Herniated Disk

[octdevildog]

Can any vet tell me if I have a claim with this? In 2006 after a few years of back pain an orthopedic doc shot my lower back up with cortisone, xrays were taken but no MRI, all documented paper work VA already has. Recently found myself in bed unable, 1st time in my life i was physically unable to get up out of bed, after a few hours i made it to the shower where i had hot water on it for about another hour. I went to a new ortho doc and he gave me some steriods took xrays (not a VA doc) the steriods helped but pain remained. The doc suggested i get an MRI, so we can get to the bottom of my pain. So using my VA bennie's went and got an MRI, it showed degenertive disk and a herniated disk as my PCP at the VA said. I am awaiting my records and images to take to my ortho doc as I've expirenced already how the VA tends to downplay a persons injury or pain. Then my PCP at the VA said oh well lets see if it will heal itself, I've had this sort of back pain for nearly 10 years! Its all documented. So Can I....... claim a herniated disk even though it was not discovered until now. oh yeah i got out in 2007, am only 31 and feel as if i'm living in the body of an 99 year old with my aches an pains. Thank you for any information you can provide me.

Also thank you to whoever made this site, as it has provide me a wealth of information, as well as some of my USMC fam who had no idea where to begin or just had general questions....... Thank YOU!

[71M10]

I see you are 80% already, assuming you are not already rated for a spine condition on that segment you can certaily claim it. If you already have a rating for that segment the fact that the disk is herniated doesn't change how it is rated or provide for an automatic increase. The record from 2006 which indicates treatment for some type of condition in that region of the spine should establish service connection. Review the spine claim repository here on HADIT and ask your Non-VA ortho doc to provide a written opinion how the current condition relates to the treatment received in service. If you are already SC for that segment of the spine be sure to file for any new residual conditions (nerve impingment ect) that the herniated disk is causing.

Best regards,

Tyler

[*Bergie*]

Can any vet tell me if I have a claim with this? In 2006 after a few years of back pain an orthopedic doc shot my lower back up with cortisone, xrays were taken but no MRI, all documented paper work VA already has. Recently found myself in bed unable, 1st time in my life i was physically unable to get up out of bed, after a few hours i made it to the shower where i had hot water on it for about another hour. I went to a new ortho doc and he gave me some steriods took xrays (not a VA doc) the steriods helped but pain remained. The doc suggested i get an MRI, so we can get to the bottom of my pain. So using my VA bennie's went and got an MRI, it showed degenertive disk and a herniated disk as my PCP at the VA said. I am awaiting my records and images to take to my ortho doc as I've expirenced already how the VA tends to downplay a persons injury or pain. Then my PCP at the VA said oh well lets see if it will heal itself, I've had this sort of back pain for nearly 10 years! Its all documented. So Can I....... claim a herniated disk even though it was not discovered until now. oh yeah i got out in 2007, am only 31 and feel as if i'm living in the body of an 99 year old with my aches an pains. Thank you for any information you can provide me.

Also thank you to whoever made this site, as it has provide me a wealth of information, as well as some of my USMC fam who had no idea where to begin or just had general questions....... Thank YOU!

The best way to find out if you have a claim is to file for it and see what happens. If they deny the claim you will get a SOC that tells you why you were denied. You can then use the 1 year to develope the claim and file your NOD.

JMO,

Bergie

[Vync]

Without repeating the advice from Bergie or 71M10, here's some helpful info:

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) usually does not show up on x-rays until your disc has worn down enough to show reduced spacing between vertebrae. X-rays do not show anything about the condition of your disc - that's where an MRI comes in. Steroid injections are part of pain management, but they do not work for everyone.

Did you happen to file a claim for your back already or is this your first one?

[Testvet]

Back surgery can help I had it done in 1994 instead of being in pain every day I only seemed to be in pain when it rained, but I re-injured the back in 2000 and now instead of just L5/S1 herniated now I have L3, L4, L5 and S1 herniated they do NOT heal on their own my primary care docs have been giving me percocets since my MRI in Dec 2002 I call the VA every month and they used to Fedex them to me last month they started using UPS but I still get them and I probably will until I die none of the surgeons will touch my back now due to the severity of my heart disease I hurt so bad I offered to let them operate using an epidural they refused the best relief I get is floating in the pool and hanging off one of the fat noodles it takes the weight off my back and helps for a few hours after I get out so I spend my day in and out of the pool there is no cure for back pain

[retiredat44]

My rating is currently 50% from ilness such as severe skin problems and headaches from Jet Fuel (J-P4) exposure.

I had a herniated disc (L-4) and hit it surgically removed over 20 years ago, in my latest claim, I didn't ask for disability from it, because I don't think I could provie it started in my active duty days,,, but I did complain about leg pain back in the service (USAF) and later had shooting pains in my leg..

I worked as a fuels specialist which was hard labor moving fueling equipment around.

in my C&P exams (both a neurologist and regular doctor) I told them about the surgery on my back..

Not sure if that will even come into play,, but I was disagnosed with Myotonic Dystrophy, but I still think it is MS. I cannot remember exactly what one doctor said about my neuro exam, because the medical terams go over my head,, and don't have a copy of my C&P exams yet, but I expect those in about 60 days..

I am not sure if my back surgery will play any role in my Neuro diagnosis.. Suffer from severe pain, Fibromyalgia, tremors and shaking..

One doctor was talking about bilateral ,,blah blah blah in both arms and both legs..

I have degerative disc disease and arthritis. I also get injections in my spine ever 2 months.

MY disc was removed by Kaiser (1989) , not the VA. I have been under a doctors care at the VA for 15 years.

I have had many surgeries, the latest was for pancreatic disease...

[Bravo6]

It took an MRI to show what the x-rays would not for me and a few others here. Finally after ten years of dealing with the VA, I got my PCP to finally order an MRI on my back last December! Then BAM, my condition (DDD of the lumbar spine) was clearly shown via the MRI verses the x-rays just as Vync spoke of! Great info Vync!

With the MRI, I could clearly show my condition to the VA.......thus helping me with my claim for an increase/TDIU. Hang in there!

Good Luck!

B6