The rating assigned under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis depends on how many joint groups are affected and whether there is painful motion. Spinal stenosis can cause symptoms throughout the body. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O.
Disability Benefits For Spinal Stenosis - Gillette Law Group They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Call 512-454-4000 for help today. Flexion measures 30 degrees or less, OR entire thoracolumbar spine is frozen in a favorable position. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] These complications of stenosis are called secondary conditions, which may qualify you for a higher rating. The spinal cord can be squeezed causing pain and numbness in the back or weakness in one or both legs. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 In addition to the ROM measurements, the general rating criteria for spinal involves whether the cervical and/or thoracolumbar spine is frozen in a favorable vs. unfavorable position. This metric is used in calculating your VA disability rating. You may be eligible for VA disability benefits if you meet both of these requirements. Markedly severe residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion following implantation of prosthesis 70 Moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain or limitation of motion 50 Minimum rating 30 5055 Knee replacement (prosthesis). The VA can reject a claim that your condition was made worse during your service if it believes that the worsening was a natural progression of the condition. 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. A favorable position means the ROM measurement for flexion or extension is 0 degrees. If your case of spinal stenosis does not result in limits on your ROM, you may receive a low VA disability rating even though your condition interferes with your quality of life and earning capacity. Prosthetic replacement of knee joint: For 1 year following implantation of prosthesis 100 These types of lawyers have experience dealing with the laws and rules that govern the VA and may have ideas and suggestions for increasing or challenging your VA disability rating. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Spine Condition Ratings.
VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain and Spinal Arthritis For example, the specific code for degenerative arthritis of the spine is 5242. Unlike a back injury that is caused by muscle, ligament, or bone damage, the effects of spinal stenosis are felt primarily in the nerves of the spinal cord. If the entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position, the disability rating may be as high as 100%. The SSA has a specific disability listing for lumbar stenosis. Later you develop a spinal stenosis in your neck (cervical) area. VA disability ratings for back pain go from 10% to 100% depending on how severe your symptoms are, including your range of motion and pain frequency and level. If the VA determines your spinal stenosis is service-connected, you will receive a disability rating between 0% and 100%. Spinal stenosis is a form of degenerative disc disease. Since that time, we have provided compassionate Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. The spine is considered as a minor joint. Traumatic arthritis causes symptoms similar to other types of arthritis such as pain, inflammation, and build-up of fluid around the affected joint. You may qualify for VA disability compensation if you have an illness linked to Gulf War serviceoften called Gulf War Syndromein Southwest Asia, including Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia. Also, the VA requires that all ROM measurements be taken with a goniometer. Disability Benefits by Percentage Rating and Dependent Status (As of 2020).
VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Spinal stenosis will cause pain in different areas of the body including the neck, lower and middle back, your buttocks and legs. Spinal stenosis of the cervical and thoracic regions may contribute to neurologic injury, such as development of a central spinal cord syndrome following spinal trauma. If your spine is locked, but its in a favorable condition, your disability rating may be as low as 30% or 40%. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. Your spinal stenosis may be accompanied by other back conditions, including degenerative disc disease, arthritis, ankylosis or ankylosing spondylitis. The ratings range from 10% to 60%. 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. The rating will largely depend on whether you have lost range of motion as a result of stenosis. Mayo Clinic notes that there are two different types of spinal stenosis: While occasionally a person suffering from spinal stenosis will show zero symptoms, often Veterans seeking VA disability compensation for spinal stenosis will display one or more of the following symptoms: Cervical Stenosis Symptoms Numbness or tingling in your arm or leg, weakness in your arm or leg, problems walking, neck pain, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. You cannot do your prior occupation, and; You are unable to keep and maintain a job in the greater national economy due to your service-connected disability. Call (855) 873-2604 For a Free Evaluation of Your Spinal Stenosis Disability Case. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. The effects of spinal stenosis, whether they manifest themselves in the back or elsewhere, can be the basis of a VA disability rating for spinal stenosis. Berry Law is a team full of Veterans, with attorneys from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Pocket Card . Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 The VA disability rating for spinal stenosis will be based on both individual ROM measurements and the total ROM measurement. Incomplete paralysis can be determined as severe, moderately severe, moderate, or mild with disability ratings as low as 10 percent. All the disabilities stemming from spinal stenosis should be accounted for in a fair VA disability rating. Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the passages through which your nerves travel through your spine become narrow or partially blocked. Diagnostic Code 5238 Cervical Spine Stenosis The spinal canal narrowing for one reason or another Diagnostic Code 5242 Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine Pain from the degeneration of the cervical vertebrae This rating criterion is primarily based on a range of motion measurements. Over time, you will attend additional annual exams at an area SCI Center. If we can show that you had spinal stenosis while in the service but you were misdiagnosed, you might even get some substantial back pay.
