Potential Categories Chart

This chart shows how one Veteran’s symptoms might be sorted into disability patterns (categories). This sorting would take place after a thorough review of all medical records, the physical examination findings, and diagnostic results particular to this case.

SYSTEM	VETERAN'S HISTORY	AN UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS	A DIAGNOSABLE BUT MEDICALLY UNEXPLAINED CHRONIC MULTISYMPTOM ILLNESS	A DIAGNOSABLE CHRONIC MULTISYMPTOM ILLNESS WITH A PARTIALLY EXPLAINED ETIOLOGY	A DISEASE WITH A CLEAR AND SPECIFIC ETIOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS
Respiratory	No condition diagnosed Veteran has a cough Claims a respiratory condition States that he cannot run as far as he used to, no Hx of smoking	Undiagnosed illness related to cough (all other causes excluded, i.e., GERD, asthma, acute or chronic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis with PND, ACE associated cough, etc.)	N/A	Asthma	Tuberculosis (PFT’s indicate restrictive pattern in addition plain film suspicious for TB – further imaging /w b reader indicates TB) Chronic bronchitis (PFTs indicate obstructive pattern)
Gastrointestinal	No condition diagnosed Abdominal pain, increased bowel movements	Undiagnosed illness related to abdominal pain and diarrhea (other possible causes excluded)	Irritable bowel syndrome	Peptic ulcer disease [NSAIDS & H Pylori]	Inguinal hernia
Skin	A rash that comes and goes, it's itchy when scratched, and it sometimes bleeds	Undiagnosed illness related to skin rash (other causes of the rash have been excluded)	N/A	Basal cell carcinoma (sun exposure)	Molluscum cantagiosum

SYSTEM

VETERAN'S HISTORY

AN UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS

A DIAGNOSABLE BUT MEDICALLY UNEXPLAINED CHRONIC MULTISYMPTOM ILLNESS

A DIAGNOSABLE CHRONIC MULTISYMPTOM ILLNESS WITH A PARTIALLY EXPLAINED ETIOLOGY

A DISEASE WITH A CLEAR AND SPECIFIC ETIOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS

Respiratory

No condition diagnosed

Veteran has a cough

Claims a respiratory condition

States that he cannot run as far as he used to, no Hx of smoking

Undiagnosed illness related to cough (all other causes excluded, i.e., GERD, asthma, acute or chronic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis with PND, ACE associated cough, etc.)

N/A

Asthma

Tuberculosis (PFT’s indicate restrictive pattern in addition plain film suspicious for TB – further imaging /w b reader indicates TB)

Chronic bronchitis (PFTs indicate obstructive pattern)

Gastrointestinal

No condition diagnosed

Abdominal pain, increased bowel movements

Undiagnosed illness related to abdominal pain and diarrhea (other possible causes excluded)

Irritable bowel syndrome

Peptic ulcer disease [NSAIDS & H Pylori]

Inguinal hernia

Skin

A rash that comes and goes, it's itchy when scratched, and it sometimes bleeds

Undiagnosed illness related to skin rash (other causes of the rash have been excluded)

N/A

Basal cell carcinoma (sun exposure)

Molluscum cantagiosum