Technically, the highest VA rating for a thoracolumbar spinal disability is 50 percent. Thus, if the flexion ROM measurement produces a 40% VA disability percentage and the total ROM measurement produces a 30% VA disability percentage, the VA disability percentage for spinal stenosis would be 40%. One of the most common conditions secondary to spinal conditions is radiculopathy. I suffer from many health issues due to the trauma that happened to me in 1980. 100% VA disability rating for spinal cancer. These two types of spinal stenosis can be summarized as follows: Some people with spinal stenosis do not exhibit symptoms. Veterans & Spinal Stenosis Disability Rating 888.878.9350 The three elements needed to make a successful service connection claim include: When assessing your disability claims, VA examiners will look at your medical records during your time in the military and for a period afterward for evidence of a service connection. Basically, the VA understands that the Veteran would not have developed sleep apnea if they didnt get PTSD while in service. So, they compensate them for the disability on a secondary basis. In severe cases, doctors may recommend surgery to relieve the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis. WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL. 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. have been offered surgery and epidurals havent decided yet but if anyone can weigh in on this.. if you have spinal stenosis DDD DJD hypert,etc are you suppose to file a claim for each one separately? Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. This metric is used in calculating your VA disability rating. Incomplete paralysis can be determined as severe, moderately severe, moderate, or mild with disability ratings as low as 10 percent. VA rates spinal stenosis according to 38 CFR 4.71a Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System, Diagnostic Code 5238. 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. VA Disability for Spinal Stenosis | PTSD Lawyers - Berry Law 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. Errors are frequently made when rating conditions. Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the passages through which your nerves travel through your spine become narrow or partially blocked. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. This can sometimes be difficult to establish. For instance, which pages you go to most. Cervical Spine Conditions - Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines How Do You Rate Severe Spinal Stenosis - VA Disability Compensation These measurements are taken while bending the neck and back forward and backward, tilting the neck and back from size to side, and rotating the neck and back to each side. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. VA Disability Rating for Spinal Stenosis Depends on Range of Motion Spinal stenosis can arise from both degenerative conditions (such as arthritis, bulging discs, and herniated discs) and physical injury, such as bone fragments, dislocated vertebrae, or swollen tissues. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. However, the VA still rates degenerative arthritis of the spine under the criteria listed for diagnostic code 5003. However, you may get a 100% VA disability rating for up to one year after serious back surgery, such as a spinal fusion. 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. That is, they get it wrong more than half the time. People with spinal conditions also often change how they walk to compensate for the pain which can lead to knee and hip problems. Because the rating formula is almost entirely based on ROM measurements, its important to make sure that a doctor performs ROM testing as accurately as possible. Provide a current diagnosis of spinal stenosis, Present evidence of an in-service event, injury, or illness, Obtain a medical opinion linking the in-service occurrence to their diagnosed spinal stenosis. The attorneys at Berry Law Firm are dedicated to helping injured Veterans. Spinal stenosis is a form of degenerative disc disease. Spine Condition Ratings. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease Explained (The As mentioned above, spinal stenosis is typically diagnosed with x-rays or MRIs that show a narrowing of the spinal canal. As mentioned above, many different joints are rated under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis. Finally, the general VA disability ratings table for spinal injuries and diseases allows ratings based on muscle guarding, muscle spasm, or tenderness in your back. Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis - Entitlement Eligibility Congenital spinal stenosis is present at birth as a normal variant in the population or due to congenital conditions. Theres no presumptive benefit the burden is on the veteran to demonstrate a service connection to the stenosis. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine leads to neck pain, back pain, and sometimes, 60% if there are severe incapacitating episodes that occur 4 or more times per year, 40% if there are incapacitating episodes that occur 3 or more times per year if there is a definite (but not necessarily significant) decrease in health, 20% if there are less than 3 incapacitating episodes per year. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. We guide our clients through the most difficult times in their lives with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. 20% Spinal Stenosis VA Rating The most straightforward pathway to fulfilling this criterion is a diagnosis of spinal stenosis in your military records. Spinal Stenosis VA Disability Benefits - Woods and Woods, LLC, Veterans If the condition is not severe enough to meet the above criteria, then the VA rating for back pain / arthritis will be based on specific symptoms. Appellant. In some cases, the VA may help veterans get surgery to treat spinal stenosis. Back braces or corsets are $200 or more. You must have a positive imaging test (MRI, . To qualify for disability because of lumbar spinal stenosis under listing 1.16, you must show that you suffer from ALL of the following: Non-radiating pain in one or both legs, or non-radiating loss of feeling in one or both legs, or neurogenic claudication (pain or cramping caused by nerve compression) 10 percent disability rating: $165.92 per month. Secondary service connection occurs when a service-connected disability causes another disability. Your spinal stenosis may be accompanied by other back conditions, including degenerative disc disease, arthritis, ankylosis or ankylosing spondylitis. Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans. Because there are technically two diagnostic codes associated with one condition, you would see the condition listed on rating decisions as 5242-5003. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices After recovery, the VA will re-evaluate their condition. Spinal stenosis will cause pain in different areas of the body including the neck, lower and middle back, your buttocks and legs. It may also cause bladder and bowel issues. Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve may lead to a 60 percent disability rating. However, these secondary service-connected disabilities are not cumulative. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Surgery can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $150,000 with a microdiscectomy or discectomy being the least expensive and spinal fusion costing the most. NOTE: Entitlement of a spinal condition includes spinal stenosis. It can cause muscle weakness and pain or cramping extending from the buttocks down through the leg. If the condition is not severe enough to meet the above criteria, then the VA rating for back pain / arthritis will be based on specific symptoms. