what is the va disability rating for degenerative disc disease what is the va disability rating for degenerative disc disease

The average VA rating for degenerative disc disease is 30%. You May Like: Do Disabled Veterans Pay Federal Taxes. It is not enough for the examiners to simply say that a veterans DDD is due to natural progression and aging. 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 uses Diagnostic Codes (DCs) to rate disabilities. Include. VA Claims Insider Testimonial: Elite Success Story Dons been through a lot. There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of degenerative disc disease. 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. If so, then you need the help of an experienced attorney. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . As a result of DDD, some people can manage their pain in a variety of ways. Veteran disability ratings for degenerative disc disease are typically between 10% and 20% of the VA's disability rate. The inflammatory proteins within the disc space can contribute to the progression of disc degeneration over time. 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. But for others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack. Degenerative Disc: Degenerative disc disease typically does not cause a permanent disability. The process to receive approval for these benefits is often tedious and frustrating. The VA rating for cervical radiculopathy is determined based on symptoms in the shoulder, arm, and hand. But first, lets explore how the VA looks at Radiculopathyin more detail. In some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to relieve pressure on the disc. Physical therapy may help with muscle range of motion, while prescription medications may be used to alleviate pain. Asthma is not a curable condition, but its symptoms can be controlled. Medical diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. In this post, we will be exploring how to get aVA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. He or she will gather evidence that proves the VA came to the wrong conclusion. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. You should exercise on a regular basis if you have this pain. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. 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. To help the VA determine VA disability ratings for back pain, a compensation and pension exam is usually required. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Determining Your Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Rating. You May Like: Connect To Itunes Phone Disabled. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, caused by an allergic reactionto specific allergens (e.g. Is It Hard to Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? Radiculopathy is a nerve condition caused by compressed nerves in the spine, resulting in weakness, numbness, or pain along the nerve. Degenerative disc disease is a painful spinal condition that can affect daily life. By Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. For veterans, the average rating ranges from 10% to 20%. Some veterans and active duty military members suffer from spinal or back pain after being discharged or while still serving. (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. 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. Let us prove to you that no one will work harder to win your case than Tucker Disability Law. Functional loss may be due to deformity, improper nerve function (defective innervation), adhesions, atrophy or pain. Find out if you qualify for SSDI benefits. Rhinitis also is present with the common cold, which is a temporary condition, so make sure to empahsize allergic rhinitis. 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. Extraschedular Disability Ratings Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. 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. This happens when the soft, inner part of the disc bulges out through a tear in the outer layer. Sometimes degenerative disc disease is accompanied by varying levels of pain. Because the general rating formula for diseases and injuries of the spine talk about flexion, which is the act of flexing or bending. The practitioner will assess how far you can bend and flex your joints during the range of motion C& P exam. 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? Where there are additional disabilities rated 50% or 100%, or anatomical or loss of use of a third extremity see 38 CFR 3.350 (f) (3), (4) or (5). 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. 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. This is when the spaces in the spine narrow, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? Radiculopathy can have many different signs and symptoms aswell as different names depending on where in the spine it occurs. 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. The use of a goniometer in the measurement of limitation of motion is indispensable in examinations conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA will only grant benefits to veterans who have been diagnosed with an impairment as a result of their military service. 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 this case, if the Veteran develops DJD in any other joint in the future, that joint is automatically subject to service connection. This condition is rather common and typically interferes with the way mucus drains, causing your nose to be stuffy. In the United States, 15% of women experience pelvic pain for more than six months. With IVDS, these discs may be displaced at the lumbar, cervical, or thoracic areas of the spine. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . Most Common Back Pain VA Claims and Ratings Among Veterans. It is determined in each case whether or not an extraschedular disability rating should be given. This evidence will show that you are suffering from degenerative disc disease due to conditions on the job. These include aging, injury, and genetics. Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. Social Security Medical Evaluations 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. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. 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. This can make breathing difficult and result in coughing and wheezing when you breathe out, as well as shortness of breath. 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. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (also known as IVDS) is a back condition involving the intervertebral disc or disc fragments. 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. 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. Doctors seldom check a patient's ability to stoop, bend, or crouch during an examination, and yet bending, stooping, and crouching are the three primary nonexertional limitations that disability examiners look for when they evaluate the RFC of applicants with degenerative disc disease. When the involvement is wholly sensory, the rating should befor the mild, or at most, the moderate degree. 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.. 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. Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. Degenerative disc disease typically affects the lower back or neck. Immediately below the sacrum are five additional bones,fused together to form the Coccyx . 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. 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. You must also provide evidence that shows a service connected disability to your military service. DEgenerative disc disease is typically rated as a 20% disability by the VA. The rating chart for thoracolumbar spinal pain is used for primary and secondary conditions to lower back pain. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. Accurate measurement of the length of stumps, excursion of joints, dimensions, and location of scars with respect to landmarks, should be insisted on. It sounds like this may have been an interpretation of an MRI that you had. When a spinal disc wears down over time, it causes back pain. As the spine wears and tears, the disc degenerates. 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. Make Today The Last Day You Worry About Your Disability Claim. If you have recently filed a DDD claim or are considering one, the team at Hill can assist you. Tingling and numbness may not last for long periods of time; however, these symptoms may be . Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. March 23, 2019 Updated: June 21, 2022 What is Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)?Degenerative disc disease typically affects the lower back or neck. The functional loss may be due to absence of part, or all, of the necessary bones, joints and muscles, or associated structures, or to deformity, adhesions, defective innervation, or other pathology, or it may be due to pain, supported by adequate pathology and evidenced by the visible behavior of the claimant undertaking the motion. The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateralinvolvement when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. If your doctor won't write an opinion, make the argument yourself on VA Form 21-4138, including applicable CFR regulations, and submit it with the VA 21-526EZ disability claims form. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] It is particularly difficult for people under the age of forty, as well as those under the age of fifty. So, lets take a minute to explore the law regarding the symptoms and impairment required to warrant a VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. Feeling better by changing positions often or lying down. Review your medical records with a doctor familiar with VA law to get the best rating. How Long Does It Take to Get Your VA Disability Rating? Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. Other neck conditions have maximum schedular ratings of 40 percent or lower. We have updated our Privacy Policy. 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. Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at. You may have infrequent asthma attacks, have symptoms only at certain times, such as when exercising, or you may have symptoms all of the time. Degenerative disc disease is known to be a condition that develops over time. What is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? It is very common to receive only a 10 or 20 percent rating for neck or back conditions. . VA rates degenerative disc disease under38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings Musculoskeletal System, diagnostic code 5242. 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. If so, you may need help acquiring the benefits you need. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. Thick yellow or green discharge from the nose, Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage), Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose, Pain, tenderness, and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead, Loss of smell and reduced ability to taste, 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. Government disability programs, no matter how well-intended, miss the mark in approving thousands of legitimate disability claims for degenerative disc disease. Yes, retrolisthesis can be considered a disability by the SSA. It is often hard to get disability for degenerative disc disease. VA Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease 10% to 100%, Common VA Secondary Conditions to Degenerative Disc Disease, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): VA Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease. Asthma symptoms will vary from person to person. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. 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. Degenerative disc disease is also referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine. In many cases, Veterans with DDD are denied benefits or given low disability ratings. 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. Service Connection Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. One of the most common symptoms of degeneration of the disks is back pain. 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. In general, the ratings for spine conditions are based on range of motion. Simple exercises will not cause much strain on your back and can be done at home. What Is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? 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.