One of these is you need to be able to prove your degenerative disc disease will prevent you from working for at least 12 months. If you are suffering from degenerative disc disease and you are unable to work, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Degenerative disc disease is a common disability among Veterans. In addition, there are times when VA can rate veterans outside of the rating schedule. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. A common secondary condition to spinal conditions is also nerve damage or issues. This evidence will show that you are suffering from degenerative disc disease due to conditions on the job. He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. In the United States, 15% of women experience pelvic pain for more than six months. 5.4k views Answered >2 years ago. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? If the disability criteria do not accurately reflect your disability level, you may be assigned an extraschedular rating. VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain #1. ; The general ratings formula for spine conditions is primarily based on a range of motion. To receive a 30% rating or above, a veteran must prove ankylosis, which is joint stiffness caused by an injury or a disease. He is passionate about helping his patients achieve the best possible outcome and is committed to providing the highest quality of care. 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. Just fill out the form and we 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. Back conditions typically correspond to the thoracolumbar spine, which is composed of several different types of vertebrae. The pain severity and frequency, as well as the individuals age and occupation, all play an important role in determining its severity. VA Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease (2022) - otarbo.com The VA rates a secondary condition separately. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition that refers to the breakdown of the discs that cushion the vertebrae in your spine. 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. It is not enough for the examiners to simply say that a veterans DDD is due to natural progression and aging. For veterans, the average rating ranges from 10% to 20%. It is a common VA disability claim for disability caused by a disabling disc disease. 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. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Most Common Back Conditions Veterans Experience & Their Ratings, VA Claims for Hip Pain Secondary to Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Most Common Back Pain VA Claims Among Veterans, 3 Common Back Conditions Veterans Experience, Secondary Conditions to Flat Feet (Pes Planus) for VA Disability, A current diagnosis of DDD by a medical professional; and. 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. 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. 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. There are different levels of pain associated with degenerative disc disease. It is the intention to recognize painful, unstable, or malaligned joints, due to healed injury, as entitled to at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint. The VA assigns each applicant a disability rating based on the severity of the service-related condition. 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. 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. It all depends on how far along your DDD is and if the spinal fusion was done as surgery to fix it. The last lumbar vertebra articulates with thesacrum. Our attorneys can help you answer this question and more. Did VA Deny Your Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease? The VA ratings for back pain reflect the seriousness of a veteran's mobility loss and how much their spine is affected. 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. Medical professionals call this 'radicular pain.' Because DDD often does not appear noticeably during a soldiers time in the military, it can be difficult to recognize the condition in its early stages. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. VA Disability Ratings for Scoliosis Explained | CCK Law Call our law firm, toll free at 800-562-9830 or contact us . Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . The practitioner will assess how far you can bend and flex your joints during the range of motion C& P exam. They can range from dull nagging pain to severe disabling (sharp or throbbing) pain. 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. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. With age or trauma, the intervertebral discs lose their water content, leaving the discs more prone to tearing or damage. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Also Check: Can You Get Disability For Diabetes. Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at. Neck conditions typically affect the cervical spine, which consists of seven bones that are separated by intervertebral discs. In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. Fixed movement of the entire spine qualifies for a 100% rating. Can I Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. One of the most common symptoms of degeneration of the disks is back pain. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. After leaving active duty, veterans may experience chronic or worsening pain. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate. The term degenerative disc disease is used to describe spinal disc changes that occur over time as one ages. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Is Degenerative Disc Disease A Va Disability - Brandon Orthopedics Others develop a more serious condition DDD , which is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause significant disability. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide - Berry Law Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) and application for changes in benefits Muscle atrophy must also be accurately measured and reported. The VA may attempt to deny your claim by saying there is no way to determine your condition is due to time spent in service. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. 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. The people serving in our military work hard. Water loss and disc damage gradually leads to thinner and weaker discs that cannot effectively cushion the vertebrae. One of the most common is for herniated discs to develop. Brandon Callahan, MD is a board-certified orthopedic physician with a decade of experience in providing comprehensive orthopedic care to patients with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. These cookies do not store any personal information. In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. What is Retrolisthesis and Can I Qualify for Disability Benefits? 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. In some cases, herniated discs can make it difficult or even impossible to work. This can cause pain, numbness, and weakness. Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled. The inflammatory proteins within the disc space can contribute to the progression of disc degeneration over time. 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. You May Like: New York State Short Term Disability. You May Like: What Is Long Term Disability Insurance. Periods of severe pain that come and go. When the involvement is wholly sensory, the rating should befor the mild, or at most, the moderate degree. Importantly, limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. 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. The spinal disc is made up of a soft disc that separates your vertebrae and serves as a shock absorber in your spine. Radiculopathy can have many different signs and symptoms aswell as different names depending on where in the spine it occurs. Just fill out the form and we. Review your medical records with a doctor familiar with VA law to get the best rating. However, you may experience some numbness or tingling in your arms or legs. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. If so, then you need the help of an experienced attorney. The average VA rating for degenerative disc disease is 30%. 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. 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. Many toxins from these burn pits were released into the air, including volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, dioxins, and furans. According to the VA disability rating formula, it is usually 20 percent for someone suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee or hip due to severe 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. You're not alone. What is Limitation of Range of Motion for VA Degenerative Disc Disease? With over 30+ years experience winning cases, the attorneys at Tucker Disability Law have built a reputation for excellence, hard work, and always standing by our clients. 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. 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. Your arthritis rating may turn into a spinal fusion claim or a secondary service-connected radiculopathy rating. You may also qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability. Due to the extra bodily wear and tear brought on by What is Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans? In some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to relieve pressure on the disc. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. Pain that worsens when sitting (while seated, the discs of the lower back have 3x more load on them than when standing). You may be eligible for a secondary service connection if your degeneration of your disc progresses over time. The formula that VA uses to rate back disabilities with a diagnosis code between 5235 and 5242is the same. . 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. Additionally, surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to herbicides (such as. That formula actually covers both the cervical and thoracolumbar parts of the spine. You May Like: Do Disabled Veterans Pay Federal Taxes. VA disability spine ratings question : r/Veterans - reddit Instead, many Veterans start to deal with more severe symptoms of DDD years after they have retired from the military. In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain: Cervical Spine, Neck Arthritis Despite the challenges that arise, people with DDD can still lead full, productive lives. A medical diagnosis of degenerative disc disease from your doctor; and. How to Win Your Disability Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease 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 allows the veteran to get a separate rating from the spinal condition that could potentially increase monthly compensation. 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. To get TDIU, you may prove why your service-connected condition prevents you from working. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. A medical nexus, or link, between the in-service event and current diagnosis. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, caused by an allergic reactionto specific allergens (e.g. Disabilities of the Spine - Veterans Appeals Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is one of the spine conditions that qualifies for disability benefits. Social Security Disability Benefits for Degenerative Disc Disease - Nolo Knowing how VA ratings for degenerative disc di. By Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney. The Spine Institute of Nevada can help you get the diagnosis and treatment you need for back pain. In most cases, VA uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, combined with the limitations on range of motion, to issue a disability rating. FINDING OF FACT The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's obstructive Degenerative disc disease symptoms vary depending on the person. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate.Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family. Usually, its experienced in the back or neck. An attorney can help you find the evidence you need to make your argument. degeneration of the disc between the vertebrae is the cause of DDD. You may because back disorders are tricky. Your VA disability rating for back injury or spine injury will depend on which code the condition falls under. Extraschedular Disability Ratings Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. Some of which are listed below: Diagnostic codes 5242 and 5243 are reserved for arthritis and spinal disc conditions. If your degenerative disc disease develops over time, you can file a claim for secondary service connection when necessary. 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. For a free consultation, contact our nationally recognized law firm today at (866) 282-5260. Furthermore, Depression is one of the most common comorbidities in veterans with chronic low back pain. This might be the case for a veterans DDD, as the highest schedular rating under is only 20 percent. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. Certain spinal conditions can lead to other conditions that can be claimed for an additional rating. The VA uses Diagnostic Codes (DCs) to rate disabilities. 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. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. 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. DOC 4 - Veterans Affairs Feeling better while walking or even running than while sitting or standing for long periods of time. Schedule a Free Consultation. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. The VA often describes this connection as a nexus. Thinner and weaker discs often lead to back pain, muscle weakness, and pinched nerves. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) Other spinal conditions cause people to change how they walk, which can lead to leg and knee issues. This can be submitted via mail to the Evidence Intake Center or electronically throughVAs website. There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of degenerative disc disease. Regardless, it is known that such toxins may contribute to allergic rhinitis and can be considered having a service connection. VA Disability for Bulging Discs | PTSD Lawyers - Berry Law For example, DDD can lead to other conditions among veterans, such as: You can file a disability claim for any secondary symptoms or conditions caused by your service-connected degenerative disc disease. Have you been in the military and now suffer a severe spine or back-related injury? In order to apply for a secondary service connection, you must demonstrate that one disability resulted directly from the other. 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. Five bones fused into atriangular shape, form the sacrum. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. The middle and upper back area is your thoracic spine andthe lower back area is your lumbar spine. Degenerative Disc Disease & You VA Claim - VA Disability Advocates Blog Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Claim for Benefits The VA examiner will usually ask questions during the exam to establish whether your condition is related to your military service. When a herniation of the disc occurs as a result of degeneration, it is the most common surgical treatment for this condition. 7 Things You Must Know About a Herniated Disc VA Rating (Ultimate Guide) Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! The spine can affect every other part of your body. The doctor must perform a goniometer test on you to determine your ability to move. Some injuries to the spine might cause weakness in areas such as the arms, shoulders, or hips. Amputations: Lower Extremity Degenerative disc disease is a condition that develops and progresses over time. ELITE Success: Its Never Too Late to Get Correctly Rated, How to Get a VA Rating for Veteran Orthopedic Conditions. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice.
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