The rating criteria can often leave veterans with IVDS short-changed because it is based on the amount of bedrest prescribed by a doctor. I've had a lot of issues that led to seeking civilian treatment, and that has finally culminated in more concrete diagnosis of my spinal issues. The Disability Application Process VA 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System, contact the VA Accredited Attorneys at VetLaw, Your arthritis rating may turn into a spinal fusion claim, Chances Of Winning Disability In Federal Court. This pressure can cause you to suffer from a condition known as degenerative disc disease, a spinal condition that can cause severe pain. Is It Hard to Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. A medical nexus linking the primary condition to the secondary DDD. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. If you are disabled from a degenerative spinal disc condition and your disability claim has been turned down, we can help. Va Disability Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease Military service can place an incredible amount of stress on the body. Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled. Because the general rating formula for diseases and injuries of the spine talk about flexion, which is the act of flexing or bending. Do You Deserve a Higher VA Disability Rating? Your symptoms can also get progressively worse over time. These examples of functional impairment can limit a veterans daily activities, quality of life, and ability to work. Code O-2 ( 38 CFR 3.350 (e) (2)). The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. Asthma is not a curable condition, but its symptoms can be controlled. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. However, if VA examiners arrive at this conclusion, they must provide adequate rationale to support their determination. This happens when the soft, inner part of the disc bulges out through a tear in the outer layer. The VA can award benefits only if it finds a connection between a Veterans impairment and their past military service. You're not alone. 2022 DisabilityProAdvice.com | Contact us: contact@disabilityproadvice.com, Degenerative Disc Disease & VA Disability Benefits | VA Appeals Attorneys. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Can I Get Disability With Degenerative Disc Disease 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.
Is Degenerative Disc Disease A Va Disability - Brandon Orthopedics Military service puts a lot of stress on your body. For a free case evaluation, call CCK today at 800-544-9144.
Degenerative Disc Disease, Back Pain & Social Security Disability You may be eligible for a secondary service connection if your degeneration of your disc progresses over time. 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 is possible for veterans with DDD to find relief by incorporating lifestyle changes, taking medications, or undergoing physical therapy. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? How can a veteran get a 100% VA rating for back pain? The degenerative process of the spinal disc can begin gradually or abruptly, but it can progress for up to three decades, during which time the spine is restabilized, and pain is reduced or eliminated. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Usually this happens when a veteran experiences symptoms or limitations that are not considered by the rating schedule.
VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease Explained (The 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. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. They may allege that your condition is due to the natural progression of aging.
Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Veterans Serving Veterans
Evaluate intervertebral disc syndrome (preoperatively or postoperatively) either under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or under the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes, whichever method results in the higher evaluation when all disabilities are combined under 4.25. 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. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to evaluate back conditions like osteoarthritis. In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. 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. However, its also possible that you dont experience any symptoms, or you go through periodic flare-ups of symptoms. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate.Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family. However, you may wonder what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? Part of aging is disk deterioration; however, it does not cause pain in everyone.
Va Disability Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease A veteran receives a 100% rating if their entire spine is immovable because of a back injury. 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. It may cause back and neck pain and sometimes impact nerve function. We are an online blog dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate information about orthopedics and injury prevention. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. The VA uses two different Diagnostic Codes to rate herniated discs: It is important to learn more about this condition and the process of recovering VA disability benefits. VA determines a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, but anatomical damage and functional loss are also considered. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. Degenerative disc disease is a painful spinal condition that can affect daily life. If so, then you deserve to recover VA disability benefits. Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. For VA disability purposes, the four regions listed below will be considered when it comes to your final VA rating for Radiculopathy. What Is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. 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. In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. There are different levels of pain associated with degenerative disc disease. DEgenerative disc disease is typically rated as a 20% disability by the VA.
Is Degenerative Disc Disease A Va Disability - DisabilityTalk.net Extraschedular Disability Ratings Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. You may because back disorders are tricky. Waste materials commonly disposed of in these burn pits include: Many veterans who were exposed to burn pits during their service and developed asthma may be able to seek service connection under this new presumption condition related to 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. 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. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. Dont give up. 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? To file for secondary service connection, you will need: Importantly, you do not have to file for secondary conditions at the same time as filing for primary conditions. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. 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. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. Degenerative disc disease is the result of disc degeneration in the spine. Many veterans experience chronic or worsening pain after they leave active duty. As the spine wears and tears, the disc degenerates. You May Like: Do Disabled Veterans Pay Federal Taxes. Specifically, exposure to the toxins released can affect a persons lung health. Additionally, surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to herbicides (such as. So, lets take a minute to explore the law regarding the symptoms and impairment required to warrant a VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. Back pain typically refers to injuries in the lower half of the spine or the thoracolumbar section. 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). 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.
Degenerative Disc Disease VA Disability Benefits - Woods and Woods, LLC Additionally, the rating criteria does not take other symptoms or daily limitations into account, such as difficulty sitting, standing, lifting, or bending. Instead, they must also explain why it is not due to other factors, such as service. Functional loss may be due to deformity, improper nerve function (defective innervation), adhesions, atrophy or pain. Secondly, your condition needs to be able to meet any of the blue book listings for musculoskeletal diseases. You may also qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability. Accurate measurement of the length of stumps, excursion of joints, dimensions, and location of scars with respect to landmarks, should be insisted on. Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at.