Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Military & Veterans Board VA Ankylosing Spondylitis Ruling

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Duplicate Post

Troy,

Send me a PM.

Mike

Mike,

Sorry I have been away for ages. You may not remember that long ago but thanks for all this action you have been taking to help others in the ratings fight. There is a lad who is just now going through the ratings at Landstuhl and I passed him your contact information here in this forum. I told him to contact you as our Man in DC. I hope you do not mind!

Cheers

Doug

Ok, here it goes, I just had a c&p done. My case started in 2003 when I was ADSEP'd from the Navy, been fighting the VA since. Here is the modified copy of my latest C&P.

I got copies of my complete C-file from the VA. The c&p exam I had in 2004, the doctor stated that my back pain was more likely than not related to my service in the Navy. But I was denied service connection because there was not an official diagnosis, just stated back pain.

I also had a C&P exam on 16 Mar 2012, where the Dr. states that my Ankylosing Spondylitis is more likely than not related to my service. The following is a breakdown of the dr notes from the recent C&P:

Bilateral Hip Condition:

R hip flexion : 20
R hip extension: 5
L hip flexion : 20
L hip extension : 5

Painful motion begins at 5 on both
Abduction lost beyond 10 degrees yes (Both)
Adduction limited - can not cross legs yes (Both)

Rotation limited - Veteran cant toe-out more than 15 degrees yes (Both)

Patient in severe pain, repetitive use ROM not completed

Functional loss of hip and thigh - yes (Both)

Less movement than normal, Weakened movement, Excess fatigability, pain on movement, instability of station, disturbance of locomotion, interference with sitting, standing, and or weight-bearing these are all marked for both Hips.

localized tenderness or pain to palpitation for joints/soft tissue of either hip (yes - Both)

Muscle strength test -
Hip Flexion 4/5 on both
Hip abduction and hip extension 3/5 on both

Images were taken, degenerative arthritis is documented in both hips, and Ankylosing Spondylitis seen on x-ray results.

Cervical spine condition:

ROM:
forward flexion ends: 20
painful motion: 15

extension ends : 5
painful : 5

right and left lateral flexion ends : 5
painful motion : 5

right and left lateral rotation ends: 10
painful : 10

did not do repetitive ROM test, too much pain

Functional loss:

less movement than normal, weakened movement, excess fatigability, pain on movement, interference with sitting, standing, weight bearing

localized tenderness - yes



reflex exams:
biceps : 1+ (both)
triceps : 0 (both)
brachioradials : 1+ (both)

sensory all normal

x-rays show Ankylosing Spondylitis


Thoracolumbar spine condition:

forward flexion : 10 - ends with pain
extension - 10 - ends with pain

right lateral / left lateral flexion : 5 - ends with pain

right / left lateral rotation : 10 - with pain

did not complete repetitions

Functional loss: yes
less movement than normal, excess fatigability, instability of station, disturbance of locomotion, interference with sitting, standing, and/or weight bearing

Localized tenderness ; yes

guarding / muscle spasm of thoraculumbar spine (
yes, abnormal gait

Muscle strength : Hip flexion; knee extension;ankle plantar flexion; ankle dorsiflexion ; great toe extension - all 4/5 on both

reflexes : knee and ankle ; 0 - both sides

all sensory normal

Radiculopathy yes: l/r lower extremity ; moderate (both) paresthesias and or dysesthesias ; moderate (both)

nerve roots involved: L2/L3/L4 (both)(femoral nerve) ; L4/L5/S1/S2/S3 (sciatic nerve) (both)

severity of radiculopathy and side affected : Moderate - Both

Intervertebral disc syndrome and incapacitating episodes, yes to both

Images: Ankylosing Spondylitis and Scoliosis noted on thoracic and lumbar spine x-ray results

Pain and decreased ROM affect the veterans ability to work

Medical opinion of VA Examiner:

patient was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in April 2011, However, symptoms began in 2001, during his enlistment. This is clearly supported when reviewing his medical records. The veteran was seen on multiple occasions for his ongoing back pain, but never officially diagnosed until recently.

