Traumatic arthritis causes symptoms similar to other types of arthritis such as pain, inflammation, and build-up of fluid around the affected joint. If your back is not frozen, VA doctors will base their assessment on how much range of motion you have left, which they will measure with a goniometer. Technically, the highest VA rating for a thoracolumbar spinal disability is 50 percent. A posterior spinal fusion of a segment of adjoining vertebra, prior to clinical onset only of Spondylolysis or Spondylolisthesis Posterior spinal fusion means a surgical procedure involving immobilization of the posterior elements of two or more vertebrae by the use of bone grafting, in the absence of immobilization of the lateral elements, of . For example, PTSD can lead to sleep apnea. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Contact Berry Law today if you need assistance appealing your VA decision. ). Veterans & Spinal Stenosis Disability Rating 888.878.9350 Spinal stenosis simply refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal which results in pain, weakness, and numbness when nerves are compressed. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. As mentioned above, spinal stenosis is typically diagnosed with x-rays or MRIs that show a narrowing of the spinal canal. Learn How Veterans Can Get VA Benefits for Back Pain We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. If you have multiple disability ratings, we use them to calculate . In some cases, the VA may help veterans get surgery to treat spinal stenosis. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. If a Veteran only has one joint group affected by arthritis then there must also be painful motion present in order for a rating higher than 0% to be assigned. For a Veteran to get a disability service connected, they must: If a Veteran can prove all three elements listed above, they should be given a disability rating by the department of Veterans affairs. Our goal is to help all fellow Veterans get the disability benefits they deserve. When the spinal canal is obstructed due to spinal stenosis, abnormal narrowing occurs. 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. The same veteran with a 100% disability rating would receive $3,106.04. It may result in a higher rating, and therefore a greater monthly disability compensation amount. The amount of base compensation veterans receive . Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Veterans looking to receive VA disability for spinal stenosis often develop the disability due to an injury to the spine. When rheumatoid arthritis affects the spine, it typically occurs in the cervical spine (the neck) rather than the thoracolumbar spine (the low back). Please complete this form to send us your message. To provide even more value to our veterans, this page is only available with an All-Access Membership. VA Disability Benefits for Sciatica and Similar Nerve Conditions Lack of cartilage causes pain and limitation of motion. The diagnostic code for traumatic arthritis is 5010. SPINAL CORD STIMULATION - Veterans Benefits Network When rheumatoid arthritis affects the spine, it typically occurs in the cervical spine (the neck) rather than the thoracolumbar spine (the low back). Full eligibility requirements Conversely, when the lumbar spine (the lower section of the back) is affected, symptoms may cause pain and nerve sensations in the back, legs, and feet. The Top 3 Spinal Stenosis VA Rating Tips Explained (Ultimate Guide) For example, if you receive a VA disability rating based on a general spinal injury but could have received a higher VA disability rating for IVDS, you can submit additional evidence showing that your spinal stenosis is caused by a bulging, herniated, or degenerated disc and request a re-calculation. For example, the specific code for degenerative arthritis of the spine is 5242. Gulf War Illnesses linked to Southwest Asia service | Veterans Affairs Herniated Discs. I suffer from many health issues due to the trauma that happened to me in 1980. . If spinal stenosis causes involuntary muscle reactions like these, a doctor can note them in your records and the VA can use them to arrive at a VA disability rating. The rating will largely depend on whether you have lost range of motion as a result of stenosis. Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve may lead to a 60 percent disability rating. If your spinal condition results in the development of a new disability or makes an existing disability worse, remember that you may be entitled to secondary service-connection for the new or aggravated disability. VA Disability Ratings for Spinal Stenosis, Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. Because the rating formula is almost entirely based on ROM measurements, its important to make sure that a doctor performs ROM testing as accurately as possible. Our monthly newsletter features about important and up-to-date veterans' law news, keeping you informed about the changes that matter. When spinal stenosis manifests in the form of back pain and a frozen spine, obtaining a fair VA disability rating for spinal stenosis is primarily a matter of obtaining accurate ROM measurements of the cervical spine and lumbar spine. If the arthritis does not cause any episodes of incapacitation, but 2 or more joint groups are involved, then a 10% rating will be assigned. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide, Stenosis can occur in the spinal column itself, or it can occur within the intervertebral foramen, which are the passages through which your nerve roots branch out laterally through the spine. Spinal stenosis Mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety And more. