Jump to content
VA Disability Community via Hadit.com

VA Disability Claims Articles

Ask Your VA Claims Question | Current Forum Posts Search | Rules | View All Forums
VA Disability Articles | Chats and Other Events | Donate | Blogs | New Users

  • hohomepage-banner-2024-2.png

  • 27-year-anniversary-leaderboard.png

    advice-disclaimer.jpg

  • donate-be-a-hero.png

  • 0

Please Take A Look At This Xray Report

Rate this question


mos1833

Question

i think this shows that osteoarrthritis.is due to a superimposed injury on a

congenital transsitional vertebra at L-5,could use your opinions. thanks

DATE OF EXAMINATION (Include year) DATE OF REPORT DATE TRANSCRIBED

6-14-85 6-14-85 1 6-17-85

nnl,R,t,nnrn,L ntrul-1

LUMBOSACRAL SPINE AND SI joints of 6-14-85: No prior films for comparison.

There is a congenital transitional vertebra at L5 with incomplete bony

'I' -'---.-___---------

bridging to SI demOnstrating degenerative sclerosis at this articulation on

the left.

Disc spces and alignment appear normal. There is no evidence for

spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis or for destructive lesion or fracture.

The sacroiliac joints appear normal.

IMP: Congenital transitional vertebra with osteoarthritic changes on the

left related to

to this anomaly.

M. SIMONS, MD/ej ( . STANDARD FORM 9-A (REV. 9-77)

. Prescribed by GSA-ICMR

SIGNATU RE : (Specify loca tion o

' X

- ay facil .If 7 not part of requesting facility) FPMR1 01-11806-8

NOTE: For additional space use SF-507,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Answers 21
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters For This Question

Top Posters For This Question

Recommended Posts

The VA loves to label a spine diagnosis as "congenital". Which means you had it at birth or a very young age. Therefore, they (VA) deny you service connection. However, if you were treated for the spine condition while on active duty---you can still have a chance of being granted service connection--due to aggravation---even if it is congenital. *I strongly suggest a private MRI of the spine provided you have insurance. Also, I do not see in the exam you posted, that any findings/impressions mention any thing about an injury(?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

vno thanks for replying

i injuried my back two times a year apart from each other.and they are in my medical records,along with several sick bay reports.when they denied the first time they just said i had a defect,and defects can not be service connected.so i never appealed,boy ived learned a lot since then,they even said they could not consider aggravation for the same reason [defect]that was in 1985.i know now a defect can some how be superimposed,in the x-ray i posted is what i thought was proof that osteoarthritis was some how shown to be key.seeing how the x-ray says it related to the anomaly,iam still fighting and currently back at the board, i just got to wondering about that x-ray and thought i see how others may read it. thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see why you raised the 'superimposed' issue.It is explained in this VA Decision:

http://www4.va.gov/vetapp10/files2/1018727.txt

“Congenital or developmental defects are not diseases or

injuries in the meaning of applicable legislation for

disability compensation purposes. 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303©,

4.9. VA's General Counsel has held, however, that service

connection may be granted for diseases (but not defects) of

congenital, developmental or familial origin if the evidence

as a whole shows that the manifestations of the disease in

service constituted "aggravation" of the disease within the

meaning of applicable VA regulations. VAOPGCPREC 82-90 (July

18, 1990); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303©, 3.306. According to the VA

General Counsel's opinion, however, although service

connection cannot be granted for a congenital or

developmental defect, such a defect can be subject to

superimposed disease or injury, and if that superimposed

disease or injury occurs during military service, service-

connection may be warranted for the resultant disability.

VAOPGCPREC 82-90.”

The Precedent Op can be found here under # 82

http://www.va.gov/ogc/opinions/1990precedentopinions.asp

As long as the disease or injury is service connectable, then a congenital defect or disease that superimposes on it (by medical evidence)

can potentially be service connected.

I havent found an award at the BVA yet for a claim like this but I would assume these types of claims definitely require a strong IMO in most cases.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are you already SCed for the osteoarthritis?

If not is there evidence that would warrant a SC rating under this reg?

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2009/julqtr/38cfr3.309.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HadIt.com Elder

There is a finite methhod or radiography when it comes to interpetation of Xrays.

This is ussually a comparison test to another Xray taken previously.

Now if there is no Xray to compare to the Radiologist has to concoct his own opinion as to his or her interpetation.

If I were you I would check out all xrays I had of the same area dating back as long as you need to see if the congenital defect is there. If you were born with it then it will be there. If it is not there than it is not a congenital and is acquired since there is no evidence of its existance before a certain date.

J

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use