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). They all go together, so make sure you work with an experienced lawyer to get ratings for all of them. Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine Part of aging is disk deterioration; however, it does not cause pain in everyone. Some veterans and active duty military members suffer from spinal or back pain after being discharged or while still serving. Walking or swimming is an appropriate form of exercise that is low-impact. Your Degenerative Disc Disease was caused or made worse by your active-duty military service OR by another service connected disability for secondary service connection (Nexus for service connection), #3. The doctor must perform a goniometer test on you to determine your ability to move. Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at. Because DDD often does not appear noticeably during a soldiers time in the military, it can be difficult to recognize the condition in its early stages. However, getting these benefits is often challenging. If so, you may need help acquiring the benefits you need. If you are unable to work because of a disability, you may be able to get a Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) deferment. With any form of arthritis, painful motion is an important factor of disability, the facial expression, wincing, etc., on pressure or manipulation, should be carefully noted and definitely related to affected joints. 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. Do you wonder what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? Veteran disability ratings for degenerative disc disease are typically between 10% and 20% of the VA's disability rate. Due to the extra bodily wear and tear brought on by What is Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans? Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. Just fill out the form and we. Diagnostic codes 5235 through 5243 of 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System are dedicated to back and neck pain. March 23, 2019 Updated: June 21, 2022 What is Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)?Degenerative disc disease typically affects the lower back or neck. Usually this happens when a veteran experiences symptoms or limitations that are not considered by the rating schedule. The guidelines also state that if a patient requires bed rest, the physician should encourage them to return to their normal activities as soon as possible. To receive an extraschedular disability rating, you must show the VA why your condition is worse than the 50% maximum. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. Accurate Measurement of Limitation of Range of Motion. Contact us to take advantage of our free consultation. Thinner and weaker discs often lead to back pain, muscle weakness, and pinched nerves. It all depends on how far along your DDD is and if the spinal fusion was done as surgery to fix it. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common cause of disc deterioration in the spine. The middle and upper back area is your thoracic spine andthe lower back area is your lumbar spine. Veterans Serving Veterans Furthermore, Depression is one of the most common comorbidities in veterans with chronic low back pain. A veterans Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. ; The general ratings formula for spine conditions is primarily based on a range of motion. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? 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. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. Periods of severe pain that come and go. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. The VA rating for cervical radiculopathy is determined based on symptoms in the shoulder, arm, and hand. As a result of DDD, some people can manage their pain in a variety of ways. Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent. Va Disability Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease Instead, many Veterans start to deal with more severe symptoms of DDD years after they have retired from the military. However, more commonly, veterans are able to achieve a 100% rating through a combination of back and neck injury ratings and other conditions. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) and application for changes in benefits Bulging discs are rated based on the number of incapacitating episodes that have occurred due to the disability. However, its also possible that you dont experience any symptoms, or you go through periodic flare-ups of symptoms. Brandon Callahan, MD is a board-certified orthopedic physician with a decade of experience in providing comprehensive orthopedic care to patients with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Degenerative disc disease is known to be a condition that develops over time. Some injuries to the spine might cause weakness in areas such as the arms, shoulders, or hips. You must also provide evidence that shows a service connected disability to your military service. For some, asthma may be a minor nuisance. If your VA disability claim for back pain has been denied, be sure to contact the VA Accredited Attorneys at VetLaw right away to help make sure you get the entitlement you deserve. Sharp and radiating pain in the back, arms, legs or shoulders that may worsen with certain activities, even something as simple as coughing or sneezing, Weakness, fatigue, or loss of reflexes in the arms or legs, Numbness or tingling of the skin, pins and needles, or other abnormal sensations in the arms or legs. Call 512-454-4000 for Free Consultation. How Does the VA Evaluate Degenerative Disc Disease? 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 its earlier stages, it can be easy to assume that DDD symptoms are just everyday aches and pains that have no link to a Veteran's military service. However, looking back on your time in the military, you may be able to quickly recall situations that may have led to chronic back and spine problems: Recommended Reading: Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. Have you been in the military and now suffer a severe spine or back-related injury? Many toxins from these burn pits were released into the air, including volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, dioxins, and furans. If you developed degenerative disc disease as a result of military service, you may be eligible for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA may attempt to deny your claim by saying there is no way to determine your condition is due to time spent in service. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . 