what is the va disability rating for degenerative disc disease
Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. If you have degenerative disc disease as a service-connected condition, you must be able to prove that you have received VA disability benefits. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. VA Unemployability Explained What is TDIU? This pressure can cause you to suffer from a condition known as degenerative disc disease, a spinal condition that can cause severe pain. A common secondary condition to spinal conditions is also nerve damage or issues. Military service puts a lot of stress on your body. Feeling better while walking or even running than while sitting or standing for long periods of time. Lower back pain (lumbosacral pain) is a common condition that can be distinguished from a variety of other conditions. 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. 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. This might be the case for a veterans DDD, as the highest schedular rating under is only 20 percent. If you are unable to work due to Degenerative Disc Disease, you should speak with your caseworker about TDIU benefits. What Is My VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? Furthermore, Depression is one of the most common comorbidities in veterans with chronic low back pain. Qualifying military members with degenerative disc disease can receive benefits. 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. 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. A discectomy is a surgical procedure in which part of the disc is removed and pressure is placed on the affected nerve. Just fill out the form and we 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. You may because back disorders are tricky. degeneration of the disc between the vertebrae is the cause of DDD. 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. To receive an extraschedular disability rating under 38 CFR 3.321(b)(1) for degenerative disc disease, the following requirements must be met: It is important to note that extraschedular disability ratings are granted on a case-by-case basis and are very specific to each situation. These can last from a few days to a few months before getting better. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Disabilities of the Spine - Veterans Appeals For example, if you have a service-connected knee condition that causes you to favor one side when you walk, you may develop an altered gait. After leaving active duty, veterans may experience chronic or worsening pain. If degenerative arthritis is established by X-ray and is accompanied by satisfactory evidence of painful motion, it will be rated no less than 10-percent. Your final VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease depends upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of symptoms, including Painful Motion, Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM), and Functional Loss or Impairment. during military service and died as the result of service-connected conditions may also be eligible for VA survivors benefits. Service Connection Fighting insurance companies and the VA is what we do 24/7. It is important to learn more about this condition and the process of recovering VA disability benefits. 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. 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. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Pain that worsens when sitting (while seated, the discs of the lower back have 3x more load on them than when standing). This is when the spaces in the spine narrow, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. 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. It is a disease that occurs as a result of the degeneration of the discs in the spine. Read More. Make Today The Last Day You Worry About Your Disability Claim. Read Also: Chances Of Winning Disability In Federal Court. The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. The average VA rating for degenerative disc disease is 30%. 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. What Is The Average Va Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease This 20 percent rating or the 10 percent rating, when applicable, will be assigned once only to cover disability at all sites of previously active infection with a future ending date in the case of the 20 percent rating. Functional loss may be due to deformity, improper nerve function (defective innervation), adhesions, atrophy or pain. They can range from dull nagging pain to severe disabling (sharp or throbbing) pain. How to Win Your Disability Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease And, youll get to work with a Veteran Coach (VC) who will lead you to VA claim success. The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. VETERANS: Parachutists have special evidence for claims (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 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. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. Feeling better by changing positions often or lying down. The people serving in our military work hard. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide - Berry Law Your final VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease depends upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of symptoms, including Painful Motion, Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM), and Functional Loss or Impairment. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. The VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide by Berry Law is an important source. Dear Veteran, Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA. In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. It is possible for migraines to develop as a result of changes in temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Usually, it's experienced in the back or neck. It sounds like this may have been an interpretation of an MRI that you had. 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. Is Degenerative Disc Disease A Va Disability - Brandon Orthopedics Contact us to take advantage of our free consultation. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. 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. This can cause pain, numbness, and weakness. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. According to VA, if degenerative arthritis is established by X-ray findings, the veterans condition will be rated based on limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved. In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. Degenerative disc disease typically affects the lower back or neck. 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. Under 38 CFR 4.71a, VA generally rates low back conditions as follows: " 100% - unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine Essentials on VA Disability Ratings for Bulging Disc For instance, which pages you go to most. Others develop a more serious condition DDD , which is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause significant disability. However, looking back on your time in the military, you may be able to quickly recall situations that may have led to chronic back and spine problems: Recommended Reading: Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. 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. There are a few different secondary conditions that can arise from degenerative disc disease. The TDIU rating gives the same amount of disability benefits as the 100% rating but does not require the full 100%. 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. You should consult with your doctor if you are experiencing back pain to find out what is causing it and how it is affecting you. These codes guide the VA on how to rate your disability at a certain percentage level based on specific symptoms. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) (1) Limitation of Range of Motion and (2) Pain are the two most common factors that determine your final VA rating for back conditions such as Degenerative Disc Disease. You will need to provide medical evidence that your retrolisthesis meets the SSA's definition of severe and will . Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. However, the path to getting these benefits is often filled with obstacles. Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent. Degenerative Disc Disease & VA Disability Benefits - YouTube Muscle atrophy must also be accurately measured and reported. It is particularly difficult for people under the age of forty, as well as those under the age of fifty. Call Us. 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. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. Veterans who are believed to have more severe symptoms have received higher ratings from the VA in the past. 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. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. 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. If so, then you deserve to recover VA disability benefits. Periods of severe pain that come and go. Back injuries are frequently reported after military service. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. In addition, there are times when VA can rate veterans outside of the rating schedule. The rating criteria can often leave veterans with IVDS short-changed because it is based on the amount of bedrest prescribed by a doctor. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) | CCK Law (2022) Additionally, surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to herbicides (such as Agent Orange) during military service and died as the result of service-connected conditions may also be eligible for VA survivors benefits. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain | The Tuley Law Office You may be eligible for a secondary service connection if your degeneration of your disc progresses over time. 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. 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. Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease Explained (The 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.
