Wii The Va Increase Lumbar Percentage

[postman56]

Hello all, since my last post I had a C&P exam on 3/25/2010. I am currently rated @ 20% for lumbar strain. My C&P exam was for cervical strain, bilatteral shoulders pain, hip pain, bilatteral buttock pain and pain in left leg radiating into left foot. My latest exrays show that I have DJD in cervical, bilatteral shoulders, bilatteral hip and lumbar.

the question is will the va increase my lumbar percentage even though i did not file for an increase for lumbar (with bilatteral buttocks and leg pain radiating into left foot) ? Or will i have to file another claim once i get the results? I had very little ROM on lumbar, cervical and hip.

Thanks in advance

Postman56

[Bravo6]

Hello all, since my last post I had a C&P exam on 3/25/2010. I am currently rated @ 20% for lumbar strain. My C&P exam was for cervical strain, bilatteral shoulders pain, hip pain, bilatteral buttock pain and pain in left leg radiating into left foot. My latest exrays show that I have DJD in cervical, bilatteral shoulders, bilatteral hip and lumbar.

the question is will the va increase my lumbar percentage even though i did not file for an increase for lumbar (with bilatteral buttocks and leg pain radiating into left foot) ? Or will i have to file another claim once i get the results? I had very little ROM on lumbar, cervical and hip.

Thanks in advance

Postman56

Have you requested for an MRI to done? I know that X-rays don't always show what is really going on! I requested an MRI to be done, once they seen my condition via the MRI opposed to the X-rays, I went from 10% to 40%! IMO, request an MRI from your PCP, ASAP.

[Vync]

postman56,

What a coincidence, I had C&P exams for my spine the day before you did, but I am not SC yet. In my case, I specifically asked for a lumbrosacral exam. I have many of the same questions you have.

Bravo6 is correct. The x-rays will only show so much. Like you, the docs can see DJD and reduction in space between vertebrae clearly on an x-ray. I have had a few MRI's and they really show how bad your back really is, much better than an x-ray. I made sure the C&P doc looked at them during the exam and the reaction was 'oh my...'

I compeltely agree with you. The VA really needs to revisit the spine ratings. Back pain can be a real living nightmare. They base the ratings on range of motion, but don't tell Veterans that use of pain meds and muscle relaxers prior to a C&P exam can create the appearance of increased range of motion by masking the pain. This time, I managed to go about a week without any pain meds or muscle relaxers and they got to see a true baseline of my conditon.

Unfortunately, who knows how long it will take for the VA to make their decision on our back claims. I wish you the best of luck to get a better rating.

[postman56]

Have you requested for an MRI to done? I know that X-rays don't always show what is really going on! I requested an MRI to be done, once they seen my condition via the MRI opposed to the X-rays, I went from 10% to 40%! IMO, request an MRI from your PCP, ASAP.

Thanks for the reply Bravo6, yes I had a MRI done on my lumbar and cervical. the lumbar MRI states that I have a disc bulge and my cervical MRI states that I have reversal of the normal cervical lordosis.

[postman56]

postman56,

What a coincidence, I had C&P exams for my spine the day before you did, but I am not SC yet. In my case, I specifically asked for a lumbrosacral exam. I have many of the same questions you have.

Bravo6 is correct. The x-rays will only show so much. Like you, the docs can see DJD and reduction in space between vertebrae clearly on an x-ray. I have had a few MRI's and they really show how bad your back really is, much better than an x-ray. I made sure the C&P doc looked at them during the exam and the reaction was 'oh my...'

I compeltely agree with you. The VA really needs to revisit the spine ratings. Back pain can be a real living nightmare. They base the ratings on range of motion, but don't tell Veterans that use of pain meds and muscle relaxers prior to a C&P exam can create the appearance of increased range of motion by masking the pain. This time, I managed to go about a week without any pain meds or muscle relaxers and they got to see a true baseline of my conditon.

Unfortunately, who knows how long it will take for the VA to make their decision on our back claims. I wish you the best of luck to get a better rating.

Thanks Vync, yes I too did not take any pain med. for about 2 weeks and went to work prior to the exam. And yes while I was at the exam I had full body spams going. The problem is that I did not file a claim for an increase in my lumbar. I am hopeing that the va will look at all evidence and increase the percentage for my back. Well good luck to you

[halos2]

doubtful the VA will increase an area previously granted without you claiming further problems or putting in a claim for that area. Hell it's hard to get them to grant comp for a service connection to begin with, I really don't see them increasing what you have not asked for. Sorry JMOHO.

[postman56]

doubtful the VA will increase an area previously granted without you claiming further problems or putting in a claim for that area. Hell it's hard to get them to grant comp for a service connection to begin with, I really don't see them increasing what you have not asked for. Sorry JMOHO.

Thanks