[What Constitutes As 5% Of My Body]

I was just awarded 0% for my PFB appeal. I was given 0% because At least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body affected has to be affect to receive 10% compensation. I have shaving chits for my face and the back of my head from when I was in the Marines and I currently have very small PFB under my chin an neck and PFB all over the back of my head and neck with dark discoloration. Is this enough to appeal again for10%.

[Back Pay Question]

John999 I'm pretty sure the 10% rating would have done nothing. I already had 20% then 10% then 70%. With the added 10% according to the Disabilities Calculator I would have 80.56% that would be rounded down to the 80% I already have.

Jbasser I didn't have razor bumps on the back of my head until after boot camp. I still deal with them now. It's all documented, I really think that someone just overlooked my info.

I’ve always thought that compensation would be given for a rating that went into notice of disagreement and was overturned later. Was I wrong?

[Back Pay Question]

I am 80% rated now and I have a notice of disagreement going right now for PFB (razor bumps) because it was denied because the PFB (razor bumps) was not shown to have originated while in service (meaning PFB now is confirmed only lacking evedince I had PFB in service). This was a over site because I have all the no shave chits and other military medical records showing I had PFB (razor bumps) in service. Presuming the VA overturns its decision will I get back pay for a 10% PFB rating for the time the claim was going even though it won’t raise my now 80% rating to 90%.

[Degenerative Disc Disease, Reverse Lordosis, & Stenosis Ratings]

I have multiple instances of injuries to my cervical spine in service. I have never been in a motor vehicle accident. If they clump the 3 disabilities together what rating will I be looking at.

[Degenerative Disc Disease, Reverse Lordosis, & Stenosis Ratings]

I recently had an MRI of my cervical spine. My MRI has shown that I have mild to moderate degenerative joint disease located from c3 -c4 spine through c5 -c6 spine. The MRI also shows I have a reversal of my cervical lordotic curve. The reversal of my cervical lordotic curve overlapping with my degenerative joint disease in my spine has caused Mild anterior central stenosis located from c3 -c4 spine through c5 -c6 spine. My military medical records show instances of back area trauma and my military personnel file shows job MOS 2531 (Field Radio Operator) required me to carry heavy radios and radio accessories on my back repeatedly while doing physical work. I submitted a claim with with 5 military medical records showing documented cervical and lumbar trama and military doctors assesments as well as this last MRI that tells degenerative disc disease, reverse lordosis, & stenosis. My question is will the cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical reverse lordosis, & cervical stenosis be rated seperatly or all together. Also what rating will I be looking at for each.

[Fails To Show That This Disability Has Been Clinically Diagnosed]

I am not a doctor.

However degenerative joint disease is also termed as osteoarthritis and can,in time, affect many joints in the body.

Parsonage turner syndrome is fairly rare.

“Do one of my doctors have to make some sort of diagnosis? “

Yes, and they might want to consider the fact that you already have DJD in your knees and this conditions(osteoarthritis) can affect other joints as well in time.

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2932

Have you ever been seen by a rheumatologist or an orthopedist ?

A Neurologist specializes in disorders of the human nerve system.They are good at what they do but this appears to me to be an advancement of your SC degenerative jiont disorder into your spine.

This BVA case makes the point I am trying to make:

Since osteosarthritis is apparently (from what I gathered at many internet sites) the same as DJD, then as this case shows ,it can affect joints in different areas of the body.

ORDER

Service connection for osteoarthritis of both ankles, both 
knees, and the low back, is granted.  

Service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.
http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/view.jsp?FV=http://www.va.gov/vetapp04/Files2/0414774.txt

Thanks Berta. I understand now.

