VA - (2 Mos. Post-Separation) | |||||||
Code | Rating | Condition | Code | Rating | Exam | ||
Chronic Back Pain, w/o Neurologic Abnormality | 5299-5237 | 20% | Degenerative Changes of the Lumbar Spine | 5242 | 10% | 20050502 | |
Other x 0 | 20050502 | ||||||
Combined: 10% |
Thoracolumbar ROM (Degrees) |
MEB ~5 Mo. Pre-Sep (20041105) |
VA C&P ~2 Mo. Post-Sep (20050502) |
Flexion (90 Normal) | 60 | 75 |
Extension (30) | 20 | 30 (35) |
R Lat Flexion (30) | 20 | 25 |
L Lat Flexion (30) | 20 | 25 |
R Rotation (30) | 30 (35) | 30 |
L Rotation (30) | 30 (35) | 30 |
Combined (240) | 180 | 215 |
Comment | Tenderness |
Painful motion No reduction with repetition Gait normal |
§4.71a Rating | 20% | 10% |
AF | PDBR | CY2013 | PD2013 00003
The Board considered whether an additional rating could be recommended under a peripheral nerve code for cervical radiculopathy. Examination revealed slow and guarded ambulation, normal posture and gait with slight increase in lumbar lordosis, there was paraspinal muscle tenderness and spasm, positive straight leg raising test, pain throughout the thoracolumbar ROM, normal lower extremity motor and sensory examination. SUBJECT: Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review...
AF | PDBR | CY2014 | PD-2014-00457
The Board’s assessment of the PEB rating determinations is confined to review of medical records and all available evidence for application of the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) standards to the unfitting medical condition at the time of separation. The shoulder was reviewed and considered by the Board. RECOMMENDATION: The Board, therefore, recommends that there be no re-characterization of the CI’s disability and separation determination.
AF | PDBR | CY2014 | PD-2014-00117
Physical exam showed decreased, but unmeasured, range-of-motion (ROM) of the lumbar spine.At the physical therapyexam on 19 September 2005 (2 months prior to separation), pain limited motion was noted to occur on flexion, left lateral flexion and rotation (see chart below).Increased pain from motion “quickly returned to baseline.” All measurements were repeated three times.At the VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam on 13 February 2006 (3 months after separation) the CI complained of...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 00964
Six months after active duty date, the CI was seen in the emergency room for left back pain radiating to the left thigh after heavy lifting the day prior. Range-of-motion (ROM) was flexion 90 degrees (normal 90), extension 30 degrees (normal 30), and combined 240 degrees (normal 240).At the VA Compensation and Pension exam performed on 30 December 2003, 2 months prior to separation, summarized from the VARD because the actual examination was not in the record, the CI denied persistent...
AF | PDBR | CY2014 | PD-2014-01985
According to the VASRD rules for rating the spine in effect at the time of separation thoracic and lumbar spine conditions coded IAW §4.71a are provided a single disability rating and thus the thoracic DDD and the lumbago (listed by the PEB as separate conditions) are subsumed in the §4.71a rating that follows. Since the disability due only to the left foot cannot be isolated by the clinical evidence or from the fitness implications of the bilateral condition, the Board consensus was that...
AF | PDBR | CY2013 | PD-2013-02450
The Board’s assessment of the PEB rating determinations is confined to review of medical records and all available evidence for application of the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) standards to the unfitting medical condition at the time of separation. The MEB physical exam noted decreased sensation in the right lower leg and foot but no motor weakness.The NARSUM examiner reported that the CI “could not flex his trunk greater than 30 degrees without pain,”but did not...
AF | PDBR | CY2013 | PD2013 00793
I request the review board consider: 1) the appropriate application of the VASRD rating for VA code 5237 based on the forward flexion of thoracolumbar spine documented in the NARSUM, 2) the rating of radicular pain as contributing to the unfitting condition in accordance with AR 635-40, Section 4-19f (6) (b), and 3) review all conditions identified but determined not to be unfitting by the PEB (see page 7 of NARSUM).” There is no evidence of a separately ratable functional impairment (with...
AF | PDBR | CY2013 | PD-2013-01324
Accordingly, the Board recommends a separate Service disability rating for each of the pain problems. After a thorough review of the evidence, the Board determined that a separation disability rating of 10% was appropriate for the LBP condition. BOARD FINDINGS : IAW DoDI 6040.44, provisions of DoD or Military Department regulations or guidelines relied upon by the PEB will not be considered by the Board to the extent they were inconsistent with the VASRD in effect at the time of the...
AF | PDBR | CY2014 | PD2014 00906
The VARD also noted the absence of radicular findings and no recording of ROM (the CI refused testing).The Board directs attention to its rating recommendation based on the above evidence.The PEB rated the condition for ROM limited by pain, coded 5237, and assigned a rating of 0%.The VA rated the condition under code 5242, 10% for muscle spasm.Under the applicable spine rules, a rating of 10% requires cervical spine flexion of greater than 30 degrees but less than 40 degrees or a combined...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01966
MINORITY OPINION This Board member recommends a 40% rating for severe limitation of motion of the lumbar spine based on the pain limited flexion of 10 degrees at the MEB NARSUM exam and pain limited flexion of 30 degrees at the VA C&P exam. The MEB NARSUM exam documented lumbar flexion that was limited to only 10 degrees by pain, which indicates a severe limitation of motion. Although the VA C&P examination was after separation, it was actually closer in time to the date of separation, and...