However, there are a few ways veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. The spine consists of four primary regions from yourneck down to your buttocks and pelvic area . If you are suffering from degenerative disc disease and you are unable to work, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Secondary Service Connection for Herniated Discs The maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease VA compensation is 20 percent without any additional . 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. 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. It is often hard to get disability for degenerative disc disease. You may have questions like, what is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease? What Happens To My Medicare Disability When I Turn 65, Will I Lose My Disability If I Work Part Time. Some examples of cervical conditions that are rated under this code include the following: Diagnostic Code 5237 Cervical Strain A torn tendon or muscle in the neck As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. An attorney can help you find the evidence you need to make your argument. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. The VA rating for cervical radiculopathy is determined based on symptoms in the shoulder, arm, and hand. There are a few ways that veterans can increase their DDD VA rating. It is a common VA disability claim for disability caused by a disabling disc disease. After leaving active duty, veterans may experience chronic or worsening pain. Specifically, exposure to the toxins released can affect a persons lung health. Many Vets have developed serious asthma even chronic asthma because of exposure to harmful burn pit pollutants. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that develops and progresses over time. You can live a normal life with the help of some pain relief techniques and a little effort. The average VA rating for degenerative disc disease is 30%. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. Is It Hard to Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? Simple exercises will not cause much strain on your back and can be done at home. The people serving in our military work hard. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. This can make breathing difficult and result in coughing and wheezing when you breathe out, as well as shortness of breath. As the spine wears and tears, the disc degenerates. Some of which are listed below: Diagnostic codes 5242 and 5243 are reserved for arthritis and spinal disc conditions. These include aging, injury, and genetics. 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). 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. 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. 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. VA often denies service connection for degenerative disc disease based on an examiners finding that a veterans condition is due to normal wear and tear and the natural progression of aging rather than their time in service. 1115 ) Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. Despite the challenges that arise, people with DDD can still lead full, productive lives. Many veterans experience chronic or worsening pain after they leave active duty. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! If you are facing difficulties getting a fair disability rating from the VA, our firm can assist you. Do You Deserve a Higher VA Disability Rating? This means any job that pays at least $18,000 per year pre-tax. 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. Ill also reveal 3 new insider tips to increase your VA Rating for Degenerate Disc Disease, even if youve already filed or been denied. In 20% of cases, the condition causes spinal stenosis, but 80% do not. Otherwise, VA should not rely on it for adjudication purposes. When the discs degenerate or break down, they can no longer perform their function properly. individual unemployability . Code O-2 ( 38 CFR 3.350 (e) (2)). Two of the most common causes of back pain are degeneration of the discs and herniations. A medical diagnosis of degenerative disc disease from your doctor; and. It is determined in each case whether or not an extraschedular disability rating should be given. If your degenerative disc disease develops over time, you can file a claim for secondary service connection when necessary. Are you a veteran suffering from degenerative disc disease? 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. Approximately 30% of American adults experience back pain at some point. The VA could assign you a herniated disc disability rating from 10% to 100%. Others develop a more serious condition DDD , which is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause significant disability. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Our attorneys can help you answer this question and more. The VA will consider factors such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking to determine the veterans disability rating. We can assist you in obtaining VA benefits, as well as in appealing any denials. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Our team of experts, doctors, and orthopedic specialists are here to share their knowledge and experience with you in order to help you make informed decisions about your health and well-being. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, caused by an allergic reactionto specific allergens (e.g. To qualify for TDIU, you must show that your condition prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Where there are additional disabilities rated 50% or 100%, or anatomical or loss of use of a third extremity see 38 CFR 3.350 (f) (3), (4) or (5). Another secondary condition that can develop is spinal stenosis. There are different levels of pain associated with degenerative disc disease. Read More. In order to qualify for disability benefits with degenerative disc disease, your condition needs to meet the criteria laid out in the Social Security Administration's Blue Book listing. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. Just fill out the form and we. SSA will consider disability claims for degenerative disc disease that are supported by medical evidence such as: Physical examination for type and location of pain, range of motion, nerve function, sensation, and muscle strength, with a full review of the entirety of symptoms Diagnostic imaging tests (such as MRI, CT scans, and x-rays) While the ROM test is the primary factor in determining VA ratings for back and spine conditions, there are also other portions included in the C& P exams. 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. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. 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. Since there is no certainty of what was burned at each military installation at a given time, the specific toxins released by the burn pits vary for every location. Radiculopathy can have many different signs and symptoms aswell as different names depending on where in the spine it occurs. Smoke from military burn pits have had both short- and long-term health effects on those exposed. The VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide by Berry Law is an important source. you viewed to avoid repetition. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Which it turns out are more than just one item. It can be difficult for veterans to satisfy this rating criteria because modern medical practices no longer call for bed rest to treat IVDS. Get to know us through our videos. Accurate measurement of the length of stumps, excursion of joints, dimensions, and location of scars with respect to landmarks, should be insisted on. Due to the extra bodily wear and tear brought on by What is Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans? Va Disability Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease Military service can place an incredible amount of stress on the body. They may allege that your condition is due to the natural progression of aging. Contact us to take advantage of our free consultation. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. It is important to learn more about this condition and the process of recovering VA disability benefits. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. This happens when the soft, inner part of the disc bulges out through a tear in the outer layer. 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. Make sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. However, there are other conditions you need to meet before you can submit an application for disability benefits. Lay evidence that you had the condition while in service. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to determine your degenerative disc disease disability rating. The rating criteria for this diagnostic code is virtually the same as diagnostic code 5003, which is used to rate degenerative arthritis. Disability due to diseases (such as arthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease, or . If you are disabled from a degenerative spinal disc condition and your disability claim has been turned down, we can help. The process to receive approval for these benefits is often tedious and frustrating.