I received my decision letter today and need help on deciding what I need to do. I filed a claim for other contentions but request quidance on just one. I simply don't understand how VA can ignore evidence and state that there is none. The claim was for bilateral radiculopathy SECONDARY to lower back. Should I ask for reconsideration? Will the notes for a third epidural injection last Friday be enough for new and material evidence? The following is ver batum from the decision letter:
Issue/Contention
nerve damage - left leg and foot
Explanation
The evidence does not show that nerve damage - left leg and foot is related to the service-connected condition of arthritis, thoracic spine, nor is there any evidence of this disability during military service.
The evidence does not show a current diagnosed disability. The evidence does not show that your condition resulted from, or was agravated by. a service-connected disability. Your service treatment records do not contain complaints, treatment, or diagnosis for this condition.
Excerpts from doctors notes (two different doctors) and MRI results submitted with the claim or uplaoded via eBenefits for treatment after the claim was filed.
Non VA primary care physician: Musculoskeletal symptoms still having L sciatica, taking gababentin - no change in sxs. L leg pain and numbness in the bottom of the right foot. Pain is intermittent but numbness is there all the time. Plan: request consultation by specialist pain management, unknown specialty - L sciatica, has had MRI LSS.
MRI:At L4-5, anterolisthesis appears to be related to bilateral pars defects. There is uncovering of the posterior disc but no appreciable bulge or protrusion is seen. There is mild effacement of the thecal sac across the midline related to anterolisthesis. There is direct impingement of both exiting nerve rootsdue to anterolisthesis and resultant foraminal narrowing.At L5-S1, there is broad-based disc bulge without focal protrusion. There is mild to moderate effacement of the thecal sac across the midline. There is probable impingement of the descending S1 nerve rooton the left within its lateral recess as best seen on T2 axial image #23 due to disc bulge and posterioir element hypertrophy. There is moderate foraminal narrowing bilaterally, with probable impingement of both exiting L5 nerve roots. This is more likely on the left due to combination of disc bulge and facet joint hypertrophy.
Pain Management:
Second epidural: He has quite a bit of loss of disk height at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. The left iliac crest proved to be too difficult to work around and I was unable to place the needle in the right location. Lateral views show quite a bit of anterolisthesis of L4 on L5 due to pars defects as noted on the MRI. This made it impossible for me to get into the appropriate location and the procedure was aborted.
Question
gs106
I received my decision letter today and need help on deciding what I need to do. I filed a claim for other contentions but request quidance on just one. I simply don't understand how VA can ignore evidence and state that there is none. The claim was for bilateral radiculopathy SECONDARY to lower back. Should I ask for reconsideration? Will the notes for a third epidural injection last Friday be enough for new and material evidence? The following is ver batum from the decision letter:
nerve damage - left leg and foot
Excerpts from doctors notes (two different doctors) and MRI results submitted with the claim or uplaoded via eBenefits for treatment after the claim was filed.
Non VA primary care physician: Musculoskeletal symptoms still having L sciatica, taking gababentin - no change in sxs. L leg pain and numbness in the bottom of the right foot. Pain is intermittent but numbness is there all the time. Plan: request consultation by specialist pain management, unknown specialty - L sciatica, has had MRI LSS.
MRI:At L4-5, anterolisthesis appears to be related to bilateral pars defects. There is uncovering of the posterior disc but no appreciable bulge or protrusion is seen. There is mild effacement of the thecal sac across the midline related to anterolisthesis. There is direct impingement of both exiting nerve roots due to anterolisthesis and resultant foraminal narrowing.At L5-S1, there is broad-based disc bulge without focal protrusion. There is mild to moderate effacement of the thecal sac across the midline. There is probable impingement of the descending S1 nerve root on the left within its lateral recess as best seen on T2 axial image #23 due to disc bulge and posterioir element hypertrophy. There is moderate foraminal narrowing bilaterally, with probable impingement of both exiting L5 nerve roots. This is more likely on the left due to combination of disc bulge and facet joint hypertrophy.
Pain Management:
Second epidural: He has quite a bit of loss of disk height at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. The left iliac crest proved to be too difficult to work around and I was unable to place the needle in the right location. Lateral views show quite a bit of anterolisthesis of L4 on L5 due to pars defects as noted on the MRI. This made it impossible for me to get into the appropriate location and the procedure was aborted.
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