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iceturkee
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Posts posted by iceturkee
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you do realize that most people as they get older have arthritis in their back and nothing else. he has arthritis at one level of his spine. i will bite my tongue and refer from saying anything else on this subject!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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yes the xray will show if your vertabrae are fused, if you have arthritis, if one of your vertabrae have slipped and if you have scoliosis. it will not show a herniated disc and it will not show spinal stenosis.
but basser i am going to disagree. mild djd at one disc does not warrant an mri. if the op is complaining of serious, crippling pain, then other films would be in order.
i have inflammatory arthritis which shows up in my lab work as my blood sed rate was off the charts. the op's bloodwork apparently is normal so i can understand the doctor not wanting to order any more tests. if the op is not happy, he can bitch up the food chain and/or go to a civilian doctor.
if it were me, i would start with the patient advocate and go up to the chief medical officer. if necessary, i would also alert my local news outlets. and there is always an email to secretary mcdonald!!
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if you truly have a back problem, then yes. but many people just have a touch of arthritis and they don't need cat scans and/or mri's. even my civilian physican assistant friend who works at an ortho clinic will tell you that!!
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an x-ray showing mild DJD is an example that most people have a touch of arthritis in their back when they get older. my ortho doctor has preached this as long as i have known him (1988).
of course, its possible there are other issues going on not seen in a routine xray. but as a longtime back sufferer i don't know where there is a need for an mri. i'm 40 percent for my back, with a history of over a dozen mri's on my entire spine.
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i'm thinking no. you have a 100 percent plus the 70 percent for housebound (if needed). probably have enough percentages for other smc's. but heck others know more than i do!!
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my two cents, i have a long history of severe back problems and i also have rheumatoid arthritis. the rheumatoid didn't show up in my bloodwork although, one look at my hands would confirm it. but my sed rate was off the charts. that is an indicator for inflammatory arthritis.
as for spine mri's, if your problem only presents as mild arthritis at one disc, no doctor (that i am aware of) is going to order an mri. any ortho worth their salt will tell you everyone has a touch of arthritis in their back, mri's aren't cheap. i had one for my lumbar spine 2 years ago and the report was 3 pages long.
i share my experience, not to discourage you. but to let you know what i have been through. i am 40 percent for my back. since my spine is not fused, i can't get 50 percent. i also have a confirmed diagnosis of radiculopathy!!
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true, a cat scan or mri will give you a better picture than a normal xray.
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13 hours ago, ArNG11 said:
I feel like I should mention this as well. You need a variety of exams to really get the true picture of your back or spine disability. EMG, x rays with dye, MRI with dye: preferably with closed MRI system, then have this information utilized to get the best course of treatment. No less would be doing the patient an injustice.
There is a system that has been around for a few years or so where they do the whole body scan. This is great for locating and observing the actual trouble spots that you have when your spine is just supporting your own weight.
i have had dozens of xrays, mri's and ct scans on my spine and none have been with dye. you can get an accurate picture of whats going on without it. only in a rare instance will a radiologist use with exams. i had it once with a brain mri to rule out tumors!
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routine back xrays (i have several) will show arthritis and bone spurs.
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i'm 40 percent for my back which was initially injured when i fell down two flights (but broke fall after first flight) of stairs. i never went to sick call. when i went back on active duty, i made sure my back problem was on my entrance physical (the navy gave me a waiver). i was medically discharged and given 10 percent for my back. it took me 17 years to get that to 40.
i took a brief look at what pubis symphysis dysfunction is. sounds like it deals primarily with the hips but could also affect the back. you may have grounds for a primary service connected disability. however, (my 2 cents), i am more inclined to think it would be secondary to your hips.
others feel free to chime in!!
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or there are entries in your medical records of hurting your back on active duty.
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bronco, wouldn't this warrant a CUE?
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reapply if it was 2005?
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3 hours ago, allansc2005 said:
Afternoon folks, new kid on the block here.
Last week I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, which is an autoimmune syndrome, it's also known as Siccus Syndrome.
I was going through the VA's lists of medical conditions, and didn't fine the condition.
Anyone have any information on how the VA rates Sjogren's or Siccus Syndrome?
Thanks,
Allan
tennis player venus williams was diagnosed with this about 2 or 3 threes ago. google her and i'm sure you can learn some information.
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i should put in a claim for my feet (high arches, hammertoes, decreased sensation in 6 toes and nerve pain), because i started having problems when i was in the army. i recall no problems noted on entrance physical.
i can't aanswer your percentages question, but i can tell you i just got custom orthotics myself. big difference between these and the off the shelf inserts the v gives you. they are helping me a lot. hope they help you s much!!
