Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group AS sufferer in the Army

I would like to thank you all for your support and encouragement in this time of transition for my family and I! This page has given me hope that there are times in my future that don't involve pain. For the last three years, I have been getting depressed because there was only pain in my life. Being a person who has a high pain tolerance already, my AS has shown me new definitions of agony. It is so incredibly nice (and sad, for others) to know that I'm not alone here!

THANK YOU ALL!!

Mike,

Me and pain are very old friends. You can not do a lot about it except down a couple of Percocets on top of all the other drugs to take the edge off. Won't do you or your family any good getting depressed. You will have to learn to deal with it and know that there are good days and there are bad days. That's just the way it is. You got that VA form filled out yet??

Be Safe!

WOw, being in the military with AS that is that active sound like heck.

I didn't ever have that sort of audible popping in the SI with great regularity but the pain was searing and the fusion happened quickly.

My shoulders pop but that doesn't seem to coincide with any appreciable increase or decrease on the pain.

If they are going to make you retire I hope that somehow you can derive a better settlement. Sounds rather paltry at 20%.

I have my VA appointment tomorrow. I have all my documents and my German med records. If I read the VASRD correctly, the rating adds up to over 100%, but I don't think they can rate more than 100. Hopefully, the VA will accept my German records. Don't know why they shouldn't.

Wish me luck!

Thank's for serving ROH. Don't you let them give you such a low disability. That infuriates me. Nobody ask for a disease. I hope you get on a anti-depressant because I have found that you just can't get over it without help. A lot of us on here are on anti-depressants. You can't think right or make the right decisions when you are so low. God Bless.

Mike,

Best of Luck!!

Tell them there was another who went through six or seven years ago and got 90% in all. Give them reams of claims. They have to accept the German records as well and they should go into your med records!! Once you get your rating, then you have to apply for the CONCURRENT RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY PAY (CRDP)(http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/files/2011/11/2011-DoD-Compensation-and-Benefits-Handbook1.pdf). If you have to appeal your rating, then get in there and appeal. It really p's me off when it seems that they are just trying to save money. You have to live and manage the pain for the rest of your life, all those Doctors have to do is just cross the border and drink French wine.

Big Time Fingers Crossed for YOU!!

Added up, everything I'm claiming is 260%

The ladies at the VA office were dumbfounded! They just looked at me with a blank stare and then laughed themselves stupid! This one lady was laughing so hard, she had to excuse herself to the bathroom. They just couldn't believe the amount of stuff was on the continuation sheets.

I claimed each vertebrae individually, from the S-1 to the base of my skull. And separately, I claimed each facetal joint on each vertebrae.

Now, I'm just waiting for the Army's percentage.

Mike: I am getting the popping right now too in my right SI joint. The pain is so excruciating I can barely move or get comfortable lying down. My Chiro popped it back in last week and then it popped out again the same day when I twisted the wrong way. I started a steroid pack yesterday and it has been a god send. The pain is now minimal and my depression is lifting. I am finding it is best just to walk, don't twist, bend over, etc.

I wish you luck in getting your benefits you deserve soon!

In the meantime, try to think happy thoughts because stress makes the disease worse.

Shari

Mike-

Welcome. I am new as well. I was diagnosed today, but I think I have had it for 20 years unknowingly. I was on the US Army Venture Capital IRT, trying to bring new tech to the men without bureaucrats in the way.

I am so sorry to hear of your pain level. This is the next hill for us. God bless and thank you for your service.

Gerry

Mike,

You will be disappointed with the Army's rating. There should be no question about that. The VA rating is the rating you must be concerned with. My AS was rated at 40%, but they had to add the various joints and my damn feet that kill on a daily basis. It is those tendons underneath that I forgot the name of but I had those written into my medical records right before I had my VA rating appointment. That was another 10% added. I ended up with 90% and I settled for that even though when I had to get re-evaluated for one of my issues, that bumped it up to 100%. They will not give you 260% of course but you will have to decide for yourself the percentage you will want to settle for and if you want to continue to work after the Army.

I recommend that you contact Mike Parker who is our man in Washington DC, banging on the Pentagon doors to get AS sorted out. You can find him on the Spondylitis Association of America Forums under "VA Ankylosing Spondylitis Ruling" "http://forums.spondylitis.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=101630&fpart=1"

Cheers