Veteran with child only (no spouse or parents). Well look through your medical records to see any history that points to your back injury. #5. #11. Your diagnosis and rating may not be permanent, since you may be able to gain movement again with physical therapy or surgery, but you can at least get awarded for 5-10 years before being called for a review. When, after careful consideration of all evidence, a reasonable doubt arises regarding service origin, the degree of disability, or any other point, such doubt will be resolved in favor of the claimant. If you believe you deserve a higher rating than the VA has given you, you have the right to appeal their decision. The surrounding muscles, bones, and tendons can cause muscle weakness, sharp pain, and numbness. You're not alone. The highest scheduler rating for neck pain is 100 percent, which means your entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position. These physical demands take their toll on the spine, and it is not uncommon for our veterans to find themselves dealing with back pain that hinders their quality of life. Asthma secondary to Nasal polyps. Expand Table Amputations: Lower Extremity See a doctor familiar with VA disability to explore your symptoms more fully. Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. You Might Also Like the Following Blog Posts: Cervicalgia is the formal term used to describe Neck Pain.. If youve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low ratingor youre unsure how to get startedreach out to us! Rating. For instance, the VA rating for favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine is 30%. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim If yes, document the Veterans description of functional loss or functional impairment in his/her own words. There must be clear evidence that the veterans pain causes functional impairment or loss. It can include your diagnosis, independent medical opinion, medical records, and written statements from friends or family members. This means that your VA disability rating for neck pain will likely not be the primary rating involved in your TDIU, but it may supplement another more severe condition. You can enlist the help of an attorney or disability advocate. Okay, lets explore how to get a VA Rating for Neck Pain as well as what you can expect at a C&P exam for your neck and shoulder. The difference is almost $2,700 per year! #2. Ankylosis can occur anywhere in your body where there is a joint. You get the rating for other conditions that fall under that category based on pain, restricted movement, or the nervous system problems mentioned above. VA uses 38 CFR 4.71a, General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine to evaluate most neck pain conditions. 50. United States. Combined Range of Motion vs Flexion of 60%, Muscle Guarding and Abnormal Curves of the Spine, We know VA Disability Law can be a Pain in the Neck, More about VA Disability for Spine and Back Pain, 38 CFR 4.71a Schedule of ratings musculoskeletal system, Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your. C&P exams are typically carried about by a VA physician or other VA-approved health professional. Neck pain can also be caused by pinching from disc compression or the growth of osteophytes. This is how much you can bend over forward. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease Explained (The VA Disability Ratings for Spinal Fusion - Woods and Woods, LLC What is VA rating for cervicalgia ? VA disability rating for neck pain The VA assigns a rating to spinal fusion in the same way it rates other diseases of the spine, basing their rating on a veteran's range of motion as defined by 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings - Musculoskeletal System (Diagnostic Code 5241). Its also helpful to have a private medical provider conduct a physical examination of your spine to document any new Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM) and Pain Level (1-10). To start the Social Security disability application, you can go online at www.SSA.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. These synthetic substances help promote bone growth and speed the fusion of the vertebrae. ), Disabling spinal contours like being hunchback or kyphosis. Back Pain VA Rating: A Guide to Spinal Injuries - Hill & Ponton, P.A. Its important to ensure that your ratings are accurate, especially if they worsen, as an increase as small as 10% is the difference between thousands of dollars a year. 10% - forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees. The VA will evaluate your condition based on several factors, including the severity of your symptoms, the extent of your disability, and your ability to perform daily activities. The more educated and prepared you are with your claim and getting the right evidence to submit a fully developed claim, the better your chances of getting the benefits you deserve. In most cases, the spinal cord is damaged but still intact so the individual merely loses some However, the spinal cord can sometimes be severed completely or traumatized by gunshot wounds, serious falls, and car accidents. His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. 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). Spinal stenosis (diagnostic code 5238): Spinal stenosis is when the spaces in the spine are narrowed and . Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) is a back condition in which an intervertebral disc or disc fragments are displaced at any level of the spine: lumbar, cervical, or thoracic. If abnormal ROM, does the range of motion itself contribute to a functional loss? The rules of the VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) are used to assign rating percentages to conditions. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If your back does this when you move, your back is guarding. It can also be difficult if there is no record of the injury you received. They will also consider your age, education, and employment history. We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients. Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that involves joining two or more vertebrae together. VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain Explained, VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease, pick-up the phone and call the VA health facility nearest you, CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim. Does the veteran have a diagnosis of a neck condition? Spinal fusion helps correct spinal deformities like a sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis). They can be diagnosed and proven with X-Rays and MRIs long before you show any incapacitating symptoms. While many conditions can be caused by cervical strain or neck pain alone, its important to check with a doctor because other conditions may also be linked to more serious health issues. Youll be measured at your C&P exam to see how much you can bend at the waist and at the neck. Most neck injuries follow the same diagnostic criteria. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 To establish service connection for spinal fusion, the VA requires the following three elements: Service connection can be granted for a disability resulting from an injury during service, an incident during service that aggravated an existing condition, or exposure to a known hazard during service. For a 20% VA Disability rating, you have to have less than 120 degrees of combined flexion in your thoracolumbar spine. The goal of spinal fusion surgery is to relieve the pain that these veterans are experiencing. #21. Muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis. If the shock absorbers are removed you wont have space to pinch nerves. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 The following spinal conditions are all rated under the same general rating formula: Lumbosacral or cervical strain (diagnostic code 5237): This would be the diagnostic code assigned to a Veteran experiencing pain in their neck or back. Combat and deployment do not factor into this decision, so even car wrecks that happen on leave are considered viable. Pain in the neckor cervicalgiais recognized by VA as a disability that should be compensated if caused by military service. The VA rates Back Pain under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. Substantially gainful employment is any non-temporary, non-seasonal job that provides enough money for an individual to live a certain quality of life. That means, depending on your pain and other symptoms, you can have full movement without rotation in your lower back and still be eligible for a 10% VA rating. After you have filed your claim for VA disability benefits and the VA adjudicators have decoded that your disability is service connected, the, For some veterans, the objective criteria in the disability rating schedule may not accurately reflect their true level of disability. According to Spine Health, signs and symptoms of Neck Pain include: To be eligible for a VA rating for neck and shoulder pain, a veteran must meet three (3) criteria by law: If you think you have a neck condition, but dont have a medical diagnosis,pick-up the phone and call the VA health facility nearest youto make an appointment right away! A veteran's Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. The Relationship Between Spinal Fusion and Veterans, How Spinal Fusion Can Increase Your VA Disability Benefits, Conditions That Qualify for VA Disability Benefits, Qualifying for a Spinal Fusion VA Disability Rating, How the VA Determines Disability Rating for Spinal Fusion Surgery. Temporary disability rating after surgery or cast | Veterans Affairs 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. These include degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs, among others. #18. Your backbones might be fused together or about to be because of ankylosis, but you at least look normal when you stand or sit. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. The VASRD gives rating rules for conditions based on their symptoms, treatment options, and the resulting level of disability they cause. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 #16. 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. Foraminal Stenosis This is a form of spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine) that involves the tightening of foramen between bones in the spine. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. The range is determined based on forward, backward, left, and right angles of movement. Veterans are not awarded compensation for neck issues that were present at one time but have since healed or gone away. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. This is because the VA will only pay benefits for injuries that occurred during or as a result of military service. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. Unlike other disabilities recognized by VA, service connection for neck pain does not necessarily require a current diagnosis. One part of my claim that is 8 years old which is on remand is just what your saying total fusion of the spine. Degenerative Disc Diseases This degeneration happens when the discs between spinal vertebrae break down over time, which can cause pain in the back, arms, neck, and legs. Like your legs tense up when youre about to land from a parachute jump, or the way your stomach tenses when a truck or an airplane is about to land. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. They both refer to your back being stuck in a way that you cant move around. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. What are the VA Disability Ratings for Neck and Shoulder Pain? Intervertebral Disc Diseases Similar to generative disc disease, these conditions affect the discs between vertebrae, causing pain in the back, arms, neck, and legs. Recovery time from either a surgery or the immobilization of a joint by a cast without surgery requires a temporary 100% disability rating for a service-connected disability. IVDS is one of the more difficult, while radiculopathy or ankylosis is easier. How to Protect Veterans From Financial Exploitation of Their VA Benefits April 26, 2023 Dear Chairman Tester and Ranking Member Moran, A veteran disabled in the service of our country Can I still apply for VA benefits even though I left the military years ago? Disability Benefits by Percentage Rating and Dependent Status (As of 2020) Causes of Spinal Stenosis Causes can include herniated or bulging spinal discs. Neck injuries can even be caused by sitting still for too long. Its usually performed when other treatment options, like medication and physical therapy, have failed to provide relief. yet assertive representation for our clients. Many of the angles in the chart above relate to forward flexion. VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain Explained (The Definitive Guide) 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, 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. Your spinal discs are critical to the padding between your vertebrae. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (also known as IVDS) is a back condition involving the intervertebral disc or disc fragments. Regardless of the veterans current employment status, do the conditions listed in the diagnosis section impact his/her ability to perform any type of occupational task (such as standing, walking, lifting, sitting, etc.)? VA Disability Ratings for Neck and Shoulder Pain range from 10% to 100%, with breaks at 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. VA disability ratings for spinal fusion determine the degree of spine movement possible without intolerable pain. You have virtually no range of motion. The combined range of motion, however, is found by adding your degree of flexion in all four directions. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) views conditions of the spine through two main categoriesneck and back. A favorable C&P decision will support a service connection for your disability, while an unfavorable decision will negatively affect your chances of proving a service connection. Can You Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease and IVDS? We can look them over to see what other options you have. The disability ratings for spinal diseases range from 10% for minor conditions to 100% for . Independent providers and C&P examiners must consider and give weight to the veterans self-reported symptoms when completing their physical evaluations and DBQ for Neck Conditions. It can provide significant relief for the patient. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain | The Tuley Law Office Similar to VA compensation for most other conditions, service connection requires three separate pieces of evidence. A soldier who has Cervicalgia may be able to get compensation from the VA in one of these ways: If a normal spine rating indicates a grade of 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, or 100 percent, and neck discomfort (neck pain) is classed as a secondary service link, the patient . Theyll also look at whether or not youre still experiencing pain despite having undergone surgery. When judging the veterans range of motion, doctors measure the maximum angle of movement before you experience pain. Fill out the short form below to contact us. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 What Should I Expect at a C&P Exam for Neck Pain? How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Service connection is a way for the VA to determine if a veterans disability is related to their military service. Combined range of motion of the cervical spine greater than 170 degrees but not greater than 335 degrees; or. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. A Goniometer should be used at your C&P exam to measure Range of Motion (ROM) of your spine; each measurement is rounded to the nearest five degrees. If you arent using a certified VA disability lawyer like Woods and Woods, make sure you, your VSO, or your friend at the American Legion dont overlook that point. Does the veteran have any additional contributing factors of a neck and shoulder disability? Other Conditions That Come With Fused Vertebrae It is common for secondary conditions to occur from orthopedic disabilities. Veterans must prove secondary service connection if their first service-connected condition causes a different disability or makes an existing disability worse. Muscle guarding can happen to resist pain or other signals from the sensory nerves in your back. Neck Pain is the #5 most claimed VA disability. In this article, well explain how the VA rates spinal fusion surgery for disability benefits and what you need to do to apply. It may take six months to a year to fully recover from the surgery. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Rather, they are added using VA math. This process starts with the veteran submitting evidence that they experience chronic neck pain. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. A current diagnosis for a spinal condition that necessitates spinal fusion as treatment, Evidence that the injury or accident that caused the condition that necessitates the spinal fusion occurred while on duty, A documented medical nexus or link between the diagnosed condition and the service-related injury or event, Information regarding the incident that led to your injuries, Any evidence that supports your statements of what happened. To receive a 100% rating, youll need to prove that your condition is completely disabling and that you cannot work or earn a living in any capacity. You will, however, be eligible for these monthly compensation rates: Those with higher ratings will receive modified rates based on their dependents.