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. Orthopedic conditions are typically categorized as those that impact the musculoskeletal system. 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 degenerative disc disease is a progressive condition, meaning that it typically gets worse over time. He or she will gather evidence that proves the VA came to the wrong conclusion. Two of the most common causes of back pain are degeneration of the discs and herniations. Can I Get Disability With Degenerative Disc Disease In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. The rating chart for thoracolumbar spinal pain is used for primary and secondary conditions to lower back pain. Just fill out the form and we 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. 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. 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. 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. If there is a service-connected connection between the impairment and service time, a military member may be eligible for disability benefits. 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) This condition necessitates that people avoid activities that are too heavy, such as running, jumping, and lifting heavy objects. Degenerative disc disease is classified as a Musculoskeletal disorder by the VA. The functional loss may be due to absence of part, or all, of the necessary bones, joints and muscles, or associated structures, or to deformity, adhesions, defective innervation, or other pathology, or it may be due to pain, supported by adequate pathology and evidenced by the visible behavior of the claimant undertaking the motion. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. We recommend using our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. Target Leave And Disability Reedgroup Com, Jailbreak Disabled Iphone Without Losing Data, What Happens If You Become Disabled While On Social Security, Complete the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or lost, Official records of a herniated disc during active duty, Medical evidence from private doctors linking the current diagnosis to an in-service injury, disease, or event that has been at least as likely as not caused the current condition. Include. If you are disabled from a degenerative spinal disc condition and your disability claim has been turned down, we can help. Water loss and disc damage gradually leads to thinner and weaker discs that cannot effectively cushion the vertebrae. It is often hard to get disability for degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease typically affects the lower back or neck. 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. When a herniation of the disc occurs as a result of degeneration, it is the most common surgical treatment for this condition. Since that requires you to show that you have no range of motion (i.e., you cannot move your back), it can be very difficult, and you have to show why your back condition severely limits you. You must be able to demonstrate the severity of your disability in order to receive the proper disability rating. Review your medical records with a doctor familiar with VA law to get the best rating. Have you been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease? An individuals eligibility for DDD benefits can be determined by a number of factors. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . After leaving active duty, veterans may experience chronic or worsening pain. This website is designed for general information only. Degenerative arthritis of the spine (DC 5003) The last common method of establishing a rating for a back disability is through the VA's diagnostic code for degenerative arthritis. DOC 4 - Veterans Affairs The VA will only grant benefits to veterans who have been diagnosed with an impairment as a result of their military service. That formula actually covers both the cervical and thoracolumbar parts of the spine. Many veterans experience chronic or worsening pain after they leave active duty. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. 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. individual unemployability . For a free consultation, contact our nationally recognized law firm today at (866) 282-5260. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. These include aging, injury, and genetics. Another secondary condition that can develop is spinal stenosis. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is one of the spine conditions that qualifies for disability benefits. 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. To qualify for service-connected compensation for allergic rhinitis, veterans must prove that their condition was caused by or aggravated by their time spent in service. We are an online blog dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate information about orthopedics and injury prevention. If you have severed your DDD while in the military, you must demonstrate that it is a condition that has a direct relationship with your service. There is no maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as the condition is not considered to be a service-connected disability. Disabilities of the Spine - Veterans Appeals Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. The term degenerative disc disease is used to describe spinal disc changes that occur over time as one ages. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. during military service and died as the result of service-connected conditions may also be eligible for VA survivors benefits. In many cases, Veterans with DDD are denied benefits or given low disability ratings. Hes battled medical issues for years, and the Air Force veteran was pretty sure he was underrated by the How to Service-Connect Your Orthopedic Disabilities If youre a veteran dealing with pain from an orthopedic condition, youre not alone. For degenerative disc disease, a Veterans Disability rating of 10% to 20% is typically assigned by the VA. An all-timer rating of 100 percent must be obtained before the VA will declare a veteran incapable of working. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. Veterans who struggle with mobility or chronic pain may be unable to find work. It can take a long time for you to develop symptoms for this condition, and doctors often do not document the things VA needs to assess your condition. Yes, Degenerative Disc Disease is a VA disability and can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100% depending upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of your symptoms.

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