Degenerative Disc Disease, Reverse Lordosis, & Stenosis Ratings

[kaosama05]

I recently had an MRI of my cervical spine. My MRI has shown that I have mild to moderate degenerative joint disease located from c3 -c4 spine through c5 -c6 spine. The MRI also shows I have a reversal of my cervical lordotic curve. The reversal of my cervical lordotic curve overlapping with my degenerative joint disease in my spine has caused Mild anterior central stenosis located from c3 -c4 spine through c5 -c6 spine. My military medical records show instances of back area trauma and my military personnel file shows job MOS 2531 (Field Radio Operator) required me to carry heavy radios and radio accessories on my back repeatedly while doing physical work. I submitted a claim with with 5 military medical records showing documented cervical and lumbar trama and military doctors assesments as well as this last MRI that tells degenerative disc disease, reverse lordosis, & stenosis. My question is will the cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical reverse lordosis, & cervical stenosis be rated seperatly or all together. Also what rating will I be looking at for each.

[63SIERRA]

Yes chiro helps greatly but the VA will not give me access. You would think there would be chiropractors at every hallway in the VA, because its relatively cheap.

safe, and effective.

Like my chiro told me though, BIG PHARMACY runs the healthcare in this country. LEGAL drug dealing.

[63SIERRA]

I would have to agree on this. When I injured my back I sucked it up and adjusted my posture in a way that the body armor would not put so much pressure on various areas of my back. Big mistake. The curvature is so bad now it hits and causes pressure on my left lung and other nerve blocks. Chiropractic care helps and physical therapy does help with range of motion also.

my damned drawers dont even sit right on my arse anymore my spine is so jacked and curved. my gig line is always off.

[john999]

My left shoulder is higher than my right shoulder because of pain and muscle spasms due to neck problems. However, I adjust my line of sight without even knowing I am doing it. My left shoulder is up around my ears sometimes when I really overdo it. It just draws up. I feel pain but not aware of how weird looking it is.

[ArNG11]

I have asked about chiropractive services, steroid shots, accupuncture, traction, and my VA PCP seems lost, she has stated several times that she is not aware of these services provided by the VA..I kindly pointed out the services are provided by the VAMC and referrals centers and then she started to act helpful.

I was hosed on my rating, however, Im in the process of receiving a decision on my request for increase, and here soon the NOD will be submitted to them. I will kindly point out the evidence and the rating criteria and go from there.

What I noticed on my claim is the they clumped it all together as Degenerative levoconvex lumbar spine with IVDS of the L1 and rated it just as IVDS and gave a mild connection for radiculapathy of lower left extremity. As my condition is not that simple, the rating should reflect the closest medical diagnosis and condition, however, they failed to do that. They also failed to read the MRi, I submitted with my initial claim or rather failed to apply it to the decision. Sneaky sneaky sneaky. Actually let me change that, blatant disregard for evidence and application of rating criteria and law. Imagine that. Say it isn't so.

10 % for mild IVDS of the L1, 10% for mild nerve damage. Yeah not accurate. You have to watch them as serious injuries and conditions get downplayed to less severe conditions and lower compensation rating. Like in my case, private MRi shows moderate damage and their xrays considered it mild. They went with the mild for the decision. They're supposed to rate to the closest rateable condition that closely resembles the disease or level of injury of a veteran per medical evidence,

Edited January 31, 2014 by arng11

[63SIERRA]

Yes , my head always leans to the right when trying to focus. I never realized how jacked up my neck was, until I saw a chiropractor. they measured how far I could turn to the left, then right. I was shocked, when it was brought to my attention.

all those nights of waking with numb , throbbing nerve pain in my arms, was suddenly expained. piched nerves in my neck/

It all started when sleeping on a hard cot, for almost 5 months in Iraq, with a M16 poking me in the arse all night. All of the weight, sleeping with Kevlar helmet on, full battle rattle. I never went on sick call/ WE WERE FIGHTING A DAMNED WAR.

Do you thing the VA believe me if I file a claim, stating it started in the early 90s? they would laugh me out of the building.

So many of us suffer, from injuries for which we will never be compensated.

Take a 6 foot tall, 230 lb man, hang 30 pounds of equiptment on him, let him sleep on a piece of duffel bag fabric, stretched over 3 hard metal poles for almost 6 months, with a iron rifle underneath him, (they made us do that so nobody could take our weapon at night)./ And tell me if you think they wont have neck and back problems.

[63SIERRA]

"""What I noticed on my claim is the they clumped it all together as Degenerative levoconvex lumbar spine with IVDS of the L1 and rated it just as IVDS and gave a mild connection for radiculapathy of lower left extremity. As my condition is not that simple, the rating should reflect the closest medical diagnosis and condition, however, they failed to do that. They also failed to read the MRi, I submitted with my initial claim or rather failed to apply it to the decision. Sneaky sneaky sneaky. Actually let me change that, blatant disregard for evidence and application of rating criteria and law. Imagine that. Say it isn't so."""

they shy away from back claims because 1. they know they are very common with soldiers/

2. most back and neck problems cant be fixed.

3. many other ailments can stem from back problem.s

I personally believe it has gone as far as the va telling the VAMC to discount back problems at all costs.

My vamc will not even give me an MRI, after I provided solid proof from an outside doc of my conditions.

They want to just ignore it.