Prior Service

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03XX

PEB Forum Regular Member
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I was in the Marine Corps from 04 - 08 AD and deployed twice to Iraq. After my second deployment I had major back issues, bulging discs. I was sent to SMART clinic and was told I had Lumbago by the LT there. After I EAS'd I was rated 30% combined for
  • thoracolumbar muscle strain (claimed as middle and lower back condition)
  • tinnitus
  • greater trochanteric bursitis, left hip (claimed as left hip condition)
  • left wrist sprain with residual tendonitis (claimed as left wrist condition)
I then joined the Guard a year after being out and have been there since. Within the last year, after being sent to a new unit which is more physically demanding, my pain has gotten much worse, as well as loss of sleep. I started going to the VA complaining of joint pain in my knees, ankles and low back. This was also concurrent with sciatica pain on my right hip. After a few months of physical therapy that did nothing, I went to a civilian chiropractor who took an x-ray of my low back. She stated that my hip looked "different" and suggest I get an MRI. She wrote a note for me, which I brought to the VA and then I was sent to Rheumatology. They did some blood work and an MRI. I was told that I tested positive for HLA B27. The MRI stated

  • No frank erosions or inflammatory fluid of the sacroiliac joints.
  • Nospecific mild edema within the left iliac bone adjacent to the mid to lower left sacroiliac joint. There is also mild focal fat along the sacral portion of the mid right sacroiliac joint.
  • 1 x 0.5 cm ovoid area in the right iliac bone with a low signal rim. Could represent a small bone infarct.
  • L5-S1 Broad-based disc bulge with moderate neural foraminal narrowing bilaterally.
After this the NP put me on NSAIDS and Enbrel, to see if I have Ankylosing Spondlytits I forwarded this information to my unit but haven't heard anything back and my profile has expired.

I am curious as to what steps I should be taking?

If I am put on a MEDBOARD, and ended up with a 10% rating, would I then be 40% and retired?

What should I expect with this, I am confused and no one is giving me any information.
 
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03XX said:
If I am put on a MEDBOARD, and ended up with a 10% rating, would I then be 40% and retired?
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Probably not. The rating used to determine retirement will only be for those conditions making you unfit. Tinnitus is never unfit that I've ever heard of. Most likely the wrist, hip and back will be fit, as you had been successful with those conditions, its just the new worsening of the knee which will be unfit.

03XX said:
I am curious as to what steps I should be taking?
Click to expand...

If that is not accurate, i.e. the back and hip have been getting worse and are also making it impossible to continue service, it is likely wise to get them profiled. That is the best way to document the limitations they cause. Other means can be used however, so any evidence showing that are also making you unfit is good.

There may also be issues with the knee being service connected. A LOD for the knee may prove problematic. If the other joints can be tied to AS, as well as the knee the whole process could be seen as starting in service and put a nice bow around everything. If the knee can't be linked to service connection you will simply be discharged.
 
If unfit for Ankylosing Spondylitis (if the condition is compensable), then all effected joints and manifestations should be included in the AS rating. AS is rated under DC 5002 which includes criteria for active process and criteria for chronic residuals. The rating is supposed to be from the criteria that produces the higher rating.

Mike
 
Do they rate the bone infarct under the AS or would that be separate? I'm assuming all of the things in the second MRI stem from the AS and would be grouped?

Do I need to have the VA say anything about these being together or let the Army ask these questions?
 
I have no idea in the bone issue is a manifestation of AS. You might want to file with the VA right now to see if they service connect the AS.

Mike
 
I've been reading that Lumbago is or can be related to AS, how would I go about getting those two connected?
 
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