what is the va disability rating for degenerative disc disease what is the va disability rating for degenerative disc disease

Generally, you need to be denied at least once before an attorney can assist, but once a lawyer is involved they will often be able to quickly determine what needs to be done in order to prove entitlement. The rating criteria for this diagnostic code is virtually the same as diagnostic code 5003, which is used to rate degenerative arthritis. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. The measurements used for determining compensation are as follows: If you are still in the military, then you can request your military physician to refer you to the MEB and start the IDES process. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. Veterans with DDD are often denied benefits or given low disability ratings because an examiner dismisses the disease as the result of the normal wear and tear of aging. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. 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. 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 example, DDD can lead to other conditions among veterans, such as: You can file a disability claim for any secondary symptoms or conditions caused by your service-connected degenerative disc disease. Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. The spine can affect every other part of your body. These examples of functional impairment can limit a veterans daily activities, quality of life, and ability to work. The VA rates a secondary condition separately. 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. The VA often describes this connection as a nexus. If your VA disability claim for back pain has been denied, be sure to contact the VA Accredited Attorneys at VetLaw right away to help make sure you get the entitlement you deserve. Slouching and a sedentary lifestyle are the most common causes of degeneration of the discs in the discs. And, youll get to work with a Veteran Coach (VC) who will lead you to VA claim success. By Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. This condition necessitates that people avoid activities that are too heavy, such as running, jumping, and lifting heavy objects. It is particularly difficult for people under the age of forty, as well as those under the age of fifty. Periods of severe pain that come and go. Medical diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. The VA ratings for back pain reflect the seriousness of a veteran's mobility loss and how much their spine is affected. 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 order to apply for a secondary service connection, you must demonstrate that one disability resulted directly from the other. For some, asthma may be a minor nuisance. Back conditions typically correspond to the thoracolumbar spine, which is composed of several different types of vertebrae. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. 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. 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. 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. The last lumbar vertebra articulates with thesacrum. 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. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! The patient will be able to live a pain-free life without any limitations if a qualified healthcare provider manages their pain. Don't Miss: Is Aflac Short Term Disability Worth It Fixed movement of the entire spine qualifies for a 100% rating. 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. Regardless, it is known that such toxins may contribute to allergic rhinitis and can be considered having a service connection. We are proud to help you who have served to get the disability benefits you deserve. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that develops and progresses over time. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. 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. #1. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Heavy lifting, family histories of back problems, and spine injuries are just a few of the factors that contribute to DDB. It has been demonstrated that persistent disc disease can lead to a variety of health problems over time. This uneven shift in weight may then contribute to complications in your lower back. ClickHEREto Join the #1 Rated VA Claims Insider Elite Program and Start Today for FREE. 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? For example, if a Veteran experienced 4-6 weeks of incapacitating episodes in the past year, they can receive a 40% bulging disc VA disability rating. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. The use of a goniometer in the measurement of limitation of motion is indispensable in examinations conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs. You May Like: Do Disabled Veterans Pay Federal Taxes. Despite the challenges that arise, people with DDD can still lead full, productive lives. Sometimes degenerative disc disease is accompanied by varying levels of pain. In some cases, degenerative disc disease also causes weakness, numbness, and hot, shooting pains in the arms or legs. It may cause back and neck pain and sometimes impact nerve function. A medical connection linking your diagnosed allergic rhinitis. 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. The effects of DDD can be severe on a disabled Veterans family and finances. Men and women like you often perform strenuous tasks, including running, jumping, and lifting. Our attorneys will use our expertise to help you fight for your benefits. The discs act as shock absorbers, absorbing the impact from the daily activities and movements of your body. Find out if you qualify for SSDI benefits. To receive a 30% rating or above, a veteran must prove ankylosis, which is joint stiffness caused by an injury or a disease. The VA assigns each applicant a disability rating based on the severity of the service-related condition. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. However, individuals with degenerative disc disease may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits if their condition prevents them from being able to work. VAs own clinical guidelines advise VA physicians to encourage patients with low back pain to remain active, and that remaining active is more effective than resting in bed for patients with low back pain. 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. 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). Contact us for a free evaluation of your case. Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at. We help disabled veterans nationwide. 100 Percent VA Disability Benefits: Understand Your Claim Options, Social Security Disability Claims and Appeals, Camp Lejeune Justice Act Toxic Water Claims. 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. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (also known as IVDS) is a back condition involving the intervertebral disc or disc fragments. 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. Have you received a VA disability claim denial? Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is one of the spine conditions that qualifies for disability benefits. The examiner will also often ask about the pain levels associated with your condition and what symptoms you experience. 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. Just fill out the form and we. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. They can range from dull nagging pain to severe disabling (sharp or throbbing) pain. Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). 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 condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate. To get TDIU, you may prove why your service-connected condition prevents you from working. We are an online blog dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate information about orthopedics and injury prevention. In general, the ratings for spine conditions are based on range of motion. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. It mostly occurs in your lower back or neck. Do You Deserve a Higher VA Disability Rating? This pressure can cause you to suffer from a condition known as degenerative disc disease, a spinal condition that can cause severe pain. 