Another Newb With ?s

[My Monster]

Long story short, jarhead retired after 20, hated going to sick call even if limbs were hanging on with a band aid, now a dependent. My questions are as follows...

1. How much weight is given to a Final Physical as far as evidence for a claim is given? (Doc wrote down quite a bit that I should of gone to med for but never did, i.e. knees (shattered left knee cap due to a basketball game for PT, ringing in the ears, broke left big toe, CTS, broken thumbs...)

2. I just received my "big brown envelope" asking me if I would like to present any more evidence for my claim before the VA attempts to rate me. I am a retired dependent and just had x-rays and MRI's done on my back and knees. The write up for the x-rays state bone spur's in my lower lumbar, DDD, and arthritis in my back but have not had a chance to do a report/write up on my MRIs. should I wait to include them or just have the VA rate me on what they have?

3. When will they schedule me for the C & P physicals?

Might sound like simple shit but I am clueless on this...

D.

[12R3G]

he said they told him they don't do retirement physicals anymore????????????

Generally, no. They will do a retirement "assessment" which for me was a meeting with a flight doc and him annotating some of the chronic conditions noted in my STRs.

You can be discharged/separtated without a physical or assessment if you waive it.

[john999]

You would be mad to waive a physical assessment at discharge. The military should do a full physical, but you know why they don't do it? They might find something not in the records....arrgggghhhh.

[My Monster]

Here is what I have off of my recent MRI...of course I have no idea what it means. I go in tomorrow to have it explained. I will be sending what I have to the VA next Tuesday after I get my knee MRI and the results from it. Everything I have so far is on a CD, should I send that in to the VA?

X-Ray results:

REPORT: Three views lumbar spine dated 18 November 2009.

FINDINGS: There is normal lumbar vertebral body height. The alignment is

maintained. There are anterior osteophytes noted from L2 through S1.

Ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament is present from L2 through

S1. There are mild endplate degenerative changes with a facet degenerative

arthropathy at L5-S1 with mild disk space narrowing. No fracture or

subluxation are present. The SI joint are patent bilaterally.

MRI Results

REPORT: MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast dated 03 December 2009.

COMPARISON STUDIES: Plain films of the lumbar spine dated 18 November 2009.

INDICATIONS: Low back pain radiating into both buttocks, some degenerative

change on x-rays.

TECHNIQUE: Multiplanar, multisequence magnetic resonance imaging was

performed through the lumbar spine without the use of IV gadolinium contrast.

FINDINGS: The spinal cord terminates at the level of L1. Signal

characteristics within the conus medullaris and cauda equina appear normal.

Bone marrow signal appears largely normal, with the exception of the level of

L3-4, which is discussed below. Hypertrophy is noted involving the anterior

longitudinal ligament throughout the lumbar spine together with multiple

anterior osteophytes, better characterized on plain films. Regarding

specific spinal levels, T12-L1 demonstrates small Schmorl''s nodes arising

from both the inferior endplate of T12 and the superior endplate of L1.

Surrounding marrow signal appears normal. T12-L1 otherwise appears normal.

L1-2 appears mildly desiccated and perhaps minimally narrowed. There are

also small Schmorl''s nodes superiorly and inferiorly without surrounding

edema. This level is otherwise normal. L2-3 also demonstrates small

Schmorl''s nodes. This level demonstrates a minimal posterior, right greater

than left, disk osteophyte complex; however, the central spinal canal and

both neural foramen appear patent. L3-4 also demonstrates small endplate

irregularities consistent with Schmorl''s nodes arising from both the superior

and inferior associated endplates. There is some surrounding T2 and STIR

signal intensity consistent with edema. This level also demonstrates a right

greater than left posterior disk osteophyte complex with bilateral mild facet

and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Changes at this level result in mild

left-sided and mild-to-moderate right-sided neural foraminal narrowing. L4-5

appears minimally desiccated and narrowed. There is a mild posterior disk

osteophyte complex at this level. Bilateral facet hypertrophy and ligamentum

flavum hypertrophy contribute to mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing.

The central spinal canal appears patent. L5-S1 appears mildly desiccated and

narrowed. There is a mild posterior disk osteophyte complex at this level

also. Mild facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy also contribute to mild

bilateral neural foraminal narrowing.

IMPRESSION:

1. Multilevel lumbar spondylosis as detailed above, with changes likely

greatest at the level of L3-4.

2. L3-4 with possible mild edema surrounding endplate irregularities

consistent with small Schmorl''s nodes. These may represent symptomatic

Schmorl''s nodes.

th

[SFCTRUCKDRIVER]

I just retired,

They just dont call it a retirement physical anymore. It is the same physical as anyone gets but the part one is at the Army Hospital and part two is at QTC locations which verify all the claims and do the C and Ps for the claimed processes. This is for the Army process. I went to Fort Knox hospital for part one, and civilian contracted Doc's for part 2.

the DAV rep at Knox is awesome BTW...