iceturkee

the op should definitely have an mri. routine xrays basically show nothing other than fractures and arthritis. mrs's will provide much more detail!

i am currently 40 percent for my back although it should be higher. but the va has quirky requirements for evaluating back problems. my last lumbar mri (taken in may of 2014) showed 5 herniated discs, a slipped vertebrae, foraminal and spinal stenosis, an abnormal upper lordatic curve, 2 torn disc and lots of arthritis.

the va certainly sets themselves up for NOD's.

thanks. if all the c&p docs would take time to review my records, the question would be moot. i have had plenty of exams in the 27 years i have dealth with the va. but only one actually took time to review my navy medical record beside my va record. that's a sorry state of affairs. once i had an exam, i was between power chairs as mine was condemmed and a new one was on order. i had to use a manual chair and get a volunteer to push me to the waiting room. i had to push myself to the examning room (with my rhuematoid arthritis is very difficult). doc asked why i was using the manual chair so i told him. yet, he still wrote on my exam about the manual chair and my claims of upper body strength.

i am wheel chair bound and my power chairs have been provided by the va. but i get asked that all the time. i tell them to look at my medical record.

my buddy statements came from my then caretaker who could speak of my back and depression issues since she had taken care of me for a couple of years. the third came from a journalist friend who spoke of how well i did my job when we worked together and my then medical condition.

i submitted buddy statements with my IU claim. not only was i awarded IU but all three claims were mentioned by the VA in their decision to favorably rate my claim! :-)

before i got IU, i was getting NSC pension A&A. i'm single and i know the current rate is $1788 a month. don't remember what i was collecting in november 2011 before my status changed.

after what the last DAV VSO said to me, i could have shot him. he was a worthless piece of garbage.

andy, i fired dav earlier this year. they had represented me since 1988. had a couple of really good service officers and a couple of really lousy. the last one i dealt with was worse than worthless!!!!

i know as recently as 2 weeks ago, the vfw was asking for her resignation. truthfully, have no idea what the alleged scandal is.

just read this at twitter from stars and stripes. va secretary bob mcdonald has announced hickey has resigned over a scandal involving relocation funds.

me too. i submitted three letters. two were from my then caretaker and the other my best friend. they were all mentioned in my IU award letter.

when i was first diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy, i had a bulging disc and arthritis. so you don't have to have a herniated disc.

i always send everything i got. but for my IU claim, i submitted buddy letters which helped me a lot!

not saying this is the reason however. when i was discharged from the navy, i received a lump sum severence pay. after receiving my rating, i was informed that my monthly check (then 10 percent) would be witheld until the va recouped the almost $32,000 i got from the navy.

yes i got t&p with no future exams. my depression rating was 30 percent. but the psych who did my exam noted my depression and anxiety would not allow me to do even a sedentary job (i get totally freaked out in crowds) so hence, the inferred IU!! :-)

i got an infered iu status when awarded service connection for depression because of a comment written by the psych doc who did my comp and pen. in their report, the va stated they would automatically begin working on iu. maybe, a month after that, regional called asking if i wanted to go ahead and subit the claim. three months later i had iu.

if congress changes the IU requirements and you resort back to your real percentage once you reach 100 percent social security age (65 to 67 depending on month and year born).

i received 30 percent for depression/anxiety. the shrink noted on my exam it was as likely or not that it was service connected.

buck, are you saying if you are 100 percent, you can still get ssdi, even without the appropriate ten years of work credit? or did i read it wrong. thanks.

i believe the nurse reviews the message first before its sent to the doctor. my primary's nurse often answers my messages. sometimes she will tell me she is forwarding to the doctor and she does!!!

would code 5235 be a seperate rating? if i am service connected for arthritis in my spine but i have an abnormal spine contour or walk (which has been noted on comp and pen), could i or anyone else apply for this as well?

i would agree with hamslice's recommendation. in theory, it should be easier to receive primary and secondary service connections based on arthritis in the back. and arthritis does spread. well, it really doesn't spread per se. but arthritis of the spine can lead to arthritis of the hips and feet and so forth.

do i understand that you are currently 10 percent for your back and you want to file an additional claim for the same area? if not, then please correct me. first, the va is going to treat the thoracic and lumbar area as one. if you are experiencing worsening in the area you are connected for, then file an upgrade. but i don't think you can do what you are asking. i am currently 40 percent for my back.