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. You may be eligible for a secondary service connection if your degeneration of your disc progresses over time. 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. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Dont give up. These tasks can place extreme amounts of pressure on your body. If you are diagnosed with the DDD it will be added to your C&P and can play a part in your rating but keep in mind the ROM-range of motion becomes a big factor in ratings of the spine. You should exercise on a regular basis if you have this pain. 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. Read Also: Chances Of Winning Disability In Federal Court. Pain that worsens when standing, bending, lifting, or twisting. Neck conditions typically affect the cervical spine, which consists of seven bones that are separated by intervertebral discs. One of the most common is for herniated discs to develop. 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. Determining Your Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Rating. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? You may because back disorders are tricky. In many cases, Veterans with DDD are denied benefits or given low disability ratings. However, you may wonder what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? The VA ratings for back pain reflect the seriousness of a veterans mobility loss and how much their spine is affected. Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine 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. Is It Hard to Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? Extraschedular Disability Ratings Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. This means that 30% of veterans who are diagnosed with degenerative disc disease receive a disability rating from the VA. Intervertebral disc syndrome is a common cause of back pain. Other spinal conditions cause people to change how they walk, which can lead to leg and knee issues. 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. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition that refers to the breakdown of the discs that cushion the vertebrae in your spine. If you do not attend, your claim will likely be denied. Make Today The Last Day You Worry About Your Disability Claim. List of Common Veterans Administration Abbreviations, CIGNA / New York Life Disability Insurance, Disability and Life Insurance Claims FAQs, VA Service Connected Disability Claims FAQ, Life Insurance and Accidental Dismemberment FAQs, process of recovering VA disability benefits, Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability, The VA TDIU Approval Rate and Claim Appeal Options. In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. The spinal disc is made up of a soft disc that separates your vertebrae and serves as a shock absorber in your spine. Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. individual unemployability . The VA uses Diagnostic Codes (DCs) to rate disabilities. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. When a nerve root is compressed, it becomes inflamed. In some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to relieve pressure on the disc. I have radiculopathy for spinal fusion, can I get benefits for degenerative disc disease too? The sacrum fits between the two hipbones connecting thespine to the pelvis. Otherwise, VA should not rely on it for adjudication purposes. A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. The VA can award benefits only if it finds a connection between a Veterans impairment and their past military service. He or she will gather evidence that proves the VA came to the wrong conclusion. Wheezing when exhaling, which is a common sign of asthma in children, Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing, Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu, Make sure to click the link to sign up for updates. They all go together, so make sure you work with an experienced lawyer to get ratings for all of them. Approximately 30% of American adults experience back pain at some point. The pain severity and frequency, as well as the individuals age and occupation, all play an important role in determining its severity. 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. Also Check: Can You Get Disability For Diabetes. This condition refers to back or neck pain caused by the general breakdown of spinal discs. The practitioner will assess how far you can bend and flex your joints during the range of motion C& P exam. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. 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. Some veterans and active duty military members suffer from spinal or back pain after being discharged or while still serving. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. DDD may cause pain to some extent, but obtaining disability benefits can be difficult. To help the VA determine VA disability ratings for back pain, a compensation and pension exam is usually required. The breaking open of a spinal disc is called a prolapsed or herniated disc. There is no cure for degenerative disc disease, but there are treatments that can help to manage the symptoms and slow the progression of the condition. The speed and extent of deterioration are dependent on external factors. Medical professionals call this 'radicular pain.' 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 We have helped thousands of clients nationwide fight for the disability benefits they deserve. Physical therapy may help with muscle range of motion, while prescription medications may be used to alleviate pain. In most cases, VA uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, combined with the limitations on range of motion, to issue a disability rating. Contact us to take advantage of our free consultation. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Get to know us through our videos. Many Veterans may not even realize that their degenerative disc disease is service-related. Review your medical records with a doctor familiar with VA law to get the best rating. It is essential that the examination on which ratings are based adequately portray the anatomical damage, and the functional loss, with respect to all these elements. It can be difficult for veterans to satisfy this rating criteria because modern medical practices no longer call for bed rest to treat IVDS. 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. You must be able to demonstrate the severity of your disability in order to receive the proper disability rating. degeneration of the disc between the vertebrae is the cause of DDD. 2022 DisabilityProAdvice.com | Contact us: contact@disabilityproadvice.com, Degenerative Disc Disease & VA Disability Benefits | VA Appeals Attorneys. When the discs degenerate or break down, they can no longer perform their function properly. Check out our Google reviews. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common cause of disc deterioration in the spine. We can assist you in obtaining VA benefits, as well as in appealing any denials. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. 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. For example, a Veteran with mild degenerative disc disease may be assigned a 10 percent disability rating, while a Veteran with severe degenerative disc disease may be assigned a 100 percent disability rating. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. Fighting insurance companies and the VA is what we do 24/7. It can take a long time for you to develop symptoms for this condition, and doctors often do not document the things VA needs to assess your condition. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. Recommended Reading: What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. A nexus is the direct link between a disability, either physical or psychological, that a Veteran suffers from and their time in the military. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? If the disability criteria do not accurately reflect your disability level, you may be assigned an extraschedular rating. The VA examiner will usually ask questions during the exam to establish whether your condition is related to your military service. Another secondary condition that can develop is spinal stenosis. 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.