with their examiner.

              Gomer are you working with a VSO? If not, please consider asking the Michigan PVA for help.

              http://www.michiganpva.org/
              Call toll free: (800) 638-MPVA (6782)

              Alternatively, you could request a meeting with Terri Tocco the assistant VARO director. You could also email her. I am not permitted to give out her email address, but the format the VA uses is firstname.lastname@va.gov. It only gets complicated if there are multiple people with the same last name then a number would be added to their last name.

              Don't forget your politicians that might (might, might, might) be of some help. Ultimately, you could go to the media and hope someone is willing to write an article or give you some camera time.

              Never Give Up, Never Give In.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by gomer View Post
                Despite a big RE FLAG (multiple cranial nerves involved) that my diplopia is fact MS related, the C&P Dr(?) said he would claim it was NOT related. He would claim (speculate, pure conjecture w/o basis) that I had the problem as a child and somehow was able to accommodate/overcome the issue till I was near 20.
                Gomer, you've said that your diplopia started right after you got out of high school and that you did have symptoms of MS while you were in high school. Since your diplopia is in fact MS related and it started right after high school when you were 18 and presumably before you entered the service, it means you already had MS when you entered the service.

                How does the VA determine the level of service connection for someone who already had MS when they entered the service?

                Comment


                  #9
                  My diplopia, single nerve (horizontal only) involvement started just a couple months before I turned 20. That was over a year after HS. The first documented possible MS symptom was after I turned 21, in late ’67. The RED FLAG, double aspect (horizontal + vertical) diplopia started in early ’68 shortly after foreign service/sea duty immunizations.

                  My Meniere’s Sx, (reverse slope) low freq hearing loss 30 & 50db. I had pancreatitis that also around the same time, (all shortly after the immunizations). I entered the Navy with NORMAL hearing. I was admitted to sick bay and before allowed back on active duty I was given diabetes testing. The doctor’s notes, tests done and results are MIA (conviently missing) so I am effectively blocked from Diabetes S/C.

                  The Navy was fully aware I had failed a physical (unknown/unstated issue) for NYC (railroad) & was terminated just a few months before I enlisted. I had initially passes their physical, and worked as a switchman, in both the yard and way-freight. Takes (back then) 30 days to become a union employee, in the mean time the railroad can terminate you even w/o a reason. BTW, I was good at the job.

                  The LAW as passed by Congress, is as follows; ** If you had MS symptoms with on active duty, you may be granted service connection.** (it works the same as AO issues, where if you had boots on the ground in RVN, you are granted S/C w/o having to PROVE the connection) There is no requirement you be Dx’d while on active duty, nor any time limit after AD.

                  I used a copy of this LAW from the Congressional Record, along with a MS Sx (recognized by NIH as such) documented in my Navy Med Recs. I hope this clarifies the mess, at least a little? GOMER

                  ** Moderator's note - Post broken into paragraphs for easier reading. Many people with MS have visual difficulties that prevent them from reading large blocks of print. **

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