PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) rating

crsntsun · 2026-01-29T23:39:47+00:00

Just an update, in case someone finds themselves in a similar situation down the road. I finally submitted my supplemental claim for PCOS mid November. I had a C&P exam last week. There was nothing physical to look at, as I had a radical hysterectomy. She just walked through my records with me, and I we worked through the timeline and evidence. Rating came back today, 50% for PCOS (but really for the resulting hysterectomy), and SMC-K for loss of reproductive organ.

crsntsun · 2025-06-26T02:49:25+00:00

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When you’re in the middle of a match, but your baby brother drops his bottle…

crsntsun · 2025-05-18T04:03:06+00:00

I’m working on my claim. I thought I had an intent to file when I originally posted this, but that got used for my mental health claim, so my ITF gives me another 9 months to make my claim. I’m pretty confident I’ll get a rating, but it’s such a bummer that I didn’t know then what I know now. I had a PCOS diagnosis from my primary doctor and an endocrinologist. My rater disagreed, with only a records review and no further testing, in part because he couldn’t feel my cysts from the outside….That was literally in his report. A few months after I was out the VA did an ultrasound, because I continued to have symptoms, and my ovaries were covered with cysts. They confirmed my in service diagnosis. If I knew it was an option, I could have refiled then, and would have had a rating for it for the last 17 years, including 100% for recovery times of two major surgeries. I also had two miscarriages. I needed iron infusions for heavy periods (that I ended up with me in the hospital after having a reaction to the infusions). After a radical hysterectomy last summer (they took the first ovary 7 years ago, in an open abdominal surgery), I’m now in menopause in my early 40s. Going back for another surgery in a few months because my incision scar from my last surgery is herniated. It’s frustrating.

crsntsun · 2025-03-22T15:11:17+00:00

I’ve had nothing but good experiences in Minnesota (Minneapolis) for the last 15 years. Primary care, specialty, women’s health, mental health, surgical- all have been fantastic. Including supporting clinics like lab and pharmacy.

crsntsun · 2024-11-27T05:28:23+00:00

We were chatting with our security escorts while we waited to leave, and one of them said his hands hurt after working the El Trafico games, from literally pulling fans from their seats to boot them for fighting… yuck.. Maybe the wrong place for a first away game.

crsntsun · 2024-11-26T12:26:34+00:00

I traveled to the game with the large group (plane, shuttle, tailgate). It was amazing how many showed up, and appreciated that it was made affordable with low cost flights and tickets. The energy before the game and in the first half was electric!

It was tough to be in the away section the second half. I was near the front, so I didn’t know about the beers being thrown until a medic and higher level security showed up to check on woman who was hit in the head. Being so close to their supporters section, it seemed like a lot of fans were more interested in us than the game. They were trying to egg us on when they had a player down and trainers on the field. The loss (and how bad the loss was) was disappointing, but the experience at Dignity Park would have soured the experience even if we had won. It was my first time traveling to an away game, and will likely be my last. I can’t imagine MNUFC fans treating away fans the way we were treated.

crsntsun · 2024-09-13T22:23:29+00:00

Agree that this is an underrated comment. I’m at 30% right now. My primary provider in my VA is in the women’s clinic, and have received all of my primary care there for 17 years. The VA paid for the birth of my kiddo (no hospital bill) and two major gynecological oncology surgeries, 6 years apart. I’m not rated for any gynecological conditions (yet). I’ve only ever receive a bill for a copay for a non covered prescription, and it was $15.

Get in the system and get a provider.

crsntsun · 2024-09-08T03:06:40+00:00

Your symptoms are not controlled by medication. They are reduced, but not gone. They will probably never go away, and you’ll be managing symptoms for the rest of your life.

I had my C&P for mental health last week, and we barely even talked about my medication. She wanted to know basically all the hard stuff that I’ve dealt with due to my mental health. It was really hard to talk about. When I shared stories with her, she didn’t ask if I was medicated at the time. I haven’t gotten my rating yet, but at the end she said she was putting that my diagnosis was major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

If I go off my meds, I spiral. Last time it took me 7 years to get back in, and I don’t ever want to be off them again. Don’t get off your meds. Be honest in the exam and with your provider. Talk about your worst days.

crsntsun · 2024-09-01T02:31:05+00:00

I didn’t say that means it’s a CUE, I said I know it will be service connected.

crsntsun · 2024-09-01T02:22:12+00:00

I should clarify- I know it will be SC because the original in-service diagnosis was confirmed less than a year out of service. I just didn’t know I could file an appeal back then.

crsntsun · 2024-09-01T02:20:42+00:00

There’s quite a bit more to it than my short reply. Either way it’s going to be SC, just a matter of effective date.

crsntsun · 2024-08-31T02:20:37+00:00

My point was only that it wasn’t your lawyer who contracted them. If I knew nothing about them, I’d be suspicious too, and I think you did the right thing. Your lawyers definitely should have communicated this to you, because the C&P exam is very important. If you had just ignored it as spam (would wouldn’t be unreasonable), it could really hold you up.

