Kevin had 4 appointments yesterday with VA rating review doctors. Kevin had to endure the 1-1/2 hour drive to North Chicago
The neurologist Dr. Hazelrigg, that saw Kevin yesterday was the same one he saw back in June when we went through the first appeals process. The doctor couldn’t believe we were back. He thought for sure Kevin would have gotten his benefits from his review. Not the case. See the VA does not have a rating for RSD/CPRS so they rate it under whatever they feel like rating it. And they will pick something that yields the lowest rating possible. Like in Kevin’s case, they rated him 10% for partial paralysis. Kevin has limited mobility, but he isn’t paralyzed. So hence the 10%. So we had to express to these doctors yesterday that they need to chart on every symptom Kevin has because of his RSD. Swelling, pitting of skin, muscle spasms, redness, anxiety, and depression just to name a few. He will be rated on each of those secondary diagnosis instead of being rated just for RSD. This isn’t what we want or hoped for. We hoped through the Chicago Tribune article and the VFW, the VA would be forced to have a rating schedule for RSD itself. Not going to happen. So every other Vet that ends up having RSD, will go through this same BS that Kevin had to.
I realize now that the doctors aren’t the ones totally at fault in the VA it is the red tape that binds their hands. Though I will still go on record that North Chicago
The VA is so stupid. If they would just give RSD a rating, like they do for Fibromyalgia (50%) or Migraines (40%), they would get by a hell of a lot cheaper on paying out benefits then forcing all these secondary diagnosis to get a rating.
The thing is, I don’t even care about the money. No amount of money is going to cure Kevin. No amount of money is going to manage Kevin’s pain. Sure money will take stress off of us, will allow us to outfit a home for his disability, will allow us to buy furniture to suit Kevin’s needs, but Kevin will still be in pain.
We want recognition for the disease and research for better treatment options. But I guess no amount of money in the world will have that happen either. Look at breast cancer and diabetes. The billions of dollars raised and all the recognition for those diseases and they still haven’t come up with cures.
I guess this fighting the VA for benefits and fighting for SSDI has been a distraction. It has been such a big part of our lives since September 2009. When it is all said and done, will we be any better off? Financially maybe. But Kevin won’t be better off. He will still suffer daily with pain.
Wow, your words hit home for me once again. I'm beginning to wonder if this fight with the VA will ever be over. I'm guess it won't, not as long as they don't have a solid procedure for rating RSD. My husband's appeal (2nd time around) has been going on for years and we still cannot get an answer. I hope and pray that they will get their act together so others don't have to continue to go through this. I understand so much how it can consume all of our lives.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting. It's nice to know that we are not going through this alone. What unit was Kevin with at Camp Pendleton? Damon moved about all over the base and was with several different units. Small world isn't it? My prayers are with you all and I find some sort of small relief in knowing that we do not have to go through this alone, that there is some support there. I just wish the VA would start supporting Damon, Kevin and others like they should. A little bit of respect and appreciation for the sacrifices they made would go a long way.
ReplyDeleteMy email is keversole@gmail.com. Would love to keep in contact with you when you have the time.
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