I really appreciate all the help everyone keeps giving me. Thanks again

[Fails To Show That This Disability Has Been Clinically Diagnosed]

Except that NOS stands for Not Otherwise Specified, which in a sense means you don't have a definate diagnosis. the 359.9 is the ICD 9 code and it further describes it as a mitochondrial myopathy. The mitochondria aspect of this means the VA is immediately going to push this is a genetic disorder, which the vast majority are. However, it can also be an aquired condition from exposure to toxins. I suggest you invest in a top notch Independent medical exam/opinion, that further identifies your condition if possible (refine the diagnosis) and that identifies what you were exposed to in service that caused your disease. You need more answers about what is going on for your VA claim and also for yourself personally.

Best of Luck!

Thanks for the info 71m10. I do have a medical record from when I was in that says that I was exposed to a venting litium battery. I am kinda doing my claim on my own. The vso around here is really nice but doesn't seem to do more than help me submitt info. I've managed to get a 70% using this forum, my old military medical records, findings from my doctors and Ebenifits. From what your telling me my diagnosis will not be good enough. What should I do from here?

[Fails To Show That This Disability Has Been Clinically Diagnosed]

I just wanted to let you guys know that I was going over all of these medical records that I have from my neurologist and I was diagnosed with a condition of myopathy nos (359.9). I have no idea if this is an over sight or not. The VA is in possession of the records that I have that clearly state my neurologist’s assessment of my condition and names the condition Myopathy and gives a medical code. I’m sending in a NOD in the morning and crossing my fingers.

[Fails To Show That This Disability Has Been Clinically Diagnosed]

Thanks everyone for your help

[Fails To Show That This Disability Has Been Clinically Diagnosed]

kaosama05,

Are you a Gulf War vet? If so, you might be able to claim the condition as an undiagnosed illness.

I am not certain on your answer if you need an actual diagnosis otherwise. It may be possible that your doctor could diagnose some non-specific condition - one of those "he has this, but we are not sure what is causing it" type diagnosis.

Can I ask how long you have been out of the military? And have you been seeing a doctor for it the whole time?

I'm not a Gulf War vet, I was in the Marines from 1995 - 1999. I have seen my doc on and off for this in the past 7 - 8 yrs (got muscle relaxers and pain meds) but only really looking for help the past 3yrs (seeing specialist) because the pain has gotten worse over time. I'm not sure of what to do from here. Is asking my personal doctor to diagnose me with a non-specific condition (as you were saying) what a vet who gets this decision from the va do? I'm just kinda lost right now. My knees were never diagnosed while I was in and I was self medicating with asprin and heat/ice and the va named the problem and rated it in the past. It seems as if I am missing something.

[Fails To Show That This Disability Has Been Clinically Diagnosed]

What's your goal?

pr

What I'm trying to say is what should I do. I have issues that I deal with on a daily basis, issues that were never clinically diagnosed but treated many, many times in service I have been to my primary civilian doctor a few times and got meds and was sent to a neurologist who can see issues but doesn't know exactly what is causing my problems. Whats a veteran to do. I'm lost what do I do. Do I go to my doctor and tell him I need him to try and diagnose me or I just don't know....

[Fails To Show That This Disability Has Been Clinically Diagnosed]

Hello everyone,

First off let me say thanks to every one who posts on here, the information that I have read on here has helped me allot. I recently was denied for my claims of cervical spine condition, thracolumbar spine condition and right shoulder condition. All three conditions in my decision letter state that they are denied because the medical evidence of record fails to show that this disability has been clinically diagnosed. From this I get that my issues are in my records but because I don't have a named diagnoses I am denied. I have tons of in service treatment records from Docs and military neurologists stating that something is going on but they can't put their finger on it. One of the neurologists when I was in thought that I might have parsonage turner syndrome. I have been to my doctor who sent me to a neurologists who did tons of tests and states that my test show some nonspecific myopathic findings. I was awarded degenerative knee joint disease for only two entry's in my service records about knee trauma without having degenerative knee joint disease clinically diagnosed in my records. How do I handle this from here? Do one of my doctors have to make some sort of diagnosis? I have all my military medical records and the records from my neurologist. Can someone help me figure out my next move.