C&P Questions

Question 1

Scars- Locations and dates

Answer 1

Acne Scars from Face paint, Neck from ACDF- 15Jan2023, Carpal/Cubital Tunnel Scars- 20Mar2024, Balls from Vasotomy- 25Jun2024(sharp pain if skin around it is stretched or lightly tugged on)

Question 2

Scars- Surgery date/Details on Cubital Tunnel Scaring

Answer 2

Cubital Tunnel Scar 20Mar2024- Numbness and tingling to the touch but easily aggravated and becomes restless if there is regular stimuli to the area like tapping or elbow resting on any course/hard surface like an armrest, couch, or table.

Question 3

Scars- Details on Vasotomy Scaring

Answer 3

Balls from Vasotomy 25Jun2024- sharp pain if skin around it is stretched or lightly tugged on

Question 4

ToS blood

Answer 4

Symptoms started in 2019, seen specifically for ToS on OCT2023, MRI with diagnosis was on 04JAN2024. Symptoms are numbness, tingling, and pain down both arms.

Question 5

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Full Story

Answer 5

I have had issues where I would randomly fall asleep during times of low stimulation for about 10 years, about 6 years ago I started waking up more often to pee during the night, 4 years ago (when I did my sleep study) I started having more vivid dreams, headaches and the extreme nerve pain in my joints, neck, shoulder, back, and down my arms started getting really bad. All of these disrupted my sleep every night making me drastically more tired throughout the day and debilitating me from getting stuff done at least 1 day out of the week. The more tired I am the worse my TBI issues like Brain fog, being Easily distracted, worsens sensitivity to light and sound, forgetfulness, and the ability to focus.

Question 6

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- 10 years ago

Answer 6

I have had issues where I would randomly fall asleep during times of low stimulation for about 10 years (driving, seated working on a computer, watching TV/movies even in public places, when I get home and sit down to take off my shoes or boots)

Question 7

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- 6 years ago

Answer 7

about 6 years ago (2019 after Q course) I started waking up more often to pee during the night

Question 8

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- 4 years ago

Answer 8

4 years ago (my last sleep study) I started having more vivid dreams, headaches and the extreme nerve pain in my neck, shoulder, back, joints and down my arms started getting really bad causing the weakness, pain, numbness and tingling.

Question 9

Chronic fatigue Syndrome VA Ratings

Answer 9

A40% rate -debilitating fatigue,

cognitive impairments (such as inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, or confusion), or a combination of other signs and symptoms that are nearly constant and restrict routine daily activities from 50 to 75 percent of the pre-illness level resulting in periods of incapacitation of at least four but less than six weeks total duration per year.

Question 10

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME- IF THE SYMPTOMS DUE TO CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME ARE NEARLY CONSTANT, DO THEY RESTRICT ROUTINE DAILY ACTIVITIES AS COMPARED TO THE PRE-ILLNESS LEVEL?

Answer 10

Symptoms restrict routine daily activities to less than 50 percent of the pre-illness level- Explain?

Question 11

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME- DO THE VETERAN’S SYMPTOMS DUE TO CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME RESULT IN PERIODS OF INCAPACITATION?

Answer 11

at least 1 day a week, so 365/7 is about 52 days a year.

Question 12

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME- DOES THE VETERAN’S CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME IMPACT HIS OR HER ABILITY TO WORK?

Answer 12

It depends on the job, as long as I can take breaks when conditions are bad and am not forced to push through it yes. So maybe not a pilot but I could do less high risk jobs. On of my biggest hurdles in a basic job I think would getting to work on time if it’s an early morning shift.

Question 13

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Full Story

Answer 13

Seen for on May2020, Symptoms are morning dry mouth/light headedness, headaches, daytime sleepiness and trouble focusing during the day, higher blood pressure but not high enough for medication, decreased sex drive and ED, also according to the sleep study in __ I snore and stop breathing during the night.

I have a CPAP and just got a Mouth piece that i sleep with last month because it can be hard for me to sleep with a CPAP.

Also a Brain MRI that was done this year showed that I have a Sinusitis (mucus build up in my sinuses), which has been going on for over a decade but i thought it was normal.