Can I get Disability for Spinal Stenosis? How to Qualify - brrlaw Severe disability and death may result from the association of cervical stenosis with even minor trauma resulting in the central cord syndrome. You should know that it's impossible to get disability benefits if you aren't . If the condition is not severe enough to meet the above criteria, then the VA rating for back pain / arthritis will be based on specific symptoms. 20% Spinal Stenosis VA Rating The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. Lumbar spinal stenosis results in low back pain, as well as weakness, numbness, pain and abnormal sensations in the buttocks, thighs, legs, calves, and feet. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
VA Disability Rating for Back Pain | The Tuley Law Office As the foramen close in, it can lead to those nerves becoming pinched.
The Truth About Spinal Stenosis: Causes Symptoms And Treatments VA Disability Rating Levels and Compensation Amounts for Spinal Injury. We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients.
VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain | The Tuley Law Office Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. The RO also assigned an initial 40 percent rating for the disability effective November 8, 2006. Under 38 CFR 4.73, injuries to neck muscles are compensated differently depending on the severity of the impairment and the muscles affected. 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. Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine leads to neck pain, back pain, and sometimes causes pain to radiate into the arms and legs. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. What is the diagnostic code for traumatic arthritis? you viewed to avoid repetition. However, the VA still rates degenerative arthritis of the spine under the criteria listed for diagnostic code 5003. With extensive experience working with VA disability claims, Berry Law can help you with your disability appeals. Evidence of diagnosis of your spinal stenosis while you were in the military; Information about an occurrence or an incident that occurred while you were serving led to the injury or aggravation of this injury; Medical nexus a medical description that connects the diagnosed stenosis with the particular occurrence that is said to lead to it. Your spinal stenosis may cause or contribute to other medical conditions, as well.
Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve could then result in a 60 percent disability rating according to the social security administration. At these exams, you can expect your doctor to ask you questions about your background and medical history, evaluate your symptoms and range of motion. While these codes may seem important, the rating formula is the same whether you suffer from spinal stenosis, intervertebral disc syndrome, vertebral dislocation or fracture or another condition. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Secondary service connection occurs when a service-connected disability causes another disability. We use your disability rating to determine how much disability compensation you'll receive each month, as well as your eligibility for other VA benefits. Appeals to the Board of Veterans Appeals, Appeal to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Increase Veterans Affairs Disability Rating, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), VA Mental Health: Legal Help for Veterans, Veterans Affairs Compensation for Sleep Apnea, VA Rating for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Symptoms, 2023 Veterans Affairs Disability Rate Increase, Have a current medical diagnosis for the disability, Have an in-service event or experience that led to the disability, Get a medical nexus connecting the in-service event to the current medical diagnosis. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 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. However, Veterans can also receive disability compensation on a secondary basis. Your call is always free, and we wont charge you until after we have won your case.
