Opinion Of Receiving Disability Compensation - Please Help

[gossjl04]

Good afternoon everyone. I am a combat engineer sergeant with the national guard. In 2010, while at basic training, i suffered a fall which resulted in a separated shoulder. When I returned from basic training/AIT, an LOD was opened and it was determined that I was eligible to recieve care from my local doctors. I saw several doctors and went through physical therapy. X-ray and MRI imaging all revealed a widening of the acrcomioclavicular joint suggesting separation and a 3mm gap in the supraspinatus tendon consistent with a partial thickness tear (one of the rotator cuff tendons). A specialist suggested surgery but it was never authorized. In 2012, I fell off of a Stryker vehicle and again injured the same shoulder. The x-ray from the emergency room states:

"There is apparent loss of bone at the distal right clavicle either related to osteolysis, erosive changes, or prior distal clavicular resection. This leads to apparent widening of the superior aspect of the acromioclavicular interval. Several well-corticated adjacent ossicles are noted at the expected location of the superior acromioclavicular ligament. There is no dislocation. There is no widening of the coracoclavicular interval. IMPRESSION: No fracture is seen. Suspect osteolysis/erosion at the distal clavicle."

Bascially, my right shoulder sometimes bothers me. If I sleep on it wrong, then it may bother me for the entire next day, or, for example, if I shovel snow out of the driveway for two hours, it bothers me for two days, however, sometimes it is fine. My range of motion isn't bad except going behind my back bothers me, or heavy lifting. I have loads of treatment records and 2 LOD's documenting my shoulder injury.

I was wondering what everyone's opinion was to whether or not I should receive benefits, and if so, how much?

Thank you very much.

[Navy04]

I have a torn shoulder too bud, and you can file and should get 10-20%. Good luck

[jbasser]

Get conditions service connected. That is your benefit to do so. Keep a copy of your records when you get out. Then file the claim as a FDC.

J

[gossjl04]

Great, thanks. Are there any cases where it would warrant a 30% rating? Do they ever recommend surgery? I'm worried about the osteolysis (bone loss) of the humeral head and hoping that it doesn't get worse. Also, I'm still in the National Guard...should I apply now?

[gossjl04]

And also, after reading a different post on this site, someone said that with a supraspinatus tendon tear, I should qualify for a 5202: Fibrous union of the humerus. What are your thoughts everybody?

[Tashfish]

Hopefully you should get something, at the least 10-20 like Navy said. Find everything on your treatment for it. When I injured my shoulder I was in therapy forever, but no surgery (impingement/rotator cuff is what they listed it as) keeps me up at night sometimes and really grumpy because of the pain, other days its ok. At my C and P exam they did x-rays and stuff, but I'm still in the holding queue for my ratings if any. Good luck!

[john999]

The main thing is to get it service connected. I had a shoulder surgery. It failed. Often you get back mechanical use of the shoulder but you have pain forever. Get the best surgeon you can find to do surgery if that is what you want. You have to live with the result and the painful rehab.