This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Make Today The Last Day You Worry About Your Disability Claim. Degenerative Disc Disease & You VA Claim - VA Disability Advocates Blog A veterans Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. The last lumbar vertebra articulates with thesacrum. It is particularly difficult for people under the age of forty, as well as those under the age of fifty. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. If you filed a claim for DDD and VA denied you benefits, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you appeal the unfavorable decision. For a free consultation, contact our nationally recognized law firm today at (866) 282-5260. Due to the extra bodily wear and tear brought on by What is Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans? These cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. In reality, there is no such thing as a cure for everything. A medical nexus, or link, between the in-service event and current diagnosis. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. Approximately 30% of American adults experience back pain at some point. These can last from a few days to a few months before getting better. Service Connection Degenerative Disc Disease VA Disability Benefits - Woods and Woods, LLC The VA may attempt to deny your claim by saying there is no way to determine your condition is due to time spent in service. Eczema-type symptoms (e.g., dry, itchy skin), An in-service event, injury, or illness; and. Instead, many Veterans start to deal with more severe symptoms of DDD years after they have retired from the military. One of the rated conditions I left the Army with was "Degenerative Disc Disease" at 10%. If other treatments, such as medication and physical therapy, have not been able to relieve pain, a surgical procedure is typically recommended. Neck conditions typically affect the cervical spine, which consists of seven bones that are separated by intervertebral discs. The intent of the schedule is to recognize painful motion with joint or periarticular pathology as productive of disability. (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. Many toxins from these burn pits were released into the air, including volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, dioxins, and furans. These include aging, injury, and genetics. VA Ratings for Intervertebral Disc Syndrome - Hill & Ponton, P.A. This condition is rather common and typically interferes with the way mucus drains, causing your nose to be stuffy. Many veterans suffer from various back conditions due to their military service to include Degenerative Disc Disease. Back conditions typically correspond to the thoracolumbar spine, which is composed of several different types of vertebrae. However, if the limitation of motion of the specific joint or joints involved isnoncompensable(i.e., 0 percent disabling) under the appropriate diagnostic codes, a rating of 10 percent will be applied for each major joint or group of minor joints affected by limitation of motion. With IVDS, these discs may be displaced at the lumbar, cervical, or thoracic areas of the spine. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to evaluate back conditions like osteoarthritis. Essentials on VA Disability Ratings for Bulging Disc Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? VA Disability for Bulging Discs | PTSD Lawyers - Berry Law To qualify for service-connected compensation for allergic rhinitis, veterans must prove that their condition was caused by or aggravated by their time spent in service. Our attorneys can help you answer this question and more. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. Just fill out the form and we will forward what benefits the VA is paying for an asthma condition and how best to prove your need for disability compensation, along with other information and news about burn pit exposure. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. Sciatic neuritis is not uncommonly caused by arthritis of the spine. The pain severity and frequency, as well as the individuals age and occupation, all play an important role in determining its severity. DEgenerative disc disease is typically rated as a 20% disability by the VA. The people serving in our military work hard. Bulging discs are rated based on the number of incapacitating episodes that have occurred due to the disability. A veteran must show that the case presents such an exceptional or unusual disability picture with such related factors as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization that make it impractical for VA to assign a schedular rating. Some veterans and active duty military members suffer from spinal or back pain after being discharged or while still serving. The VA ratings for back pain reflect the seriousness of a veterans mobility loss and how much their spine is affected. What is the Degenerative Disc Disease VA Rating? If your doctor orders bedrest, the frequency of your incapacitating episodes can also be the basis for a rating. Immediately below the sacrum are five additional bones,fused together to form the Coccyx . The VA ratings for back pain reflect the seriousness of a veteran's mobility loss and how much their spine is affected. A few of the risk factors for Degenerative Disc Disease include your age, prior back injuries, car accidents, being overweight or obese, a sedentary lifestyle, or other forms of bodily trauma. He is passionate about helping his patients achieve the best possible outcome and is committed to providing the highest quality of care. A spinal fusion procedure is usually performed in order to relieve pain and allow the spine to heal. In more severe cases, Degenerative Disc Disease can cause weakness, numbness, and shooting or throbbing pain in the arms or legs, which is a painful condition knows as Radiculopathy. In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. Also Check: This Device Is Disabled Code 22. Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Claim for Benefits Citation Nr: 18160441 Decision Date: 12/26/18 Archive Date: 12/26/18 DOCKET NO. The sacrum fits between the two hipbones connecting thespine to the pelvis. Instead, they must also explain why it is not due to other factors, such as service. Some people with DDD may experience no pain while others may experience debilitating pain that inhibits their daily life. We are an online blog dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate information about orthopedics and injury prevention. This can put pressure on the nerves around the disc and cause pain. In its earlier stages, it can be easy to assume that DDD symptoms are just everyday aches and pains that have no link to a Veteran's military service. The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. Men and women like you often perform strenuous tasks, including running, jumping, and lifting. With age or trauma, the intervertebral discs lose their water content, leaving the discs more prone to tearing or damage. The VA rating for cervical radiculopathy is determined based on symptoms in the shoulder, arm, and hand. These ratings will be based on evidence from medical professionals, a VA claim exam, and information collected from other sources including federal agencies. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. The #1 best way to increase your VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease is to get X-Rays so you have objective medical evidence to show the degradation of your discs over time. It sounds like this may have been an interpretation of an MRI that you had. Call our law firm, toll free at 800-562-9830 or contact us . It is a common VA disability claim for disability caused by a disabling disc disease. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) | CCK Law (2023) Find Out How To Qualify for Disability with Degenerative Disc Disease Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . Some veterans may also develop degenerative disc disease as the result of an already service-connected condition. This means that 30% of veterans who are diagnosed with degenerative disc disease receive a disability rating from the VA. 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. This article will only focus on the portion of that formula that relates to the thoracolumbar spine. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. . Therefore, VA must determine if the veteran is eligible for a rating higher than the ones set forth by the rating schedule. Many Vets have developed serious asthma even chronic asthma because of exposure to harmful burn pit pollutants. This is when the spaces in the spine narrow, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Pain that worsens when sitting (while seated, the discs of the lower back have 3x more load on them than when standing). Degenerative disc disease (DDD) occurs when the discs between the vertebrae deteriorate causing pain, weakness, tingling, and or numbness. Otherwise, VA should not rely on it for adjudication purposes. However, if VA examiners arrive at this conclusion, they must provide adequate rationale to support their determination. How to Win Your Disability Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease Doctors seldom check a patient's ability to stoop, bend, or crouch during an examination, and yet bending, stooping, and crouching are the three primary nonexertional limitations that disability examiners look for when they evaluate the RFC of applicants with degenerative disc disease. Government disability programs, no matter how well-intended, miss the mark in approving thousands of legitimate disability claims for degenerative disc disease. Usually, it's experienced in the back or neck. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim, Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine, Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine; or forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less; or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees; or, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis, Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the cervical spine greater than 170 degrees but not greater than 335 degrees; or, muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour; or, vertebral body fracture with loss of 50 percent or more of the height. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. The rating chart for thoracolumbar spinal pain is used for primary and secondary conditions to lower back pain. In this case, if the Veteran develops DJD in any other joint in the future, that joint is automatically subject to service connection. 2022 DisabilityProAdvice.com | Contact us: contact@disabilityproadvice.com, Degenerative Disc Disease & VA Disability Benefits | VA Appeals Attorneys. In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. VA Disability For Back Arthritis - Vet For degenerative disc disease, a Veterans Disability rating of 10% to 20% is typically assigned by the VA. An all-timer rating of 100 percent must be obtained before the VA will declare a veteran incapable of working. 