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. Yes, Back Pain is a VA disability. TDIU benefits are equivalent to those of a 100% disability rating and are awarded when one or more disabilities render a veteran unable to secure and keep substantially gainful employment. Asthma secondary to Nasal polyps. Once the VA granted a service connection, a percentage rating will be assigned. Every back pain claim should be reviewed as a possible TDIU claim. Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that involves joining two or more vertebrae together. For a specific example, if you have 120 of combined range of motion in your thoracolumbar spine (everything from the middle of your back down), you will receive a rating of 20%. Does the veteran have radicular pain or any other signs or symptoms due to radiculopathy? VA rates spinal fusion according to 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System (Diagnostic Code 5241) and the criteria is based largely on a veteran's range of motion. Temporary disability rating after surgery or cast | Veterans Affairs More importantly, when both the lumbar spine and cervical spine are affected by spinal stenosis, the two may be . With IVDS, these discs may be displaced at the lumbar, cervical, or thoracic areas of the spine. Brian Reeseis a VA benefits expert, author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, andfounder of VA Claims InsiderThe Most Trusted Name in Education-Based Resources for Veterans.. Call us and well send you self-addressed, postage-paid envelopes to send in your decision letters. For a 20% VA Disability rating, you have to have less than 120 degrees of combined flexion in your thoracolumbar spine. 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? Extraschedular Ratings for VA Disability Claims, Establishing a Service-related Connection to Spinal Fusion, Spinal Fusion VA Disability Rating 30-60%, Spinal Fusion VA Disability Rating 70-100%. Deformities of the spine. They will review your records to see if you have any other impairments contributing to your overall condition. Neck pain is known to cause migraines, sleep issues, and radiculopathy. 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. These synthetic substances help promote bone growth and speed the fusion of the vertebrae. If youre applying for VA disability benefits and youve had spinal fusion surgery, you should definitely include that information in your claim. Intervertebral disc syndrome is a common cause of back pain. ), Disabling spinal contours like being hunchback or kyphosis. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. Neck arthritis can also spread to affect other parts of the body. All Rights Reserved. Specifically, VA uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine as follows: 100% - unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine The examiner will also test physical range of motion using a goniometer. Well look through your medical records to see any history that points to your back injury. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. #5. The VA can give you a rating for unfavorable ankylosis of the thumb and any finger. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine due. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide. Is Favorable Ankylosis Better than Unfavorable Ankylosis? However, that injury may accelerate the aging of your neck. At VA Claims Insider, we help you understand and take control of the claims process, so you can get the rating and compensation youre owed by law. Does procured evidence (statements from the veteran) suggest pain, fatigability, weakness, lack of endurance, or incoordination which significantly limits functional ability with repeated use over time? Theyll need to see evidence that the spinal fusion is caused by your back condition and is related to your service. Lumbar and Cervical Radiculopathy VA Benefits - Woods and Woods, LLC Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuiries of the Spine. That extra wear and tear on your other discs will make them deteriorate faster and require more future care. How to Apply for Benefits After a Spinal Fusion. Lateral flexion is leaning right and left but rotation is also measured. Any sorts of spine surgery while in the service, injuries that affected your back like falls or impacts, and events like car wrecks can all point to spine and back service-connected injuries. Range of motion and functional limitations will be evaluated. If youre a veteran who has undergone spinal fusion surgery, you may wonder how the VA will determine your disability rating. Veterans are not awarded compensation for neck issues that were present at one time but have since healed or gone away. The disability ratings for spinal diseases range from 10% for minor conditions to 100% for . There are 3 primary ways a veteran can get a VA Rating for Cervicalgia: If youre already service connected, and youre trying to increase your VA disability rating for neck pain, you need to prove to the VA that your symptoms are now worse and warrant the higher rating by law. Other Conditions That Come With Fused Vertebrae. Asthma secondary to Depression. What is the Reasonable Doubt Rule for Neck and Shoulder Pain? Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine area. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Does the veteran have localized tenderness, guarding or muscle spasm of the cervical spine? Cervicalgia (Neck Pain) with or without symptoms such as radiating pain, stiffness, or aching around the spine affected by residuals of injury or disease to the neck and shoulder: Unfavorable ankylosis is a condition in which the entire cervical spine (neck), the entire thoracolumbar spine (mid to upper back), or the entire spine is fixed in flexion or extension, and the ankylosis results in one or more of the following symptoms: Pro Tip: The thoracolumbar and cervical spine segments are evaluated separately, except when there is unfavorable ankylosis of both segments, which will be rated as a single disability. Theyll also look at whether or not youre still experiencing pain despite having undergone surgery. Successful spinal fusion results in the stoppage of motion at these places with the potential use of plates, rods, and screws, providing the patient with stability and back pain relief. Neck Conditions: How To Get VA Disability - The Veterans Law Office How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Updated: October 24, 2022. