The Essentials on VA Disability Ratings for Bulging Disc Eric Gang, ESQ Back pain is a common problem for veterans. Fixed movement of the entire spine qualifies for a 100% rating. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. This article will only focus on the portion of that formula that relates to the thoracolumbar spine. If there is a service-connected connection between the impairment and service time, a military member may be eligible for disability benefits. The VA rates degenerative disc disease by assigning a disability rating based on how the condition is impacting the Veterans ability to function. He is the founder and main author of brandonorthopedics.com, a website that offers valuable resources, tips, and advice for patients looking to learn more about orthopedic treatments and physiotherapy. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. The patient will be able to live a pain-free life without any limitations if a qualified healthcare provider manages their pain. Back thoracolumbar spine conditions can have a significant effect on an individuals life, a DBQ allows the veteran to go into detail about how the condition has impacted their life. The people serving in our military work hard. With any form of arthritis, painful motion is an important factor of disability, the facial expression, wincing, etc., on pressure or manipulation, should be carefully noted and definitely related to affected joints. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. Disabilities of the Spine - Veterans Appeals TDIU, or total disability based on individual unemployability, occurs when a veteran is unable to work as a direct result of their service-connected disability or condition. Sometimes degenerative disc disease is accompanied by varying levels of pain. The VA examiner will usually ask questions during the exam to establish whether your condition is related to your military service. FINDING OF FACT The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's obstructive With over 30+ years experience winning cases, the attorneys at Tucker Disability Law have built a reputation for excellence, hard work, and always standing by our clients. You may be eligible for a secondary service connection if your degeneration of your disc progresses over time. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain (Cervicalgia), Cervical Spine Pain, & Neck Arthritis The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) views conditions of the spine through two main categoriesneck and back. This can put pressure on the nerves around the disc and cause pain. Systemic DJD occurs when the Veteran gets a diagnosis of DJD in service (or within one year after release from active duty) when there is no record or evidence of trauma to the joint. Pain in the low back (lumbar), mid back (thoracic), or neck (cervical), depending on where the affected disc is, possibly even radiating to the legs, arms, and hands (Radiculopathy). Sciatic neuritis is not uncommonly caused by arthritis of the spine. However, there are other conditions you need to meet before you can submit an application for disability benefits. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. It states that your degenerative disc disorder needs to have caused a compromised nerve root of the spinal cord or you need to provide proof that the root compression causes spinal pain, restricted spinal movement, a reduction in motor function and muscle weakness including loss of reflexes and touch. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! Diagnostic codes 5235 through 5243 of 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System are dedicated to back and neck pain. Though the practice was effective in reducing large quantities of waste, the burn pits emitted large clouds of toxic smoke which was later proven to cause many adverse health conditions. The middle and upper back area is your thoracic spine andthe lower back area is your lumbar spine. Some waste materials commonly disposed of in these burn pits include: Many veterans who were exposed to burn pits during their service and developed chronic sinusitis may be able to seek service connection benefits under this new presumption. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain: Cervical Spine, Neck Arthritis This can cause pain, numbness, and weakness. Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family history of spine problems, or spine injury. As a result of DDD, some people can manage their pain in a variety of ways. Since that requires you to show that you have no range of motion (i.e., you cannot move your back), it can be very difficult, and you have to show why your back condition severely limits you. Also Check: Can You Get Disability For Diabetes. Specifically, exposure to the toxins released can affect a persons lung health. As the spine wears and tears, the disc degenerates. It is frequently caused by things like incorrectly lifting heavy objects, as well as chronic pain conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The VA uses two different Diagnostic Codes to rate herniated discs: The breaking open of a spinal disc is called a prolapsed or herniated disc. We recommend using our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. It may cause back and neck pain and sometimes impact nerve function. VA determines a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, but anatomical damage and functional loss are also considered. individual unemployability . This can be submitted via mail to the Evidence Intake Center or electronically throughVAs website. This might be the case for a veterans DDD, as the highest schedular rating under is only 20 percent. With age or trauma, the intervertebral discs lose their water content, leaving the discs more prone to tearing or damage. A nexus is the direct link between a disability, either physical or psychological, that a Veteran suffers from and their time in the military. We have updated our Privacy Policy. Medical diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. Degenerative Disc Disease is a spinal disorder most often rated underCFR Title 38, Part 4, VA Schedule of Ratings, Diagnostic Code 5242, Degenerative Arthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease Other Than Intervertebral Disc Syndrome. Find Out How To Qualify for Disability with Degenerative Disc Disease You must be open, honest, and truthful