Can I Get Disability With Degenerative Disc Disease Secondly, your condition needs to be able to meet any of the blue book listings for musculoskeletal diseases. 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. When a spinal disc wears down over time, it causes back pain. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. These tasks can place extreme amounts of pressure on your body. You may have infrequent asthma attacks, have symptoms only at certain times, such as when exercising, or you may have symptoms all of the time. 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. What is Functional Loss in a VA disability claim for Degenerative Disc Disease ? The Spine Institute of Nevada can help you get the diagnosis and treatment you need for back pain. Bulging discs are rated based on the number of incapacitating episodes that have occurred due to the disability. 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. VA Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease 10% to 100%, Common VA Secondary Conditions to Degenerative Disc Disease, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): VA Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. 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. For a free consultation, contact our nationally recognized law firm today at (866) 282-5260. Read More. The inflammatory proteins within the disc space can contribute to the progression of disc degeneration over time. The VA rates a secondary condition separately. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common cause of disc deterioration in the spine. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. 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. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, Service Connection for Degenerative Disc Disease, Compensation and Pension (C&P) Exams for Degenerative Disc Disease, VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. 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. In order to qualify for disability benefits with degenerative disc disease, your condition needs to meet the criteria laid out in the Social Security Administration's Blue Book listing. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. You must be able to demonstrate the severity of your disability in order to receive the proper disability rating. Our legal team can provide you with quality and experienced representation that is going to help you receive the benefits you deserve. 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. If you have been diagnosed with a condition caused by military service, you may be eligible for disability benefits. How can a veteran get a 100% VA rating for back pain? They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. 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. Diagnostic codes 5235 through 5243 of 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System are dedicated to back and neck pain. Common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include: Veterans may develop this condition as a result of their active-duty military service, and they may be entitled to VA disability benefits. Others develop a more serious condition DDD , which is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause significant disability. The formula that VA uses to rate back disabilities with a diagnosis code between 5235 and 5242is the same. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. DDD can also cause radiculopathy, herniation discs, neurological impairments, and spinal stenosis, in addition to other conditions. The discs act as shock absorbers, absorbing the impact from the daily activities and movements of your body. However, you may wonder what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? 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 degenerative process of the spinal disc can begin gradually or abruptly, but it can progress for up to three decades, during which time the spine is restabilized, and pain is reduced or eliminated. If this is the case, contact us. Back conditions typically correspond to the thoracolumbar spine, which is composed of several different types of vertebrae. 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. Va Disability Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease Military service can place an incredible amount of stress on the body. 100 Percent VA Disability Benefits: Understand Your Claim Options, Social Security Disability Claims and Appeals, Camp Lejeune Justice Act Toxic Water Claims. The use of a goniometer in the measurement of limitation of motion is indispensable in examinations conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. To receive an extraschedular disability rating under 38 CFR 3.321(b)(1) for degenerative disc disease, the following requirements must be met: It is important to note that extraschedular disability ratings are granted on a case-by-case basis and are very specific to each situation. A veteran receives a 100% rating if their entire spine is immovable because of a back injury. A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. However, the path to getting these benefits is often filled with obstacles. It can also cause tingling and numbness in the upper and lower extremities. Asthma is not a curable condition, but its symptoms can be controlled. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. You May Like: Connect To Itunes Phone Disabled. You should consult with your doctor if you are experiencing back pain to find out what is causing it and how it is affecting you. There is no doubt that DDD can be a serious and debilitating condition, and you must seek proper care. In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. 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. For example, if a Veteran experienced 4-6 weeks of incapacitating episodes in the past year, they can receive a 40% bulging disc VA disability rating. 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. Degenerative disc disease symptoms vary depending on the person. Our attorneys can help you answer this question and more. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) occurs when the discs between the vertebrae deteriorate causing pain, weakness, tingling, and or numbness. 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). Veterans who served in specified locations and time periods do not have to prove a connection between their sinusitis and service to be eligible for VA health care and disability compensation. The TDIU rating gives the same amount of disability benefits as the 100% rating but does not require the full 100%. However, you may experience some numbness or tingling in your arms or legs. This pressure can cause you to suffer from a condition known as degenerative disc disease, a spinal condition that can cause severe pain. Dont give up. The SSA gets many applications for disability based on degenerative disc disease, and most of them get denied unless other physical or mental problems are present as well. That formula actually covers both the cervical and thoracolumbar parts of the spine. Consult with our nationally recognized law firm to receive assistance. 