lumbosacral New Mri Results. What Are My Chances For My New Claim? Help Back Experts!

[silverdollar22]

Had my latest MRI done before my C&P and the results are in. Thought my back was hurting worse and the numbness and pain in my legs worse but WOW did'nt know it was this bad. I'm fileing for Degenerative Disc Disease of Back (secondary to: low back pain with minimal degenerative changes of left sacroiliac joint) (Secondary), Spinal Stenosis (affecting both legs) (New), Degenerative Arthritis (left hip) (New), Degenerative Arthritis (Lumbar spine) (New), Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (New). Here are my results,

Report:

MRI Lumbar Spine

Sagittal STIR and sagittal and axial T1 weighted, T2 weighted

images of the lumbosacral spine were obtained.

Findings:

Comparison to MRI of the lumbar spine on 8/4/11. Normal

alignment of the lumbar sacral spine is visualized. Heterogenuos

bone marrow signal is noted likely due to degenerative changes.

L5-S1 Modic type II changes. At T12-L1, L1-2 there is disc

desiccation, mild diffuse disc bulging with mild facet joint

hypertrophy without significant neural foramina narrowing.

Normal appearance for the patient's age. At L2 L3 there is a

right paracentral and foraminal disc protrusion with extrusion

and mild superior migration, producing narrowing of the right

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lateral recess and posterior displacement of the right L3 nerve

root. Protrusion contacts and produce mild displacement of the a

right L2 nerve root within the neural foramen. At L3-4 mild disc

narrowing and desiccation, diffuse disc bulging without

significant central spinal canal narrowing. Mild bilateral facet

joint hypertrophy without significant neural foramen narrowing.

Unchanged in comparison to prior At L4-5 there is disc

narrowing, bulging and desiccation with moderate facet joint

hypertrophy, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and bilateral mild

neural foramina narrowing. Unchanged in comparison to the prior.

At L5-S1 severe disc narrowing and desiccation with moderate

facet joint hypertrophy, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and

bilateral mild neural foramina narrowing. There is a mild

degenerative retrolisthesis of L5 on S1. Unchanged in comparison

to the prior.

The conus medullaris ends at the lower portion of L2 body. Cauda

equina demonstrated no compression. No evidence of paraspinous

soft tissue abnormality.

Impression:

1. L2 L3 right paracentral and foraminal disc protrusion with

extrusion and mild superior migration, producing mild

displacement of the right L2 nerve within the neural foramen and

the right L3 nerve within the lateral recess. Please correlate

clinically for right L2 and/or L3 radiculopathies.

What do you Experts think my chances are ??? I am service connected for my sacroillac and lower back at 10%.

Any help would be appreaciated,

Eric

Edited June 16, 2014 by silverdollar22

[iceturkee]

i'm saying that is what i got. that was a number of years ago, like 6 or so, i believe. if they are still basing percentages on range of motion, you might not get the highest allowed, despite whats on your mri. i hope i'm wrong but be prepared.

[jbasser]

where are you getting 60 percent from? i thought range of motion ended at 50 percent is you had anklosing spondylithesis. you can get 100 percent on bed rest but good luck with that.

to answer his question, based on my experiences, 40 percent.

There are 2 spine ratings. Asthritis and IVDS. The max rating for IVDS is 60. 50 is for Traumatic Arthritis.

J

[iceturkee]

There are 2 spine ratings. Asthritis and IVDS. The max rating for IVDS is 60. 50 is for Traumatic Arthritis.

J

how do they define traumatic arthritis?

[sgt papa smurf]

I am new to this forum but I am going through these issues with my back like you.

If you have private insurance-go to neurosurgeon/neurologist and give them "all" your symptoms you are experiencing. They will be able to correlate what is going on with your symptoms to specific parts of your spine issues. If you have to go to the VA hopefully you have a doctor that cares and will refer you to specialist (as listed above).

I like you have filed for pretty much the same as you. I have recently been going to the VA psychiatrist as the depression from the pain depending on your levels can be debilitating in itself. The psychiatrist told me I have been depressed for years dealing with the chronic pains.

If you have private insurance don't wait on the VA to get around to you. Have your private doctor diagnose your issues (and more importantly treatment) and submit those records in support of your claim.

I have learned so much lurking on this website and what other veterans have done...do your research!!!

[silverdollar22]

I hate to beat a dead horse but, is their anything else I should be claiming with refferance to my back MRI? I'm fileing for Degenerative Disc Disease of Back (secondary to: low back pain with minimal degenerative changes of left sacroiliac joint) (Secondary), Spinal Stenosis (affecting both legs) (New), Degenerative Arthritis (left hip) (New), Degenerative Arthritis (Lumbar spine) (New), Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (New). I think I found everything or should I also claim Joint pain? If I did would it just be lumped up with all the rest? I think I'm doing this right but if you could help I would appreaciate it!!!

[silverdollar22]

I am new to this forum but I am going through these issues with my back like you.

If you have private insurance-go to neurosurgeon/neurologist and give them "all" your symptoms you are experiencing. They will be able to correlate what is going on with your symptoms to specific parts of your spine issues. If you have to go to the VA hopefully you have a doctor that cares and will refer you to specialist (as listed above).

I like you have filed for pretty much the same as you. I have recently been going to the VA psychiatrist as the depression from the pain depending on your levels can be debilitating in itself. The psychiatrist told me I have been depressed for years dealing with the chronic pains.

If you have private insurance don't wait on the VA to get around to you. Have your private doctor diagnose your issues (and more importantly treatment) and submit those records in support of your claim.

I have learned so much lurking on this website and what other veterans have done...do your research!!!

Thanks man,

I do have BCBS from work and can see a private doctor. Until i joined this site i did'nt know that i could use my old civilian doctor to help my claims. I will request to see a neurosurgeon from my VA doctor and see what happens. If that is going to take to long i'll go the other route. Sometimes i just feel like giving up on this whole mess. It feels good to talk about this to someone other than my wife because she says i'm obsessed with my back. She is clueless about the pain!!!