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. If you are disabled from a degenerative spinal disc condition and your disability claim has been turned down, we can help. We have updated our Privacy Policy. Pain in the low back (lumbar), mid back (thoracic), or neck (cervical), depending on where the affected disc is, possibly even radiating to the legs, arms, and hands (Radiculopathy). To receive a 30% rating or above, a veteran must prove ankylosis, which is joint stiffness caused by an injury or a disease. A medical nexus, or link, between the in-service event and current diagnosis. 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. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. Bulging discs are rated based on the number of incapacitating episodes that have occurred due to the disability. A medical nexus linking the primary condition to the secondary DDD. Others develop a more serious condition DDD , which is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause significant disability. The VA rates a secondary condition separately. 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. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease Explained (The 2022 DisabilityProAdvice.com | Contact us: contact@disabilityproadvice.com, Degenerative Disc Disease & VA Disability Benefits | VA Appeals Attorneys. Regardless, it is known that such toxins may contribute to allergic rhinitis and can be considered having a service connection. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. FINDING OF FACT The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's obstructive 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 so, then you need the help of an experienced attorney. The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateralinvolvement when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. Also Check: This Device Is Disabled Code 22. Can you claim VA disability for degenerative discs? 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. However, more commonly, veterans are able to achieve a 100% rating through a combination of back and neck injury ratings and other conditions. Functional loss may be due to deformity, improper nerve function (defective innervation), adhesions, atrophy or pain. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Many Veterans may not even realize that their degenerative disc disease is service-related. 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. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. VA Claims Insider Testimonial: Elite Success Story Dons been through a lot. For example, a Veteran with mild degenerative disc disease may be assigned a 10 percent disability rating, while a Veteran with severe degenerative disc disease may be assigned a 100 percent disability rating. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Asthma symptoms will vary from person to person. Depending on the number of joints affected, VA rates degenerative disc disease between 10% and 20%. 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. Code O-2 ( 38 CFR 3.350 (e) (2)). Back pain typically refers to injuries in the lower half of the spine or the thoracolumbar section. 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. 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. These examples of functional impairment can limit a veterans daily activities, quality of life, and ability to work. Most Common Back Pain VA Claims and Ratings Among Veterans. Our attorneys will use our expertise to help you fight for your benefits. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) occurs when the discs between the vertebrae deteriorate causing pain, weakness, tingling, and or numbness. you viewed to avoid repetition. Many veterans suffer from various back conditions due to their military service to include Degenerative Disc Disease. Part of aging is disk deterioration; however, it does not cause pain in everyone. A Military Service Connection for Allergic Rhinitis Must Be Established. will forward what benefits the VA is paying for the allergic rhinitis condition and how best to prove your need for disability compensation, along with other information and news about burn pit exposure. Back injuries are frequently reported after military service. 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. Five bones fused into atriangular shape, form the sacrum. Immediately below the sacrum are five additional bones,fused together to form the Coccyx . The SSA gets many applications for disability based on degenerative disc disease, and most of them get denied unless other physical or mental problems are present as well. If so, then you deserve to recover VA disability benefits. For example, the VA compensation exam for lower back pain might include a disability benefits questionnaire . The spine consists of four primary regions from yourneck down to your buttocks and pelvic area . However, getting these benefits is often challenging. However, many Veterans struggle to get degenerative disc disease VA disability compensation.. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! But first, lets explore how the VA looks at Radiculopathyin more detail. These can last from a few days to a few months before getting better. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! The rating criteria for this diagnostic code is virtually the same as diagnostic code 5003, which is used to rate degenerative arthritis. Call Us. Degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc. 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. Have you received a VA disability claim denial? Some veterans and active duty military members suffer from spinal or back pain after being discharged or while still serving. The VA rating for cervical radiculopathy is determined based on symptoms in the shoulder, arm, and hand. A medical connection linking your diagnosed allergic rhinitis. 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. Diagnosing and treating degeneration disc disease as soon as possible is critical to its early resolution. In this situation, a VA RO will contact you to schedule the exam. It is important to attend your C&P exam once it is scheduled or contact VA to reschedule if necessary. You must also provide evidence that shows a service connected disability to your military service. Can I Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. The degenerative process of the spinal disc can begin gradually or abruptly, but it can progress for up to three decades, during which time the spine is restabilized, and pain is reduced or eliminated. 