Secondary Lower Back Issues

[Papa]

I'm in the process of submitting a claim for a lower back injury that I received during military service. The VA denied me once saying that I never had a back injury during my military time. I now have written proof that I in fact did injure my back. Currently, I have been diagnosed with Cavovarus feet with column overload, significant Venous Stasis, Bursitus of the Hips and Thighs, Knees, etc. I have ask the doctor that sent me this report if my injury during my military service could have likely caused all these problems, but I would like to get my Hadit friends comments, that I respect a lot.

[MDB1968NM]

Papa,

I am new here but was the injury or problems noted in your SMRs?  I too have been going through hell with my LBP and have my visits documented in my SMRs but negative results on films aside from some minor disk bulging and facet shifting.  I would think that if you have it in your records, someone may have over looked this by mistake?

[john999]

I am proof that you can have pretty miserable back pain and have an MRI that does not look that bad. Some have herniated disc in their back and no pain. I think it is individual. We all know about the guy with no foot who has horrible pain in his phantom foot.

[dav_marine72]

Hey Guys,

Yeah I remember after my first back surgery there was no herniations left. Even though my L3-S1 were blown the VA awarded 20%. I fought for years to get what I deserved. Finally I'm TDIU but my life is miserable and my family is always stressed out.

Papa feet problems can cause major back issues as they did to me. Do you have any SCs that you could try to secondary the back to?

If not in my case I had three entries in medical records while in the Marines at boot camp about a back problem. Nothing for the next 4 years. Then I filed for service connection five years after being out. I had my surgeon write a letter stating he read all my military records and that based on my training, etc. my back could have been injured during the Marines. I then told the VA I always had back problems while in but in the Marines you suck it up hence why I never went to BAS. I also got a podiatrist to say that my service connected pes cavus feet could have caused my back problem.

[poolguy11550]

I am proof that you can have pretty miserable back pain and have an MRI that does not look that bad. Some have herniated disc in their back and no pain. I think it is individual. We all know about the guy with no foot who has horrible pain in his phantom foot.

This is correct the same goes for the reverse, my MRI's mystify doctors both VA and non-VA. They just cannot believe I a able move about (although very painfully). Back pain is still very mysterious to doctors. My thinking is that is no one text-book answer for how a person experiences pain.

[Papa]

My back was damaged when a a##wipe crashed his head and shoulder into my lower back. The military took zero xrays, zero pain pills, nada :) . I almost forgot, I was told to put a board under my mattress. My back has never been the same. I strongly believe that this weakened my lower extremities. But, now to prove it.

Papa

[allan]

Papa,

I was in a car accident in service that injuried my cervical thoracic & lumbar spine.

The VARO told my SO I lied, that I never was in a car wreck. My claim has just now reached the CAVC after 12 yrs & I have the records and several fully favorable medical opinions as evidence.

You must have three things.

Inservice records of the event or illness/symptoms.

A currant diagnoses

A "nexus", statement by a Dr connecting the two above.

Even than, they will deny you as long as they can.

If you have no inservice records of any treatment or complaints, it's not likely you will ever win.

Without those three things, your claim will likely be denied.