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Service Connected Diagnosis's

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Dale Jr. 8

Question

I have a service connection that is diagnosed as lower back pain ICD-9-CM 724.2. I recently had an MRI which shows 2 ruptured disks and 2 bulging disks pressing on the left side nerve roots. First question, will VA consider this part of the service connected LBP and second question if they do consider it part of the LBP do I stand a good chance of getting a secondary service connection for sciatica? It seems that VA uses some very general diagnosis codes. I will have my Primary care update the diagnosis codes tomorrow when I see him. Dale Jr 8

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Dale

You might go to a orthopedist and get him to review your service medical records and write an opinion to service connect the disc problems to the LB disorder. You want a board certified specialist to write this opinion. This is how you beat them. The VA will probably say your GP is not a specialist and may over rule his/opinion at a C&P exam. They have a harder time shooting down a board certified specialist.

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Guest rickb54

Dale,

I am going to take the long way to answer you question.

Initally I injured my lower back in a military vehicle accident 1971, the injury was rated as a back strain at 10%, when I was first rated none of the fancy test were done, and I was rated purley on the symptoms in my active duty medical records.

Later I kept reinjuring my back when in 1997, I fell of a ladder at my civil service job. I ended up having xrays, ct scams, mri and even a myleogram done. These test indicated that I had hernitated disc at the L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1 levels. I also was tripping on my left foot and had a pain down my left side. It turned out after I had a nerve conductive study done that I did in fact have siactiac nerve damage and drop foot.

When I was finally rated in 1999, my rating when from 10% to 60% and was changed from back strain to Degenerative disc disease. At that time the sicatic nerve damage was not rated seperately. I was also awarded a K award for the drop foot, and was given the vehicle adapted grant with adapted equipment.

Today they va rates these conditions seperately or as one problem which ever affords the veteran a higher rating.

Based on my own condition and my history I am sure the VA will in fact re-rate your condition as DDD.

I suggest that your request your doctor to give you some of the test I mentioned to further substaniate the fact that you have siatiac nerve damage , and DDD. THe VA accepted all of my test as being factual when I went for my C/P exam the only thing they did was another xray and asked me to bend.

I ended up with TDIU because civil service forced me into a medical retirement, as I could no longer climb ladders and such.

hope this helps to answer your question,

'

best of luck

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Thanks for the replies. I will have my primary care doc order the tests that you mentioned. It is hard to see an othopedist at the Va in Fayetteville N.C. I suspect that I have had DDD all along but that doesn't show up on xrays real well. Thanks again Dale Jr. 8

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Rick

Were you on OWCP for a while? Too bad you could not get OWCP and VA at the same time but since it is the same part of the body they would say that is duel compensation. You are better off on VA, and OPM rather than just OWCP. I was injured at the post office many times. People think the VA is bad. OWCP is like being consigned to hell and no P&T.

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Guest rickb54

Hohn,

No I just burned up my six leave, OWPC people were a real pain to work with... and even it they approved you for comp, theystill tried to find another reason to deny it. The union doesn't even seem to help in this area.I did ok, because I was retired and between FERS, and SSD I was taken care of well. Depending how you look at it, I was lucky the back injury was already service connected I just waited 6 months to get an increased rating and TDIU from the time I was forced to retire.

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Guest rickb54

Dale, Jr.

IN 1999. I lived in Hope MIlls, NC about 8 miles from the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. Dr. Myers was the doctor I was refering to. If he is still there he is one of the better doctors I have had to deal with. Also Dr. Lee in Durham VA was my nurolgist....Both of these guys have it together. Since I moved I have not had that level of care ever again.

Best of luck

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