My dr will write a letter saying I am not able to work, but she doesn't know what it needs to say. I would like to send her a sample to use with the exact, or as close as possible, wording the raters will want to see. I'm not really talking about how my condition (ALS) keeps me from working (she can do that part), but all the legal stuff that will be enough evidence. I'll also be including my ssdi award with it.
thanks

I am so sure you will get replys from our very knowledgable vets today, when they wake up. They will be aable to address your specifics. The best to you mom24. Hang in there. When were you diagnosed? Where did you serve to look for the link ie Gulf War or where?

Mom did you serve in Gulf War? With your current rating a Medical Statement that states that you are unable to work due to your Service connected condition will work. If it says she thinks you will never be able to work again it would be P&T.

Good Luck.

Mom24, It maybe a good idea for you to write some notes about what you need in the letter in order for this to get approved by the va. If the Dr. agrees to put your notes in the letter and it has ro be there to succed, then you are home free with claim. Good luck and Pete53 told you exactly what to do

Halos,
I was at camp pendleton. I was diagnosed in 2001, but my symptoms started back to 93 about 7 months after I was discharged. I thought I had carpel tunnel for years until I noticed some paralysis of my fingers in 2001 and left arm getting weaker. I didn't have to prove link since va made als presumptive in 08.

Pete and trailblazer,
thanks for advice. I'll be talking to the dr today. And no, I didn't serve in the gulf war.

All the doctor needs to do is say that your service connected disability of ALS has totally and permanently disabled you and then just provide some medical rationale for that statement.

She shouldn't have to give many details, as this is a presumptive condition but could mention if the meds alter your ability to be employed as well as any other facet of the ALS that would render you unemployable.



Copy of the SSA award is good idea too- and the doc should mention that you also get SSA for this condition-(which also supports her letter for TDIU)

Veteran -I hope you dont have to even worry about the 'legal' stuff here.

With ALS a presumptive condition and known to cause further disability and unemployability-the VA should certainly accept her letter without any BS.

Have you formally applied for TDIU or are you enclosing the TDIU form (21-4189) with this doctor's letter?

They will probably give you the date of the TDIU form as the EED but they might even do the right thing right away and give you a date one year prior to that-as the EED- if the SSA for ALS award preceded the TDIU form by one year.

ALS should have been made presumptive long ,long ago.I only hope all ALS vets are fully aware of it's presumptive status now.

mom24, Follow the advice given here, espec Berta's. Ask that they push your claim ahead related to your diagnosis and the presumptiveness. Hang in there, have someone assist you with exercises you can tolerate. To keep your muscle mass/strength. How is your mobility now? Are you using assistive devices? Your doctor can also put in her medical report any assistive devices you may use too. Keep posting here where you have many, many friends here sister Vet!

Berta,
I filed a formal claim for TDIU with my claim for ALS. So when I get the letter from my dr. and my ssdi award letter, I was planning on just filing a new claim. Or maybe I should just use the old one and submit the new stuff as new evidence. I just want to go the quickest route. I'm not concerned about when they establish the EED just as long as I can get it approved. My ssdi claim should have an onset date of 2001 or 2002. I do not know yet which one they chose.

Halos,
As far as having ALS compared to what most people with ALS go through, I am doing pretty well. Now compared to someone without ALS, well that's a different story. I am still mobile and I walk about 1/2 mile every other day. I do stretching exercises with the help of my husband and I get massages when I can afford it which really helps. I do not use assistive devices, unless you count the husband and kids.
The things I have trouble doing are house cleaning, daughter's hair, anything to do with fine motor skills, like typing and writing, or things that require repetitive motion with arms and hands and lifting. I can still do these things, but it takes a long time because I have to stop frequently due to muscle fatigue and then start again. Then I have to deal with the muscle cramping, fatigue and soreness in my arms, hands, back and neck & sometimes legs which follows for a few days, which basically means I deal with it everday just in degrees depending on how much I actually do. My kids are 9, 7, 6 and 4 and I have gradually giving over all the chores except cooking to them. Right now my oldest mops the floors and fixes breakfast & lunch some days and cleans kitchen, the other kids vaccuums and dusts and cleans bathrooms & family room, my husband does the laundry or my 9yo and 7yo will do it. I do try to do as much as I can so as not to loose muscles. It's a balancing act and my home is not as clean as I used to be able to keep it, although I think the kids do a pretty good job. So all in all I'm doing ok. I do not like having to go through any of this especially knowing it will get worse and worse, but since it could already be a lot worse, you really wont hear me complaining too much. I'm a lot more stressed with dealing with the VA than dealing with ALS right now.