Back conditions typically correspond to the thoracolumbar spine, which is composed of several different types of vertebrae. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. In this situation, a VA RO will contact you to schedule the exam. It is not enough for the examiners to simply say that a veterans DDD is due to natural progression and aging. You may have questions like, what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? However, if you can prove that your degenerative disc disease was connected to your military service, you will receive a disability rating from the VA. All of the medical documentation that you have gathered for your VA disability rating can be used as evidence in your SSDI application. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Others develop a more serious condition DDD , which is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause significant disability. If you are suffering from the effects of cervical degenerative disc disease you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Our attorneys can help you answer this question and more. You must be able to demonstrate the severity of your disability in order to receive the proper disability rating. If your doctor won't write an opinion, make the argument yourself on VA Form 21-4138, including applicable CFR regulations, and submit it with the VA 21-526EZ disability claims form. Citation Nr: 18160441 Decision Date: 12/26/18 Archive Date: 12/26/18 DOCKET NO. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate.Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Receive answers to more of your VA disability claim questions. Just fill out the form and we will forward what benefits the VA is paying for the allergic rhinitis condition and how best to prove your need for disability compensation, along with other information and news about burn pit exposure. Don't Miss: Is Aflac Short Term Disability Worth It The discs between your vertebrae will lose their cushioning and begin to fragment, often causing them to herniate. Keep in mind that that rating can be increased if there is a herniated disc or a bulging disc that causes a doctor to prescribe bed rest, specifically six weeks or more over a year's time period. A spinal fusion procedure is usually performed in order to relieve pain and allow the spine to heal. 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. The TDIU rating gives the same amount of disability benefits as the 100% rating but does not require the full 100%. 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. As is evident from the rating schedules below, the highest possible schedular rating for any single neck impairment is 60 percent for veterans with severe intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. If you are no longer able to work because you have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease , you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits provided by the Social Security Administration if you have paid sufficient Social Security taxes which has allowed you to accrue sufficient social security credits. Water loss and disc damage gradually leads to thinner and weaker discs that cannot effectively cushion the vertebrae. Men and women like you often perform strenuous tasks, including running, jumping, and lifting. If your doctor orders bedrest, the frequency of your incapacitating episodes can also be the basis for a rating. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. These codes guide the VA on how to rate your disability at a certain percentage level based on specific symptoms. 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. Heavy lifting, family histories of back problems, and spine injuries are just a few of the factors that contribute to DDB. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! These ratings will be based on evidence from medical professionals, a VA claim exam, and information collected from other sources including federal agencies. An examination by VA must confirm the limitations of motion in the presence of swelling, muscle spasms, or evidence of painful motion. The examiner will also often ask about the pain levels associated with your condition and what symptoms you experience. Our team of experts, doctors, and orthopedic specialists are here to share their knowledge and experience with you in order to help you make informed decisions about your health and well-being. The limitation of range of motion principle is arguably the most important principle that applies to VA disability ratings for back pain and Degenerative Disc Disease. 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. individual unemployability . Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. 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. Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Knowing how VA ratings for degenerative disc di. He is passionate about helping his patients achieve the best possible outcome and is committed to providing the highest quality of care. When a spinal disc wears down over time, it causes back pain. Degenerative disc disease is also referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine. There is no doubt that DDD can be a serious and debilitating condition, and you must seek proper care. If you have a disc problem, you may require surgery to replace it or to fusion your vertebrae. Other requirements are the presence of spinal arachnoiditis which causes inflammation of one of the nervous systems membranes which means you need to reposition yourself at least every two hours. Veterans who are believed to have more severe symptoms have received higher ratings from the VA in the past. Otherwise, VA should not rely on it for adjudication purposes. Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family history of spine problems, or spine injury. If someone had degenerative arthritis in both the cervical and low back that's been diagnosed by the VA from x-rays this is 10%, or is is 20% because it's in both areas of the spine? Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. Yes, Degenerative Disc Disease is a VA disability and can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100% depending upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of your symptoms. Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent . It is frequently caused by things like incorrectly lifting heavy objects, as well as chronic pain conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While the ROM test is the primary factor in determining VA ratings for back and spine conditions, there are also other portions included in the C& P exams. The term incomplete paralysis, with this and otherperipheral nerve injuries, indicates a degree of lost or impaired functionsubstantially less than the type picture for complete paralysis given with eachnerve, whether due to varied level of the nerve lesion or to partialregeneration. Some examples of cervical conditions that are rated under this code include the following: Diagnostic Code 5237 Cervical Strain A torn tendon or muscle in the neck DEgenerative disc disease is typically rated as a 20% disability by the VA. This condition is rather common and typically interferes with the way mucus drains, causing your nose to be stuffy. 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. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. It may cause back and neck pain and sometimes impact nerve function. This can put pressure on the nerves around the disc and cause pain. Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. 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. If youre trying to increase your VA disability rating for Degenerative Disc Disease, you need to prove to the VA that your symptoms are now worse and warrant a higher rating by law. The people serving in our military work hard. The spine consists of four primary regions from yourneck down to your buttocks and pelvic area . Did VA Deny Your Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease? There are a few different secondary conditions that can arise from degenerative disc disease. In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. Asthma is a condition in which your air passageways swell and narrow and may produce extra mucus. 