Also Check: This Device Is Disabled Code 22. Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. Can I Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? will forward what benefits the VA is paying for an asthma condition and how best to prove your need for disability compensation, along with other information and news about burn pit exposure. In this post, we will be exploring how to get aVA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. A veteran receives a 100% rating if their entire spine is immovable because of a back injury. Accurate Measurement of Limitation of Range of Motion. Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. Veteran disability ratings for degenerative disc disease are typically between 10% and 20% of the VA's disability rate. One of the most common symptoms of degeneration of the disks is back pain. 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. According to the VA disability rating formula, it is usually 20 percent for someone suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee or hip due to severe pain. Eczema-type symptoms (e.g., dry, itchy skin), An in-service event, injury, or illness; and. All Rights Reserved. Diagnostic codes 5235 through 5243 of 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System are dedicated to back and neck pain. Determining Your Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Rating. You May Like: Connect To Itunes Phone Disabled. FINDING OF FACT The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's obstructive If you are unable to work because of a disability, you may be able to get a Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) deferment. Which it turns out are more than just one item. They may allege that your condition is due to the natural progression of aging. Some of which are listed below: Diagnostic codes 5242 and 5243 are reserved for arthritis and spinal disc conditions. In reality, there is no such thing as a cure for everything. Chat with Us. You must be able to demonstrate the severity of your disability in order to receive the proper disability rating. Importantly, limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful 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. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. If so, then you deserve to recover VA disability benefits. The doctor must perform a goniometer test on you to determine your ability to move. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Schedule a Free Consultation. This pressure can cause you to suffer from a condition known as degenerative disc disease, a spinal condition that can cause severe pain. 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. The VA often describes this connection as a nexus. What is the Degenerative Disc Disease VA Rating? The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateralinvolvement when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. Don't Miss: Is Aflac Short Term Disability Worth It Does Degenerative Disc Disease Qualify For Disability There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. There are several factors that can lead to a service-connected disability, including the physical strain and stress that many soldiers endure on a daily basis while they are on active duty. Asthma is not a curable condition, but its symptoms can be controlled. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain | The Tuley Law Office The Disability Application Process VA 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System, contact the VA Accredited Attorneys at VetLaw, Your arthritis rating may turn into a spinal fusion claim, Chances Of Winning Disability In Federal Court. Can I Get Disability With Degenerative Disc Disease Secondary Service Connection for Herniated Discs The maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease VA compensation is 20 percent without any additional . In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. Degenerative disc disease (DD) can only be diagnosed if you have a doctors examination of your body. AtVA Claims Insider, we help fellow Veterans celebrateLIFE CHANGEby getting them the VA disability rating and compensationYOU DESERVEby law. In some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to relieve pressure on the disc. In addition, there are times when VA can rate veterans outside of the rating schedule. Some people with DDD may experience no pain while others may experience debilitating pain that inhibits their daily life. DDD may cause pain to some extent, but obtaining disability benefits can be difficult. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? Our attorneys answer this question and more in the following text. Persistent and recurring symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease (Severity of Symptoms), Difficulty walking because of a limited line of vision, Restricted opening of the mouth and chewing, Breathing limited to diaphragmatic respiration, Gastrointestinal symptoms due to pressure of the coastal margin on the abdomen, Alantoaxial or cervical subluxation or dislocation, Neurologic symptoms due to nerve root stretching, Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited Business. The middle and upper back area is your thoracic spine andthe lower back area is your lumbar spine. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, caused by an allergic reactionto specific allergens (e.g. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. If youre having difficulty with DDD, talk with a doctor or veterans service officer to learn more about your rights and benefits. 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. If so, then you need the help of an experienced attorney. And, youll get to work with a Veteran Coach (VC) who will lead you to VA claim success. We recommend using our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. Veterans who struggle with mobility or chronic pain may be unable to find work. Our legal team can provide you with quality and experienced representation that is going to help you receive the benefits you deserve. An attorney can help you find the evidence you need to make your argument. The Essentials on VA Disability Ratings for Bulging Disc Eric Gang, ESQ Back pain is a common problem for veterans. One of the most common is for herniated discs to develop. 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. Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family history of spine problems, or spine injury. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. When the discs degenerate or break down, they can no longer perform their function properly. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The VA will examine your DDD in order to determine if it is connected to your service. Let us prove to you that no one will work harder to win your case than Tucker Disability Law. He is passionate about helping his patients achieve the best possible outcome and is committed to providing the highest quality of care. It is very common to receive only a 10 or 20 percent rating for neck or back conditions. 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. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. 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. Degenerative disc disease - Veterans Benefits Network Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates, on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. In these cases, the VA now presumes a link between service and sinusitis, meaning that the veteran does not need to prove a connection. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease Explained (The However, getting these benefits is often challenging. A nexus is the direct link between a disability, either physical or psychological, that a Veteran suffers from and their time in the military. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. If you have received a VA disability claim denial, the attorneys at Tucker Disability Law can step in to help you appeal your claim. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. We should investigate worsening symptoms and secondary conditions that may have occurred as a result of the degeneration of the disc. VA Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease (2022) - otarbo.com Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. Many veterans with degenerative disc disease have been forced to live on the floor. What Conditions Qualify for Disability Benefits? Accurate measurement of the length of stumps, excursion of joints, dimensions, and location of scars with respect to landmarks, should be insisted on. This is where a VA-approved medical professional will perform a comprehensive physical and verbal examination then write their opinion on your condition. Thinner and weaker discs often lead to back pain, muscle weakness, and pinched nerves. 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. Contact us for a free evaluation of your case. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. However, individuals with degenerative disc disease may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits if their condition prevents them from being able to work. 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. If you have recently filed a DDD claim or are considering one, the team at Hill can assist you. 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. Therefore, VA must determine if the veteran is eligible for a rating higher than the ones set forth by the rating schedule. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. If you are no longer able to work because you have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease , you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits provided by the Social Security Administration if you have paid sufficient Social Security taxes which has allowed you to accrue sufficient social security credits. What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65, Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. Extraschedular ratings are assigned when the rating criteria does not accurately reflect a veterans level of disability. 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. Your arthritis rating may turn into a spinal fusion claim or a secondary service-connected radiculopathy rating. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. Our attorneys will use our expertise to help you fight for your benefits. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common cause of disc deterioration in the spine. Other requirements are the presence of spinal arachnoiditis which causes inflammation of one of the nervous systems membranes which means you need to reposition yourself at least every two hours. Most Common Back Conditions Veterans Experience & Their Ratings, VA Claims for Hip Pain Secondary to Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Most Common Back Pain VA Claims Among Veterans, 3 Common Back Conditions Veterans Experience, Secondary Conditions to Flat Feet (Pes Planus) for VA Disability, A current diagnosis of DDD by a medical professional; and. 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 sacrum fits between the two hipbones connecting thespine to the pelvis. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) | CCK Law (2023) 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. 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. The term degenerative disc disease is used to describe spinal disc changes that occur over time as one ages. 2022 DisabilityProAdvice.com | Contact us: contact@disabilityproadvice.com, Degenerative Disc Disease & VA Disability Benefits | VA Appeals Attorneys. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. What Is My VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease?