How Do You Rate Severe Spinal Stenosis

[ocreswell]

dont understand the code but have severe spinal stenosis how do they rate that

[cooter]

ocreswell

I might of missed it, are you claiming your back as a secondary injury?

[john999]

I would sure try the epidurals before surgery unless your legs are going numb. There are so many failed back surgeries that there is a DX called "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome". I have had three surgeries on my shoulder, wrist and foot and all failed and I am worse off now. These things are money makers for doctors where just pills and exercise make them no dough.

[ocreswell]

no my claim is postoperative residuals of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, to include spinal stenosis, bilateral hypertrophy,

also djd of the knee included that in the claim not to worried about the knees just the back

ocreswell

I might of missed it, are you claiming your back as a secondary injury?

[ocreswell]

thinking about the epidurals legs are going numb this is from my failed back surgery....just waiting to see what my claim will be...been dealing with the pain for a long time but been getting low balled with a 20% rating for yrs

3rd claim on back

I would sure try the epidurals before surgery unless your legs are going numb. There are so many failed back surgeries that there is a DX called "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome". I have had three surgeries on my shoulder, wrist and foot and all failed and I am worse off now. These things are money makers for doctors where just pills and exercise make them no dough.

[Honest John Lance]

I am in the same boat as you are as far as being low balled at 20% on my DDD w/ bilateral sciatica (VA rated it as Degenerative Arthritus of the Lumbar Spine). My last C&P was 0-40% forward flexion. Personally I feel I don't have that much ROM. VA stated that for a higher rating of 40%, I would need a forward flexion of 0-30%.

thinking about the epidurals legs are going numb this is from my failed back surgery....just waiting to see what my claim will be...been dealing with the pain for a long time but been getting low balled with a 20% rating for yrs

3rd claim on back

[TravHill]

If you are being rated under IVDS (DDD), they can rate you on ROM or incapacitating episodes (whichever gives you the higher rating....at least that's what the regulations state). For incapacitaing episodes to count, the Dr had to ACTUALLY prescribe bed rest....not a note that says that you cannot work....or a note that says to reduce activity, or a note that says to stay home and reduce activity.

IT MUST SAY BED REST!

one more time

IT MUST SAY BED REST

and don't think that a FMLA will suffice. FMLA has a catagory for incapacitating episodes....but their definition only covers the ability or inability to attend work, but does not mandate Bed Rest and as such, the VA has ruled several times that this is not a substitute for a Dr prescribed bed rest.

I was shocked at how picky the VA is, but after looking at 100's and 100's of BVA decision, they almost exclusively relied upon the wording of BED REST to prove incapacitating episode.

Travis