need some friendly advice

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

DDD; This is you rating problem in a nut shell. I would never allow my attorney to go into a hearing trying to combat a medical term using DDD. DDD can be diag as to what is causing the pain and problems. using the term DDD only gives benefit to the Insurance Carrier for their Work Comp. Educate your attorney now. When you came slaming down on your ankle, you also pushed and shoved on the spinal disc, mostly causing a new injury which can be covered under the provision of agravation to an old injury.

DDD is not a disease; Just that many people don't know this is all;
DDD is a medical term is all: Degenerative disc disease is not really a disease but a term used to describe the normal changes in your spinal discs as you age. Spinal discs are soft, compressible discs that separate the interlocking bones (vertebrae) that make up the spine. The discs act as shock absorbers for the spine, allowing it to flex, bend, and twist. Degenerative disc disease can take place throughout the spine, but it most often occurs in the discs in the lower back (lumbar region) and the neck (cervical region).

http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/degene...c-overview

Any Doctor would need to review your past MRI's and compare them to your present MRI's in order to make any adjustment to a rating. DDD is caused by injury mostly to a Disc. You should have your treating doctor rate you, and have your attorney combat the sudden major change in their doctor's rating.