Yong

Ron, Go to the retirement briefing. You can start 2 years out from the date you want to retire. At my retirement briefing at 25th ID, DAV Rep was there and had explained that service member can file for claims 90-180 days before actual retirement date. This process is call Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD). I had file my claims in Nov 06 through Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and yesterday I got a letter from DAV saying VA has assigned 40 percent. So, You can file claim 6 months before your retirement date. You can also have DAV or other representative organization to look at your service medical record at anytime. I had made copy of my medical record soon as I dropped the retirement paper work. Month later, I had DAV look at my medical record and they came out with 12 conditions that I should file for. Yong

Can some answer this question? I am also interested. Yong

Pete, I have Lumbar Degenerative Disc Diseases. I have filed my claims in Nov 2006. I am retired as Jan 07. While in service, my wife had save enough money to survive 12 months without me working and we have house that we put 50% down Federal Way, WA. Also, I have retirement pay from the Army. So, I do not qualify for SSD, unemployment, or any other help. I am just waiting for the VA claim. May be with the disability, I could learn a new skill so that it won't hert my body. I work 4 years as cannon crew member and 16 years as heavy wheel mechanic in the Army. As I read on this board, it seems very hard to get SC disability rated by VA. Currenty, my claim is in for: Lower back problem Bilateral Shoulder Bilateral Knee Bilateral Ankle R Wrist R thumb Bilateral Titinus Yong

What doctors will see the vets ? I am currently retired and unemployee. My only health insurance is Tricare Prime. My family and I are having hard time being seen by a good doctor or a specialist. I learned that over 90% of doctors here will not accept Tricare. I have to call around to find a doctor that would accept Tricare. Also, if you see a civilian doctor vs VA, you will end up with co-payment. At first, it did not seem much. However, when you have DDD, your wife has perminent Rheumatoid Arteritist, and your children get sick, the co-payment is not to be look at lightly. So, I don't think there is a good solution to the problem. Yong

Stretch, Motrin does not help with back pain anymore. I mostly take roxicet for pain. Many good advise from this board. I am now trying to find a way to build my claim so that on next claim I would have all the bullet it takes to get optimum result. Thanks again. Yong

Thank you, Yong

Vike, Thank you. Yong

I never knew so many vets are having problem with VA. I my self can't afford to pay a lawer to assist with my claims. However, this is the only way get things out of VA, it should be allow. Yong

MRI vs CT result. Had asked help for Lumbar DDD on my prior post. I did received good advise from many on this board. Thank you. However, more I look through my SMR, more questions comes through my head. Question: 1. Why different wording used? 2. Did my condition got worst? 3. I had recently filed for the va claim and completed C&P exam. No result was given (No ROM). What is the minimum rating should I expect from this. I am being treated with Roxicet, Flexeril, Prednison, Motrin, and Mobic or past 12 months for pain. NO bed rest. CT result: 19 DEC 05 L1-2: There is mild bilateral facet sclerosis. No evidence of disc herniation, central stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing. L2-3: There is bulging disc causing mild central canal stenosis and minimal neural foraminal narrowing bilaterally. Bilateral facet sclerosis is also present. L3-4: Buldging disc which indents the anterior thecal sac without causing central stenosis. There is hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum. Mild left neural foraminal narrowing is also evident. L4-5: There is a small broad-based bulge and disc space narrowing, causing mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. Bilateral facet sclerosis is also evident. L5-S1: Conjoined L5-S1 left nerve root. A small broad-based bulge appears to contact the left S1 nerve root without displacing it. No evidence of neural foraminal narrowing or central stenosis. MRI result: 1 Nov 2006 Diffuse degenerative disc desciccation without significant loss of disc height from L2-L3 through L5-S1. L2-L3 diffuse annular bulge with a small posterior annular tear mildly indenting the ventral thecal sac and causing mild spinal canal narrowing. The neural foramina are patent. L3-L4 posterior annular buldge with small central to right paracentral disc protrusion causing mild to moderate spinal narrowing. There is disc contact with the right L4 nerve root in the lateral recess, which is asymmetrically larger relative to the left. L4-L5 posterior disc protrusion-endplate osteophyte complex, bilateral facet and ligamenta flava degenerative change, which result in mild to moderate spinal canal and moderate right lateral recess/ subarticular zone narrowing. There is disc osteophte contact with the bilateral L5 nerve roots, worse in the right. L5-S1 bilateral facet hypertrophy and posterior disc and endplate osteophte complex, but no significant spinal or neural foraminal narrowing, nor nerve root displacement.

I was diognosed with flat feet condition moderate to severe asymtomatic when I join the army twenty years age. My physical before retirement states that I have severe flat feet asymtomatic. Can this be claim?

Sixthscents, Thanks for your advise and explanation on my condition. I become a Vet on 1 Feb 2007. I will pursue your recommandation. Can you give me your opinion to what VA might rate for this as is?

I looked through my SMR and noticed that Dr. from physical therapy had wrote Flex = WNL and Extension = 25% of normal. ????? Is anyone here from PI? I am looking for a friend, Airforce MSgt retired 2006 from Hawaii and returned to PI. His nickname is the DOM. If anyone know this person, please let him know that his friend is looking for him.

Vike 17, Thanks for the info. On good days, I can bend normal. However, on bad days, I can only bend half way. I am not sure what my flexion or extension is. My back had been hurting for many years but I had not seen the Dr. till resently because I did not want to be sick ranger. So, only limited documentation is in my SMR. For past 12 months, my back had been hurting for 1-2 times a month, lasting 1-2 weeks at a time. Only few of these been documented. I have no documentation of bed rest from the Dr. With current pain I am experiencing, I don't think I could work on the same job that I had in the service "mechanic".

Hi, I am new on the board. I need help on understanding my MRI result and what to expect from VA Claim. I'd just retired from the Army and I was diagnosed with DDD just before I got out. MRI dated 26 Oct 2006 states that I have following problems in my lumbar spine; Diffuse degenerative disc desciccation without significant loss of disc height from L2-L3 through L5-S1. L2-L3 diffuse annular bulge with a small posterior annular tear mildly indenting the ventral thecal sac and causing mild spinal canal narrowing. The neural foramina are patent. L3-L4 posterior annular buldge with small central to right paracentral disc protrusion causing mild to moderate spinal narrowing. There is disc contact with the right L4 nerve root in the lateral recess, which is asymmetrically larger relative to the left. L4-L5 posterior disc protrusion-endplate osteophyte complex, bilateral facet and ligamenta flava degenerative change, which result in mild to moderate spinal canal and moderate right lateral recess/ subarticular zone narrowing. There is disc osteophte contact with the bilateral L5 nerve roots, worse in the right. L5-S1 bilateral facet hypertrophy and posterior disc and endplate osteophte complex, but no significant spinal or neural foraminal narrowing, nor nerve root displacement. My Dr. in service told me that one out of 4 people at age 40 develope this problem. He also stated that unless I have hard time walking, I should control the symtems with pain medication (Roxicet, Mobic, Flexeril, and Prednesone). Need Help!!!!