Lumbar Spondylosis

[Ogreofforce]

Hi all I just signed up after look endlessly on the internet figured I would give it a shot.

Last week after ~5 years of pain and random diagnosis I found out I have lumbar spondylosis. Basically the wings on my spine at L5 and L4 are broken off and have been for years. To the point where they rounded off and wont re heal as per the Non-VA non-Military doctor. Both him and my current chiropractor told me I will never be able to run again with out causing myself pain ( which I was already having issues with for years) and finally after 13 PT tests of being waived for runnings push up and sometimes sit ups. I now have 4 fails in the 2 year time frame and commander recommended for MEB and withdrew my LOR for it after I submitted the years of documented ongoing medical issues with my back. So now I know I shouldn't run and eventually I will get lumbar spondylostheis ( spelling) which is where my vertabre slowly move forward and cause way more pain then I currently have ( 5-7 / 10) So my biggest question is if anyone has this and how much disability they got for it. Currently I have these issues I know of medically:

Right should surgery with loss of Rand of motion

Right foot surgery with random pains ( this aparently might also be from my back)

Lumbar spondylosis

Also as of note The specialist off base Strongly discouraged me from getting the spine fusion of my 3 lower vertabre as he said I would get no current pain relief and my flexability is over all pretty good for having this issue untreated for so many years.

I plan to prepare for getting booted and want to get as much as I can being I literally broke my back for the military and so far they treated me like crap for it... Wish I didn't have to get out but seems this is whats happening. Thanks for any info you guys might be able to offer - Jeremy

[Pete53]

Welcome to Hadit

[john999]

I bet if you went to ten more orthopedists you could get ten more DX'es. However, your back hurts now and you probably don't want to aggravate it. I don't know how much you will get for it, but have you been to a pain clinic or seen a psychiatrist about chronic pain and depression.

[UsmcSGTVet]

Welcome

The most important thing you can do at this point is start preparing for the worse and hope for the best. Make sure you have copies of everything in your medical record because once you get out it takes to much time to request copies. If I were you I would start looking for a Veteran service officer and explain your situation to them. They will be more than happy to guide you through the process and better explain all the benefits you will be entitled to. You will also find very good people here to help try and answer your questions. I was surprised on how big of a support group is out there for us and alot of them have had similar experiences. Your not alone.

Just remember no one will care about your claim as much as you do. Try to keep the frustration to a minimum. It seems to always work out in the end.

PTSD- 50%

Right shoulder dislocations- 20%

L4-L5, L5-S1 - Buldging disks- 10%

Neurologic involvement right lower extremity- 10%

Hiatel hernia- 10%

70% Total

Edited April 11, 2012 by UsmcSGTVet

[Teac]

Welcome to Hadit,

I have had back issues for years and I have never heard of the term wings, so I look it up and the term is sometimes used to describe bone spurs, in your case bones sticking out, that from a side xray look like wings.

To answer you question, Lumbar spondylosis.. is nothing more than osteoarthritis or bone spurs usually resulting from aging or injury. It is rated under code 5003 Arthritis, degenerative (hypertrophic or osteoarthritis):

Degenerative arthritis established by X-ray findings will be rated on the basis of limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved (DC 5200 etc.).

When however, the limitation of motion of the specific joint or joints involved is noncompensable under the appropriate diagnostic codes, a rating of 10 pct is for application for each such major joint or group of minor joints affected by limitation of motion, to be combined, not added under diagnostic code 5003. Limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion.

In the absence of limitation of motion, rate as below:

With X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations ............................................................................................................................... 20

With X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint..................................................................................................................................................... 10

Note (1): The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-ray findings, above, will not be combined with ratings based on limitation of motion. Note (2): The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-ray findings, above, will not be utilized in rating conditions listed under diagnostic codes 5013 to 5024, inclusive.

The other issues you have would not be rated much higher depending on the loss of range of motion.

Edited April 11, 2012 by Teac

[71M10]

I wonder if Ogreofforce means facets, when he said wings. I havent heard of them breaking off, but in my case I have so much spuring it has locked them up (some total - some partial).

As Teac's post indicates without significant loss of motion the rating is minimal (especially when compared to the pain).

If you have documented bedrest and the test results support it a rating under IVDS could be more beneficial.

Have the doctors you have worked with ruled out any Fibromyalgia or other pain condition on top of the back injury(they would need to be pushed to look for this).

Most importantly do you have any leg pain or numbness in relation to your back and is it documented?

Best regards,

[jbasser]

Spondylosis will get you rated as Traumatic arthritis with range of motion being a factor.

If you have neurological issues then they are to be rated separately.

IVDS will be rated not for spondylosis but for invertabral disk syndrome.

Your better off not having IVDS rating.

The radiculopathy will be your bread and butter.

Basser