Physical therapy may help with muscle range of motion, while prescription medications may be used to alleviate pain. In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. If you have recently filed a DDD claim or are considering one, the team at Hill can assist you. What Conditions Qualify for Disability Benefits? 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. Have you been in the military and now suffer a severe spine or back-related injury? 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 mostly occurs in your lower back or neck. Spine conditions are usually rated based upon how limited your back or neck range of motion is. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. It is very common to receive only a 10 or 20 percent rating for neck or back conditions. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] 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. The VA can award benefits only if it finds a connection between a Veterans impairment and their past military service. What Is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease? 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. 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. In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. Due to the extra bodily wear and tear brought on by What is Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans? The effects of DDD can be severe on a disabled Veterans family and finances. Schedule a Free Consultation. The spinal disc is made up of a soft disc that separates your vertebrae and serves as a shock absorber in your spine. Call 512-454-4000 for Free Consultation. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. The examiner will also often ask about the pain levels associated with your condition and what symptoms you experience. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Diagnosing and treating degeneration disc disease as soon as possible is critical to its early resolution. VA rates degenerative disc disease under38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings Musculoskeletal System, diagnostic code 5242. Which it turns out are more than just one item. However, more commonly, veterans are able to achieve a 100% rating through a combination of back and neck injury ratings and other conditions. Five bones fused into atriangular shape, form the sacrum. Can you claim VA disability for degenerative discs? In its earlier stages, it can be easy to assume that DDD symptoms are just everyday aches and pains that have no link to a Veteran's military service. Back conditions typically correspond to the thoracolumbar spine, which is composed of several different types of vertebrae. 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. Men and women like you often perform strenuous tasks, including running, jumping, and lifting. 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. If your degenerative disc disease develops over time, you can file a claim for secondary service connection when necessary. you viewed to avoid repetition. Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease and Disability Benefits - brrlaw We can assist you in obtaining VA benefits, as well as in appealing any denials. 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). The Essentials on VA Disability Ratings for Bulging Disc Eric Gang, ESQ Back pain is a common problem for veterans. Degenerative disc disease typically affects the lower back or neck. Do you wonder 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. Cervical Spine Conditions - Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines It is not enough for the examiners to simply say that a veterans DDD is due to natural progression and aging. In the United States, 15% of women experience pelvic pain for more than six months. The Disability Application Process VA 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System, contact the VA Accredited Attorneys at VetLaw, Your arthritis rating may turn into a spinal fusion claim, Chances Of Winning Disability In Federal Court. Degenerative Disc Disease is one of the most common causes of low back (lumbar), mid back (thoracic), and neck pain (cervical) in veterans. To qualify for service-connected compensation for allergic rhinitis, veterans must prove that their condition was caused by or aggravated by their time spent in service. Monitoring Your Disability Insurance Claim. The sacrum fits between the two hipbones connecting thespine to the pelvis. The VA examiner will usually ask questions during the exam to establish whether your condition is related to your military service. The VA ratings for back pain reflect the seriousness of a veterans mobility loss and how much their spine is affected. Secondary Service Connection for Herniated Discs The maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease VA compensation is 20 percent without any additional . However, you may wonder what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? These examples of functional impairment can limit a veterans daily activities, quality of life, and ability to work. 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 joints involved should be tested for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing and, if possible, with the range of the opposite undamaged joint. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition that refers to the breakdown of the discs that cushion the vertebrae in your spine. There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of degenerative disc disease. Our attorneys will use our expertise to help you fight for your benefits. 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. It can take a long time for you to develop symptoms for this condition, and doctors often do not document the things VA needs to assess your condition. VA Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease (2022) - otarbo.com These ratings will be based on evidence from medical professionals, a VA claim exam, and information collected from other sources including federal agencies. Part of aging is disk deterioration; however, it does not cause pain in everyone. If you have been diagnosed with a condition caused by military service, you may be eligible for disability benefits. The people serving in our military work hard. If you've recently filed a DDD claim or are waiting for your case to be resolved, you can contact the Hill Ponton team. All Rights Reserved. Radiculopathy can have many different signs and symptoms aswell as different names depending on where in the spine it occurs. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. Call our law firm, toll free at 800-562-9830 or contact us . I have a 20% rating for arthritis in my back, but can I get more for degenerative disc disease? 5.4k views Answered >2 years ago. Fixed movement of the entire spine qualifies for a 100% rating. Pain that worsens when standing, bending, lifting, or twisting. Finally, in the absence of limitation of motion, a veterans degenerative disc disease VA rating will be as follows: When assigning a disability rating based on the severity of symptoms, VA must consider both anatomical damage and functional loss. 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. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . They may allege that your condition is due to the natural progression of aging. 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. The condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment, and herniate. The remaining 70% do not receive a disability rating. Usually this happens when a veteran experiences symptoms or limitations that are not considered by the rating schedule. 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. 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.