Question 14

Obstructive Sleep Apnea MRI/Hardware

Answer 14

a Brain MRI that was done on 29MAY2024 showed that I have a Sinusitis (mucus build up in my sinuses), which has been going on for over a decade but i thought it was normal.

I have a CPAP and just got a Mouth piece that i sleep with last month because it can be hard for me to sleep with a CPAP.

Question 15

Photophobia (sensitivity to light)

Answer 15

Started about 2008, and has progressively gotten worse. With in the past 2 years it has made it hard to drive at night especially on 2 lanes roads without medians. I do have dry eyes and am prescribed eye drops for that, and I got LASIK in 2006.

Question 16

ED

Answer 16

First seen for in April 2014, again in 2020, both times was told there is nothing they could do after testing me Testosterone levels. Then in JAN 2024, I finally was prescribed Viagra for am. Now I am taking Tadalafil(10MG), but i need a higher dosage. I got a Vasectomy on 25JUN2024 and the ED has worsened and my balls are way more tender then they ever have been before.

Question 17

IBS (rectum issues)

Answer 17

Hemorrhoids started the first few years i was in the Army. Since the Q course 7 years ago, I feel like I still have to go after every bowl movement, Most days I feel bloated which is worse while seated, there is pain and nausea from holding in bowl movements, I get constipated and I have the diarrhea (even during activity and sex) all in the same day sometimes. If there’s an extreme urgency to go then the movement will start easy but then I always have to strain after the first explosive release, yet I never feel like I’m “empty”. Normally have diarrhea at least 4 times a day. These symptoms are all several times a week if not every day. I had a Colonoscopy 21AUG2024. I am being prescribed __

Question 18

IBS Tricare Rating

Answer 18

30% VA Rating for IBS:Abdominal pain related to defecation at least one day per week during the previous three months; and two or more of the following: (1) change in stool frequency, (2) change in stool form, (3) altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), (4) mucorrhea, (5) abdominal bloating, or (6) subjective distension

Question 19

GERD

Answer 19

Heartburn, chest pain, and sometimes nausea after ingesting something. This can make it hard to eat or swallow, I have been trying to change my diet around to figure out what causes it but sometimes it seems to be inconsistent. Some things that ALWAYS do it are beer, acidic drinks like (poppi drinks or anything with apple cider vinegar), fast food, or anything greasy or oily.

Question 20

SINUSITIS Full Story

Answer 20

I have had constant sinus infections and irritation since 2007, but the medications given by the Army never helped so I stopped going to the Army for it and would go to Urgent care or the ER. I was exposed to burn pits and exhaust from a crude oil power plant on deployment and was recently told that could be a contributing factor. Daily I have some or all of these symptoms: Nasal Inflammation, stuffy nose, runny nose with thick discharge (Purulent discharge), drainage down the back of my throat (that can cause a sore throat, coughing and stomach issues), pain and tenderness around and behind my eyes and nose causing headaches and pain around my upper jaw. This does disrupt my sleep and if I sleep on my side, the lower nostril is always obstructed with mucus. Brain MRI report on 29MAY2024 showed mucus build up in my sinuses.

My nose is extremely sensitive to scented things like air fresheners (spray/oil/wax), perfumes or colognes, smoke (smoking, vehicle, things burning, all types). Exposure will worsen conditions and send me into sneezing fits.

Question 21

SINUSITIS Background

Answer 21

I have had constant sinus infections and irritation since 2007, but the medications given by the Army never helped so I stopped going to the Army for it and would go to Urgent care or the ER. I was exposed to burn pits and exhaust from a crude oil power plant on deployment and was recently told that could be a contributing factor.

Question 22

SINUSITIS Symptoms

Answer 22

Daily I have some or all of these symptoms: Nasal Inflammation, stuffy nose, runny nose with thick discharge (Purulent discharge), drainage down the back of my throat (that can cause a sore throat, coughing and stomach issues), pain and tenderness around and behind my eyes and nose causing headaches and pain around my upper jaw. This does disrupt my sleep and if I sleep on my side, the lower nostril is always obstructed with mucus. Brain MRI report on 29MAY2024 showed mucus build up in my sinuses.

