Fletch

Sorry for the additional post..I don't see an edit feature. I'm hoping that my current surgery, that was just done March 28th, gets me from 50% to a 70% rating. I had a disc removed at the L4-5 level and the 2 vertebra there were notched out to free up the nerves. Doc says that it will have to be fused eventually.

I was placed on a kind of like terminal leave for 3 months at that's pretty much all I got. Maybe I shouldn't have taken the lump sum when I got out. *sigh*

Thanks for the answers guys. I was active duty and extended 9 months for treatment purposes. Part of this was hospitalization. (3 months learning to walk again). I should just take what I got and be happy. LOL!

I was med boarded with 30% sacroiliac joint dysfunction and 10% for migraines. I only got to keep my base privileges (ID) for 1 year after discharge. I'm currently rated at 50%. I could totally use base privileges again. I just had another surgery March 28th and am recovering from that.

Not to run away with signal6's thread, but should I be eligible for base privileges then? Am I considered "medically retired then? I can hardly walk a block without almost collapsing and I can't get disabled vet license plates because I'm not rated 100%. I'm pretty independent, regardless of pain, mainly because I hate feeling like I always need help. I still haven't accepted my disability i guess. Probably like every other disabled vet, I always feel like I get shafted.

I'm not so sure about this "medically retired" term. I got med boarded for a broken hip rated at 30% and they gave me a lump sum and gave me base privileges for a year and I lost that. Once I filed my VA claim, I had to payback the lump sum, which sucked. Sooo...I would not take the lump sum. Paying it back took a long time. You know, they should let disabled vets keep their base privileges. It would help me a lot.

I don't want to demand yet! LOL! Lets see what happens from here first. If I have to file a NOD, then I will be demanding!!

Thanks for the answers. I am going to get copies of my neuro doc's records after my surgery is over. I will highlight the service connection by my neurologist as Berta mentioned. My neurologist is on the board of neurology in 2 states and has practices in 2 states. He's a very respected neuro doc. I don't think that I will have a problem with his short link to service connection. I could probably get an IMO from my family practice doc, but I don't know how much weight that would hold.

I got one of those letters that states the they need additional info...Here's what it said. My answers are in maroon. We are working on your claim for Internal disc disruption secondary to Sacroiliac Dysfunction and shortening of left leg secondary to Sacroiliac Dysfunction. We need evidence showing the the following conditions existed from military service to present time: Internal disc disruption L4-L5 secondary to sacroiliac dysfunction and shortening of left leg secondary to sacroiliac dysfunction. (There is no evidence of IDD L4-L5 existing from military service. It has developed since and because of my service connected sacroiliac dysfunction.) Considering Secondary Disabilities Please submit medical evidence on your current internal disc disruption L4-L5 and shortening of the left leg as well as evidence showing a connection between your internal disc disruption L4-L5 and shortening of the left leg and your service connected sacroiliac dysfunction. We will consider service connection for your internal disc disruption L4-L5 and shortening of the left leg as secondary to your service connected sacroiliac dysfunction. Note: Temporary or intermittent flare ups of a condition are not considered aggravation, unless the underlying condition, as contrasted by symptoms, has gotten worse. (I love the Note they added! LOL! What does it mean that they will consider service connection for my IDD? Does that mean that they are already leaning my direction? I have all the evidence including MRI's since 2007. I asked for temporary 100% since I have surgery this Saturday March 28th and this is the letter I got back along with a side note that said to apply for temporary 100% after my surgery. My neurosurgeon wouldn't write a letter stating the connection, but did put in my file that my IDD, in his opinion, has directly developed because of my sacroiliac dysfunction and left leg shortness. Is that enough to link it? It's very frustrating when it's obvious there is a link to these conditions. Another thing,,,Why would the VA need evidence of my leg shortness? I had an exam at the VA on December 18th, 2008 and they measured and found that it has gone from 1/2 inch shorter to 1 full inch now. It was actually 1 and 1/4 inch shorter, but the VA doc wrote 1 inch. They already have that info! *UGH!! Any insight would be a great help!! I already plan on getting copies of my neuro records a couple of weeks after the surgery to send to the VA.)

Thanks for all your responses. You would think that after all these years, the VA would run like a well oiled machine. Isn't the VA now supposed to help vets instead of being against them? Won't they just make me do another c&p exam?

