what is the va disability rating for degenerative disc disease

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) occurs when the discs between the vertebrae deteriorate causing pain, weakness, tingling, and or numbness. It is possible for migraines to develop as a result of changes in temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Degenerative disc disease is known to be a condition that develops over time. This might be the case for a veterans DDD, as the highest schedular rating under is only 20 percent. 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. 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 you have recently filed a DDD claim or are considering one, the team at Hill can assist you. Can I Receive VA Disability Benefits for Agent Orange Exposure? 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. Other spinal conditions cause people to change how they walk, which can lead to leg and knee issues. How Long Does It Take to Get Your VA Disability Rating? In its earlier stages, it can be easy to assume that DDD symptoms are just everyday aches and pains that have no link to a Veteran's military service. Degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc. 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. Consult with our nationally recognized law firm to receive assistance. In order to apply for a secondary service connection, you must demonstrate that one disability resulted directly from the other. When a spinal disc wears down over time, it causes back pain. Code O-2 ( 38 CFR 3.350 (e) (2)). The last lumbar vertebra articulates with thesacrum. confirm with the actual CFR for VA disability ratings but this one has seemed to be very accurate with it. An examination by VA must confirm the limitations of motion in the presence of swelling, muscle spasms, or evidence of painful motion. 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. The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. There are different levels of pain associated with 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. 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. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. Diagnostic codes 5235 through 5243 of 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System are dedicated to back and neck pain. The use of a goniometer in the measurement of limitation of motion is indispensable in examinations conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent. Government disability programs, no matter how well-intended, miss the mark in approving thousands of legitimate disability claims for degenerative disc disease. 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, 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. A medical nexus linking the primary condition to the secondary DDD. Under 38 CFR 4.71a, VA generally rates low back conditions as follows: " 100% - unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . However, there are other conditions you need to meet before you can submit an application for disability benefits. To get TDIU, you may prove why your service-connected condition prevents you from working. . To achieve the full disability rating, you must complete all of the steps. Importantly, limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. Also Check: This Device Is Disabled Code 22. 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. Additionally, the rating criteria does not take other symptoms or daily limitations into account, such as difficulty sitting, standing, lifting, or bending. Secondly, your condition needs to be able to meet any of the blue book listings for musculoskeletal diseases. The practitioner will assess how far you can bend and flex your joints during the range of motion C& P exam. #1. An attorney can help you find the evidence you need to make your argument. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. 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. 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. Instead, they must also explain why it is not due to other factors, such as service. You may because back disorders are tricky. The rating criteria can often leave veterans with IVDS short-changed because it is based on the amount of bedrest prescribed by a doctor. We recommend using our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. It is important to learn more about this condition and the process of recovering VA disability benefits. It is frequently caused by things like incorrectly lifting heavy objects, as well as chronic pain conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Have you been in the military and now suffer a severe spine or back-related injury? Can I Get Disability With Degenerative Disc Disease You must be open, honest, and truthful at your C&P exam for Degenerative Disc Disease, and make sure toSTOPthe C&P examiner as soon as you feel any discomfort or pain. Tingling and numbness may not last for long periods of time; however, these symptoms may be . In some cases, herniated discs can make it difficult or even impossible to work. The VA will only grant benefits to veterans who have been diagnosed with an impairment as a result of their military service. 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. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Military service puts a lot of stress on your body. VA Unemployability Explained What is TDIU? If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Extraschedular ratings are assigned when the rating criteria does not accurately reflect a veterans level of disability. Some veterans may also develop degenerative disc disease as the result of an already service-connected condition. individual unemployability . Persistent and recurring symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease (Severity of Symptoms), Difficulty walking because of a limited line of vision, Restricted opening of the mouth and chewing, Breathing limited to diaphragmatic respiration, Gastrointestinal symptoms due to pressure of the coastal margin on the abdomen, Alantoaxial or cervical subluxation or dislocation, Neurologic symptoms due to nerve root stretching, Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited Business. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. You can live a normal life with the help of some pain relief techniques and a little effort. Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. This uneven shift in weight may then contribute to complications in your lower back. But for others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack. If you have severed your DDD while in the military, you must demonstrate that it is a condition that has a direct relationship with your service. 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 the United States, 15% of women experience pelvic pain for more than six months. Common Signs and Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans, VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: Basic Eligibility Criteria. Thank. Medical diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. Functional loss may be due to deformity, improper nerve function (defective innervation), adhesions, atrophy or pain. 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. Medical professionals call this 'radicular pain.' Which it turns out are more than just one item. Pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the extremities. If so, then you need the help of an experienced attorney. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? Get to know us through our videos. The spine can affect every other part of your body. The discs between your vertebrae will lose their cushioning and begin to fragment, often causing them to herniate. Call 512-454-4000 for Free Consultation. Call our law firm, toll free at 800-562-9830 or contact us . For example, the VA compensation exam for lower back pain might include a disability benefits questionnaire . Lay evidence that you had the condition while in service. If you are unable to work due to Degenerative Disc Disease, you should speak with your caseworker about TDIU benefits. