It sounds like this may have been an interpretation of an MRI that you had. 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. It is a common VA disability claim for disability caused by a disabling 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. 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. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Functional loss may be due to deformity, improper nerve function (defective innervation), adhesions, atrophy or pain. confirm with the actual CFR for VA disability ratings but this one has seemed to be very accurate with it. VA Claims Insider Testimonial: Elite Success Story Dons been through a lot. In addition, numerous research studies have shown a link between Degenerative Disc Disease and Radiculopathy; there is a strong bidirectional relationship where each disorder adversely influences the other one. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) considers the diagnosis of Cervical Facet Syndrome to be synonymous with the diagnosis of Osteoarthritis of the Cervical Spine. An individuals eligibility for DDD benefits can be determined by a number of factors. By Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney. Schedule a Free Consultation. Heavy lifting, family histories of back problems, and spine injuries are just a few of the factors that contribute to DDB. 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. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. 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. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? Due to the extra bodily wear and tear brought on by What is Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans? Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. In grade 1, the nucleus and nave are clearly distinguished; in grade 2, there is no horizontal band; and in grade 3, there is blurring between the nucleus and nave; in grade 4, the nucleus and nave are clearly distinguished; and. The intent of the schedule is to recognize painful motion with joint or periarticular pathology as productive of disability. 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. Just fill out the form and we 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. They may allege that your condition is due to the natural progression of aging. This condition is rather common and typically interferes with the way mucus drains, causing your nose to be stuffy. 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. The inflammatory proteins within the disc space can contribute to the progression of disc degeneration over time. 2022 DisabilityProAdvice.com | Contact us: contact@disabilityproadvice.com, Degenerative Disc Disease & VA Disability Benefits | VA Appeals Attorneys. Do You Deserve a Higher VA Disability Rating? 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. Extraschedular ratings are assigned when the rating criteria does not accurately reflect a veterans level of disability. These cookies do not store any personal information. 5.4k views Answered >2 years ago. If this is the case, you may be eligible for total disability based on individual unemployability . In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. This is where a VA-approved medical professional will perform a comprehensive physical and verbal examination then write their opinion on your condition. Certain spinal conditions can lead to other conditions that can be claimed for an additional rating. But first, lets explore how the VA looks at Radiculopathyin more detail. Have you received a VA disability claim denial? The VA could assign you a herniated disc disability rating from 10% to 100%. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings indicating more severe symptoms. There is no maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as the condition is not considered to be a service-connected disability. 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. If your doctor won't write an opinion, make the argument yourself on VA Form 21-4138, including applicable CFR regulations, and submit it with the VA 21-526EZ disability claims form. However, if VA examiners arrive at this conclusion, they must provide adequate rationale to support their determination. Degenerative disc disease is the result of disc degeneration in the spine. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. A Military Service Connection for Allergic Rhinitis Must Be Established. 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. The ratings also factor in whether a veteran feels pain, stiffness, or aching in their spine. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by varying levels of pain. It can be difficult for veterans to satisfy this rating criteria because modern medical practices no longer call for bed rest to treat IVDS. A veteran receives a 100% rating if their entire spine is immovable because of a back injury. Our attorneys can help you answer this question and more. Tingling and numbness may not last for long periods of time; however, these symptoms may be . These include aging, injury, and genetics. Call 512-454-4000 for Free Consultation. Usually, its experienced in the back or neck. These cases are classified as higher in severity. Phone: (866) 282-5260 Fax: (727) 571-1415, Attention: Did you or a family member live or work at. This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65, Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. This is when the spaces in the spine narrow, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. You may have questions like, what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? The VA uses Diagnostic Codes (DCs) to rate disabilities. 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. 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. For some, asthma may be a minor nuisance. 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. These codes guide the VA on how to rate your disability at a certain percentage level based on specific symptoms. It mostly occurs in your lower back or neck. A veteran must show that the case presents such an exceptional or unusual disability picture with such related factors as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization that make it impractical for VA to assign a schedular rating. In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. Can I Receive VA Disability Benefits for Agent Orange Exposure? If other treatments, such as medication and physical therapy, have not been able to relieve pain, a surgical procedure is typically recommended. As the spine wears and tears, the disc degenerates. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. 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. 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. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Importantly, limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. Therefore, VA must determine if the veteran is eligible for a rating higher than the ones set forth by the rating schedule. A medical nexus, or link, between the in-service event and current diagnosis. If youre trying to increase your VA disability rating for Degenerative Disc Disease, you need to prove to the VA that your symptoms are now worse and warrant a higher rating by law. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. Accurate measurement of the length of stumps, excursion of joints, dimensions, and location of scars with respect to landmarks, should be insisted on. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate. You must be open, honest, and truthful at your C&P exam for Degenerative Disc Disease, and make sure toSTOPthe C&P examiner as soon as you feel any discomfort or pain. This condition can flare up in a few days to a few weeks, causing lasting 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. 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. For example, lets say you have full range of motion for your Degenerative Disc Disease, but you have pain during movement, you should be awarded the minimum level of disability for the condition, which is 10%. To help the VA determine VA disability ratings for back pain, a compensation and pension exam is usually required. If you are unable to work because of a disability, you may be able to get a Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) deferment. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. One of the most common is for herniated discs to develop. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. 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. Check out our Google reviews. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. March 23, 2019 Updated: June 21, 2022 What is Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)?Degenerative disc disease typically affects the lower back or neck.
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