2023 Brandon Orthopedics | All Right Reserved, The Truth About Spinal Stenosis: Causes Symptoms And Treatments, Can Years Of Surfing Contribute To Spinal Stenosis, The Effects Of Spinal Stenosis And Carpal Tunnel, Should I Apply Ice Or Heat To A Compression Fracture, How Does A Soft Bed Prevent Healing Of Herniated Disc, Herniated Discs: How To Sleep Without Worrying About Rupturing Your Discs, If You Have A Herniated Disc You Know The Excruciating Pain It Can Cause. Usually, it's experienced in the back or neck. This is when the spaces in the spine narrow, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. Check out our Google reviews. Thick yellow or green discharge from the nose, Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage), Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose, Pain, tenderness, and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead, Loss of smell and reduced ability to taste, Veterans who served in specified locations and time periods do not have to prove a connection between their sinusitis and service to be eligible for VA health care and disability compensation. The rating criteria can often leave veterans with IVDS short-changed because it is based on the amount of bedrest prescribed by a doctor. Back pain typically refers to injuries in the lower half of the spine or the thoracolumbar section. Additionally, surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to herbicides (such as Agent Orange) during military service and died as the result of service-connected conditions may also be eligible for VA survivors benefits. However, if you can prove that your degenerative disc disease was connected to your military service, you will receive a disability rating from the VA. All of the medical documentation that you have gathered for your VA disability rating can be used as evidence in your SSDI application. Our attorneys will use our expertise to help you fight for your benefits. However, more commonly, veterans are able to achieve a 100% rating through a combination of back and neck injury ratings and other conditions. This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. The term degenerative disc disease is used to describe spinal disc changes that occur over time as one ages. 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. DEgenerative disc disease is typically rated as a 20% disability by the VA. The term incomplete paralysis, with this and otherperipheral nerve injuries, indicates a degree of lost or impaired functionsubstantially less than the type picture for complete paralysis given with eachnerve, whether due to varied level of the nerve lesion or to partialregeneration. Though the practice was effective in reducing large quantities of waste, the burn pits emitted large plumes of toxic smoke which was later found to cause many adverse health effects. You May Like: New York State Short Term Disability. Secondary Service Connection for Herniated Discs The maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease VA compensation is 20 percent without any additional . If you have recently filed a DDD claim or are considering one, the team at Hill can assist you. Additionally, surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to herbicides (such as. 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. We recommend using our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. It sounds like this may have been an interpretation of an MRI that you had. It is frequently caused by things like incorrectly lifting heavy objects, as well as chronic pain conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Youll also see the termUnfavorable Ankylosis,which is a condition in which the entire cervical spine, the entire thoracolumbar spine, or the entire spine is fixed in flexion or extension, and the ankylosis results in one or more of the following: VA disability ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease also depend upon Functional Loss, which means impairment of spine function as determined by range of motion as reported in the physical examination and additional loss of range of motion after repetitive use caused by the following factors: VA disability of the musculoskeletal system is primarily the inability, due to damage or infection in parts of the system, to perform the normal working movements of the body with normal excursion, strength, speed, coordination and endurance. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? Sciatic neuritis is not uncommonly caused by arthritis of the spine. Degenerative disc disease is a painful spinal condition that can affect daily life. He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Thinner and weaker discs often lead to back pain, muscle weakness, and pinched nerves. However, there are other conditions you need to meet before you can submit an application for disability benefits. Approximately 30% of American adults experience back pain at some point. Can you claim VA disability for degenerative discs? 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. To achieve the full disability rating, you must complete all of the steps. Fixed movement of the entire spine qualifies for a 100% rating. These cookies do not store any personal information. Your VA disability rating for back injury or spine injury will depend on which code the condition falls under. Since there is no certainty of what was burned at each military installation at a given time, the specific toxins released by the burn pits vary for every location. It is not enough for the examiners to simply say that a veterans DDD is due to natural progression and aging. 5.4k views Answered >2 years ago. The VA uses Diagnostic Codes (DCs) to rate disabilities. individual unemployability . In the long run, the disc can become compressed, resulting in an extremely painful condition. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. One of the rated conditions I left the Army with was "Degenerative Disc Disease" at 10%. 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. It takes a 100% rating from the VA to determine whether a veteran is completely incapable of working. Other spinal conditions cause people to change how they walk, which can lead to leg and knee issues. 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.