Sagacious

Thanks navy04, seemed like my c&p went well. I called the regional office and asked for a copy of the results. He was actually able to pull the exam results up the next day after the exam and read them to me (for the most part). He said he's never seen results signed over and released that quickly. He said from the examiners wording, it sounds like he is in favor of the increase. How'd yours go?

I have an L5-S1 disc bulge with facet arthritis, I am currently rated 10% for "middle back strain", but I did an appeal because they didn't include the bulged disc in their findings. so, I am essentially asking them include the "buldged disc" to my rating, i included that evidence in my original claim when they gave me my "middle back strain" rating, but they just overlooked the lower back L5-S1 bulge and only gave me the "middle back strain" determination. I did an appeal and asked for a C&P exam this time, they didn't do one before. so, i have been reading the C&P spine exam paperwork and i have some questions on the ROM "exercises", for example...what exactly is an extension? does anyone have a pictoral guide or video to describe the things they will have me doing? maybe a picture of what a normal ROM is for a given "exercise"? also, I don't have any cervical spine issues but for the Thorocolumbar rom test I notice the individual degrees for each exercise...and they will be combined to a maximum of 240. does anyone know what the minimum combined number for (thorocolumbar rom) to be considered disabled? be it...10%, 20%, etc? Let me know if am being unclear in any of this.... I just want to be really informed before tomorrow.

so, as long as a review isnt triggered that changes the outcome or my condition doesnt get any better...then i will have it for life?

ok thanks. and just to be clear, once you make a claim and it is granted, you receive compensation for life, correct?

wow, i hope its that easy for me, somehow i doubt it though. stupid question, what is the VARO? is that the veterans commission representative that i make the claim with?

pete53, im curious. you said it was only mentioned on your discharge evaluation. was it noted that you had some pes planus during entry at all? regardless of that, what was your pes planus diagnosis at discharge? mild/moderate/severe and asymptomatic or symptomatic...?

thanks, just out of curiosity... why do you advise against adding claims?

whats the c file?

yes sir! :) thank you though, you're right. i also thought they might take the claim less seriously if you going for multiple. but again, probably not a real world concern. i already have 10% for tinnitus. trying for hiatal hernia and pes planus. my service record is also riddled with back pain comments, when i look back at the beginning, i had no comments during MEPS, it all started after the deployment. the VA did a spine x-ray and said everything looked good. i think i'll get a second opinion from my regular doc and try to find out whats going on.

i think i tend to agree with you on the timelines. I was more or less worried that the VA might see it as a red flag if im trying to put in a bunch of claims. although im only putting in for two....i didnt want skepticism of being someone "working the system" this is probably an unwarranted concern of mine but i wanted to ask. since everything is truthful and backed with evidence, i shouldnt have anything to worry about i guess.

ok, do you think i should try to avoid doing multiple claims at once? i have already put in for a claim for hiatal hernia a few months ago, still pending. i dont want to seem like im bombarding the VA. does it matter?

so, i've been having recent problems with foot swelling/edema, tingling in the foot and my podiatrist said my pes planus (flat foot) is severe. the pooling of blood/fluid in my foot has left discolorations due to iron deposits. she also found an old injury (during the time of military service) the bone that my tibial tendon attaches to had fractured at one point but is healed now. my question is, im having all these problems now and my current doc rates me at severe pes planus. when i look through my Military medical record all the way back to MEPS, my initial diagnosis was Mild and Asymptomatic Pes Planus. thats all i have in my service record, do you think that will be enough? i dont have any other comments about it during service because i never wanted to complain during/after a big hike. im hoping the difference of diagnosis between MEPS and NOW will be enough evidence. if so, anyone have any idea of what rating i would receive from the problems described? thanks