pkbivins

Hello fellow Vets, Its has been awhile since posting on this wonderful forum. A lot has changed on this site,I was a member several years ago when things looked very different. This place has really grown! I have a question regarding Secondary Claims. Several years ago the VA diagnosed me with Osteopenia. It went untreated and eventually turned into full blown Osteoporosis. I have had several bone density test to verify this. I have been seeing a civilian MD(I give myself weekly injections of Testosterone 100mg) and he has written a letter stating my Osteoporosis is directly related to the many years of being on Narcotics for pain control. I was Medically discharged from the Navy in 95 after having an 8 level spinal fusion with Harrington Rods. I am currently TDIU being paid at 100% level. Though when you add up add my disability its around 140% then VA math has it whittled down to 80%, if that makes any sense? All Service Connected. Have been out of work since 2003, I am a Registered Nurse. My question is, "Can I file for secondary issues as the Osteoporosis was directly related to the years of Narcotics for pain control?" Also, I was told by one of the guys in my Pain School that if your pain medications have increased OR have changed to something Stronger, it is grounds for a 10% increase. Has anyone else been told this? Thank you for the help. I must say that I owe my current disability rating to this forum. I followed the advice from people I trusted and had to be patient with the system but it eventually paid off. Thanks Hadit. SailorDoc

Its been awhile since I posted last. I had submitted a claim regarding osteopenia which was diagnosed by the VA about 5 years ago. Also dx by the VA was Posterior Neuropathy as well as distal sensory neuropathy. Neither one of these conditions have ever been treated by the VA, UNTIL I had started receiving tx from my civilian MD's. The osteopenia is now full blown osteoporosis, and I am taking Fosamax as well as Testosterone. The neuropathy is being tx by another civilian MD with steroid injections and denervation procedures. Needless to say my claim was shot down. Stating that I was receiving the max award for my back, which is the leding cause of these other problems. My question is if I could get my MD say that the neuropathy was caused by my spinal fusion would this be beneficial to submit as new evidence? Understand that I am a 100P&T TDIU w/SSDI. What I am looking for is retroactive benefits from the time the neuropathy was first dx (which was about 5 years ago). I file a Chapter 11 (???) due to the VA not treating either of these conditions. As a direct result of the nontreatment by VA these conditions have continued to get worse to the point I am today. Appreciate any thoughts or input. Phil

HI Berta, Thanks for your reply and suggestion. I did as you have suggested and fired off the letter today along with Mayo report and a copy of my bone density study. As I previously stated the plan is to start me on Actinil and Testosterone injections. As always thank you for your help. Phil

Hello Everyone, I wanted to drop a line regarding some SC issues, maybe it will help someone else. I had a spinal fusion of T8-L4 with Harrington rods while on AD in 1992. After being medically discharged, i began my appeals through the VA. Three years ago I had xrays of my spine done at the VA. It revealed extensive osteopenia of the spine. My VA doc told me it was probably due to the Harrington rods, which severely limited my range of motion to my spine. Around the same time I had a nerve conduction study that showed I had distal and sensory neuropathy with radiculopathy in my left leg. Once I had the results of these studies I submitted them as new evidence for an increase in my compensation. I had suggested to my VA doc that I be placed on Fosamax to help with my osteopenia. This request went unanswered. Recently my Medicare has kicked in and I began to see docs that could address these issues appropriately. I have been receiving spinal injections (steriods) for the neuropathy/radiculopathy. I also had another bone density test which revealed my T scores were off the chart. I now have full blown osteoporosis to the point if I fall I run the great risk of bone fracture in my spine, hip and or femur. I have been place on Actinil and will be getting Testosterone injections. My feeling is the osteopenia could have been arrested 3 years ago when it was first diagnosed by the VA. It has gone untreated until now. So I have submitted all of this new evidence to the VA for consideration for an increase and to have it retroactive to when being diagnosed 3 years ago. I will let you know how things turn out. I know this is probably a long shot but going form 10% to P&T was a long shot too.

Thanks for the reply. I had an 8 level spinal fusion w/rods as a result of a back injury while on active duty. The VA doc told me the osteopenia was probably a result of the rods. The rods severly limit my range of motion. As a result of the lack of range of motion the osteopenia came about. Its like not using a muscle, if you don't use the muscle after awhile the muscle begins to degenerate. Thats the story I got. Therefore, I have submitted this new evidence.

Several years ago I had some spine xrays taken at the VA which revealed that I had severe osteopenia of my spine. My VA doc told me this was probably due to the fact I have rods along my spine, which decreases my range of motion. He used the expression, "If you don't use it, you lose it." I had a bone density test but never found out the results. I submitted this evidence to the VA, but never received a disability rating for the osteopenia. I think they lumped it into something else. I was never treated for the osteopenia. Fast forward to present, I have since had my Medicare to kick in and I have been seeing non VA docs to treat my osteopenia. I have had another bone density test which revealed that I have full blown osteoporosis (severe prone to fracture). I have been started on Actonil along with a calcium Vitamin D supplement. In my opinion this should have been treated 3 years ago when the osteopenia was first diagnosed by the VA. Now the condition has become worse. I have submitted this new evidence to the VA and will be getting another C&P exam. Do you think this condition may be rated retroactively from the time I submitted 3 years ago? In a nut shell the condition was first diagnosed 3 years ago as osteopenia. It went untreated and now has developed into full blown osteoprosis. My feeling is if it had been treated 3 years ago the condition would not have developed to its present stated. Thanks for your help. Phil