Diskectomy In 1989

[81150 CAFB]

First, great to find this site. I had this posted elsewhere,but I didn't know if was in the right place.

My question is regarding my back. In 1989, while in the USAF (1987-1991), I had an L4-L5 diskectomy (right side) and 20 years later I am currently recovering post-op for a micro-laminectomy/diskectomy on the left side along with removal of a bone spur...the imaging (MRI, myleogram w/ C-T scan) also showed additional protrusion on the right at L4-L5 and mild protusion at L5-S1 with possible nerve displacement. The private neurosurgen was only concerned with the l4-l5 issue and only does micro. He said that it would add a couple of hours to the surgery to reconstruct the right side. The only current problem I have on the right side is sciatica flair ups if I sit for extended periods of time and my toes are always insensitive/numb. He didn't want to mess with it since most of my pain was on the left. Should I get a letter from him saying that additional work is probabily needed and that I have DDD or IVDS?

I never filed for a claim when I was discharged in 1991 (why? no idea I guess something you really don't think about when you are 22 and no guidance).

Do I have a chance for a claim? I really haven't missed much work or have seen the doctor for my back in the last 20 years, since it was something you live with until about 4 months ago when the pain became severe and familiar except on the left side this time.

Do they rate you on how you are feeling now (he had surgery and is fine) or do they look at the surgeries as an indication of degeneration (ROM)? I am pretty sure that within 5 to 10 years, I will have additional surgeries...fushion or reconstruction.

Should I wait to see how this surgery effects me i.e does the sciatica pain go away etc...before starting a claim?

Additionally, I had a broken bone removed in my left foot about 5 years ago. I am constantly running into things and ended up breaking a small bone in my left foot that would not heal and had to be removed. Could this be related to my back (balance-gait-foot drop-atrophy)? Is there a test for this?

After reading some of the back pain/spine posts and repository, I'll admit that I am still confused about what compensation I would be entilted to (10%-40%)? I guess

Any help would be appriciated.

[carlie]

81150CAFB,

Welcome to Hadit.

carlie

[jbasser]

First, great to find this site. I had this posted elsewhere,but I didn't know if was in the right place.

My question is regarding my back. In 1989, while in the USAF (1987-1991), I had an L4-L5 diskectomy (right side) and 20 years later I am currently recovering post-op for a micro-laminectomy/diskectomy on the left side along with removal of a bone spur...the imaging (MRI, myleogram w/ C-T scan) also showed additional protrusion on the right at L4-L5 and mild protusion at L5-S1 with possible nerve displacement. The private neurosurgen was only concerned with the l4-l5 issue and only does micro. He said that it would add a couple of hours to the surgery to reconstruct the right side. The only current problem I have on the right side is sciatica flair ups if I sit for extended periods of time and my toes are always insensitive/numb. He didn't want to mess with it since most of my pain was on the left. Should I get a letter from him saying that additional work is probabily needed and that I have DDD or IVDS?

I never filed for a claim when I was discharged in 1991 (why? no idea I guess something you really don't think about when you are 22 and no guidance).

Do I have a chance for a claim? I really haven't missed much work or have seen the doctor for my back in the last 20 years, since it was something you live with until about 4 months ago when the pain became severe and familiar except on the left side this time.

He has probally already said it. You should get a copy of the OR report.

You also need a DOc to relate your current condition to your Fision in 1989.

Most likely it will be traumatic arthritis since it is post fusion with a separate rating for the effected nerves.

But you need to file the claim.

The foot would be considered a far reaching long shot.

J

Do they rate you on how you are feeling now (he had surgery and is fine) or do they look at the surgeries as an indication of degeneration (ROM)? I am pretty sure that within 5 to 10 years, I will have additional surgeries...fushion or reconstruction.

Should I wait to see how this surgery effects me i.e does the sciatica pain go away etc...before starting a claim?

Additionally, I had a broken bone removed in my left foot about 5 years ago. I am constantly running into things and ended up breaking a small bone in my left foot that would not heal and had to be removed. Could this be related to my back (balance-gait-foot drop-atrophy)? Is there a test for this?

After reading some of the back pain/spine posts and repository, I'll admit that I am still confused about what compensation I would be entilted to (10%-40%)? I guess

Any help would be appriciated.

[81150 CAFB]

I am currently working on getting the OR report and the orginal surgery was on the same disk just a different side. Wouldn't this automatically be related -current condition vs old surgery or am I assuming to much. Luckily I didn't have a fusion in 1989 just a big cut diskectomy - I don't know much about traumatic arthritis, I would think it would be degenrative.

Thanks for the welcome.

[jbasser]

The Correlation between in service and post service is not guaranteed. According to the regs you need a Nexus for the conditions as in a medical opinion.

Degenerative arthritis is rated as traumatic arthritis.

J

[sharon]

Yes you can file a claim for your back condition as it is shown in your smrs. You also can file a claim for the scar. You will need a nexus letter for your foot as secondary to the back condition.

[81150 CAFB]

Thank you all for the information. I talked to my doctors office today and they can write me a letter regarding/connecting the herniated disk(s).

I guess my biggest mistake was not filing for a claim when I got out the USAF.

Do I just put herniated disk, sciatica, scar, arthritis (whatever is applicable) on the VA Form and send to them with the SMR's and current medical records or just put back problems (something general) and they decide how to code after looking at records and C&P? I would have never thought of scar or arthritis and that makes me think that I would miss listing/showing something that I would be entitled to...make sense?

After looking around this great site and reading some of the other veterans problems with their backs, I would guess that my claim would be IVDS with range of motion as the rating factor and sciatica/numbness on the right side and who knows on the left, since I am still post-op (one week).

Regarding my left foot - I think it is related to foot drop (my foot drags/catches sometimes when I walk). The broken bone removed was just because when I walk I am "bumbly" and run into chairs, coffee tables etc... I am going to talk to my neurosurgen about foot drop when I see him.

Sorry if these are stupid questions - I just want to make sure that I do everything right before I submit the claim.