When your medical disability occurred during your service, it is almost always presumed to be service-connected. Extraschedular VA Disability Ratings Spinal stenosis is a degenerative disc disease that occurs when there is pressure placed on the nerves in your spine. This means that the effects of spinal stenosis are not limited to the back. Disability Benefits For Spinal Stenosis - Gillette Law Group A fair VA disability rating for spinal stenosis can be difficult to obtain. To establish service connection, veterans must generally do the following: Evidence to support your VA disability claim may include military personnel and medical records, lay testimony, and medical opinions. An. Case Info Step 2. The cervical spine (neck) and the thoracolumbar spine (low back) are rated according to the following criteria: 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 125 and 240 degrees, Flexion between 15 and 35 degrees, OR combined ROM 170 degrees, Flexion between 30 and 65 degrees, OR combined ROM 120 degrees, Flexion 15 degrees, OR entire cervical spine is frozen in a favorable position, Entire cervical spine is frozen in an unfavorable position, Flexion 30 degrees, OR entire thoracolumbar spine is frozen in a favorable position, Entire thoracolumbar spine is frozen in an unfavorable position, Entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position. Many people only think about their medical issues when applying for Social Security disability. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic low back Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 Muscle spasms are involuntary contractions or extensions of muscles. Their testimony can mean the difference between an approval or a denial of your case. Errors are frequently made when rating conditions. bulging, herniated, or degenerated disc and request a re-calculation, Get Our Team Started Reviewing Your Case for Free Today, you should talk to a VA Disability law attorney first, Nervous System Conditions VA Disability Articles, Woods and Woods fought hard for this Army Veteran. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) and VA Disability You can get disability benefits for your illness or condition if you have a disability rating of 10% or more and you have one of these presumptive diseases: Because there are technically, As mentioned above, many different joints are rated under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis. The VA rating for degenerative disc disease typically is 20%, despite how much pain the condition may cause. For example, if your spinal stenosis is caused by a bulging disc, herniated disc, or other degenerative disc condition, you may get a better rating for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). With regard to the medical opinion, doctors must state that your condition is at least as likely as not due to your time in service. means your spine is locked but more or less vertical, so you can still sit at a desk chair, for example. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 If you are concerned that your VA disability percentage for spinal stenosis fails to account for the extent of your disability, you may wish to speak to a VA benefits lawyer. Contact a VA attorney who can assist you wherever you live and without regard to whether you were deployed. Most issues that cause temporary (not chronic) back pain receive a VA disability rating between 10%-40%. Stenosis can occur in the cervical or c-spine (neck) and lumbar (lower back) areas of the spine. When spinal stenosis causes additional disabilities, those problems may qualify as secondary service-connected disabilities. You should see a doctor if you are experiencing severe back pain, weakness, numbness or loss of control of an extremity, foot drop, bowel and/or bladder problems, or numbness in your saddle area. Call (855) 873-2604 For a Free Evaluation of Your Spinal Stenosis Disability Case. All rights reserved. Traumatic arthritis causes symptoms similar to other types of arthritis such as pain, inflammation, and build-up of fluid around the affected joint. Herniated Discs. All the disabilities stemming from spinal stenosis should be accounted for in a fair VA disability rating. Is Cervical Spinal Stenosis A Disability? - Ortiz Law Firm By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. If there is painful motion, a 10% rating will be assigned. Is spinal stenosis a disability? Explained by Sharing Culture You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We have updated our Privacy Policy. The rating assigned under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis depends on how many joint groups are affected and whether there is painful motion. Table II - Ratings for Multiple Losses of Extremities With Dictator's Rating Code and 38 CFR Citation Note. As with most medical conditions, the VA disability rating for back pain depends on a variety of factors. Technically, the highest VA rating for a thoracolumbar spinal disability is 50 percent. Spinal stenosis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic VA physicians will measure your range of motion in six places, using a goniometer. 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. These ratings are added together using VA math for an overall VA disability rating for spinal stenosis. Did you receive a VA disability compensation rating of 40%? ). 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. Under the IVDS schedule, a VA disability rating can be obtained based on the number and frequency of incapacitated episodes in which bed rest is ordered by a physician. The information you obtain on this website is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. These secondary conditions would be rated separately from the underlying spinal condition. These cookies do not store any personal information. