One of the most common conditions secondary to spinal conditions is radiculopathy. If you have a single service-connected back condition that has been given a low disability rating, itâs crucial to consider the secondary conditions it may have caused, as well as any other service-connected disabilities you have to increase your compensation. For a disability rating for a back condition to increase from 40% or 50% up to 100%, the entire spine must be frozen in an unfavorable position â including both the thoracolumbar and cervical regions â rather than just one region of the spine. This chapter provides criteria for assessing permanent impairment from entitled musculoskeletal conditions. Woods and Woods, LLC, VA Disability Claim Lawyers.
Veterans who have rheumatoid arthritis that results in four or more flareups each year that cause them to be incapacitated or suffer weight loss, anemia, and declining health will receive a rating of 60%. Their rating is determined most commonly by assessing your range of motion. How the VA Rates Rheumatoid Arthritis Disability, Extraschedular Ratings for VA Disability Claims, VA Ratings For Spinal Arthritis & Back Pain. An attorney is also quite familiar with rules of Social Security Administration and thus helps the claimant get disability benefits for back pain. Some joints are referred to as major joints, while others are referred to as minor joints.
We also work with veterans who have had their back conditions worsen with time to help them successfully increase their disability ratings as well as assist them in filing appeals and supplemental claims. Listen to this blog by pressing the “Play” button below! For example, the specific code for degenerative arthritis of the spine is 5242. Bar Admissions:
How to get a 20 percent VA disability rating for your thoracolumbar spine. I requested my service medical records, and I had forgot (it was 20+ years ago) that I was hospitalized (at Ellsworth AFB) for back pain in 1983; and was treated with physical therapy. Charleston, SC: 4000 S. Faber Place Drive, Suite 300, Charleston, SC, 29405 we represent clients nationwide. Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine leads to neck pain, back pain, and sometimes causes pain to radiate into the arms and legs. Unfavorable means any position that is not 0 degrees in flexion or extension. For example, fractured and/or dislocated vertebrae can lead to pain and weakness in the arms, hips, shoulders, etc. Anne grew up in Dallas, Texas and then went to Auburn, Alabama to attend Auburn University. Neither together indicating a connection. In such cases, the VA is able to consider certain…. The rating assigned under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis depends on how many joint groups are affected and whether there is painful motion. Degenerative disc disease can cause other conditions such as bulging discs, neurological issues, radiculopathy, and psychological effects, all of which are assigned specific disability ratings. After graduating magna cum laude from Auburn with a Finance degree, Anne returned to Texas to attend law school at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. Common Causes of Spinal Injuries.
A 40% disability rating for the thoracolumbar spine is assigned when range of motion is reduced and flexion is less than 30 degrees, or the entire region is frozen in a favorable condition. Depending on the part of the spine thatâs frozen â and whether itâs in a favorable or unfavorable position â a different rating is assigned. Attorney, Hill & Ponton, P.A.
The spine is considered as a minor joint. The VA awards disability compensation for each Back and Spine condition that is service-connected.The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty.For Reservists, the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify.. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! As with most medical conditions, the VA disability rating for back pain depends on a variety of factors. A normal immune system…, For some veterans, the objective criteria in the disability rating schedule may not accurately reflect their true level of disability. As of 2018, 1.5 million veterans received disability benefits for service-connected spine injuries â lower back pain and degenerative arthritis in the spine were among the top ten most common conditions. Personal Note:
The Veteran has a diagnosis of low back pain with X-ray evidence of mild degenerative disc changes, and service connection for a left ankle disability has been in effect from May 1995. How Can I Increase My VA Disability Rating for Back Pain? The cervical spine (neck) and the thoracolumbar spine (low back) are rated according to the following criteria: This guide will break down how the VA rates back pain and spinal disabilities, so you can take the first steps toward making a claim. Chicago, IL: 55 E. Monroe Street, Suite 3800, Chicago, IL, 60603 Placeholders.enable(); However, the VA disability rating for radiculopathy can go up to 70% when shoulder and elbow movement is lost, but hand and wrist movements still function. When pursuing a VA disability rating for back pain, it’s important to know your options. A favorable position means the ROM measurement for flexion or extension is 0 degrees. Bulging discs can cause lasting pain that can severely impair your ability to work. The VA disability lawyers at Woods and Woods can help ensure that you receive the maximum compensation youâre entitled to receive from the VA the first time you file a disability claim. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 You have at least 1 service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling, or 2 or more service-connected disabilitiesâwith at least 1 rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or moreâand2. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. Chronic pain doesn't have a VA diagnostic code for determining a disability rating. Filed Under: Veterans Disability Benefits Tagged With: arthritis, Back Pain, neck, Neck Pain, Spine and Joint Disorder, spine injury, How the VA Combined Rating Table Works for Disability Claims, Common VA Ratings That Add Up To 100% or TDIU Veterans Disability Benefits.
Radiculopathy is caused by compressed nerves in the spine and results in pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the nerve.
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Depending on how many incapacitating episodes occurred within a one-year time frame, the VA may give you a disability rating for IVDS ranging from 10% to 60%. After you have filed your claim for VA disability benefits and the VA adjudicators have decoded that your disability is service connected, the…, What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Just like sciatica, when radiculopathy occurs to the lumbar spine, it can cause tingling pain and numbness down to the feet.
The major difference in the thoracolumbar condition that can increase the rating from 40% to 50% is whether the spine is frozen in a condition that is favorable or unfavorable. Applying for benefits and receiving them can be aggravating, but well worth the effort. When rheumatoid arthritis affects the spine, it typically occurs in the cervical spine (the neck) rather than the thoracolumbar spine (the low back). The VA may not have considered functional loss, your experiences of flareups, or properly calculated your combined rating. In general, back injuries are rated low for the anguish and disability they cause.
203, San Jose, CA 95134 [Updated 2020 Mar 25]. Both degenerative arthritis and traumatic arthritis, regardless of the joint affected, are rated under diagnostic code 5003. VA has two methods from rating thoracolumbar spine disabilities. Some back conditions may qualify for a 100% disability rating.
A family-owned business since 1985, our VA disability lawyers have helped countless veterans get the highest disability rating they deserve for their service-connected back injuries. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 You want to try to get every rating you can from the VA, so make sure to count your increased back pain from your altered gait. Odd jobs (marginal employment), donât count. The VA has specific criteria for rating disability for back conditions based on the VA range of motion chart for back pain and other symptoms. To qualify for the 10 percent rating, 2 or more episodes following the initial infection are required. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 Back pain affects many military veterans and can leave a lasting impact on day-to-day life. Lower Back Muscle Severe Pain Va Disability Rating For Low Back Pain Chronic Intense Lower Back Pain After Bending Over 2017 Icd 10 Code Chronic Low Back Pain.
The VA not only makes mistakes in evaluation the severity of a condition, but sometimes they evaluate a condition according to the completely wrong rating criteria. Back pain may be the primary symptom, but pain in the distribution of the irritated or compressed nerve root may also be primary.
If there is decreased range of motion of the cervical or thoracolumbar spine, the condition would be rated according to the general rating formula for the spine that is based off of range of motion measurements. Lower, or lumbar, back pain is the second most common illness-related reason given for a missed workday, and work-related back injury is the number one occupational hazard. The VA often gives a 10% to 20% rating based on how severe your symptoms are.