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? Can I get Disability for Spinal Stenosis? How to Qualify - brrlaw So, spinal disabilities focus on the lack of mobility or range of motion. Foraminal stenosis is the narrowing or the tightening of the openings located between the bones of your spine. Back braces or corsets are $200 or more. have the greatest impact on the veterans ability to work. Other back impairments have a maximum schedular rating of 60 percent or lower. A very common impairment caused by this nerve compression is sciatica. VA Disability Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease Posted by Berry Law on June 18, 2018 in Veterans Benefits Military service can place an incredible amount of stress on the body. The rating will largely depend on whether you have lost range of motion as a result of stenosis. Because there are technically two diagnostic codes associated with one condition, you would see the condition listed on rating decisions as 5242-5003. we represent clients nationwide. At Hill & Ponton, we have helped thousands of veterans successfully resolve their disability claims with the VA. For a free, confidential, no-obligation evaluation of your case, contact us today. Numbness or tingling in a hand, arm, foot, or leg, Pain or cramping in one or both legs when you stand for long periods of time or when you walk, which usually eases when you bend forward or sit. However, generally speaking, symptoms may include the following: Most often, spinal stenosis is caused by overuse or general wear-and-tear changes in the spine related to osteoarthritis. Appellant. VA Disability For Back Impairments - The Veterans Law Office Do you have a low back (lumbar) injury related to your military service? The VA not only makes, Both degenerative arthritis and traumatic arthritis, regardless of the joint affected, are rated under diagnostic code 5003. An increase at this point for a spine disability requires additional loss of range of motion, ankylosis, or . I had been fighting for my benefits since 1980 by myself and I managed to get 50% rating. Rather, they are added using VA math. You may also qualify for a 100% rating if your back injury renders you unemployable. Disability Benefits For Spinal Stenosis - Gillette Law Group QUALIFYING STATEMENTS . Can I Get a Higher VA Rating for a Back Disability? Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general. Examples of a few disability ratings for spinal stenosis are: 20%: A 20% disability rating for spinal stenosis means you have more than 30 degrees forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine, but not greater than 60 . ATTORNEY FOR THE . If these conservative options dont get results, your doctor may recommend injecting a corticosteroid into your spine, which can give you relief for a few days or weeks. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide - Berry Law How to Win Your Disability Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease Spinal conditions can cause nerve problems as well. I want to thank Woods & Woods for not letting me give up. Thus, when a bulging or herniated disc in the cervical spine region causes six weeks of incapacitating episodes per year, you would be eligible for a 60% VA disability rating for neck pain. What Happens If You Don't Treat Spinal Stenosis? The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. 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 . The rating assigned under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis depends on how many, Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes destruction of the joints in the body. An unfavorable position means that the spine is frozen in a position other than the natural upright position. you viewed to avoid repetition. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. The New Rating System for Back and Neck Spinal Disability - Lawyer An unfavorable position means your spine is locked in a position that is something other than vertical. Forever Grateful, [K.S.]. As discussed above, nerve pain in the leg may be diagnosed as a leg injury rather than spinal stenosis. Some examples of cervical conditions that are rated under this code include the following: Diagnostic Code 5237 Cervical Strain A torn tendon or muscle in the neck. Agent Orange exposure and VA disability compensation San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. The disabilities we propose to add are: spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the central spinal canal that causes pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots, most commonly due to degenerative arthritis or degenerative disc disease) (diagnostic code 5238), spondylolisthesis or segmental instability (slipping of all or part of one vertebra forward . You may be eligible for VA disability benefits if you meet both of these requirements. If severe enough, anxiety and depression arising from a service-related condition may also qualify for an additional disability rating. WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL. The VA rates spinal stenosis disability claims according to its General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. Finally, the general VA disability ratings table for spinal injuries and diseases allows ratings based on muscle guarding, muscle spasm, or tenderness in your back. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
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