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 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. ), Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (here it is again! As with most back disabilities, the VA puts a lot on the level of flexion you have. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. The important part is that the veteran proves the pain is not merely subjective. Bone spurs or osteophytes can grow on bones and cause joints to enlarge. Rather, they are added using VA math. Ankylosis can be diagnosed with X-Rays and no other symptoms of pain or tenderness. VA Disability Ratings for Spinal Stenosis - Hill & Ponton, P.A. 50% - unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The VA requires the following to establish an injurys connection to military service: You will need to ensure that you have the medical nexus as it is absolutely necessary to establish the connection. These cervical bone spurs can cause neck pain and weakness in the shoulders and arms. Veterans must prove secondary service connection if their first service-connected condition causes a different disability or makes an existing disability worse. HIRE THEM! This device accurately assesses how far individuals are capable of bending or moving their joints. There are a lot of other ailments that are classified under IVDS, and you may have better luck getting one of those service-connected instead of general IVDS. They keep you informed. Those nerves can also affect your digestive system, bowels, the whole bit down there. Learn more about how VA Claims Insider can help you get the rating you DESERVE!Speak with a VA Disability expert and start for FREE! Intervertebral Disc Diseases Similar to generative disc disease, these conditions affect the discs between vertebrae, causing pain in the back, arms, neck, and legs. Second, youll need evidence that the spinal fusion is caused by your back condition that is related to your service. The difference is almost $2,700 per year! Your spinal discs are critical to the padding between your vertebrae. When you hurt or feel numb, tell your doctor that youve reached the limit. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Abnormal contours can cause problems in digestion, breathing, circulation, bowel movements, and more. If youre still experiencing pain, that could warrant a higher disability rating. A 10% disability rating for spinal fusion is granted when forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not 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 your back does this when you move, your back is guarding. The highest scheduler rating for severe neck pain is 100%, which means your entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position. VA ratings for back pain require an accurate Range of Motion (ROM) test of the flexion extension, lateral flexion, and rotation of the spine. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine (T10 to L2). Symptoms often get worse over time and are caused by an individual performing the same action over and over again. In this guide, well explore how to get a Cervicalgia VA Rating (Neck Pain) even if youve already filed or been denied VA benefits in the past. Lay statements come from family members or the veteran themselves, and simply detail more information about how the veterans daily life is affected by the disability. Favorable means that your stuck standing straight up. Dealing with back and spine ailments are hugely detrimental to ones quality of life, and spinal fusion could be a potential solution to some of those symptoms. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine. Many of the angles in the chart above relate to forward flexion. Contact us today for a free review of your case to make sure you are getting treated fairly by the VA. Getting the Highest VA Rating for Arthritis, VA Disability for Arthritis in the Neck and Back, Nervous System Conditions VA Disability Articles, With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months, With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the past 12 months, With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 2 weeks but less than 4 weeks during the past 12 months, With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least one week but less than 2 weeks during the past 12 months. Well address that elsewhere, but for the purposes of this article, well focus only on the back. If you receive a rating of 20% or below, you will not be eligible for a higher rate if you have a dependent, spouse, or child in the way you would with a 30% or higher rating. That sounds like your lower back has to move less than 30 in each direction since 30+30+30+30=120. Unfavorable ankylosis occurs when spinal fusion causes posture changes such as hunched back or leaning to the side. You DESERVE a HIGHER VA rating.WE CAN HELP. You want to see a doctor with a good knowledge of VA disability ratings. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine. How to Get VA to Grant a Spinal Fusion Disability Rating VA Ratings for Neck Painrange from 10 percent to 100 percent, with breaks at 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, and 50 percent. 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. Already working with us? The difference is almost $2,700 per year! If you have a limitation of motion that only applies to how you can twist, note that if you have full thoracolumbar motion forward, sideways, and backward, that is only going to add up to 180 of total motion without some rotation. Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. VA ratings for neck pain require an accurate Range of Motion (ROM) test of the flexion extension, lateral flexion, and rotation of the head. Receiving a 20% disability rating for spinal fusion means that your range of motion is significantly reduced. Does the Veteran report having any functional loss or functional impairment of the joint or extremity being evaluated on this questionnaire, including but not limited to after repeated use over time? You're not alone. VA Disability Ratings for Spinal Fusion - Woods and Woods, LLC
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