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. AVVO 10/10 Superb Rating, BBB A+ Rated. If radiculopathy is caused by a neck condition, the symptoms will be felt in the shoulder and can travel down the arm and into the hand. 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. 4.30 Convalescent ratings. Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve could then result in a 60 percent disability rating according to the social security administration. A total disability rating (100 percent) will be assigned without regard to other provisions of the rating schedule when it is established by report at hospital discharge (regular discharge or release to non-bed care) or outpatient release that entitlement is warranted under paragraph (a) (1), or of this section . Traumatic arthritis occurs after an injury, excessive movement, or other physical trauma. In a February 2007 rating decision, the RO granted service connection for spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. Muscle guarding occurs when muscles react to prevent pain or discomfort. To receive VA disability for spinal stenosis, like all other disabilities, a Veteran must first establish service connection for the injury. Yes, you can. document.getElementById('copyright').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) PTSD Lawyers | Berry Law Firm. Contact Berry Law today if you need assistance appealing your VA decision. Their testimony can mean the difference between an approval or a denial of your case. VA Disability Benefits for Sciatica and Similar Nerve Conditions Lack of cartilage causes pain and limitation of motion. Radiculopathy | Johns Hopkins Medicine If we can show that you had spinal stenosis while in the service but you were misdiagnosed, you might even get some substantial back pay. The effects of spinal stenosis, whether they manifest themselves in the back or elsewhere, can be the basis of a VA disability rating for spinal stenosis. Both degenerative arthritis and traumatic arthritis, regardless of the joint affected, are rated under diagnostic code 5003. To qualify for a 50 percent rating, a veteran would need to have "unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine." They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. When pursuing a VA disability rating for back pain, its important to know your options. Spinal stenosis can make it tricky to obtain a fair VA disability rating. 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, Stenosis can occur in the spinal column itself, or it can occur within the intervertebral foramen, which are the passages through which your nerve roots branch out laterally through the spine. If severe enough, anxiety and depression arising from a service-related condition may also qualify for an additional disability rating. . Herniated Discs. Flexion measures 30 degrees or less, OR entire thoracolumbar spine is frozen in a favorable position. Lumbar IVDS accounts for 62% of all disc disease. Fill out the short form below to contact us. 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. . You may qualify for VA disability compensation if you have an illness linked to Gulf War serviceoften called Gulf War Syndromein Southwest Asia, including Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia. Registration is FREE of charge! When these lateral nerve roots become compressed, it can disrupt the signals passing from your brain and spinal column out through the nerve roots to your arms, legs, and other parts of your body a condition called foraminal stenosis, which can cause radiculopathy. However, military doctors and corpsmen may be reluctant to order an x-ray or MRI if they think a diagnosis can be made without one. Yes No 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: When rheumatoid arthritis affects the spine, it typically occurs in the cervical spine (the neck) rather than the thoracolumbar spine (the low back). 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. If these conservative options dont get results, your doctor may recommend injecting a corticosteroid into your spine, which can give you relief for a few days or weeks. The small openings in your spine are called foramen, and nerves pass through the foramen from your spinal cord into the rest of your body. Spinal stenosis is typically diagnosed with x-rays or MRIs of the spine showing a narrowing of the spinal canal. 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. Most issues that cause temporary (not chronic) back pain receive a VA disability rating between 10%-40%. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. However, it can also be caused by herniated discs, thickened ligaments in your spine, tumors, and spinal injuries. Your spinal stenosis may cause or contribute to other medical conditions, as well. Pocket Card . However, the VA disability rating for spinal stenosis is calculated exactly the same as other spinal diseases and injuries. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? 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). Your spinal stenosis may force you to stop working before normal retirement age because you can't do certain things. 30 percent disability rating: $508.05 per month. 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. If you have multiple disability ratings, we use them to calculate . Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 For example, a car accident or other trauma such as a back injury caused by service, can dislocate or fracture vertebrae, which could lead to spinal stenosis. Keep in mind that arthritis will only be rated under diagnostic code 5003 when the condition does not result in severe enough limitation of motion to be rated under the general rating formula for the spine. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. You may also qualify for a 100% rating if your back injury renders you unemployable. Please complete this form to send us your message. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. It will also help if someone else in your division remembers what happened. If spinal stenosis is suspected, your doctor may order X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or CT or CT myelogram. A, Oftentimes, spinal conditions will cause other conditions, and these conditions qualify a Veteran for another rating. Spinal stenosis Mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety And more. Spinal stenosis simply refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal which results in pain, weakness, and numbness when nerves are compressed. Numbness or tingling in a hand, arm, foot, or leg, Pain or cramping in one or both legs when you stand for long periods of time or when you walk, which usually eases when you bend forward or sit. SPINAL CORD STIMULATION - Veterans Benefits Network 4.71a Schedule of ratings - musculoskeletal system. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. Lumbar spinal stenosis results in low back pain, as well as weakness, numbness, pain and abnormal sensations in the buttocks, thighs, legs, calves, and feet. As you can see, ROM measurements play a significant role in rating spinal conditions. Conversely, when the lumbar spine (the lower section of the back) is affected, symptoms may cause pain and nerve sensations in the back, legs, and feet. Function: Postural support of body; extension and lateral movements of spine. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Berry Law gets Veterans the disability compensation they earned. I had been fighting for my benefits since 1980 by myself and I managed to get 50% rating.