The people serving in our military work hard. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Though the practice was effective in reducing large quantities of waste, the burn pits emitted large clouds of toxic smoke which was later proven to cause many adverse health conditions. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. If you are diagnosed with the DDD it will be added to your C&P and can play a part in your rating but keep in mind the ROM-range of motion becomes a big factor in ratings of the spine. Which it turns out are more than just one item. In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. If a veterans lower back pain prevents them from securing and keeping substantially gainful employment they may be eligible for TDIU benefits paid at a 100 percent disability rate. The VA often describes this connection as a nexus. We have helped thousands of clients nationwide fight for the disability benefits they deserve. Recommended Reading: What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65. You can file a claim with CCK today at 800-544-9400 if you claim for benefits after being denied by the VA or the DWD. The inflammatory proteins within the disc space can contribute to the progression of disc degeneration over time. Your VA disability rating for back injury or spine injury will depend on which code the condition falls under. These examples of functional impairment can limit a veterans daily activities, quality of life, and ability to work. 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 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. Heavy lifting, family histories of back problems, and spine injuries are just a few of the factors that contribute to DDB. However, there are other conditions you need to meet before you can submit an application for disability benefits. Many veterans with degenerative disc disease have been forced to live on the floor. What is Functional Loss in a VA disability claim for Degenerative Disc Disease ? If you are already a veteran, you can submit a VA Disability Claim along with evidence of service-connection and all medical records regarding the conditions on the claim. 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. Other spinal conditions cause people to change how they walk, which can lead to leg and knee issues. Specifically, exposure to the toxins released can affect a persons lung health. Call our law firm, toll free at 800-562-9830 or contact us . The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate.Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family. 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. Our legal team can provide you with quality and experienced representation that is going to help you receive the benefits you deserve. If you've recently filed a DDD claim or are waiting for your case to be resolved, you can contact the Hill Ponton team. The last lumbar vertebra articulates with thesacrum. Also, feel free to message us through our online contact page. Degenerative disc disease symptoms vary depending on the person. 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. VA determines a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, but anatomical damage and functional loss are also considered. In fact, physicians have often held that such long durations of bedrest can actually do more harm for disabilities of the spine than they can help. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. A Military Service Connection for Allergic Rhinitis Must Be Established. 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. Getting a diagnosis as soon as possible, as well as having a pain management physician develop a treatment plan, are two of the most important steps to avoid complications. The effects of DDD can be severe on a disabled Veterans family and finances. Call today! What is the Degenerative Disc Disease VA Rating? If you are suffering from the effects of cervical degenerative disc disease you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. 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. The average VA rating for degenerative disc disease is 30%. Despite how much pain the condition causes, the maximum VA disability rating for degenerative disc disease, as mentioned above, is typically 20 percent. The spine can affect every other part of your body. Asthma symptoms will vary from person to person. The VA examiner will usually ask questions during the exam to establish whether your condition is related to your military service. Degenerative disc disease is a term used to describe the changes in the spinal discs due to age and/ or injury. What Conditions Qualify for Disability Benefits? 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. you viewed to avoid repetition. Chat with Us. . 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. It has been demonstrated that persistent disc disease can lead to a variety of health problems over time. 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. He or she will gather evidence that proves the VA came to the wrong conclusion. Fighting insurance companies and the VA is what we do 24/7. 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. Just fill out the form and we. Most Common Back Pain VA Claims and Ratings Among Veterans. Degenerative disc disease is the result of disc degeneration in the spine. 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. Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) considers the diagnosis of Cervical Facet Syndrome to be synonymous with the diagnosis of Osteoarthritis of the Cervical Spine. Schedule a Free Consultation. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! It is a common VA disability claim for disability caused by a disabling disc disease. In more severe cases, Degenerative Disc Disease can cause weakness, numbness, and shooting or throbbing pain in the arms or legs, which is a painful condition knows as Radiculopathy. 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. Medical diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. The VA rates degenerative disc disease by assigning a disability rating based on how the condition is impacting the Veterans ability to function. Some veterans and active duty military members suffer from spinal or back pain after being discharged or while still serving. If there is a service-connected connection between the impairment and service time, a military member may be eligible for disability benefits. These tasks can place extreme amounts of pressure on your body. When a herniation of the disc occurs as a result of degeneration, it is the most common surgical treatment for this condition. Back injuries are frequently reported after military service. Qualifying military members with degenerative disc disease can receive benefits. Degenerative disc disease is known to be a condition that develops over time. In this situation, a VA RO will contact you to schedule the exam. 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. The rating criteria can often leave veterans with IVDS short-changed because it is based on the amount of bedrest prescribed by a doctor. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. To file for secondary service connection, you will need: Importantly, you do not have to file for secondary conditions at the same time as filing for primary conditions. To be eligible for this, you must have a disability that is rated at 60% or higher by the service provider. However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Otherwise, VA should not rely on it for adjudication purposes. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Degenerative Disc: Degenerative disc disease typically does not cause a permanent disability. 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. Many veterans experience chronic or worsening pain after they leave active duty. As the discs burn out, these proteins are replaced by new ones, causing the discs to stiffen and micro-motions to decrease. This website is designed for general information only. 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. VA rates degenerative disc disease under38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings Musculoskeletal System, diagnostic code 5242. individual unemployability . 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. A discectomy is a surgical procedure in which part of the disc is removed and pressure is placed on the affected nerve. You may also qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. For example, DDD can lead to other conditions among veterans, such as: You can file a disability claim for any secondary symptoms or conditions caused by your service-connected degenerative disc disease. An individuals eligibility for DDD benefits can be determined by a number of factors. The spine consists of four primary regions from yourneck down to your buttocks and pelvic area . during military service and died as the result of service-connected conditions may also be eligible for VA survivors benefits. In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. 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. This means that 30% of veterans who are diagnosed with degenerative disc disease receive a disability rating from the VA. If you cant move at all without discomfort or pain, make sure to let the examiner know that. For a free case evaluation, call CCK today at 800-544-9144. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . 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. 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. 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. 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. This can be submitted via mail to the Evidence Intake Center or electronically throughVAs website. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. AtVA Claims Insider, we help fellow Veterans celebrateLIFE CHANGEby getting them the VA disability rating and compensationYOU DESERVEby law. We recommend using our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. Diagnosing and treating degeneration disc disease as soon as possible is critical to its early resolution. However, getting these benefits is often challenging. Attending a C& P exam with a medical professional can also potentially help you discover the presence of secondary conditions you were unaware of. 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. A nexus is the direct link between a disability, either physical or psychological, that a Veteran suffers from and their time in the military.
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