LetMeGo1979
PEB Forum Regular Member
Greetings all. I would like to consider myself "higher knowledge level than average" when it comes to VA ratings, conditions, and benefits, etc.; however, I am having the hardest time figuring out how to proceed with the VA on my lumbar condition.
I'm a 30 y/o, male who is currently on TDRL status with the AF. I am awaiting my first 18 mo. reeval due to some discrepancy in an unrelated condition.
I was initially rated 10% by the AF and the same with the DVA in 2008 for DDD and nerve impingement L4/5. I thought that to be fairly low given that I was in pain (5-7 level), pretty much 24/7. My problem was/and still is that my range of motion is excellent yet I am in pain whether or not I bend 90 degrees, standing straight up, or am sitting down.
I had a microdiscectomy in Apr 2008 for the L4/5 which corrected the sciatic pain down my left leg, however I still experience LBP in my left butt check and lower back. My pain management doc said it's probably "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome". I am taking pain meds all day because my white collar job requires 8+ hours of sitting in a normal work day.
In a nutshell, I don't believe that I'm only receiving 10% for a condition that CONSUMES MY ENTIRE BEING. It has taken over my life and I believe I will have pain for the remainder of my life.
Does anyone have experience with a similar situation? Is there any additional evidence that can better my case with the DVA? I have range of motion measurements which, as mentioned, really don't say much because I can move fine and no position hurts more than another. My pain is constant and consistent. I've tried everything under the sun to include the hocus pocus science of chiropracty which I paid for out of pocket b/c TRICARE will not cover (thank you very much). How a military installation can have a chiropractor on staff (and actually be a military member) yet TRICARE not cover it beyond me. I digress.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and by the way. I'm having a doosey of a time trying to search this forum now that it has changed. If I click on a thread after a search it doesn't bring me to the thread, it takes me to a page that lists the different boards. If anyone can help me with that, that would be great too.
I'm a 30 y/o, male who is currently on TDRL status with the AF. I am awaiting my first 18 mo. reeval due to some discrepancy in an unrelated condition.
I was initially rated 10% by the AF and the same with the DVA in 2008 for DDD and nerve impingement L4/5. I thought that to be fairly low given that I was in pain (5-7 level), pretty much 24/7. My problem was/and still is that my range of motion is excellent yet I am in pain whether or not I bend 90 degrees, standing straight up, or am sitting down.
I had a microdiscectomy in Apr 2008 for the L4/5 which corrected the sciatic pain down my left leg, however I still experience LBP in my left butt check and lower back. My pain management doc said it's probably "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome". I am taking pain meds all day because my white collar job requires 8+ hours of sitting in a normal work day.
In a nutshell, I don't believe that I'm only receiving 10% for a condition that CONSUMES MY ENTIRE BEING. It has taken over my life and I believe I will have pain for the remainder of my life.
Does anyone have experience with a similar situation? Is there any additional evidence that can better my case with the DVA? I have range of motion measurements which, as mentioned, really don't say much because I can move fine and no position hurts more than another. My pain is constant and consistent. I've tried everything under the sun to include the hocus pocus science of chiropracty which I paid for out of pocket b/c TRICARE will not cover (thank you very much). How a military installation can have a chiropractor on staff (and actually be a military member) yet TRICARE not cover it beyond me. I digress.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and by the way. I'm having a doosey of a time trying to search this forum now that it has changed. If I click on a thread after a search it doesn't bring me to the thread, it takes me to a page that lists the different boards. If anyone can help me with that, that would be great too.
