Functional Loss ROM back

[Tmax14]

Hello all,

Was hoping someone else ran into the same situation and would be able to answer this for me, I don't have an electric copy so I'll just post the important parts in question.

 

My NARSUM just came back with one area of question with ROM on low back:

 

Initial ROM forward flexion: 0-45

observed ROM after repetitive use: 0-40

Factors: pain, weakness, lack of endurance

Does pain weakness, fatigability significantly limit functional ability with repeated use over a period of time?  Yes

Factors: pain, weakness

Able to describe in terms of range of motion: Yes, 0-30

 

 

Would I be rated at 45 or 30?  It's a pretty significant jump from 20% to 40% between the two.  If this isn't enough info I can try to scan the documents later.

[Berta]

As I understand it, the NARSUM describes the disability...the MEB-PEB process will provide a rating.

You might be able to get a guess by going to our VA Schedule of Ratings forum here....go about half way down the scroll to where they describe disabilities and the ratings for them. But the ROM is just part of why you have this problem. ROM on low back isn't enough to figure this out.

Is it Degenerative Disc desease? Or due to inservice back injury? Sciatica? 

Others will chime in because I do not think there is any rating or diagnostic code for a ROM measurement...it would be part of the actual disability's medical terminology.

We also have a MEB-PEB link here as well.