Other Conditions That Come With Fused Vertebrae. This rating is a figure between 10% and 100%with a 100% rating being the worst possible determination that means that the individual has almost no capability to move any part of their spinal column. The good news is that veterans with spinal fusions may qualify for a VA disability rating for spinal fusion. If youve had a spinal fusion, you may wonder if youre eligible for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 Doctors are currently disagreeing about bed rest and IVDS, but here is how the VA rates those times you are put flat on your back from IVDS pain. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. 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? It can include your diagnosis, independent medical opinion, medical records, and written statements from friends or family members. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine. Common ailments that may necessitate spinal fusion include: Before understanding how VA ratings for spinal fusion work, you will first need to understand how to connect the spinal fusion to a service-related injury to be eligible for VA benefits. 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. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease Explained (The A C&P exam for Cervicalgia (Neck Pain) involves a series of questions, to include a physical examination, diagnostic testing (X-Ray, if none have been performed), and a Range of Motion (ROM) test with a Goniometer. Neck pain is known to cause migraines, sleep issues, and radiculopathy. Asthma secondary to Allergies. This rating criterion is primarily based on a range of motion measurements. C&P exams are typically carried about by a VA physician or other VA-approved health professional. 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 Today,Brian Reesethe VA Claims Insider reveals and explains the 72 Best Federal Veteran Benefits from A to Z. Maybe. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) views conditions of the spine through two main categoriesneck and back. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? The examiner should provide the estimated range of motion based on a review of all procurable information to include the Veterans statement on examination, case-specific evidence (to include medical treatment records when applicable and lay evidence), and the examiners medical expertise. VA Disability Ratings for Spinal Stenosis | CCK Law 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. If youre only 45 years old but it feels as though your neck is 80, it may be beneficial to speak with a doctor about applying for a VA disability rating. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Similar to VA compensation for most other conditions, service connection requires three separate pieces of evidence. Veterans who have had spinal fusion surgery are potentially eligible for VA benefits relating to the spinal fusion. As your backbones bang together, pieces can chip off and cause even more pain and problems. But if you cant bend over the normal 90 or bend back the normal 30, you are already getting close to that 120 total. IVDS can cause chronic pain in the back, usually made worse by prolonged sitting or bending. Unfavorable ankylosis occurs when spinal fusion causes posture changes such as hunched back or leaning to the side. ), Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (here it is again! Unfavorable Ankylosis does bring in higher VA Ratings than favorable. Deformities of the spine. #5. 1115) Expand Table Amputations: Upper Extremity 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. The general minimum for undiagnosed back pain veterans' disability benefits is 10%. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (also known as IVDS) is a back condition involving the intervertebral disc or disc fragments. Many natural conditions are also accelerated by time spent in the service. What Are the VA Ratings for Ankylosis, Favorable or Unfavorable? They both refer to your back being stuck in a way that you cant move around. Although this benefits some veterans, it also increases the amount of evidence required to link the pain to the in-service event. The disability ratings for spinal diseases range from 10% for minor conditions to 100% for . The VASRD gives rating rules for conditions based on their symptoms, treatment options, and the resulting level of disability they cause. The VA rates Cervicalgia under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, DC 5237, Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain (Neck Pain). #13. The answer is that it depends. An injury or being in a long-term sedentary state can aggravate your joints and make them fuse together. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Neck arthritis can also spread to affect other parts of the body. The combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; or. When the VA rates IVDS, they rate it based on incapacitating episodes. Flexion is how they add up your degrees of movement, as you can see in the diagram below. HIRE THEM! If yes, is degenerative or post-traumatic arthritis documented? Sometimes VA accepts your claim but assigns a lower rating than you may have hoped for. The combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees; or. Gathering all of your medical documents that detail the development of your pain and symptoms should be your first step. 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). Additionally, this disability classification requires evidence of muscle spasms or guarding severe enough to cause impaired gait or an abnormal contour of the spine. Share. The VA rating for unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine is 40%. 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. VA Disability Rating For Spinal Fusion (2023 Guide) The same veteran with a 100% disability rating would receive $3,106.04. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. You can also appeal this decision to fight for a higher VA disability rating for your neck pain. 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. 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.. Combined thoracolumbar less than 120 or cervical combined less than 170 or muscle spasms or guarding enough to cause abnormal gait or an abnormal contour of your spine. 40% - unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine; or, forward flexion of the . Your final rating for spinal conditions (neck, upper back, mid back, lower back) depends upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of symptoms to include Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM) and Painful Motion. All Rights Reserved. Another common secondary disability is Radiculopathy secondary to Back and Neck Pain. Spinal stenosis (diagnostic code 5238): Spinal stenosis is when the spaces in the spine are narrowed and . When reviewing claims for spinal fusions, the VA will look at things like X-rays, MRIs, medical records, and independent medical opinions from treating physicians. Once the VA granted a service connection, a percentage rating will be assigned. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 You have virtually no range of motion. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. If your back does this when you move, your back is guarding. 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. For example, the following Diagnostic Codes (DC) from 38 CFR, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities apply: These six neck and back conditions can often lead to pinched or damaged nerve roots, which can cause significant pain known as Radiculopathy. 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 Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine up to 85 or of the cervical spine up to 40 OR the combined range of motion at 120-235 for thoracolumbar or 170-335 for cervical. Your back can even go into an abnormal contour, which simply means its bending in ways it isnt supposed to. You might be able to lean right and left 30 just fine. 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. Well address that elsewhere, but for the purposes of this article, well focus only on the back. Nerve Pinches This condition occurs when too much pressure is applied on a nerve. 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.
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