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I was rated 20% for my shoulder due to many dislocations and 10% for cervical strain. I applied for lower back condition thru the DAV. It was denied because they stated the scoliosis I have is not service related. I appealed and asked for a hearing. Since I didn't mention scoliosis in the claim I'm not sure why that is all that they looked at. I've had a back Xray which showed "2. Mild anterior endplate spurring, with disc heights maintained. 3. Thoracic dextroscoliosis, measuring 22 degrees" Which I'm told is indicative of degenerative disc disease and/or arthritis. However, I don't have any in service medical treatment records for my back because I never complained due to fear of losing my flight status as a pilot. I'm being seen by a private sector doctor and getting facet joint injections and medial branch block. How should I appeal this? Should I get a nexus letter stating the arthritis was caused by my service on active duty as a pilot? Or should I ask the doctor to tie my lower back condition in as a secondary condition to cervical strain or shoulder problems?

Can anyone tell if this rateable... Not sure what to make of it..... VA medical disability exam results: RA - minimal talonavicular degenerative change is seen. Anarthodesis is seen at the base of the first carpal metacarpal articulation. A small superior calcaneal spur noted.

Ok, first let me say, I am sorry for the long winded post, and also if this is not in the proper place. I served on active duty USAF for 7 years from 2003 to 2010. Prior to joining, there were no instances of ever having back problems or even a day of back pain. During my service, I had several documented lower back pain clinic visits. Most of the time, I was given a exemption from physical training and some Ibuprofen. On three occasions, I was sent to physical therapy and to chiropractic services. Never were there any advanced imaging tests performed. After I separated in 2010, I did not file any claims for disability. I continued to have back problems that I would go see my primary care physician for and would be treated with muscle relaxers and/or steroids. In 2012, a friend that I kept in touch with from service told me I should go and file a claim, so I did. I filed for three issues (knee pain, back pain, and shoulder pain) on the advice of my VSO. The knee pain I had before I went in and it was documented before I went in, so I figured that to be a waste of time. The shoulder pain was just a click in my shoulder that was not really painful and caused no difference in my daily life so I did not see that as relevant. However, the back pain did not start until I joined service, and had become an issue that was more often painful that it was not painful. So I filed, and went to my C&P and they did an X-ray and ROM test for all three claims. Several months later I got a letter in the mail (to the wrong name) but with my information, that all three of the claims had been deemed not service connected. I was fresh out of college and just starting a new job, with newborn son, and basically running in every direction just to get day to day things accomplished and at the time the back pain while a pain in the butt, was more of a nuisance than anything else. So from that time until last 2015, I have been treated by my PCP approximately 2 or 3 times a year with steroids and muscle relaxers for lower back pain, and have seen a chiropractor on occasion. In 2015, I had a flare up of back pain, that sent me to my doctor, this was different, it was the same pain but much more intense. The PCP said it sounded like a herniated disc, but that they would treat it with physical therapy. I asked "can we please do an MRI to confirm"? His response was that the MRI is an expensive test and that it is better to do the physical therapy and see if it gets better. Well over a 3 month period of physical therapy it did gradually get better but did not return to the same. Then, 1 month ago, while picking up a pair of shoes, I could not stand back up, every attempt to straighten my lower back was met with excruciating pain. I was home alone with 3 children, my wife was at work. My youngest (7 months old at the time) was in his crib crying, and I was stuck on my hands and knees. I called my wife who came home to help. But when she attempted to help me stand, my legs were numb (like not there numb), the pain in my lower back when attempting to stand sent me into screams of pain. We had no choice but to call for an ambulance to take me to the ER. When they placed me on the stretcher and straightened my lower back, for the first time in my life, I blacked out. At the ER they finally ordered an MRI, and it was confirmed I had a herniated disc, with several fragments pressing against the nerve root. They referred me to a neurologist and he recommended I let it wait 4 weeks to self heal and then determine if I wanted surgery. Two weeks in, I called him and said schedule the surgery. I had paid radiating down my right leg. I was unable to sit, drive, stand, walk. The only thing I could do was lay on my side with my knees bent 30 degrees. He performed the surgery and said that things were worse than the initial MRI, he said he did remove several bone fragments from my nerve root, and that I had sever disc degeneration to the point that there is almost no disc left. He said I am likely looking at fusion in the next 5 to 10 years. So, now that brings us to present day. I have called a different VSO and scheduled an appt. I am going to re-file my claim. Is there any chance of this turning out favorably for me?

Looking for some extra guidance. I go through a county VSO and they are a great asset to have but I always like to do my own research and last time i went in, the info i got from reading here and from the post i had helped out my award the last time. I am currently rated 10% for a lumbar strain. I am going through a C&P that is pending at this point. Prior to the C&P exam but after I filed, I had to have emergent surgery on my L5-S1 (i was falling constantly). In the claim, I filed for an increase in my low back strain, i filed for the bilateral leg weakness associated with the foot drop, bilateral radiculopathy, among many other things. Most pertaining to the back and the symptoms. I am rated for the left hip and knee and filed for right knee and hip secondary to the altered gait which is in appeals and sent in a nexus letter. Since surgery i have had lot of issues with my lower legs and the nerves. Mind you it has been 17 years since the initial injury so i expected the problems with the nerves. The doctor told me it wasn't going to be an easy road and i may always have it. It has (knock on wood) corrected the constant falling that i was having so to me the surgery was a success. My question to everyone is about the new symptom. I have since developed bilateral restless leg syndrome (RLS). I have the cramping like i just ran a marathon, pins and needles, and the feeling like something is constantly crawling on my skin. This is all in the evening and thought the night. All of which has developed post surgery and has increased every day since. because i am rated for the radiculopathy, is this something that the VA considers to be the same or is this in a totally different class of its own? I plan on filing a claim on it any way but my near Surgeon is sending me to a Neurologist so i want to wait to make sure that the diagnosis is there first. I am also trying to get into both my VA and personal primary care to get the diagnosis as well in order to have it well documented as i know how the VA wants it spelled out for them. I am just curious how they like to rate this. Also, because of the RLS, this has caused a massive issue with sleep disturbance. Is this something that i should file with it as they go hand in hand? How do you guys think i should handle this to have the best outcome? Thank you so much!!

