Regular treatment is not indicated by the record in the years that followed, and claimant only intermittently missed work. This trend continued into the 1990s, with only occasional periods off work. In 1996, he sought to reactivate his claim to authorize treatment by his attending chiropractor, Dr. Brian D. McMaster. McMaster diagnosed lumbar disc degeneration, which he claimed arose from the lumbosacral strain. He instead attributed the degenerative changes to aging.
Lumbosacral strain is a soft tissue injury which has shown evidence of resolution.
The Deputy is of the opinion that there is no question that claimant's present condition, as attested by both Drs. McMaster and Koppenhoefer is degenerative disc disease, a condition which is long in development and usually associated with the aging process. The condition can develop independent of any traumatic incident or incidents. The Deputy specifically finds that degenerative disease is a separate medical condition from the original lumbosacral strain allowed in this claim. No request was submitted by claimant to secure the allowance of an additional condition.