Need Some Help With Wording This Claim

[oldman273]

I need help with wording this claim the right way. I have artheritis in my back from a SC injruy. I do have the IMO for the Artheritis which has shown up on MRI and bone scans. I have tired to look these conditions up on the Va Web site to get a clue on what to claim. My local va rep is a good one but we just have not had the same schedule. It is aggrivating when you know what you want to claim but with the VA if you do not ask for you will not get it. Most of the itme you ask for it and fight like hell for the claim you have. What I have going on is SC Degnearitive disc disease that has progressed to IVDS as to the progresson of the disease. I have artheritis in my back that has been cited as a result from the SC back condition. I appriciate the help.

[LarryJ]

Who "cited" the arthritis as secondary to your already service connected DDD. And, isn't DDD just another way of saying "arthritis of the spine"?

Regardless, you can take this citation of arthritis of your back that has been tied to your SC'd DDD and file a claim.

File it just as it is diagnosed in your IMO (whatever the IMO provider called his/her diagnosis), as secondary to my Service Connected Degenerative Disk Disease.

[jbasser]

DDd /DJD is arthritis of the back.

IVDS is commonly rated for DDD or disks.

Now the kicker is this.

You will be rated for one of the other and not both as it is considered pyramiding.

The only advantage is that both ratings require the effected nerves or raduculpathy to be rated separate.

J

[deltaj]

I need help with wording this claim the right way. I have artheritis in my back from a SC injruy. I do have the IMO for the Artheritis which has shown up on MRI and bone scans. I have tired to look these conditions up on the Va Web site to get a clue on what to claim. My local va rep is a good one but we just have not had the same schedule. It is aggrivating when you know what you want to claim but with the VA if you do not ask for you will not get it. Most of the itme you ask for it and fight like hell for the claim you have. What I have going on is SC Degnearitive disc disease that has progressed to IVDS as to the progresson of the disease. I have artheritis in my back that has been cited as a result from the SC back condition. I appriciate the help.

Perhaps it would help you if you reviewed the V.A. rating schedule. Go to the website of code of federal regulations. Click on search or browse a CFR. Select Title 38 CFR. Hit continue at the top of that menu. Select volume 2 of 38 CFR and then search under the word arthritis. You will have to scroll past a whole bunch of other material probably before you get to the rating schedule for this condition. I'm not sure if arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative disc disease are the same thing. You can also search the website of the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals under these topics to find cases to see if these terms are used interchangably. Sometimes arthritis is caused by other conditions (like trauma from combat) which can be rateable separately.

[deltaj]

I need help with wording this claim the right way. I have artheritis in my back from a SC injruy. I do have the IMO for the Artheritis which has shown up on MRI and bone scans. I have tired to look these conditions up on the Va Web site to get a clue on what to claim. My local va rep is a good one but we just have not had the same schedule. It is aggrivating when you know what you want to claim but with the VA if you do not ask for you will not get it. Most of the itme you ask for it and fight like hell for the claim you have. What I have going on is SC Degnearitive disc disease that has progressed to IVDS as to the progresson of the disease. I have artheritis in my back that has been cited as a result from the SC back condition. I appriciate the help.

You mentioned IVDS and I assume you mean intervertebral disc syndrome. I think this is narrowing of the discs. Maybe I wrong but can't this condition cause increased pain, neuropathy (numbness or tingling), decreased range of motion, etc.? Is this restricting your ability to work?

Edited September 2, 2009 by deltaj (see edit history)

[pacmanx1]

I need help with wording this claim the right way. I have artheritis in my back from a SC injury. I do have the IMO for the Artheritis which has shown up on MRI and bone scans. I have tired to look these conditions up on the Va Web site to get a clue on what to claim. My local VA rep is a good one but we just have not had the same schedule. It is aggrivating when you know what you want to claim but with the VA if you do not ask for you will not get it. Most of the itme you ask for it and fight like hell for the claim you have. What I have going on is SC Degnearitive disc disease that has progressed to IVDS as to the progresson of the disease. I have artheritis in my back that has been cited as a result from the SC back condition. I appriciate the help.

I agree with Larry, what I would do is file a claim and state "I am an 80% service connected disabled veteran and I request an increase due to the fact that I feel that my ((DDD or IVDS) what ever the doctor called it) is cause by or a result of my already service connected back injury. Then attached a copy of the IMO and treatment records to your claim and take it to the regional office and get a date stamp or mail it to VA certified return receipt. VA may request this information again at some point but when they ask for more evidence, you can give them your doctor’s name and address to release a copy of your treatment records or tell them to process it if you feel they have all the information they need. The thing is once you are rated you can take the rating to your doctor and have him/her review it to see if you were awarded correctly or lowballed.