Hello Jim,
When i was in the service i broke my 4th rib during a basic training event. I filed for compensation because it started to cause me breathing problems when running, walking up inclines, laughing for long periods of times, and coughing excessively. The VA diagnosis as costochondritis tietze's syndrome and gave me 0% for it. I was wondering how do i increase my rating because it affects my daily living.
I can't lift more than a few pounds with out extreme pain in my chest. Also, currently i'm a caregiver for children and when i get a common cold it hurt so much from the cough that it feel like my chest is going to break. So if you have any tips on how to help me that would be so great. Thank you for reading this email...
Reply:
You have an unusual problem. There are a number of steps you'll have to take to get that rating increased.
Costochondritis and Tietzes Syndrome aren't the same thing. While they're often listed together because of some similarities, there are some important differences that can affect your rating.
That you have the 0% is a good thing...it means that VA recognizes that you do have a problem although it isn't very well defined.
You should try to get a good evaluation by an orthopedic doctor to determine whether or not you have costocondrtitis or Tietzes syndrome. There are some lab tests for inflammation that may help to differentiate exactly what is going on with your body. You may have to get an IME done. Please read http://www.vawatchdog.org/imo-ime-medical-opinions-exams.html to learn about an IME.
As you go about that task, you should begin to keep a diary. A daily diary will help to define the adverse effects of the physical problem that you have. This diary should document your "activities of daily living" or ADL's. To have a record of how the condition affects your ADL's can be very important. An ADL is as simple as things like grooming and cooking. Does the pain every keep you from properly brushing your hair or do you ever feel in danger when cooking on the stove because you may drop a hot dish?
Can you routinely do housekeeping chores or does pain and shortness of breath interfere? Are you able to shop for groceries and carry in packages or do you need assistance? Do you have exacerbations that are overwhelming and you simply can't function for a day or more? Are you ever bedridden by the pain? Do you take excessive pain medications like aspirin or ibuprofen? Do you have any loss of sleep because of pain?
You get the idea...you must document how this fairly rare condition affects your life. This doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Just brief, daily documentation in your own words will help. VA rates a lot of similar conditions using data of how often the veteran has incapacitating episodes that interrupt the ADL's. Don't exaggerate anything but don't be shy about putting down anything that affects your life.
Once you feel like you're beginning to get your documentation in order, you may file to have the 0% raised to a more realistic rating that will reflect how the condition negatively affects your life. Don't wait too long to file. You can continue to document the problem for months before you'll have to submit what you have accumulated. Please read http://www.vawatchdog.org/how-to-increase-an-existing-benefit--.html to learn a bit more about that.
Keep your diary as neat and as readable as possible. Always remember that on the other end will be a real person who has to read all of that and you want to make it easy for that person to do the job for you. Keep it brief and to the point.
Once you've filed for an increase, you'll be called in for a C & P exam. Take a copy of the diary with you that you can leave with the examiner. The examiner may or may not keep it but you should be prepared. Please read http://www.vawatchdog.org/c---p-exams.html to prepare.
That's about it. Understand that you will probably wait at least a year and then you'll be denied an increase. That's routine these days. You'll then have to appeal and you'll win the increase, and back pay, on appeal. This all may take as long as 3 years...it's just the way VA is working these days so don't be shocked at anything that happens.
You have a good claim for an increase. To win you'll have to commit to a stepped approach like the diary and so on. Telling VA any sort of vague symptoms won't do the trick.