lumbosacral Newbie W/disability Q

[armygrl]

Hi peoples,

this place is of great knowledge and I wish I would have found this before!

I just need a general idea on my situation

ETS'd 90'. Round # 2 Desert Storm...ETS'd 91' I had back problems from in the Army. It took VA until 2000 to do a CT scan, I get a 10%. The next 4 years I go through many painful days, Lumbar shots, surgery (diskectomy L5-S1) in 2004 (via private doctor) VA pays me 100% for 2 months convalescent and up to 40% rating. Still not better, continue w/private Orthopaedic, shots again and May 2007 my 2nd back surgery (diskectomy L4-L5) I go in July to ask for 100% convelecence for my 25 days out and an increase since I am actually feeling worse....both sets of 1st 3 toes are numb, ankle joints not functioning due to nerve damage. Just received my denial and a decrease from 40% to 10% they said I am better and no more Lumbosacral back pain? My private doctor was furious they based my pain/and back situation on using a goniometer which calculates degress you can bend. Some days I can bend forward more than others...........some days I cannot get out of bed.

The C&P doctor was very disinterested in what I was explaining to her, I felt she was judging me in a personal manner and had no interest in wanting to help me.

Lumbosacral pain vs. Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis. Still in pain and I am 6 months post op.

[Pete53]

Armygrl:

Welcome to Hadit and I agree with the earlier comments.Hadit is a good place to prepare, talk about and win your claim.

Good Luck!!!!

[luvHIM]

I was awarded SSD for my lower back and SSA used my VA file and VAMR to award it. I'm still waiting on compensation from the VA for my lower back. Although I have been service connected for over 20 years, I've never been compensated for it. So, don't give up. Whoever said that you must be proactive is absolutely correct. It may be a longer journey than you expected. And it may not be. It just all depends. But it is your persistance that will pay off in the end. Best Regards.

[cowgirl]

Armygrl, thank you for your service and tolerating what one volunteers for. Agrees with each and everyone that posted on your behalf here! Proactive is the best way to consider yourself now. A solid IMO statement will help support your claim more than most anything, firstmost. My back is sc at 10% however I have had several bouts of physical therapy, nevertheless, moving or stepping just a bit off center sets me back a few months at least.

A word of caution, be careful, dont hurt yourself trying to do everything up to the best of your ability at the time of an exam, just within your true ability. My exam other day seemed simple enough until doc extended my hip&leg too far out, I should have hollered out. Hurt to get off the table and for couple of days more. Hurts regularly and often increases for several days and nights at a time.

Will follow up with VA, xray planned, more appointments attended will show in my CFile also.

Do you have your CFILE?

Helps to have good VSO for sc and other increases, (cya).

The best to ya, cg

I was awarded SSD for my lower back and SSA used my VA file and VAMR to award it. I'm still waiting on compensation from the VA for my lower back. Although I have been service connected for over 20 years, I've never been compensated for it. So, don't give up. Whoever said that you must be proactive is absolutely correct. It may be a longer journey than you expected. And it may not be. It just all depends. But it is your persistance that will pay off in the end. Best Regards.