When a spinal disc wears down over time, it causes back pain. But first, lets explore how the VA looks at Radiculopathyin more detail. Service Connection The breaking open of a spinal disc is called a prolapsed or herniated disc. Keep in mind that that rating can be increased if there is a herniated disc or a bulging disc that causes a doctor to prescribe bed rest, specifically six weeks or more over a year's time period. If this is the case, you may be eligible for total disability based on individual unemployability . In fact, physicians have often held that such long durations of bedrest can actually do more harm for disabilities of the spine than they can help. 5001 Bones and joints, tuberculosis of, active or inactive: Active 100 Inactive: See 4.88c and 4.89 5002 If you have received a VA disability claim denial, the attorneys at Tucker Disability Law can step in to help you appeal your claim. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Military service puts a lot of stress on your body. 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. 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. It is a disease that occurs as a result of the degeneration of the discs in the spine. It is possible for migraines to develop as a result of changes in temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. We should investigate worsening symptoms and secondary conditions that may have occurred as a result of the degeneration of the disc. Schedule a Free Consultation. SSA will consider disability claims for degenerative disc disease that are supported by medical evidence such as: Physical examination for type and location of pain, range of motion, nerve function, sensation, and muscle strength, with a full review of the entirety of symptoms Diagnostic imaging tests (such as MRI, CT scans, and x-rays) Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) considers the diagnosis of Cervical Facet Syndrome to be synonymous with the diagnosis of Osteoarthritis of the Cervical Spine. 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. Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Radiculopathy can have many different signs and symptoms aswell as different names depending on where in the spine it occurs. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. 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.. Can you claim VA disability for degenerative discs? The VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide by Berry Law is an important source. The Essentials on VA Disability Ratings for Bulging Disc Eric Gang, ESQ Back pain is a common problem for veterans. Otherwise, VA should not rely on it for adjudication purposes. In addition, there are times when VA can rate veterans outside of the rating schedule. Certain spinal conditions can lead to other conditions that can be claimed for an additional rating. 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. Are you a veteran suffering from degenerative disc disease? Degenerative disc disease may also qualify as a secondary service-connected disability or one that developed as a result of a service-connected injury. The VA rates a secondary condition separately. Get to know us through our videos. Call 512-454-4000 for Free Consultation. To achieve the full disability rating, you must complete all of the steps. 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. It is often hard to get disability for degenerative disc disease. Instead, they must also explain why it is not due to other factors, such as service. Thank. 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. Specifically, exposure to the toxins released can affect a persons lung health. (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. Many toxins from these burn pits were released into the air, including volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, dioxins, and furans. They may allege that your condition is due to the natural progression of aging. You should exercise on a regular basis if you have this pain. Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. 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. Secondly, your condition needs to be able to meet any of the blue book listings for musculoskeletal diseases. The VA ratings for back pain reflect the seriousness of a veterans mobility loss and how much their spine is affected. Common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include: Veterans may develop this condition as a result of their active-duty military service, and they may be entitled to VA disability benefits. In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. In order to apply for a secondary service connection, you must demonstrate that one disability resulted directly from the other. When the involvement is wholly sensory, the rating should befor the mild, or at most, the moderate degree. Additionally, the rating criteria does not take other symptoms or daily limitations into account, such as difficulty sitting, standing, lifting, or bending. degeneration of the disc between the vertebrae is the cause of DDD. The term incomplete paralysis, with this and otherperipheral nerve injuries, indicates a degree of lost or impaired functionsubstantially less than the type picture for complete paralysis given with eachnerve, whether due to varied level of the nerve lesion or to partialregeneration. These codes guide the VA on how to rate your disability at a certain percentage level based on specific symptoms. A medical connection linking your diagnosed allergic rhinitis. These cases are classified as higher in severity. Your arthritis rating may turn into a spinal fusion claim or a secondary service-connected radiculopathy rating. This happens when the soft, inner part of the disc bulges out through a tear in the outer layer. The percentage of arthritis of the back will be based on the number of joints/joint groups affected and the extent of incapacitation, with 10 being the most common. The discs between your vertebrae will lose their cushioning and begin to fragment, often causing them to herniate. The VA can assign you a disability rating outside of the normal range. 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). In more severe cases, Degenerative Disc Disease can cause weakness, numbness, and shooting or throbbing pain in the arms or legs, which is a painful condition knows as Radiculopathy. 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. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. The doctor must perform a goniometer test on you to determine your ability to move. Pain that worsens when sitting (while seated, the discs of the lower back have 3x more load on them than when standing). If you are disabled at home or at work, you can achieve a disability rating regardless of where you are stationed. Make sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. However, its also possible that you dont experience any symptoms, or you go through periodic flare-ups of symptoms. 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. Some veterans may also develop degenerative disc disease as the result of an already service-connected condition. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. 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. Whether from the physical rigors of combat, from the psychosomatic effects of stress and anxiety on the body, or from other factors, many soldiers can leave their time in the military with a wide range of physical problems. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. Degenerative disc disease is classified as a Musculoskeletal disorder by the VA. 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. 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. The remaining 70% do not receive a disability rating. The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateralinvolvement when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. Asthma is a condition in which your air passageways swell and narrow and may produce extra mucus. ClickHEREto Join the #1 Rated VA Claims Insider Elite Program and Start Today for FREE. After leaving active duty, veterans may experience chronic or worsening pain. 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. You May Like: New York State Short Term Disability. Amputations: Lower Extremity VA determines a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, but anatomical damage and functional loss are also considered. A little used part of the musculoskeletal system may be expected to show evidence of disuse, either through atrophy, the condition of the skin, absence of normal callosity or the like.