Other spinal conditions cause people to change how they walk, which can lead to leg and knee issues. 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 so, then you deserve to recover VA disability benefits. The VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is typically found in the lower back or neck. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. This is when the spaces in the spine narrow, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. 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. Can I Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? Review your medical records with a doctor familiar with VA law to get the best rating. There are a few different secondary conditions that can arise from degenerative disc disease. ELITE Success: Its Never Too Late to Get Correctly Rated, How to Get a VA Rating for Veteran Orthopedic Conditions. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. You may have questions like, what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? In this case, if the Veteran develops DJD in any other joint in the future, that joint is automatically subject to service connection. This is where a VA-approved medical professional will perform a comprehensive physical and verbal examination then write their opinion on your condition. This allows the veteran to get a separate rating from the spinal condition that could potentially increase monthly compensation. This evidence will show that you are suffering from degenerative disc disease due to conditions on the job. 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. A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. Tingling and numbness may not last for long periods of time; however, these symptoms may be . Let us prove to you that no one will work harder to win your case than Tucker Disability Law. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. In some cases, degenerative disc disease also causes weakness, numbness, and hot, shooting pains in the arms or legs. All Rights Reserved. Your arthritis rating may turn into a spinal fusion claim or a secondary service-connected radiculopathy rating. As a result of DDD, some people can manage their pain in a variety of ways. Water loss and disc damage gradually leads to thinner and weaker discs that cannot effectively cushion the vertebrae. Cervical Spine Conditions - Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines Orthopedic conditions are typically categorized as those that impact the musculoskeletal system. Sciatic neuritis is not uncommonly caused by arthritis of the spine. 7 Things You Must Know About a Herniated Disc VA Rating (Ultimate Guide) They may allege that your condition is due to the natural progression of aging. If this is the case, you may be eligible for total disability based on individual unemployability . 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. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate. Lower back pain (lumbosacral pain) is a common condition that can be distinguished from a variety of other conditions. VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain 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. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Veterans Serving Veterans Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. VA rates degenerative disc disease under38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings Musculoskeletal System, diagnostic code 5242. A common secondary condition to spinal conditions is also nerve damage or issues. Getting a diagnosis as soon as possible, as well as having a pain management physician develop a treatment plan, are two of the most important steps to avoid complications. A discectomy is a surgical procedure in which part of the disc is removed and pressure is placed on the affected nerve. 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. You May Like: Connect To Itunes Phone Disabled. 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. In some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to relieve pressure on the disc. Since there is no certainty of what was burned at each military installation at a given time, the specific toxins released by the burn pits vary for every location. This condition causes the discs between the vertebrae to lose their proper cushioning, fragment, and herniate. 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. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. If you are facing difficulties getting a fair disability rating from the VA, our firm can assist you. Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family history of spine problems, or spine injury. He or she will gather evidence that proves the VA came to the wrong conclusion. 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. Include. This might be the case for a veterans DDD, as the highest schedular rating under is only 20 percent. As is evident from the rating schedules below, the highest possible schedular rating for any single neck impairment is 60 percent for veterans with severe intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). The middle and upper back area is your thoracic spine andthe lower back area is your lumbar spine. The Essentials on VA Disability Ratings for Bulging Disc Eric Gang, ESQ Back pain is a common problem for veterans. Diagnostic codes 5235 through 5243 of 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System are dedicated to back and neck pain. Make sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. Medical diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. 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. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to evaluate back conditions like osteoarthritis. Back injuries are frequently reported after military service. These examples of functional impairment can limit a veterans daily activities, quality of life, and ability to work. An individuals eligibility for DDD benefits can be determined by a number of factors. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. The use of a goniometer in the measurement of limitation of motion is indispensable in examinations conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs. For veterans, the average rating ranges from 10% to 20%. 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. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain | The Tuley Law Office 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. It is important to attend your C&P exam once it is scheduled or contact VA to reschedule if necessary. Lay evidence that you had the condition while in service. Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at. If there is a service-connected connection between the impairment and service time, a military member may be eligible for disability benefits. I have a 20% rating for arthritis in my back, but can I get more for degenerative disc disease? Another secondary condition that can develop is spinal stenosis. In general, the ratings for spine conditions are based on range of motion. You May Like: New York State Short Term Disability. This occurs when your level of disability is beyond what the rating criteria typically reflects. Bulging discs are rated based on the number of incapacitating episodes that have occurred due to the disability. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. 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. There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of degenerative disc disease. The VA will examine your DDD in order to determine if it is connected to your service. Tingling and numbness may not last for long periods of time; however, these symptoms may be a sign of possible nerve damage. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition that refers to the breakdown of the discs that cushion the vertebrae in your spine. What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65, Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. Just fill out the form and we. Degenerative disc disease symptoms vary depending on the person. To receive an extraschedular disability rating, you must show the VA why your condition is worse than the 50% maximum. 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. Asthma is a condition in which your air passageways swell and narrow and may produce extra mucus. Men and women like you often perform strenuous tasks, including running, jumping, and lifting. They all go together, so make sure you work with an experienced lawyer to get ratings for all of them. For example, the VA compensation exam for lower back pain might include a disability benefits questionnaire . In addition, numerous research studies have shown a link between Degenerative Disc Disease and Radiculopathy; there is a strong bidirectional relationship where each disorder adversely influences the other one. 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. One of the most common is for herniated discs to develop. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Find Out How To Qualify for Disability with Degenerative Disc Disease If so, then you need the help of an experienced attorney. This condition necessitates that people avoid activities that are too heavy, such as running, jumping, and lifting heavy objects. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. In many cases, Veterans with DDD are denied benefits or given low disability ratings. 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. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! If your doctor orders bedrest, the frequency of your incapacitating episodes can also be the basis for a rating. Smoke from military burn pits have had both short- and long-term health effects on those exposed. The VA examiner will usually ask questions during the exam to establish whether your condition is related to your military service. The breaking open of a spinal disc is called a prolapsed or herniated disc. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) 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. Therefore, VA must determine if the veteran is eligible for a rating higher than the ones set forth by the rating schedule. 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. It mostly occurs in your lower back or neck. Degenerative arthritis of the spine (DC 5003) The last common method of establishing a rating for a back disability is through the VA's diagnostic code for degenerative arthritis. Also Check: This Device Is Disabled Code 22. Contact us for a free evaluation of your case. How can a veteran get a 100% VA rating for back pain? 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.. For retrolisthesis to be a disability, you will need to meet a Blue Book listing, demonstrating your retrolisthesis is severe enough to qualify for disability benefits. 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. This can make breathing difficult and result in coughing and wheezing when you breathe out, as well as shortness of breath. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. These tasks can place extreme amounts of pressure on your body. Check out our Google reviews. Degenerative Disc Disease is a painful spinal disorder caused by the steady degeneration of the intervertebral discs, which are the pads that cushion the bones in the vertebrae of your spine. This condition refers to back or neck pain caused by the general breakdown of spinal discs. 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. Do You Deserve a Higher VA Disability Rating? Furthermore, Depression is one of the most common comorbidities in veterans with chronic low back pain. Asthma symptoms will vary from person to person. 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. You must be able to demonstrate the severity of your disability in order to receive the proper disability rating. Neck conditions typically affect the cervical spine, which consists of seven bones that are separated by intervertebral discs. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) | CCK Law (2023) Physical therapy may help with muscle range of motion, while prescription medications may be used to alleviate pain. VA determines a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, but anatomical damage and functional loss are also considered. When the discs degenerate or break down, they can no longer perform their function properly. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, caused by an allergic reactionto specific allergens (e.g. Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. When a spinal disc wears down over time, it causes back pain. This uneven shift in weight may then contribute to complications in your lower back. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. 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. 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. Code O-2 ( 38 CFR 3.350 (e) (2)). 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. This pressure can cause you to suffer from a condition known as degenerative disc disease, a spinal condition that can cause severe pain. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. The formula that VA uses to rate back disabilities with a diagnosis code between 5235 and 5242is the same. If you are already a veteran, you can submit a VA Disability Claim along with evidence of service-connection and all medical records regarding the conditions on the claim. A VA Disability Lawyers role is to assist you throughout the confusing and often frustrating appeals process if you have been denied benefits for your service-connected back pain. Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. 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. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. Have you been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease? It is particularly difficult for people under the age of forty, as well as those under the age of fifty. degeneration of the disc between the vertebrae is the cause of DDD. Also Check: Can You Get Disability For Diabetes. The VA often describes this connection as a nexus. The VA uses two different Diagnostic Codes to rate herniated discs: Sometimes degenerative disc disease is accompanied by varying levels of pain. Which it turns out are more than just one item. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide - Berry Law A veterans Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. 15-18 701 DATE: December 26, 2018 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) on a causation basis, is granted. What Is The Average Va Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease Essentials on VA Disability Ratings for Bulging Disc Accurate measurement of the length of stumps, excursion of joints, dimensions, and location of scars with respect to landmarks, should be insisted on. Disabilities of the Spine - Veterans Appeals In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Neck Conditions: How To Get VA Disability - The Veterans Law Office Thinner and weaker discs often lead to back pain, muscle weakness, and pinched nerves. ; The general ratings formula for spine conditions is primarily based on a range of motion. 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. A few of the risk factors for Degenerative Disc Disease include your age, prior back injuries, car accidents, being overweight or obese, a sedentary lifestyle, or other forms of bodily trauma. Is It Hard to Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? If youre having difficulty with DDD, talk with a doctor or veterans service officer to learn more about your rights and benefits. Degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc. The process to receive approval for these benefits is often tedious and frustrating. VA Unemployability Explained What is TDIU? Determining Your Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Rating. It is not enough for the examiners to simply say that a veterans DDD is due to natural progression and aging. If you have recently filed a DDD claim or are considering one, the team at Hill can assist you. This condition can flare up in a few days to a few weeks, causing lasting pain. A medical nexus linking the primary condition to the secondary DDD. Walking or swimming is an appropriate form of exercise that is low-impact. 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. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. Usually, its experienced in the back or neck. What is Functional Loss in a VA disability claim for Degenerative Disc Disease ? 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. When a nerve root is compressed, it becomes inflamed. Call 512-454-4000 for Free Consultation. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. If your doctor orders bedrest, the frequency of your incapacitating episodes can also be the basis for a rating. Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Degenerative Disc Disease VA Disability Benefits - Woods and Woods, LLC Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. We are an online blog dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate information about orthopedics and injury prevention. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. If you are disabled from a degenerative spinal disc condition and your disability claim has been turned down, we can help. Receive answers to more of your VA disability claim questions. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. The VA can award benefits only if it finds a connection between a Veterans impairment and their past military service. It is often hard to get disability for degenerative disc disease. To receive a 30% rating or above, a veteran must prove ankylosis, which is joint stiffness caused by an injury or a disease. Degenerative disc disease - Veterans Benefits Network The remaining 70% do not receive a disability rating. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! 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.