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Spinal fusion - do I file a new claim or request a re-evaluation of degenerative arthritis. s
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Grilla79
Disabilities include degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine 10% and sciatica, right lower extremity 10%, both with November 2011 effective dates. Back pain and function got progressively worse over the years, developed extreme pain and left foot drop in December 2019, had lumbar discectomy with spinal fusion L5-S1 in April 2020. I also have documented sciatica in the left lower extremity now. X-rays and other diagnostics taken before my retirement Nov 2011 showed all sorts of misaligned vertebrae and narrowed disk spaces. I had been planning on requesting a re-evaluation last winter but COVID pandemic put a hold on that. Should I file for a re-evaluation of the degenerative arthritis or file a new claim for the issues pre and post lumbar fusion. When I do searches I usually see fusions with their own category. I have x-rays and such while i was on active duty that show misalignment of disks and irregular disk spaces and plenty of medical notes for back pain the last 3 years of active duty. I was basically on activity restrictions the last 3 years of my service. Hadn't completed a fitness test in 4 years before retirement, Also wondering if a decision on a new issue would nullify one or both of the existing back condition ratings. My current total rating is 91.1 % and I'd hate to come out of all this with a lower rating
appreciate any advice, ty
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Carl the Engineer
Grilla, This is too late, but maybe members reading this will learn something. When you got rated 10% lumbar, it was from the x-ray showing arthritis. When you got the 10%, the VA basically low
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