Help Understanding Narrative Summary DA 3947

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dkokoszka

PEB Forum Regular Member
PEB Forum Veteran
I received my DA 3749 this afternoon. There were 6 Diagnosis that do NOT meet AR 40-501. I am AGR with 23 years of Active Duty. Commanders Statement/NCOER supports un-fit for continued service. Here is a list of my conditions.

  1. 720.0: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Lumbar Spine S/P Multiple fusions.
  2. 719.45 Right hip pain S/P, Total Hip replacement with degenerative changes.
  3. V58.78 / 719.51 : S/P right shoulder SLAP repair w/decreased ROM
  4. 728.71: Right Plantar Fasciitis S/P Surgery
  5. 307.89: Chronic pain disorder associated with both Psychological factors and general medical condition.
  6. 296.22 Major depressive disorder.
Anyways, I have started to go over all the attachments/reports. Without a medical degree I am finding difficult to comprehend some of the terminology.

I am really confused about the first one: 720.0 Ankylosing Spondylitis, Lumbar Spine S/P Multiple fusions. I am not sure what they are talking about.

I would appreciate if anyone can shed some light on this situation.

Thank you.
 
Hi again dk,

My best guess..S/P usually means status post. like, after the fact. So you have Ankylosing Spondylitis ( "itis" is of course inflammation of anything-here spondylitis is degeneration of the spine. Ankylosing Spondylitis-arthritis of the spine with degeneration). And that you've had mulitple fusions. So you have arthritis of the spine, of the lumbar spine, and you've had multiple fusions. Please read this from mmparker and The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of the Department of Veterans’Affairs

VA Ankylosing Spondylitis Rating Policy - Spondylitis Association of America - Message Boards & Forums

ICD is the International Classification of Diseases. Basically so hospitals and doctors can be paid by insurance companies (billable (spelling) medical codes. They are saying you have ICD 720.0, which is Ankylosing Spondylitis. But of course the VASRD code will be different.

Hope this helps. Chinook ( : Be Happy!
 
Thanks, I understand better now.

I guess the question now is VASRD Codes. When you you get these?
 
Type "conditions and ratings" in the search box. It will take you to that thread on the forum and give you the VASRD links
 
Yes, understood, but how do you know which code to use?

All I have to go on is the DA 3947, Example: 296.22 Major Depressvie Disorder.

Thank you.
 
This is my opinion only but I think VASRD code 9434 (Major depressive disorder) closely mirrors the ICD 296.22 (Major depressive affective disorder single episode moderate degree). How this translate to a rating percentage seems difficult because the disorder has to fall within one of the following ranges:

General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders:

Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name100
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships70
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships50
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events)
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication10
A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication 0

Hope this helps
fdm
 
I know a lot about Ankylosing Spondylitis and how the military should rate the condition. Send me a PM.

Mike
 
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