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. A veterans Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. 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. 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. Smoke from military burn pits have had both short- and long-term health effects on those exposed. However, more commonly, veterans are able to achieve a 100% rating through a combination of back and neck injury ratings and other conditions. 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. It is often hard to get disability for degenerative disc disease. Depending on the number of joints affected, VA rates degenerative disc disease between 10% and 20%. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. The VA will examine your DDD in order to determine if it is connected to your service. 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. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. To receive a 30% rating or above, a veteran must prove ankylosis, which is joint stiffness caused by an injury or a disease. There are a few different secondary conditions that can arise from degenerative disc disease. 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. The Spine Institute of Nevada can help you get the diagnosis and treatment you need for back pain. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (also known as IVDS) is a back condition involving the intervertebral disc or disc fragments. during military service and died as the result of service-connected conditions may also be eligible for VA survivors benefits. In some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to relieve pressure on the disc. 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. Periods of severe pain that come and go. Usually, it's experienced in the back or neck. This means that 30% of veterans who are diagnosed with degenerative disc disease receive a disability rating from the VA. It all depends on how far along your DDD is and if the spinal fusion was done as surgery to fix it. Do You Deserve a Higher VA Disability Rating? Brian Reeseis a VA benefits expert, author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, andfounder of VA Claims InsiderThe Most Trusted Name in Education-Based Resources for Veterans.. Service Connection Also Check: Can You Get Disability For Diabetes. 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. However, you may wonder what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? Additionally, surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to herbicides (such as. The VA assigns each applicant a disability rating based on the severity of the service-related condition. It has been demonstrated that persistent disc disease can lead to a variety of health problems over time. What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65, Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. 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. Neck conditions typically affect the cervical spine, which consists of seven bones that are separated by intervertebral discs. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate. It is particularly difficult for people under the age of forty, as well as those under the age of fifty. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, Service Connection for Degenerative Disc Disease, Compensation and Pension (C&P) Exams for Degenerative Disc Disease, VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Veterans who struggle with mobility or chronic pain may be unable to find work. VA often denies service connection for degenerative disc disease based on an examiners finding that a veterans condition is due to normal wear and tear and the natural progression of aging rather than their time in service. Veterans Serving Veterans In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. Qualifying military members with degenerative disc disease can receive benefits. Some people with DDD may experience no pain while others may experience debilitating pain that inhibits their daily life. A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. Common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include: Veterans may develop this condition as a result of their active-duty military service, and they may be entitled to VA disability benefits. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. These can last from a few days to a few months before getting better. Muscle spasm will greatly assist the identification. 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. 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. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. It may cause back and neck pain and sometimes impact nerve function. Back injuries are frequently reported after military service. If you are disabled from a degenerative spinal disc condition and your disability claim has been turned down, we can help. However, its also possible that you dont experience any symptoms, or you go through periodic flare-ups of symptoms. When a herniation of the disc occurs as a result of degeneration, it is the most common surgical treatment for this condition. To help the VA determine VA disability ratings for back pain, a compensation and pension exam is usually required. You may have questions like, what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? 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. 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). Therefore, VA must determine if the veteran is eligible for a rating higher than the ones set forth by the rating schedule. A veteran must show that the case presents such an exceptional or unusual disability picture with such related factors as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization that make it impractical for VA to assign a schedular rating. Our attorneys can help you answer this question and more. If other treatments, such as medication and physical therapy, have not been able to relieve pain, a surgical procedure is typically recommended. Also, feel free to message us through our online contact page. Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. Social Security Medical Evaluations 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. 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. The treatment for degenerative disc disease is available in a variety of ways, and the decision is based on the individuals and the severity of the problem. If your doctor orders bedrest, the frequency of your incapacitating episodes can also be the basis for a rating. All Rights Reserved. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. It is very common to receive only a 10 or 20 percent rating for neck or back conditions. There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of degenerative disc disease. Our legal team can provide you with quality and experienced representation that is going to help you receive the benefits you deserve. Degenerative Disc: Degenerative disc disease typically does not cause a permanent disability. The intent of the schedule is to recognize painful motion with joint or periarticular pathology as productive of disability. Most Common Back Pain VA Claims and Ratings Among Veterans. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. ClickHEREto Join the #1 Rated VA Claims Insider Elite Program and Start Today for FREE. Though back and neck conditions both stem from the spine in most instances, VA rates them as separate disabilities. How can a veteran get a 100% VA rating for back pain? However, if VA examiners arrive at this conclusion, they must provide adequate rationale to support their determination. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common cause of disc deterioration in the spine. Veterans who are believed to have more severe symptoms have received higher ratings from the VA in the past.

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