The speed and extent of deterioration are dependent on external factors. Service Connection It is a common VA disability claim for disability caused by a disabling disc disease. We are an online blog dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate information about orthopedics and injury prevention. 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. Contact us for a free evaluation of your case. These codes guide the VA on how to rate your disability at a certain percentage level based on specific symptoms. You May Like: Connect To Itunes Phone Disabled. March 23, 2019 Updated: June 21, 2022 What is Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)?Degenerative disc disease typically affects the lower back or neck. Can I Get Disability With Degenerative Disc Disease One of the rated conditions I left the Army with was "Degenerative Disc Disease" at 10%. These examples of functional impairment can limit a veterans daily activities, quality of life, and ability to work. Medical professionals call this 'radicular pain.' Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. It is important to learn more about this condition and the process of recovering VA disability benefits. radiculopathy, myelopathy, urinary incontinence, frequency, mental health conditions, and so on are examples of secondary conditions and complications. degenerative disc disease is a progressive condition, meaning that it typically gets worse over time. To achieve the full disability rating, you must complete all of the steps. Radiculopathy is a nerve condition caused by compressed nerves in the spine, resulting in weakness, numbness, or pain along the nerve. The spinal disc is made up of a soft disc that separates your vertebrae and serves as a shock absorber in your spine. This is where a VA-approved medical professional will perform a comprehensive physical and verbal examination then write their opinion on your condition. The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateralinvolvement when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Back injuries are frequently reported after military service. Sciatic neuritis is not uncommonly caused by arthritis of the spine. It is possible for migraines to develop as a result of changes in temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. DDD may cause pain to some extent, but obtaining disability benefits can be difficult. You may have questions like, what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? Your final VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease depends upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of symptoms, including Painful Motion, Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM), and Functional Loss or Impairment. A common secondary condition to spinal conditions is also nerve damage or issues. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. Let us prove to you that no one will work harder to win your case than Tucker Disability Law. Is It Hard to 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. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that develops and progresses over time. 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. An attorney can help you find the evidence you need to make your argument. Back conditions typically correspond to the thoracolumbar spine, which is composed of several different types of vertebrae. Some of which are listed below: Diagnostic codes 5242 and 5243 are reserved for arthritis and spinal disc conditions. This can put pressure on the nerves around the disc and cause pain. 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 cure for degenerative disc disease, but there are treatments that can help to manage the symptoms and slow the progression of the condition. Additionally, surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to herbicides (such as. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition that refers to the breakdown of the discs that cushion the vertebrae in your spine. VA Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease (2022) - otarbo.com 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. Secondly, your condition needs to be able to meet any of the blue book listings for musculoskeletal diseases. 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. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. When a spinal disc wears down over time, it causes back pain. What is Functional Loss in a VA disability claim for Degenerative Disc Disease ? 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. However, more commonly, veterans are able to achieve a 100% rating through a combination of back and neck injury ratings and other conditions. Doctors seldom check a patient's ability to stoop, bend, or crouch during an examination, and yet bending, stooping, and crouching are the three primary nonexertional limitations that disability examiners look for when they evaluate the RFC of applicants with degenerative disc disease. Qualifying military members with degenerative disc disease can receive benefits. These cases are classified as higher in severity. Pain that worsens when standing, bending, lifting, or twisting. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. Under 38 CFR 4.71a, VA generally rates low back conditions as follows: " 100% - unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine degeneration of the disc between the vertebrae is the cause of DDD. 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. I have a 20% rating for arthritis in my back, but can I get more for degenerative disc disease? These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Degenerative disc disease is a painful spinal condition that can affect daily life. Degenerative Disc Disease is a painful spinal disorder caused by the steady degeneration of the intervertebral discs, which are the pads that cushion the bones in the vertebrae of your spine. 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. The spine can affect every other part of your body. Accurate Measurement of Limitation of Range of Motion. 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. The pain severity and frequency, as well as the individuals age and occupation, all play an important role in determining its severity. This might be the case for a veterans DDD, as the highest schedular rating under is only 20 percent. VA Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease - Hill & Ponton, P.A. If you have recently filed a DDD claim or are considering one, the team at Hill can assist you. Consult with our nationally recognized law firm to receive assistance. Are you a veteran suffering from degenerative disc disease? Simple exercises will not cause much strain on your back and can be done at home. Degenerative disc disease (DD) can only be diagnosed if you have a doctors examination of your body. Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) considers the diagnosis of Cervical Facet Syndrome to be synonymous with the diagnosis of Osteoarthritis of the Cervical Spine. Call today! Sometimes the VA Regional Office (RO) will request you attend aCompensation and Pension (C&P) examto assess your degenerative disc disease. Read More. The remaining 70% do not receive a disability rating. The average VA rating for degenerative disc disease is 30%. In addition, there are times when VA can rate veterans outside of the rating schedule. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. Smoke from military burn pits have had both short- and long-term health effects on those exposed. The result is that breathing through your nose can be difficult, and the area around your eyes (your sinus cavities) might feel swollen or tender. Your VA disability rating for back injury or spine injury will depend on which code the condition falls under. VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain Pre-qualify in 60 seconds for up to $3,345 per month and 12 months back pay. We have updated our Privacy Policy. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? So, lets take a minute to explore the law regarding the symptoms and impairment required to warrant a VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. 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. This means that 30% of veterans who are diagnosed with degenerative disc disease receive a disability rating from the VA. VETERANS: Parachutists have special evidence for claims The VA often describes this connection as a nexus. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. This uneven shift in weight may then contribute to complications in your lower back. But for others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack. You May Like: Do Disabled Veterans Pay Federal Taxes. If youre having difficulty with DDD, talk with a doctor or veterans service officer to learn more about your rights and benefits. A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. The intent of the schedule is to recognize painful motion with joint or periarticular pathology as productive of disability. You May Like: What Is Long Term Disability Insurance. 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. However, you may wonder what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? Don't Miss: Is Aflac Short Term Disability Worth It There are different levels of pain associated with degenerative disc disease. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Have you received a VA disability claim denial? Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). Your symptoms can also get progressively worse over time. . The people serving in our military work hard. There is no maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as the condition is not considered to be a service-connected disability. Immediately below the sacrum are five additional bones,fused together to form the Coccyx . Determining Your Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Rating. 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). 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. Crepitation either in the soft tissues such as the tendons or ligaments, or crepitation within the joint structures should be noted carefully as points of contact which are diseased. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally and affects the discs in your spine. In this situation, a VA RO will contact you to schedule the exam. We recommend using our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. The VA will only grant benefits to veterans who have been diagnosed with an impairment as a result of their military service. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Lay evidence that you had the condition while in service. The VA rating for cervical radiculopathy is determined based on symptoms in the shoulder, arm, and hand. The VA rating for radiculopathy in the lower back will be based on symptoms felt in their lower limbs, such as feet, calves, or thighs. The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. Veterans who struggle with mobility or chronic pain may be unable to find work. The rating chart for thoracolumbar spinal pain is used for primary and secondary conditions to lower back pain. Sometimes degenerative disc disease is accompanied by varying levels of pain. By Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) | CCK Law (2023) I have radiculopathy for spinal fusion, can I get benefits for degenerative disc disease too? 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. We have helped thousands of clients nationwide fight for the disability benefits they deserve. 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. Evaluate intervertebral disc syndrome (preoperatively or postoperatively) either under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or under the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes, whichever method results in the higher evaluation when all disabilities are combined under 4.25. This results in numerous unpleasant and painful symptoms in veterans that may include: Your specific symptoms will depend on where in the spine the nerve root is pinched. There are a few different secondary conditions that can arise from degenerative disc disease. What Is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? 2022 DisabilityProAdvice.com | Contact us: contact@disabilityproadvice.com, Degenerative Disc Disease & VA Disability Benefits | VA Appeals Attorneys. With IVDS, these discs may be displaced at the lumbar, cervical, or thoracic areas of the spine. 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. This condition is rather common and typically interferes with the way mucus drains, causing your nose to be stuffy. It is determined in each case whether or not an extraschedular disability rating should be given. While the VA diagnostic code has a maximum rating of 50%, it is possible to get a greater rating if you can prove how your spinal condition limits your function and your life. The VA assigns each applicant a disability rating based on the severity of the service-related condition.