Posted by Ron (63.39.31.154) on May 10, 2000 at 18:08:22:
In Reply to: Experience Military Style... posted by Arch on May 10, 2000 at 03:06:20:
Hey Arch,
I know how the VA can be about medical claims. It takes forever to get anything done because of all of the red tape. A bonus for you though, is that they don’t trust anyone they employ to think for themselves so they have developed regulations to cover most illnesses. I got 10 percent too but I got their explanation. I will type it word for word so it might help you get your medical records together the way you need to before your claim is filed. Here is what they wrote to me:
“Since the disability at issue does not have its own evaluation criteria assigned in VA regulations, a closely related disease or injury was used for this purpose. The disability is evaluated based upon the criteria established for migrane headaches. An evaluation of 10 percent is assigned for characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months. A higher evaluation of 30 percent is not warranted unless evidence demonstrates characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months.”
That was the letter they sent me. I recommend that you try to get a look at the VA regs. that cover your situation, although I know that it might not be easy to do.
Also, the military doctors and the VA ones can’t just prescribe the medications they want to due to the cost. I had to go through a whole string of people to get the medicine that works best because it is expensive. As you have probably figured out by now, there are exceptions to everything and you have to talk to the right person or you will never learn about them.
Good luck!
Ron