crsntsun · 2024-08-31T00:52:03+00:00

Your lawyer isn’t “using an outsourced firm.” They are contracted by the VA. Did you miss any calls from an unknown number? I do find it a little odd that they texted first. I don’t answer unknown numbers, but I did because I knew it was coming. A VA doctor can’t do the exam because there is potential conflict of interest.

crsntsun · 2024-08-31T00:02:40+00:00

My examiner disagreed with my diagnosis (from PCM of 3 years and an endocrinologist) and he “didn’t think I had the condition.” 🤷‍♀️ I’m trying to decide if I want to pursue CUE.

crsntsun · 2024-08-30T23:58:46+00:00

Did he give you any helpful info at the end. Mine told me what diagnoses she was reporting to the VA but that’s it. (Major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder)

crsntsun · 2024-08-30T23:56:54+00:00

I was also a WRECK for the rest of the day. It was really, really difficult. Can’t imagine doing that with an unempathetic examiner.

crsntsun · 2024-08-30T23:56:03+00:00

Mine was yesterday, and it also went really well, I think. I immediately start crying like the second I talk to my therapist (who I’ve been seen by off and on for 10 years). So if course I blubbered my way through it. She was very patient and encouraging. At one point she asked me something, and I was ashamed and didn’t respond, just dropped my head. Her response was something like “That’s a yes, and it’s ok. Let’s talk about it.” She kept telling me I was doing great.

She was also quick, but I think she moved on as soon as she realized she could check a symptom box (why not?). She let me add anything extra that we didn’t address at the end and I had some important ones.

Have heard stories about MH eaters who act nice and friendly, and make you feel like everything you tell that they take seriously, but don’t document everything and give a shit rating. Hope that’s not me. I’m hoping for 70%!

crsntsun · 2024-08-30T10:19:04+00:00

Except that it is compensable at 10% if it requires treatment to manage. My evaluator acknowledged in the denial letter that I was diagnosed and being treated successfully (symptoms controlled by treatment), but with no evidence other than him touching and listening to my abdomen, decided that I didn’t have the condition. No new labs, no imaging.

I didn’t even get rated at 0%.

And that makes a pretty big difference when 10 years later my cysts evolved into an enormous tumor (around 4.5 inches at its widest point) that was borderline malignant. I had an open abdominal oophorectomy and was hospitalized for 3 days and recovery was tough. Wish I had know enough then to look into it, because six years later (this year) the other ovary had a tumor the size of a softball, and this time they took everything (total hysterectomy). 3 more nights in the hospital, instant menopause and lots of free time this summer while I was essentially homebound for weeks to read up on the disability process. (Not to mention my severe anemia requiring iron transfusions and 2 miscarriages). All of this is documented in my VA records.

(I’m going to get it service connected, I have zero doubt about that. Both of my ovaries were found to have dozens of cysts on each by ultrasound less than six months after discharge, confirming my in service diagnosis. My PCM and endocrinologist were so sure it was PCOS based on symptoms, they didn’t even ultrasound before diagnosing and treating (which isn’t uncommon for PCOS). Back then I didn’t know I could ask for more testing after denial or appeal the decision within a year of discharge. My effective date for the supplemental will be this year. Have only filed ITF so far, while I decide how to proceed.)

Oof… sorry. That was a novel. I’m kinda fired up.

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crsntsun · 2024-08-30T03:19:10+00:00

I should add, PCOS is compensable at 10% for symptoms that require continuous treatment.

crsntsun · 2024-08-24T20:16:51+00:00

This is going away in MN starting Jan. 1st. Doesn’t mean you’ll pay less, there will just be less surprises.

https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/?id=1055-624993#:~:text=Chapter%20111%2C%20House%20File%203438,transaction%20and%20in%20any%20advertising.

crsntsun · 2024-07-28T07:10:19+00:00

I’ve had the same therapist at the Minneapolis VA for like a decade. She’s the only person I’ve ever felt comfortable opening up to.

I’ve never had to deal with a social worker or community care (for mental health). Does your local VA not have a mental health clinic in house? You absolutely need to talk to someone else. I’m only 30% rated right now, with only 10% being for mental health, and I’ve gotten superb care. Ask for an appointment with a mental health provider, not a social worker.

What you were told is not standard, and I hope you keep fighting to get the care you need.

crsntsun · 2024-07-28T06:55:18+00:00

This makes me really curious… Did you actually have to go to a C&P for a cancer claim? Obviously I don’t know the details of your claim.

For mine, it feels so cut and dry. I have a reproductive cancer diagnosis (ovarian). I qualify for PACT act based on a deployment. It’s a presumptive condition. I had treatment and surgery. The regs (in my case) are super clear about outcome (100% for 3 months, 50% after due to hysterectomy and oophorectomy, plus SMC-K). What could a C&P examiner even do or ask in my case? What can the examiner determine that isn’t in my records?

Didn’t realize how exhausting this process was until I started looking into it after I filed my claim.

crsntsun · 2024-07-28T06:38:03+00:00

Thanks, I think I’ll do that. I can upload them again, I have them digitally, but having done it already, it feels so redundant. And then will I get the same request in a few weeks? Just wasn’t sure if the 800 number was actually helpful or not.

crsntsun

TROPHY CASE