My nose is extremely sensitive to scented things like air fresheners (spray/oil/wax), perfumes or colognes, smoke (smoking, vehicle, things burning, all types). Exposure will worsen conditions and send me into sneezing fits.

Question 23

Has the veteran had INCAPACITATING episodes of Sinusitis requirement prolonged (4 to 6 weeks) of antibiotics treatment in the past 12 months?

Answer 23

Antibiotics like Zyrtec, using salt water nose sprays, and sometimes steroids for sinus infections. I am dependent on this at least 3 months out for the year.

Question 24

Tinnitus/Hearing

Answer 24

Has been progressively getting worse, have ringing in left ear. Have been seen for but my last few hearing tests the person giving them has spoken with me afterwards saying there is an issue

Question 25

Tinnitus/Hearing- Noise Exposure History

Answer 25

Deployment during 2006-2007 to Iraq with 1000lb bombs, IEDs, grenades and more. Also normal infantry explosives training, shoulder fired Anti-Tank Rocket launchers, Grenades, loud vehicles and Aircrafts. Plus 18C Special forces Engineer Sergeant explosives and construction Training where we did everything from building full size structures with hand hammers and tools to making and testing home made explosives, to blowing up 100+ pounds of explosive cratering charges.

Question 25

Tinnitus/Hearing- Symptoms

Answer 25

Tinnitus- Ringing in my Left ear, first occurred in 2019 but went away and has been constant for the past 2 years.

Hearing- has just been slowly declining since I joined the Army
how those symptoms negatively affect your work, life, and social functioning.

Question 26

Tinnitus/Hearing- Negative Impacts on Daily Life

Answer 26

Tinnitus- Makes it hard to concentrate especially when in a quite room. It makes me more irritable with sharp loud noises or other continuous needless sounds (pin clicking, people tapping foot or hand, snoring, AC vent/car rattle)

Hearing- Constantly having to have people repeat themselves because i cant hear them, phone sometimes doesn’t get loud enough, if I’m watchin TV with people I have to have it too loud for most or I need subtitles on.

Question 27

What is the etiology (cause or origin) of the veteran’s Tinnitus?

Answer 27

Chronic Hearing loss, Loud vehicles/Aircraft, Explosives, TBI, Rocket Launchers,

Question 28

Increased Urinary Frequency Story

Answer 28

I have the urge to pee almost every hour if not several times every hour, I always go before I leave the house, by the time i get somewhere I always have to go again, then again before I leave. If my drive is more then an hour I HAVE to plan stops on the way, I have gotten several speeding tickets trying to get to a spot to pee before I pee my pants. Just the other day with all the traffic from the flooding I was stuck in traffic for 2 hours and the officer escorted me to dunkin donuts to pee (still got a ticket) because I had to do circles around my car while he was running my info. I take my Dog for a walk it almost always ends in me rushing him back because I have to pee.

Also I was up 5-7 times per night to pee, this is documented in my sleep logs while I was seeing behavioral Health on base (CPT Rio) for psychological issues.

Also during Sex, sometimes the thought having to pee pops in my head then its all I can think about, and the mood is completely over. If I stop to try and pee, the ability to have sex is still gone even with medication.

I am taking Gentesa(75MG) daily for this

Question 29

Urinary frequency VA rating

Answer 29

a 10 percent rating is warranted for a daytime voiding interval between two and three hours, or awakening to void two times per night. A 20 percent rating is warranted for a daytime voiding interval between one and two hours, or awakening to void three to four times per night. A 40 percent rating is warranted for a daytime voiding interval of less than one hour, or awakening to void five or more times per night. 38 C.F.R. § 4.115a (2017).

Question 30

Voiding dysfunction VA rating

Answer 30

Voiding dysfunction is rated based on urine leakage, urinary frequency, or obstructed voiding. For voiding dysfunction, a 20 percent rating is assigned for leakage requiring the wearing of absorbent materials, which must be changed less than two times per day. A 40 percent rating is assigned for leakage requiring the wearing of absorbent materials, which must be changed two to four times per day. A 60 percent rating is assigned for the use of an appliance or for wearing absorbent materials that must be changed more than four times per day. 38 C.F.R. § 4.115a (2017).