The veteran's condition (back, bilateral hip) is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his military service.



Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to get an accurate opinion, and to do so, I have to give the full picture.

Do you have an opinion on what I may get as far as service connection goes? A best case scenario will be fine.

Hello, I am new to all of this. I have been experiancing excruciating pain in my left SI for the last two years following a rough landing under an MC-6 Chute during the Q-course in May of 2010. It didn't start off that bad but it escalated to the point where I couldn't get myself dressed or walk. I have seen many Dr's at Ft. Bragg with little to no success and have started the med board with a diagnosis of Sacroillitis and general low back pain.I have been unresponsive too half a dozen stereroid injections,RF abilations and an Epidural. I finally got a referal to Pain management at UNC chapel hill and I finally have some function back but only because the pain is masked by narcotics. I just found out last night that my mother has advanced ankylosing spondylitis and takes humira and a miriad of other medications. I hadn't spoken to her in years( Family issues) but we have started to patch things up. I read up on AS and it fits exactly with my symptoms. I went in to my clinic this morning and after much convincing I got the PA to order a test for HLA-B27. I won't know if I have the gene for 2 weeks. I just don't want to get screwed over by the rating board. I have been to AFG/IRQ multiple times and have recieved all 6 anthrax series injections and have had many GI related issues just sucked it up along with most stuff. I don't want the board to rule this unrelated to service if the cause isn't even fully understood. I have endured the hardest training the military has to offer(IMO) and I can't imagine that it didn't at least escalate my condition.I would have been fired long ago if this was a civy job. I have lost my career, I don't want to lose the benifits and pay as well. I won't be able to hold a job as it stands now and my board process just started. What can I do? Any help would be amazing. Thanks. SSG A.

Well I got into UNC rhumetology and they have started me on a two week course of predisone for some type of diagnostic tool I'm assuming. Pain spread to my right side as well a month ago. Some help so far on the prednisone but it has only been two days. My med board has started and i'm still just kind of floating in a sea of uncertainty.....

Recent AS research is showing specific genes that are involved and that “It is looking more like AS is not an autoimmune disease, but really an unusual response to infection. These genes working together probably impair the immune system’s ability to rid the body of some of these bacteria or their products" according to a researcher working with the support of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health. Drs. Arnett & Reveille were involved with the research.

So the argument is causation and/or aggravation. Military service put you at risk. Live vaccines such as smallpox and anthrax may have done it.

I didn't get the anthrax shot but certainly got the live smallpox virus in Basic and a squad member actually came down with smallpox (touched the injection site when advised not to) and had to be hospitalized for smallpox when smallpox is eradicated according to the World Health Organization. Smallpox only exists in biowarfare labs. I got 6 typhoid shots as well but no knowing whether that was a live virus it just made everyone I know sick within days of taking the shots.

I served from 1987 - 1991 (US Army) but was never deployed to the Gulf. I wasn't diagnosed with AS until 1999 but I had been complaining to VA doctors about back & neck problems, headaches, chronic fatigue since 1994 and they said I must be psychotic since I was otherwise healthy (other than elevated ALT levels since I had an infection in Basic that had me hospitalized for 2 weeks).

Ill keep this short as i can.
Can anyone please, please, tell me if diagnosed with Anklosing Spondylitis during active duty and forced medical discharge to finally get only 10% years later and cannot get more because the reasoning given is that they say it is "hereditary" because of the common HLA-B27 blood antigen that many or most irish english french blooded american people carry is happening to them???
My younger brother is a Marine and was Forced out after 2 years of appealing to stay in. He is young and has it soo bad for years it takes him 30 minutes daily just to put his socks on. We live together, and we are tough as a box of nails, but it brings Tears to my eyes to watch my Hero deteriate daily. We are all each other has, as we lost both of our parents years back. He only can get 10% for AS, 20% for depression. VA wont give him a % on his eyes problems, Raynauds, Fibromyalgia and all the other stuff...
All this started just after an injury and just after the Anthrax and Many Other unknown shots were given while lined up in the showers in the middle of the night (many times) During Basic Training.

He needs to contact the DAV and have them represent him.