Our attorneys answer this question and more in the following text. It is very common to receive only a 10 or 20 percent rating for neck or back conditions. What is the Degenerative Disc Disease VA Rating? Some veterans and active duty military members suffer from spinal or back pain after being discharged or while still serving. Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at. Yes, retrolisthesis can be considered a disability by the SSA. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. 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. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Heavy lifting, family histories of back problems, and spine injuries are just a few of the factors that contribute to DDB. The VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide by Berry Law is an important source. 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. DDD may cause pain to some extent, but obtaining disability benefits can be difficult. The VA can award benefits only if it finds a connection between a Veterans impairment and their past military service. To receive a 30% rating or above, a veteran must prove ankylosis, which is joint stiffness caused by an injury or a disease. Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family history of spine problems, or spine injury. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Rhinitis also is present with the common cold, which is a temporary condition, so make sure to empahsize allergic rhinitis. The rating criteria for this diagnostic code is virtually the same as diagnostic code 5003, which is used to rate degenerative arthritis. 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. Many Vets have developed serious asthma even chronic asthma because of exposure to harmful burn pit pollutants. 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. A few of the risk factors for Degenerative Disc Disease include your age, prior back injuries, car accidents, being overweight or obese, a sedentary lifestyle, or other forms of bodily trauma. In this post, we will be exploring how to get aVA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. Your arthritis rating may turn into a spinal fusion claim or a secondary service-connected radiculopathy rating. 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. For retrolisthesis to be a disability, you will need to meet a Blue Book listing, demonstrating your retrolisthesis is severe enough to qualify for disability benefits. I have a 20% rating for arthritis in my back, but can I get more for degenerative disc disease? Importantly, limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. However, more commonly, veterans are able to achieve a 100% rating through a combination of back and neck injury ratings and other conditions. 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). 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. A veteran receives a 100% rating if their entire spine is immovable because of a back injury. This condition refers to back or neck pain caused by the general breakdown of spinal discs. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. With IVDS, these discs may be displaced at the lumbar, cervical, or thoracic areas of the spine. The measurements used for determining compensation are as follows: If you are still in the military, then you can request your military physician to refer you to the MEB and start the IDES process. You can live a normal life with the help of some pain relief techniques and a little effort. 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. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Many veterans suffer from various back conditions due to their military service to include Degenerative Disc Disease. You may be eligible for a secondary service connection if your degeneration of your disc progresses over time. Finally, in the absence of limitation of motion, a veterans degenerative disc disease VA rating will be as follows: When assigning a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, VA must consider both anatomical damage and functional loss. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. Any limitation of Range of Motion (ROM) should be measured with a Goniometer by the medical professional at your VA C&P Exam for Back Pain. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate. It is a disease that occurs as a result of the degeneration of the discs in the spine. Instead, they must also explain why it is not due to other factors, such as service. Check out our Google reviews. But for others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack. The TDIU rating gives the same amount of disability benefits as the 100% rating but does not require the full 100%. Orthopedic conditions are typically categorized as those that impact the musculoskeletal system. Military burn pits are large areas of land that were used by the United States military to incinerate waste in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan in the post-9/11 era. The Spine Institute of Nevada can help you get the diagnosis and treatment you need for back pain. Veterans who struggle with mobility or chronic pain may be unable to find work. 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 joints involved should be tested for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing and, if possible, with the range of the opposite undamaged joint. This is where a VA-approved medical professional will perform a comprehensive physical and verbal examination then write their opinion on your condition. Fixed movement of the entire spine qualifies for a 100% rating. Feeling better while walking or even running than while sitting or standing for long periods of time. 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. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. The strain of military service can lead to wear and tear on the spine, not to mention the risk of traumatic injuries in training or combat. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. Immediately below the sacrum are five additional bones,fused together to form the Coccyx . Water loss and disc damage gradually leads to thinner and weaker discs that cannot effectively cushion the vertebrae. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. We can assist you in obtaining VA benefits, as well as in appealing any denials. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. In reality, there is no such thing as a cure for everything. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Because the general rating formula for diseases and injuries of the spine talk about flexion, which is the act of flexing or bending. Muscle atrophy must also be accurately measured and reported. The breaking open of a spinal disc is called a prolapsed or herniated disc. Sometimes degenerative disc disease is accompanied by varying levels of pain. If you have degenerative disc disease as a service-connected condition, you must be able to prove that you have received VA disability benefits. They can range from dull nagging pain to severe disabling (sharp or throbbing) pain. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that develops and progresses over time. The examiner will also often ask about the pain levels associated with your condition and what symptoms you experience. So, lets take a minute to explore the law regarding the symptoms and impairment required to warrant a VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. 100 Percent VA Disability Benefits: Understand Your Claim Options, Social Security Disability Claims and Appeals, Camp Lejeune Justice Act Toxic Water Claims. Veterans who are believed to have more severe symptoms have received higher ratings from the VA in the past. Recommended Reading: What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65. Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. This condition necessitates that people avoid activities that are too heavy, such as running, jumping, and lifting heavy objects. 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. The effects of DDD can be severe on a disabled Veterans family and finances. For a free case evaluation, call CCK today at 800-544-9144. The intent of the schedule is to recognize painful motion with joint or periarticular pathology as productive of disability. This website is designed for general information only. 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. ; The general ratings formula for spine conditions is primarily based on a range of motion. For veterans, the average rating ranges from 10% to 20%. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. 5001 Bones and joints, tuberculosis of, active or inactive: Active 100 Inactive: See 4.88c and 4.89 5002 VA determines a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, but anatomical damage and functional loss are also considered. This article will only focus on the portion of that formula that relates to the thoracolumbar spine. Usually, its experienced in the back or neck. However, if VA examiners arrive at this conclusion, they must provide adequate rationale to support their determination. VA Unemployability Explained What is TDIU? 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. Others develop a more serious condition DDD , which is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause significant disability. In the United States, 15% of women experience pelvic pain for more than six months. Periods of severe pain that come and go. The discs act as shock absorbers, absorbing the impact from the daily activities and movements of your body. There is no cure for degenerative disc disease, but there are treatments that can help to manage the symptoms and slow the progression of the condition. Back pain typically refers to injuries in the lower half of the spine or the thoracolumbar section. 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 ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateralinvolvement when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. The average VA rating for degenerative disc disease is 30%. Asthma symptoms will vary from person to person. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent. Generally, some of the more common symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease include: To be eligible for a Degenerative Disc Disease VA rating, a veteran must meet three (3) criteria by law: If you think you have a back condition such as Degenerative Disc Disease, but dont have a medical diagnosis,pick-up the phone and call the VA mental health facility nearest youto make an appointment right away! Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is one of the spine conditions that qualifies for disability benefits. 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. Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. Did VA Deny Your Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease? A spinal fusion procedure is usually performed in order to relieve pain and allow the spine to heal. 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. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. VA disability claims evidence can be direct or circumstantial, and include: A positive VA disability rating for a a bulging disc or a herniated disc is based on the extent of your symptoms, how impaired your range of motion is, prevalence of incapacitating episodes, and how all of this impacts your daily life. 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. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. The spinal disc is made up of a soft disc that separates your vertebrae and serves as a shock absorber in your spine. I've had a lot of issues that led to seeking civilian treatment, and that has finally culminated in more concrete diagnosis of my spinal issues. For example, DDD can lead to other conditions among veterans, such as: You can file a disability claim for any secondary symptoms or conditions caused by your service-connected degenerative disc disease. Back conditions typically correspond to the thoracolumbar spine, which is composed of several different types of vertebrae. 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). The following are some of the most common symptoms of degenerative disc disease: Generally, to prove service connection and secure a degenerative disc disease VA rating, veterans need evidence of the following three things: Veterans can submit a claim for VA disability benefits onVA Form 21-526EZ. Find out if you qualify for SSDI benefits. 5.4k views Answered >2 years ago. degenerative disc disease is a progressive condition, meaning that it typically gets worse over time. Feeling better by changing positions often or lying down. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. Are you a veteran suffering from degenerative disc disease? It is a common VA disability claim for disability caused by a disabling disc disease. It all depends on how far along your DDD is and if the spinal fusion was done as surgery to fix it. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. Men and women like you often perform strenuous tasks, including running, jumping, and lifting. Systemic DJD occurs when the Veteran gets a diagnosis of DJD in service (or within one year after release from active duty) when there is no record or evidence of trauma to the joint. It is important to learn more about this condition and the process of recovering VA disability benefits. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. VA rates degenerative disc disease under38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings Musculoskeletal System, diagnostic code 5242. The spine can affect every other part of your body. It may cause back and neck pain and sometimes impact nerve function. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. confirm with the actual CFR for VA disability ratings but this one has seemed to be very accurate with it. hay fever). In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. However, there are other conditions you need to meet before you can submit an application for disability benefits. How can a veteran get a 100% VA rating for back pain? List of Common Veterans Administration Abbreviations, CIGNA / New York Life Disability Insurance, Disability and Life Insurance Claims FAQs, VA Service Connected Disability Claims FAQ, Life Insurance and Accidental Dismemberment FAQs, process of recovering VA disability benefits, Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability, The VA TDIU Approval Rate and Claim Appeal Options. If that same veteran has limited ROM to rate for 10% in the low back and the cervical spine is this 10% or 20%, because 10% for low back and 10% for cervical ROM. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. Another secondary condition that can develop is spinal stenosis. Common orthopedic conditions impacting veterans include neck pain and low back pain. A medical diagnosis of degenerative disc disease from your doctor; and. In most cases, veterans will have to provide evidence of the following three elements of their service connection in pursuing compensation: Its been demonstrated that veterans who were exposed to the environmental hazards from open-air burn pits are at higher risk for developing allergic rhinitis, and other respiratory conditions so, to your advantage, that is a known fact. Have you been in the military and now suffer a severe spine or back-related injury? Consult with our nationally recognized law firm to receive assistance. When a herniation of the disc occurs as a result of degeneration, it is the most common surgical treatment for this condition.