what is the va disability rating for degenerative disc disease

Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. If a veteran can prove that their service-connected spinal condition was the primary cause of the secondary condition, they may qualify as having a secondary service-connection condition. 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. The VA examiner will usually ask questions during the exam to establish whether your condition is related to your military service. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. This condition is rather common and typically interferes with the way mucus drains, causing your nose to be stuffy. 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. Generally, some of the more common symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease include: To be eligible for a Degenerative Disc Disease VA rating, a veteran must meet three (3) criteria by law: If you think you have a back condition such as Degenerative Disc Disease, but dont have a medical diagnosis,pick-up the phone and call the VA mental health facility nearest youto make an appointment right away! Smoke from military burn pits have had both short- and long-term health effects on those exposed. Getting a diagnosis as soon as possible, as well as having a pain management physician develop a treatment plan, are two of the most important steps to avoid complications. However, many Veterans struggle to get degenerative disc disease VA disability compensation.. This results in numerous unpleasant and painful symptoms in veterans that may include: Your specific symptoms will depend on where in the spine the nerve root is pinched. Read Also: Chances Of Winning Disability In Federal Court. In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. Have you received a VA disability claim denial? That formula actually covers both the cervical and thoracolumbar parts of the spine. 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). Additionally, the rating criteria does not take other symptoms or daily limitations into account, such as difficulty sitting, standing, lifting, or bending. 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. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. This article will only focus on the portion of that formula that relates to the thoracolumbar spine. The sacrum fits between the two hipbones connecting thespine to the pelvis. Did VA Deny Your Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease? 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. 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. Eczema-type symptoms (e.g., dry, itchy skin), An in-service event, injury, or illness; and. The discs between your vertebrae will lose their cushioning and begin to fragment, often causing them to herniate. 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. Welcome to Brandon Orthopedics! Importantly, limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. Veterans Serving Veterans You may also qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability. 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. There are several factors that can lead to a service-connected disability, including the physical strain and stress that many soldiers endure on a daily basis while they are on active duty. Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. To recover service-connected compensation disability benefits for degenerative disc disease, you must meet a certain threshold required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In some cases, herniated discs can make it difficult or even impossible to work. Degenerative Disc Disease & You VA Claim - VA Disability Advocates Blog What is Limitation of Range of Motion for VA Degenerative Disc Disease? Degenerative Disc: Degenerative disc disease typically does not cause a permanent disability. To receive an extraschedular disability rating, you must show the VA why your condition is worse than the 50% maximum. What Is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? Some veterans and active duty military members suffer from spinal or back pain after being discharged or while still serving. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. DEgenerative disc disease is typically rated as a 20% disability by the VA. A nexus is the direct link between a disability, either physical or psychological, that a Veteran suffers from and their time in the military. individual unemployability . during military service and died as the result of service-connected conditions may also be eligible for VA survivors benefits. Call Us. So, lets take a minute to explore the law regarding the symptoms and impairment required to warrant a VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. The doctor must perform a goniometer test on you to determine your ability to move. This might be the case for a veterans DDD, as the highest schedular rating under is only 20 percent. 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. The spine can affect every other part of your body. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to service This evidence will show that you are suffering from degenerative disc disease due to conditions on the job. What is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? Orthopedic conditions are typically categorized as those that impact the musculoskeletal system. When the discs degenerate or break down, they can no longer perform their function properly. Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine Extraschedular Disability Ratings Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. 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. 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. If this is the case, contact us. However, you may experience some numbness or tingling in your arms or legs. If that same veteran has limited ROM to rate for 10% in the low back and the cervical spine is this 10% or 20%, because 10% for low back and 10% for cervical ROM. 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. Also, feel free to message us through our online contact page. If you have received a VA disability claim denial, the attorneys at Tucker Disability Law can step in to help you appeal your claim. If youre having difficulty with DDD, talk with a doctor or veterans service officer to learn more about your rights and benefits. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is typically found in the lower back or neck. Sharp and radiating pain in the back, arms, legs or shoulders that may worsen with certain activities, even something as simple as coughing or sneezing, Weakness, fatigue, or loss of reflexes in the arms or legs, Numbness or tingling of the skin, pins and needles, or other abnormal sensations in the arms or legs. You may have questions like, what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? However, its also possible that you dont experience any symptoms, or you go through periodic flare-ups of symptoms. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. In order to qualify for disability benefits with degenerative disc disease, your condition needs to meet the criteria laid out in the Social Security Administration's Blue Book listing. 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 If you do not attend, your claim will likely be denied. What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65, Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. How to Win Your Disability Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosing and treating degeneration disc disease as soon as possible is critical to its early resolution. Immediately below the sacrum are five additional bones,fused together to form the Coccyx . VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease Explained (The There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of degenerative disc disease. Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent . 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? Muscle atrophy must also be accurately measured and reported. Radiculopathy can have many different signs and symptoms aswell as different names depending on where in the spine it occurs. 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. Many Veterans may not even realize that their degenerative disc disease is service-related. Muscle spasm will greatly assist the identification.

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