The rating criteria can often leave veterans with IVDS short-changed because it is based on the amount of bedrest prescribed by a doctor. This condition is rather common and typically interferes with the way mucus drains, causing your nose to be stuffy. Sometimes the VA Regional Office (RO) will request you attend aCompensation and Pension (C&P) examto assess your degenerative disc disease. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Veteran disability ratings for degenerative disc disease are typically between 10% and 20% of the VA's disability rate. 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.. The VA often describes this connection as a nexus. Functional loss may be due to deformity, improper nerve function (defective innervation), adhesions, atrophy or pain. 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. Read Also: Chances Of Winning Disability In Federal Court. You must also provide evidence that shows a service connected disability to your military service. For veterans, the average rating ranges from 10% to 20%. 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. The VA rates a secondary condition separately. Water loss and disc damage gradually leads to thinner and weaker discs that cannot effectively cushion the vertebrae. 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. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. 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. Degenerative Disc Disease is a spinal disorder most often rated underCFR Title 38, Part 4, VA Schedule of Ratings, Diagnostic Code 5242, Degenerative Arthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease Other Than Intervertebral Disc Syndrome. They may allege that your condition is due to the natural progression of aging. If you do not attend, your claim will likely be denied. The discs between your vertebrae will lose their cushioning and begin to fragment, often causing them to herniate. Secondary Service Connection for Herniated Discs The maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease VA compensation is 20 percent without any additional . To be eligible for disability benefits for a herniated disc, you must have a current diagnosis of the condition and meet the eligibility criteria for VA disability benefits. It is particularly difficult for people under the age of forty, as well as those under the age of fifty. It is very common to receive only a 10 or 20 percent rating for neck or back conditions. Can I Receive VA Disability Benefits for Agent Orange Exposure? The effects of DDD can be severe on a disabled Veterans family and finances. Welcome to Brandon Orthopedics! Degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc. Degenerative disc disease is classified as a Musculoskeletal disorder by the VA. However, there are other conditions you need to meet before you can submit an application for disability benefits. Despite the challenges that arise, people with DDD can still lead full, productive lives. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Furthermore, Depression is one of the most common comorbidities in veterans with chronic low back pain. #1. Some veterans and active duty military members suffer from spinal or back pain after being discharged or while still serving. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Veterans who are believed to have more severe symptoms have received higher ratings from the VA in the past. 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. If your doctor orders bedrest, the frequency of your incapacitating episodes can also be the basis for a rating. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Heavy lifting, family histories of back problems, and spine injuries are just a few of the factors that contribute to DDB. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. This condition necessitates that people avoid activities that are too heavy, such as running, jumping, and lifting heavy objects. 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. If you are unable to work due to Degenerative Disc Disease, you should speak with your caseworker about TDIU benefits. 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. Va Disability Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease Military service can place an incredible amount of stress on the body. Citation Nr: 18160441 Decision Date: 12/26/18 Archive Date: 12/26/18 DOCKET NO. Degenerative disc disease may also qualify as a secondary service-connected disability or one that developed as a result of a service-connected injury. Military service puts a lot of stress on your body. He or she will gather evidence that proves the VA came to the wrong conclusion. Extraschedular Disability Ratings Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. Approximately 30% of American adults experience back pain at some point. Common orthopedic conditions impacting veterans include neck pain and low back pain. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain (Cervicalgia), Cervical Spine Pain, & Neck Arthritis The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) views conditions of the spine through two main categoriesneck and back. We help disabled veterans nationwide. The VA can award benefits only if it finds a connection between a Veterans impairment and their past military service. It is important to attend your C&P exam once it is scheduled or contact VA to reschedule if necessary. Most Common Back Pain VA Claims and Ratings Among Veterans. Some people with DDD may experience no pain while others may experience debilitating pain that inhibits their daily life. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. You May Like: What Is Long Term Disability Insurance. They all go together, so make sure you work with an experienced lawyer to get ratings for all of them. The doctor must perform a goniometer test on you to determine your ability to move. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Part of aging is disk deterioration; however, it does not cause pain in everyone. Regardless, it is known that such toxins may contribute to allergic rhinitis and can be considered having a service connection. Degenerative Disc Disease is one of the most common causes of low back (lumbar), mid back (thoracic), and neck pain (cervical) in veterans. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. It may cause back and neck pain and sometimes impact nerve function. You must be open, honest, and truthful at your C&P exam for Degenerative Disc Disease, and make sure toSTOPthe C&P examiner as soon as you feel any discomfort or pain. 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. 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. Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family history of spine problems, or spine injury. Government disability programs, no matter how well-intended, miss the mark in approving thousands of legitimate disability claims for degenerative disc disease. You May Like: Do Disabled Veterans Pay Federal Taxes. Pain that worsens when standing, bending, lifting, or twisting. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. A Military Service Connection for Allergic Rhinitis Must Be Established. 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. If you developed degenerative disc disease as a result of military service, you may be eligible for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. I have radiculopathy for spinal fusion, can I get benefits for degenerative disc disease too? Just fill out the form and we. Back pain typically refers to injuries in the lower half of the spine or the thoracolumbar section. The rating criteria for this diagnostic code is virtually the same as diagnostic code 5003, which is used to rate degenerative arthritis. The discs act as shock absorbers, absorbing the impact from the daily activities and movements of your body. This uneven shift in weight may then contribute to complications in your lower back. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. 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. Orthopedic conditions are typically categorized as those that impact the musculoskeletal system. The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. Secondly, your condition needs to be able to meet any of the blue book listings for musculoskeletal diseases.

Philadelphia Union Academy U15 Roster, Northampton Court Sentencing, Articles W