Looking for Accurate Information - Joint Pain / Radiculopathy

[KMac1181]

Hello,

Please forgive me if this is not the correct location; I'm admittedly a bit lost in navigating the forums.  I discovered this site during hours of Googling and Reddit perusing, but still have not found what I'm looking for.

The first item I have a question about is how the VA *actually* rates shoulder pain, when there is no LOM.  Based on what I've read, the VA will grant the veteran the minimum compensation for a specific joint, but how do you determine the DC or minimum rating?  If it's painful to laterally raise your arms both in front of you and out to the side, but you have essentially full ROM still, how will the VA actually rate that?  Is the minimum per side for shoulders 10% or 20%?  The internet is full of conflicting information, and the VA's documentation doesn't specify this exact question (or I'm just an idiot).

The second question I have is IRT a DBQ for lumbar radiculopathy.  In this case, the VA's Rating Schedule is ambiguous; terms like "mild", "moderate", and "severe" are on the DBQ, but the schedule of ratings does nothing to expound on what symptoms classify each descriptor.  Will the VA rate radiculopathy based on the boxes that are checked in the DBQ?  If the Veteran's Peripheral Nerves Conditions DBQ has all symptoms checked as "Moderate" and "Incomplete Paralysis", will the VA actually award a 20% rating for each side?

Finally, on the same Peripheral Nerves Conditions DBQ, does the VA assign ratings for each nerve group that is affected?  If both the Sciatic nerve and Femoral Nerve are marked as having "Moderate incomplete paralysis", will each nerve receive it's own rating, or are they bunched together as mental health conditions?

Please forgive the lack of brevity.  I'm currently going through a MEDBOARD with 21 years of active service, and I want to have the most accurate information moving forward in the event I need to appeal.  These specific outcomes will likely be the determining factor in whether I receive a 90% overall rating vs. a 100% rating, so I'm really stressing it.  I'm hoping one of them is actually 20% per side.

Any and all insight on the above questions is *greatly* appreciated.  Thank you for your time,

Shaun

[Rattler]

KMac1181

So no MEB/PEB? This is the best way to go from my knowledge. If you go the 20-year retirement you will have to pay taxes on it. But you will not have an offset for your VA compensation as if you were medically retired.  I think you said that you have put in your VA paperwork also?  

I would contact the person whose LinkedIn account I PM'ed you. He would be glad to talk to you about it. I am sure because he had a hard time when he got out. If you will PM me with your name and phone number I will message him and see if it's ok to give you his number. (VA Cell Phone)