I currently have a sc'd Sacroiliac Dysfunction under code 5255 Femur, impairment of with marked knee or hip disability. Basically my left leg is 1 inch shorter now and my hips sit crooked. Apparently since I've been walking crooked all these years,(12) it has messed up my L4-5 disc and it has herniated and collapsed onto the nerve that controls leg function. I get episodes of intense pain and numbness in my legs and the stop working from time to time. It's kind of embarrassing when it happens in public. I've been going to physical therapy in preparation for surgery. The surgery date is March 28th. I asked for the VA to review this and increase me on January 14th. I also asked for temporary 100% since I will be out of work for 2 months. The response I got was that they would first have to connect my spine as secondary to my hip. I figured that this would be an easy task. The evidence speaks for itself. My neuro doc wont write a letter because he doesn't want to get involved and is too busy. My neuro doc said that my records should proove everything they need to connect it. Basicall he said that your hips sit cock-eyed,,what do you think that will do to your spine? Anyway, The answer from the VA was that they understand that my surgery is March 28th and that if it is determined that it is service connected, they would grant temporary 100% for the time I'm laid up. The issue I have is that my surgery is the Saturday after next and I will be out of work from that date. I understand that they will back pay if found in my favor, but will my bills accept being back paid? I'm so frustrated!! My other question is...How hard is it to get and proove a secondary condition to a service connected condition? Would my MRI's and civilian medical records be enough? Thanks in advance...

Wow! Thats fantastic info!! Thanks tons!!

Thanks for your answer spike. Another issue I have with this whole VA process is the language which was typed on my award letter. In some cases, it was broken English. Totally unprofessional in my opinion. For instance,,,,an A was left out and a few AND's. I'm not trying to be critical with the VA, but come on! Oh...ya,,,I noticed that they said that they need some more info on my son. I have to call and find out what they need. they should have everything since he was born at 29Palms. What could they possibly be missing? Thanks, Fletch

Yes, I am SC'd at 0% for my blood pressure. Thanks for all your answers! You guys and gals are great.

Thanks Spike! Very good explanation. I totally understand it from your post. Another question... How do I only rate 0% for my blood pressure? (Hypertension) I'm not on any medications. I'm self regulated. I know what to eat if my blood pressure gets too high. I've tried my best to stay off the medications. Is this the reason why I'm only 0%? Looking forward to your answers! Fletch

thanks carlie. Do you know what other benefits I'm entitled to being 50% SC'd?

Well...I was previously rated at 40% and the breakdown is 30% for Sacroiliac Dysfunction and 10% for Migraines. I had one of those exams where you go in and they check you out again. I was armed with my civilian medical records and a letter from my doctor stating that my migraines are 3 to 5 times a month in frequency and are prostrating. I even had my employer write a letter as well to attest to how many times I called out or went home because of these headaches. (22 days total) VA's response: The evaluation of migraine headaches is increased to 30% disabling. An evaluation of 30% is granted whenever there are characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months. A higher evaluation of 50% is not warranted unless they are very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. Since there is a likelihood of improvement, the assigned evaluation is not considered permanent and is subject to a future review examination. ^^^What kind of bull is this? I gave them every treatment record I had since 1993 to present. The facts show an increase in frequency and that they are prostrating. They even put in their own response that 30% means that I have an attack once a month on average. I have 3 to 5 and they have all the evidence. Maybe I just don't know what very frequent is to get that 50% rating. This is so frustrating dealing with them. It seems like they like to play with our lives. Totally stressing me out. How do they figure your total rating? I now am rated 30% for Sacroiliac Dysfunction and 30% for Migraines and 0% for blood pressure and they told me my rating is now 50%. I was at 40%. I just was awarded 20% more than I had and it only equaled a 10% increase of my total rating? Thanks in advance for your comments!! Fletch

Yes, they are under code 8100. Thanks for the quick reply. I've missed 3 weeks of work last year dealing with these stupid headaches. This is totally verifiable through my employer. My doctor has me on Fiorcet. It seems to work some times but not others. They do knock me down when they occur. The frequency is 4 or 5 times monthly. Some more severe than others. In the letter that my doctor gave me to give to the VA states that they can call her any time to talk to her and she said taht if they do, she will talk to them. She still says that these headaches are tension. She also stands on tension and migraine are generally the same thing and that it's all doctors opinion. Is this true?

October 08', I filed for an increase. The VA sent me to my local VA doctor and he put me through some tests. ROM was included. He also measured my legs again. I developed Sacroiliac Dysfunction while on active duty. My left leg was 1/2 inch shorter than my right. Currently, My left leg is a full inch shorter. I've just been diagnosed with IDD. (Internal Disc Disruption in the L4,L5 in my back) This is the reason that my left leg gives out and I fall. My neurosurgeon says that it's probable that the IDD stemmed from my Sacroiliac problem. I'm currently rated at 30% for this. Does me developing IDD warrant an increase? My surgeon has me going to physical therapy 3 times a week to build up the muscles in my back before surgery. I cant even walk a half mile before the pain is too intense or I collapse. Question 2...I also asked for an increase for my migraines. Currently rated at 10%. My doctor wrote a letter for me, but called them tension headaches. I confronted her with this and she said that tension and migraine headaches are just about the same thing. Is this going to fly? Thanks in advance for your help! Fletch