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

Sometimes degenerative disc disease is accompanied by varying levels of pain. Periods of severe pain that come and go. 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). Your Degenerative Disc Disease was caused or made worse by your active-duty military service OR by another service connected disability for secondary service connection (Nexus for service connection), #3. The VA rating for radiculopathy in the lower back will be based on symptoms felt in their lower limbs, such as feet, calves, or thighs. To achieve the full disability rating, you must complete all of the steps. Can I Get Disability With Degenerative Disc Disease 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. Asthma is not a curable condition, but its symptoms can be controlled. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. If your doctor orders bedrest, the frequency of your incapacitating episodes can also be the basis for a rating. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. Many veterans with degenerative disc disease have been forced to live on the floor. What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65, Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. The VA often describes this connection as a nexus. #1. This condition is rather common and typically interferes with the way mucus drains, causing your nose to be stuffy. The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. 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. You May Like: Do Disabled Veterans Pay Federal Taxes. 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. Our legal team can provide you with quality and experienced representation that is going to help you receive the benefits you deserve. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. 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. Make sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. Sometimes the VA Regional Office (RO) will request you attend aCompensation and Pension (C&P) examto assess your degenerative disc disease. In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. Sciatic neuritis is not uncommonly caused by arthritis of the spine. Check out our Google reviews. The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateralinvolvement when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. 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. Common Signs and Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans, VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: Basic Eligibility Criteria. With IVDS, these discs may be displaced at the lumbar, cervical, or thoracic areas of the spine. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. What is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? By Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney. However, individuals with degenerative disc disease may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits if their condition prevents them from being able to work. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. 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. There are different levels of pain associated with degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease is known to be a condition that develops over time. Degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc. You must also provide evidence that shows a service connected disability to your military service. 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. If a veterans lower back pain prevents them from securing and keeping substantially gainful employment they may be eligible for TDIU benefits paid at a 100 percent disability rate. VA determines a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, but anatomical damage and functional loss are also considered. In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. And, youll get to work with a Veteran Coach (VC) who will lead you to VA claim success. They may allege that your condition is due to the natural progression of aging. Other neck conditions have maximum schedular ratings of 40 percent or lower. 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. Make Today The Last Day You Worry About Your Disability Claim. DEgenerative disc disease is typically rated as a 20% disability by the VA. This is where a VA-approved medical professional will perform a comprehensive physical and verbal examination then write their opinion on your condition. There are a few different secondary conditions that can arise from degenerative disc disease. The VA examiner will usually ask questions during the exam to establish whether your condition is related to your military service. This can make breathing difficult and result in coughing and wheezing when you breathe out, as well as shortness of breath. 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. Degenerative disc disease is a common disability among Veterans. DDD can also cause radiculopathy, herniation discs, neurological impairments, and spinal stenosis, in addition to other conditions. Heavy lifting, family histories of back problems, and spine injuries are just a few of the factors that contribute to DDB. 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. It is a disease that occurs as a result of the degeneration of the discs in the spine. An attorney can help you find the evidence you need to make your argument. Pain that worsens when standing, bending, lifting, or twisting. In order to apply for a secondary service connection, you must demonstrate that one disability resulted directly from the other. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. Fixed movement of the entire spine qualifies for a 100% rating. The VA will only grant benefits to veterans who have been diagnosed with an impairment as a result of their military service. The last lumbar vertebra articulates with thesacrum. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. You will need to provide medical evidence that your retrolisthesis meets the SSA's definition of severe and will . Pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the extremities. 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 pain severity and frequency, as well as the individuals age and occupation, all play an important role in determining its severity. Read Also: Chances Of Winning Disability In Federal Court. 5.4k views Answered >2 years ago. If you are suffering from degenerative disc disease and you are unable to work, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. Read More. Diagnosing and treating degeneration disc disease as soon as possible is critical to its early resolution. A medical connection linking your diagnosed allergic rhinitis. After the exam, the VA examiner will issue an opinion deciding if your DDD is at least as likely as not connected to your service. We are an online blog dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate information about orthopedics and injury prevention. In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. It is frequently caused by things like incorrectly lifting heavy objects, as well as chronic pain conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Intervertebral disc syndrome is a common cause of back pain. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. If youre having difficulty with DDD, talk with a doctor or veterans service officer to learn more about your rights and benefits. AtVA Claims Insider, we help fellow Veterans celebrateLIFE CHANGEby getting them the VA disability rating and compensationYOU DESERVEby law. It is possible for migraines to develop as a result of changes in temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent. The TDIU rating gives the same amount of disability benefits as the 100% rating but does not require the full 100%. Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family history of spine problems, or spine injury. 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. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. These can last from a few days to a few months before getting better. Determining Your Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Rating. 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. However, getting these benefits is often challenging. A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. 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. Medical diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. 