at your C&P exam for Degenerative Disc Disease, and make sure toSTOPthe C&P examiner as soon as you feel any discomfort or pain. Welcome to Brandon Orthopedics! Though the practice was effective in reducing large quantities of waste, the burn pits emitted large plumes of toxic smoke which was later found to cause many adverse health effects. (1) Limitation of Range of Motion and (2) Pain are the two most common factors that determine your final VA rating for back conditions such as Degenerative Disc Disease. Degenerative Disc Disease VA Disability Benefits - Woods and Woods, LLC If you developed degenerative disc disease as a result of military service, you may be eligible for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Part of aging is disk deterioration; however, it does not cause pain in everyone. So, lets take a minute to explore the law regarding the symptoms and impairment required to warrant a VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. Chat with Us. The TDIU rating gives the same amount of disability benefits as the 100% rating but does not require the full 100%. An examination by VA must confirm the limitations of motion in the presence of swelling, muscle spasms, or evidence of painful motion. Hes battled medical issues for years, and the Air Force veteran was pretty sure he was underrated by the How to Service-Connect Your Orthopedic Disabilities If youre a veteran dealing with pain from an orthopedic condition, youre not alone. confirm with the actual CFR for VA disability ratings but this one has seemed to be very accurate with it. Additionally, surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to herbicides (such as Agent Orange) during military service and died as the result of service-connected conditions may also be eligible for VA survivors benefits. The spine can affect every other part of your body. Dont give up. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. We can assist you in obtaining VA benefits, as well as in appealing any denials. For retrolisthesis to be a disability, you will need to meet a Blue Book listing, demonstrating your retrolisthesis is severe enough to qualify for disability benefits. Degenerative disc disease - Veterans Benefits Network To recover service-connected compensation disability benefits for degenerative disc disease, you must meet a certain threshold required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). All Rights Reserved. The VA uses Diagnostic Codes (DCs) to rate disabilities. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain | The Tuley Law Office The speed and extent of deterioration are dependent on external factors. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease Explained (The Sharp and radiating pain in the back, arms, legs or shoulders that may worsen with certain activities, even something as simple as coughing or sneezing, Weakness, fatigue, or loss of reflexes in the arms or legs, Numbness or tingling of the skin, pins and needles, or other abnormal sensations in the arms or legs. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Crepitation either in the soft tissues such as the tendons or ligaments, or crepitation within the joint structures should be noted carefully as points of contact which are diseased. Instead, they must also explain why it is not due to other factors, such as service. Where there are additional disabilities rated 50% or 100%, or anatomical or loss of use of a third extremity see 38 CFR 3.350 (f) (3), (4) or (5). It is very common to receive only a 10 or 20 percent rating for neck or back conditions. If you cant move at all without discomfort or pain, make sure to let the examiner know that. If you are disabled at home or at work, you can achieve a disability rating regardless of where you are stationed. These cases are classified as higher in severity. One of these is you need to be able to prove your degenerative disc disease will prevent you from working for at least 12 months. To file for secondary service connection, you will need: Importantly, you do not have to file for secondary conditions at the same time as filing for primary conditions. VA Ratings for Intervertebral Disc Syndrome - Hill & Ponton, P.A. Lower back pain (lumbosacral pain) is a common condition that can be distinguished from a variety of other conditions. Consult with our nationally recognized law firm to receive assistance. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. Knowing how VA ratings for degenerative disc di. Most Common Back Conditions Veterans Experience & Their Ratings, VA Claims for Hip Pain Secondary to Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Most Common Back Pain VA Claims Among Veterans, 3 Common Back Conditions Veterans Experience, Secondary Conditions to Flat Feet (Pes Planus) for VA Disability, A current diagnosis of DDD by a medical professional; and. The joints involved should be tested for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing and, if possible, with the range of the opposite undamaged joint. It is the intention to recognize painful, unstable, or malaligned joints, due to healed injury, as entitled to at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint. It is not enough for the examiners to simply say that a veterans DDD is due to natural progression and aging. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. you viewed to avoid repetition. A Military Service Connection for Allergic Rhinitis Must Be Established. You may have infrequent asthma attacks, have symptoms only at certain times, such as when exercising, or you may have symptoms all of the time. Regardless, it is known that such toxins may contribute to allergic rhinitis and can be considered having a service connection. Physical therapy may help with muscle range of motion, while prescription medications may be used to alleviate pain. Tingling and numbness may not last for long periods of time; however, these symptoms may be . Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. The guidelines also state that if a patient requires bed rest, the physician should encourage them to return to their normal activities as soon as possible. VA Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease - Hill & Ponton, P.A. It may cause back and neck pain and sometimes impact nerve function. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is.

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