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ptsd Radiculopathy L4-L5 vs Chronic Sciatica Claim
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Question
Mo
Hello all,
First off...BIG THANKS!!!! I am a newbie (sorta) and have been following this site for close to 2 years. You all helped me go from 40% to 70% total last year! This is my first post so I hope I am asking it in the right place. (Haven't found an answer similar).
I have initiated a claim for an increase of my PTSD. I am also claiming secondary disabilities to DDD (rated 40%) such as Depression and Radiculopathy. But I noticed I don't have a diagnosis for it. All my treatment records state DDD or chronic LBP until they recently starting stating "Radicular symptoms begining 6/18/15". I have 21 pages of VA medical documentation for burning, altered gait, radical symptoms, inability to ambulate, in addition to over 50 days of work missed this year, 2 local ER visits, and 1 VA ER visit.
Do I file for Radiculopathy or Sciatica and if Awarded ask for retroactive pay from 2004?
I have my medical files and here is the following:
Test Name: MRI L Spine without contrast
Reason for study: 32m with low back pain radianting to right leg
Clinical History: hx of lumbar radiculopathy L$-L% in 2004. Now with worsening pain, muscle spasms, and nubness in RLE
Report:
MRI lumbar spine without contrast.
Clinical Indication: 32M with low back pain radiating to right
leg.
Contrast: None.
Comparison: None.
Findings:
Segmentation: Normal.
Vertebral column: Vertebral marrow signal without evidence of
fracture or metastasis. Alignment normal.
L1-L2: Disc without significant dessication. Negative for disc
herniation or spinal stenosis.
L2-L3: Disc without significant dessication. Negative for disc
herniation or spinal stenosis.
L3-L4: Disc without significant dessication. Negative for disc
herniation or spinal stenosis.
L4-L5: Moderate disc desiccation and bulge with dorsal annular
fissure and small central disc extrusion with minimal cephalad
migration. Negative for resultant spinal stenosis.
L5-S1: Mild disc desiccation and bulge with dorsal annular
fissure. There is a 10 mm extradural cyst within the right
lateral recess at the upper S1 vertebral level, consistent with a
discal cyst and resulting in moderate right lateral recess
stenosis with displacement and impingement of the right S1 nerve
root. Negative for canal or foraminal stenosis.
Impression:
1. Negative for spinal canal stenosis. 2. Degenerative changes
at L4-5 and L5-S1 with right-sided discal cyst at L5-S1 resulting
in moderate right lateral recess stenosis and impingement of the
right S1 nerve root.
L3-4: Mild, broad-based disk bulge. The spinal and neuroforamina are unremarkable.
L4-5: Focal, central disk extrusion with partial migration of the disks superiorly along the L4 level posteriorly. There is contact of the exiting L4 nerve root by the disk extrusion. The lateral recess is unremarkable. The spinal canal at the L4-5 level demonstrates flattening from the disks. There is high signal at the central part of the L4-5 disk, which may represent annular.
L5-S1: Mild , broad-basked disk bulge, but the spinal canal and neuroforamina are normal.
Impression: Findings consistent with disk extrusion at the L4-L5 level, with migration of the disk superiorly. Psossible annular tear at L4-L5 level.
Physical Assessment: Posture and gait both abnormal/ antalgic, abnormal striaight leg raise, ROM (limited to pain), and tender to palpation
Comments: HNP @ L4-L5, annular tear L4-L5
Diagnosis: Chronic sciatica
Sorry to be so long on my first post, but I want to give as much info as possible. Thanks so much in advance!!!
Edited by MoLink to comment
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Mo
I haven't gotten to see a surgeon yet. I'm already 40% for my back. I had a DBQ for radiculopathy. Just going crazy waiting
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