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. Lower back pain (lumbosacral pain) is a common condition that can be distinguished from a variety of other conditions. These ratings will be based on evidence from medical professionals, a VA claim exam, and information collected from other sources including federal agencies. It is not enough for the examiners to simply say that a veterans DDD is due to natural progression and aging. Consult with our nationally recognized law firm to receive assistance. If your doctor orders bedrest, the frequency of your incapacitating episodes can also be the basis for a rating. Finally, in the absence of limitation of motion, a veterans degenerative disc disease VA rating will be as follows: When assigning a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, VA must consider both anatomical damage and functional loss. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. The VA rating for cervical radiculopathy is determined based on symptoms in the shoulder, arm, and hand. That formula actually covers both the cervical and thoracolumbar parts of the spine. Contact us to take advantage of our free consultation. This article will only focus on the portion of that formula that relates to the thoracolumbar spine. The speed and extent of deterioration are dependent on external factors. To help the VA determine VA disability ratings for back pain, a compensation and pension exam is usually required. The use of a goniometer in the measurement of limitation of motion is indispensable in examinations conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, numerous research studies have shown a link between Degenerative Disc Disease and Radiculopathy; there is a strong bidirectional relationship where each disorder adversely influences the other one. Extraschedular Disability Ratings Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. The breaking open of a spinal disc is called a prolapsed or herniated disc. If other treatments, such as medication and physical therapy, have not been able to relieve pain, a surgical procedure is typically recommended. Because the general rating formula for diseases and injuries of the spine talk about flexion, which is the act of flexing or bending. It is very common to receive only a 10 or 20 percent rating for neck or back conditions. The VA rates degenerative disc disease by assigning a disability rating based on how the condition is impacting the Veterans ability to function. Just fill out the form and we. He or she will gather evidence that proves the VA came to the wrong conclusion. Thick yellow or green discharge from the nose, Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage), Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose, Pain, tenderness, and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead, Loss of smell and reduced ability to taste, 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. 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. Tingling and numbness may not last for long periods of time; however, these symptoms may be a sign of possible nerve damage. It is often hard to get disability for 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. The middle and upper back area is your thoracic spine andthe lower back area is your lumbar spine. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. 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. This condition can flare up in a few days to a few weeks, causing lasting pain. Amputations: Lower Extremity If this is the case, contact us. The formula that VA uses to rate back disabilities with a diagnosis code between 5235 and 5242is the same. We should investigate worsening symptoms and secondary conditions that may have occurred as a result of the degeneration of the disc. This condition necessitates that people avoid activities that are too heavy, such as running, jumping, and lifting heavy objects. After leaving active duty, veterans may experience chronic or worsening pain. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. Another secondary condition that can develop is spinal stenosis. 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. If you have degenerative disc disease as a service-connected condition, you must be able to prove that you have received VA disability benefits. Usually this happens when a veteran experiences symptoms or limitations that are not considered by the rating schedule. 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. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Degenerative disc disease is the result of disc degeneration in the spine. Target Leave And Disability Reedgroup Com, Jailbreak Disabled Iphone Without Losing Data, What Happens If You Become Disabled While On Social Security, Complete the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or lost, Official records of a herniated disc during active duty, Medical evidence from private doctors linking the current diagnosis to an in-service injury, disease, or event that has been at least as likely as not caused the current condition. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. You may have questions like, what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. For a free consultation, contact our nationally recognized law firm today at (866) 282-5260. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Degenerative Disc: Degenerative disc disease typically does not cause a permanent disability. What is Limitation of Range of Motion for VA Degenerative Disc Disease? To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. 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. Our attorneys answer this question and more in the following text. The term degenerative disc disease is used to describe spinal disc changes that occur over time as one ages. The people serving in our military work hard. 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. 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. 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. Whether from the physical rigors of combat, from the psychosomatic effects of stress and anxiety on the body, or from other factors, many soldiers can leave their time in the military with a wide range of physical problems. 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). Regardless, it is known that such toxins may contribute to allergic rhinitis and can be considered having a service connection. Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) considers the diagnosis of Cervical Facet Syndrome to be synonymous with the diagnosis of Osteoarthritis of the Cervical Spine. Medical professionals call this 'radicular pain.' 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. A discectomy is a surgical procedure in which part of the disc is removed and pressure is placed on the affected nerve. Degenerative disc disease is a painful spinal condition that can affect daily life. Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at. Common orthopedic conditions impacting veterans include neck pain and low back pain. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. 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. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. Did VA Deny Your Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease? The final determination on whether an extraschedular rating is warranted must be made by the VA Undersecretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation Service. Though back and neck conditions both stem from the spine in most instances, VA rates them as separate disabilities. If you are disabled from a degenerative spinal disc condition and your disability claim has been turned down, we can help. What Is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. Eczema-type symptoms (e.g., dry, itchy skin), An in-service event, injury, or illness; and. Importantly, limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. Feeling better while walking or even running than while sitting or standing for long periods of time. 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. It all depends on how far along your DDD is and if the spinal fusion was done as surgery to fix it. In this case, if the Veteran develops DJD in any other joint in the future, that joint is automatically subject to service connection. 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. 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. The inflammatory proteins within the disc space can contribute to the progression of disc degeneration over time. 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. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. Accurate Measurement of Limitation of Range of Motion. Despite the challenges that arise, people with DDD can still lead full, productive lives. This occurs when your level of disability is beyond what the rating criteria typically reflects. . Usually, its experienced in the back or neck. 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.