In reality, there is no such thing as a cure for everything. The spine consists of four primary regions from yourneck down to your buttocks and pelvic area . If other treatments, such as medication and physical therapy, have not been able to relieve pain, a surgical procedure is typically recommended. What is the Degenerative Disc Disease VA Rating? Others develop a more serious condition DDD , which is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause significant disability. Also, feel free to message us through our online contact page. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (also known as IVDS) is a back condition involving the intervertebral disc or disc fragments. After leaving active duty, veterans may experience chronic or worsening pain. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate. 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. 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. In many cases, Veterans with DDD are denied benefits or given low disability ratings. 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. How Long Does It Take to Get Your VA Disability Rating? The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. I've had a lot of issues that led to seeking civilian treatment, and that has finally culminated in more concrete diagnosis of my spinal issues. The term degenerative disc disease is used to describe spinal disc changes that occur over time as one ages. By Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney. 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. 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. This condition is rather common and typically interferes with the way mucus drains, causing your nose to be stuffy. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Asthma is not a curable condition, but its symptoms can be controlled. It can be difficult for veterans to satisfy this rating criteria because modern medical practices no longer call for bed rest to treat IVDS. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. As a result of DDD, some people can manage their pain in a variety of ways. Have you received a VA disability claim denial? Because the general rating formula for diseases and injuries of the spine talk about flexion, which is the act of flexing or bending. To qualify for service-connected compensation for allergic rhinitis, veterans must prove that their condition was caused by or aggravated by their time spent in service. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Secondly, your condition needs to be able to meet any of the blue book listings for musculoskeletal diseases. Intervertebral disc syndrome is a common cause of back pain. Other requirements are the presence of spinal arachnoiditis which causes inflammation of one of the nervous systems membranes which means you need to reposition yourself at least every two hours. The rating criteria can often leave veterans with IVDS short-changed because it is based on the amount of bedrest prescribed by a doctor. 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. The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateralinvolvement when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. It all depends on how far along your DDD is and if the spinal fusion was done as surgery to fix it. The VA uses Diagnostic Codes (DCs) to rate disabilities. 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. radiculopathy, myelopathy, urinary incontinence, frequency, mental health conditions, and so on are examples of secondary conditions and complications. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. 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. 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. But first, lets explore how the VA looks at Radiculopathyin more detail. 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. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. The painful motion principle means that regardless of range of motion, if pain is present, the claimant should at least be awarded the minimum level of disability for that condition. 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. In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. Fixed movement of the entire spine qualifies for a 100% rating. If you cant move at all without discomfort or pain, make sure to let the examiner know that. 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. For VA disability purposes, the four regions listed below will be considered when it comes to your final VA rating for Radiculopathy. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. This evidence will show that you are suffering from degenerative disc disease due to conditions on the job. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates, on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. 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. Asthma symptoms will vary from person to person. 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. In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. Many Veterans may not even realize that their degenerative disc disease is service-related. Other spinal conditions cause people to change how they walk, which can lead to leg and knee issues. Any limitation of Range of Motion (ROM) should be measured with a Goniometer by the medical professional at your VA C&P Exam for Back Pain. Fighting insurance companies and the VA is what we do 24/7. What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65, Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. Pain that worsens when standing, bending, lifting, or twisting. The breaking open of a spinal disc is called a prolapsed or herniated disc. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. 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. You may be eligible for a secondary service connection if your degeneration of your disc progresses over time. 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. 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. This can cause pain, numbness, and weakness. #1. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. Diagnostic codes 5235 through 5243 of 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System are dedicated to back and neck pain. Pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the extremities. Physical therapy may help with muscle range of motion, while prescription medications may be used to alleviate pain. 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. The guidelines also state that if a patient requires bed rest, the physician should encourage them to return to their normal activities as soon as possible. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of degenerative disc disease. The last lumbar vertebra articulates with thesacrum. 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? Many veterans experience chronic or worsening pain after they leave active duty. Can I Get Disability With Degenerative Disc Disease 100 Percent VA Disability Benefits: Understand Your Claim Options, Social Security Disability Claims and Appeals, Camp Lejeune Justice Act Toxic Water Claims. The middle and upper back area is your thoracic spine andthe lower back area is your lumbar spine. The rating chart for thoracolumbar spinal pain is used for primary and secondary conditions to lower back pain. It is possible for veterans with DDD to find relief by incorporating lifestyle changes, taking medications, or undergoing physical therapy. 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. 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. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to evaluate back conditions like osteoarthritis. 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. Water loss and disc damage gradually leads to thinner and weaker discs that cannot effectively cushion the vertebrae. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, caused by an allergic reactionto specific allergens (e.g. Instead, they must also explain why it is not due to other factors, such as service. How can a veteran get a 100% VA rating for back pain?
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