Back in Vietnam 1968, I was blown off the top of an M48 tank while on an operation in I Corp due to a planted (estimated) 250 pound mine. as such, after being a tank creman with the USMC for over four years I was pretty beat up riding in the tank as a loader and gunner (right and left shoulders) which is all documented in Health Records. Fast forward to 1994 . . I retired in 1990 and went to work as a 18-wheeler. At one location, I was on the dock when I turn around while walking and ended up popping my L4/L5 disc. Had to have surgery and they removed a portion of that disc. Never been any better with constant low back pain and always had to take drugs. The VA eventually gave me a 40% L4/L5 Lumbar Disability Rating. Fast forward mid 2000. . . Had a popping sensation in the back and had an MRI done. Found out that due to the L4/L5 degeneration of the spine that the L5/SI, L3/L4, L2/L3, and L1/L2, as well as a continuation of the L4/L5 have failed and all are moderately facet hypertrophy in nature. Ended up having to have spacers (6) inserted in the pelvic (sacroiliac) to stabilize the movement as the pelvic was grinding bone against bone. Refiled for an upgrade to the disability. The VAbrought me down to their facility in Fresno, CA, and it was a chiropractor who examined me (why not an Orthopedic Surgeon is beyond me) and I received a denial letter stating "Evaluation of small central disc protrusion, L4/L5; status post bilateral semihemilaminotomies with discectomy, which is currently at 40% disabling, is continued." Called VA, and they put me with a Hearing Officer that came out and said that the "rules have been changed" and that there is no disability regarding the other disc's so there is no change, even though I had two Orthopedic Surgeons, my PPO, and a Nuero Surgeon state that because of the L4/L5 failure, it has significantly reduced the other discs below and above to the position of failure, causing enormous pain in the back and pelvis to where the individual has to rely on medication and drugs for the rest of his life. Seeing that my Veterans Administration doesn't think that highly of my suffering (and it seems like other vets as well), I am in the process of returning my 24 years of awards and decorations to the Department of Defense and telling them where they can stick them, compliments of the Veterans Administration ("Veteran's Administration," What an oxymoron!!!