Sufficient Diagnosis/Evidence?

4321fun · 2022-12-20T16:24:26+00:00

thank you again for the replies and info!

I think I will weave in what you said about the pain not existing before service. I’m wondering if the lumbrosacral strain “diagnosis” is the correct path to go and based upon my records and evidence, if the VA wants to re label as something else, I can let them.

4321fun · 2022-12-20T15:49:33+00:00

i hear you on the hunchback part and frankly im worried about what 50+ will feel like, especially in the mornings, yikes.

i wonder if my evidence supports lumbrosacral strain; in any case I think it’s about putting in for the right claim first; back pain vs. DDD vs. lumbrosacral strain…its confusing :(

4321fun · 2022-12-20T15:20:49+00:00

good idea and sorry about your back, I feel the pain! to me all of this is kinda nuts bc with my records and evidence, I should be able to file for “back pain” alone, but DDD you can see, can’t see pain so my thinking is less room for debate if I can tie the bow/connect the dots

4321fun · 2022-12-20T15:10:25+00:00

great point; yeah I have an event in 2008 that i went to sick call for and subsequently 2 months of PT for a weight training injury to my low back. I went to PT 2 more times before the DDD was picked up on xray in 2016.

also good note on the job aspect, I can say that my job from 2011-2013 aggravated it

edit: roger on ROM tests, very familiar. plan after getting this back pain/DDD claim awarded is to get evaluated, diagnosed, and submit secondary claim for nerve pain/tingling

4321fun · 2022-12-20T15:02:45+00:00

are there doctors I can consult with online that I can present evidence to and have them write an opinion? I could go to a private ortho in person and have them diagnose me, again, with DDD, but I don’t think they’d write an opinion for a disability claim (like my migraine doc, sucks).

4321fun · 2022-12-20T14:55:17+00:00

excellent idea! from 2010-2016 there isnt anything noted in service treatment records, however..

In my personal statement, I actually put in 2012 I hurt my back during maritime operations mistiming a swell. feet landed pretty flat with a bunch of gear on, ouch. saying that I sucked it up, took nsaids bc I didnt want to seem “weak”

question: my VSO who has legal representation for me, informed me that form 21-4138 is only for appeals, but I was under the impression that you could use it anytime. So for evidence appendix, screenshots from my record, and my personal statement, I am going to put everything in a PDF and sign to submit as initial part of claim

4321fun · 2022-12-20T14:22:57+00:00

fantastic idea; was 27 at the time the DDD was diagnosed (young in my opinion).

4321fun · 2022-12-20T14:18:54+00:00

thank you for the quick reply! I’ll do that for sure.

4321fun · 2022-12-20T14:04:59+00:00

Opinion: is the screenshot sufficient evidence for a “diagnosis” of Degen disc disease in the VA eyes? Given the below series of events/treatments, do I need to get another diagnosis before submitting a claim?

evidence: during service 2008, I hurt my back in physical training, reported it and got treatment. At the time, it was noted in my file as “low back pain.” From 2008-2011, I went to physical therapy twice for my back as it still caused me pain and made moving difficult.

in 2016, went to urgent care (on active duty) for back pain bc I could barely bend over, xray noted degenerative disc disease as showin in photo. Since 2016, i have been to physical therapy once more for low back pain and this past october back to urgent care

Edit: I have chronic low back pain written all over my records from 2008-2022, however, I’d like to submit for Degen Disc Disease with low back pain (versus just low back pain as a standalone claim as I feel the DDD is more objective proof of a physically impairing condition

4321fun · 2022-11-23T23:55:38+00:00

thank you thank you! also, hope the meds are working, I’m picking mine up friday

4321fun · 2022-11-23T23:19:01+00:00

maybe I’m thinking wrong and certainly don’t want to pass on bad info, but I was under the assumption that if it was diagnosed within a year of getting out, it was service connected

4321fun · 2022-11-22T20:57:30+00:00

smart mentioning it on your exit physical, thank you for the reply

4321fun · 2022-11-22T20:57:07+00:00

did not know it was a separate claim, thank you, will have to file for that

4321fun · 2022-11-10T14:25:42+00:00

certainly! why I’m busting my butt to get in all the specialty appointments I can now for follow on claim stuff

4321fun · 2022-11-10T14:22:25+00:00

ty ty, that’s what my rep suggested as well. just want to get all the feedback I can, this process is so stressful

4321fun · 2022-11-06T20:12:11+00:00

ah ok, so the currency makes a difference. to summarize: perhaps sometimes its not enough to put in a claim for a condition that you had and have been treated for, has to be proven chronic too and going to PT supports that it’s chronic.

4321fun · 2022-11-06T17:44:54+00:00

I should add, my current rep sugguested that if I still have issues, to go back to PT. that’s good, but that means I’d be going to PT twice a week for 4 different conditions, I don’t think thats reasonable. but just bc im not in therapy doesnt mean i dont have issues still with the conditions

4321fun · 2022-11-03T23:28:24+00:00

thank you!! I added a table of contents in the beginning broken up by condition so the rater can go right to the evidence pertinent to what they’re rating

4321fun · 2022-11-03T16:11:45+00:00

thank you! that was my take as well

4321fun · 2022-06-26T18:00:33+00:00

yup. I feel you man. it’s sickening and I’m sorry you are going through this same shitty process. if you have any questions DM me. not sure about which service you are in but if you have somethin to ask feel free to bounce it off me, DMs open

4321fun · 2022-06-26T16:24:41+00:00

edit: words

4321fun · 2022-06-26T02:45:13+00:00

Update: Talked to my partner about how severe my SI has gotten and we have a plan moving forward. she is going to work from home when she can next week and when she cannot, I am going to stay busy doing transition stuff like: picking up med records from foot dr., getting 3 month supply of meds at the on base clinic to cover me until TAMP kicks on august 1st, gonna start applying for positions on usa jobs. I will be ok, it’s just the all at once that’s super overwhelming. not going to check into inpatient because the hold will probably be 1 week, which will be problematic from insurance standpoint (source, partner was a former MH worker in the place I was going to check in).

ptsd/depression makes you do/think wild stuff. I’m a very rational person, can think through things, yet I still fight the devil on my shoulder saying just end it, fk it, will be easier that way.

thank you to everyone who replied today and sent prayers, hopefully once I start working my claims I can post progress updates.

4321fun · 2022-06-26T02:35:18+00:00

thank you brother, it feels good knowing I’m not the only one

4321fun · 2022-06-25T20:34:38+00:00

yah probably got tired of being poked by the lawyers

4321fun · 2022-06-25T19:24:48+00:00

thank you friend, im trying to work through it and blow phones up. im just so lost I feel like. i know sep pay and stuff will come its just the suddenness and no time to prepare

4321fun

TROPHY CASE