Subjective Symptoms of Functional Loss

Even if it isn’t indicated in the Comp & Pen Exam, you can attack the reasons and bases for the VA's reliance on a Comp & Pen exam where any the following subjective symptoms of functional loss are noted in the veteran's statement or discussed with the Comp & Pen Examiner:

• Can only stand for 5 minutes at a time
• Cannot sit longer than 10 minutes at a time
• Cannot stand up long enough to cook meals or perform other activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Can only walk one block
• Veteran has regular flare-ups in the morning that make it more difficult to get up and moving or perform other activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Cannot bend to pick something up off the floor
• Pain that causes the veteran to have to lie down and not move for one hour