Major Prompts and Kudo's to all Elders and Contributors of this site! I am an avid reader of this website...reading sometimes 4-5 times a day and learning a lot. I've read the archives, to make sure I don't ask a question that has already been asked. I don't know enough to respond to any of the questions and some of the abreviations are not in the dictionary. However, what I've learned I'm able to pass on to others unfamiliar with the site.

My question is what does it mean when you are scheduled for another c&p? The 1st one was April 6, 2009 (I was there) and the regional office has received the exam results of it. The 2nd one is scheduled for May 27 2009. I will call on Monday , to find out if this was an appointment mistakenly made.

I have filed only one claim and it was for my neck, shoulder, hip (bi) and back. The results from the 1st exam (according to xray report) are as follows:

Shoulder: (comparing a xray from 1993 to 2009 xray)

Degenerative changes noted of the acromion (with osteophytic spurring),coracoid,humeral head, glenohumeral joint inferiorly (?) and cystic changes at site of rotator cuff.

Hip: Bursitis

Neck (cervical Spine): Degenerative changes with bridging oteophytes of c4-c7. Chronic compression noted c5-c6 estimated 10% for each. Foramen narrowing on the of c5 and c6 right (claimed) and c3 through c5 left (not claimed). Bilateral carotid calcifications.

Back: Claimed but Not examined. Pain in lower back.
This injury occurred when I was in AIT . I fell trying to get on a 2.5 truck with full Bivovac (sp) gear (duffel bag and weapon at 120lbs) on.


I appreciate your time reading and responding to this post. Thanks!

The VARO may see other possible claims and are following up on information that they have available. Be happy it appears that you have a thorough Rating Officer and please make sure to ask for copies of your C&P

Good Luck

When the VA sends you a notice that you have an examination, usually how much notice do they give you? I'm asking because my friend received a notice yesturday May 16th, and the exam is on May 21st.

That has happened before but usually you get 15 to 30 days notice.

Thanks, Pete53! The second c&p will give me an opportunity to tell the Dr. about the nerve pain in my arm and foot. I was so nervous the 1st time I forgot to mention the pain. When should I ask for a copy of my c&p file?

Smilen66

Whenever I see any kind of Doc at VA I take a list with me just in case. Docs are experts at getting you side tracked.

Thanks, I'll carry a list this time. By the way, I called about the appointment for the 2nd C&P this morning and I was told the VARO needed additional information. You are right, the Rating Officer is being thorough.
Last question, when should I request my records? Thanks again!

Smilen66

After a decision is made win or lose.. You can go to the VARO and give it a quick run through to verify that they have what they need or if wrong info in it.

Thank you!

Yesterday was the big day... I had my 2nd C&P examination (Apr. & May 2009). It was a pleasant and fairly short exam. The staff were courteous during both visits.

I asked why I had been scheduled twice and the Dr.'s initial response was I'm not sure. After perusing my exam sheets and rereading the VARO's cover letter she found out the previous C&P Dr. had not give a diagnosis (djd). She apologized for the inconvience and assured me she would finish the report prior to the end of her shift.


smilen66

Sounds good hope that you win.

Thanks!

It was probably the C & P for your back-

A no show for a C & P is a denial for the disability the C & P was for- please call them Monday and maybe this can be straightened out-

Do you have a documented record of the incident that caused this back injury in your SMRs?

Do you also have established inservice nexus for the other disabilities?

Berta,
At the last exam (2nd C&P) they did check my back. Fortunately, I had a spasm during the exam that she was able to document in her notes/report.

As far as documentation for my claim, my medical service record indicate I was seen at least 2 or 3 times for each disability. During my service years I never attributed my symptoms (outside of my back) to the fall. I was 24 years old at the time of the fall and never made a connection to the symptoms to the fall and I never thought the fall would come back to haunt me later in life. I will credit myself with being old enough to know I needed to seek medical care thus making my visits a matter of record. Not sure, but I think the documentation is a nexus. Am I right/wrong?

Thanks for your response.

In the eyes of a layperson, YES, your documentation would be nexus but the VA probably will require an IMO to connect the dots. Just their way of doing things. Get your doctor you see on a regular basis to write up a short IMO connecting your fall in service to your current injury.

Frank

Thanks, Frank!

Bilateral carotid calcifications.
Smiling 66, do you know what that means?
If I were you I would have that checked out. These are the major Arteries that supply blood and Oxygen to the brain and you have calcifications.

You may need to have them cleaned out.



J

I wasn't sure what Bilateral carotid calcifications meant so I looked it up and I'm not really sure if I understand all the medical jargon. I had a stroke 2 years ago, I wonder if their is a connection between the two?

I have an appointment with my medical Dr. in July and my neurologist has ordered a MRI (July 8).Maybe they can shed some light on my condition. I'm surprised the C&P Dr. didn't point this out, since she ordered the x-ray.

If you can help me understand it better, I would appreciate it. Thanks for bringing the potential danger to my attention!