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. There is no doubt that wear and tear on the body, as well as the wear and tear on vehicles and on hills due to carrying the worlds lightest kit, can all contribute to Dizziness. According to VA, if degenerative arthritis is established by X-ray findings, the veterans condition will be rated based on limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved. Veteran disability ratings for degenerative disc disease are typically between 10% and 20% of the VA's disability rate. It has been demonstrated that persistent disc disease can lead to a variety of health problems over time. To be eligible for disability benefits for a herniated disc, you must have a current diagnosis of the condition and meet the eligibility criteria for VA disability benefits. Many veterans with degenerative disc disease have been forced to live on the floor. For veterans, the average rating ranges from 10% to 20%. According to the VA disability rating formula, it is usually 20 percent for someone suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee or hip due to severe pain. If you cant move at all without discomfort or pain, make sure to let the examiner know that. The rating criteria can often leave veterans with IVDS short-changed because it is based on the amount of bedrest prescribed by a doctor. Just fill out the form and we will forward what benefits the VA is paying for a chronic sinusitis condition and how best to prove your need for disability compensation, along with other information and news about burn pit exposure. The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateralinvolvement when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. Your symptoms can also get progressively worse over time. You May Like: New York State Short Term Disability. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. Veterans who served in specified locations and time periods do not have to prove a connection between their sinusitis and service to be eligible for VA health care and disability compensation. 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 VA will only grant benefits to veterans who have been diagnosed with an impairment as a result of their military service. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that develops and progresses over time. Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. 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. Contact us to take advantage of our free consultation. Degenerative Disc Disease, Back Pain & Social Security Disability VA disability spine ratings question : r/Veterans - reddit These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. 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. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. 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. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. Social Security Disability Benefits for Degenerative Disc Disease - Nolo This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. Yes, retrolisthesis can be considered a disability by the SSA. If you have a disc problem, you may require surgery to replace it or to fusion your vertebrae. The painful motion principle means that regardless of range of motion, if pain is present, the claimant should at least be awarded the minimum level of disability for that condition. 5.4k views Answered >2 years ago. A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. You may because back disorders are tricky. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. If you are facing difficulties getting a fair disability rating from the VA, our firm can assist you. A Military Service Connection for Allergic Rhinitis Must Be Established. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. Radiculopathy is a nerve condition caused by compressed nerves in the spine, resulting in weakness, numbness, or pain along the nerve. Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. Does Degenerative Disc Disease Qualify For Disability In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. Can I Receive VA Disability Benefits for Agent Orange Exposure? You may be eligible for a secondary service connection if your degeneration of your disc progresses over time. Depending on the number of joints affected, VA rates degenerative disc disease between 10% and 20%. But first, lets explore how the VA looks at Radiculopathyin more detail. We recommend using our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. Brian Reeseis a VA benefits expert, author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, andfounder of VA Claims InsiderThe Most Trusted Name in Education-Based Resources for Veterans.. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. Schedule a Free Consultation. Common Signs and Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans, VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: Basic Eligibility Criteria. If you are unable to work because of a disability, you may be able to get a Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) deferment. Can you claim VA disability for degenerative discs? Military burn pits are large areas of land that were used by the United States military to incinerate waste in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan in the post-9/11 era. While the VA diagnostic code has a maximum rating of 50%, it is possible to get a greater rating if you can prove how your spinal condition limits your function and your life. The VA can award benefits only if it finds a connection between a Veterans impairment and their past military service. The rating criteria for this diagnostic code is virtually the same as diagnostic code 5003, which is used to rate degenerative arthritis. Which it turns out are more than just one item. Cervical Spine Conditions - Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Furthermore, Depression is one of the most common comorbidities in veterans with chronic low back pain. ; The general ratings formula for spine conditions is primarily based on a range of motion. Pain that worsens when standing, bending, lifting, or twisting. Let us prove to you that no one will work harder to win your case than Tucker Disability Law. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at. You should consult with your doctor if you are experiencing back pain to find out what is causing it and how it is affecting you.

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