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. The disability rating may be even lower depending on the segment of the spine that is frozen. Both degenerative arthritis and traumatic arthritis, regardless of the joint affected, are rated under diagnostic code 5003. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices 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. IVDS is rated under diagnostic code 5243, and the rating criteria relies on the number of incapacitating episodes and how much bed rest the veteran's physician prescribed within the last year. 100% VA disability rating for spinal cancer. If spinal stenosis causes involuntary muscle reactions like these, a doctor can note them in your records and the VA can use them to arrive at a VA disability rating. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. 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 you believe you may have been wrongly denied benefits, you may benefit from the services of a VA disability lawyer. Additional medical appliances may be required. Our goal is to help all fellow Veterans get the disability benefits they deserve. Were You Denied VA Disability Benefits for Spinal Stenosis? As the foramen close in, it can lead to those nerves becoming pinched. Please complete this form to send us your message. Please register to post comments. Neck muscle injuries. VA Disability Claims List: What Conditions Can Veterans Claim? The amount of base compensation veterans receive . I was injured in Iraq on Nov 19 ,2007, I filed my claims when I got home from Iraq, the V/A called me yesterday and told me that I got a 60% rating for. It may result in a higher rating, and therefore a greater monthly disability compensation amount. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Trouble walking, and loss of bowel or bladder control may also result. Function: Postural support of body; extension and lateral movements of spine. So, they compensate them for the disability on a secondary basis. For example, if spinal stenosis causes nerve pain or other issues in the peripheral nerves of the arms, hands, legs, or feet, you may be able to obtain a higher VA disability rating through an independently ratable peripheral nerve disability. Traumatic arthritis occurs after an injury, excessive movement, or other physical trauma. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. Spinal Stenosis: Practice Essentials, Anatomy, Pathophysiology - Medscape How to Qualify for Disability Benefits With Spondylosis VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain and Spinal Arthritis Disability benefits are paid for service-connected disabilities. The following percentages are available under the rating criteria for rheumatoid arthritis: Its possible for rheumatoid arthritis to be rated under diagnostic code 5003 like degenerative and traumatic arthritis. 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. A VA lawyer can run through all the scenarios with you for obtaining a fair VA disability rating that reflects the ways spinal stenosis affects you. This guide will break down how the VA rates back pain and spinal disabilities, so you can take the first steps toward making a claim. 4.30 Convalescent ratings. There are two types of spinal stenosis treatment: surgical and non-surgical. Yes No Already working with us? 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, contact us today. When this evidence is presented to the VA, it may be possible to obtain VA disability benefits. Favorable position means your spine is locked but more or less vertical, so you can still sit at a desk chair, for example. 10 percent disability rating: $165.92 per month. 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. This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. For example, fractured and/or dislocated vertebrae can lead to pain and weakness in the arms, hips, shoulders, etc. Agent Orange exposure and VA disability compensation Full eligibility requirements Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 These are periods of acute pain severe enough for a doctor to proscribe bed rest. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in New York, New York. 20 percent disability rating: $327.99 per month. To qualify for a 100% rating for stenosis, you would have to have severe ankylosis across your entire spine, locking your spine in an unfavorable condition, unless you have one or more severe secondary conditions. 38 CFR 4.71a - Schedule of ratings - LII / Legal Information Institute You may be eligible for VA disability benefits if you meet both of these requirements. We get emails all the time asking if certain health problems qualify for benefits. General VA Disability Compensation Benefits Claims Forums . As mentioned above, spinal stenosis is typically diagnosed with x-rays or MRIs that show a narrowing of the spinal canal. If radiculopathy is caused by a low back condition, the individuals will feel the symptoms in the lower extremities (thigh, calf, foot). The following spinal conditions are all rated under the same general rating formula: The general rating formula that is used to rate the conditions listed above is mainly based on range of motion (ROM) measurements. VA disability rating rules treat all forms of spinal stenosis the same way, with the cause being irrelevant to the actual VA disability rating for spinal stenosis. Keep in mind that a Veterans disability law firm can work with you to build a claim for a higher rating. VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs 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. These exams are called comprehensive preventive health evaluations (CPHE) or wellness checks., The VA routinely mishandles spinal injury claims. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. 3 Tiers of Sciatica VA Disability Ratings and How To Apply
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