This is my first post and I apologize if it's in the wrong area. I researched other peoples issues but I find mine to be a bit unique. I will do this chronologically and as summarized as possible: I left the U.S. Army Infantry in May of 2009, after serving since Jan 2006. I had not found any work but I was attending school (GI bill was coming in nice). When I received a recall packet (not unexpected at all) I dropped school happily to have my back checked out. Soon enough, they found the problem and released me. 9 Oct 2009 FINDINGS: There is bilateral spondylolysis at L5 with grade 1- spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1. IMPRESSION: 1. Bilateral spondylolysis at L5 with grade 1 anterolisthesis of L5 on S1. 2. Indistinctness of the superior endplate of L5, this may be artifactual, however a CT scan of the lumbar spine should be obtained for more complete evaluation. 15 Oct 2009 Radiologic Examination Report Procedure: CT L-Spine w/o contrast CAT scan lumbar spine There is grade 1 spondylolisthesis. No abnormality otherwise identified. Transcription Date/Time: 15 Oct 2009 23 Oct 2009 Provisional Diagnosis: ACQUIRED DEFORMITY - SPONDYLOLISTHESIS Reason for Request: 23 yeat old USIRR male with grade 1 spondylolisthesis, please evaluate and provide recommendations for deployability. --- Consult(s): -Referred To: PHYSICAL THEMPY CONSULT (72 Hours) Specialty: Clinic: PHYSICAL THERAPY Primary Diagnosis: ACQUIRED DEFORMITY - SPONDYLOLISTHESIS 2. sleep disturbances: Pt reports trouble sleeping seocndary to his physical symptoms. Has tried Ambien in past, was not able to tolerate med due to adverse side effects. Will start trial of Lunesta. Medication(s): -ESZOPTCLONE (LUNESTA) 1MG--PO 1MG TAB - TAKE 1 TABLET By MOUTH AT BEDTIME #30 RFO Ql 30 Rf: 0 & MedBoarded Now, I spent some time trying to get school back organized (disaster) when I got back. That and I took on the big ole VA alone: Dear Mr. (so and so) We made a decision on your claim for service connected compensation received on December 10,2009. We determined that the following condition was not related to your military service, so service connection couldn't be granted: Spondylolisthesis (claimed as back and spinal condition) During this time I was being made a cuckold by my now ex-wife who thankfully; bore none of my children. So I deal with my divorce and struggle to survive. Having still worked absolutely no jobs, I try for school again. Only this time I received my GI Bill a day after the last day to drop classes. I'm basically living out of my car when Dec 2011 rolls around and---- *Ring ring ring* "We want you to be Intelligence for the reserves" Ummmm.... unemployed for 3 years; yea, i'll go intelligence. BUT I want my back taken care of first because it's worse than ever. VA denied me so I never tried any support other than a chiropractor. I'm a 11B grunt, what do people expect?? Reserves say: No problem VA looks at my file like a train wreck, my unit gets SRP so probably deploying; my back gets checked: LOD - now they're looking at a medboard (#2 by my recollection). I'm stressed, I started to smoke marijuana because my g-ma that raised me (I moved one block from her nursing center to help feed/entertain) died a few months ago. I self referred to my command and now i'm in OSAP. While OSAP will help me quite smoking cigarettes, I doubt it will be as useful for me with marijuana. (My joke: Nicotine gum was my gateway drug.... didn't go over well) I know i'm going to smoke, it helps better than all the meds. My unit revoked my security so no longer can I "run S-2". Instead I'll be tasked to menial 11B labor for a stoner. I came to work, I busted ass; I even said "I'll come in for the flag". What did I get in return? First Ibuprofen, then; Tramadol Baclofen Meloxicam I initially opted out (myself!) of all of the higher end drugs because of my addictive personality. I'll pass on the surgeries, i'm 25; I should be able to do therapy! (Not a therapy 2 hours away, making the event worthless because the drive back will destroy everything they do....) All the meds either make me sick; or make me loopy. I only take baclofen now for bedtime when necessary... ----------- Now i'm supposed to talk to someone in the benefits section eh? It's been 3 years, I feel pain in my UPPER back, shoulders, neck, and arms as well as my lower extremities. My spine looked dominoed at my chiropractors and now the VA tells me: Treat it psychosomatically The pressure has me curling my toes all day long, I am in pain, I have trouble finding and holding suitable work that doesn't make me feel like a bus ran over me. They have had me shredding paper in the reserves because they know about my problem. When I've been asked about my back from VA, they say "Can you touch your toes". Never have they asked, "How far can you go before it hurts".... I always touched my toes and said "Thanks, now my back feels like ice" to those bastards! Any helpful data would be nice, I want to apply for 100% (Not looking to be a lifer people, I just have NO SUPPORT FOR MY CONDITION). I just want resolution so I can get back to a REGULAR life. My doctor should write me a bed rest prescription; it will prevent me from being hard labored at Drill these next few months thank god. Lastly; I exited the military over 200 pounds. Today I weigh 145. I've done the exact OPPOSITE of the boy who cried wolf; yet i'm treated as a malingerer the ENTIRE process. Any help at all, I will no doubt be homeless again soon when the paychecks stop coming next month.

CURRENTLY IM 100% WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECEIVE SMC FOR BACK PROBLEMS LIKE DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE