Need Documentation supporting back secondary to SC ankle

[dwbell99]

Need supporting documentation to support degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine (claimed as back) is as likely than not 50% secondary connected (due to abnormal gait caused by service connected left ankle disability).

Please only reply if you have knowledge of any supporting documentation to support degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine (claimed as back) is as likely than not 50% secondary connected (due to abnormal gait caused by service connected left ankle disability).

All others, have a blessed day but please do not post here.'

thanks,

dwbell99

Edited November 2, 2019 by dwbell99
update

[Foxhound6]

I am going thru something similar right now. However, I knew going into it that I will need more. I am still new here so bear with me. From my understanding you should be looking to do this:

1. Get to a doctor, one that is a specialty in that field. You will want them to do ROM measurements, the DBQ, imaging (bring X-Ray/MRI if you have any, etc) for your back.

2. Once you have the DBQ and measurements, head over to a spine-ortho or physiatrist and have them review your C-File, Images, DBQ from the other specialist and have them do an IMO/E (Independent Medical Opinion/Examination) for your secondary condition. The key there is the IMO. The doctor should state in his IMO that it is "just as likely as not" the secondary condition is caused by the service connected condition.

3. Once you have the IMO and the previous documentation, you can do a Supplemental Claim for your claim. Or just resubmit it from there. however, if you are less than one year from your initial denial, you can file the supplemental claim with all the documentation as the new and relevant evidence (make copies!!) to protect your effective date of the claim and get a little back pay for your trouble.

NOW with this being said I would like to reiterate I am new here and learning still. I hope everything here was accurate. Please correct me if I am wrong. This is essentially the process I am going thru now so I would hope it is accurate!

[brokensoldier244th]

Documentation from other people's cases won't support your case, that only shows you if someone was successful in claiming something in the past (or not). The documentation you need comes from your doctor who has to connect the ankle/degree of gait deformity to your back issues. That is where you start. If its not in your existing medical records somewhere then you have to put it there and the only person that can do that is a doctor. There have been cases resolved on appeal that indicate what you are claiming, so it IS a thing, you just have to get a doctor to say that its a thing for YOU. 

Edited November 1, 2019 by brokensoldier244th

[vetquest]

Reading cases that have been successful on appeal is not always a bad thing.  What you will learn from them is that to win these people got medical opinions from doctors that supported their service connected claim.  It also tells you that it is not impossible to achieve the same results.  You also might have to go to the BVA to get your benefits but you will not win there without evidence that your case is service connected.

[dwbell99]

I am getting two more doctors medical opinions but also need some medical treatise to support the nexus. The VA will side with their VES doctor without supporting documentation. I understand about getting more medical opinions. I am just asking for any supporting documents.

[brokensoldier244th]

The doctors should already know that, that's why they are doctors. They aren't going to service connect and justify something that doesn't exist. 

[dwbell99]

Please only reply if you have knowledge of any supporting documentation, that I requested earlier, to support degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine (claimed as back) is as likely than not 50% secondary connected (due to abnormal gait caused by service connected left ankle disability).

All others, have a blessed day but please do not post here.'

thanks,

dwbell99

 

Edited November 2, 2019 by dwbell99
typo