Can I Get a Higher VA Rating for a Back Disability? VA rates spinal stenosis according to 38 CFR 4.71a - Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System, Diagnostic Code 5238. A very common impairment caused by this nerve compression is sciatica. I have my transportation now. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and loss of motor control are some of the symptoms of the condition. 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. This means that the effects of spinal stenosis are not limited to the back. It is possible to have your rating lowered if you happen to do better on another C&P exam, so discuss your case and your condition with a VA attorney first. As of December 1st, 2022 the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows: 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month. As evidenced by the rating schedules below, the only back condition eligible for a 100 percent schedular rating is unfavorable ankylosis (immobility) of the entire spine. Spinal stenosis is a form of degenerative disc disease. NOTE: Entitlement of a spinal condition includes spinal stenosis. Given this variety of symptoms, it is easy to understand how spinal stenosis can be misdiagnosed. While we still have our home base in Florida, 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. When rheumatoid arthritis affects the spine, it typically occurs in the cervical spine (the neck) rather than the thoracolumbar spine (the low back). Often, spinal stenosis is caused by the formation of bone spurs that grow into your spinal canal. The VA rating for degenerative disc disease typically is 20%, despite how much pain the condition may cause. With this in mind, its important to know which spinal conditions are not rated under the general rating formula. The ROM measurement is the maximum angle that you can move in each direction before reaching your physical limits or experiencing severe pain. For a cervical spine that is frozen in a favorable position, the disability rating may be capped at 30%. See Entitlement Considerations, Section B of this . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lawyers 6940 O St, Suite 400 Lincoln, NE 68510. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 To qualify for the total unemployability disability benefit, you must meet two distinct criteria: Note that theres a significant difference in monthly disability benefits between a 40% disability rating and a 100% disability rating. Other causes include tumors and lesions, enlargement of facet joints, thickened ligaments, injuries that cause displacement of vertebrae, vertebral fractures, and rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause bone spurs. A fair VA disability rating for spinal stenosis can be difficult to obtain. Additional medical appliances may be required. Its never too late to apply for VA benefits. Free Disability Evaluation: Step 1. 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. found that the VA processed the majority of the 62,500 spinal injury claims decided in the first half of 2018. Lumbar Stenosis Symptoms Numbness or tingling in your arm or leg, weakness in your arm or leg, pain or cramping in your legs when you walk, and back pain. Surgery can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $150,000 with a microdiscectomy or discectomy being the least expensive and spinal fusion costing the most. Your spinal stenosis may force you to stop working before normal retirement age because you can't do certain things. 20 percent disability rating: $327.99 per month. That is, your stenosis wasnt diagnosed at the time, but it likely came about as a result of an injury or illness that has been established as service-connected. When the spinal canal is obstructed due to spinal stenosis, abnormal narrowing occurs. 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, total disability individual unemployability, Extraschedular Ratings for VA Disability Claims, VA Disability Ratings for Spinal Stenosis, Total Disability Based On Individual Unemployability, Why you may need a veterans disability attorney. Their testimony can mean the difference between an approval or a denial of your case. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? These are periods of acute pain severe enough for a doctor to proscribe bed rest. All rights reserved. Under the VAs rules, you can challenge a VA disability rating by asserting that the VA misapplied its schedule. Examples of secondary conditions that may arise as complications of stenosis include radiculopathy, neurogenic bladder, and knee and hip problems caused by walking difficulties due to stenosis. This impinges on the nerves themselves, which can cause pain, tingling numbness, and muscle weakness. You may also qualify for a 100% rating if your back injury renders you unemployable. For example, after a fall or motor vehicle accident, a military doctor may attribute leg and foot pain to a leg injury rather than spinal stenosis. These complications of stenosis are called. THE ISSUE. This means that a 10% VA disability rating for spinal stenosis plus 60% VA disability rating for peripheral nerve disability in an arm will produce an overall VA disability rating of 60%. Flexion 45 degrees, OR combined ROM 340 degrees, Flexion 90 degrees, OR combined ROM 240 degrees, Flexion between 30 and 45 degrees, OR combined ROM between 175 and 340 degrees, Flexion between 60 and 90 degrees, OR combined ROM between 150 and 240 degrees, Flexion between 15 and 35 degrees, OR combined ROM 170%, Flexion between 30 and 60 degrees OR combined ROM of 120%.