Any indisight would help

U

unstablevet

PEB Forum Regular Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
My VA rating are apparently done. I'm just waiting to find out what they are. I have been found unfit for Cervical Spondylosis with Myelopathy. My MEB was started in the middle of March and my VA ratings have just completed and I am waiting on the results. Some simple insight on what possible ratings I could expect would be appreciated.

Cervical Spine:

Forward Flexion ends: 0 degrees
Evidence of painful motion: 0 degrees

Extension ends: 30 degrees
Evidence of painful motion: 30 degrees

Right Lateral Flexion ends: 10 degrees
Evidence of painful motion: 10 degrees

Left Lateral Flexion ends: 0 degrees
Evidence of painful motion: 0 degrees

Right Lateral Rotation ends: 20 degrees
Evidence of painful motion: 20 degrees

Left Lateral Rotation ends: 10 degrees
Evidence of painful motion: 10 degrees

Is the Veteran able to perform repetitive-use testing with 3 repetitions? No
If unable, provide reason: because of pain

Pain and muscle spasm
Does the veteran have localized tenderness or pain to palpation for joints/soft tissue of the cervical spine
yes
Does the Veteran have guarding or muscle spasm of the cervical spine?
Yes
Abnormal Gait
Abnormal spinal countour

Functional impact
Does the Veteran's cervical spine condition impact on his or her ability to work? Yes
if yes describe the impact of each of the Veteran's cervical spine conditions, providing one or more examples: The impact of the cervical spine condition on the claimant's ability to work is essentially unable to work ( disabled).

Before I hear any negative feedback I would like to explain my case. I had ACDF on C5-C6. The dorsal side of my spinal cord was damaged at those levels and confirmed by mri. I also have signal cord changes at C2-3- and 4 along with compression now at C3 through C7. I had an EMG conducted and the neurologist stated that my nerves are fine. My problem is the damaged sustained by my spinal cord. I have altered sensation from the waist down, and in my right hand. The ability to feel temperature at those levels is almost non existent. I am having a hard time walking and limp to my right due to lack of feeling and placement of my right leg. My breathing has also started to become harder. The doctor said that my difficulty breathing is due to my nervous system "frying out".
 
30% rating based upon range of motion for the cervical spine.

If you have nerve damage, get it diagnosed on paper. It needs to claimed as either neuralgia or neuropathy.

This link will get you to the schedule of ratings http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-id...102ae61f3&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.2.110.67&rgn=div8

Read through and match up the nerve groups that correspond with your symptoms, then try to get on paper that you have conditions that affect those groups.
 
I had an emg conducted. Both my neurosurgeon and neurologist said that all of my nerves are fine. My spinal cord is what is damaged. The nerves are able to transmit signals but my spinal cord has a difficult time sending and receiving. I cant find any information about how or if spinal cord injury is even rated. I only find nerve groups which in my case doesnt apply.
 
Spinal cord injury is rated as paraplegia or tetraplegia based upon the nerve groups that are affected. Is there written documentation stating that you have spinal cord damage?
 
Yes, in my neurosurgeon and spinal surgeons notes and my p3 profile states intrinsic spinal cord changes . My mri results state spinal cord signal abnormalities at c3 4 5 and 6 along with compression. I asked my spine surgeon what happened during surgery and he said that because the area that my neurosurgeon operated in was so tight due to stenosis that there wasnt any room for the medical instruments and the procedure ended up damaging my spinal cord and causing more harm than anything else
 
Last edited:
Do you have loss of use and/or incontinence of bowel/bladder?
 
Luckily all I have had has been trouble voiding (have episodes where it takes me upwards of 45 minuted to finish urinating). This comes in episodes and isn't constant. I'm glad to say that I don't have any more serious issues. The dorsal segment of my spinal cord in the cervical region is damaged. This area controls sensation, temperature, vibratory, and position. My motor responses have been left relatively ok.
 
The only motor responses I have been having trouble with is walking, and my breathing is starting to become an issue
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top