Question 31

Voiding dysfunction/Leaking

Answer 31

I use TP after I pee, I vigorously shake and manually leech my shaft after peeing but there is still leakage. I must always wear thicker crotch underwear because if i don’t the leakage goes through them and is visible on my pants. Sometimes the urge to be comes so fast that I pee myself so I always bring a change of pants with me.

Question 32

Cold weather Injury Legs

Answer 32

Both legs went numb from the Knee down for 6 months after Winter SERE school in DEC2016. Now both of my feet are extremally sensitive to cold and go numb even when the rest of my body is hot.

Question 33

Headache/Migraine VA rating

Answer 33

30% one debilitating headache a month, 10% One debilitating headache every 2 months

Question 34

Headache/Migraine Story

Answer 34

Started becoming common and powerful about 2017 in Q course, got way worse and less manageable in 2019-2020 when the nerve pain became more prevalent.
MAY2024 Brain MRI has a Deep White Matter Lesion behind right eye and mucus build up in nasal cavity which are both locations of pain for my headaches.

Question 35

Headache/Migraine- Describe the headache

Answer 35

-Sinus headaches are constant pain on both sides of the head
-Others triggers vary from constant to throbbing, normally starting on the right side and can progress to both sides as it gets stronger
-Start with sensitivity to light and sound. Into pulsing tunnel vision that can cause nausea. All worsen with any fast movement of the head or body.

Question 36

Headache/Migraine- Major types

Answer 36

2 major types-
1- From bright lights (headlights at night / bright whites on electronics) and loud sounds- they build the longer I’m exposed and if I remove the stimulation it goes away in 1-3 hours
2- Slow onset from many triggers at the same time (sinus, light, sound, stress, brain fog, pain, hunger, anger)- If I pop a salt tab early enough on the build up and remove all stimulations it can stop it, but if not taken early enough they can last for 2 days or until I take medication to pass out.

I get headaches 6 days a week prior to medications 3 times with medication and have incapacitating ones about 2 times a month with medication.

Question 37

hip, groin, left leg issues

Answer 37

formulate and look up dates

Question 38

hip/leg/knee/ankle range of motions

Answer 38

look up

Question 39

PTSD/TBI occupational and social impairment

Answer 39

OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT WITH OCCASIONAL DECREASE IN WORK EFFICIENCY AND INTERMITTENT PERIODS OF INABILITY TO
PERFORM OCCUPATIONAL TASKS, ALTHOUGH GENERALLY FUNCTIONING SATISFACTORILY, WITH NORMAL ROUTINE BEHAVIOR, SELF-CARE AND
CONVERSATION

Question 40

PTSD/TBI

Answer 40

rockets, mortars, death, fire fights, IED’s, (feared for my life I thought i was going to die)

Symptoms-

Severity of Symptoms-
Occupational-
Social- (Life, functioning, and relationships)

Question 41

PTSD Ratings 10%

Answer 41

10%
“Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.”

Ability to Care for Yourself:

Always able to take care of themselves.
Ability to Work:

Rarely will have problems.
Medications:

May or may not be needed. If taken they keep all symptoms under control.
Social Relationships:

Occasional issues.
Symptoms:

Mild anxiety, depression, or other mood changes;
Rarely has a mild panic attack;
Occasional sleep disturbances/difficulty falling asleep (nightmares, anxiety, insomnia, etc).

Question 42

PTSD 30%

Answer 42

“Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events).”

Ability to Care for Yourself:

Can take care of themselves most the time. May occasionally be hospitalized for short
Ability to Work:

Occasionally unable to do their job properly.
Social Relationships:

They exist. However, they will often be strained. Which may result in breakups or divorces.
Symptoms:

Occasional spikes in severity of anxiety, mood, depression;
Often suspicious of others - especially strangers;
One panic attack a week;
Mild memory issues - forgetting names, directions, recent events;
Frequent sleep disturbances/difficulty falling asleep (nightmares, anxiety, insomnia, etc).