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. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. The remaining 70% do not receive a disability rating. Can I Get Disability With Degenerative Disc Disease Veteran disability ratings for degenerative disc disease are typically between 10% and 20% of the VA's disability rate. If you are disabled at home or at work, you can achieve a disability rating regardless of where you are stationed. This condition causes the discs between the vertebrae to lose their proper cushioning, fragment, and herniate. Some injuries to the spine might cause weakness in areas such as the arms, shoulders, or hips. This condition can flare up in a few days to a few weeks, causing lasting pain. AtVA Claims Insider, we help fellow Veterans celebrateLIFE CHANGEby getting them the VA disability rating and compensationYOU DESERVEby law. 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. If degenerative arthritis is established by X-ray and is accompanied by satisfactory evidence of painful motion, it will be rated no less than 10-percent. The breaking open of a spinal disc is called a prolapsed or herniated disc. To help the VA determine VA disability ratings for back pain, a compensation and pension exam is usually required. Depending on the number of joints affected, VA rates degenerative disc disease between 10% and 20%. If you are facing difficulties getting a fair disability rating from the VA, our firm can assist you. radiculopathy, myelopathy, urinary incontinence, frequency, mental health conditions, and so on are examples of secondary conditions and complications. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Bulging discs are rated based on the number of incapacitating episodes that have occurred due to the disability. The inflammatory proteins within the disc space can contribute to the progression of disc degeneration over time. Youll also see the termUnfavorable Ankylosis,which is a condition in which the entire cervical spine, the entire thoracolumbar spine, or the entire spine is fixed in flexion or extension, and the ankylosis results in one or more of the following: VA disability ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease also depend upon Functional Loss, which means impairment of spine function as determined by range of motion as reported in the physical examination and additional loss of range of motion after repetitive use caused by the following factors: VA disability of the musculoskeletal system is primarily the inability, due to damage or infection in parts of the system, to perform the normal working movements of the body with normal excursion, strength, speed, coordination and endurance. Consult with our nationally recognized law firm to receive assistance. Which it turns out are more than just one item. 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. In some cases, herniated discs can make it difficult or even impossible to work. In grade 1, the nucleus and nave are clearly distinguished; in grade 2, there is no horizontal band; and in grade 3, there is blurring between the nucleus and nave; in grade 4, the nucleus and nave are clearly distinguished; and. Va Disability Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease Military service can place an incredible amount of stress on the body. The discs act as shock absorbers, absorbing the impact from the daily activities and movements of your body. You will need to provide medical evidence that your retrolisthesis meets the SSA's definition of severe and will . Check out our Google reviews. The Spine Institute of Nevada can help you get the diagnosis and treatment you need for back pain. If there is a service-connected connection between the impairment and service time, a military member may be eligible for disability benefits. Some of which are listed below: Diagnostic codes 5242 and 5243 are reserved for arthritis and spinal disc conditions. 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. Degenerative Disc Disease is a painful spinal disorder caused by the steady degeneration of the intervertebral discs, which are the pads that cushion the bones in the vertebrae of your spine. Yes, retrolisthesis can be considered a disability by the SSA. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. VA disability claims evidence can be direct or circumstantial, and include: A positive VA disability rating for a a bulging disc or a herniated disc is based on the extent of your symptoms, how impaired your range of motion is, prevalence of incapacitating episodes, and how all of this impacts your daily life. Certain spinal conditions can lead to other conditions that can be claimed for an additional rating. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. Though back and neck conditions both stem from the spine in most instances, VA rates them as separate disabilities. In order to apply for a secondary service connection, you must demonstrate that one disability resulted directly from the other. Accurate measurement of the length of stumps, excursion of joints, dimensions, and location of scars with respect to landmarks, should be insisted on. 2022 DisabilityProAdvice.com | Contact us: contact@disabilityproadvice.com, Degenerative Disc Disease & VA Disability Benefits | VA Appeals Attorneys. Are you a veteran suffering from degenerative disc disease? Secondly, your condition needs to be able to meet any of the blue book listings for musculoskeletal diseases. 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. Other spinal conditions cause people to change how they walk, which can lead to leg and knee issues. In most cases, veterans will have to provide evidence of the following three elements of their service connection in pursuing compensation: Its been demonstrated that veterans who were exposed to the environmental hazards from open-air burn pits are at higher risk for developing allergic rhinitis, and other respiratory conditions so, to your advantage, that is a known fact. A VA Disability Lawyers role is to assist you throughout the confusing and often frustrating appeals process if you have been denied benefits for your service-connected back pain. Physical therapy may help with muscle range of motion, while prescription medications may be used to alleviate pain. 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. VA determines a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, but anatomical damage and functional loss are also considered. VA Claims Insider Testimonial: Elite Success Story Dons been through a lot. The VA could assign you a herniated disc disability rating from 10% to 100%. Your final VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease depends upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of symptoms, including Painful Motion, Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM), and Functional Loss or Impairment. The following are some of the most common symptoms of degenerative disc disease: Generally, to prove service connection and secure a degenerative disc disease VA rating, veterans need evidence of the following three things: Veterans can submit a claim for VA disability benefits onVA Form 21-526EZ. Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent. If so, then you deserve to recover VA disability benefits. It can be difficult for veterans to satisfy this rating criteria because modern medical practices no longer call for bed rest to treat IVDS. Importantly, limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. 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.

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