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. The result is that breathing through your nose can be difficult, and the area around your eyes (your sinus cavities) might feel swollen or tender. The rating chart for thoracolumbar spinal pain is used for primary and secondary conditions to lower back pain. 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. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain | The Tuley Law Office DEgenerative disc disease is typically rated as a 20% disability by the VA. what is the va disability rating for degenerative disc disease - tCubed Degenerative disc disease is also referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine. 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. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain: Cervical Spine, Neck Arthritis Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (also known as IVDS) is a back condition involving the intervertebral disc or disc fragments. An examination by VA must confirm the limitations of motion in the presence of swelling, muscle spasms, or evidence of painful motion. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. 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. Heavy lifting, family histories of back problems, and spine injuries are just a few of the factors that contribute to DDB. The VA often describes this connection as a nexus. 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. 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. Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. This is when the spaces in the spine narrow, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. 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. 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). 7 Things You Must Know About a Herniated Disc VA Rating (Ultimate Guide) 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. The VA could assign you a herniated disc disability rating from 10% to 100%. A veterans Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. This can be submitted via mail to the Evidence Intake Center or electronically throughVAs website. The VA examiner will usually ask questions during the exam to establish whether your condition is related to your military service. Slouching and a sedentary lifestyle are the most common causes of degeneration of the discs in the discs. Simple exercises will not cause much strain on your back and can be done at home. In this case, if the Veteran develops DJD in any other joint in the future, that joint is automatically subject to service connection. In order to apply for a secondary service connection, you must demonstrate that one disability resulted directly from the other. Degenerative Disc Disease, Back Pain & Social Security Disability It mostly occurs in your lower back or neck. Therefore, VA must determine if the veteran is eligible for a rating higher than the ones set forth by the rating schedule. Dont give up. Usually, its experienced in the back or neck. VA Disability For Back Arthritis - Vet VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain Criteria VA uses 38 CFR 4.71a, General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine to evaluate most neck pain conditions. The rating criteria can often leave veterans with IVDS short-changed because it is based on the amount of bedrest prescribed by a doctor. Intervertebral disc syndrome is a common cause of back pain. 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. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. When the involvement is wholly sensory, the rating should befor the mild, or at most, the moderate degree. 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. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. AtVA Claims Insider, we help fellow Veterans celebrateLIFE CHANGEby getting them the VA disability rating and compensationYOU DESERVEby law. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Usually this happens when a veteran experiences symptoms or limitations that are not considered by the rating schedule. Medical professionals call this 'radicular pain.' They can range from dull nagging pain to severe disabling (sharp or throbbing) pain. However, its also possible that you dont experience any symptoms, or you go through periodic flare-ups of symptoms. DEgenerative disc disease is typically rated as a 20% disability by the VA. You May Like: What Is Long Term Disability Insurance. How Does the VA Evaluate Degenerative Disc Disease? Target Leave And Disability Reedgroup Com, Jailbreak Disabled Iphone Without Losing Data, What Happens If You Become Disabled While On Social Security, Complete the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or lost, Official records of a herniated disc during active duty, Medical evidence from private doctors linking the current diagnosis to an in-service injury, disease, or event that has been at least as likely as not caused the current condition. Essentials on VA Disability Ratings for Bulging Disc Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . Just fill out the form and we will forward what benefits the VA is paying for the allergic rhinitis condition and how best to prove your need for disability compensation, along with other information and news about burn pit exposure. In some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to relieve pressure on the disc. 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. 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. We recommend using our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. The doctor must perform a goniometer test on you to determine your ability to move. Instead, many Veterans start to deal with more severe symptoms of DDD years after they have retired from the military. Extraschedular ratings are assigned when the rating criteria does not accurately reflect a veterans level of disability. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. What is the Degenerative Disc Disease VA Rating? In general, the ratings for spine conditions are based on range of motion. However, if the limitation of motion of the specific joint or joints involved isnoncompensable(i.e., 0 percent disabling) under the appropriate diagnostic codes, a rating of 10 percent will be applied for each major joint or group of minor joints affected by limitation of motion. You should consult with your doctor if you are experiencing back pain to find out what is causing it and how it is affecting you. 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. 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. If other treatments, such as medication and physical therapy, have not been able to relieve pain, a surgical procedure is typically recommended.