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your title says getting custom orthotics but no mention in write up. are you seeking info on custom orthotics? i just got a pair, thats why i ask!!!
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On 11/4/2015 at 5:52 PM, pete992 said:
What you will need is some type of medical opinion and medical rationale from a VA psychiatrist or psychologist. You can start by going to your local VA clinic and speak to a VA social worker which will also help. Keep on mind that to get service connected you will need 1. An in service condition. 2. A current condition/diagnosis/disability and 3. A medical nexus that links 1. and 2. together. Depending on your symptoms the VA psyche must say that they have reviewed your medical records both SMRs and post service medical records and it is their medical opinion that your current symptoms are at least likely as not related to your military service.
a va psychologist did that during my c&p exam.
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On 11/4/2015 at 5:26 PM, KaylaC said:
You do not have to see a counselor to have your condition service connected. If you were treated for anything mental related in service, then just claim "mental condition" when you submit your claim. The VA will request your medical records but mental treatment may not be included, so make sure you specify where you were treated in case further development is required. If any trace of a mental disorder is found within your records, the VA will schedule you for an exam. A copy of this exam and all questions they will ask can be found on the VA's website, labeled as "DBQ" or "Disability Benefits Questionnaire". They will usually ask the examining physician to provide a medical opinion as to whether or not they believe your mental condition is related to service. You can even have a personal psychiatrist/psychologist complete this questionnaire, HOWEVER, they should also specify if the condition is related to your military service.
All mental conditions, to include PTSD, have the same symptoms listed on the exams (which is a major part of how your rating % is determined). So, it won't matter if the physician states you have depression, anxiety, or some other condition. By claiming "mental condition" you are preventing the VA from being "black and white" and potentially denying the claim based on lack of a specific diagnosis of depression within your records.
Claims with 1 or 2 disabilities only will also be processed faster, in most cases.
i got service connected for depression/anxiety and have never formally spoken to a va counselor.
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your rom suggests 20 percent. and you will probably need to file a seperate claim for the nerve pain.
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even if you own a business, you are receiving income which probably puts you way over the threshold of $12,400 a year if you are under 65.
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i tend to think if you become gainfully employed, the IU will go away. if you should become unemployed shortly thereafter, i believe you would have to reapply for IU. my 2 cents.
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15 hours ago, vlobo said:
So I'm new to this forum, but I have really enjoyed reading all the great information you all post. Thanks in advance for that!
I am currently in a three year battle with the VA for pes planus, plantar fasciitis. On my entry exam, the doctor noted " Pes planus, mild: asymptomatic." Shortly after I got out, maybe 18 months, I went to the doctor because my feet were bothering me, and had been bothering me for quite some time. The podiatrist diagnosed the following:
Forefoot adducted to the refract, high arched feet, hammertoe, decreased ankle dorsiflexion, decreased sty eversion, both feet and he also noted that both feet shoed pain to palpation of plantar-medial heel. "Assessment: plantar fasciitis b/l., pain, metadductus, equines, ingrown nail hallux lat b/l."
An ultrasound test revealed hypo echoic signals consistent with plantar fasciitis, b/l. I was pretty much told to stretch, get insoles and take motrin 800. My big question is: can I even get this service connected since I was out when I saw the doctor? I know the doctor put on the records that I told him I had pain since I was in the military and he put a time frame. My dogs are always barking and those insoles do nothin (and are like 60 bucks and not well constructed). I was told to request a hearing with the DRO and I got a letter saying my hearing is on June 6. My VSO told me to show up an hour before my hearing and meet with them briefly. I contacted the VA a few days ago regarding a different claim and they told me they don't have my service medical records. So, I'm a bit confused. I uploaded the records I have to eBenefits and I sent copies via certified mail as well. The original denial letter said it was not acquired during my enlistment. I am also seeing the DRO for a hip injury that was diagnosed as a stress fracture. My private physician said he feels it was misdiagnosed in 2003 and it is actually a torn labral tendon. I have uploaded the documents from the ortho and the podiatrist to benefits and send copies of those as well. Any suggestions, insight, comments for me? Anything you all can give me will be great. Thanks!
i just got custom orthotics for my feet. i immediately felt relief. the orthotics fit like a glove and help me more than what the va usually gives you. i got the first pair. but my podiatrist told me if the off the shelf brand helped with the foot pain, she would order the custom ones. have you tried to get custom ones from the va?
Thoughts on change to IU at retirement age??
in TDIU Unemployability Claims
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this is why i have stayed away from this site. this is a budget proposal. it was announced a week ago. nothing has been done to start marking this up via federal agency. the president can't sign it. mis information as always. am i surprised? no!