VA Regional Office - Closed

Thank you!

What's really funny is, I've been out for over 15 years and 5 months and just sort of 'dealt with it'. Until it just got to the point where my back pain/issues were really affecting my normal day-to-day activities more than usual.

The real surprising fact though is no matter how disabling back pain is/can be, the VA provides such low ratings as I got curious and looked up to see what they offer - in my case they provided this;

30% for pes planus, to include plantar fasciitis

10% for arthritis

10% for intervertebral disc syndrome

10% for radiculopathy sciatic nerve, left

and 10% for radiculopathy sciatic nerve, right

 

You'd have to ask the VA about the details unless you are represented by say the DAV. From what I understand (don't quote me on this, I'm not expert), if you have 10 disabilities @ 10%, they don't add up to 100, once you reach 90% it may take a 50% disability to get to 100%. The one question I would have is, if they acknowledged your back issue, do they think you can work and if so doing what? The DAV was a great advocate for me, you do not need to join to have them help. I would set up an appt at your nearest DAV to speak to a specialist concerning their findings and what the solutions are.

 

I have no idea what DAV is, but to answer your question about the back thing, just a general search will yield a response that 10% is commonly awarded for back issues.

It's only the additional claims (also at 10% each) that get you higher.

I'd be happy to share the details of each awarded percentage as I downloaded the "packet" they mail out; it was already available to generate which is how I saw the results.

This is only my second claim ever and both were fully developed. Being an actual combat-disabled vet meant not really needing anyone to represent me other than the items the VA already has on me.

From C&P to final decision, the entire process was always done fairly quickly. In this particular case it only took forever getting an exam cause I needed my 1 year old present.

I've got all my limbs, and I can still go out and get a job so there's absolutely no reason for me to attempt to get more.

 

Disabled American Veterans, a group that will advocate for veterans and directly contact the VA. They usually have offices at VA centers and can help clarify questions and guidelines the VA follows. Reach out to them if you feel like you're not getting direct answers. Thank you for your service, it's greatly appreciated.

 

The VA has the charts on their website but essentially ratings are cross referenced on charts to get the total rating for multiple conditions. The chart below is for 90-94%, another 10% rating on top of 90% gets you 91%. If you have one 20% condition and eight more 10% conditions the overall rating is 66%, not 100%.

 

Yep. Takes a full 50% to get from 90% to 100%.

 

Glad to hear it’s worked out for you!

I just received my denial today for my back injury that took place on a deployment in 2010 and was officially diagnosed in 2018. I had a “line of duty” report for my injury in 2010 acknowledging my injury. In the favorable finding it states I had been injured while on duty but no connection to military service. Not sure how that aligns but ok! It’s the VA

 

What the fuck, denied but they have record of it?

This was a fully developed claim you submitted?

What was the exact verbiage?

 

Yeah it was previously denied and this was an appeal.



that is a snippet from their letter

 

The only thing I can think of is I had a low back strain in 2004 and a separate injury in 2010 that I was actually claiming. Who knows what the VA is thinking

 

So I got 10% for that symptom.



You should appeal it and have them look through your file. I say this because like I mentioned in the previous page, they found a form I signed and dated regarding my back pain.

The examiner told me that automatically makes it service connected.

Being injured during your active duty, and having that documentation, should automatically warrant you your claim so I assume it was overlooked or something.

It takes somewhere between 6 to 12 hours but you should do the online request for all your records from the DOJ site. It will have every form in there going back to when you were at MEPS, and everything after. I bet you'll find it in there.

 

Perfect! Thank you for the help and advice! At this point I really just want them to agree it’s service connected. I was going to be MED out of the Air Force but since it was an approved Line Of Duty injury they allowed me to stay in and retire. So maybe that’s not in my medical records but all of my profiles and treatments should be.

 

Updated my post, you'll see the evaluation they conducted and what they concluded.

Max for that is only 20% unfortunately.

 

Yeah, I’m currently 70% (paid) and 90% total. I’ve been fighting since 2010 due to this injury and the military trying to say it wasn’t caused my service and now the VA. If I get 10% that would be great, I’d like the meds covered they’ve been giving me haha

 

Ah I've heard about that, being paid less than a rated amount.

Weird how they do that.

Even at 70% though it makes you a category 1 for VA healthcare so, wouldn't all meds be covered?

 

Yeah the VA is strange with math. I may be eligible for meds being covered. I guess I should ask. I was 30 up until a couple months ago and some of my PACT Act claims came through. So the 70% is new to me.

 

Ahh that makes sense.

 

Perfect thank you! That’s one of the thing I love about veterans…all for helping other vets!

 

Hope you all get the care you earned

 

Thank you

Although I think it's better that I walked away with all my limbs.